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- From Francine
- Passion Play
- OLOL Students Exiting the School
- Traffic on Wynnstay Road
- School Grounds and COVID Restrictions Clarification
- Mindfulness Program
- From the Parents and Friends ...
- Parents and Friends Committee AGM Announcement
- OLOL Clubs
- Storage Needed
- Running Club
- From the OLOL Community to Margaret.
- Response from Margaret to the OLOL Community
- Extend and Play Equipment
- Chess Club
- Garden Club
- ABC Music Classes
- What Thoughtful Students...
- 5 Secrets Seminar Resources
- Lego Club
- Project Compassion Boxes
- Project Gen Z
- Malvern Tigers Basketball Club
- Klim Swim School @ Wesley College
So many things to be grateful for;
A great sports day! Thank you to Mr. Costa and the entire staff for a big effort to pull this great event off this morning. Thank you to the swathes of parents for attending and for your help with set up, pack up, and general barracking! Thank you, St Joseph and all the angels for holding off on the rain.
A fabulous parent evening last Friday. Again a really terrific turnout with a really good representation from right across the school. It was just such a happy vibe and I am so happy that so many of you have reported back about what a great time you had. (Even if most of us lost our voices and Little Athes duty was a little difficult the next day!)
The Five Secrets - Georgina Manning evening. A beautiful session with some important messages delivered in a gentle and knowledgeable way by Georgina. These kinds of evenings cost the school a lot to run, but when we talk about being partners in your child's educational journey we mean it.
A WONDERFUL new P&F Committee. A huge thank you to Jordarna McNamara (Eloise Year 1 and Estelle Prep 2022) for taking on the role of P&F President. To Imogen Brown (Franklin Year 1 and Marlow 2022) who will take on the role of First Lady (or keeping Jordarna on track), Sonia Mc Call-White (Hugo Year 2 and brand new to our OLOL family) as Secretary, and Adam Connelly (Georgia Year 1 and Max Prep either 2022 or 2023) as treasurer. They have already begun their journey and will be formally appointed at the P&F AGM.
A staff who are just so good at being great. Whether it is Adrian C running a superbly organised sports day or Angelique G booking, advertising, and holding the resilience evening or our beautiful classroom teachers and support staff being so committed to getting everybody to the oval and back again or holding mini-meetings or responding constantly to emails or uncomplainingly going on camp, or coming to the drinks night all the while teaching so explicitly and planning comprehensively. As you can imagine being down two significant staff in Mary and Margaret, everyone has to step up. They are a seriously great bunch and we need every now and again to stop and be grateful!
Last week I sent out an important letter about pick-up procedures at the end of the day. I am adding all of those articles to this newsletter because it seems from the continued volume of traffic on Grandview and Wynnstay Road nothing much has changed. If more people are not able to park and walk to the school (as outlined in the articles below) we will have to stagger pick-up time. This is fine if we have to we will, it just means more rules, more growling from me, me complicated messaging and communication. But I do really understand that if you have little people in the car it is very difficult to park, unload and walk - so please read the articles and we'll see how we go.
Again thank you all for your continued support
Francine
The Year 2 and 3 students are doing a super job of the Passion Play. Due to current restrictions we will not be able to have parents in the audience at the Church. We will be filming the Passion Play next week and will send out the link for you to watch it.
OLOL Students Exiting the School
It is time for some clarification around the current COVID restrictions in the school and Pick-Up procedures generally.
First and foremost we have to be very aware of the place of our school in the Prahan East community. We try very hard to be good and thoughtful neighbours. The school has ALL available staff on duty at the end of the day to ensure your child gets picked up in the most effective, efficient, and safest way possible.
To this end, I am writing to ask for your help to fix some elements of our end-of-day procedure which are becoming a bit problematic.
I am sure that together we will quickly alleviate the problems that are becoming such an issue for our neighbours.
If you are a regular to the Speedy Pick-Up queue, you will know already what I'm about to write about.
The traffic on Grandview grove entering the roundabout from the south (High Street end) and the north (Chatsworth Ave/Malvern Road end) is becoming very difficult to manage and causing much angst for our neighbours.
