Our Lady of Mercy
NEWSLETTER | TERM 2 | WEEK 1 | 21 APRIL 2021
Prayer for the beginning of Term 2
Lord, as we prepare for the coming of a new term make us ready, attentive and available to hear you.
Thank You for the gift of being able to rise each day
with the assurance that You walk through it with us.
Thank you for the gifts of creativity and uniqueness, and the energy to put them to good use.
May all that we are today, all that we try to do today, may all our encounters, reflections, even the frustrations and failings all be place in your hands.
May the work we do and the way we do it, bring new hope, new life, and courage to all we come in contact with this Term. We thank you, Lord.
We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back to school and to Term 2. I trust you and your children had a restful holiday and that you are re-energised for a long 11-week term. Our staff were really excited to see the children yesterday and to get back into a good teaching and learning routine.
Staff Development
On Monday staff returned to school for professional development. We looked at new Maths assessments, we learnt more about English as an Additional Language/Dialect and importantly we started developing a shared moral purpose.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Our students are fortunate to have so many wonderful before and after school activities on offer to them. We have badminton and soccer planned for this term and have just added football coaching sessions too. Further information will be sent to families regarding all these sporting events. We must acknowledge and thank our dedicated and passionate sport's teacher, Ms Bridgette Millen for arranging all these opportunities for our students. It is important to note that these before and after school sporting opportunities are booked with and monies paid to the organisations or individuals running the program. The school’s only involvement is to provide the facilities.
Apart from the opportunity to be engaged in a range of sporting activities, our wonderfully talented music teacher, Ms Anna-Maria Agnello also runs choir before school on a Friday for interested students.
In addition to these programs, our school social worker, Mrs Hannah Thomas has developed a sensory program which she is running three times a week before school for selected students. Our students and families are truly blessed and fortunate to attend a school where every staff member is committed and dedicated to helping our children grow and develop across the spiritual, academic, physical and social/emotional domains.
Camp Australia
Camp Australia is coming to our school. We are hoping that within the next few weeks Camp Australia’s license to operate a before and after school care program at our school will be granted. We will let our school community know the commencement date of this service as soon as Camp Australia informs us. More information about Camp Australia and its programs will soon be made available to families.
Naplan
Our Year 3 and 5 students are being prepared to take Naplan tests. While it is quite natural for students to feel a little nervous before a test, it is important to remind your children that the results from Naplan do not tell us how special they are. Naplan does not measure their kindness, empathy, creativity, motivation, effort or ability to be a good friend. Naplan tests language conventions, spelling, writing, reading and numeracy skills. Naplan provides our school with information about how each student is developing against the Australian Curriculum, but it does not test or measure your child’s God-given uniqueness or potential. Please encourage your child to relax and to just try their best.
Prayers
Can we please ask you to keep in your prayers, two school families, whose grandmother passed away towards the end of last term.
Pop In or Stop Us for a Chat
We love talking to you. If you see us around and about the school grounds, please stop to say hello and have a quick chat. If you have any concerns or would like to share any good news stories you are also always more than welcome to make an appointment to see either Ms Zanetti, our Assistant Principal or myself.
God bless you.
Ondine Komnick
Principal
Important dates coming up
Wednesday 28 April - Parent survey closes
Monday 26 April - Anzac Day Holiday (no school)
Tuesday 11 May - Year 3 and 5 Naplan begins
Seeking donations of second-hand uniforms
We are seeking donations of second hand school uniforms. If you have any uniform items in good condition, we ask you to please consider donating them to our school. We give these uniforms to families who may be unable to afford new uniform items. I know the families we help, are incredibly grateful for your generosity.
Provide latest medical information
If your child’s medical history has changed, please make sure that you inform the school. To provide the best care to our students, we need their latest and most up to date medical information. This is particularly important if your child has asthma or has been diagnosed with an allergy.
Tuesdays - back gates will open at 2.50 pm
If you are collecting your child from the back gates on Tuesdays, please note the gate will not be opened until 2.50 pm by the duty teacher as we have whole school Fitness on Tuesday afternoons and need to keep the area secured.
Canteen winter menu now available
On offer this term
Sensory Program
As part of our Wellbeing and Mental Health Initiatives at Our Lady of Mercy Primary School next week we will be launching a Sensory Integration Program called “SENSE-ational Kids”. The program will run on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week before school from 8.10 - 8.25 am.
The SENSE-ational Kids Program will be a series of activities set up in an obstacle course which is designed to stimulate the senses. The programme aims to help children’s mental health and wellbeing by exposing them to sensory stimulation in a structured, repetitive way. These activities are designed to reduce stress and anxiety as well as boost working memory and increase concentration.
Permission slips for selected student went home at the end of last term however if your child did not receive one and you would like us to consider them please let us know.
Entertainment Book P&F Fundraiser
Community support
Calendar and dates to remember
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/