Principal's Message
CHRISTMAS PARTY & CONCERT
We are looking forward to our end of year celebrations next Monday. All are invited to the Christmas Party being put on by the parents’ group. Festivities commence at 4:30pm after school with some great activities. A BBQ supper will be available with lots of tasty treats. All the activities are free but there will be treats to buy over the counter during the evening.From about 6:30, the children will perform the songs they have been preparing this term. The evening will close with a visit from our Jolly Fellow around 7pm.
We are asking that the children wear something festive – T-shirt, dress, shorts, caps etc to fill the hall with Christmas cheer.
SEE YOU THERE!!
YEAR 6 GRADUATION
Our Year 6 children will be finalising their primary school education on Wednesday next week. A whole school mass will be their final swan song and all families are invited to attend. Mass begins at 9:30 in the OLV church.
FINAL LITURGY
A final send off for the Year 6 children will begin with their farewell liturgy in the hall at 11:30am on Friday morning. The children will express their feelings about moving on and reflect on their years at OLV. We look forward to hearing from them – ALL are invited to attend.
CLAP OUT
The final official event for the year will be the Year 6 clap out. We will gather at the top gate on Sandgate Rd at 2:30 to send them on their way at 2:45pm with a “tunnel” of honour. Again, all are welcome to join us.BISHOP’S VISIT
Bishop Michael visited the school today and spoke with children and staff. He presented the awards this week which was a great honour.
SCHOOL CAPTAINS
All the students voted today for who they would like to represent them for 2024. We will be announcing the leadership team at the Year 6 Final Liturgy which begins at 11:30am.It is important to remember that all our Year 6 children next year will be recognised as school leaders and will be given opportunities to lead the school in different ways.
There obviously will be some disappointed souls next week and I ask parents to discuss how disappointments can be a great learning opportunity. Today's Year 5 Leadership Retreat was a good opportunity to reflect on leadership and ways to consider serving their peers.
STAFFING 2024
We are looking forward to a great year in 2024. There will be several permanent changes in the New Year. We have been given the green light to recruit for two full time teachers to fill the vacancies we have had to fill with short term placements. Whilst the selection process is still taking place, we hope to be able to announce them before the end of next week.Sadly, Mrs Bradley will not be returning next year and her replacement on staff will be Miss Rhianon O’Bree. Ms McGann will also not be returning in 2024, and her replacement is still being sought as a teacher and new Assistant Principal. Again, recruitment for this position is being finalised and should be announced next week.
At this stage classe appointments are as follows:
Kinder: Mrs Dunn
Year 1: To be advised
Year 2: Miss O'Bree
Year 3: Miss Slattery
Year 4: Miss Payton
Year 5: To be advised
Year 6: To be advised
I understand that the “To Be Advised” classes can be frustrating at this point of time, but the replacements will be full time appointments for the whole year and will be announced in due course.
We are also in the process of securing more replacements for positions that have changed. A Pastoral Care Worker for this school to support children and families in our school community is being sought and a replacement for Mrs Johnson, who took up a position in another school earlier this year, as our ATSI worker will also be made.
We are looking forward to a far more stable staffing next year and it is important to thank everyone for their patience over the last year or so. It has been difficult and the children need to be congratulated on their resilience and how they have adapted to some of the changes.
SCHOOL REPORTS
Reports will not be released this afternoon. There has been a last minute glitch so they will become available on Monday. Please check on COMPASS that you have access and let us know if there are any problems.
Martin Chatterton Visit
Martin Chatterton visited OLV on Wednesday. He was invited to entertain the children with a special Christmas performance. He is an author and illustrator from Liverpool in England. Martin was so engaging, funny and incredible with his drawing abilities. Martin drew many funny pictures of some of our students and teachers.
Martin’s website can be found at, Martin Chatterton (worldofchatterton.com) and it is engaging and has series’ you can watch called “Bluenoses” on the website.
During our Infants performance, Martin did some Caricature pictures of Kane, Adamma, Mrs. Dunn, Christopher, Jesse, Gemma, Mr Watmore, Eli and Maddie
Kane was turned into a Bananazilla with huge feet, and delicious looking banana and his own face. Kane certainly can’t open his mouth as wide as the picture.
Mrs. Dunn had her mind read by Martin and he thought he figured out Mrs. Dunn’s secret that she does on Friday afternoons from 2.56pm. She turns into a (taller) rockstar!!!! She was very impressed with his mind-reading capabilities and told the children she would bring in her rock costume to show them one day soon.
Adamma had her mind read by Martin also. He told us all she had 27 dreams last night. Before we knew it, Adamma was turned into the alien she dreamt about. One eye, and huge ears.
Christopher turned into the rabbit from Alice in wonderland. A real tale the children were familiar with. Christopher was humoured with his new–found look.
Primary then had their turn to be entertained by Martin. There were plenty of laughs and engagement from the Primary.
Firstly, we saw Jesse from Year 4 drawn. He was turned into Frankenstein's Monster. Jesse was most intrigued when it was revealed to him what he had been turned into.
Next up, Gemma took the stage. She seemed apprehensive initially, and rightly so. Gemma is having her ‘most offensive dream’ drawn for her, after Martin read her mind. She was turned into a flying chicken –powered by ‘love’. This drawing certainly got the laughs.
Next, Mr. Watmore was chosen by the children to be made fun of by Martin. Martin set out to draw the two different sides of Mr. Watmore’s personality. First, he drew his Monday expression, followed by his ‘rest of the week’ expression. Mr Watmore was a very delicate flower.
Finally, Maddie was selected from year 5 to complete our wonderful day with Martin. She had her peculiar dream read by Martin. Maddie was transformed into a baby with wind.
Congratulations
A big Congratulations to Gianna in Kinder for becoming a big sister. Gianna's family welcomed Elina on the 3rd December, Mum and bub are doing well.
In our thoughts
Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the Butler family. Matilda's Dad has gone through a rough few months and hopefully has had the last of his surgeries. We wish him a speedy recovery.