Our Lady of the Cape Primary School
Newsletter - 7th December 2023
Dear Parents and Community Members,
A Christmas Reflection
Christmas is a really busy time for families. It comes just after the end of the school year, which in itself is an extremely busy time, too. It is a time to catch up with people we love, to share meals together and to celebrate what we mean to each other. In amongst the craziness, we can forget the true meaning of Christmas.
Christmas is about love. God loved us and so He gave us His most precious gift, his son Jesus. Christmas is a time where we are called to come together and to love one another. The love that we share in our relationships with others is a reflection of the love of God.
At Christmas, we remember that Jesus was born in poverty, and this is a reminder that we are called to reach out to those in need. Thank you for your generous donations to the Vinnies Christmas hamper appeal, showing our care and concern for others, looking beyond ourselves.
As Christmas approaches, take the time to slow down and breathe. Remember what Christmas is about, reach out to those in need, and enjoy the time with your families.
Community concert
It was a magical night for our Christmas Concert last Wednesday. Thank you to everyone for coming. Our students were fantastic. Special thanks to Mrs King for all her work in preparing the students and organising the logistics for the night. The smiles on the faces of our students and the audience spoke volumes and brought some Christmas joy to our gathering. Thank you, also, to the Arts Crew for their work preparing the decorations which helped set the scene. Their assistance was appreciated as well. See attached photos and save the date for next year (Wednesday 27 November 2024)!
Year 6 Graduation and Farewell Assembly
Today, our Year 6 students have their End of Year Excursion to Gravity, the Busselton Foreshore, Par 3 Mini-Golf and Simmos. We will celebrate their Graduation tomorrow, beginning with a special Graduation Mass giving thanks to God for all the learning, growing, fun and friendship together over the years, followed by morning tea and then a farewell Graduation Assembly (Y3 - Y6) in the hall.
This will involve:
- The Year 6 Cohort Address.
- Performance of the Graduation song.
- Presentation of the Graduation certificates.
- The "Passing of the Light" ceremony.
- Farewell to the graduates.
The Year 6 team has been working extremely hard to make this last day at Primary School a fitting and memorable way to finish their students’ time at OLC.
P & F News
The P&F Christmas raffle was drawn at our Christmas Concert. Thank you to our wonderful P&F for all their work supporting this last fund-raising activity this year. It is a wonderful prize, $2000 off 2024 school fees. Congratulations to Lizzy Pepper.
At the recent Annual Community Meeting (ACM), after acknowledging our outstanding outgoing P&F Executive Team, unfortunately no nominations were received for our new executive group for next year. Since the ACM, we held a coffee/chat catch up to provide information about the roles, and were very pleased to have some willing nominees come forward to assist the school next year. I am so grateful, because the P&F play a vital role in fund-raising and friend-raising.
I look forward to working with our new Executive Team next year.
Reports
Reports will be made available to parents via Seqta Engage on Friday 8 December. If your child is in Year 6 or is leaving the school, you will need to download and save or print your child’s report before Thursday 14 December, as these reports will be archived and no longer available for you to access.
Our Lady of the Cape School Fee Structure 2024
It is essential for the running and improvement of school facilities and resources, as well as the sharing of responsibility between all families, that we receive payment of fees. School fees are billed annually.
Your annual fee statement will be issued at the start of term one and sent home with your child. At the beginning of each term a statement will also be emailed showing the remaining balance. Payments are accepted via EFTPOS, Credit Card, Bpay (your Bpay details are printed on your invoice). A Payment Advice Form will be attached to your fee statement.
Please note the following methods of payment of fees:
Option 1: Full annual payment on receipt of fee statement.
Option 2: 2 Semester Instalments.
Option 3: 4 Quarterly Instalments – at the start of each term.
Option 4: 10 Monthly Instalments.
Option 5: 20 fortnightly Instalments
Other payment options are available by making an appointment with the Principal. Likewise, if you are having difficulty meeting the full fee amounts please do not hesitate to contact the Principal for a confidential meeting to discuss options and alternatives.
Health Care Card (HCC) discounts are applicable to tuition fees and amenities fees.The maximum level of tuition fees charged to eligible families will be set at $300.00 per student (K-Yr6).
