Orana Catholic Primary School
Term 1, Week 3, 2024
Project Compassion Prayer 2024
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Project Compassion Launch
On Shrove Tuesday, our Year 6 Social Justice Leadership Team along with Mrs Tormay participated in the online Project Compassion Launch. The team shared pancakes and discussed possible team actions for the Lenten Season.
Ash Wednesday
On Ash Wednesday, we come together reflect that we do not 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. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent; the season of change.
At Mass and at the junior liturgy, Father CJ shared Pope Francis’ words of encouragement to ‘Give Up (something that keeps us from being close to God), Take Up (something that helps us to be closer to God) and Lift Up (to give support to others in need)'. I encourage you to discuss this further with your children.
Many thanks to Father CJ, Kathryn Alp, Sarah Draper, Monica Fernando, the choir and the altar servers for their contribution to this significant Mass.
Orana Parent Leaders
I would like to welcome and thank our new, existing and returning parent leaders who have volunteered to join both the Advisory Council and the Orana P and F Committee. The P and F are still looking for a chairperson. If you can assist, please reach out to the committee or the school office.
Advisory Council Members
Barbara Cook
Carmelle Wilkinson
Brenda Guyon
Mathew Maiolo
Emma Monaco
Cesar Villar
Orana P and F Committee
Priya Narsing
Elyse Byers
Pamela Cook
Mark Myers
Leadership Lunch
Last week, we started our Leadership Lunches for the term. A group of Year 5 and 6 students have attended a lunch with the leadership team. This is an opportunity for students to share their reflections, feedback and ideas with the school leadership team. Initiatives, such as introducing a STEM program at Orana, came from an idea tabled during a leadership lunch. It is important to have regular opportunities, such as this, for the ‘child’s voice’ to be heard.
Parent Information Evening
Thank-you to all the parents that attended the Parent Information evening; your attendance demonstrated to your children that you value education and the relationship between home and school.
This year we introduced a new format for the evening, with a focus on engaging parents in the learning process, within the class session and a whole school session, led by the leadership team. The Catholic School Improvement Plan goals and new initiatives at Orana were shared. It was exciting to share the work of the Uniform Review subcommittee and unveil some of the pieces of the new uniform.
We are interested in your feedback on the new format. Please click on this link to complete the short survey.
Make a Move Dance Program
Make a Move Dance lessons have commenced for students from Kindy to Year 6. The students enthusiastically work together to choreograph their group dances. Please save the dates below for the Make a Move Concerts.
Monday 25th March – Blue Classes
Wednesday 27th March – White Classes
Kindy Make a Move Concert will be during class time – date to be confirmed.
Working With Children Volunteer Declaration
A change in legislation requires parent helpers to complete a declaration to state that they are eligible for a parent exemption (i.e., have a child in the school they are volunteering at). Please click on this link to complete the declaration https://forms.office.com/r/7t2SYh2cDr The Working with Children legislation also requires grandparents to obtain a Volunteer Working with Children card if they wish to volunteer at school. Grandparents, please contact the office for more information.
Website Links
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 This includes sacramental and key dates for the year. Please regularly check the Dates to Remember section of the newsletter for updates.
Best wishes and God bless,
Dee Johnston
PRINCIPAL
Pre-primary Parent Information Night
Year 5 Leadership Lunch
2024 Leadership Team
Baby News
Congratulations to Shelley Hardingham and her family. Archie was welcomed into their family early in January. We wish them all the very best for this new chapter of family life.
Faith in Action
The Season of LENT
Fr CJ spoke of what we can do to enter fully into the season of Lent - the 40 days leading up to the season of Easter at our mass on Wednesday. As Pope Francis says, Lent ‘is in some way an image’ of life itself. Part of this conversion is the willingness to sow goodness in the life of others; even when we do not see the fruits of what we sow, no act of love, no matter how small, Pope Francis says, will be lost in the eyes of God. Take this opportunity during this season to reflect.
Orana Catholic Primary School Project Compassion Launch
On Shrove Tuesday, the Social Justice Team joined primary and secondary students from Catholic schools around WA for the official launch of Project Compassion 2024. After celebrating a liturgy together, we participated in a workshop session, viewing videos highlighting the work done by Caritas and developing an understanding of this year’s theme For All Future Generations.
A pancake morning tea was then enjoyed by everyone!
Coming Up - Save the Date (Year 3, 4, 6)
If your child is celebrating either Reconciliation (Y3), First Communion (Y4) or Confirmation (Y6) this year, the first step is to come to the enrolment mass at either Saturday, 9th March at 5.30pm (our school community mass) or Sunday, 10th March at 10.30am at our Parish of Saints John and Paul. After mass, please come to the parish centre to list your child's details.
Orana House Banners
From Our P & F
P&F EXEC COMMITTEE - 2024
We are most grateful for the following people to remain on our P & F for the 2024 school year.
Priya Narsing - Treasurer
Elyse Byers - Secretary
We also welcome a new member to our P and F Committee.
Pamela Cooper - Deputy Chair
Mark Myers - Committee Member
Our school P & F still require the following positions to be filled:
P & F Chair
Coordinator of Classroom Reps
Please consider how you can assist your child's school through the P & F. It is by filling these positions, that community events can take place. You can also join the committee as a general member. If you have any queries, please contact the P & F - oranapandf@gmail.com
CANTEEN ORDERS
Lunch orders have started this term with lots of delicious lunches being handed out every Monday and Wednesday. We do need volunteers Term 1, starting on Wednesday 31st January. Helpers are only required for 35 minutes (12.10pm – 12.45pm) to cross check orders and sort into classroom tubs.
