Orana Catholic Primary School
Term 1, Week 5, 2021.
TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE
Generosity is an attitude of freely sharing our ideas and talents and giving our time generously. We show generosity by being welcoming, inclusive and promoting a sense of belonging.
Prayer for Lent
Lent offers us a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we’ve done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.
We thank you God for your forgiving love and ask you to help us live and act for others. May we continue to be promise keepers, planting seeds of Unity and Reconciliation this Lenten season.
Amen
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are now in the third week of Lent. In the spirit of Lent the staff of Orana gave generously this week, through their Christian Service, to those less fortunate than ourselves. Staff donated money to provide meals to the homeless. A group of staff then attended an evening in the city to package and serve approximately 200 meals. Personally, this was a humbling experience, yet uplifting to contribute to making a small difference, on one evening.
It was encouraging this week to meet with representatives from the Year 6 Social Justice Leadership Team. These young people came to me with a proposal to promote the Project Compassion Appeal in our school. They spoke with clarity and clearly presenting a plan of action. Leadership opportunities such as this, give our students life experience. They should be proud of their commitment and passion.
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit the Interschool Cricket Carnival. Orana’s teams looked very smart in their interschool shirts and honourably represented our school. Six local schools participated in the carnival. Congratulations to Yidarra (Boys Champions) and St Columba’s (Girls Champions). Overall, the Orana boy’s teams came second and the Orana girl’s teams came third. Congratulations to all who participated and many thanks to Miss Dennett for coordinating, the parent helpers and also to the other staff who assisted.
Schools work best when staff and parents are like minded in what they want for their students and students see home and school working together for their benefit. For this to occur, respect and trust need to be present at all times. As a school we trust that parents and carers are doing their best for their children and parents and carers need to trust that the school has the best intentions for the growth and learning of all children and that we are doing our best for each of these. This doesn’t mean that schooling is a smooth process. There will be times during the year where you will need to speak with the school and you may have questions about your child and there will be times when we will need to speak with you regarding your child.
Our community is fortunate that we have caring parents, carers, staff and students and for the majority of the time, our school is incident free. Should your child be experiencing any difficulties and you need to speak to a staff member about your child, in the first instance make a time to meet with the classroom teacher. Classroom teachers know your child best in the school environment and will be able to assist you and your child. Class teachers can be contacted by calling the office and leaving a message or by email. (firstname.surname@cewa.edu.au) Please be aware that email should only be used to organise a meeting and should not be used to attempt to solve the problem. A real conversation will need to take place either by phone or in person to ensure adequate attention is given to solving the issue.
Should you require further assistance, please contact the school office to make a time with one of the Assistant Principals, Mrs Kathryn Alp and Mrs Kirsty Byrne. I am also available and will communicate with classroom teachers, the Assistant Principals and parents and carers should further support still be required.
Parents should not directly contact another child’s parents or carers regarding a school issue. At all times, confidentiality and the dignity of the child is a priority. For further guidance, please take the time to review our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct applies to students, staff, parents, carers and visitors. https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/policies/
The City of Canning is currently seeking the community’s views towards vehicle speeds on local streets. They are encouraging Local Schools, Young People and Parents & Friends Associations to have their say, by completing a short on-line survey before 5pm on Friday, 9 April 2021. The following link https://www.yoursaycanning.com.au/speed-zones will take you to the City of Canning ‘Your Say’ page. There, you will find further information about the project, a survey. The more responses received from the school community, the stronger the results. If your child (10 years and over) is completing the survey, please ensure they enter only their first name to remain unidentifiable.
The school day begins at 8:50am each morning. This is the time that children need to be in class. Classroom doors open at 8:30am. Children are not permitted onto the school grounds before 8:20am unless they are participating in a scheduled school activity. If, on the odd occasion, students arrive before 8:30am, they must remain seated in the quad area. If students arrive after 9am, they must go to Administration to be signed in and to collect a late slip. Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten students are to be supervised by parents and carers until the classroom doors open at 9am.
Kindergarten interviews for 2022 will commence early next term. If you have a child who is due to begin Kindergarten in 2022, please ensure your application has been received by Administration.
Please join us for our Senior Assembly next Friday, the 12th March. Please sign in using the SafeWA app and maintain physical distance.
Best wishes and God bless.
Dee Johnston
Principal
Dates To Remember
WEEK 6
- Tuesday 9th March - Swimming Carnival (Year 4 - 6)
- Thursday 11th March - 'Make A Move' lessons (Blue classes)
- Thursday 11th March - Reconciliation Parent/Carer Meeting, 7pm (St John and Paul Parish Hall)
- Friday 12th March - Senior Assembly
- Friday 12th March - Year 5 Priest visit
- Friday 12th March - 'Make A Move' lessons (White classes)
- Friday 12th March - P&F Sundowner
- Saturday 13th March - Sacramental Enrolment Masses, 5pm and 6:30pm
- Sunday 14th March - Sacramental Enrolment Mass, 10:30am
Faith in action
Project Compassion - Focus Story
This week through Project Compassion, we have learnt about 39 year old Margret, a teacher at a vocational school for deaf students in the Solomon Islands. She was born deaf, so she knows the challenges it poses to education and employment. Apart from the difficulties the students all have, the school also faced water shortages, with not enough to supply staff and students with safe water for drinking, cooking, washing and growing vegetables. Then Tropical Cyclone Harold damaged the school and its vegetable garden, amidst the threat of COVID-19. Staff and students rely on the vegetable garden to provide food for their meals.
