Orana Catholic Primary School
Term 2 Week 8
TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE
Our community values an attitude of enthusiastically applying energy and effort to become better learners. Excellence is evident when:
• we do our best to develop our talents and share them with others
• we have high expectations of what we can achieve
• we take risks and experiment with the way we learn
• we work hard to do our best work
• we celebrate our achievements
Prayer for Racial Healing
God of justice,
In your wisdom you create all people in your image, without exception.
Through your goodness, open our eyes to see the dignity, beauty, and worth of every human being.
Open our minds to understand that all your children are brothers and sisters in the same human family.
Open our hearts to repent of racist attitudes, behaviours, and speech which demean others. Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial discrimination, and their passionate appeals for change.
Strengthen our resolve to make amends for past injustices and to right the wrongs of history. And fill us with courage that we might seek to heal wounds, build bridges, forgive and be forgiven, and establish peace and equality for all in our communities.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Carers,
At Orana we uphold and value the dignity of each child, parent and staff member. Our values of Generosity, Respect and Excellence, along with our Code of Conduct, underpin how we interact with each other. There is no place for any discriminatory language or actions of any kind. These forms of discrimination, such as racial slurs, have a significant and hurtful impact on members of our community. At school, we immediately respond at the point of need, using our Behaviour Education and Support Guidelines, to ensure all involved are offered the opportunity to reflect on, learn from and restore the relationships that may have been jeopardised. In class, teachers offer learning experiences that proactively promote embracing cultural diversity and respecting individual differences. If the need arises, please contact your class teacher directly, regarding any concerns. Your class teacher is best placed to support your child as they know them best and understand the immediate context. If you require further support, please make contact with Kathryn Alp, our Assistant Principal, and myself. It is vital to have open communication between home and school, to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children are achieved. If you feel you need support for your child or yourself, our social worker Kath Warburton is available.
This week is Wellness Week; a timely reminder to look after ourselves. If we as parents look after ourselves, we are best placed to look after our loved ones. I hope that Wellness Week gives you an opportunity to reflect on the importance of taking time to enjoy family time, quality sleep, healthy food, exercise and mindfulness.
Congratulations to Hallie Purio for taking on the role of Curriculum Coordinator for Semester 2. Hallie will join the distributed leadership team and the Leadership Hub. We look forward to Hallie's contribution to these teams.
On Thursday, our Year 6 students participated in a Mini iPad Conference experience. Due to Covid-19 we were not able to host this experience for students from other schools. Our students enjoyed a Key note speaker, Mrs Hogan, followed by engaging activities. Thank-you to Lyn Perrigo, our Digital Technology Coordinator, for leading the event and for Rebekah Hogan, Lynda Packer, Amy Dreyer, and Monica Fernando for their support and participation, which made this day possible.
Please pray for our Year 4 students who will receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion this weekend at our parish.
The latest Term 2 calendar can be found on our website. https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/calendar/
Any changes or updates will be added to the Events Calendar also on our website.
Kindy interviews for 2023 commenced last term. Please contact Deb Goodwin, our Enrolment Officer, if you have a child that will be of Kindergarten age next year.
Have a lovely weekend.
I will be on long service leave for the rest of the term. Kathryn Alp will be leading the school community. I hope you all have a great end to the term and a restful school holiday period.
Take care and God bless,
Dee Johnston
Principal
Advisory Council News
The Advisory Council have established two new committees for 2022.
Capital Works Committee
This committee will work together to consult with the CEWA Capital Consultant and the appointed architect on a project to renovate and extend the Science / senior toilets block. The renovation will result in a kitchenette and storeroom for Science; a new senior toilet block including a separate universal access toilet; an OSHC office and storeroom and the widening of the pathway to the north of the building. The committee consists of Gary Dunlop, Ann Fissioli, Dee Johnston and myself.
