OLOG eNewsletter Term 3 Week 4

Dear Parents and Caregivers

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as I will be acting in the principal role whilst Josette takes a well-deserved break.

My name is Emma Fowler, and I am a mother to two children, Indiana who is 11 and in her last year of primary school and Nathaniel who is 7. My husband’s name is Aaron and he is an avid Adelaide Crows supporter. We also have a pet cat called Katie and he, yes it is a he, spends most of his time sleeping. I am a proud Boandik woman, and our Country is located down in the Southeast of SA around the Penola and Mt Gambier region. My great, great Grandmother was Annie Brice, a strong Aboriginal woman who as a child was taught to read and write by Mary MacKillop. Annie chose to become a Catholic because of Mary’s influence and went on to support the education of Aboriginal children at a school run by Christina Smith, a very prominent woman who was both a teacher and a missionary. Annie Brice is one of my role models alongside my own mother. Both women overcame adversity to become successful women in their own right and they both put the needs of their children first, loving them unconditionally, and it is the reason I aspire to be like them.

My hobbies are now based a lot around my children and their interests. I love watching both my children play sport especially basketball. We are a West Adelaide Bearcats family but please don’t hold that against me. I enjoy a good word puzzle and love playing board games and card games with family and friends. I enjoy listening to all types of music but particularly enjoy listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fleetwood Mac, Powderfinger, the Red hot Chilli Peppers, Katy Perry and Dua Lipa. A real mix there but for me music brings back memories and I love listening to music with my children in the pursuit of creating new memories with them. A fun fact about me I don’t like warm/hot drinks. I only like my drinks cold!

The best part of teaching is seeing the sheer joy on children’s faces. Their smiles are infectious and being able to see the world through their eyes is a precious gift, one that I treasure. I strongly believe that every child deserves a quality education, and I am passionate about making this happen for each and every child. I am future focussed and believe every child should be equipped with the skills they need to thrive in an unknown future hence my interest in emerging technologies. 

I am so excited to spend the new 4 weeks with you here at Our Lady of Grace School. If you see me in the yard, please come up and introduce yourself to me as I am really looking forward to meeting you all.
 

Exciting News: A New Direction for Our OSHC!

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with you all! As we continuously strive to ensure that our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) program offers the very best for our students, we are pleased to announce that Camp Australia has appointed a New OSHC Director, Ms. Zandri Engelbrecht. Zandri is studying Educational Psychology and is experienced in running OSCH programs with Camp Australia.

This new appointment demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the quality of our services, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for every child. The new Director comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge that will undoubtedly benefit our OSHC program.

We believe that clear and open communication is the key to successful partnerships with our families. With this in mind, we'd like to remind our community about the process in place for sharing feedback or lodging complaints. If you have any concerns, it is imperative that they are officially lodged with Camp Australia. By directing your complaints or feedback through the Customer Care team, it ensures that the concern is formally recorded and triggers the complaint to open in their system. This systematic approach allows for a transparent, trackable, and timely response to any issue, ensuring that every concern is taken seriously and addressed appropriately. On the website – families can access the Feedback section which has the email and contact number for Camp Australia's customer care - campaustralia.com.au/faqs Please contact the Customer Care Team on 1300 105 343 or email at osch@campaustralia.com.au

We understand the trust you place in us to care for your children during those crucial out-of-school hours. With the guidance of our new OSHC Director and the ongoing support from Camp Australia, we endeavour to provide an exceptional OSHC experience for every child.
 

Important Update: Changes to Our "Kiss and Drop" Zone

In our commitment to the safety and convenience of all our families, we wish to share an important update regarding our "Kiss and Drop" zone.

To ensure a smooth and quick flow of traffic during peak times, the "Kiss and Drop" zone has always been intended as a brief stop to allow parents and guardians to quickly drop off or pick up their children. However, we've noticed that some vehicles have been parking for extended periods in this zone. Following observations and concerns raised about the prolonged stopping of vehicles by community members, the local council recently conducted a review of the zone's usage. Based on their findings, they have decided to dispatch parking inspectors to monitor the area.

Please be reminded:

The "Kiss and Drop" zone is a NO PARKING ZONE.
Vehicles can stay for a maximum of 2 minutes only.

To ensure that our school community does not face unnecessary fines, we urge everyone to strictly adhere to the 2-minute rule and avoid using the zone for extended parking. Your cooperation helps ensure that every family can quickly and safely use the "Kiss and Drop" zone and keeps our students safe.