To volunteer, simply put your name down on the signup sheet for 2024 https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/151727938032/true#/invitation . A big thank you to everyone who has already volunteered and ensured a smooth start to this new service.
P and F Fundowner
Tickets - the P and F square site is live and can be accessed from the school website https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/orana-pf/ (P & F Events) or via the square website:
Orana Food Service
'Our Goal is to prepare and donate 100 salads & 100 sandwiches' along with the flyer I have attached. Containers and sandwich bags will be ready for collection from next Monday 19th of Feb. These will be stored in the Front Office with Deb.
From our Parish of Saints John & Paul
Dates for the Season of Lent/Easter:
- Wednesday, 13th March 7pm - Second Rite of Reconciliation
- Friday, 22nd March 7pm - Stations of the Cross (Year 4 presenting)
- Sunday, 24th March - Palm Sunday
- Thursday, 28th March - Holy Thursday
- Friday, 29th March - Good Friday
- Sunday, 31st March - Easter Sunday
Parking and Traffic Flow
Please follow the guidelines in the map below for safe and efficient movement in the school grounds.
Points to note:
- Drive slowly, following the map below.
- Use pedestrian gates, paths and crosswalks; do not walk through the carpark.
- Do not park in Office Visitor or Staff bays for pick up or drop off.
- Oval overflow parking is for one line of reverse parked cars, along the western fence line. No parking on the playing surface of the oval.
Term Dates 2024
Term 1 - Wednesday 31st January - Thursday 28th March
Term 2 - Monday 15th April - Friday 28th June
Term 3 - Monday 15th July - Friday 20th September
Term 4 - Monday 7th October - Thursday 12th December
Pupil Free Days 2024
Labour Day - 4th March
Pupil Free Day - 26th April
WA Day - 3rd June
Pupil Free Day - 4 June
Pupil Free Day - 15th July
Pupil Free Day (Catholic Day) - 26th August
Pupil Free Day - 7 October
Events Coming Up in Our Calendar
2024 - Term 1 Week 4 & Week 5
Monday 19th February - Leadership Lunch - Year 4
Monday 19th February - Young Engineers Club 3.30pm
Monday 19th February - P&F Meeting at 6pm TBC
Tuesday 20th February - Whole School Staff Meeting at 3.30pm
Wednesday 21st February - Make a Move
Thursday 22nd February - Make a Move
Friday 23rd February - CAPA Members' Day
Friday 23rd February - Year 6 Reconcilliation
Friday 23rd February - P&F Sundowner 4 -6.30pm
Monday 26th February - Leadership Lunch - Year 3
Monday 26th February - Young Engineers Club 3.30pm
Tuesday 27th February - PLC Meeting
Tuesday 27th February - Homeless Food Service
Wednesday 28th February - Make a Move
Wednesday 28th February - Year 4-6 Orana Swimming Carnival 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 28th February - Parish Council Meeting 7pm
Thursday 29th February - Make a Move
Friday 1st March - Salvado House Mass
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is supplied by the school in all classes. These photos show the brand and the ingredients. If this sunscreen is not suitable for your child's skin, please provide a suitable sunscreen, in your child's bag, for your child to use and let you class teacher know.
Social Worker News
What Are Reasonable Consequences for Kids Anyway?
It was William Schwenck Gilbert who coined this phrase during the late 1800’s, not as a parenting mantra mind you. It’s a useful approach for parents to keep in mind, without the need for consequences to become punitive and hurtful. Kids make mistakes, and that’s how they learn. Reasonable consequences are related to what’s happened, respectful of everyone and within the limits of reason. They flow naturally from whatever has happened to warrant them. If we think of our role as parents as coaches and teachers, reasonable consequences become clearer and come from a place of support and teaching, rather than punishment and penalty.
Regards,
Kath Warburton
Social Worker
A note from the School Health Nurse
Welcome to the new school year. My name is Fiona Ewing and I represent the Canning School Team. I am employed by the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
School Health Nurses work in schools to promote healthy development and wellbeing so students may reach their full potential. A major part of our work is focused on early intervention and the School Entry Health Assessment program. Additionally, we can be contacted at any time throughout primary school if you have concerns about your child’s health, development or wellbeing.
School Health Nurses serve as a health contact point for children and their families, providing information, assessment, health counselling and referral. They also work in partnership with schools to support teachers in health related curriculum and can assist in the development of health care plans for students with complex and chronic health needs.
The services provided are free and confidential.
My contact details are:
92588053 0434070414
Crunch and Sip
Orana is a registered Crunch & Sip school. Participating daily in a class 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.
If Crunch & Sip is new for your family, try some of these tips:
- Start with fruit and vegetables your children are more familiar with
- Try sweeter vegetables like red capsicum or cherry tomatoes
- Allow children to choose their Crunch & Sip fruit and vegetables
- Keep vegetables fresh at school by storing in thermos containers
· Let kids pick out a special Crunch & Sip container and a good quality water bottle (students are asked to bring their fruit or vegetables in a separate container to their lunch box).