OLOG eNewsletter Term 3 Week 2

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome to Term 3! We have had a busy, but wonderful, start to the term and there are certainly many opportunities for engagement in all areas of school life throughout our second semester for 2023. I look forward to sharing school events with you. 

Welcome to our new Reception children and their families who have begun their Primary Years of schooling. This is a very special time and journey. It has been a great start and their transition is going well. Thank you to parents who came to the Tea and Tissues morning tea to welcome our new parents in their journey and engagement with OLOG.

OLOG’s Special Feast Day ST DOMINIC’S DAY CELEBRATION

Today, Thursday August 3 is the Feast Day of St Dominic, our Patron Saint, and we have celebrated ST DOMINIC’S DAY as a school community.  To mark the occasion, students were invited to come to school dressed in our Dominican colours of black and white. We began the day with a whole school mass, special activities with buddies and the tradition of OLOG donuts.

This day provides us with a special way to honour and give thanks for the life of St Dominic and the way we live his mission today through our Dominican Pillars of Prayer, Study, Community and Ministry or as the children know the OLOG Way.  Everyone was looking forward to celebrating OLOG, our Dominican charism which was led and began by the Dominican Sisters as a place of great faith and learning where we live VERITAS to grow in God’s Love.

Combined School Board Gathering at OLOG

I am often asked questions about the role of the School Board in the life of our OLOG community, as people seek to understand the scope and function of this vitally important group. 

Catholic School Boards have a unique character and are often described as pastoral in their role within Catholic Education. School Boards are not management boards of the kind found in many business companies and in some independent schools. Rather, Catholic School Boards are advisory groups that act in a manner that is at home with the Catholic belief that the Holy Spirit is at work in our school community and that all members of the board have the wisdom to contribute. There is a strong spiritual dimension to the work of OLOG School Board.

Our monthly meetings, led by our Chairperson Donna Stevens are an opportunity for me, as Principal, to seek the Board’s advice on matters of school policy, finance, infrastructure and on ‘big picture’ issues affecting the school now and into the future. 

In Week 1, we held at OLOG a Combined School Board Gathering with St Mary’s Memorial. What a special occasion for the School Boards to gather in formation and deepen our work together.

Staffing Announcements

This term we welcome Mr Alistair Fleming (Year 6AF) to our staff. Alistair is a familiar face, having been our Sports Coordinator over three years ago.

Michaela Sommers will commence maternity leave at the end of Week 3. We welcome Alexis Malone to Year 1. Alexis has already spent some days in Year 1 getting to know the students and establishing the teaching and learning.

We welcome Ms Candice Martin to OLOG and Year 6. Candice brings a depth of Primary Years experience and is looking forward to joining OLOG on Monday 14th August.

We also welcome the following ESO Curriculum educators: Alicia Miller, Jessica Meiners and Lachlan Ash who support staff and students throughout the school.

Liza Wescombe(Front Office Admin) returned for a brief time and is now on leave with her family. Liza will be on leave for the remainder of Term 3.

I will be on long service leave from Monday 14 August and returning Monday 11 September. An Acting Principal through Catholic Education will be appointed during my long service leave. I look forward to announcing who has been appointed.

Learning Conversations

Learning Conversations are being held this week and I encourage all parents to engage with your child’s teacher about their learning progress and learning goals. Your child is also asked to attend the Learning Conversations.

Here are some suggestions for questions you could ask your child’s teacher:What is my child learning?

How is she or he doing?
How do you know how he or she is doing?
How can she or he improve?
What supports can I provide and can you provide if she or he is struggling? When can we check in again?

(Clarity - What Matters Most in Learning, Teaching, and Leading by Lyn Sharratt, 2019)

Peace and Blessings and look forward to returning in Week 8.

Josette Charles
Principal

MITIOG

The Made in the Image of God (MITIOG), Human Sexuality Curriculum is mandated for South Australian Catholic Schools, for R-12. Each year our students engage with age-appropriate curriculum content regarding sexuality through this (MITIOG) curriculum.

The children are taught MITIOG in their year levels.

Your child’s teacher will post a letter on SeeSaw explaining the activities that will be taught for your child’s year level.

They will also post a Brochure with information explaining the context in which MITIOG is taught, the Achievement Standard by the end of each year level band and the year level content to be developed.

The following year levels will be learning MITIOG in their corresponding weeks;

Reception: Weeks 1-3
Year 1: Weeks 1-3
Year 2: Weeks 6-7
Year 3: Weeks 6-7
Year 4: Weeks 9-10
Year 5: Weeks 8-10
Year 6: Term 4
 

St Dominic

Today we celebrated St Dominic’s Day with Mass led by Father John.

Dominic de Guzman was born in Caleruega, Spain in 1170. He was one of the three sons born to Felix de Guzman and Jane of Aza.

Dominic loved to study, and he loved to read books where he learnt many things.
The more he learnt the more he wanted to know.
Dominic’s favourite subject was God and he tried to find out as much as he could about him.
By the time he finished school he decided he wanted to be a priest.
He was ordained a priest in 1195.

Dominic set out to spread the word of God. He helped people when they needed help, smiled when they needed a smile, and he was a good friend to everyone.

Dominic was instrumental in setting up the Order of Preachers (also known as the Dominican’s) firstly to learn the truths of the Catholic Church through study and prayer, then to go about teaching others about these truths.

Dominic was joyful right up to the moment of his death, when his friends gathered around him. He was tired and worn out but happy in God’s service. The year was 1221.

In the Spirit of Dominic and wanting to continue his work, that of teaching, a group of Dominican women over 69 years ago, began a school here at Our Lady of Grace School and passed on to us Dominic’s message- to care for others, to share what we have with those who don’t have enough and to often talk to God in prayer.

Joy and blessings,

Debbie Scuteri
APRIM/Leader of Learning

Sporting Achievements 

A big congratulations to Liam Heinrich who has been selected to be a part of the South Australian U/12 Football team. Liam will travel to NSW to compete in the national competition next week.

A big congratulations to Alice Gallagher who has been selected to be a part of the South Australian U/12 Netball team. Alice will travel to WA to compete in the national competition.

SAPSASA Netball

On Tuesday 2nd August OLOG hosted the semi-finals of the SAPSASA Small Schools netball. OLOG played Happy Valley in the first game and after a nail biting final 10 seconds, Happy Valley just beat us by one goal. Happy Valley then went on to win the second game.

Our third game was between OLOG and Westport, and after some loud cheering from the school, our girls prevailed with a 41 to 9 win! Unfortunately, as we had to win both games to proceed to the next round.

It was a fantastic day, with parents and friends serving croissants, biscuits, cake, lollies, tea and coffee.

Special mention must go to Carmen Palumbo for coaching the girls.  Carmen spent many hours behind the scenes coming up with the best positions possible so a big thankyou.

Well done to the girls and we’ll be back next year to take on the small schools cup.

Sara Cox
Sports Coordinator

Mini Vinnies will be selling pre-loved books during Book Week from August 19th to 25th with a stall in the under-croft area in the mornings during recess and lunch they will be available in Ms Carols Room 2/3 CS. All books are available for a gold coin donation.