OLOF TIMES
21 Aug 2020
Our Vision
Our Lady of Fatima Palmyra is a Catholic School that aspires to
provide a respectful, secure and caring learning environment
where our community is committed to following
the teachings of Jesus.
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
After a cold start to the week the sun has reappeared consistently in the latter half of the week and we are developing the impression that the weather may be turning a little, with the longer days. There seems to be more natural light in the morning and the afternoons are getting longer too, as far as sunlight is concerned. Hoping this is the case, a turn in the weather will be well timed as the children navigate their way through the fortnight swimming programme.
Swimming Lessons: PP-4
Thanks to all the parents for assisting their child/ren to be appropriately prepared for their swimming lesson each day. I spent the morning down at the pool on Monday and the programme started off very smoothly for all the children. The growing number of dressing gowns and jumpers have been great to see to ensure that the children are kept warm going to and from the swimming pool. It is a much better option for the children to get changed back at school rather than in the public toilets at the pool. A reminder that the children need to wear some footwear to and from the pool for their own safety and the thongs or slides seem to be the best option for the children. Thanks again for your cooperation with this, it is an important part of the curriculum for the children, particularly in our climate here in Perth.
Liturgy – Assumption of Mary
Last Friday our community gathered together in two groups to celebrate an important day in our liturgical calendar, The Assumption of Mary. Led by the Year 2 and Year 6 children, the buddy groups worked together to present a prayerful reflection for the younger children in our school first before presenting the same reflection for the older children at our school. Congratulations to the children involved under the guidance of their teachers. It was a special opportunity for us to devote some time to the wonderful role model our mother, Mary within the context of our Catholic faith.
Virtues Focus
A new focus implemented at our school by our student leaders, under the guidance of Rob La Roche and in consultation with parents is our Virtues focus. This is a process where we highlight a particular focus and explicitly teach the children across the whole school about the focus and acknowledge children for demonstrating the focus. The first virtue we focussed on was GRATITUDE. We have many things to be grateful for living in Western Australia in a loving family and being part of a community like Our Lady of Fatima. So, the focus for the children over the previous fortnight was to show their gratitude towards people who contribute to the life that we have and the experiences we enjoy. Our current virtue focus is FORGIVENESS. When we introduced this virtue to the children last Monday we described that we all make mistakes and there are times where we need to demonstrate forgiveness towards others as part of the moving on process, particularly in social situations. This will be a great way to explicitly address these virtues with the children. Many thanks to Rob La Roche and the parents who have contributed to highlighting this focus in our community.
Student Driven School Fundraising
I have had a number of children approach me and ask if they can hold a fundraiser for a special cause or organisation since we had our Footy Colours day to raise money for Camp Quality following the puppet show. On that day we raised $307 and sent the money off to them last week to assist them to continue the puppet show programme.
A group of Year 6’s and their Year 2 buddies also raised nearly $300 for Caritas, a Catholic organisation who assist underprivileged people in our local community by having a “Guess how many jelly beans are in the jar” competition and by selling Tree House books. Congratulations to Louis – Year 1, Hugo – Year 2 and Lily – Year 2 for winning the competition last week. We will have a break from the fundraising for a couple of weeks but I do have another group of Year 6 students who would like to raise some more money to support Camp Quality. Then to finish the term off, I have a group of Year 1 boys who are keen to sell some second-hand toys and books to help less privileged people in our local community, so any money raised will be forwarded onto Caritas. These are all good opportunities to send great messages to the children and give them a practical way of making a difference in people’s lives.
Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy
We are all looking forward to our traditional Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy on Thursday 3rd September. Our P&F are organising some bacon rolls for all the fathers and grandfathers in our community and a coffee van on site as well. Breakfast will be served from 7:45am, a hardcopy of the order forms for the breakfast was sent home with the children yesterday. The P&F have asked that all forms be returned to school by Wednesday 26th August for catering purposes. Enormous thanks to the mothers in the community who have volunteered to provide the special breakfast for the fathers and grandfathers.
At the conclusion of the breakfast, our special guests will be invited to the hall for the Father’s Day liturgy led by our Pre-Primary children. In keeping with our half school gatherings, we will have our Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2 and the Year 4 class (Year 4’s are our Pre-Primary buddy class) at the liturgy and we invite parents to join us on the special day for the fathers and grandfathers in our community. The liturgy will begin just before 9am.
COVID Situation
In line with Mark McGowan’s announcement earlier this week indicating that the Phase 4 restrictions will continue until at least late October, we will continue with our half school gatherings until then too. In consultation with the P&F, we were looking at the potential of planning a school disco for the children on Thursday 24th September. But in light of the current situation with the restrictions remaining, the P&F executive and I have decided not to go ahead with this event. This is unfortunate, but at the same time we need to send the right messages to the children and families about not becoming complacent in our current predicament.