We appreciate your understanding and adherence to these rules, ensuring a safe and efficient environment for all.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Emma Fowler
Acting Principal

The Assumption of Mary Mass

Today we celebrated mass for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The Assumption of Mary is a day that we remember when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken into heaven, body and soul, after she died. Mary’s life and death are a wonderful example of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Term 3 Masses/Liturgies

Thursday 24th August- Social Justice Liturgy @ 9.00am (Year 2/3’s leading)
 

Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy

Father’s Day Breakfast preparations are underway. Please register if you are attending via the eForm in Audiri. Father’s Day Breakfast is Friday 1st September at 8:00-9.00am. A special Father’s Day Liturgy will follow at 9.00am
 

Premier’s Reading Challenge

We are rapidly approaching the last day for the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

If your child is participating in the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year, please forward your child’s completed form to their classroom teacher ASAP.

The last day to submit student forms is Friday 8th September.

Please ensure that your child’s form is submitted by the date above in order for them to receive a medal or certificate.

Joy and blessings,

Debbie Scuteri
APRIM/Leader of Learning

Statewide Knockout Basketball

On the 10th of August our 5/6 knockout basketball teams headed to the newly opened Wayville Basketball courts searching for a golden ticket into the statewide final on September 15th. 

Both teams went through the minor rounds undefeated with the girls keeping their opponents scoreless in the first 2 games while amassing 80+ points of their own. For the girls, this automatically secured them a spot in the state finals with them finishing top of the 6 team Round Robin. 

The boys finished top of their pool but needed to play a final game against the 2nd place finisher in the opposing pool to secure their spot in the state final. The boys won comfortably by 20+ points booking their spot alongside the girls.  

The small schools cut off for 2023 was to have no more than 171 enrolments in years 4, 5 and 6 with OLOG well under that cutoff with only 92. A tremendous effort by both teams further punctuated by OLOG being the only school to have both their Boys and Girls teams represented at the state finals. 

Thanks to the huge parent support group who cheered, scored and coached our students on the day. 

Bring on state final day!!!! 

Clinton Alleway 
PE Teacher

SACPPSA Cross Country

The SACPSSA Cross Country Carnival is held each year in the East Parklands, starting on the Christian Brothers College Parklands Oval and making its way along a 2km course through Park 15. Annually, this event sees students in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 challenge themselves over a 2km course. The event hosts approximately 60 schools and around 2500 students each year.

We are so proud of all the students who participated on the day and stepped ouside of their comfort zone!

Mini Vinnies will be selling pre-loved books during Book Week from August 19^th to 25^th with a stall in the under-croft area in the mornings. During recess and lunch, book will be available for purchase in Ms Carols Room, 2/3 CS.

All books will be available for a gold coin donation.

To celebrate our love for books we will also be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one of our Book Baskets filled with books, novelty items, and some goodies we all love.

Tickets can be purchased from Ms. Carol's/ Miss Mason's Classroom, or from one of our Mini Vinnies team members.

All tickets are a gold coin donation and will be drawn on August 25^th. Tickets will also be available every morning from our book sale.

Dear Parents and Caregivers

We are pleased to inform you that there will be no increase in school fees for 2024 and we will continue to offer free Term 3 Reception in 2024.

OLOG has embraced Catholic Education SA’s initiative to make Catholic Education affordable and accessible for all. We pride ourselves on being a small school offering exceptional value, welcoming all families who desire a quality Catholic Education for their children.

OLOG families have not experienced a fee increase since 2019, yet since that time we have continued to deliver excellence in learning with high quality resources and infrastructure. 

We have also provided free Term 3 Reception and financial support to families in need. OLOG will continue to plan for improved infrastructure and resources for its students in the years to come.

Our dedicated staff are committed to delivering excellence in learning and teaching, whilst nurturing confident, capable learners. The fee freeze will not impact the quality of education at OLOG nor the extent of programs on offer.

OLOG Parents/Caregivers were surveyed in June regarding the Canteen. The response rate was 34%, slightly up on the 2021 survey of 32% responses overall were positive with only a small percentage of respondants recording negative responses.

Overwhelmingly Parents/Caregivers are satisfied with the OLOG Canteen and feel there are good menu choices, reasonably priced offered on days that suit their needs. Many commented regarding a desire to have the canteen available on more days and suggesting more healthy choices +  more choices for those with food intolerances.

Special pop up food days may offer an interim solution to the desire to have additional food days.

The results of the survey and feedback will be shared with our canteen provider Bayside Bakery and we thank Bayside Bakery for their ongoing service and support.

Please click HERE to view letter.