Orana Catholic Primary School
Term 2, Week 6, 2021.
TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE
Generosity is an attitude of freely sharing our ideas and talents and giving our time generously. We show generosity by being welcoming, inclusive and promoting a sense of belonging.
The Rainbow Prayer - Reconciliation Week Prayer
Reconciliation Week Prayer- The Rainbow Prayer
by Revd Robyn Davis, Diocese of Bendigo
Dear loving Lord, creator of all,
You created us all in your own image’
One image -- many colours
One image -- many cultures.
You made us come together like a rainbow,
separate parts but coming together in one creation.
Help us to see the beauty you have created
in each and every one of us.
Dear loving Lord, we are your creation,
Hear the cries of your people.
You gave us ears to hear and eyes to see,
Open our eyes to what you want us to see,
Help us to always look to you to see the wisdom
of your ways.
Dear loving Lord, creator of all
You gave us hearts to love and minds to reason
Help us to understand our differences
and grow in love for each other.
Help us to come together as the rainbow comes together,
many colours, shining as one creation over all the earth’
As you intended us to be.
In the name of your dear son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
National Reconciliation Week has a strong history in Australia. It started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia’s major faith communities. In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first National Reconciliation Week. In 2001, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue to provide national leadership on reconciliation. In the same year, approximately 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of National Reconciliation Week-and subsequently across bridges in cities and towns, to show their support for reconciliation. Today, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in schools, early learning centres, community organisations and groups, and by individuals Australia-wide. This week at Orana, students participated in various Reconciliation class activities.
As you may be aware from my earlier letter, Di McKay, a much loved and long serving staff member, passed away suddenly yesterday. Di was an admired and talented teacher who has shared her gifts and dedication to teaching for many years within the Orana community. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Di’s family and friends in the Orana community and beyond. Please keep Di’s family in your prayers.
Mrs Perrigo and Mrs Fernando have set up an outdoor classroom with learning experiences based on the theme of Reconciliation. Please feel free to stop by and share a story with your children. Our Aboriginal Education Team shared the newly purchased ‘Our Land, Our Story’ resources with staff. This will assist staff to continue working towards our School Improvement goal to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives when relevant to various learning areas.
On Monday, Catholic school communities across the nation gathered to celebrate a milestone of 200 Years of Catholic Education. Mrs Perrigo, Mrs Alp, two elected representatives from Year 6 Elsie and Anu and myself attended a celebration Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. Archbishop Costelloe spoke on CEWA’s collective aim to be Christ-centred and child focused, which is firmly founded in the brave and proud history of the those that who were integral in establishing and continuing Catholic Education over the past 200 years.
There was excitement in the air on Tuesday, as students participated in the 2021 Orana Colour Run. This was a fabulous community building event. Many thanks to the P and F Colour Run committee for the hours of work put in in the lead up and during the event. The committee’s efforts made this a truly memorable experience for students. This event was made possible and ran smoothly because of the number of generous volunteers that gave up some or all of their day. The photos show so much joy on the faces of the children and even some staff. Be sure to watch the 2021 Colour Run compilation video below.
On Tuesday afternoon and eventing, staff were involved in packaging and distributing 150 hot meals to the homeless, in Perth city. Each term, staff donate money and time to give generously to support the less fortunate. This is a wonderful way to put our faith into action in a practical way.
Thank-you to all the parents and carers that carefully read the traffic memo sent on Monday. I have included the traffic flow diagram below. Parents are arriving later in the afternoon and this is already assisting in reducing the traffic congestion We have spent this week trialling a few variations in both the mornings and afternoons, during peak times. The following observations and suggestions will assist further:
· Please do not arrive to school well before the end of the day. This causes the most congestion, as the children are not yet ready at the green shed for collection to commence traffic flow. Please come later; by 3.20pm the traffic flows smoothly.
· Move all the way along to the far end of the pick-up line (beyond the green shed), even when it looks clear (Cars bank up very quickly behind cars that stop in the midway along the lane).
· Do not drop off or collect children in the carpark near the office. This is unsafe and stops the flow of traffic.
· Please only park in the Disable Parking Bays if you have an ACROD permit. We have parents, carers and grandparents that have ACROD permits and they should not arrive at school to see other cars in these bays without permits.
· Please keep your children within your arms reach when moving to and from your car, particularly now cars are accessing the north western end of the oval.
· Do not get out of the car in the drive through drop off or pick up line. If you need to assist your children, please park in a bay or on the overflow oval parking.
· Only reverse park in the overflow oval parking along the back fence. This ensures you can see any pedestrians returning to their cars as you drive out.
· Please drive slowly in the carpark.
Thank-you again for your patience and cooperation.
The Term 2 calendar can be found on our website. https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/calendar/
Any changes or updates will be added to the Events Calendar also on our website.
