6 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

Principals Message

WELCOME BACK

Wow. What a start to the year. Year 6 have slotted into being great leaders and buddies, Year 5 have taken to their service roles with gusto and everyone else has moved onto their new classes with enthusiasm and spirit. Kinder arrived on Friday and have settled into a new learning scape for children at our school. The year ahead is so encouraging

As you can see by the calendar lots of things are happening this term and the children will be learning lots of new things and developing new skills.

COMPASS COMMUNICATION

As COMPASS has been with us now for over a year, the teachers are ready to explore new ways of engaging parents on their children’s learning. The App will be used to convey messages, reminders and notices relevant to each class. It will be a forum to communicate.

To ensure you have this access parents will either need the APP or access COMPASS through the webpage at:

A Compass App “training” for new parents and any else who would like a refresher will be available on Wednesday afternoon (12 Feb) at 3:15 in the library. In the meantime parents could use the instruction booklet below to begin using COMPASS.

USING THE ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATIONS

COMPASS is the preferred method of informing the school that your child is away. By sending it through COMPASS, it is immediately synced to the class roll. Teachers endeavour (technology permitting) to have their rolls marked by 9:30am. If your child is not present and you have not sent a compass notification (or contacted the office of an absence) you will be sent an SMS to advise that we have not received an absence “note” and your child is not present.

Please refrain from using other electronic forms of notifications such as email or other APPS we used to have. If in doubt, call the office.

School Access

One of the new learning structures we would like to introduce are uninterrupted literacy and numeracy blocks. To achieve this is to reduce the number of interruptions to the class prior to 1pm. To help achieve this goal we ask parents not to go to the classrooms after morning assemblies, bringing lunches, hats, etc to the classroom if forgotten. Rather, we ask parents to report prior to the office and leave messages there. Teacher will be notified prior to lunch and recess of any outstanding matter.

The only real interruption will be if you child needs to leave early, please report to the office to sign them out and Mrs Fry will notify the class of this and your child will come to the office. If your child arrives late, please sign them in at the office kiosk as your child goes to class.

Remember gates on Sandgate Rd and the bottom gate on Lovell Pde are not opened before 8:30am. These gate will be locked again at 9:15am. Access into the school is only through the intercom on the top gate on Lovell Pde (main entrance) outside these times.

School Improvement Plan

Over the past 18 months, OLV focused on problem solving in Maths and as a result, the language of problem solving and the process for solving a range of mathematical problems has improved dramatically. The confidence in the children to use the range of strategies they have learnt is evident in classrooms and in their ability to break a problem apart and attempt a solution to it.

This will continue throughout each class with revision of the previous strategies learnt and investigation and learning about the following strategies:

Through collegial conversations, classroom observation and a collection of data, both internal and external, it has become obvious that the majority of children seem to be able to learn a ‘list’ of words, but cannot and/or do not transfer that knowledge into their writing, and are unable to use rules to spell new or difficult words.

So, as part of our School Improvement Plan (SIP) for 2020 we are focusing on spelling, not just the words and how they are spelt, but the rules that are associated with them so the children can and will attempt new and difficult words. The staff will be working together to develop a scope and sequence, associated activities and agreed practices with spelling lessons to be explicitly taught each day to ensure consistency throughout the school.

We have only just started so stay tuned for updates.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

Please be aware of the first opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher.

Session times are as follows:

This is a great opportunity for parents to get a feel of what is expected of their children during the year and to open some very important communication with your child’s teacher.

OOSH 2020

We are waiting patiently for final “official” approvals for the start date of St Nicholas OOSH. Once we Check out this link for more info on St Nicholas OOSH.

REC News

Monday Liturgies

We had a lovely start to this week with the teachers leading us in our first Monday morning liturgy. From next week the Year 6 Leaders will be taking over the introduction to our Monday Liturgies. They will conduct the formalities of starting the week and hand over to the class teacher for an introduction to the week’s liturgy. They are certainly looking forward to taking on the responsibility of leading the school in this task. Please stay after dropping you children on Monday morning for the week’s reflection if you are able.

TERM LITURGIES

Week 3- Talents Liturgy led by Year 5/6
Week 4- Friendship Liturgy led by Year 1
Week 5-ListeningLiturgy led by Year 2
Week 6-Catholic Schools Liturgy led by 5/6
Week 7-Project Compassion Liturgy led by Year 3
Week 8-St Joseph’s Liturgy led by Year 1
Week 9-Annunciation Liturgy led by Year 4
Week 10-Palm Sunday Liturgy led by Year 2

Leaders’ Induction

We will celebrate our whole school mass on Friday 14th February at 9:15am in the Church. During this mass our leaders will be presented with their badges and blazers. Please come along and celebrate the beginning of our new school year.

