Orana Catholic Primary School
Term1 Week 9
TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE
Our community values an attitude of enthusiastically applying energy and effort to become better learners. Excellence is evident when:
• we do our best to develop our talents and share them with others
• we have high expectations of what we can achieve
• we take risks and experiment with the way we learn
• we work hard to do our best work
• we celebrate our achievements
Lenten Prayer
We thank you God for your forgiving love and ask you to help us live and act for others. May we continue to be promise keepers, planting seeds of Unity and Reconciliation this Lenten season.
Amen
Dear Parents and Carers,
Lent offers us a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we’ve done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.
As parents and staff of a Catholic school we are constantly responsible for how we influence our children. The ways we relate to each other, the ways we solve problems, the ways we approach life and any challenges are closely watched and often mirrored by our children. It is crucial that we set a standard that our children can aspire to. Together we have the opportunity to make a very positive difference in the lives of our children.
Last weekend, our Year 6 families attended a Sacramental Enrolment Mass at the Parish. Thank-you to Father Thai, Father CV, Magdalene, Mrs Alp and our staff for facilitating this process over all of the weekend masses to ensure number restrictions were adhered to and our community was a safe as possible. This weekend the Year 3 families will attend the one of the Confirmation Enrolment Masses.
The Make a Move Program concludes this week. The students have really enjoyed participating in creatively designing their group dance. The process involved the students using so many different types of skills; physical, collaborative, and creative skills to name a few. Many thanks to Meagan Boronas, our talented dance teacher. Unfortunately, we cannot hold the final concerts this year. Yesterday, the dances were videoed by Mrs Fernando and they will be sent out on Seesaw to families.
Parent/Carer/Teacher interviews for students from PP-Year 6 conclude this week. This is one of the ways that we report to parents. It is an opportunity for parents/carers and teachers to discuss student progress and emphasise the partnership between home and school in developing each child to their full potential. A key factor in student learning is their own disposition to learning and for this reason, it is important to discuss progress with students. Celebrating areas of success and setting some goals for future learning are an important part of these meetings. If you are yet to book an appointment, please contact your child’s classroom teacher so these can be completed before the end of term.
Enrolment interviews for 2023 Kindergarten places are currently underway. The format will is slightly altered to adhere to Covid safe protocols. If you have a child who was born between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, please contact Deb Goodwin, our enrolment officer or use the website link below, as soon as possible to secure a place. https://www.orana.wa.edu.au/admissions/ Current Pre-Kindergarten students will be contacted early in Term 2.
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 Please regularly check the Dates to Remember section of the newsletter for updates.
I will be on Long service Leave commencing during next week. We are fortunate at Orana to have a strong and capable Assistant Principal, Kathryn Alp, who will be responsible for the school in my absence. Kathryn will be supported by Sue Tormay and Bonnie Lynch, members of our distributed leadership team. I wish you a happy end of term, a lovely Easter and a relaxing, enjoyable school holiday.
God bless and stay safe.
Dee Johnston
PRINCIPAL
Covid-19 Update - Week 9
There were 11 positive cases of Covid-19 reported to the school this week (Saturday 26th to Friday 1st April). The positive cases and associated close contacts are in isolation, as per WA Health requirements.
It is vitally important that parents and carers inform the school if their child tests positive for COVID-19. To help streamline this process, parents and caregivers can now inform the school of their child’s positive or close contact negative COVID result via this link. The information will go directly to the Principal, prompting our COVID response. The self reporting link is also available on the website.
Please do not underestimate the importance of informing the school of a positive COVID case. Your actions will ensure the risk to others is minimised and that we do our very best to limit the spread of the virus across our community.
All updates are located on our website for ease of reference. Please refer to the Latest Updates tab. There is also a section for WA Health Advice.
Condolences
Faith in Action
Holy Week Preparation
All classes have been preparing for the most important time in our Christian calendar - Easter. Traditionally, our Year Five students have prepared the way of the cross as a dramatised performance to help the whole school pray Jesus' message of hope and joy rising out of agony and pain.
As we cannot come together as a school at present, classes will engage in this message through an online presentation prepared by Year 5. Our little children will also role play each part of the Holy Week story which is a powerful way to develop comprehension at this age level.
Tonight Stations of the Cross - Prepared by Year 4 at the Church of Saints John and Paul
Tonight, at 7pm, our wonderful Year 4 students will prepare the Stations of the Cross for our church community to pray. Everyone is most welcome to join us.
Project Compassion 2022
Thank you to everyone who has donated to Project Compassion. So far we have raised over $700. Let's keep those donations coming in.
Please click on the link below to view Shaniella's story, showing Project Compassion in action and highlighting how our generosity can assist others.
https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/shaniella-story/
Reconciliation Enrolment Mass (Year 3) this Weekend
- Saturday, 2nd April 5.30pm OR
- Sunday, 3rd April 7.30am, 9am or 10.30am
CEWA Childsafe Framework
https://childsafe.cewa.edu.au/introduction-key-concepts/
What is the Element - Support and Healing?
Responding to those who have been injured or hurt through abuse and harm and assisting them to heal
What does this Element look like?
- Students affected by all forms of abuse are nurtured and supported in their recovery
- Continued support for the victim focuses on truth, humility and healing
- A holistic approach is taken to ensure the family, the notifier, the accused and the school are all supported
- The school’s actions provide an effective and thorough response to reports of concerns regarding safety
Dates to Remember
1st April - Year 4 Stations of the Cross, 7pm at the Church.
2nd/3rd April - Year 3 Reconciliation Enrolment Mass - Saturday, 5.30pm and Sunday 7.30am, 9am or 10.30am.
Tuesday, 5th April - Interschool Swimming Carnival
Thursday 7th April - Last day of term for students and P & F Lunch Day for children
Friday 8th April - Pupil Free Day (Staff Professional Development Day)
Monday 25th April - Anzac Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 26th April - Term 2 Commences for staff and students
Officer Visitors Carparks
2022 Professional Development Days Reminder
The following dates are pupil free days for 2022. For your future planning OSHC will offer a full day program on these dates.
8th April - Staff Professional Development | Promoting Literacy Development
7th June - Staff Professional Development
18th July - Staff Professional Development
29th August - Pupil Free Day | Catholic Day
10th October - Staff Professional Development
From our Parish of Saints John & Paul
KISS AND DRIVE
P&F News
The Canteen Lunch day will be on the 7th of April 2022. Stay tuned for the link for pre-orders.
See SEESAW for details.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
SOCIAL WORKER NEWS
Social development occurs throughout life and explains how we recognise, interpret and respond to social situations. Healthy social development is a known protective factor for children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.
Daily contact and interactions with family members, educators and friends teaches children and young people about the social world and the rules, practices and values that support it. Social development is also influenced by wider networks including extended family, as well as participation in the community and culture around them.
Through their relationships and connections with others, children build a sense of who they are and where they fit in the social world. By actively participating in these relationships, children also affect the ways that adults and their peers relate to them.
Kind regards
Kath Warburton
Social Worker