A copy of the fee structure for 2024 is attached:
Term Dates and Student Free Days Our Lady of the Cape – 2024
Term 1
- Australia Day public holiday – Friday 26 January
- Student Free Days – Monday 29 January, Tuesday 30 January
- Students commence (PP-Year 6) – Wednesday 31 January
- Labour Day public holiday – Monday 4 March
- Last day of Term 1 for Students and Staff – Thursday 28 March
Term 2
- Students commence – Monday 15 April
- ANZAC Day public holiday – Thursday 25 April
- Student Free Day – Friday 17 May
- Western Australia Day public holiday – Monday 3 June
- Last day of Term 2 for Students – Thursday 27 June
- Student Free Day – Friday 28 June
Term 3
- Student Free Day – Monday 15 July
- Students commence – Tuesday 16 July
- Student Free Day - Catholic Day – Monday 12 August
- Last day of Term 3 for Students and Staff – Friday 20 September
Term 4
- Student Free Day – Monday 7 October
- Students commence – Tuesday 8 October
- Last day of Term 4 for Students – Friday 6 December
- Student Free Days – 9 to 13 December
Little Seedlings
We held our final Little Seedlings session last Wednesday - the highlight being a surprise visit from a very special man in a red suit! It was so lovely to see so many of our upcoming OLC students taking part in the fun and hearing the squeals of delight for Santa. We send our thanks to Santa for taking the time to meet and greet all of our Little Seedlings and for bringing each of them a cuddly gift.
A big thank you also goes out to all of the families who have attended Little Seedlings in 2023. It has been such a pleasure getting to know your Seedlings over the year and watching them develop their confidence as the littlest students in the school. I hope that our playgroup has provided an opportunity for your child to gain some comfort and familiarity around their peers and within the OLC community.
I am very much looking forward to seeing both children and parents at Kindy drop offs in 2024. Merry Christmas everyone!
Mrs Amy Sherborne
Congratulations Noah!
Congratulations to Noah Byrne who has won the Nola Marino Christmas Card Competition. Look out for his clever design when you receive Nola's Christmas Card in the mail!
School Photos
Hopefully you will have received your child's school photos today, or will tomorrow with your child. Thank you for your patience. Unfortunately Australia Post decided to send our photos over to Tasmania, delaying delivery to us. If you didn't order, it's not too late, just go to www.fotomakerswa.com.au and enter your child/ren's code. If you don't have the code, contact the office staff, who will be able to retrieve it for you.
Class Assignments
Advice of class and teacher for 2024 will be emailed by Fri 15 December.
In Term Swimming 2024
All Y2 - Y6 2024 students should have received a green swimming form to be returned to the class by Friday. OLC has been allocated the first two weeks of term, commencing the first day of school. More information will be emailed our prior to the commencement of the 2024 school year.
If your child moves up a stage over the school holidays, please email the details, with your child's name/s, year level and new grade to admin@ladyofcape.wa.edu.au.
Canteen
Canteen will operate on Monday, Thursday and Friday next year.
Please consider volunteering. If we have enough volunteers we can expand our offerings.
Staff Movement
Mrs Jane King will be leaving us at the end of the year after joining us as Music Specialist two years ago. We thank Jane for her contribution to our school and wish her well in her new role at St Munchin’s Catholic Primary School in Gosnells.
After joining our staff team at the beginning of this year as Year 2 teacher, Mrs Maree Noonan will be leaving us to return to her teaching position at Our Lady’s Assumption, Dianella. We thank Maree for her work teaching the Year 2 class this year and we wish her well.
Mrs Anne Coltrinari has had a number of varied roles at OLC. This year, we thank Anne for all her work as our Year 5 teacher and we wish her all the best for next year.
Mrs Julie Birch will be away for all of 2024 and we look forward to her return after a well-earned rest and recharge in 2025.
Mrs Anita Hurst will be with us at the beginning of the new school year, leading up to the birth of her first baby during Term 1.
Technology During the Holiday Season
Here is some information from Catholic School Parents WA that might assist you with technology purchases and online safety for your children:
With Christmas approaching, you might be looking to gift a phone or device to your children. How do you choose which one to buy? How do you protect your children when they are online? How do you protect the device? The Alannah & Madeline Foundation have some great advice on this topic. Click here for further information on how to approach technology for kids.
The eSaftey Commission have an informative guide on their website covering recommendations, key features to consider and tips to ensure your family stays safe. They advise to be smart, safe and secure when choosing tech gifts for children and young people. Click here to read the full guide.