Take care and God bless.
Dee Johnston
Principal
Dates To Remember
TERM 2 - WEEK 7
Reconciliation Week Continues
1 June - Pre-primary Bush Tucker Incursion
2 June - School Photos
2 June - Lifelink Day and launch
3 June - School Photos
3 June - Cross Country
3 June - First Holy Communion Parent Child Workshop 5pm-6pm or 6.30pm-7.30pm
3 June - P and F Meeting 6pm
4 June - Pre-primary Liturgy
4 June - Junior Assembly
Faith In Action
National Mass for Catholic Education
Our Year 6 students, Anu and Elsie were asked to attend the National Mass for Catholic Education at St Mary’s Cathedral this week with Mrs Johnston, Mrs Alp and our long-serving staff member, Mrs Perrigo. The Mass was celebrated with all Catholic schools that could attend in the metropolitan area together with other Masses occurring concurrently around Australia. This began with a video message from Prime Minster, Scott Morrison. 2021 is a significant year as it celebrates 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. It also coincides with Catholic Education WA celebrating 50 years at a system level.
First Communion Parent/Child Workshop
This Thursday, 3rd June our Year Four First Communicants together with a parent/carer with attend a workshop to prepare for the celebration of the Sacrament of Eucharist. Families can choose to attend either one of the following times:
· 5-6pm
OR
· 6.30-7.30pm
Kathryn Alp – Assistant Principal
From our Parish of Saints John & Paul
Please visit the Parish website for the latest information on weekend Masses.
YEAR 6 GRADUATION FUNDRAISER UPDATE
Thank you to everyone who has helped contribute to our fundraising efforts so far, for the Year 6 graduation. Our Sundowner Food Fundraiser, Hotdog Lunch Fundraiser and Zooper Dooper sales have helped immensely towards our fundraising goal. The Year 6’s and their parents are greatly appreciative of this.
On the Term 2 planner you may have seen that Milo Mornings were planned for Fridays when the cold weather kicked in. However, due to some logistics we have made the decision not to go ahead with this. Please be aware that we will no longer be doing Milo Mornings. We are sorry for any disappointment this may cause.
Our last Zooper Dooper Friday is planned for the 4th of June. Weather permitting we may extend this and will communicate on a weekly basis if we decided to do so. We will be taking a break from the Zooper Dooper sales during the winter months.
Once again, thank you for all your support in helping our Year 6’s reach their fundraising goal. We are proud of the school community spirit.
Social Justice Group Plant Sale
At the end of this term, the Social Justice team will be holding a plant sale to raise money to buy food that the teachers will then cook and serve to the homeless in our community. If you have any plastic plant pots or milk cartons that you can donate for us to put plants in, it would be greatly appreciated. We would also be grateful for any plant cuttings. If you are able to help us, pots and plants can be dropped off at the year 4W classroom. The Social Justice group will take care of the plants until the plant sale. We will inform you of the specific date in the near future.
NEWS FROM THE P&F
Colour Run? Done.
Kids happy faces? Plenty.
Community coming together? Oh yes.
I feel truly blessed being a part of this community that keeps on giving. A big thank you to Bridget Sivacolundhu who led this committee (and did a fantastic job at it!), along with the committee members David Mulcahy, Janet Kearney, Gabriel Gonzales, Mahesha De Silva, Sarah Hegarty, Roxanne D’Amato, Lorraein O’Callaghan-Munt, and Paul Hadley, as well as everyone else who helped leading up to the event and during the day. I wish to also thank the teachers and staff who were a great help to us on the day; we couldn’t have done it without your help. The Year 6 leaders who have helped us at each of the stations were fantastic; it is truly a demonstration of how well the school has done to shape and grow them to be a happy and resourceful people.
I am still buzzing from the event and it gave a positive vibe that I carry with me. I hope it brings you all joy too.
On that note, our next P&F meeting is going to be held on Thursday 3rd June 2021, at 6pm in the school library. This is a good opportunity to take part in our Orana community, and get to know each other better.
For good measure, here are some of the happy snaps from the Colour Run. For more happy snaps, please check out the TV screen at the quad, where Mrs. Lynn Perrigo has helped put together some slide shows on the day.
Kind regards,
Orana P&F Executives.
OSHC News
SOCIAL WORKER NEWS
Grounds / Maintenance News
School Banking
School Banking day is Wednesday. Please bring bank books to the office each Wednesday morning. We are not able to securely store personal bank books, so they must be brought in every Wednesday and will be returned on Wednesday afternoon.
2021 Professional Development Days Reminder
The following dates are pupil free days for 2021. For your future planning OSHC will offer a full day program on these dates.
Monday 19th July - Future Focussed Learning Professional Development
Friday 24th September – Catholic Day
Monday 11th October – Data Analysis Professional Development and Wellbeing Session