OLOF TIMES
12th Nov 2021
VISION
Nurturing lifelong learners who live out Jesus' message of love and peace.
MISSION
At Our Lady of Fatima School, we:
Provide a holistic Catholic education where the teachings of Christ are lived, valued and promoted
Strive for excellence and through contemporary pedagogies, support the resilience, curiosity, creativity and social and emotional wellbeing of each child.
Foster a sense of community through meaningful relationships with students, staff, parents, parish and wider community.
Maintain an innovative learning environment, embracing sustainable practices.
PRAYER
Lord of light, we pray that unity may prevail in our school community. Help me to be an instrument of Your peace. Help us in our school to come together to resolve the issues that affect us all. May we each bring our experiences and our expertise to the table and work out solutions together. Help us to listen well, to empathise and work together in the best interests of our community. Amen.
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Hasn’t this year gone so fast? It is very normal for all of us to feel tired as we hurtle towards the end of the year and yet it feels like there is still so much on in our school and social lives! As adults, it is very hard to navigate through busy times, but it is even more so for our children.
Tiredness can lead to some issues with emotional regulation and social interactions, particularly at the end of the year. Sometimes, your children may come home sharing information about a conflict that they have had with another child or maybe they have witnessed some inappropriate behaviour. They will often be distressed or frustrated when this happens. As parents, we need to actively listen and determine a course of action. Sometimes you will recognise that it is a one-off issue that will naturally resolve and therefore reassurance and discussion of strategies to support them in handling the issue might be useful. In more serious cases, encouraging your child to speak with his/her teacher or contacting the teacher yourself is the most appropriate approach in working through the issue. The class teacher is best placed to ensure that all aspects of the issue are considered and managed. Class teachers will often liaise with the Leadership Team to determine the appropriate course of action and check in continually with parents when/if required.
As stated in our Code of Conduct (https://olof.wa.edu.au/assets/files/Code-of-Conduct-and-Guidelines.pdf), all adults in the school community: “acknowledge the inherent vulnerability of the students in your care. You recognise that the safety and well-being of students depends upon your vigilance and diligence and the vigilance and diligence of all adults”. In Conduct Statement 3, it states that we need to take an ethical approach grounded in Gospel values and calls us to:
- Respect the dignity of each person;
Acknowledge the giftedness of each person;
Commit to building positive relationships;
Maintain confidentiality; and
Be accountable.
I do request that once issues are brought to the attention of the school, that no further speculation occurs within the parent community in order to support the approach advocated in the Code of Conduct. While I do understand that this may occur with the best of intentions, such speculation can escalate issues and also lead to misinformation. Please be assured that class teachers and the Leadership team will work towards a resolution that is in the best interests of every child in our care.
We have had some great events in our school over the past few weeks:
YEAR 5 CAMP
We had some very happy campers in Year 5 after the Surf Camp! Well done to Mr La Roche, Mrs Wright and all of the parents who went along to ensure it went so smoothly. Some Year 5 students have shared some of their events below.
Hello we will be telling you a bit about our surf camp. The first thing that we did on our camp was go to Settlers Road house in Myalup and eat morning tea. When we got to camp we went on our first surfing lesson. That night for dinner we had lasagne, spaghetti and salad. Then we played trivia and Hamish, Milly, Sebastian and Ethan won! The second day we got up early and went to our second surf lesson. Then we went to mini golf and archery. That night we ate sausages, steak and chicken. We got lots of free time. On our way back from camp we stopped at the Apple Fun Park.
(James and Milly)
ST JOHN’S FIRST AID INCURSION
All of our classes engaged in first aid incursions this week at OLOF. Thank you to Mr Celenza for coordinating this. You will read below some pretty detailed learning from some of our Year 3’s!
