VISION

Nurturing lifelong learners who live out Jesus' message of love and peace.

MISSION

At Our Lady of Fatima School, we:

Provide a holistic Catholic education where the teachings of Christ are lived, valued and promoted

Strive for excellence and through contemporary pedagogies, support the resilience, curiosity, creativity and social and emotional wellbeing of each child.

Foster a sense of community through meaningful relationships with students, staff, parents, parish and wider community.

Maintain an innovative learning environment, embracing sustainable practices.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

A special thank you to our Year 5 class, Miss More, Mrs Szefczyk, Mrs Romagnolo and Fr Ben, who led our school in honouring the Feast Day of St Patrick today, with a special whole-school Mass. St Patrick’s Day is well known within religious and secular society and we know the special connection to Ireland. In his life, St Patrick was known for the way he connected to the Irish people and explained the Trinity to them using their culture and backgrounds. Some of our classes have focused on this special day:

Our Year 6 students have spent today on a retreat in preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 2. Thank you to Mrs Wright and 24/7 for facilitating this retreat, which provides a special opportunity for spiritual and faith formation.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 have begun their NAPLAN testing this week. This year, NAPLAN is much earlier in the school year. A big thank you to Mrs Romagnolo for her coordination of the NAPLAN process and for Mrs Law and Miss More for their support of students. NAPLAN provides the school with diagnostic information and can be useful to measure growth and evaluate school-based programs. However, we also recognise that it is just one small part of the data teachers gather throughout the year and we aim to reduce worry and angst with these assessments.

WORLD YOUTH DAY

On Saturday 25 March, the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Fatima School are hosting an event being run by the Catholic Youth Ministry and the University of Notre Dame Australia in the lead up to World Youth Day, which will be held in Portugal in August 2023. Approximately 50 pilgrims between the ages of 18 and 30 from across WA will be meeting at the University of Notre Dame and making a pilgrimage from Fremantle to Palmyra. They will join the parish for the Saturday evening Mass before camping overnight on the school oval to get a full ‘pilgrim’ experience.

CENTENARY FUN FACTS

In 1925, the school and parish were opened in Foss Street, our current site, in a hall, which was named St Gerard’s Hall. On Fridays, the students and Sisters would push aside the desks and set up the Church pews and on Mondays, they would spend the morning putting the desks back in position for lessons. The ‘altar’ was a fixture on the wall behind a stage screen, which was raised on Friday afternoons to prepare for Mass. School fees were six pence per week, but financial circumstances were taken into consideration. The school received government aid for pads, art paper, brooms and dusters only!

(Information from Fr Ted Miller, the archives of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and Our Lady of Fatima Parish: Celebrating 80 years of Parish Life 1923-2003).

Have a terrific weekend,

Jacinta Petersen

Principal

It is a very long Gospel reading this Sunday. As you read through it, we are reminded that the blind man not only receives his sight, but recognises the power and divinity of Jesus:

(John 9:1-41)

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

• Term 1 Wednesday 1 February - Thursday 6 April (Friday 7 April is Good Friday).

• Term 2 Wednesday 26 April (Monday 24 April is a pupil free day) - Friday 30 June. Please note that Tuesday 6 June is Catholic Day for Our Lady of Fatima School.

• Term 3 Tuesday 18 July (Monday 17 July is a pupil free day) - Thursday 21 September (Friday 22 September is a pupil free day).

• Term 4 Tuesday 10 October (Monday 9 October is a pupil free day) - Friday 8 December 2023.

Public holidays during the school year (schools are closed):

• Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive) – Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April (end of Term 1 school holidays).

• ANZAC Day – Tuesday 25 April.

• Western Australia Day – Monday 5 June.

• Monday 20 March-Friday 24 March- NAPLAN continues
• Tuesday 21 March- P&F Meeting
• Wednesday 22 March- Shelter-in-place drill
• Wednesday 22 March- Play AFL Football Clinics (Pre-Primary to Year 3)
• Friday 24 March- ASCS Interschool Cricket Carnival
• Wednesday 29 March- Parent/ Teacher Interviews begin
• Thursday 30 March- Parent/ Teacher Interviews continue
• Friday 31 March- Evacuation drill
• Friday 31 March- P&F Welcome Play, Mingle and Icecream

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten enrolments are now open for 2024. Interviews are now taking place. If you have not submitted your entry/ enrolment form, please do so as places are limited.

• 3 Year Old Entry Form: https://olof.wa.edu.au/assets/files/entry-form3yearold20221.pdf

• Kindergarten Enrolment Form: https://olof.wa.edu.au/assets/files/enrolment-applicationform2022.pdf

Please note the priorities for enrolment in a Catholic school:

• Catholic students from the parish with a Parish Priest reference
• Catholic students from outside the parish with a Parish Priest reference
• Other Catholic students
• Siblings of non-Catholic students
• Non-Catholic students from other Christian denominations
• Other non-Catholic students

Please contact Gaynor at admin@olof.wa.edu.au if you require a hard copy entry/ enrolment applicant form or if have any questions.

As Our Lady of Fatima celebrates its school and parish centenary this year, we are aiming to capture the people who have contributed so much over the years. You can purchase a brick paver, which will provide a long-lasting record of your support for our school and parish community and will form the foundation building blocks for the success of the next 100 years. Please share this order form with our wider Fatima community!

Our Lady of Fatima School_MulitiNamePavers.pdf

Another way to celebrate 100 years as a school and parish is to purchase a Commemorative Hoodie. This hoodie was designed by 2 of our students late last year, Mali and Phoebe! A sizing kit will be available in the Admin late next week and there is a measurement guide also available on the website.

These hoodies can be purchased in student (Sizes 4-14) for $57.50 and adult sizes (Sizes S-5XL) for $59.50. Parents, students and the wider community are very welcome to purchase one and please feel free to share this with friends and family who might have a Fatima connection.

Please note, as this is a special year for our school, students will be able to wear these hoodies on Fridays in Winter, instead of their normal sports jumper.

There will be no refunds or exchanges, so please choose the sizes carefully.

These hoodies can be purchased up until Monday 10 April and delivery will be via school or postage to home in early May.

https://www.spartanschoolworld.com.au/products/our-lady-of-fatima-commemorative-hoodie

A gentle reminder that students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:15am, unless they are at Camp Australia. We have had several students who ride to school arrive closer to 8am and school supervision does not begin on the oval until 8:15am. If they arrive 1 or 2 minutes early, they need to sit on the benches outside of Years 3 and 4. Thank you for your cooperation with this- it is appreciated!

On Thursday the 9th of March Our Lady of Fatima competed in the ASCS Swimming Carnival. Years four to six competed in the individual races, the mixed medley relay and mixed freestyle relay. Four of our students from Fatima won individual medals. Eli from Year 4 won Runner Up Champion, Bailey from Year 5 won Champion Boy, Flynn from Year 6 won Champion Boy and Mary won Champion Girl. Our Lady of Fatima came first by over 100 points continuing our six-year winning streak. Overall, it was a fun carnival.

Written by Otis and Avery from Year Six

Over the next few weeks, we will be running some incident management drills (shelter-in-place and evacuation) at Our Lady of Fatima School. Schools are obliged to plan for the safety of those attending their sites and as a consequence of this obligation, schools have a duty of care to ensure that all school related activities are conducted safely. In the emergency management context, the duty of care requires that pre-planning be undertaken for emergencies that might affect schools from time to time. The drills will allow students and staff to prepare for emergency situations and the staff will work with students to support them in understanding that these drills are exercises and provide assistance with strategies for remaining calm and following instructions.

A shelter-in-place drill is simply when an announcement is made for students and staff to remain in their learning spaces until further notice. If this procedure was used in a real-life situation, it would be because an incident might have occurred in the local area and it allows for school leadership to make an assessment of the most appropriate course of action, while knowing that the students are safe.

An evacuation drill allows students and staff to practice evacuating the school building in the instance of a fire or other hazard. Rehearsing this drill helps everyone know how to move safely through the school in a quick, but calm manner.

Please contact Jacinta Petersen on principal@olof.wa.edu.au if you require further information about these drills. More information is available on our school incident management plan: https://www.olof.wa.edu.au/assets/files/Incident-Management-Plan.pdf.

We have had so many entries for the Project Compassion colouring in competition- thanks to all the students who have entered to help raise awareness about this important charity!

Through Project Compassion we learn about Thu, who lives in Vietnam. When Thu was 12 years old, he stepped on an unexploded land mine and lost his leg. ​Living with a disability in rural Vietnam presented many challenges for Thu, who worked mainly as a rice farmer. Thu also took on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.​ Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD). For Thu, the greatest impact the program has had is enabling the change in Linh’s physical and mental wellbeing. With the support of a physiotherapist, Linh can now walk short distances with the aid of a walking stick.

Watch a short film about Thu’s story here.

Project Compassion brings together Australian schools, parishes and supporters to raise funds for people in vulnerable communities across the world. This year, we introduced you to the story of four inspiring people whose lives have been transformed with your generous support: Laxmi, Tereesa, Priscilla and Thu. Today, they are creating a better world for their families, their communities and for all future generations. Project Compassion is a demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia – without it, we could not do the vital work we do. Thank you for helping transform lives today and for all future generations. Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

HIGHWAY HEROES:

At Our Lady of Fatima, from the Early Years to Year 6, all students as part of their Health learning engage in The Highway Heroes' Social and Emotional Learning Program.

Little Highway Heroes (Early Years) and Highway Heroes (Primary Years) are curriculum-aligned, research-based Social and Emotional Learning resources with a continuous process of skill development. By commencing this learning early through the explicit teaching of selected skills, children have the opportunity to lay down healthy habits of emotional self-management and social engagement, which will impact on every area of their life, including increased academic achievement and greater awareness and understanding of relationships.

BEST Classroom Resilience Tip #1

Being Learning Confident - means asking questions, saying "I don’t know", asking for help and speaking up when you do and don't know the answer. Praise confidence when you see your child showing it in their learning tasks at home

https://bestprograms4kids.com/

Il Sorriso offers 3 days of lunch delivery on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays using the School Lunch Online platform.

A few gentle reminders with lunch ordering:

• Please ensure that your child’s year level and details are up-to-date. Mrs Cook spends a bit of time sorting the lunches and it would greatly assist her if the details are correct.
• If you do not place your order on time, please DO NOT contact Il Sorriso directly. Instead, contact School Lunch Online on 1300 787 939 or https://www.schoollunchonline.com.au/contact.html.

Keyed Up Music will be providing tuition in the following instruments at Our Lady of Fatima in 2023;

• Piano
• Guitar
• Drums
• Voice

Gilbert's Support Our School Program donates 1% of the money spent by you to your nominated school every time you shop with us! Sign up for free at the checkout and scan each time you shop.

As at 16/06/2020 the Gilbert’s Fresh, Hilton SOS Program has 31 schools, and 2,236 customers signed up, plus, Gilbert’s has donated $40,945.00 to local schools since the program commenced in October 2017.

The Foodies Basket, Attadale donates a $1 for every 100 points accumulated. Just give our School name or show your card each time you purchase.