OLOG eNewsletter Term 2 Week 10

Dear OLOG Parents and Caregivers,

As Term 2 draws to a close, I am filled with gratitude as I reflect on the many moments of growth, celebration, and grace that have shaped our school community over the past ten weeks.

This term, our students have demonstrated exceptional engagement in their learning across all year levels. It has been a joy to witness the OLOG Way come alive in our classrooms and playgrounds each day—from our youngest Receptions, now confidently following school routines, to our Year 6 leaders who consistently model responsibility.

Looking ahead to next term, we are excited to welcome Ms Pett, along with our new Reception students and their families. The Term 3 calendar is filled with a variety of planned events and activities, including the continuation of school sport, with several teams advancing to significant finals. Other highlights include the Year 4 Camp at Nunyara, Book Week, our annual Book Week Parade, as well as the celebration of our feast day of St Dominic.

We greatly value our ongoing partnership with families. Learning Conversations are scheduled for Term 3, and I encourage you to confirm your appointment for your child’s session. Your presence, encouragement, and engagement in your child’s learning journey make an immeasurable difference. Semester 1 Reports were released on Tuesday via the Community Portal; I hope you will take the time to review your child’s achievements and work together to set learning, social, and behavioural goals for a positive and productive Semester 2.

NAPLAN Results – Year 3 and Year 5

We have been advised that NAPLAN reports for Year 3 and Year 5 students will be available early in Term 3.

P&F Quiz Night

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a wonderful evening last Saturday! Special thanks to Ben Clarence, our Quiz Master Extraordinaire, for making the night such a success. It was heartening to see so much connection, fun, and the opportunity for parents to engage with the OLOG Community. We are also grateful to all who generously donated prizes, and to the P&F members whose dedication ensured a fantastic event. Although I was unable to attend due to illness, I was available to support staff remotely if needed.

Staffing Update

We extend our sincere gratitude to Sara Cox, Enrolment/Sports Admin and Community Engagement Coordinator, for her significant contributions to numerous events this year. Sara will conclude her tenure at OLOG on Friday, and we wish her the best in her future endeavours.

Claire Eastham has been appointed as the new Enrolment/Admin/Community Coordinator, commencing at the start of Term 3.

We welcome Ms. Emily Purser, who will join us as the Music/Performing Arts teacher at the beginning of Term 3.

We also bid farewell to Paris, the Voice Instrumental Teacher, who has worked with many of our students over the past three years. Paris has completed her studies and will be embarking on a new professional journey.

COFFEE VAN THIS FRIDAY

Please join the OLOG Community this Friday, as our favourite coffee van, The Spare Room mobile cafe, will be at OLOG from 8:00 am. This occasion offers an opportunity to say farewell to Sara and engage with the OLOG Community.

As we approach the school holiday period, may it be a time of rest, reconnection, and renewal for all. I encourage families to enjoy shared meals without the rush of school life, engage in outdoor adventures, and take quiet moments to recharge.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday, 21 July, ready to begin Term 3 with energy and enthusiasm.

Wishing every family a safe and restful term  break.

Peace and Blessings,

Josette Charles
Principal

Sacrament of Confirmation

We congratulate and pray for the children who have recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation; Hunter, Hannah, Isabella, Lottie May, Caleb, Josienne, Lawrence, Frank and James.

Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are strengthened in faith and called to be courageous witnesses of Christ in the world.

May the light of the Holy Spirit guide them always, and may this special milestone deepen their relationship with God and the Church. Thank you to the families, sponsors and parish team who have supported them on their faith journey.

Grandparents Day

We are delighted to invite all Grandparents to join us in celebrating World Day for Grandparents at OLOG on Friday, 25th July.

This special day honours the important role Grandparents play in the lives of children and families. It also reminds us of the love and faith of Jesus’ own grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne.

Event Details:

Time:

9:00am – Liturgy in the OLOG Church for Reception to Year 2 Grandparents
9:00am – Open Morning in classrooms for Years 3–6 Grandparents

Morning Tea:

10:00am–11:00am – Hosted by our Year 6 Leaders in the Community Space
Please note: Morning Tea is for Grandparents only, as students will return to class after the Open Morning.

This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together in faith, gratitude, and community as we honour the cherished presence of Grandparents in our lives.

To assist with catering, please RSVP by Monday, 21st July via the link in Audiri.

We look forward to warmly welcoming our Grandparents for this beautiful occasion.

Holiday Break

As we come to the end of another busy and fulfilling term, we wish you and your family a safe, restful, and enjoyable break. May it be a time to slow down, reconnect, and make special memories together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the new term ahead.

Joy and Blessings

Debbie Scuteri 
APRIM/Inclusive Education Coordinator

Last Wednesday, our school community gathered for mass to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus- a special time to reflect on the deep love and compassion of Jesus for all people. The Sacred Heart reminds us that we are called to show kindness, forgiveness, and care for one another, just as Jesus does for us.

Thank you to our students and staff who helped to make it a reverent and joyful Mass. May the love of the Sacred Heart continue to guide our hearts in all that we do.

Welcome to Our Lady of Grace - Emily Purser Joins Our Team

We are excited to welcome Emily Purser to the Our Lady of Grace School community. Emily is an experienced R–12 music teacher who most recently taught at Nazareth Catholic College since 2019. In addition to music, Emily also teaches Japanese, and brings with her a wealth of international experience, having previously worked at Tamagawa Academy in Tokyo. There, she taught Music and developed a bilingual curriculum for primary students, using music as a tool to build language and literacy.

Emily studied Jazz Performance at the Adelaide Conservatorium of Music, specialising in Jazz voice, and continues to enjoy performing in her spare time as a soloist or duo at events, functions and wineries.

With a broad skillset and many transferable skills, Emily is looking forward to integrating a music-focused curriculum at OLOG. She is passionate about creating opportunities for students to develop their unique gifts through performance, and we are thrilled to have her expertise and enthusiasm on board.

Parents & Friends Quiz Night:
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent Parents and Friends Quiz Night. It was a relaxed and enjoyable evening, full of laughs and a little bit of friendly competition.

A special thank you to Sara Cox for all her work behind the scenes, to Ben Clarence for doing a great job as Quiz Master, and to all the P&F volunteers who helped make the night run smoothly.

We’d also like to sincerely thank Sacred Heart Middle School for generously offering their venue for the evening — we’re grateful for their support.

Thanks again to everyone who came along and supported the event. Together, we raised $2,800, which will go towards projects that benefit our school community.

We’re looking forward to more opportunities to connect in the future. 

SAPSASA Netball Achievement

Congratulations to Mackenzie Quirk and Leila Quirk, who were both selected to represent South West in the recent SAPSASA Netball Carnival held at Netball SA Stadium.

Mackenzie and Leila’s team performed exceptionally well across the week, finishing second overall and earning a silver medal for their efforts.

Well done to both girls on a fantastic achievement — we are very proud of you!

Year 5 and Year 2 Buddy Time

Over the past few weeks, our Year 5 students have been spending time with their Year 2 buddies, building positive connections and supporting one another through shared activities.

It has been wonderful to see the older students show leadership and care, while the younger students have enjoyed the chance to learn and grow alongside their buddies. These moments help strengthen our sense of community and foster a culture of kindness and support across year levels.

We look forward to seeing how these buddy relationships continue to grow throughout the year.

Thank You to Stephen Patterson MP

We were pleased to welcome Stephen Patterson MP to our school yesterday. Stephen has been a strong supporter in helping to secure improvements to our school crossing, working in partnership with the local council to enhance safety for our students, families, and the wider community.

We are grateful for his ongoing support and advocacy in helping create a safer environment around our school.

Reception Playground Designers

Our Reception students have been busy combining their learning across Science, Maths, and Design & Technology to create their very own playground models!

After a recent excursion to the playground, students collected data about what types of equipment people enjoyed most. Using this information, they designed and built models that included a moving part – showcasing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and understanding of how things move.

It’s been a wonderful opportunity for students to explore how ideas can come to life through hands-on learning and collaboration.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Low income fees are provided to families/caregivers who are eligible for School Card.  applications are available online via https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme

COMMUNITY PORTAL

The Community Portal can be accessed via https://cesa-portal.civicaed.com.au/

If you have not yet registered and would like a new invitation issued please contact finance@olog.catholic.edu.au

If you are experiencing difficulty managing your fees or if you have any queries regarding your account or payment plan, please contact Kerri Rowell on 8177 9100 or finance@olog.catholic.edu.au 

Gearing up for Term 3: 
As Term 2 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to thank all the students and families who have supported and contributed to another fantastic term of PE / sport at OLOG. Your enthusiasm, encouragement and commitment make all the difference – thank you!

It’s been a busy and rewarding term. Our Year 5 students had a successful and memorable camp at Mylor, embracing the outdoors and strengthening friendships. Our OLOG Netball girls shone at the South West Carnival, taking out first place in Round 1 – a fantastic achievement!

We also started our partnership with the South Adelaide Basketball club that will see us grow relationships with local clubs. In partnership with South Adelaide we have delivered some UP specialist sessions, offered spaces during the Term 2 vacation care South Adelaide Basketball clinics and in Term 4 offer after school clinics especially for children in Reception to Year 2. Stay tuned for more information on these clinics as placed are limited and will no doubt go quickly.

All Year 5 and 6 students took part in the SACPSSA Lacrosse Day, gaining valuable experience and having a lot of fun. We also proudly represented OLOG at the South West Cross Country Day, with many of our students achieving personal bests.

A special congratulations to those who progressed to represent the South West District at State Carnivals – an outstanding accomplishment. Well done to:

Olivia Raymond, Lucy Ryan and Daniel Johnson at the State Cross Country Championships at Oakbank.
Finn Raymond and Darcy Thur, who competed at the State AFL Championships at West Beach, finishing as runners-up.
Mackenzie and Layla Quirk, who represented the district in State Netball, also earning silver medals.
We are incredibly proud of you all!

Looking ahead to Term 3, we have some major events on the calendar:

Re-scheduled Cross Country Day – now taking place in Week 8 on Friday, 12 September.
House Cup Events (Week 10)–
• R-2: Wednesday 24 September, 12:15pm–3:00pm
• Year 3–6: Thursday 25 September – all day

Please keep an eye on Audiri and our new platform EdSmart to stay up to date with the latest information, permission slips and reminders.

As we move into the new term, most of our school sports will roll over and continue from Week 1. If you're unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Finally, I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Sara Cox, whose passion and work ethic have been a huge asset to OLOG sport. She will be greatly missed, especially by me. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.

A big welcome to Katie Sharkey, who has already shown a strong grasp of the role and a real passion for sport. She’s got big shoes to fill, but she’s off to a great start!

See you at the ground,
Mr M

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Premier's Reading Challenge

We’re so proud of the students who have already completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge and handed in their forms - what an outstanding effort!
We have a running tally in the library to celebrate those who finish, and it’s growing every week. If your child has completed their challenge, please make sure they return their form to the library so we can officially record their achievement. Just a reminder that students should be reading books at their appropriate reading level to make the most of the challenge. Spare forms are available in the library or can be downloaded from the Premiers Reading Challenge website if needed.

Let’s keep the momentum going and celebrate all our wonderful readers!

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

Please complete the Application for Exemption from School Enrolment/Attendance Form, which is available from the Front Office.

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.

Early Departure

Should any child need to leave the school grounds during school hours, students must be signed out at the Front Office by their parent/caregiver before leaving the school.