On Monday and Tuesday, the St John’s Ambulance came to our school and taught us about DRSABC. D stands for danger, you always look for danger before you approach someone unconscious. R stands for respond, call “hello, help, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?” If they don’t respond, squeeze their shoulders from behind in case they wake up fighting. S stands for send for help. If they are still unconscious, call 000 and the ambulance as soon as you can. A stands for airway, when they are unconscious on their back, open their airway by putting your hand on their forehead and 2 fingers on their chin and lift their head up, which opens their airway. B stands for breathing, so you put 1 hand on their head and put 1 hand on their belly and count to 10 and see if they are breathing (if they are breathing, there has to be 2 breaths every 10 seconds). To put someone in the recovery position, you put 1 hand on their shoulder and put their body like they are in the running position and then turn them over and check their breathing again.
(Amity, Josh, Ivy and Georgia)
REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE
All of our students participated in a solemn Remembrance Day service yesterday. Thank you to our Year 3 students and Miss More in helping us honour all of those brave men and women who fought for our country.
BUS STOP ARTWORK
You may have seen in the Week 1 newsletter that our school has been asked to design and paint a bus stop on Canning Highway. Mrs Bennetts has been coordinating the designs from the students and liaising with the City of Melville to bring the design to life.
We are hoping that parents may assist us with some of the following:
It would be wonderful to have 2/3 parents who are available on Wednesday 24 November, who are able to paint a very simple background design on the bus stop.
We would also appreciate any parents who may be able to assist small groups of students paint the details on the design on Thursday 25 November. This will involve helping students wash brushes and providing some general assistance to Mrs Bennetts
We are also seeking any old sheets, empty yoghurt pots with lids, old rollers, old paint trays and old brushes. Some families may also have some leftover sample pots of external house paint, which would also be very welcome!
If you are able to assist with one or more of these, please contact Mrs Bennetts on amanda.bennetts@cewa.edu.au.
THIS SUNDAY’S GOSPEL
In the Gospel this week, which is nearing us towards the beginning of Advent, Jesus reminds us that to be prepared for his coming:
(Mark 13:24-32)
But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Have a lovely weekend!
Jacinta Petersen
Principal
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Our school AGM will be held on Tuesday 23 November at 6:30pm in the school hall. This is a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community and support both the P&F and School Advisory Council, who work together in supporting the school in delivering the best educational outcomes for your children.
The School Advisory Council comprises the Principal (ex-officio), Parish Priest (ex-officio), one person from the Parish Council who is nominated by the Parish Priest and between four and six persons. There is potentially one vacancy for the School Advisory Council in 2022 and the membership conditions are as follows:
A commitment and desire to promote Catholic education and give service to the Catholic school community;
A commitment to the safety, wellbeing and pastoral care of all students and staff;
An ability to work cooperatively and constructively with the Principal, school leadership team and all other members of the Advisory Council;
The possession of skills, competencies and experience that are reflective of, relevant and beneficial to the Catholic school community; and
A sufficiency of time to devote to Advisory Council duties.
If you would like to nominate for the School Advisory Council, please contact the Secretary on luisa.marrows@outlook.com by Friday 19 November (5pm).
The P&F comprises any parent or guardian of a child attending the school or any person who supports the objectives of the Association. The P&F Executive is made up of the Principal (Ex-Officio), the Parish Priest (Ex-Officio), President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and up to six additional members. The positions that are not Ex-Officio will be vacated to be filled at the AGM. If you would like to nominate for the P&F Executive, please contact the Secretary on olofsecretary@gmail.com by Friday 19 November (5pm).
World Kindness Day
The date decreed for World Kindness Day is 13th November. This was the opening day of the first World Kindness Movement conference held at Tokyo in 1998, and the 35th anniversary of the Small Kindness Movement of Japan, which brought the signatories of the ‘declaration of kindness’ of the World Kindness Movement together in 1997.
At Our Lady of Fatima School, our students are working on a Kindness Challenge which begins on Monday! We are hoping to spot and acknowledge 200 acts of kindness before the end of the term.
VINNIE’S CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Thank you to all families who have contributed to the Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal so far! The hampers are filling up quickly! Please continue to bring items in to support those less fortunate in our community at Christmas. We will present our Christmas hampers to the parish at the Pre-Primary Christmas assembly on Friday 3 December.