Firstly I ask that (as well as leaving Woodfull St entrance clear for local traffic) we ensure that the roundabout feeding Wynnstay Road is left clear. When I am able to supervise this roundabout I will. I allow one car from the north into the roundabout when Wynnstay Rd is clear enough to accommodate it and then one car from the south into the roundabout. Leaving the roundabout completely clear and accessible at all times. I ask that you comply with this process.
However. it would be even better if, parents could park in nearby streets and walk the short distance to the school, pick up their child from the back yard and then casually wander back to their parked car enjoying what is some lovely autumnal weather.
We could do with a lot less picking up from the front of the school altogether. Please feel free to meet your child in the top yard but leave through the front of the school. The east side path and gate gives everybody easy access to the back yard without having to troop through the congested school office foyer.
School Grounds and COVID Restrictions Clarification
Every morning between 8.30am and 8.40am Mrs Walsh is on the top yard and students and parents are welcome to join her. The school then gets opened at 8.40am so that students can go in and get organised for the day. Prep parents are still invited to accompany their child to the classroom but it is also great to see such independence developing where even our Preps are able to take their bags in, hang them up, and get organised for the day.
After school, anybody that is not being picked up from 'Speedy Pick Up' is dismissed from the top yard. There is staff up there monitoring the pickup and parents are encouraged to pick their child up from the top yard and then head down to the park for a bit of a play. Our own play equipment is out of bounds after school so there is no confusion for the Extend - After School care supervisors and the Netballers that use our courts several nights a week.
We do shut our top yard down quickly after school for these reasons but you ARE WELCOME to wait up there till your child is dismissed at 3.30pm and you leave together.
It has been great to hear the positive feedback surrounding the "5 Secrets..." seminar presented on Tuesday evening. Many of you may already be familiar with Georgina's Peaceful Kids program, and some of your children have participated in it during previous years. We have included Georgina's handouts at the bottom of this newsletter.
Last year, I was lucky enough to become trained in the Peaceful Kids program, and have used these skills and strategies that I learnt to create a Mindfulness program targeted to the specific needs of our students at OLOL. The sessions will be run on Wednesday afternoons (during school hours) and focus on learning mindfulness techniques, identifying different emotions, developing a "bank" of strategies to cope with different situations, and building resilience. The program will be run in a small group and will be a safe place where the children are able to comfortably share their thoughts and feelings.
We ran a similar program during Term One and I have seen wonderful learning and growth in these children (as well as enjoyment!). If you would like your child to participate in this program during Term Two, please express your interest using the link below. Please ensure you have submitted the form by the end of this term so that I am able to organise groups based on student needs.
Please complete the link below to express your interest:
From the Parents and Friends ...
Parents and Friends Committee AGM Announcement
The Parents and Friends (P & F) Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the newly appointed P&F Committee will be held at school on Wednesday 21st April at 7.00 p.m.
The P&F Committee strives for your participation in the school community and we strongly encourage you to attend the AGM if you can. We look forward to working towards and achieving fundraising goals. We would love your input, ideas and support. There are still positions to fill on the Committee, including members to the Fundraising Sub-Committee and Event Coordinators, so please come along to express your interest.
As usual, OLOL will be running Chess Club again in Terms Two and Three of this year. We like to offer students the chance to learn to play Chess when the weather is less inviting than in terms one and four.
If you would like your child to participate in Chess Club [Monday Lunchtimes, term two] please follow the instructions in the attachment below.
I thought this might be a good time to outline all the clubs that OLOL runs, on what days/times they are held, and how you can make contact with the organisers of the different activities if you are interested in being involved. All Providers run independently of the school but as they are using our school come under our strict Child Safety Standards.
CLUB | TIME | CONTACT |
Chess | Monday Lunchtimes | admin@chessideas.com.au |
Circus Skills | Tuesday after school | Jho 0451 589 890 |
Choir | Tuesday Lunchtimes (Gd 2 - 6) | ruth.mcgurk@olprahraneast.catholic.edu.au |
Netball 'Saints' | Tuesday after school | Amy Kennedy |
Garden Club | Wednesday Lunchtime |
jamie.jackson@olprahraneast.catholic.edu.au |
Hip Hop | Wednesday Afterschool | Cathy 0406 022 919 |
Lego Club | Wednesday Lunchtimes | jlang@bricks4kidz.com |
Netball 'All-Stars' | Wednesday after school | Allison Leeds |
Hip Hop | Thursday after school | Cathy 0406 022 919 |
Glee Club | Friday Lunchtime | Cathy 0406 022 919 |
Garden Club | Friday Lunchtime | jamie.jackson@olprahraneast.catholic.edu.au |
Running Club | Fridays during school hours | daniel.podbury@olprahraneast.catholic.edu.au |
Circus Skills | Friday after school | Jho 0451 589 890 |
We have a member of our community, Annie Exell who has a friend that sends all matter of helpful stuff to Fiji.
