Orana Catholic Primary School
Term 4 Week 5, 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
Remembrance Day Poppy Prayer Reflection
Look at your poppy. Poppies are bright and cheerful flowers: give thanks to God for the lives of those who have died in war, remembering all the joy they brought to families and friends, and all the good things they did for their home and their country.
Then look at the red petals: red reminds us of danger and harm. Ask God to be close to those who are still facing danger each day, to give courage to the armed forces, and compassion to all who help others.
Place your whole hand over the poppy: poppies are also fragile and need to be handled gently. God cares for those who are hurting and those who are sad. Ask God to comfort all who are grieving the loss of someone they love.
Finally place a finger on the centre of the poppy: ask God to help you play your part in working for peace in the world.
Dear Parents and Carers,
Today we had a Remembrance Day prayer service, led by our Year 6 staff and students. It was a special time of prayer, respect and gratitude where we paused, acknowledged and remembered those who have given their lives in service of their country and those that continue to serve today. Thank-you to all those that worked together to set the scene in the hall to make this special day. Please discuss the significance of this celebration with your children.
I have also included a Christian mediation based on the Lord’s Prayer below created by Year 6 students Mason and Domenic. This is a beautiful meditative prayer and an excellent piece of work integrating Religious Education, Digital Technology and English. Thank-you to the content creators Mason and Domenic for sharing this prayer experience.
This week, students completed their ‘friendship circle’, identifying 5 peers that they work well with. The students’ voice step of our class list compilation procedures is very important. Teachers will use the friendship circle, along with the criteria for balancing classes in regard to academic, social, emotional and behavioural considerations, as they embark on the complex task to class list compilation. Each student will have at least one classmate from their list in their class for 2023. Thank-you for trusting that our staff always strive to create the best possible class allocations.
Congratulations to our Year 3 students that received the Sacrament of Penance last night. Thank-you to Father Thai, Father CJ, Magdalene, our parish sacramental coordinator and the Year 3 staff and parents for supporting the students. The students were prayerful and the service was lovely. Father CJ made special mention of the faith model of parents participating by receiving reconciliation themselves.
Thank-you to the team of P and F parent volunteers who cooked the BBQ lunch for our students today for our Term 4 Canteen Day. Thank-you to Louie Sugiyanto for coordinating the large team of Dads and a few mums. There was much anticipation as the smell of an Aussie BBQ filled the school this morning.
Congratulations to Lucy Gilbert, who has accepted a teaching position at Mary’s Mount Catholic Primary School in Gooseberry Hill from next year. Lucy has worked at Orana for the last 5 years and has done an amazing job in our Early Years classes. We thank Lucy for her passion for teaching and wish her all the best for her future.
Today we are launching our school initiatives parent survey. We have reviewed the initiatives implemented during 2021 and 2022 and would value your feedback. Please click on this link or see the section below for more information.
We are happy to announce that the following teachers will join our team next year; Denielle Borcich, Nicholas Brooke, Nicholas Patat, Sophie Rich and Victoria Salem. All of these new staff members will positively contribute to our Orana community. Some of them will join us at the Annual Community Meeting next week. Please make them feel welcome.
Volunteers Sundowner
The Volunteers Sundowner is scheduled for Thursday 17th November at 5.30pm. Please join us for the sundowner to acknowledge and thank all parent volunteers for their contribution to our school community. All parents, carers and friends are invited and welcome to attend.
Advisory Council and P and F Annual Community Meeting
Our school Annual Community Meeting (ACM) is fast approaching. The meeting will be held on Thursday 17th November at 6.30pm 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. We are pleased to announce that Craig Petta has been granted an extension of his term on the Advisory Council for 2023. Craig has been instrumental in two of our Advisory Sub Committees; the Capital Works Subcommittee and the Uniform Subcommittee. These committees will now be consistent as we work through the next stages of these projects.
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, well-being 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 P&F Executive for 2022 (Secretary or Class Representative Coodinator) , 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.
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
God bless and take care.
Dee Johnston
Principal
FAITH IN ACTION
Orana Social Justice Team Christmas Hampers
The Christmas season is fast approaching and the Orana Social Justice Team are once again collecting items for Christmas Hampers. These hampers will be collected by the Willetton St Vincent de Paul Conference and distributed to needy families. Each class will be putting together one hamper. This week teachers have let you know what item your child is to bring for their class hamper. We ask that it be brought to class by Monday 21st November. If you have any spare Woolworths, Coles or similar shopping bags that you are able to donate for the hampers, they would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the Year 4W classroom. Thank you for helping families in need have a brighter and merrier Christmas.
Sacrament of Penance - First Reconciliation
Congratulations to our wonderful group of Year Three children who celebrated the Sacrament of Penance.
This sacrament was instituted by Jesus in his love and mercy. Jesus offers us forgiveness for the times we have sinned and turned away from God. Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people and God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and the Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, and work to make ‘good” for what we have done. We resolve to do better in the future.
School Initiatives Parent Survey
Having implemented a variety of initiatives throughout 2021 and 2022 we now ask for your feedback and further suggestions. As an Orana community, we value your contributions and input in these areas as we plan for 2023.
Please express your views on the areas attached regarding the implementation of the initiative. Use the space provided to comment on each area (if applicable). Then use the general comment space to add any further feedback.
P&F News
WE WANT YOU?
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
Thank you for all your continued support.
The P&F
P and F Canteen Day
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/
Saturday 12th November - Sacrament of Penance - Certificates and Cake 5.30pm
Sunday 13th November - Sacrament of Penance - Certificates and Cake - 10.30am
Monday 14th November - Young Engineers' Club 3.15pm
Monday 14th November - Kindy 2023 - Information Evening 6.00pm
Tuesday 15th November - Year 5 Bike Education
Wednesday 16th November - Yr 3 Excursion to Kings Park
Wednesday 16th November - Yr 4 Scitech Excursion
Wednesday 16th November - Yr 6 Transition Progam
Thursday 17th November - Advisory Council and P&F Annual Community Meeting (including volunteer drinks)
Friday 18th November - Year 2 Liturgy 9.30am
Friday 18th November - Assembly -Senior Certificates 2.30pm
Saints John and Paul Parish
You are invited to hear Dr Peter Christofides of Notre Dame University speak on:
The Value of the Scriptures for Family and Life
Thursday, 17th November at 7.30pm OR Saturday, 19th November at 10.30am
OSHC NEWS
We are currently reviewing our operational hours, specifically the start time to Before School and Vacation Care.
Please complete the attached survey link, all feedback is greatly appreciated to ensure considerations can be made to further support the working families of Orana OSHC.
https://forms.office.com/r/L04D1Wnegt
We would appreciate passing this link on to Non-OSHC Families, who may wish to use the service if the operational hours were amended. This link will be shared in today's school newsletter to ensure the greater school community has an opportunity to provide feedback.
Thank you.
The OSHC Team.