OLOG eNewsletter Term 4 Week 8

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Advent is a time of joyful anticipation as we prepare our hearts for the Christmas season. In the weeks leading up to Christ’s birth, Christians around the world pray, repent, and reflect on God’s goodness and promises. Even in the most challenging times, we are reminded of God’s steadfast love for all creation.

Lord Jesus, we ask you to prepare us during this holy Advent season as we get ready for your arrival.

We look forward to the peace and joy you bring into our world. Help us to keep focused on your love and grace during this season.

Yesterday we gathered as a whole school to celebrate our End of Year Mass. It was truly a wonderful celebration giving us the time to reflect and be grateful of our school journey together throughout 2023. It is also the last time that we will gather with our Year 6 students. The final blessing and singing of the Irish Blessing were a special moment for our students. Next Tuesday evening we have our Year 6 Graduation and on the Wednesday from 2:50pm the whole school will gather for the Year 6 Guard of Honour as we farewell our Year 6 students. We are so proud of the Year 6 cohort and all they have achieved in their journey at OLOG.

Our Carols on the Green on Thursday is a very special tradition here at Our Lady of Grace School. All children are excited and looking forward to sharing their excitement and singing with the OLOG community. Thanks to our generous P&F volunteers who worked hard to ensure food stalls are available for families. 

Another school year is nearly at the end. As we reflect on the 2023 school year, we thank you for your kindness, grace and cooperation as our staff members worked to provide quality learning experiences for our students throughout the year. We have been amazed by the flexibility, determination, and creativity that our students have shown as they have navigated their education. They have been resilient, and we know they will have learned important lessons about themselves as learners and individuals.

We give a special thank you to all who leave our school this year and wish you every blessing and happiness. Please know that your contributions in whatever way have been valued and will remain a part of the fabric of all that we hold dear.  This year we say farewell to some amazing parents who have generously given so much of their time at OLOG.  Please know that your efforts have been greatly appreciated and our school is so much the richer because of your contributions.

We also farewell the families whose last child will be finishing their schooling at OLOG. It is with gratitude that I thank these families for the privilege of working in partnership in the formation of their children.

Thank you to the many volunteers who have generously supported the education of our children in so many ways.  Thank you also to the hard working P&F and School Board, especially those serving members who leave us this year. 

I would like to say a special thank you to Tom Fosdike, Grace Mason and Alicia Miller who have been valued teachers at OLOG this year.  Grace Mason is taking a gap year and has planned travels for 2024. Alicia Miller will be teaching at St Columba, Yorktown in 2024. We wish her every success for her new teaching position. We also wish Tom Fosdike all the best for his next pathway. We are truly grateful for their gifts of teaching, love and dedication they have provided to our students this year.  You will be greatly missed on staff next year.

A massive thank you to all of our staff here at OLOG who I have the privilege to work with.  I see the compassion and effort they put into caring for your children each day and am humbled by their expertise and dedication.  I thank them for all they have done for our students this year. 

A special thank you to Father John and Pat Murphy for their love and support of our school again this year.  They provide a great witness to our students of faith in action and are a source of wisdom and care for us all. 

Finally, a special thank you to my wonderful Leadership Team, Debbie Scuteri and Sue Brinkworth.  As always, their wisdom, compassion and unfailing dedication have been an invaluable support to me this year. 

I pray that you will all have the chance for tender time with your loved ones this Christmas.  May the beauty and peace of this special season stay with you in all your endeavours.

I look forward to seeing you all at our Final Assembly next Wednesday 9:00am and the Guard of Honour from 2:50pm.

Peace and Blessings, 

Josette Charles
Principal

​Sacramental Program

Congratulations to the following children who made their first Reconciliation at Our Lady of Victories Church last Friday; Oliver B, Ava N, Indianna G, Edrielle M, Daniel J, and James N.

They will continue in the Sacramental Program next year and complete their Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 2 and First Communion in Term 3 of 2024.

Glenelg Christmas Pageant

On Sunday the 26th November Our Lady of Grace School participated in the Glenelg Christmas Pageant.

Reflecting our Catholic Identity we dressed up as angels and shepherds and Maddi S was Mary, carrying baby Jesus. The title of our float was “The First Christmas”.

There was much excitement from the children, staff and parents in the lead up to the Pageant.

On Pageant day, we certainly made our presence felt with nearly 70 children from OLOG and approximately 140 children from St Mary’s Memorial who also dressed up as angels and shepherds representing the Glenelg Parish.

The Pageant was broadcast on Channel 44 Community Broadcast on the same day at 6.00pm.

Such a lovely well organised event to be part of and we were so proud of our children. We will ensure that we put our registration in for next year.

Year 6 Graduation Liturgy

The Year 6 children will have a separate Graduation Liturgy at 5.30pm in the Our Lady of Victories Church next Tuesday 12th December with their families.

All are welcome to attend.
 

Advent

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent.

Advent always begins on the first Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas eve.

Advent is a season observed inn most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.

The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word Adventus which means “the coming”.

We make room for Jesus in our hearts by loving as Jesus did, by being kind, forgiving, sharing, caring, and being obedient.

During Advent, we can prepare the way of the Lord by repenting and being sorry for our sins.

The Advent Wreath is a very old custom that originally came from Germany.

It is made of evergreens bounded to a circle of wire. Four candles are placed within the wreath. Three are purple and one is rose (pink). Sometimes a candle in the centre is white.

The circle of the Advent Wreath reminds us that God’s love has no beginning and no end. The green leaves remind us that God’s love never changes.

One candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent. The rose (pink) coloured candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, sometimes known as Gaudete Sunday. A white candle in the centre of the wreath can be lit on Christmas eve.

I have included an Advent Calendar that you may want to use in the lead up to Christmas to ensure that we don’t lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas.

I wish you all a blessed and joyful Christmas enjoying your time with family and friends.

CLICK HERE to view the 2023 Advent Calendar
 

St Vincent de Paul Toy Donations

Thank you for all the generous donations so far.  

Donations of new toys (unwrapped) will be gratefully accepted until Thursday 14^th December.
 

Term 4 Masses/Liturgies

Tuesday 12th December @ 5.30pm- Year 6 Graduation Liturgy at Our Lady of Victories (OLV) Church, High St Glenelg
 

Glenelg Catholic Parish Mass times over Christmas

Christmas Eve Mass- OLV (Our Lady of Victories Church- High St) 6.00pm children’s Mass (Carols 5.30pm) also at 10.00pm (Carols 9.30pm)

Christmas Eve Mass- OLOG (Our Lady of Grace- Glengowrie) 7pm outdoor, bring a chair (Carols 6.30pm)

Christmas Day Mass- OLV @ 9.30am

Debbie Scuteri
APRIM/Leader of Learning

A Big Congratulation to Chelsea Duncan for an excellent completion of her first exam in P Plate Piano level 1.  This was completed through AMEB (Australian Music Examination Board).  WELL DONE Chelsea!

As the end of the school year is approaching very quickly we are urging everyone to have a hunt around their houses, under beds and in bookcases for any books that may belong to our Library! There may even be a reward for “lost” books returned!

In anticipation of many returns.

Anne Lindner
Library Assistant

BASKETBALL TOPS – FRIENDLY REMINDER

Please remember to return your basketball top to either Admin staff in the front office or Sara Cox.

Thank you.

Next year OLOG will be celebrating 70 years since the first enrolment. To support this wonderful celebration we are gathering photos & memorabilia of OLOG from the past 70 years. 

We invite staff, past and present, and families who may have hisotry with OLOG to delve into their archives and share their wonderful memories with us. Photos/memorabilia can be dropped at the office. 

We thank you in advance for your support and look forward to celebrating this wonderful milestone with the OLOG community.