Amongst the helpful stuff that she sends is anything that our school can no longer use but has a potentially great second life in FIJI. We are on the cusp of updating the furniture in the newly renovated classrooms and so I was trying to arrange our Fiji contacts to take our existing classroom furniture.
Annie tells me however that this valuable and important venture has hit a snag. Her friend's organisation has lost its storage facility.
Now I think that given our privileged position in the world of businesses and our wide and complex networks, someone should know someone who is willing and able to provide this group with storage between shipments.
Please talk to people you might know - It would be wonderful if we could help in this very authentic and valuable venture.
We have decided that for consistency's sake All Levels participating in Running Club will be taking place on Fridays.
Therefore there is no need for the extra sports uniform day and no need what-so-ever for any confusion.
From the OLOL Community to Margaret.
Dear Margaret
We have all been thinking of you following the news of your unfortunate accident. We hope that you’re on the road to recovery and that you’re feeling a little better each day.
As you give so much to all of us, we wanted to do something for you to help you through your recovery journey.
We have collected and transferred some money for you to spend on whatever you may find helpful during your recovery - whether that be a home cleaning service, takeaway meals, taxi vouchers, a weekend away or anything else that will help you feel supported and loved.
The money should reach your account within 2 days - please let me know if you have any issues and I will follow it up.
I have also attached a beautiful card full of well wishes for you. We are all thinking of you and wish you a speedy recovery.
Although it may be a long time from now, we can’t wait to see your smiling face (and healed body!!) back at OLOL.
Take care and all the very best with your recovery Margaret.
Warmest wishes
Lisa and the OLOL Community
Response from Margaret to the OLOL Community
Dear Lisa and the OLOL Community,
Lunchtime Chess Classes will recommence next term on Monday 26th April. ‘Chess Ideas’ will run the sessions. These classes will cost $14.00 per lesson. All students from Prep - Year 6 are eligible to enrol, but they must commit to a full term’s program (this term it is 8 sessions). During the sessions there is a formal teaching component and then an experience/play component. The formal component is fully interactive, with children being required to analyse situations and decide on a series of outcomes together before breaking off to play one on one.
It is important to remember that in the game of chess, a child mentally analyses a situation and then makes a move. All of this is done without the aid of reading or writing. So Chess is a valuable game to learn to play even before a child has acquired the skills of reading and writing. It supports all students in reasoning, logical deduction, process, strategy and analysis. It is easy to see why there is research around how playing chess supports students learning in other areas.
Please see below, chess registration form. They are available from the office upon request.
Thank you to the 38 children who attended the meeting and signed up for Garden Club this year.
Congratulations to the wonderful Leila and Marnie for being chosen as our Garden Club leaders!
If you are interested in what the meeting was about or the roles and responsibilities of garden club please see the link below.
Some very thoughtful young ladies in Year Four decided to start a sticker shop on the playground during lunchtimes. They brought in stickers from home that they no longer use and sold them (for free!) to their very excited peers. What a generous initiative these young entrepreneurs have begun!
Thank you to everyone who attended the "5 Secrets to Develop Confidence and Resilience" seminar on Tuesday evening. I found it to be a very informative and valuable evening and have also received some lovely, positive feedback about the event.
Georgina has kindly shared some valuable documents that I have included below. These include: a document with strategies to support children when they are feeling anxious, a feelings poster, and the presentation slides. I highly recommend that you dedicate some time to look through the resources; we found the letter on page 42 of the presentation to be particularly important (and cute!).
Presentation Slides:
Supporting Anxious Children document:
Feelings Poster:
Don't forget Project Compassion Boxes are due in at the end of Term One. If you have not already dropped in your Project Compassion Box, please drop it into the Office by next Thursday.
Kids will learn how to set personal goals, will build their very own dream board, and develop tools to overcome obstacles and maintain a positive mindset.
Limited tickets available, find out more here https://www.projectgenz.