Days to remember 2021- please check our updated calendar on our website
Wednesday 17th November at 6pm
Kindergarten 2022 Parent Orientation meeting
Tuesday 23 November at 6:30pm
Annual General Meeting in the Hall
Wednesday 24th November
Subway for students
Wednesday 24th November at 6pm
Pre-Kindergarten 2022 Parent Orientation meeting
Monday 29th November at 6pm
Keyed Up Music Recital in the Hall
Tuesday 30th November at 530pm
Dance Concert Gates open 5pm
Wednesday 1st December
Keyed Up Music Recital in the Hall
Pre-Primary Zoo Excursion
Earlier this term the Pre-Primary class visited Perth Zoo to investigate the animals and their homes. It was a day full of learning through experience and observation, which then stimulated a lot of conversation and rich oral language. The children were able to ask questions and talk about everything they saw thanks to a large group of parent volunteers. It was a fantastic day!
Year 1 and 2 uniforms from 2022
- Students in Years 1 and 2 will be able to wear their sports uniform for the whole week in both Summer and Winter. Teachers will advise at the beginning of the year what days they need to wear their faction sports shirt.
- As this is a period of transition, students with the summer and winter uniform may choose to wear it in 2022, except on nominated Physical Education days. Again, this will be advised by the teachers.
- As part of the sports uniform, running sneakers or cross trainers need to be worn. Whilst sneakers can be any colour, they need to be affordable, offer good support and be appropriate for play. Remember, in the early years, students will be spending a great deal of time in sandpits and painting! High-top shoes and basketball shoes (such as Michael Jordans) are not appropriate.
Donations for P&F Christmas Raffle
Donations would be gratefully accepted for the raffle hampers & silent auction being held on the night of the Christmas Concert. Items could include chocolates, crackers, chips, oil, gourmet teas, nuts, sweet treats, candles, vouchers etc
Gastroenteritis
Fatima Family Cookbook is unfortunately postponed till early 2022
PALMYRA DENTAL THERAPY CENTRE
CONTINUING DENTAL CARE IN HIGH SCHOOL
When your child enters High School, the Palmyra Dental Therapy Centre will continue to provide dental care. The School Dental Service provides free general and preventive dental care for all enrolled students in Years 8 to 11, or to the age of 17 in year 11, whichever comes first.
If your child is not enrolled in the School Dental Service you may contact the Palmyra Dental Therapy Centre on 9339 4868 to discuss enrolment.
PALMYRA DENTAL THERAPY CENTRE
C/ Palmyra Primary School
60 Mckimmie Road
PALMYRA WA 6157
PH: 9339 4868
Subway lunch Wednesday 24th November
Support our school at Gilbert's fresh market and The Foodies Basket
Gilbert's Support Our School Program donates 1% of the money spent by you to your nominated school every time you shop with us! Sign up for free at the checkout and scan each time you shop.
As at 16/06/2020 the Gilbert’s Fresh, Hilton SOS Program has 31 schools, and 2,236 customers signed up, plus, Gilbert’s has donated $40,945.00 to local schools since the program commenced in October 2017.
The Foodies Basket, Attadale donates a $1 for every 100 points accumulated. Just give our School name or show your card each time you purchase.
Keyed Up Music Lessons
Keyed Up Music Lessons
Keyed Up Music will be teaching keyboard and guitar lessons next term during school. Lessons start at $23.65 for groups of two per lesson. If you are interested in your son/daughter learning an instrument, ring Savanna on 6107 8841 or 0479 171 424 or enrol at www.keyedupmusic.com.au/enrolment-form
Keyed Up Music Lessons
Keyed Up Music will be teaching keyboard and guitar lessons next term during school. Lessons start at $23.65 for groups of two per lesson. If you are interested in your son/daughter learning an instrument, ring Savanna on 6107 8841 or 0479 171 424 or enrol at www.keyedupmusic.com.au/enrolment-form
Contact Us
Email: admin@olof.wa.edu.au
Website: www.olof.wa.edu.au
Location: 3 Harris St, Palmyra WA, Australia
Phone: 08 9333 7900