OLOG eNewsletter Term 2 Week 10

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This semester has been filled with countless achievements, challenges overcome, and moments of profound growth and learning. I am incredibly proud of our school community for its unwavering dedication and commitment.

Our students have demonstrated exceptional academic performance throughout the past two terms, with many students consistently exceeding expectations and pushing the boundaries of their knowledge. Their thirst for learning and the remarkable progress they have made are a testament to the incredible work of our talented teachers and school officers. We have strived to provide a nurturing environment that fosters faith, critical thinking, creativity, and a love for learning, and I am delighted to see the results of these efforts in the recent report cards.

Our school community has thrived due to the active involvement and support of parents, extended family, and the wider community. Your continuous support has been instrumental in creating a vibrant and inclusive environment for our students. Your commitment to partnering with us is deeply appreciated.

I wish you all a safe holiday break. May this time be filled with rest, rejuvenation, and quality time spent with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming you back in Term 3.

Peace and Blessings

Josette Charles
Principal

The OLOG P & F Committee is keen to invite parents to join the P&F.  The P&F gather each term to create opportunities for the OLOG Community and students as well as some fundraising. Please consider volunteering to join the P&F.

The next P & F Meeting will be held on Wednesday 24th July at 7:00pm in the Library. Please email: jcharles@olog.catholic.edu.au re joining and volunteering on the P&F.

Some of the activities that are being planned for Term 3:

Parent Education Session on Resilience
Student disco’s
Noodle Day
Coffee Mornings
Father’s Day Stall

Term 4 : Colour Run and Carol’s on the Green.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank Shane Heinrich for his valuable time in leading the P&F over the last four years. We are appreciative of his generosity and all that he has brought to develop OLOG Community and the P&F. Shane is stepping away from the P&F and again greatly appreciative for all that he has done and contributed here at OLOG.

Josette Charles
Principal

Sacramental Program

Last Wednesday the following children made their Sacrament of Confirmation Ava Newbold, James Newbold, Indianna Gianquitto, Daniel Johnson, Oliver Buljan, Edrielle Miro and Lewis McCheane.

It was a special time for the children and their families, and we congratulate them on this significant step in their faith journey.

Year 5/6 Mass St Peter and St Paul

Last Thursday was our final mass for the term. The Year 5/6’s celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Grandfriend Day Liturgy and Morning Tea

On Friday 26^th July (Week 1) we will be honouring our beautiful Grandfriends with a Grandfriend’s Liturgy, open morning in classrooms and morning tea.

Details of the morning have been posted on Audiri.

Please RSVP via the Forms link for catering purposes by 24^th July 6:00pm.

We are looking forward to this special opportunity to connect with our Grandfriends of our children at OLOG.

Finally, I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday break

Joy and Blessings

Debbie Scuteri
APRIM / Inclusive Education Coordinator

Our NAPLAN results and a change in practice to enhance student learning:

We have just received our 2024 NAPLAN results and are pleased to share the achievements of our Year 3 and 5 students. Students in both cohorts demonstrated an average proficiency of STRONG across all components. Over 35% of our Year 5 student cohort also demonstrated a high level of progress between their Year 3 and Year 5 tests. Congratulations to our students. 

Over the past 12 months, teaching staff have spent a significant amount of time exploring the CESA Performance standards, which align with the Achievement Standards from ACARA. The Performance Standards utilise cognitive verbs to differentiate between student understanding of tasks and are then reflected in grade scores. The cognitive verbs in each level reflect an increase in the cognition required of students, taking their thinking and learning from surface level to deep and then to transfer.

The Performance Standards have supported all CESA teachers with greater clarity in what constitutes a grade to enable greater consistency across sites. Our teachers have been working extensively on their maths planning to create units of work starting at the final assessment. The assessment is aligned to their year level’s Performance Standards.

There are many benefits to this backwards planning. Two in particular are: 1. Teachers have a sound understanding of what they want their students to understand and achieve and can then create a series of lessons targeted at their final understanding of this. 2. By creating and planning units which explicitly teach students how to achieve an A or B, we are providing greater opportunity for success.

The long term effect on students, however, can be profound. If we can develop students who become more critical and analytical in their thinking, our aim is that this will strengthen them as life long learners, wherever their journey takes them.

Attached to our newsletter is a brief explanation of how the Performance Standards are interpreted during tasks and assessments. Learning conversations in week 2 of next term also provide a great opportunity to discuss these further with your child’s teacher.

Performance Standards Explained 

Community Portal

Recently we have introduced our WORDLE Board where students can try to guess the Daily WORDLE.

Wordle, the free word game that has become ubiquitous on social media, can also be used in the classroom to great effect.
In addition to vocabulary and spelling knowledge, solving the Wordle word of the day requires strategy, using the process of elimination, and logical thinking. 

Can you guess today's WORDLE?

Our third debate for the season was last week. The topic was That schools should adopt a four day week. This was a tough topic and we had to do a lot of research to back up our ideas. We were the affirmative team for this and were awarded the win. The girls were very organised for this debate and feedback from the adjudicator praised the research the team had done.

Our next debate is next term, 8^th August, and we are the affirmative team again. Our topic is That the Bluey $1 coin should be put into general circulation

Ms Mac
Debating Coordinator

As we approach the end of Term 2, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the children and parents for the warm welcome and positive attitude shown towards me since I joined. It has been clear from the outset how much sport and physical education mean to the OLOG community, and I've endeavoured to provide safe and enriching learning opportunities for all our students.

We've had some fantastic highlights in the first semester, and there are even more exciting opportunities ahead in the next term, including events like ‘Green and Gold Day’ and the ‘House Event Carnival’. More details about these events will follow closer to the dates.

Speaking of sports, I'd like to acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful efforts of our parents who serve as coaches or managers. Your dedication goes above and beyond to ensure our students have enriching experiences on the courts and fields. We've recently introduced new AFL and Soccer teams to our lineup, with plans to expand further. Next term, Lachlan and I will be reaching out to you with a "dream list" survey, seeking your input on sports and activities you'd like to see offered at OLOG in the future. Your feedback will help us tailor our offerings to better meet the needs of all our children, so stay tuned.

Moving forward, we've been reviewing our Sports Days and Camps based on external reviews, parent feedback surveys, and discussions with both parents and students. This feedback is invaluable in ensuring we provide authentic, tailored experiences that meet the needs of everyone involved. Look out for updates on changes to Sports Days for 2025 and enhancements to our Outdoor Education programs.

In terms of sportsmanship and personal growth, I want to emphasize a couple of important messages for our children as they head into Terms 3 and 4. Winning and losing are part of sports, but it's equally important to focus on what they can contribute to the team and how they can work together with their teammates. By striving for their personal best and embracing both successes and setbacks, they will build resilience that will serve them well in life.

As a further reminder, all children who signed up to play Sports in Term 2, are expected to be playing in Term 3. Games will start week 1, so please be prepared and ready to start week 1 of Term 3. If anything has changed, please email Lachlan sports@olog.catholic.edu.au

“You’re going to make mistakes in life. It’s what you do after them that counts.”

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday break filled with joy and safety.

Best regards,

Mr. M

We are thrilled to share the highlights from the recent SACPPSA Netball Carnival held on Monday, 1st July at the Netball SA Courts in Mile End. Despite the chilly weather, the sun shone brightly throughout the day, reflecting the enthusiasm and energy of our Year 5/6 students.

Our school entered six teams into the competition, and each one performed admirably. The students showcased excellent sportsmanship, maintained positive attitudes, and demonstrated commendable behavior throughout the event. Their hard work and dedication were evident on the court, with two of our teams remaining undefeated for the entire day – a remarkable achievement!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful team managers: Mrs. Rossi, Mrs. Blight, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Nicholls, Mr. Ash, and myself. Your commitment and support were invaluable. We are also grateful to the parents who attended and assisted on the day, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Congratulations to all our students for their outstanding effort and participation. This event was a fantastic opportunity for them to develop their skills, make new friends, and create lasting memories.

We look forward to more successful sports events in the future. Thank you for your continued support

Informing the school of absences

If your child is not going to be at school due to illness, or will be late due to an appointment, it is imperative that you inform the school by:

• Phoning the 24 hour student absentee phone number: 8177 9191 before 8.55am; or
• Completing the absentee form in the Audiri app; or
• By emailing the class teacher or olog@olog.catholic.edu.au

Advance Notice of Absence / absence of more than five (5) days

For advance notice of your child’s absence, please complete the Application for Exemption from School Enrolment/Attendance Form, which is available from the Front Office.

Unexplained absence

If a child is not present and the school has not received an absentee call or email by 9:30am, the office will contact parents (generally via text) to ascertain the student’s whereabouts.

If your child is late

If your child arrives after 8:55am, they will need to enter through the Front Office and be signed in manually by a parents/caregiver via the IPAD (Passtab), then go to the classroom. If this process is not followed and the student has been marked as absent, an automated text message will be generated.

Early Departure

Should any child need to leave the school grounds during school hours e.g. dental/doctor appointment, parental permission must be given. All students must be signed out at the Front Office by their parent/caregiver before leaving the school.