Our Lady of Mercy
NEWSLETTER | TERM 1 | WEEK 2 | 9 FEBRUARY 2022
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the gift of education in every form.
As our students start a new year in uncertain times, may confidence be their foundation, may grace be their guide & may hope be their compass toward a bright future.
Whether at school or at home, we pray they will have eyes to see the needs of those around them and a heart to love well.
May they face each day with positivity, knowing that no matter what comes their way, they will have the support of the Our Lady of Mercy community.
In Jesus name, Amen
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we manage the ongoing Covid-19 landscape.
Yesterday we communicated the new protocols in place for all Western Australian schools. These include:
Cancelling all indoor face to face events – as such the ‘Meet and Greet’ planned for parents and carers to meet the classroom teacher has been cancelled. A parent information booklet and classroom information sheet will be made available in digital format to all families next week. This will provide you with important information like assembly dates, class Mass dates and contact information for your child’s teacher.
Avoiding large gatherings – we have had to cancel our P&F Sundowner and the 123 Magic and Emotion Coaching parent information session we advertised last week for Monday 21st of February. Instead, parents can view a recording from the presenter about our school’s new behaviour management plan (see the link below)
Postponing school camps – our Year 6 school camp booked for this term has been rescheduled to Term 4.
Limiting contact where possible between different year groups – there will be no whole school assemblies or Masses and children will be eating in their year groups.
Parents and carers will be permitted on school site for drop-off and pick up in outdoor locations only.
A parent/caregiver should only attend the school office in the event of a significant pastoral or welfare issue related to their child; wherever possible interaction by staff with parents should take place over the phone or by email/online eg SeeSaw
Gathering of parents at school is to be avoided and adults from different families must socially distance.
Mask wearing for parents has been expanded to outdoors where physical distancing can’t be maintained with existing mask mandates.
We understand these new government requirements may present challenges to some families, but we know you will appreciate their necessity to ensure the safety of all in our school community.
Given the evolving nature of this Omicron outbreak, we need to be prepared to be flexible and to adjust our practices and planning as we are directed to do so by government authorities and Catholic Education Western Australia. You can be assured that we will keep our community informed of any new developments or changes that impact our school.
Kiss and Drive and After School Collection
From Thursday 10th of February, please use the pick up points shown in the graphic in this newsletter.
We ask that families please communicate these pick-up protocols with their children and with extended family and friends who may be picking up your children. The flow of traffic is hampered when people pick children up from the wrong pick-up place. Your co-operation with these measures is appreciated while we trial this new arrangement.
Pedestrian Gate Access Closed
You will have noticed that the City of Wanneroo have been relaying bitumen to create a new cycle path, at the front of our school. The City is going to have to re-establish our wheelchair access, which was removed during these works, at the pedestrian gate near the Kiss and Drive entrance. We will be advised by the City of Wanneroo’s project manager when this work is to be undertaken, at which time this gate will be closed and families will need to enter via the stairway access entrance gate, in front of our administration block.
Prayers
As the year gets underway, let us be mindful of Peter’s encouragement in the verse below for us to strive always to be like Jesus in our interactions with one another.
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3: 8-9
God bless you all.
Ondine Komnick
Principal
Important dates coming up
Confirmation Introduction Meeting - Thursday, 10 February at 6 pm - Parish
Familes will be required to adhere to WA Health Covid directions at this meeting.
Kiss and Drive and After School Collection
Many families are now choosing to use the Kiss and Drive facility to avoid being exposed to large groups of people. This has resulted in our Kiss and Drive becoming very busy with the crowding of children in a small space.
We are going to trial the implementation of the following protocols until the end of Week 5 to try and ease congestion and ensure the health and safety of all in our community.
From Thursday 10th of February, the following pick up points will apply, unless you are collecting your child from their classroom:
- Students in Years 1 to 3 pick-up from the Kiss and Drive
- Students in Years 4 to 6 pick-up from either the Koman Way or basketball entrance.
- Kindy and PP students need to be collected from their classroom.
If you have several children in our school, which means potentially you could have two pick up points, then both children may be picked up from the Kiss and Drive, for example a family has a child in Year 1 and Year 4. Both children can be collected from the Kiss and Drive.
Time to enrol siblings for Kindy next year
Handy tips on behaviour
School uniform
As a result of the global pandemic, our school uniform supplier, Uniform Concepts, has run low on some uniform sizes and items. Until new stock comes in, if you are having difficulty obtaining a uniform, please send an email to Mrs Young at admin@olom.wa.edu.au to explain which items you are having difficulty sourcing and your child will then not receive a uniform reminder note.
Update medical information
If your child’s medical information has changed or your child has been newly diagnosed over the school holidays with a medical condition like asthma or an allergy for example, please speak to Mrs Young at the front office so that we can update your child’s record to provide the best care for them while they are at school.
Canteen
Lunch bags
- Lunch bags can be purchased from Woolworths, Coles or Farmer Jacks
- If you don't have a lunch bag, we will provide one and charge 10 cents
- Write name, class and order on the bag - do not staple or tape
- Try provide correct money. Any change will be taped to bag.
- Lunch bag orders placed in classroom baskets.
- Forgotten lunch: we will provide a sandwich and amount to be paid next day.
Outside School Hours Care - Camp Australia
School Term Dates
Term 1: Monday, 31 January to Friday, 8 April 2022
Term 2: Wednesday, April 27 to Friday, 1 July 2022
Term 3: Tuesday, 19 July to Friday, 23 September 2022
Term 4: Tuesday, 11 October to Friday, 9 December 2022
Pupil Free and Public Holiday Dates
Monday, 7 March (Labour Day Holiday)
Tuesday, 8 March (Pupil Free Day)
Term 2:
Monday, 25 April (ANZAC Day Holiday)
Tuesday, 26 April (Pupil Free Day)
Monday, 6 June (WA Day Holiday)
Term 3:
Friday, 19 August (Pupil Free Day)
Monday, 22 August (Pupil Free Day)
Term 4:
Monday, 10 October (Pupil Free Day)
Sacrament Dates
Penance: Tuesday, 16 August at 6.30 pm
Holy Eucharist: Saturday, 17 September at 6 pm and Sunday, 18 September at 9.30 am
Our Lady of Mercy Primary School
Email: admin@olom.wa.edu.au
Website: http://www.olom.wa.edu.au
Location: 55 Hudson Avenue, Girrawheen WA 6064, Australia
Phone: (08) 9207 7677
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyofmercygirrawheen/