Our Lady s Catholic Primary School 52-60 White Street, Wangaratta Vic 3677 Correspondence to: PO Box 486 Wangaratta 3676 Phone: (03) 5721 3783 Fax: (03) 5721 9401 Email: principal@olwangaratta.catholic.edu.au NEWSLETTER NO. 1 THURSDAY JANUARY 28 TH 2016 God of wisdom and might, we praise you for the wonder of our being, for mind, body and spirit. Be with our children as they begin a new school year. Bless them and their teachers and staff. Give the strength and grace as their bodies grow; wisdom and knowledge to their minds as they search for understanding; and peace and zeal to their hearts. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. WANGARATTA PARISH MASSES Masses for this weekend are: Amen. * Saturday 6.00 pm St Patrick's * Sunday 8.00 am St Patrick's * Sunday 9.00 am Our Lady's * Sunday 10.00 am Moyhu * Sunday 10.30 am Whitfield (1st Sunday) * Sunday 10.30 am St Patrick's * Sunday 5.00 pm Latin Mass at St Patrick's WELCOME TO THE 2016 SCHOOL YEAR Today is such an exciting day for all students returning to Our Lady s. I sit in a very privileged position in that I see the great enjoyment and excitement that all the children bring to the first day of school. Mixed with all the joy there are also big doses of anxiety and nerves which are all very normal parts of starting something new. We can support children by having a discussion about the positives and then issuing a challenge to students to think of ways they can deal with the challenges. Have a great start to the year.
SAD COMMUNITY NEWS This week we learned of the sudden and tragic accidental death of Rhiannon Kent who has been a parent at our school for the past four years. She was mother to Locklan, who finished Year Six with us last year. The Our Lady s community has been in touch with the family and has given support to both the family and Locklan. Locklan is currently being cared for by his grandmother and is preparing to start Year Seven at Galen College on Friday. Details of the funeral haven t been released and will be dependent on the time frame of ongoing enquiries. I m sure that you will keep the family in your prayers as they deal with this unfortunate sad event. FAREWELL SISTER MARY AND SISTER MAUREEN This Sunday, January 31 st the Parishes of Our Lady s and St. Patrick s are farewelling both Sister Mary and Sister Maureen who are retiring. There will be a morning tea at Our Lady s Church after the 9.00am Mass. Our school will be presenting Sr. Mary with a farewell gift at the morning tea. A formal farewell for both Sister Mary and Sister Maureen will be held at St. Patrick s Hall in Ford Street after 10.30am Mass. We would encourage as many families as possible to attend either or both of these events to say thank you and farewell. BUILDING UPDATE Well, over the past six weeks we have had a great deal happen in our new learning spaces as well as a few setbacks that may affect the planned finish date. All structural work has been completed, fit out of all areas has been completed to the point of cabinet installation, painting to all areas has commenced, external painting started, lining of verandahs and eaves are about 50% complete, all internal plumbing is completed to cabinet installation, the external plumbing is complete except for the new outlets for fire services, electrical work is complete to cabinet installation and most of the external concrete has been poured. Our hold up at the moment is the installation of the cabinets and cupboards which is significantly behind. There hasn t been an adjustment to the finish date at this stage although reviews of this aren t far away. WEEKLY NEWSLETTER A reminder that as from this year we are no longer printing newsletters to send home with the eldest child in each family. All families were asked late last year to nominate their preferred method of receiving newsletters either via email or our school app (details of how to download the app are further along in the newsletter). If you would like a copy emailed to you each week please send an email to Julie at jmcmonig@olwangaratta.catholic.edu.au MAKING JESUS REAL FOCUS Each week we have a focus for where we can work to have others see Jesus in us. This week the focus is on our school theme for 2016 Together We Grow.
