Veritas Newsletter
April 2024
Welcome to our Veritas Newsletter
April Veritas Newsletter
Dear parents and caregivers,
We hope our students enjoyed the April school holiday break. This newsletter includes highlights from this month so far.
Honouring ANZAC Day : Remembering Our Heroes
Dear Students, Parents, and Staff,
As April draws to a close, we prepare to commemorate a significant day in our nation's history: ANZAC Day. This solemn occasion holds a special place in our hearts as we come together to honour the bravery, sacrifice, and camaraderie of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought valiantly in World War I.
ANZAC Day, observed on April 25th each year, marks the anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli in 1915. It serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience displayed by our servicemen and women in defence of our freedom and values.
Here at OLA we hold ANZAC Day in high regard, recognising it not only as a day of remembrance but also as an opportunity to instil in our students the importance of honouring those who have served and continue to serve our country. Through various educational activities and discussions, we aim to deepen our students' understanding of the sacrifices made by ANZAC soldiers and their families.
One of the most touching aspects of ANZAC Day is the dawn service, which symbolises the darkness of war giving way to the light of hope and peace. While our younger students may not attend dawn services, we encourage families to take a moment together to reflect on the significance of this occasion.
Moreover, the tradition of wearing red poppies on ANZAC Day serves as a poignant symbol of remembrance, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" written during World War I. In classrooms, students may engage in crafting poppies or learning about their symbolism, fostering a sense of connection to our nation's history. (See poem below)
As we commemorate ANZAC Day, let us also extend our gratitude to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who continue to serve our country with honour and dedication. Their sacrifices remind us of the importance of cherishing and preserving the freedoms we enjoy today.
In closing, let us approach ANZAC Day with reverence and gratitude, honouring the legacy of courage and sacrifice that defines our nation. Together, let us remember and reflect, ensuring that the spirit of ANZAC lives on in our hearts and minds.
Lest we forget.
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Anzac Day Liturgy
On Wednesday 24 April, the students and staff paid tribute to those who fought for our country so that we could all experience our freedom in this great nation. Thank you to the Year 6 students and staff for coordinating the service.
Anzac Prayer
Remember, O Lord, all those the brave and the true, who have died the death of honour and are departed in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. In that place of light from which sorrow and mourning are far banished, give them rest.
Amen
Pupil Free Day - Friday 26 April
A reminder that the day after Anzac Day, Friday 26 April, is also a pupil free day. OLA OSCH will be available Friday 26 April for those who wish to use the service. Please contact the OLA OSHC directly, via an email, if you would like to book your child (children) on this day - oshc@ola.wa.edu.au
Meeting of the Minds
Last term, a group of Year 6 students participated in the the Meeting of the Minds. Our students met with other Year 6 students from St Peter's, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St Luke's and Our Lady of Grace Primary Schools.
The students spent with day working collaboratively in small groups to solve problems, complete spontaneous challenges and STEM challenges. The students had a fabulous day interacting with other students while using their higher order thinking and problem solving skills.
The group represented OLA with Excellence.
Book Week is coming !
We hope you are all getting your costumes ready for next week! Please encourage your children to choose a book character costume for Wednesday 1 May, this could be related to the theme Reading is Magic, or a character from a favourite book. The parade will be on at 8.50am on Wednesday, families are welcome.
Other events on in the week include:
- a visit from WA author & illustrator Gavin Aung Than on Monday 29 May
- Scholastic Book Fair - 8-8.40 Mon 29 - Thurs 2 and 3.05-4.00 Mon 29-Wed 1 May (please note there will be no sales on Thursday after school or Friday)
- Book Bingo at lunch for years 2-6
- Staff photo competition - students will need to find 30 photos of OLA staff members in disguise and fill out the answer sheet that will be handed out on Monday. Entries are due in by Friday 3 May and prizes will be awarded at the assembly on Wednesday 8 May. There will be 1 prize for each year level Pre-K - Year 6.
- Better Beginnings session for Kindy in Veritas Library on Wednesday 1 May at 2pm, parents & carers are welcome.
Mother's Day Breakfast
On Wednesday 8 May we will be hosting our annual Mother's Day Breakfast. Breakfast will commence at 7:30am in the Sr Goretti Hall. The breakfast will be cooked and served by the OLA fathers. We are looking forward to seeing all of our mothers, grandmothers and female caregivers attending along with OLA enrolled students.
WA Student Assistance Payment
On 17 March 2024, the Hon. Roger Cook MLA, and the Minister for Education, Hon. Dr Tony Buti MLA, announced the WA Student Assistance Payment. This initiative invites families to register their claim for payment via the ServiceWA app.
WA Student Assistance Payment – Parent Information Guide
To support our Catholic school parents in their understanding of the initiative a WA Student Assistance Payment - Parent Information Guide has been developed for your reference. This guide outlines frequently asked questions pertaining to:
- Where to access general information and/or support in claiming payment;
- The process for claiming payment; and
- Successful claims and the expected payment date for those claims.
2024.04_WA Student Assistance Payment FAQs_Parents
Yesterday you would have received a seqta engage notification letting you know that a new report was available for your child. This report has been specifically created to give you your child/children's WASN (Western Australian Student Number) which is required when applying for the Student Assistance Payment. Parents of Kindergarten students will be given a paper copy of the report today as they have not yet needed to access Seqta Engage.
Wishing you a safe and holy Easter,
Student Code of Conduct
Upon enrolment at OLA all parents, students and staff enter into an agreement on how we all get along in the best interests of our community. This is where our Code of Conduct is integral and is a common feature among Catholic Schools in Western Australia. The language used in documents such as this can often be over the head of most children, so we have spent time consulting the students to give them ownership which resulted in the formulation of two versions of the Code of Conduct for both our senior and junior students.
To reinforce the Code of Conduct to our students our School Counsellor Ms Leach has conducted sessions with each year level to discuss what the documents look like in our day to day lives at OLA. The Code of Conduct in conjunction with our Rice and Gospel Values drive our interactions at school to ensure the best possible learning environment for our students, families and staff.
Each year we will revisit the Code of Conduct with students to reinforce their message, with students signing an agreement to do their best to follow the Code of Conduct. Please see the attached documents for further information and to give you an insight into what the Code of Conduct looks like from a Junior and Senior Primary point of view.
Uniform Policy
Please refer to the attached uniform policy. For the safety of the students when playing, students are to wear sneaker/joggers with their sport uniform. Please refrain from wearing lifestyle shoes eg. Converse, Nike Air Force and high tops. The support and safety of our students is our priority.
OLA Calendar 2024
The OLA calendar is updated regularly. Please note the following pupil free days for 2024:
Monday 15 April
Friday 26 April
Tuesday 4 June
Monday 7 October
Tuesday 8 October
Monday 4 November
Term 1 students commence Wednesday 31 January 2024.