Sacramental Program

The Sacramental Program for Wallsend-Shortland Catholic Parish was to begin with an information session to be held in the parish hall at St Patrick’s School, Wallsend later this month, however, it has been postponed to early March. Parents who are considering having their children participate in the program should keep an eye out for further information.

School Choir, Altar Servers and Mini Vinnies Group.

During the week primary students were given the opportunity to join at least one of the following groups, School Choir, Altar Servers or Mini Vinnies. There were a number of students interested in participating in these groups which was fabulous to see that our students are community minded.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Jennie Nolan is our Family Ministry Co-ordinator. Jennie’s role is to provide and run programs to assist families in O.L.V. She works throughout the region of Shortland / Wallsend / Glendale and is employed by the Catholic Schools Office.

This note is to gauge your interest in Jennie running sessions for our parents and carers.

1. Seasons for Growth Parent Program.
   This is a program we will be offering for the children, later in the year to support children who are dealing with separation / divorce or some other losses. It is recognised that it helps if you, the parents learn how to communicate with the children using the Seasons language the children are using.
   More about SFG later.
2. A parent retreat…….”all about you. “
   In the business of life kids, partners, school drop offs and pick ups……Jennie would like to provide a couple of hours of “me time – for you.” We would make sure if you had little ones they were looked after.

Afternoon Tea

This year we have a new member to our staff Sr Milla. She will be helping out in the classrooms, doing some pastoral care work, running the Mini Vinnies group, choir and training altar servers. Sr Milla will also work with Jennie Nolan in continuing to offer afternoon tea for our parents and friends twice a term. Dates will be advertised in the newsletter and via compass later on in the term for our afternoon cuppa.

Patty Dunn – REC

From The Office

Family Discount Form

If you have not returned your Family Discount Form please do so as soon as possible. Forms have been sent home this week for parents who haven’t completed one, this is in preparation for 2020 school fees. This is an important form that we then use to calculate the fees for the year. It is vital that all parents complete this form and indicate if we need to apply Family Discount (including sibling across both primary and high schools within the Catholic system), Health Care card discount and the optional contribution to the Diocesan Pastoral Care Program. The Diocesan Pastoral Care Program contribute to the ongoing wellbeing of those most in need within our Diocese. This form must be filled out even if you only have one child in the Catholic Dioceses.

School Fees

2020 Fees will be sent home before the end of February. Please ensure payment is made by the due date. If you are making payments via BPAY or Direct Debit, it is up to you to ensure that your payments are adequate to clear your account by the end of the term or year. If you require an extension or wish to discuss the matter please contact Leanne in the office. All families with payment agreements should continue with them in 2020. If you would like to have a payment plan worked out please contact Leanne in the office.

Volunteers and Working with Children Check

All new volunteers who wish to volunteer at Our Lady of Victories (or any school/parish in the Diocese) are required to complete the Volunteer Induction Handbook. This hand book covers all aspects of volunteering at school from Induction through to Code of Conduct, WHS, Confidentiality and Privacy. Volunteers are required to complete a National Criminal History Check Consent Form (150 point of ID required), Working with Children Check Clearance, Registration Form, Volunteer Policy Declaration and Code of Conduct Declaration. Volunteers are only able to assist in schools once all documents have been received and cleared (this can take up to 3 weeks).

The steps to obtain a Working with Children Check Clearance Number are as follows:

1. Fill out an online application from www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check
2. When you have completed the application form, you will receive and Application number (APP by email.
3. Take this Application number and proof of your identity to a NSW motor registry or Service NSW Office. As it is not paid work the $80.00 fee will be waived.
4. Once your application has been processed and you are cleared, you will receive your Working with Children Check number (WWC) by email( or post if you do have an email address).

Absences

SMS/Email notification of Absence

As part of Our Lady of Victories’ commitment to student safety and welfare, our school has begun notifying parents of their child’s unexplained absence via SMS message & email.

This service provides an SMS / email notification to parents of children who are marked absent from school without explanation once the roll has been checked in the morning.

Where possible, it would be appreciated if parents can notify the school at their earliest convenience regarding a child’s absence.

If a child is going to be absent for the day or is intending to arrive late (e.g. medical appointments etc.), then parents are asked to use the COMPASS APP or call the office to notify the school before 9:30am on the day rather than sending a note afterward.

It is hoped that by providing this service and in partnership with families we can continue to ensure all possible mechanisms are in place to maintain the safety of our students.

Schoolzine App

You will be able to access the school newsletter here and notifications will come through Schoolzine. Please DO NOT use the old SkoolBag App. It is no longer used for communications of notifications and messages..

Go to this link to download the Schoolzine App:

P & F News

Is your child representing Our Lady of Victories at the North Region Swimming Carnival in February?

Did you know you can purchase an OLV swimming cap from our school Uniform Shop?

Wearing an OLV swimming cap at a regional carnival means that we can see from the side line which lanes our OLV children are swimming in, and can cheer them on loudly.

Swimming caps are $10 each and can be purchased at the Uniform Shop on Thursday mornings, or by sending your $10 in a labelled envelope via your child’s class note bag.

OLV Hair Scrunchie Packs are now available to purchase for $5 each at our School Uniform Shop. If you can’t make it to the shop on a Thursday Morning, then send your $5 in a labelled envelope via your child’s class note bag.

P&F Annual General Meeting:

Our AGM will be held on Monday 24 February at 7.00pm. At this meeting we will report on the great progress our Association made and the contribution to the school. We will also have election of Office Bearers. If you would like to take on a role on the Association’s Executive please let Kylie Westaway know.

Pastoral Care News

Welcome back!

We have been very fortunate to secure the services of Sr Milla as a replacement for Mrs Johnson as Pastoral Care Worker for our school. Sr Milla is a member of the Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She will be working at OLV from Wednesday to Friday each week. We have worked into her schedule many of the roles that Mrs Johnson was fulfilling as well as others. For those children who are seeing Mrs Johnson will continue to do so as we transition this part of the role to Sr Milla.

We welcome to our community and look forward to her sharing her skills and knowledge with us.

Take Care and God Bless

Library News

Library Borrowing

Library borrowing will begin week 3, Wednesday 12th February. Students need to bring a library borrowing bag to be able to borrow books to take home. Please, no plastic shopping bags. Encourage your child/children to return their books to their library bag after each use so they are not lost or damaged. If books are lost or damaged an account will be sent home. Books are to be returned each Wednesday.

Book Club

Book Club has gone home this week. Please ensure your child’s name and items to be ordered are clearly marked on the order form. Place order form and money into an envelope and put into classroom note bag. There is also an on-line ordering option. All orders are delivered to school unless otherwise arranged.

All orders, on-line and orders sent to school, need to be finalised by Monday 10th February, 2020.

Class News

Our first class news for each term will provide parents with a curriculum overview of what will be covered in your child’s classes this term. Please take the time to look over it and keep it safe for future reference. Information sessions for parents will be held from next week, so if you can, make a time to meet the teachers.

Kinder

In our Successful Foundations Transitioning into ‘Big School’ Kinder students are focusing on building relationships through play. We are engaging in creating, exploring and investigating using the five provocations for play: Dramatic Play, Blocks and Boxes, Maps in my World, Sharing Stories and Being Friends Outdoors. The provocations are designed to ensure continuity with play in prior to school settings. The photos below illustrate how engrossed the Kinders are in their new environment. It is evident that they are already forming relationships and interacting with each other. It is wonderful to observe them and listen to their conversation. Thank you for returning books promptly. If you haven’t already sent in a toy to help in our inquiry into what makes objects move in different ways please do this as soon as possible as we are sharing our toys in class this week. Please have birth certificates and baby photos returned also as we are using them in our History lesson this week.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 4 have had a great start to Term 1 and have settled into a good routine. I would like to congratulate them on their cooperation, concentration and effort. Well done, Year 4! Below is an outline of our work for Term 1.

Year 5/6

Sport News

REGIONAL SWIMMNG CARNIVAL

A number of children have been selected to represent the school at the regional Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 18 February at the Mayfield Pool. We wish them well and look forward to hearing of their achievements. Notes for those children selected went home last on Monday.

Good luck to the following children: Julian A, Freya B, Ari B, Finlay B, Annalise F, Georgina H, Caleb J, Maria K, Olivia K, Suma M, Gemma M, Elsie O, Archie P, Harrison S, Clayton S, Isla W, Bailey W, Zoe B, El W, Lily W, Deacon W

The Shortland Pandas invite you and family members to join our small family orientated club in the new 2020 season. We encourage children from 4 years to participate in sports and parents to volunteer and get involved in the running of the club.

Shortland United will be participating in the Active Kids Program which will entitle parents/guardians to receive $100 per eligible child to contribute to the cost of playing football. We also offer a payment plan.

Registration Dates are:

If you have any questions or require additional information please contact us on:

shortlandufc@newcastlefootball.net.au

OR by calling -

Registrar – Carly Powell – 0435 201 492
Registrar – Tom Jones - 0432 445 591
President – Ross Buxton – 0421 000 597