OLOL SCHOOL NEWSLETTER 5 Canyon Road Baulkham Hills South Telephone:9639 4172 Facsimile 9639 0819 www.ololbhills.parra.catholic.edu.au Term 1 Week 8 17th March, 2017 Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Patrick St Patrick was born in Britain c.385 and as a young man was captured by Irish pirates and sold into slavery. After six years in Ireland he escaped, returned to his family and trained for the priesthood in Gaul. In c.435 he returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop. Through his work, Christianity flourished and the church became organised. Although not extensively learned, St Patrick was known for his sincerity and pastoral care, and was largely concerned with abolishing paganism and idolatry. There are many legends about Ireland s most beloved saint, including his use of the shamrock for explaining the trinity, and his banishing of all snakes from Ireland. O God, who chose the Bishop Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the peoples of Ireland, grant, through his merits and intercession, that those who glory in the name of Christian may never cease to proclaim your wondrous deeds to all. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Ref: Liturgyhelp.com Understanding Faith Resource The Catholic Education Office has once again purchased a resource for our students to access both at home and at school. This fabulous resource contains Scripture, interactive clips, printable activities and worksheets. This resource provides excellent information that will support the students in Religious Education. The resource has been activated for students in both Primary (K-6) and Secondary School. Please take the time to view this valuable resource and encourage you children to explore the website, complete the worksheets and play the interactive games. To access this site, go to: www.understandingfaith.com.au click on Primary on the top right hand side of the page and enter the login details. Username: ceo.parra.1486 Password: ceo.parra.2017 Mrs Daines This week we welcomed back Mrs Daines who has returned to school after her hip injury. Thank you to Mrs Moira Battikha, who has filled in the role of Reading Recovery Teacher in Mrs Daines absence. We appreciate your hard work. Kindergarten 2018 Enrolments Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School is now taking Kindergarten enrolments for 2018. Please download the enrolment form from the school website www.ololbhills.catholic.edu.au, complete the form and return it to the school office with all the required documentation. Families will be interviewed in May by a member of the leadership team. New families may have a tour of our school on: Thursday, March 23rd, 2017 at 10.00am Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 at 7.00pm Thursday, April 27th, 2017 at 10.00am Please email the school office on ololbhills.parra.catholic.edu.au advising us of your preferred session date. Writer in Residence In line with our school goal of improving Student Writing, we will be holding writing workshops for students in years 3-6, with children s author Anna Fienberg. The writing workshops will be held over four sessions, with the first one commencing on Tuesday, 28th March. The other workshops will be held during Term 2. Staff Development Day Friday, 24th March will be a professional learning day for the staff. Please make alternative arrangements for your children on this day. Our focus on this day will be on improving Student Writing.
Parking Please ensure we park safely around the school so that we keep our children safe. While we know parking at the front of the school in the morning and afternoon is difficult, we ask that people be patient and careful so that no accidents occur. Parking in Linton Street is also available and is close to the school. Parish We ask that parents do not park in the parish grounds of a morning before school or at pick up time of an afternoon. We attempt to keep this area free from traffic to keep our children safe. Parking in Canyon Road Last week a Road Safety Officer from Hills Council visited to inspect the parking areas around the school. She had some recommendations for parents using the no parking drop off areas. These recommendations were: 1. Generally parents do not move to the head of the No parking zones when dropping their children off which results in vehicles reversing and trying to get into random spots. I realise everyone wants to drop their child directly at the gate but this impedes the efficient movement of vehicles in this area. Vehicles should move forward to the first No parking spot to allow other vehicles to move in behind them. There were constantly parking spots available at the northern end of the No parking areas which parents did not use, resulting in longer queues and waiting times for other vehicles. 2. Parents with older children ie those who are able to open a car door themselves, should be encouraged to have their bags ready in the car on their laps or the floor so they can open the door and exit the vehicle in a timely manner. Many parents got out of the car to get bags out of the boot for their children which adds a lot of time to the drop off. Whilst I completely understand younger children need help, older children should be able to do this themselves. The Council will also erect a school parking banner on the fence to remind parents of some of the rules for the signs around schools. Please see larger banner attached. Final Parent Reading Information Session - Assisting Children with Reading When: Wednesday, 5th April at 6.30pm Where: OLOL Library The session will briefly outline what happens when children learn to read and define the roles of the reader and the helper. You will be provided with examples of the types of errors children commonly make and prompts that will assist children to problem solve during the reading of a text. School Fees Please advise the school office if you have not received your school fees. Families that are paying their fees by term were due on Monday, 6th March, 2017. Parent Volunteers Please be aware to act as a volunteer with the school, parents must complete both the Building Child Safe Communities online, Volunteer Form and Training Module. (Please see attached sheet). Quality Catholic Schooling Dear Parents All Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Parramatta will be once again participating in the Quality Catholic Schooling (QCS) survey. The QCS survey provides information from students, staff and parents about our school s cultural behaviour, relationships and learning community, and assists us in our focus on continuous improvement. Between 20th March and 31st March all staff and all Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students, and 60 randomlyselected parents will be asked to complete the survey. Staff and students will complete the survey online at school. Parents will be sent home a paper survey but will also be able to complete the survey online if preferred. The survey will take about 20-30 minutes to complete. As a parent if you are randomly-selected to complete the survey, I would encourage your participation as this will help our school to identify our strengths and areas in which we can focus our improvement. If you have any questions please contact Mr Steven Haskins. Extra Curricular Activities Lego We would like to include lego construction as one of our lunch time Library activities. A number of parents at the recent P&F meeting offered to donate lego that they no longer use. If anyone has any lego that you would like to donate, please send it to the school library. Thank you.
2017 Fun Run Fundraiser In conjunction with the School Cross Country we are having a Fun Run as one of our fundraiser events for 2017. Rescheduled date is Friday, 31st March. School Uniforms Dear parents/ carers Winter uniforms are now available. All size samples are at the office for trying on. Last day of delivery for this term will be on Friday 7th April. Orders will still be taken during the school holidays and our first delivery for term 2 will be Friday 28th April. Our uniform supplier is Oz Fashions. The price list and order form are on our website and there is also a copy attached to this email. Parents can order uniforms directly from Oz Fashions, and they will deliver your order directly to our school. Please do not send orders or payment to the school. Send order forms directly to Oz Fashions. Please note: All our school's uniform requirements should be purchased from Oz Fashions. When buying a new blue shirt (both long and short sleeves) our school emblem is now embroidered on the pocket. Long sleeved polo shirts and track suits for winter are optional. Contact details: Address - 115-127 Parramatta Road, Granville. 2142 Website: www.ozfashions.com.au Phone Elle 0421 216 414 Please note: Children do not change into winter uniforms until after Mother s Day, Monday, 15th May. March Sun 19th Mon 20th SCHOOL EVENTS Third Sunday of Lent Feast of St Joseph Tues 23rd 10.00am School Tour Kinder 2018 Fri 24th Sat 25th Sun 26th Staff Development Day The Annunciation Fourth Sunday of Lent Tues 28th Writer in residence (Session 1) Fri 31st April Sun 2nd Tues 4th Wed 5th Fun Run / Cross Country Fifth Sunday of Lent 2.30pm Principal and Citizenship Awards 6.30pm Parent Reading Information Session Thurs 6th 9.15am Parish Mass Years 1 and 2 Fri 7th Touch Football Gala Day Years 5 and 6 Last Day of Term 1 Sun 9th Fri 14th Sun 16th Mon 24th Palm Sunday Good Friday Easter Sunday Term 2 begins