WELCOME BACK 

The new term brings with it more exciting moments for the children and families at Our Lady of Victories. It is always great to see the smiles on the children's faces when they return. I am sure they will stay that way as they work thorough many new experiences in their learning. We wish them all well this term.

NEW STUDENTS

We welcome Amaya G (Yr 6) and Alierah M (Yr 1) to our school this term. We wish them every success and fun times here at OLV. I am sure you will give their families great support as well.

NEW COVID RULES

We welcome the news that parents can now be more included in the life of the school. We are able to invite you all to any of our Monday liturgies and Friday assemblies, to be involved in class activities such as reading and art etc. We can invite parents to our special events such as the Mother's Day Breakfast, CSW Open Day and Athletics Carnival. Good news for everyone.

DISMISSAL ROUTINE 

There has been much discussion and frustrations around our afternoon dismissal routine. The one thing that needs to be remembered is that we were trying to make it the best we could under COVID restrictions and the safety of the children during this time of the day.

With the easing of restrictions we are able to change the dismissal routine to closer resemble to what we had pre-covid. One thing that we wish to make clear is that children's safety is paramount. Let's work together with cooperation and patience to get the children home.

Firstly, parents need to decide where best suits them to pick up their children -- there are 3 gates that can be used which we will call - TOP gate (on Lovell Pde), BOTTOM gate (on Lovell Pde) and SAND gate (on Sandgate Rd). This needs to be clearly communicated to your children and kept as a routine. 

SANDGATE RD GATE: We recommend the Primary use the Sandgate Rd gate as a pick up point for the older children. If you choose that point, any Infant siblings will mustered and brought to the Sandgate Rd gate. Parents are still asked to stay outside the gate to collect their children as they are now. (Remember - social distancing is still recommended).

TOP LOVELL PDE GATE: We recommend that the Kinder parents use this gate. Mrs Bradley will continue to bring the Kinders to the orange quad. Any siblings of Kinders will be directed to this area also for collection. Parents are asked to gather under the veranda around the quad. (Remember - social distancing is still encouraged)

BOTTOM LOVELL PDE GATE:  We recommend that the Yr 1 & Yr 2 children use this exit point. Parents may enter the school ground and sit on the wall at the back of the COLA to collect their children. (Primary siblings will be mustered and brought down from the top classrooms)

There are some points that need to be remembered:

* Once children are with their parents, you need to leave immediately or as soon as practical (the gates need to locked for OOSH) -- Sorry no lingering.

* NO children (including pre-schoolers) are to be on the fields or playground equipment and must be in the care and supervision of their parents.

OPEN DAY

On Wednesday 5 May we will be opening the school and inviting everyone to celebrate with us in Catholic Schools Week. We will start the day with a Mass in the Hall from 9:15am. At 10am Morning Tea for our visitors will be served in the Orange Quad. From 10:15 – 11am the class rooms will be open and Tours of the school will be available. At 11am the children will put on a short concert to finish the morning. Please come along if you can for any or all of the activities and invite anyone you might think would be interested in coming along.

SAN CLEMENTE 2022

San Clemente are reminding families of children looking to enrol for 2022 of their Open Days and Tours coming up next week. If you haven’t already registered for a tour click the link below to book a time on line – or you could call the school.

https://www.mayfieldsanc.catholic.edu.au/1050.aspx

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

We will be celebrating the great things that Catholic school provide for the families that come to us. From 3-9 May, Catholic Schools Week will be happening for 2021. We will be having some events to which parents are invited. These include our CSW Mass, Morning Tea, Open Classes and mini concert on Wednesday 5 May. On Friday 7 May we are inviting the significant women in our children's lives to breakfast, Liturgy and fun activities from 7am. Check out the flyers for more information.

DIOCESAN CROSS COUNTRY 

At the end of last term, Harry F and Julian A both represented the school and region at the Diocesan Soccer trials. They both performed very well and Julian performed well enough to impress the sectors to be chose him for the Diocesan Team to compete at the Polding trial later next month. Well done to both of you and special congrats to Julian. We look forward to hearing of his trip to Tamworth soon.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

On Monday 3 May, we will be taking the school photos. The photos will be taken with the children in Winter Uniform. As 3 May is when we expect to change into our winter woollies, now is a good time to ensure we have all the correct bits to put on -- including the school tie.

NAPLAN

The children in Yrs 3 & 5 will be involved in the NAPLAN testing program during Week 4. It would be wise not to make any appointments for your children during this week if it can be avoided. The testing is done online and our trial last term went very well. Please do not place heavy expectations on your children for this assessment. 

WINTER UNIFORM

Children will be expected to be in winter uniform from the beginning of Week 3 -- Monday, 3 May.