Our Lady of the Cape Primary School
Newsletter - 15th February 2024
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Church season of Lent.
The word Lent comes from an old English word LENCTEN meaning Spring,
a time of birth and regrowth.
Lent is a season that serves as a spiritual preparation
for the joy of the Easter Season.
During Lent we reflect on our own lives…
are we being true to Christian values?
Is our relationship with God central to all that we do each day?
Do we reach out in generosity and compassion
to those who are suffering in our world from lack of food, freedom and justice.
Let each of us make this Lent a real time of reflection and renewal.
Dear Parents and Community Members,
Ash Wednesday Liturgies
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and Fr Archie joined us to mark the beginning of the Church season of Lent.
Project Compassion
As part of our Lenten preparation, we are called to develop a closer relationship with God through prayer, fasting and giving. Each class has a Project Compassion collection box. Donations can be placed in this box in support of Caritas Australia. This year's Project Compassion theme is 'For All Future Generations'. This message invites us to step up for those who do not have the essential resources they need for their survival and those whose needs at this time are far beyond ours. By putting compassion into action, we can make a difference today, 'For All Future Generations'.
Introducing Jessica Graham
Hello OLC community!
My name is Jess Graham and I feel very excited and privileged to have accepted a Music Specialist position here at your beautiful school.
I look forward to meeting you all and to be working alongside the wonderful Amy Sherborne to create a positive and inspiring Music program for your children.
I will be working on Wednesdays and Thursdays with the year 1, 2, 3 and 4 students.
I come from a Musical background, and in another life was a professional singer.
Now, I am only sometimes allowed to sing in the car if my children allow it.
Please feel free to say hi if you see me around!
Parent Teacher Meetings
Staff Commissioning and Sacramental Commitment for First Eucharist Mass
Our Staff Commissioning Mass that includes Sacramental Commitment for those wanting to be part of the preparation program for First Eucharist, will be held on Saturday 17 February at 6.00pm at the Church. Year 4 families wanting to be involved must attend to express their commitment. Pizza will be available after Mass, kindly provided by our P&F.
P&F Executive
Our new Executive has been meeting and planning a range of new activities for this year, with a focus on ‘friend-raising’ and ‘fund-raising’. Planned events include raffles, activities for students and gatherings for adults and families. An event planner is being developed and year levels will be asked to support one activity during the year. To assist with this sharing of the responsibility, Class Representatives are needed to support the Executive in their work. Please consider taking on this role. The Executive will guide you! See the P&F section for more information, including some of the projects they have already supported for our school this year. I would like to welcome our new Executive group and thank them for being prepared to put their hands up to ensure the ongoing success of our P&F:
Chair: Jessica Duffy
Deputy Chair/Secretary: Penny Woods and Laura Paxinos
Treasurer: Caris O’Connell
Everyone is welcome at our meetings. Membership of the P&F is for everyone who has a student at our school and is interested in being more aware of what is happening.
Kindergarten 2025
If you have a child who will be Kindergarten age in 2025 and you have not already completed an enrolment form, please come to the office and collect one as soon as possible. The list for 2025 is already starting to fill and it is important that we are aware of siblings of current students who wish to attend Kindergarten at OLC next year.
School Fees
Fee statements will be emailed soon. Thank you for your ongoing support.
NAPLAN 2024
NAPLAN is due to be held in Weeks 7-9 this term. It is particularly important that all students are familiar with the variety of question types used in NAPLAN. The ACARA NAPLAN Online public demonstration site (www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) is available for this purpose and allows staff, students and parents to view, and interact with, example test questions. Please note that students will have a practice session scheduled during the school day, where we can test the school technical capabilities as well as exposing the students to a range of types of questions. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child and NAPLAN, please refer to the information sheets that will be sent home tomorrow and see your classroom teacher to discuss options.
Little Seedlings
Due to the continuation of the building program and the Kindy playground construction, Little Seedlings will commence for 2024 in Term 2. Sessions will be held on Monday mornings. Please keep an eye on the newsletter for information and spread the word about the return of Little Seedlings on Monday mornings, starting next term.
Choir
Our Choir had their first session this morning. Our new Music teachers are looking forward to developing our Choir and we thank parents for committing to bringing their children to school early on Thursday mornings for Choir sessions.
Family Name Cards for pick-up lanes
Thank you to the families who are displaying family name cards to help facilitate a smooth afternoon pick-up. If you need a new card, please contact the office at admin@ladyofcape.wa.edu.au
Merit Certificates
This year, Assemblies will be held on alternate Friday afternoons, depending on school activities. The first Assembly for the year will be held on Friday 23 February. It is expected that all students will receive a Merit Certificate or Star Citizen award once each year.
Cyber Safety
Please consider attending the upcoming Cyber Safety Parent Information Session presented by Nola Marino on Monday 19 February at 6.00pm in the School Hall. Parents of students in ALL year levels are welcome to attend.
Have a wonderful week
May God bless you
Angela Hegney
Principal
Canteen Update
Ordering is done through quickcliq, which can be accessed via https://ladyofcape.wa.edu.au/canteen/
Donation from Bunnings
We extend a big thank you to Bunnings in Busselton who have donated a class set of buckets for our upcoming bucket drumming lessons. We will be sure to make lots of noise with them! Thank you to Debbie West from Bunnings for always supporting our school and for organising this generous donation.
Amy & Jess
Music Teachers
P&F News
Welcome From the New P&F Executive
We would like to introduce ourselves and further extend a big thank you to the outgoing P&F committee for all the wonderful work they have completed and the help they have provided us to get the new committee up and running.
The new executive consists of Jessica Duffy (Chair), Penny Woods and Laura Paxinos (shared Deputy Chair and Secretary roles) and Caris O’Connell (Treasurer).
We are looking forward to working together with our Principal and teachers, class representatives, students and families throughout the year to help raise money for important events and valuable projects for our beautiful school.
Current and Upcoming Fundraising News
The P&F Committee have hit the ground running to assist with the purchase of four interactive electronic whiteboards for both Kindergarten and Year One classes, new kindergarten furniture and toys to set up our new Kindergarten rooms in addition to two large coloured floor mats for both Year One classes (Please see photos below).
Upcoming P&F activities will include fundraising for an updated school promotional video, the purchase of ‘birthday pens’ to be given to students on their birthday by the Principal and funding for pizzas for school family mass events celebrated throughout the year.
The P&F are also currently looking at fundraising options for larger school projects such as additional shade cloths in the playground area and an undercover bus shelter at the top car park. Please watch this space for upcoming Fundraising activities in Term 1.
Class Representatives
Thank you to those who have kindly put up their hand to be a class representative! It’s going to be a great year! We are still looking to fill more class parent representative positions and this is a fantastic opportunity to actively participate in the school community. If you are considering this, please get in touch and we are more than happy to discuss what is involved. Please also find below a helpful handout that nicely summarises what the role involves.
Update from the Mobile Dental van
More about us
Email: admin@ladyofcape.wa.edu.au
Website: www.ladyofcape.wa.edu.au
Location: 245 Cape Naturaliste Road, Dunsborough WA, Australia
Phone: 9781 3200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLCDunsborough/