Veritas Newsletter
January 2024
Welcome to our January Veritas Newsletter
January Veritas Newsletter
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2024.
I hope everyone had a pleasant break.
Please take the time to read the newsletter as it contains important information for the commencement of the school year.
Greg Martin
Welcome Back - 2024
As we embark on a new school year, it is with great joy and anticipation that we extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all our returning students and wonderful parents. Especially welcome, with open arms, all new families joining the OLA School community. We are thrilled to welcome you into our family, where values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence, and community spirit are at the core of our educational journey. As we embark on this exciting adventure together, let us foster an environment that nurtures not only academic growth but also the development of strong bonds and lasting friendships. OLA School is more than just a place of learning; it is a vibrant community that thrives on inclusivity and unity. Here's to a fantastic school year filled with discovery, achievement, and the shared joy of learning. Welcome back, dear OLA School community!
SchoolStream (New and Existing Users)
Attached to this newsletter is a document to explain how to set up the SchoolSteam APP on your phone. If you have any issues, please come to the office and Michael Morris, Our Assistant Principal, will assist you. For Existing users, please read through 'Select Classes' document and follow the instructions, Again, if you have any issues, please see Michael Morris.
Meet Classroom Teachers, Bring Stationary to School & Official 1st Day Back.
As we do every year, we invite students and parents to visit their classrooms and classroom teachers and bring in their stationary on the pupil free days, which are Monday 29 January, from 1.30pm – 3.00pm or Tuesday 30 January, from 9.00am – 10.30am. A reminder school officially starts, for all students, on Wednesday 31 January.
Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) for Teachers
In 2022 and 2023, teachers were in the process of negotiating better working conditions, Late 2023, teachers accepted the new conditions put forward to them and are being implemented from 2024.
Moving forward with the new EBA for teachers, please take note of the what has been approved and part of the teachers work conditions:
Reasonable Response Time and a Right to Disconnect: As from January 1, 2024 all teachers response time for replying to emails and parent requests, will be the following day. In most cases teachers are unable to respond during the day because they’re teaching most of the day and also need their breaks as well. If it’s not urgent, teachers will reply to parents the following day. Teachers will also have the right to disconnect from 3.45pm each day until the following day (8.15am). Teachers also have the right to disconnect on weekends and won’t be responding to any emails until the Monday. Part time staff are not required to respond to any form of communication on their non-working days.
The following has been taken from their new EBA - Teachers are not required to initiate, read or respond to electronic or other communication from school staff, parents or community members outside of working hours or when not on site. This includes time when staff members are on personal leave, approved leave, public holidays, professional development and student vacation time. This does not apply in the case of an emergency, or where there are staffing or health related issues where failure to communicate could lead to Teachers being disadvantaged.
Community Events (Such as Welcome Back Night, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Graduation Dinner, etc): As from January 1, 2024, special events such as the above will be handed back to parents to coordinate. Over the last 6 years, all staff have worked tirelessly to coordinate, purchase food items, cook BBQs and serve the parents, grandparents and community. We purposely did this to build and create a welcoming OLA community. Moving forward, parents will be taking over the responsibilities with the OLA Leadership Team Guidance. These include allocating events to certain classes (which will be allocated in the weeks to come and communicated to all parents). The P&F have already been proactive and have coordinated the Welcome Back Night, which promises to be a great night!
Night Events: Some of the night events have now been scheduled for during the day or after school. Teachers have indicated they are willing to continue to participate in extracurricular activities, such as clubs we introduced a few years ago, our End of Year concert, etc, but will not be required to attend other night functions. Teachers are now only required to complete a certain number of hours of extra-curricular activities per year.
More updates will be sent out to all families in the coming weeks.
2024 Parent Information Sessions
The 2024 sessions have been scheduled for each cohort. Please check your SchoolStream Calendar events, or the website, for your child’s scheduled information date and time.
Beginning of Year and Induction Mass (Staff, Advisory Council, P & F and Year 6 Students) Friday 9 February
Everyone is welcome to join our Beginning of Year and Induction Mass on Friday 9 February, 2024 commencing at 9:00am at the OLA Parish. This is a special mass to welcome everyone back and induction for new Advisory Council, P & F Members and our Year 6 students.
Welcome Back Night - Friday 9 February, 2024
A huge thank you to the P&F for coordinating the 2024 Welcome Back Night, scheduled for Friday 9 February. The P&F will be sending out Information to all families in the near future. It is a free event for all our families and students to attend, however food items, ice creams, etc purchased from the food trucks and ice cream vans organised, will need to be paid by the parents. It will be great to see all the families attend the evening. Watch this space and, once again, a huge thank you to the wonderful P&F Committee member for coordinating the event over the holidays.
Digital Technologies – New Specialist Class
With close consultation with the teaching staff and looking at the needs of the school as well as the SCSA programming and reporting requirements, we will be introducing Digital Technologies as new specialist class from 2024. All students from Pre Primary to Year 6 will participate in a Digital Technologies lesson under the guidance of our Digital Technologies lead teacher, Mr James Ryan who brings along a wealth of experience.
P&F Donation
A big thankyou to the P&F for the $10,000 donation at the conclusion of 2023 to upgrade our Digital Technology resources to be utilised during the specialist lessons. The students will benefit immensely from the resources as they will be provided with rich, interactive learning experiences. OLA is grateful for the efforts of the P&F and the families who contribute to the fundraising events.
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.
The Big Three
Over the last 12 months there have been extensive capital works completed at OLA.
Cool Courts - The basketball courts were resurfaced with new basketball and netball rings installed. It's great to see that students have been enjoying the the area at every opportunity.
Greater Greens -The artificial turf from the grassed area was replaced with beautiful real turf. The area surrounding the grass was landscaped with trees for added shade.
Happy Hall -The final project of the Goretti Hall was completed during the holidays. The floor was resurfaced and electronic basketball rings were installed. This area is complemented by the large TV screens.
Year 6 Leaver Shirts 'Honour Board'
You may have also noticed the framed leavers shirts in the Goretti Hall. This will be ongoing project to acknowledge our previous year 6 students. The first year the student's shirts are represented is 2018.
OLA SAC & P & F Members 2024
Congratulations to our OLA School Advisory Committee and P & F Committee 2024 members
SAC :
Narelle Roberts - Chairperson
Amanda Reid - Deputy Chairperson
Nathan Leber - Treasurer
Edmund O'Halloran - Parish Representative
Deanna Marocchi - Member
P & F :
Ann-Maree Barbaro - President
Emma Wallace - Secretary
Katie Catena - Treasurer
Magda Bartucciotto - Communications
Hayley Heaney - Member
Sarah O'Malley - Member
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.