CSPWA have put together a resource sheet on Android and Apple Parent Controls.
School Uniforms
Winter Pinafores / Skirts
As previously advised, the winter pinafores and skirts will no longer be required for girls. One of our resourceful parents, Kelly Sweet has found a wonderful organisation, Uniform Rescue, which collects and donates uniforms from schools around WA to schools and communities overseas who can give the uniforms a second life. Please click below to see the latest newsletter
Please note important information below about closing dates over the Christmas period from Permapleat:
- Our last day for business this year is 20 December 2023 and our office and warehouse re-opens in the new year on 10 January 2024. All virtual store orders placed during these closing dates will be processed from 11thJanuary 2024 onwards.
- For ‘Consolidate to School’ orders (i.e. free delivery to the school), please note the last day parents should order for delivery in 2023, is Sunday 10 December (for delivery the week of the 11th December) and the first day the school can accept deliveries will be the week of 10th January 2024. You will be advised by text when your delivery is ready for collection.
- We can despatch home deliveries up to 20 December 2023 and then we will resume these home deliveries from 11 January 2024. If you going to be away for the holidays you should rather order when you return- as delivery over this time of the year may take a little longer than usual.
Uthando Project
Caring for the world’s children is everyone’s responsibility. Play is essential for children’s healthy development, and a child’s need for play can become lost when families and communities are in challenging circumstances. Our caring Year 4 students have cleverly created dolls for the children of Kwazulu-Natal, to make a difference to the lives of children in need.
Our Year 4 students created about 30 dolls to be used for comfort for children. What an awesome effort to make a difference in the lives of other children.
Thank you and best wishes
As the end of the school year approaches, I would like to thank everyone for their presence and contribution to our school life this year. It is through the efforts of so many that we achieve so much.
To our Year 6 students – congratulations on completing your first eight years of schooling. Enjoy high school knowing you have been well prepared. You are all ready for this next exciting chapter in your lives.
To our families leaving at the end of this year – thank you for the support you have shown the school during your time at OLC. Best wishes for all your future endeavors.
I hope you and your families have a lovely Christmas and that our staff and students enjoy their well-deserved break.
School concludes for students on Friday 8 December.
School commences for 2024 for students in:
- Pre-primary to Year 6 on Wednesday 31 January, and
- Kindy on Thursday 1 February for half of the class, staggered start, and Friday 2 February for the other half of the Kindy class. The optional extra Monday for Kindy students begins in Week 3 on Monday 12 February.
- Pre-Kindy starts on Wednesday 7 February.
Have a wonderful holiday.
May God bless you and your families.
Mrs Angela Hegney
Principal
RE News
CHRISTMAS NATIVITY PLAY - ACTORS WANTED!
If you are available Christmas Eve, we would like to perform a Nativity play during the 6.00pm mass on 24th December. If your child would be interested in being involved as Joseph, Mary, shepherds, kings or angels, please contact me at amie.meyer@cewa.edu.au. Thank you!
Mrs Amie Meyer
Assistant Principal
NEWS FROM THE P&F
Colour Run fun is tomorrow. This year we will have both wet and dry areas, including a chill out zone to cater to all students. We encourage students to BYO goggles or sunnies.
If you haven't yet got your sponsorship form, collect one from the office or click on the form attached.
We are chasing helpers for course set up, powder throwers and pack up helpers. Please get in contact with Honor 0413747762 if you can help, its a whole lot of fun.
The P&F wishes all OLC staff, family and friends a safe and happy Christmas. We hope you find many moments of fun, laughter and joy with your loved ones over the summer holidays.
We thank you for your continued support of OLC fundraising initiatives this year. It is with mixed emotions that many members of the OLC P&F committee will be stepping down, but it is with excitement that we will welcome a new committee in 2024. Rest assured, the 2023 committee is prepped and ready to host one final function next year, The Aussie Shindig Quiz Night. Please save the date, Saturday 24th Feb. Tickets are open for purchase so start planning your tables and lock them in. It will be a welcome event to be remembered!!
I wish to sincerely thank the ladies of the committee for their dedication, skills and contribution of time over the past 2 years. Louise, Loren, Honor, Lana, Nikki and Jenn, your contributions have been immense, you've been an incredible support to me in my role and we have had a whole lot of fun in the process. Thankyou.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Leah Pearson
Outgoing P&F Chair
COMMUNITY NEWS
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/