Orana Catholic Primary School
Term 4 Week 3, 2022
Excellence
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 Teachers
Grant our teachers an abundance of Your wisdom. Prepare their hearts to welcome and love our loved ones, and may we make sure to show them love and respect in return. Give them grace as they help students who aren’t thriving, courage to say what needs to be said, tools and knowledge on how and when to speak love, and strength when they feel weak. When they feel unseen, remind them that no moment goes unnoticed. They are shaping the future in one million small - yet incredibly important - ways every day. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of learning they share with our children. Bless them, Lord, and may they see even just a glimpse of how their faithfulness will forever impact generations to come.
Amen.
World Teachers' Day
Dear Parents and Carers,
Today is World Teacher’s Day. The P and F showed their appreciation on behalf of the parent community of the efforts of our wonderful staff. These teachers and support staff are committed to the education of the children of Orana and strive to provide the best possible learning opportunities and their ongoing support, during a complex time. We truly are blessed at Orana with a wonderful staff and community. Thank-you to all involved from our generous P and F for providing the delicious staff morning tea.
Last weekend we had our Junior Community Mass at the parish. Bishop Don Sproxton celebrated Mass as part of his visit to the parish. Thank-you to all her assisting in preparing and participating in the Mass. The choir sang beautifully and we thank our talented musicians. Congratulations to the early years students who received the Faith in Action Awards.
Please consider the safety of our students and families as you drive in and around the school during the peak drop off and pick up times. There is strictly no parking on Querrin Avenue; earlier this week a car was parked near the kerb where people move towards the middle gate to enter the school. As the weather is getting better, please consider parking further away and having a nice stroll to and from your car. If you do use the pick up line, please arrive between 3.15pm and 3.30pm so the line flows. The students are not at the green shed until after 3.10pm. Please be patient, courteous and respectful to others at all times. We are all busy; however, we would all rather take few extra minutes than see a child or family injured.
Please join us at the Highway Heroes Bullying Information Session next Tuesday evening. Tickets are available through the P and F shop.
Advisory Council and P and F AGM
Our school Annual Community Meeting (ACM) is fast approaching. The meeting will be held on Thursday 17th November at 6pm in the library. This is an opportunity to hear reports on the progress of the school in the past twelve months and includes an Advisory Council Report, P&F Report, Principal’s Report, election of Advisory Council Members for 2023, election of P&F Executive for 2023 and announcing the staffing for 2023. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate support for the community and the entities that work to provide the best educational environment for your child. There is one position open on the School Advisory Council and 2 positions on the P&F Executive (Secretary and Class Representative Coordinator).
The Catholic School Advisory Council Terms of Reference were updated at the beginning of 2022.
Function of the Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is established to support the Principal to fulfil their responsibilities
in leading the Catholic Identity, Education, Community and Stewardship functions of the
Catholic School in pursuit of CEWA’s vision to be Christ-centred and child-focused.
The Advisory Council is made up of the Principal (Ex-Officio); the Parish Priest (Ex-Officio), four to six persons. Additionally, a person nominated by the P&F and an additional member nominated by the Parish are invited to meetings. Membership of the Advisory Council is for a period of three years.
Advisory Council membership conditions are:
(a) a commitment and desire to promote Catholic education and give service to the Catholic School Community;
(b) a commitment to the safety, wellbeing and pastoral care of all students and staff;
(c) an ability to work cooperatively and constructively with the Principal, school leadership team and all other members of the Advisory Council;
(d) the possession of skills, competencies and experience that are reflective of, relevant and beneficial to the Catholic School Community; and
(e) a sufficiency of time to devote to Advisory Council duties.
New Catholic School Parents and Friends Group Terms of Reference will come into operation at the beginning of 2023.
Function of the P and F
The P&F is established to support the Principal to fulfil their responsibilities in leading the
Catholic Identity, Education, Community and Stewardship functions of the Catholic school
in pursuit of CEWA’s vision to be Christ-centred and child-focused. Catholic Education partners with and supports parents and caregivers as the first educators of
their children.
The P&F is led by a volunteer group of parents, each of whom are elected to office bearer positions. These people are identified as P&F Committee members. The P&F Committee should be comprised of four to six persons plus the Principal or their delegate.
P&F Committee must consist of the following office bearers:
(a) Chair;
(b) Deputy Chair;
(c) Secretary; and
(d) Treasurer.
P&F Committee membership is reviewed annually at the Annual Community Meeting (ACM). P&F Committee members are appointed to the role for two years. P&F Committee members can serve no more than six consecutive years (three terms) in that role.
The P&F Committee membership conditions are:
(a) a commitment and desire to promote Catholic education;
(b) a commitment and desire to give service to the school;
(c) a commitment to the safety, wellbeing and pastoral care of all students and staff;
(d) an ability to work cooperatively and constructively with the Principal, school
leadership team, the School Advisory Council and other members of the P&F; and
(e) a sufficiency of time to devote to P&F duties.
If you would like to nominate yourself or another person for a position on the School Advisory Council or P&F Executive for 2022, please complete the information on the relevant form below and email it to the office at admin@orana.wa.edu.au with the subject line ACM Nomination.
If nominating someone else, please ensure that they are aware of the nomination. All nominations need to be received by Monday 14th November.
