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.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I thoroughly enjoyed our Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Wednesday. It was incredible watching the persistence, resilience and skill that our students demonstrated across the morning. I was particularly impressed by the sportsmanship and teamwork shown by our students. Two of our Year 6 House Captains have provided a summary:

This year's swimming carnival was on Wednesday the 1st of March. The Years 4-6 students swam at Corpus Christi College and every student did amazing and tried their best. As a school we would like to say a big thank you to Corpus Christi for letting us use their pool. Thank you also to the staff and Mr. Celenza for organising everything and making this carnival happen, and finally to the parents and grandparent who supported us throughout the carnival.

(Laila and Liam)

Spirit Award Winner: Genevieve

Champion House Results:

• 1st La Salle- 310 points

• 2nd Genevieve- 283 points

• 3rd Kolbe- 201 points

• 4th Francisco- 179 points

Champion Boy/ Girl Results:

• Year 4 Champion Boy- Eli

• Year 4 Runner Up Boy- Charlie

• Year 4 Champion Girl- Loxley

• Year 4 Runner Up Girl- Malija

• Year 5 Champion Boy- Bailey

• Year 5 Runner Up Boys- Jax and Michael

• Year 5 Champion Girl- Sienna

• Year 5 Runner Up Girl- Tyla

• Year 6 Champion Boy- Flynn D

• Year 6 Runner Up Boy- Max G

• Year 6 Champion Girl- Mary

• Year 6 Runner Up Girl- Avery

Across this year, I will be sharing some ‘fun facts’ about our school and parish history. Celebrating 100 years is quite momentous and I was enthralled by Fr Ted Miller’s recent presentation at Miller’s Bakehouse about our history. Our school and parish emerged from humble beginnings, when a wooden hall in Tamar Street was hired for five shillings a week. The first parish priest, Father Kearin, celebrated the first Mass there on April 13, 1923 (Palm Sunday). The first lessons were taught in this same hall in 1923 by Sister Mary Lawrence McNamara, Sister Mary Modwena Bell (both from the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions) and a lay woman, Mrs Searle. The Sisters would travel from East Fremantle by tram along Canning Highway and then walked to Tamar Street each day.

(Information from Our Lady of Fatima Parish: Celebrating 80 years of Parish Life 1923-2003).

Wishing you a wonderful long weekend. We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!

Jacinta Petersen

Principal

In our season of Lent, the disciples see Jesus in all his divine glory:

(Matthew 17: 1-9)

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

• Term 1 Wednesday 1 February - Thursday 6 April (Friday 7 April is Good Friday).

• Term 2 Wednesday 26 April (Monday 24 April is a pupil free day) - Friday 30 June. Please note that Tuesday 6 June is Catholic Day for Our Lady of Fatima School.

• Term 3 Tuesday 18 July (Monday 17 July is a pupil free day) - Thursday 21 September (Friday 22 September is a pupil free day).

• Term 4 Tuesday 10 October (Monday 9 October is a pupil free day) - Friday 8 December 2023.

Public holidays during the school year (schools are closed):

• Labour Day – Monday 7 March.

• Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive) – Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April (end of Term 1 school holidays).

• ANZAC Day – Tuesday 25 April.

• Western Australia Day – Monday 5 June.

• Monday 6 March- Labour Day Public Holiday.
• Thursday 9 March- ASCS Interschool Swimming Carnival.
• Friday 10 March- Year 4 Assembly 9am.
• Wednesday 15 March- NAPLAN begins- Years 3 and 5.
• Friday 17 March- Whole school Mass led by Year 5 (9am in the Parish).

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enrolments are now open for 2024. Interviews will be taking place In Term 1. If you have not submitted your entry/ enrolment form, please do so as places are limited.

• 3 Year Old Entry Form: https://olof.wa.edu.au/assets/files/entry-form3yearold20221.pdf

• Kindergarten Enrolment Form: https://olof.wa.edu.au/assets/files/enrolment-applicationform2022.pdf

Please note the priorities for enrolment in a Catholic school:

• Catholic students from the parish with a Parish Priest reference
• Catholic students from outside the parish with a Parish Priest reference
• Other Catholic students
• Siblings of non-Catholic students
• Non-Catholic students from other Christian denominations
• Other non-Catholic students

Please contact Gaynor at admin@olof.wa.edu.au if you require a hard copy entry/ enrolment applicant form or if have any questions.

One of our Ministry Leaders, Otis, has shared some information about one of the ways Fatima is supporting Project Compassion:

On Wednesday, 22 February 2023, the Year 6s and the P&F brought back Rice Day and we raised $217.55 in our first week. Rice day is a special day at OLOF where we get to eat rice for lunch, to help us remember that some kids around the world only get one bowl of rice each day and are less fortunate than us. The money we raised as a school will go to such things as drawing supplies for students in Nepal, a week’s supply of art canvases for Baabyn’s youth group In Australia, training for people in money matters in Zimbabwe and support for households of people with disabilities in Vietnam. It was so nice seeing happy faces eating yummy rice and we look forward to the 8th of March for the next one.