Uniform Committee
This committee will work together to review the current uniform and work alongside Uniform Concepts. The committee consists of Carmelle Wilkinson, Kathryn Alp, Mimma De Santis (seconded from the P and F), Dee Johnston and myself.
The Advisory Council also has a Finance Committee and a Maintenance Committee. The Finance Committee consists of David Giuffre, Candice Van Kampen, Andrew Counsel, Ann Fissioli and Dee Johnston. Maintenance Committee members are Gary Dunlop, Deb Goodwin, Paul Hadley, Chris Edwards and Kathryn Alp.
Thank-you to the committee members for their time and support of the school.
Yours sincerely,
Craig Petta
Advisory Council Chairperson
Grandparents' Morning
Next Friday, 24th June, we had planned to have our Grandparents' Day Mass. At this point in time, it is not appropriate for such a large number of people to be in one space.
Alternatively, we invite our grandparents to a 'Grandparents' Morning' on Friday, 24th June:
*9.30-10.30am - grandparents visit their grand child/children's classrooms.
*10.30am - our bell will ring to invite grandparents to the hall to have some morning tea. Our band will be playing.
*11am - Grandparents' Morning concludes.
COVID-19 Update
WA Health provides information directly to the Covid-19 positive person / caregiver following their registration of a Covid-19 positive test result with WA Health via this Link.
Parents and carers are encouraged to continue their reporting of close contact or Covid-19 positive status to schools through the Covid-19 self-reporting portal via this link. The CEWA COVID-19 Self-Reporting Portal has been updated to align with the current WA Health’s Health Test, Trace, Isolate, Quarantine (TTIQ) Directions. Please do not underestimate the importance of informing the school of a positive Covid-19 case / Close Contact status. Your actions will ensure the risk to others is minimised and that we do our very best to limit the spread of the virus across our community. While RATs can be a convenient and efficient method of testing, a PCR test continues to be the preferred method of COVID-19 detection, due to its clinical accuracy. Where a person is symptomatic of COVID-19, they should be encouraged to undertake a PCR test and isolate, even if a preliminary RAT has returned a negative result.
Health and hygiene promotion and enhanced cleaning regimes remain in place. For now, some risk minimisation strategies remain in place which are over and above the government measures for the safety of our community. Further information on school operating guidelines for the new baseline settings is available on the school website.
Week 8 (11th June to 17th June)
There were 11 cases reported to the school this week. Please carefully monitor for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop. Please keep your children at home if they are unwell.
Faith in Action
First Communion Masses
We pray for the students of our community who will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation this weekend.
The word 'communion' means to be united with; Catholics believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ.
At his last supper, Jesus said of the bread that he shared among his followers, "Take and eat, this is my body." When we receive Holy Communion, Catholics believe that in a mysterious way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ.
Holy Communion and the whole celebration is also known as Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving. First Eucharist is a special occasion - a further step in becoming one with Christ and united with the People of God.
Social Justice Team News
Many people in the Ukraine have been affected by war. The Orana Social Justice Team would like to assist Caritas Australia who are collecting and sending blankets to people in the Ukraine. If you have any spare blankets at home that are clean and in good condition, we would like you to drop them off at the Year 4W class. We will then pass them on to Caritas Australia. This is putting our school value of Generosity and our school motto of To Give is to Receive into practice. We can work together to help others in need. Please put a special effort into doing this. Thank you.
LifeLink Day
On Friday July 1st, which is the last day of term, Orana will be holding a pyjama day. On this day, students are asked to come to school wearing their pyjamas and suitable enclosed footwear. A group of Year Five students have organised this activity to raise money for LifeLink. Students are asked to contribute a gold coin donation to this worthy cause. LifeLink Day provides a wonderful opportunity for students attending Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Perth to join together to show their support for the many service agencies run by the Catholic Church. These agencies help the homeless, people who are disadvantaged and those in need. Last week our Year Six students participated in the official online launch of LifeLink 2022. Thank you for supporting us.