Advisory Council Member Nomination Form
Name of person you would like to nominate:
Nominator (if different from above):
Contact Phone Number of Nominee:
P&F Nomination Form
Name of person you would like to nominate:
Nominator (if different from above):
Contact Phone Number of Nominee:
Position Nominated for (Secretary or Class Representative Coordinator):
Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten interviews for 2023 are continuing. Places are filling so if you or a friend or family member have a child turning 3 or 4 years old next year, please contact admin@orana.wa.edu.au
Class Placement Requests
Class teachers will soon be looking at class groupings for 2023. Many factors are considered when selecting class placements for students and the children’s best interests are the main priority when these decisions are made. Students will get the opportunity to list peers that they work well with and would like to have in their class. We aim to ensure that at least one child from the list will be in the class for 2023.
We attempt to satisfy genuine parent requests; however, this is not always possible. If for any particular reason, you have a valid class placement request (see below), please put this in writing via email to myself, (dee.johnston@cewa.edu.au) with the subject line ‘Class Placement Request’. Parent requests must be received by 28th October 2022.
Valid requests:
a) Separating or keeping twins together.
b) Providing insights into your own child’s personality or learning needs/style.
b) Respectfully providing the school with insight into relationship issues a child may have with another student.
Please note the following are rarely valid requests and are not able to be considered.
a) Requests for a particular teacher, as staffing can change for various reasons.
b) Requests for a child to be in a class with a particular student. At times, we get conflicting requests where a parent would like their child to be in the same class as a particular student and the other child’s parent has requested that the two children be separated. There are also occasions where parent requests conflict with their child’s request.
A term calendar detailing the events for this term has been updated and is on our website. It can also be accessed on the following link www.orana.wa.edu.au/calendar
Further updates and any changes will be uploaded to our online calendar, also on the website. Knowing what is coming up in the term and planning ahead, reduces anxiety for all community members and ultimately, for our children.
All class requests must be emailed by the Wednesday 2nd November. Requests after this time cannot be considered.
God bless and take care.
Dee Johnston
Principal
Faith in Action
Junior Community Mass
Our last Community Mass for the year was held on Saturday night. It was a joyous and prayerful celebration where Bishop Don Sproxton joined us as he was completing the Parish of Saints John and Paul Canonical Visit. It was wonderful to see our younger members of our school receive their Faith in Action Awards.
Congratulations - Australasian Problem Solving Mathematics Olympiad
The following students achieved results in the top 25% of all competitors across Australasia.
Nicholas, Smara, Xavier, Gabriel, Evan and Pratyaksh.
Congratulations to Deishiga for achieving the highest individual score trophy and an award pin for being in the top 10% of all students across Australasia.
NAPLAN 2022
P&F News
The weather is warming up, so why not get something that your family can do together outside? Last chance to get your kites up, up, and away. Orders close on Monday 31st October. https://zoomkites.com.au/order/
The Teasing and Bullying Parent Information Evening is being hosted by the P&F next Tuesday 1st November at 6.00 pm. Please book your ticket below (one per family)
Thank you to all the families who contributed to the World Teacher's Appreciation Morning Tea. The staff at Orana are amazing and go above and beyond for our children, so we really appreciate your generosity. A special thank you to Clarissa Van der Heijden for her creativity and time in putting all this together.
We are looking for two new members to join the P&F committee for next year. One for the Secretary position and one for Class Representative Coordinator. If you are interested please send us an email for more information at oranapandf@gmail.com
Please note there is a time change to next week's P&F meeting. It will now be at 5pm on Tuesday 1st October. Please join us for our last meeting for the year.
Thank you for all your continued support.
The P&F
Quality Catholic Education Award Winner - Podcasting in Primary School
Quality Catholic Education Merit Award - Kaya! Orana to our Noongar Seasons Walk.
Covid-19 Update
The WA Health guidelines state that if a positive result is returned, students and staff stay home until symptoms have resolved. Positive RAT results should be reported to WA Health and to the CEWA Covid-19 Reporting Portal.
Isolation for close contacts is no longer mandated; close contacts are encouraged to test daily for 5 days and only attend school following a negative RAT result. Close contacts may choose to wear a mask.
High standards of personal hygiene should be encouraged. High contact surfaces will be regularly cleaned.
The school has a large supply of RATs awaiting families to collect. Please collect from the office between 8am and 4pm.
The school will continue to be proactive in promoting a healthy learning environment. Please keep your children at home if they are unwell, to reduce the risk of spreading illnesses of any type.
Dates to Remember
Please check the website: https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/calendar/
Monday 31st October - Young Engineers' Club 3.15pm
Tuesday 1st November - Year 5 Bike Education
Tuesday 1st November - All Saint's Day
Tuesday 1st November - CAPSS Athletics Carnival
Tuesday 1st November - P and F Meeting 5pm
Tuesday 1st November - P and F Bullying and Teasing Information Session 6pm
Wednesday 2nd November - Yr 4 Excursion - Museum
Wednesday 2nd November - Yr 6 Transition Program
Thursday 3rd November - Sacrament of Penance Rehearsal 5.30pm
Friday 4th November - Year 6 Waste Audit Incursion
Friday 4th November - Year 1 Liturgy 9.30am
Friday 4th November - Assembly - Junior Certificates 2.30pm
Saints John and Paul Parish
SOCIAL WORKER NEWS
Helping Children Deal with Conflict
Dealing with conflict is part of life but, because it’s fraught with emotion, is not something we always handle well. Children especially can have trouble dealing with conflict between peers or siblings, resulting in meltdowns which are difficult to deal with. You can help your child better deal with these situations by arming them with some simple strategies they can use when conflict arises.
Regards,
Kath Warburton
Social Worker