ASSEMBLY THANK YOU Each Monday we have a part of our Assembly devoted to giving thanks for behaviours that have been helpful for our school. Expressing thanks allows us to acknowledge actions that help us as well as highlighting language and actions that we would like to see happen in the future. They often relate to our expectations from last week or to events that students were involved in. This week we give thanks for: To all the students who have made the holidays pleasant for their families and friends To everyone who is organised for the start of the school year To all students who have presented in the correct uniform for the first day To all the families who have cared so lovingly for all the students at Our Lady s For the positive behaviour that we will see from you this year POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS Our expectations focus for this week is Being Organised : Be Ready to Learn: Be Responsible: Be Respectful: Power Play Focus: By organising our bags, learning materials and lining up when expected By organising low or no waste and high nutrition food for learning Placing waste in the correct bins Eating only in the areas assigned Knowing and observing the playground boundaries Coming to school in the correct uniform on the right day Lining up as soon as the music plays Inviting others to join in Entering and exiting buildings peacefully Students who organise themselves, their time and their possessions well LEADERSHIP CENTRE (GRADE 5/6) CAMP Students in the Leadership Centre will head off on their 2016 Camp on Wednesday February 24 th to Friday February 26 th. The camp is situated at Borambola just outside of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. Permission/medical forms will be sent home next week. The cost of the camp ($130-00 for Health Care Card holders and $150-00 for all other families) must be paid to the office prior to the camp unless you have chosen to use our Direct Debiting or Centrepay facilities. Staff accompanying the students will be class teachers Josh Naish and Lynda Griffin and myself. HATS During Term One and Term Four all students must wear their school hat when outside at all times. New hats can be purchased from the school office at a cost of $10-00. Please make sure you rename exisiting hats, along with all other items of uniform. IT S A GIRL! Congratulations to Marc and Michelle Bongers who welcomed Matilda into the world during the holidays. Matilda is a baby sister for Amelia in Grade Five and Charlotte in Grade Two. Mark
P & F NEWS P & F MEETING Our first meeting for 2016 will be held on Monday, February 8 th 2016 at 9.00am in the staffroom. Everyone most welcome to attend- babies and toddlers included- come along and have a cuppa and meet other parents. FUNRUN AID STATION SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 TH The school has committed to provide volunteers to man one of the aid stations at this year s Fun Run to be held on Sunday February 28 th. We need helpers from 7.00am to approximately 12 noon and will require 6 people for the whole time so hopefully if we can get 12 volunteers we can organise two shifts. You will be required to hand out water etc. and provide general assistance if needed to competitors. In return for our assistance, apart from being a way of promoting our school, the Fun Run committee has indicated they may be able to make a cash donation to the school. We also require a co-ordinator to attend a short meeting on the Tuesday prior to the event (Tuesday February 23 rd at 4.00pm). Please complete the form below and return to the office by next Friday February 5 th if you are able to help out. FUNRUN Yes I/We can help out with the FunRun. Name/s Phone Number I am willing to be the school s co-ordinator for the event Yes / No VICTORIAN LEGAL AID FREE CHILD SUPPORT LEGAL ADVICE Tuesday February 2 nd 2016 Time: Venue: Free half hour sessions between 9.00am and 4.30pm Upper Murray Family Care 36 Mackay Street WANGARATTA VIC 3677 Please phone (03) 9269 0408 for an appointment or 1300 792 387 during business hours
DATES TO REMEMBER Friday January 29 th First day of Term One 2016 for Foundation students 9.00am to 1.00pm Morning Tea for Foundation parents 9.00am Wednesday February 3 rd Rest day for Foundation students Monday February 8 th P & F Meeting 9.00am All Welcome Tuesday February 9 th Whole School Start of Year Mass 9.00am in Our Lady s Church Wednesday February 10 th Ash Wednesday Liturgy All Welcome Shrove Tuesday Pancakes Gold coin donation for Caritas Rest day for Foundation students Wednesday February 17 th Rest day for Foundation students Tuesday February 23 rd Bridging Centre Mass 9.00am All Welcome Wednesday February 24 th Rest day for Foundation students Wednesday-Friday February 24 th to 26th Leadership Centre Camp Wednesday March 2 nd Rest day for Foundation students Tuesday March 8 th Leadership Centre Mass 9.00am All Welcome Wednesday March 9 th Rest day for Foundation students Monday March 14 th Labour Day Public Holiday SATURDAY MARCH 19 TH TWILIGHT FUNFAIR 5.00PM TO 9.00PM Wednesday March 23 rd Whole School Easter Liturgy Thursday March 24 th End of Term One