With Caritas Australia’s support, the school installed water tanks, provided cyclone-proof building materials and helped to implement COVID-19 prevention measures. Margret’s school now has enough water for its students and the capacity to cater for more, with plans to boost food security, through increased agricultural production. You can watch a short film about Margret’s story here.
Did you know, around 60% of people in rural areas in the Solomon Islands don’t have access to piped water, while about 80% don’t have access to toilets. (UNICEF, 2019)
“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Thank you for supporting Project Compassion.
Sacramental Program
Reconciliation (Penance) Parent/Carer Meeting
Parents/carers of students in Year 3 who will be enrolling in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) Program are to attend the meeting at our Sts John and Paul Parish Hall on Thursday 11th March from 7:00pm. We are looking forward to meeting you there.
Sacramental Enrolment Masses
Next weekend, students who are enrolling in the Sacramental Program for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Reconciliation must attend one of the Mass times below with their family or parent/carer and following Mass attend the Parish Hall to receive an enrolment form for this year's Sacramental Program.
- 13th March - 5:00pm, 6:30pm
- 14th March - 10:30am
We look forward to supporting your child's faith and sacramental journey this year.
From our Parish of Sts John & Paul
Term 1 Community Mass
It is wonderful to hear that the senior students are getting excited for our upcoming Community Mass on Saturday 27th March at 6:30pm and the Choir has already begun rehearsing songs for the Palm Sunday Vigil Mass. We hope you will be able to join us.
Please visit the Parish website for the latest information on weekend Masses.
CAPPS Cricket Carnival
Well done to our Orana Cricket teams! On Tuesday 2nd March selected Year 6 and 5 students attended the CAPSS Cricket Carnival for 2021 at Murdoch University Playing Fields. Our students had a brilliant day playing some exceptional cricket against 5 other schools. We were lucky to have a beautiful sunny day with our students powering through the heat and putting in 110%. A big thank you to our wonderful staff members and parent/carer volunteers who dedicated their time to help coach, score and umpire, without your help we are unable to attend these events.
Our boy’s division B team were undefeated winning all 5 games and bringing home a Cricket Blast flag. Our A division boys and girls and B division girls experienced some excellent wins (by 1 point!) and some losses. Overall, our boy teams finished joint 2nd with 18 points and our girl teams finishing in at 3rd place also with 18 points.
Well done to all who competed on the day, we are very proud of your efforts.
Tayla Dennett
Physical Education Specialist Teacher
NEWS FROM THE P&F
Hello All,
Wishing you all well. Following our first P&F meeting last week, we have formed a number of committees that have been buzzing with activity! I love seeing the enthusiasm of our community. We have a number of events on the horizon and will definitely need an extra hand during the events. Please reach out and let us know if you are keen to help out at any events.
The Orana Sundowner is our first event of the year – we wanted to welcome all the families back into the school and provide an opportunity to get to know new families in the school. The event is next week, Friday, 12 March 2021.There will be inflatables slides, face painters, and of course, your friendly faces. Please check the link below to purchase your tickets. If you wish to purchase food and/or drinks, please do so before 9th March 2021.Tickets will be available for purchase until the 11th March 2021. For more information, look for flyers around the school with the QR code to the P&F shop, or the Parents of Orana Facebook page.
Here is the link and QR code for the P&F shop to purchase the tickets and food.
https://orana-catholic-primary-school-parents-and-friends-association.square.site/
Our second event of the year is the Stargazing Night which is planned to be on Saturday Evening, 20th March 2021 at 6pm - 8:30pm. We have invited a local Astronomy Club to host the event, wowing us with interactive presentations and activity as well as a number of telescopes being set up. Please join us for this entertaining and educational event. A Sausage Sizzle will be available prior to the event from 5pm – 6pm. Tickets will be available for purchase until the 19th March 2021, with the Sausage Sizzle order to close on the 17th March 2021.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out at oranapandf@gmail.com.
Kind regards,
P&F Executive Team
Social Worker News
Attention Seeking
Dr Vanessa Lapointe
As a child psychologist, I often hear from parents, teachers, caregivers or other big people about worries that a child is acting out for the express purpose of securing attention. Not only are they right, but they also shouldn’t be worried! At least not for the reasons they think.
Please click on the link for the full post:
Kath Warburton
Social Worker
School Banking
School Banking day is Wednesday. Please bring bank books to the office each Wednesday morning. We are not able to securely store personal bank books, so they must be brought in every Wednesday and will be returned on Wednesday afternoon.