I also ask parents to be aware of some incorrect Facebook posts currently circulating, that have originated from the United States. If you are unsure about anything you hear or read on-line in the current climate, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Upcoming Sporting Events
We will be going ahead with our Year 5/6 winter Sports carnival next Friday 28th August where the children will represent our school in football, soccer and netball at Troy Park. Special thanks to Lisa Callaghan, one of our PP parents who is sharing her expertise to prepare our netballers for the carnival. This is always a good day for the children and an opportunity to develop some social connections across the different schools as well as enjoy the sporting experiences that the day presents.
Our school Athletics carnival is also locked in for Friday 18th September at Aquinas College. Given the outside venue, we feel it is appropriate to go ahead with this whole school event, so let’s pray for good weather and an enjoyable day for the community. Our P&F have indicated they will be facilitating the traditional cake stall and are also planning to facilitate a Subway lunch as an option for the children, so stay tuned for more information regarding this as the date approaches.
Year 1 Assembly – Date Change
Finally, due to locking in our date for the school athletics carnival, we have needed to change the date of the year 1 Assembly to the day before, Thursday 17th September, apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Best wishes for the coming fortnight.
Paul Hansen
Principal
Dates to Remember
Wednesday 26th August
School Board Meeting at 7:30pm
Friday 28th August
Swimming Lessons conclude for PP-4
Friday 28th August
Year 5 and 6 Winter Sport carnival at Troy Park
Thursday 3rd September
Father’s Day breakfast
Thursday 3rd September
Father’s Day Liturgy, led by Pre-Primary
Friday 4th September
Year 5 Assembly
Friday 4th September
Bookweek Dress Up parade between the 2 assembly sittings (approx. 9:20am)
Kindergarten 2021 Enrolment Applications
If you have a child born between 1st July 2016 – 30th June 2017, they are due to attend Kindergarten in 2021. Application forms are available on our website or at the school office. Please return application forms to the school office ASAP. We don’t want you to miss out!
‘Online & Technology Safety’ with Mr La Roche
The online world can be an unforgiving place. We are now more connected than we have ever been which means opening ourselves and others up to potential online abuse, bullying and negative comments. Sometimes we can overlook the consequences of our actions and children can feel disconnected from their online comments due to the lack of face to face contact. This fortnight we want to promote the message of just ‘being kind online’ with a reminder towards how we can help develop our children, and our own, empathetic side and be more responsible online consumers.
Camp quality Fundraising day!
Thank you for helping us support Camp Quality by sporting your favourite sporting team's colours last week. We raised a staggering $307!
It was great to see students getting into the spirit of Footy Colours Day in support of Camp Quality. The playgrounds were a sea of colours with all different codes and teams represented.
‘P&F Community wellness Committee Update’
Term 3 – A Wellbeing Focus
The start of a new term is a fantastic time for us to embrace some new short term goals and perhaps renew our commitment and enthusiasm for existing long term goals.
As a community, our ultimate goals at Fatima centre on living a life with purpose and being the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be. Attending to our health and wellbeing right now, is a critical ingredient in achieving those ultimate goals.
With this in mind, and considering the turbulent first half of 2020, the P&F Wellbeing Sub-Committee is launching a Wellbeing Theme initiative for Term 3. This will involve our school community exploring and experiencing a range of themes and associated activities, vital to the development and maintenance of positive wellbeing.
Mr La Roche will be preparing the Yr 6 Leaders to introduce and demonstrate these themes to the rest of the students, in readiness for experiencing special activities designed and proven to enhance wellbeing.
Wk 5 & 6 – Forgiveness
Wk 7 & 8 – Courage
Wk 9 & 10 – Patience & Compassion
Fathers Day Breakfast Thursday 3rd September
All Dads and Grand-dads are invited to our annual Father’s Day
Breakfast with their children /grandchildren
When — Thursday 3rd September from 7.45am
Where — OLOF oval, undercroft area near the canteen
What — Delicious bacon rolls are FREE for dads and grand-dads.
If mums /children would like rolls, they are $2.50 each. Coffee Van will be on site.
Free Milo Available for the children at the Canteen.
support our school at Gilbert's fresh market and The Foodies Basket
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.
P & F Fundraiser Pasta Napoletana Lunch In conjunction with local Il Sorisso Café
To order please do go via School lunch online.
School Lunch orders every Monday and Thursday.
Uniform Shop
Contact Us
Email: admin@olof.wa.edu.au
Website: www.olof.wa.edu.au
Location: 3 Harris St, Palmyra WA, Australia
Phone: 08 9333 7900