From our Parish of Saints John & Paul
St Vinnies Sleep Out
One night isn't a lot, but it can make a whole lot of difference.
Every night, thousands of Australians experience homelessness. But it doesn't have to be that way. This year Fr Thai, Father CJ and other parishioners are taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise money for the St Vincent de Paul Society to support Australians in need.
Please support Fr CJ & Fr Thai who have decided to sleep under a cardboard box. As a team representing St John and Paul Church Willetton we will spend one of the longest and coldest winter nights on the streets to help raise money for people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness can affect anyone - women, men, and children. It has devastating consequences for individuals and families. But you can help!
Please support us during the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and your donation will help the St Vincent de Paul Society empower more people to get off the streets and into stable accommodation. Vinnies provides counselling, education, health and employment services to help people to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty.
Every donation is meaningful to us. Just fifty dollars can provide a whole family with a warm, nutritious meal this winter. Together we can combat homelessness in our community. Please help us raise funds today! The impact of your generosity will be felt well beyond the 23rd of June.
Fr CJ Millen
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/cjmillen/perth
Fr Thai Vu
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/thaivu/perth
Thank you for your support - it is truly appreciated.
SOCIAL WORKER NEWS
Talking to your kids about Racism
It can be hard to talk to your children about racism. Some parents worry about exposing their children to issues like racism and discrimination at an early age. Others shy away from talking about something they themselves might not fully understand or don’t feel comfortable discussing. Yet others, especially those who have experienced racism, simply do not have such choices.
Regards,
Kathryn Warburton
Social Worker
Positive Behaviours and Student Support Guidelines - Part 5
In the Orana Catholic Primary School Positive Behaviours and Student Support Guidelines, there are behaviours that can be categorised according to the effect that they have on other children, staff and themselves. In all instances, the consequences given to a student will always match the action that has taken place in order for children to learn. E.g. being too physical on the playground to another student = missing out on some/all of a play time. In all instances, we want students to learn, as this is the goal of a primary school education i.e. social and academic maturity. By adopting this method, we are equipping students with the skills to grow into successful, contributing adults.
Orana Catholic Primary School is using the research of Dr Ross Greene https://livesinthebalance.org/our-solution/ . His research and model Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) is the evidence-based model of care that helps caregivers focus on identifying the problems that are causing concerning behaviours in kids and solving those problems collaboratively and proactively.
Please click on this link to read Frequently Asked Questions of this model.
Dates to Remember
- Friday 24 June - Grandparents' Event 9.30am
- Saturday 25 June - First Holy Communion Certificates and Cake 5.30pm
- Sunday 26 June - First Holy Communion Certificates and Cake 10.30am
2022 Professional Development Days Reminder
The following dates are pupil free days for 2022. For your future planning OSHC will offer a full day program on these dates.
18th July - All Staff Whole School Planning Professional Development
29th August - Pupil Free Day | Catholic Day
10th October - Staff Professional Development
P&F News
Thank you to the Parents who attended the P & F meeting on Tuesday, 14th of June. The P & F is not complete without the assistance and support of our lovely parent volunteers.
HOMELESS FOOD SERVICE
Our next Homeless Food Service will be held on 2nd August, 2022. As it is Winter, we are serving hot meals. If you are able to assist in providing 150 serves, please email the P and F on oranapandf@gmail.com or get in touch with Clarissa. More details will be provided close to date.
FAMILY CAMP
Please join us for an overnight camping adventure. There will be optional activities such as wall climbing, disc golf, indoor movie, bush walking, and basketball to participate in, and of course there will be a camp fire!
As this is an off-site activity, you will be responsible for your own children’s supervision throughout the event. Further details will be circulated as soon as we receive them.
CANTEEN LUNCH DAY
Canteen lunch Day is coming up fast. Parents please lock in Thursday, 30 June 2022 as your day off from lunch making. The online shop will be open next week for bookings.
Have a lovely weekend.
Orana P & F