Learn more about Project Compassion here….

Through Project Compassion, we learn about Tereesa, a Gamilaroi woman from Western Sydney who struggled with homelessness while raising her four children. At just 16 years old, she had to leave school after falling pregnant with her first child. A single mother struggling with homelessness, Tereesa’s only concern was finding stability for her children. Seeking a better future for her family, Tereesa joined Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Young Mums and Bubs Group, supported by Caritas Australia. Baabayn helped Tereesa access housing and psychological support. Through Baabayn, Tereesa was also able to hear stories from Indigenous Elders and reconnect with her culture. Today, Tereesa is studying a certificate in Community Services so that she can strengthen her skills and give back to her community. Tereesa now works at Baabayn, providing support to young mothers and mentoring the next generation of young people.

Watch a short film about Tereesa’s story here.

We also focus on the Project Compassion story of Priscilla, who lives in the Hwange district in Zimbabwe with her husband, Charles, and two of their grandchildren. Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in the most vulnerable and remote communities in Zimbabwe. During times of intense drought and food shortages, Priscilla had to commute to the town centre and wait in long queues to collect food. With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops and started poultry farming to support her family during the current food crisis. Priscilla was able to produce a bumper harvest in her first year of practising in conservation farming. Priscilla also used the funds from her harvest to start poultry farming, which enabled her to sell eggs to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees, books and stationery. The poultry farming provides a safety net for Priscilla and her family during times of hardship, like the current drought. While the situation in Zimbabwe and across eastern Africa remains dire, the work of Caritas Hwange means that Priscilla can learn the techniques, tools and resources she needs to build resilience and support her family during this current food crisis.

Watch a short film about Priscilla’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Congratulations to Bia in Year 6, who competed last week in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Qualifying Competition. We are proud of you!

If you have some ‘Fabulous Fatima’ news, please email principal@olof.wa.edu.au.

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to the Word on Wellbeing! This section of the newsletter is dedicated to everything WELLBEING! Each fortnight I will highlight what’s happening around the school in the eyes of Wellbeing.

Last year as a school we developed a new Student Code of Conduct with the help of each class and our Year 6 leaders. At the start of this year each class from Kindy to Year 6 spent some time re-familiarising themselves with the Student Code of Conduct and understanding the behaviours that are expected when they are supportive of each Code of Conduct Statement.

It has been beautiful seeing the students following their Student Code of Conduct and showing the Fatima Way over the last 5 weeks.

Kiera​ More

Teacher

Colour blindness

Children who are colour blind can see as clearly as other people but can’t tell the difference between some colours or see colours differently from other people. Very few people who are colour blind are ‘blind’ to all colours – most often they see red and green as very similar.

It’s good to know if a child is colour blind because they may have difficulty at school with activities that use colours, such as drawing and sorting blocks, and with computers. Please read through information on colour blindness provided by Raising Children Network.

Colour blindness: babies, children & teens | Raising Children Network

If you have any concerns, colour vision testing can be performed by some General Practitioners (GP), eye specialists or optometrist. You can also contact your local Community Health Nurse.

Scoliosis and Health information for parents of upper Primary School Students

Health Information for Parents of Upper Primary School children and a brochure on Scoliosis has been distributed to all Year 6 students. Please read through the information provided and check your child for scoliosis as described in the leaflet. If you have any concerns, please contact your General Practitioner.

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. It can be detected by a simple examination of the back.

he normal spine has three curves – one in the neck, on in the upper back and one in the lower back. These curves can be seen from the side, but when you look from behind the spine should appear straight. If the spine has a sideways curve, this is scoliosis.

Please read through the scoliosis information provided by Raising Children Network and check your child for scoliosis as described.

Scoliosis in children and teenagers | Raising Children Network

If you have any concerns, please contact your General Practitioner or Community Health Nurse.

Kind Regards,

Anne Kennedy

Child and Adolescent Health Service

Registered Nurse | Melville Region

90 Cordelia Avenue, Coolbellup WA 6163 | PO BOX 4016, COOLBELLUP WA 6163

t (08) 9314 0100 | m 0408 881 437 | w cahs.health.wa.gov.au

Il Sorriso offers 3 days of lunch delivery on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays using the School Lunch Online platform.

A few gentle reminders with lunch ordering:

• Please ensure that your child’s year level and details are up-to-date. Mrs Cook spends a bit of time sorting the lunches and it would greatly assist her if the details are correct.
• If you do not place your order on time, please DO NOT contact Il Sorriso directly. Instead, contact School Lunch Online on 1300 787 939 or https://www.schoollunchonline.com.au/contact.html.

Keyed Up Music will be providing tuition in the following instruments at Our Lady of Fatima in 2023;

• Piano
• Guitar
• Drums
• Voice

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.