COVID-19 Updates

I would sincerely like to thank our wonderful school community for your understanding during the recent challenges we faced as a school community. It has been reassuring to speak with parents of our Year 5 students, who are currently learning from home, and hearing that they have been able to continue to learn and stay in touch with their teachers. It seems like every day there is a new school experiencing a COVID related closure or isolation, at this present time this almost seems to be the norm, but I’d like to focus on how well our students have responded and continued with life at OLA.

Our Year 5 staff and students will be returning to school this Friday (18 Feb), which will be Day Eight (8) – a day after their seven (7) days mandated isolation period. All students and staff had a PCR on Wednesday Day Six (6) and those who returned negative Covid-19 results will be returning to school this week. At this point in time, all PCR testing, communicated by parents, have returned negative results, which is fantastic, hence we look forward to seeing the students and staff on Friday.

Earlier in the year we were instructed to follow guidelines to ensure the minimisation of spreading of the virus on a large scale within our school. It was great to hear that due to these COVID related modifications we were able to allow all other year groups to continue to attend school.

On Friday areas of the school were deep cleaned by a specialist industrial cleaning company. As has been since the commencement of the year, extra covid cleaning is being undertaken daily by our own cleaners. As further COVID updates are brought to our attention, you will all be informed. In the interim, it is business as usual unless otherwise advised.

A reminder to parents to wear your mask when entering the school grounds. Additionally, parents are not permitted to enter classrooms and social distancing rules apply to all adults. Parents may consider dropping off and pick up once the children have settled in, especially those students in Years 2-6. I perfectly understand parents need to drop off and collect their children from the Pre-Kindergarten – Year 1.

Parents of junior primary students, please keep your children off the play equipment before school as we continue to spray the play equipment in the morning before school starts. I understand that this is often hard to do but I ask that you please support us in this.

Induction/Commitment Mass for New Staff, Year 6 Students, OLA School Advisory Council and P&F Executive

On Friday 4 February the Induction/Commitment Mass was held at the OLA Parish. During the celebration, new staff to OLA, Year 6 students, OLA Advisory Council and P&F Executive members made a commitment to serve our wonderful OLA community during the year.

During the celebration, all new staff, OLA Advisory Council and P&F Executive members were presented with a keepsake. The Year 6 Students were presented with the blessed Ministry and Leadership Badges. Congratulations to everyone who made the commitment to serve our school community.

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Sacramental Commitment Masses and Letters

Due to the current COVID climate, Fr Ken and I have decided to cancel the Sacramental Commitment masses this weekend and allow students and parents to attend any weekend parish mass during Term 1.

The commitment sheet all sacramental families received, over the last couple of weeks, will be read out by the sacramental students in their classrooms as cohorts (Years 3, 4 & 6) sometime next week. 2022 Sacramental students and parents will then take the signed commitment forms to one of the parish weekend masses (any mass until the end of Term 1) and place it in the Sacramental Basket, on the offertory table, at the back of the church. During the offertory possession, the basket of commitment sheets will be taken up as part of the offertory and returned to the school on Monday.

There were two documents attached to the sacramental letter, one being the commitment sheet and the second being the Sacramental Records Form. The Sacramental Record Form will need to be returned to the classroom teacher by Friday 4 March and not placed in the basket on the offertory table in the church.

As we continue to navigate through the current covid environments, we will continue to support our families by not bringing everyone together, as best we can, in large gatherings. Sacramental Celebrations will continue, as scheduled, however, decisions will be made closer to the dates if we will be proceeding or rescheduling the events. Watch this space.

Caritas Australia and Shrove Tuesday

On Tuesday 1 March, to raise money for Caritas Australia, the canteen will be selling pancakes for Shrove Tuesday as part of their menu for the day. Please read the attached information about the fundraisers that we will be holding at OLA during the Lenten season. Your support and generosity to assist those less fortunate are greatly appreciated.

Project Compassion Fundraiser

2023 Pre Kindergarten / Kindergarten Enrolments

We have received an extraordinary number of enrolment applications for Pre – Kindergarten and Kindergarten 2023. Current families are encouraged to submit enrolment applications for siblings as soon as possible to secure a place for their child.

Year 5 and Veritas Library Furniture

I am proud to say the new modern collaborative learning furniture, for the Year 5 students, arrived during the holidays and are in the classrooms. This will be an annual change-over with the Year 4 furniture to be replaced at the beginning of 2023. The students are enjoying the new furniture which enriches their learning journeys.

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Thanks to the OLASAC and P&F for providing the funds to modernise the Veritas Library. We lodged our order in Term 4 2021 (see uploaded designs), and these will be (hopefully) delivered during the Term 1 holidays.

Welcome Back Family Movie Night

Due to current Covid-19 protocols, unfortunately, we had to cancel the Tom & Jerry movie night.

We are extremely disappointed we had to cancel the event as the Welcome Back nights are always a wonderful way to bring our community together. We do look forward to coming together as a community in the future.

OLA Swimming Carnival & School Photos

Good news, we have managed to reschedule the OLA Senior Swimming Carnival to Wednesday 6 April, week 10.  School photos, scheduled on Wednesday 6 April, have now been rescheduled to Monday 4 April and Tuesday 5 April. Reminders will be sent out to all families closer to the day. Mr Allsop will be sending home letters with details of the event.

Updated 2022 Term Calendars

Attached to this newsletter is the current updated school calendars for 2022. Please note the interactive calendars on the website are updated daily. I request you check the website calendar when confirming events and times.

Download the Latest School Calendar

Medical Conditions

A reminder if your child has a medical condition, e.g. anaphylaxis or asthma, please complete the required paperwork that is available from the School Office. All medications need to be left at the School Office with your child’s completed paperwork. Students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary will have medications stored in the classroom, however, the School Office will still need to be notified of your child’s medical condition.

School Fees

Fee statements have been emailed to families. Please select your preferred payment option on the form and return to judith.hille@cewa.edu.au If you have any queries regarding the statements, please contact Mrs Hille directly on 9471 3001.

Permission to Use Student Images 2022

If you would like to amend your child’s permission to use student images from 2021 then please contact your child’s class teacher directly. All permissions given in 2021 will roll over to 2022 unless otherwise advised. New students to OLA in 2022 will be given a consent form in the near future.

Speech Pathologist On-Site

Continuing this year, there will be a speech pathologist on-site to offer sessions to students who require them. The speech pathologist (Genevieve Saldanha) will be on-site every Monday (initially via appointments as she sets herself up) to meet with parents and work with students. This arrangement is a private practice (costs are not covered by the school) and parents will need to deal directly with Genevieve. Please read the attached flyer from Genevieve. Her email address is gmsaldanha@gmail.com and her mobile number is 0405 806 848.

Genevieve Saldanha Speech Pathology – Flyer and Price List

Jeans Friday

You may have noticed staff wearing jeans on Fridays. The staff are collecting money for Br Ollie’s Wheelchairs for Kids, as we have done in previous years. We are still collecting ring pulls from cans so please continue to support the foundation by bringing them in.

Thank you.

Greg Martin and Michael Morris

The OLA Leadership Team