Orana Catholic Primary School
Term1 Week 5
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
Ash Wednesday Prayer
God our Father,
You formed us from the dust of the earth and brought us to new life in Christ
through the waters of Baptism. We ask you to change our hearts as we journey through these forty days of Lent. Help us to see Jesus in everyone we meet, and to serve him in all persons, especially the poor, the sick and the lonely. By your grace, may our prayers and sacrifices this Lent, help us grow closer to each other and to you, as one family in Jesus.
We make this prayer to you in His name.
Amen
Dear Parents and Carers,
Ash Wednesday begins our forty-day season of Lent that leads to Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we come together like the people of the Old Testament to remind ourselves that we don’t always follow God’s ways and need to ask God for His mercy and forgiveness. Like God’s people in the time of the prophets, we wear ashes to show that we want to turn away from whatever keeps us from God, and to have a 'change of heart', so that we can live in right relationship with God and each other.
On Ash Wednesday, Mrs Alp, Mrs Tormay and I attended the early parish mass. Father Thai blessed and presented Mrs Alp with the ashes to distribute at school during the class liturgies. The students reverently participated in a class-based prayer service to mark this significant event in our Catholic calendar.
For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. Fasting reminds us that food alone cannot make us happy. We must also be fed with prayer, with God’s Word and by meeting Jesus in the Sacraments. This week, students had the opportunity to reflect and make their Lenten promises. They were encouraged to think of ways to do ‘more’ to be closer to God, rather than to simply give something up. I encourage you to continue this discussion with your children.
The State Government mask mandate for Year 3 to 6 students commenced yesterday. Students quickly became accustomed to wearing masks indoors and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. Thank-you to the parents and carers that have been excellent role models to students by wearing masks correctly on school grounds. Education on correct mask wearing and mask hygiene is of high importance. Teachers will support students as they transition to mask wearing. Spare masks are available in classrooms should a mask break or become soiled. Students who are not able to wear masks, are required to get an exemption from a registered medical practitioner.
We understand that there is concern around the rising Covid-19 cases in the community. The State Government’s position is that school continues to be compulsory and students are required to attend, unless unwell. Choosing to keep your child at home as a precaution, is not currently supported by the state government and normal absentee procedures apply. Remote learning is only an option when face-to-face teaching and learning has been deemed not possible. School work can be provided for students who are unable to attend school because they have been identified as close contacts by WA Health and are required to isolate or are Covid positive.
Supervision concludes at 3pm for Kindergarten and 3.30pm for Pre-Primary to Year 6. To ensure duty of care is maintained, students who are not collected by this time will be escorted to the office for supervision. Parents and carers who are unavoidably late on occasion, will need to collect their children from the office, to ensure supervision is maintained.
A Term 1 Planner is available on the website under News and Events – Calendars or via the following link: https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/calendar Please regularly check the Dates to Remember section of the newsletter for updates.
God bless and stay safe.
Dee Johnston
PRINCIPAL
Wearing a Mask at School
Mask Wearing Frequently Asked Questions resource is also available on our website.
Covid-19 Updates
Thank-you for your support in adhering to the current Covid-19 restrictions. All updates are located on our website for ease of reference. There is a new section showing WA Health Advice.
Faith in Action
Project Compassion 2022
This year’s theme for Project Compassion is For Future Generations. All classes have been provided with a Project Compassion box and we ask that you generously donate to this worthy cause during Lent. Did you know that $6 can provide soap and a tippy tap to protect communities against COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Or that $25 can provide a duck for a Rural Training School in the Solomon Islands? Please click on the link below to view Biru’s story, showing Project Compassion in action and highlighting how our generosity can assist others.
Changes to the Parish Sacramental Programme
Please view the table below for the most recent changes to the 2022 Sacramental Programme due to Covid-19 Restrictions. More information regrading enrolment weekends, have been sent via Seesaw and is available on our website here https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/covid-19-portal/
CEWA Childsafe Framework
https://childsafe.cewa.edu.au/introduction-key-concepts/
What is the Element - Rights of the Child?
Recognising each child and young person’s right to be heard and to have a voice in all decisions affecting them.
What Does this Element looks like at school?
*Matters affecting children and young adults are heard and understood from the child or young adult’s perspective.
*Children and young adults participate in designing, implementing and assessing programs.
*Children and young adults are aware there are policies and processes in place to support them.
*CEWA actively encourages schools to provide a variety of opportunities to raise their concerns and worries.
*Concerns and worries raised by children and young adults are taken seriously, and their needs and ideas are carefully considered.
*The safety of the child or young adult is the priority in decision making.
*Children and young adults, particularly those who have experienced neglect or abuse, are offered information and support to understand what constitutes healthy and respectful relationships with peers, family and staff.
*Self-esteem and confidence of children and young adults is supported with training to foster self-assertiveness.
*Protective behaviours curriculum is taught and integrated.
School Photos
Crunch and Sip
Orana is now registered as a Crunch and Sip school. Please see our pledge below.
If you wish to read more on the benefits of the program and see some fresh food ideas, please visit the parent information section of the website. https://www.crunchandsip.com.au/parents
Participating in a daily Crunch&Sip break provides an opportunity for children to drink water and eat an extra serve of vegetables or fruit to support good health and to help with learning and concentration in the classroom.
Crunch&Sip is also a fantastic opportunity to increase vegetable intake by choosing to pack vegetables more often.
Dates To Remember
Term 1 - Week 6 - 2022
- Monday, 7th March - Labour Day Public Holiday
- Wednesday, 9th March - Year 4 Swimming Trials
- Thursday 10th & Friday 11th March - School Photos
Always check the Orana Website for the most up-to-date calendar.
Officer Visitors Carparks
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.
8th April - Staff Professional Development | Promoting Literacy Development
7th June - Staff Professional Development
18th July - Staff Professional Development
29th August - Pupil Free Day | Catholic Day
10th October - Staff Professional Development
From our Parish of Saints John & Paul
Please visit the Parish website for the latest information.
OSHC NEWS
SOCIAL WORKER NEWS
9 Secrets of Confident
Of course, young kids need plenty of encouragement, whether they're learning to crawl, throw a ball, or draw a circle. But your child can get so accustomed to hearing "Good job!" that he may have a hard time realizing when his accomplishments are really worth celebrating. He'll also sense when you're exaggerating ("That's the best block tower I have ever seen!") and may start ignoring your compliments. Don't praise your child if he does something that he's supposed to do. When he brushes his teeth or throws his shirt into the hamper, for example, a simple "thank you" is sufficient. Try to offer specific feedback: Instead of saying that your child's drawing is gorgeous, you might point out his nice use of purple.
Kind regards
Kath Warburton
Social Worker