Dear Parents and Carers

Lent

As we journey through the second week of Lent, we are reminded by the prayer above to take this opportunity to draw closer to Jesus. Prayer is the cornerstone to our faith and our relationship with God. There are some Lent reflection brochures in the office that our parish kindly supplied. Please feel free to drop in and collect one.

Interschool Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to our interschool swimming team for representing Orana with pride. The students were engaged and participated competitively. They were good sports and demonstrated our values on Respect and Excellence. Orana finished 4th overall with lots of students placing throughout the day. Thank-you to Tayla Lake for coordinating and thanks to the staff and parent helpers for assisting on the day.

Football Tipping

Unfortunately, we are unable to coordinate the Orana Football Tipping Competition this year. Mrs Perrigo has coordinated the Footy Tipping for many years and we thank her for doing so.

Working Together

Schools work best when staff and parents are like minded in what they want for their students and students see home and school working together for their benefit. For this to occur respect and trust need to be present. As a school we trust that parents and carers are doing their best for their children and parents and carers need to trust that the school has the best intentions for the growth and learning of all children and that we are striving to do our best for each of these. This does not mean that schooling is a smooth process. There will be times during the year where you will need to speak with the school and you may have questions about your child and there will be times when we will need to speak with you regarding your child.

Our community is fortunate that we have caring parents, carers, staff and students. Should your child be experiencing any difficulties and you wish to speak to a staff member about your child, please make a time to meet with the classroom teacher as the first step. Classroom teachers spend the most time in the school environment with your child and will be able to assist you appropriately. Class teachers can be contacted by calling the office and leaving a message, by Seesaw or email (firstname.lastname@cewa.edu.au). Please be aware that messages and emails should be used to organise a meeting and should not be used to attempt to solve an issue. A conversation will need to take place either by phone or in person to ensure we give adequate attention to collaborating for a positive outcome. After speaking with the teacher, should you require further assistance, please contact the office to make a time with Kathryn Alp, our Assistant Principal or Sue Tormay, our Pastoral Care Coordinator. I am also available and will communicate with classroom teachers, the leadership team and parents should further support be required.

Kindy and Pre-Kindy Enrolments 2024

Kindy and Pre-Kindy interviews for 2024 will commence early next term. If you have a child who is due to begin Kindy or Pre-Kindy in 2024, please ensure your application has been received by the school office.

Junior Assembly

Next Friday we invite you to join us for the first Junior Assembly at 2.30pm.

We are at the halfway mark for the term already. I hope you enjoy the long weekend with your family and come back refreshed for the second half of Term 1.

Best wishes and God bless

Dee Johnston

PRINCIPAL

Wellness Week

Next week (Tuesday 7th March – Friday 10th March) Orana will be celebrating Wellness Week. Students are invited to wear sports uniform for the entire week and there will be no homework. You may choose to use this time playing board games, going for a walk, reading a book together and enjoying family time.

Free Dress Day for Caritas Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal

Putting our school motto “To Give is to Receive” into action.

Over the holidays, Zaiden Keogh in Year 5 sold uniform items that he no longer required. He raised $50 and approached the Social Justice Team about donating the money to the Caritas Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal. This led to the Social Justice Team planning a whole school fundraiser to further support this worthy cause. As a result of Zaiden’s generosity, the Social Justice Team are organising a free dress day on Tuesday 14th March. Students may wear sports shoes, sports shorts, something red on top and red accessories such as a hat, socks, hair accessories etc. The colour red was chosen as this colour is in both the Turkish and the Syrian flags. Students will be asked to make a gold coin donation. Thank you Zaiden for instigating this fundraising event. This is a true example of putting our Orana motto, To Give is to Receive, into action.

Sacraments in 2023 - Year 3, 4 and 6

If your child is in Year 3, 4 or 6, they will be celebrating the following Sacraments:

• Reconciliation - Year 3
• First Communion - Year 4
• Confirmation - Year 6

Enrolment Masses for all these sacraments to sign up for the program takes place on the weekend of 11/12th March. Families may to one of the following Masses and enrol for the program.

-5.30pm, Saturday 11th March OR

-10.30am, Sunday 12th March

If your child is in another year level and needs to celebrate a sacrament, please contact your child's teacher.

Inter School Swimming Carnival

Well done to all students in Years 4-6 who were selected to compete at the CAPSS Inter School Swimming Carnival for 2023. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day and the students enjoyed cooling off in the pool. The students represented their school over various swimming strokes, distances and relays and were wonderful sports people, cheering their school and competitors on. A special thank you to Mrs De Boni, Mr Brookes and Mrs Kearney who attend the carnival and helped make it run so smoothly.

Now to the results! Orana did exceptionally well with the majority of our students placing in the top 4 for their races. Overall, Orana placed in 4th position with a total of 174 points.
Congratulations to our three students who came home with a medal. Well done to Charlie in Year 5 who came joint Champion, Jacqueline in Year 6 who came Runner Up and to Zachary in Year 6 who came Champion.

Well done to our fantastic competitors, we are so proud of you all!

Have a fantastic long weekend.

Warm Regards,

Tayla Lake

Heath and Physical Education Specialist

Based on parent feedback, the school is seeking expressions of interest in students continuing to learn Italian as an extra-curricular afterschool program. The after hours program will be coordinated by Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre (IAWCC) and taught by a qualified teacher. Multi-age classes will be offered once a week (on either a Monday or a Tuesday), if we have enough interest to meet IAWCC's minimum number of students required. The cost is subsidised by IAWCC and is very reasonable at $25 per child, per semester. Fees will be due at the beginning of the program and then again in Term 3 for Semester 2. Parents must commit to enrolling into the program for the semester.

Please complete this Expression of Interest Form.

Did you know Orana is a registered Crunch & Sip School?

Participating in a daily in 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.

Wellness Week

Monday 6th - Labour Day

Thursday 9th - Make a Move

Thursday 9th - Priest Visit - Kindy and Pre-Primary

Friday 10th March - Make a Move

Friday 10th March - Yr 3 Liturgy

Friday 10th March - Junior Assembly - 2.30pm

Friday 10th March - P&F Friday Fundowner - 4.00pm

Saturday 11th March - Enrolment Mass - All Sacraments 5.30pm

Sunday 12th March - Enrolment Mass - All Sacraments 10.30am