Term 3 Week 10 2023 Newsletter

Download any of the following documents by clicking on the link.

Playgroup & Occasional Care

• Occasional Care flyer
• Playgroup flyer
• Playgroup Term 3 outline
• Playgroup Term 4 outline
• Playgroup Term 3 session outline

Parents & Friends Committee

• Email: PNF@olpq.catholic.edu.au

Second-hand Uniform Shop

• Second-hand uniform consignment form

Enrolments

• Application for Enrolment form

Canteen

• Canteen menu and price list September 2023

From a principal's perspective, this is a trickier time of the year. It is the time where I have a foot in 2023 and the other foot in 2024; I am planning to ensure we end this year successfully while setting up structures so that we are prepared for another successful year in 2024.

Though it is an exciting time, I feel like I am chasing my tail slightly and am not as physically present in the school as I am usually. I apologise if I have taken a little longer to respond to a message or if I am not around in the yard as much. Please know that I am still available and you are welcome to make a time to catch up.

Staffing

Over the last few weeks, we have been working on the staffing team for 2024, and I am close to finalising personnel. I would like to thank parents Peta Yates and Kimberley Monger for participating in the recent interview panels.

I am pleased to announce our 2024 Early Years teaching team:

• Reception - James Cummings
• Reception - Diem Savy
• Year 1 - Tara May
• Year 1 - Sarah Willetts / Courtney Elliott
• Year 2 - Natalie Urdanoff
• Year 2 - Lia Cummings

The Years 3-6 team is yet to be finalised, however will include:

• Sue Hackett
• Olivia Mammone
• Leigh Turbill

I am still in the process of appointing the last 3-6 team staff member. Once this team is finalised, I will inform the community of the 2024 teacher/class allocation. This may not occur until we return in Term 4.

The leadership structure has also evolved in preparation for 2024:

• Principal
• Assistant Principal – Religious Identity and Misson
• Assistant Principal – Teaching, Growth for all and Engagement.

Through the completion of a thorough application / interview process:

• Marissa Redden will now be our substantive Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Misson (APRIM)
• Adriana Pilla was successfully appointed to the Assistant Principal Student Development, Engagement and Learning position.

We will also have 2 Key Teachers in 2024, though they are yet to be appointed:

• Inclusive Education
• Data and Analysis

A focus in moving forward as a school, is to increase the stability of staff within the school. As we expand to 10 classes in 2024, eight out of ten classroom teachers will be permanently employed. Three out of five specialist teachers will also be permanently employed. We will have the same specialist subjects and teachers in 2024 as we do this year.

At the end of this year, we will wish Katerina Skoumbros farewell and thank her for her contributions to Our Lady Queen of Peace School.

Next term, we will welcome Courtney Elliot back to the school, and she will support the 2024 Reception student transition program. We have 25 children transitioning into our school from 16 different early learning settings.

System Priroity

All Catholic Schools are involved with the system direction of ‘Clarity’ and the work of Lyn Sharratt. Over the last 18 months, we have implemented and will continue to implement 'Clarity' into our school.

Lyn visited Australia from Canada last week and discussed First Order and Second Order change. Though First Order change is important, the Second Order changes are what will the biggest difference - knowing the details of system and school improvement, implementing them and monitoring the evidence of improvement.

Over the last 18-20 months, we have been implementing both First and Second Order change. Moving into 2024, we will have less First Order change to lead but will continue with Second Order change which will focus on the growth and extension of every child in the school. The new leadership structure supports this change.

Term 3

It has been a fast-moving term but filled with many celebrations of student learning:

• As a school, our NAPLAN results were positive.
• We had successful Book and Science Weeks.
• Our students performed in Wakakirri for the first time and were awarded Spirit and State Awards.
• Our students were part of the SALA festival and their work was on display for the month of August at the Woodville Library.
• The Year 1 PW class won an award for book making through the City of Charles Sturt.
• An updated and successful Mercy Day celebration established great memories.
• The opening of the Early Years Nature Play area has been a huge success.
• Our school choir performed at the Festival Theatre in the Catholic Schools Music Festival.
• Year 5/6 Podcasting was popular and Charlie Willoughby represented the school as Aiden’s apprentice on LifeFM.
• An updated and inclusive canteen menu has been enthusiastically accepted by the community.
• Year 4/5 girls continued their involvement in the WISTEMS program at the University of Adelaide.
• The P & F Committee staged a number of successful events.
• And many wonderful incursions and excursions that supported student learning and the Australian curriculum.

There will be a new Term 4 calendar coming out soon which will include the student free day dates.

I hope every child has a successful and recharging holiday break and look forward to seeing you all on Monday 16 October 2023 for the start of Term 4!

Lee Abela
Principal

I am excited to be able to continue as APRIM at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in 2024, and look forward to continuing to build our school's connection to the Mercy tradition.

Thank you to the Year 6 students for their efforts on Mercy Day and to the community for supporting this great fundraiser. It was a wonderful day where students demonstrated our Mercy values and the money raised will be donated to various organisations through the Catholic Charities organisation.

Many wonderful images from Mercy Day can be viewed on our Facebook page ... just click HERE!

Sacramental Program 2023-2024

The 2023-2024 Sacramental Program will begin next term with a Parent Information Night in the Our Lady Queen of Peace School library, commencing at 6pm on Tuesday 17 October 2023 (Week 1 of Term 4).

If your child has been baptised in the Catholic church, is in Year 3-6 and is interested in the sacramental program, please feel welcome to attend our information night and/or contact me if you have any questions.

End of Term Prayer

We thank you Lord, for this term.
For the challenges, the successes and the mistakes from which we have learned.
Be with us as we spend time with our family and our friends.
Keep us safe in our activities and
Bring us back to school refreshed and ready for a new term ahead.
We give thanks for our parents, our teachers, our friends and our community that care for us and
May we always be conscious of You in our lives.
We ask this prayer in Your name.

Amen

I wish everyone a safe, happy and blessed holiday break. I look forward to seeing you all in Term 4!

Marissa Redden
APRIM

Health Studies

In Health we have been learning about emotions and exploring ways to manage emotions.

We have been supported by our work with Jordan from Motivate Kids. Jordan has developed our understanding of the Zones of Regulation and provided the tools to help our bodies when we are in each of the zones. As a class, one strategy we have enjoyed is deep belly breathing exercises. We have practised this using a variety of breathing boards.

Learning Intention:

• Explain how and why emotional responses can vary. Practise strategies to manage emotions.

Task:

• As a class, practice using a variety of breathing boards to support your management of emotions when in the red, yellow or blue zone. Notice how it makes your body feel and how it changes your emotions. Then create your own breathing board and personalise it by using an image of your choice.

Lia Cummings
3/4 C teacher

R U OK? Day

Thursday 14 September 2023 was R U OK? Day.

R U OK? Day is a national day of action, reminding everyone that we should always be asking 'Are you OK?' and supporting those struggling with life's ups and downs.

Our class joined with our buddies, 5/6H, and spent some time discussing why it is important to ask others how they are going and take the time to listen if they are not feeling OK. With some help from Healthy Harold, we learned that there are four steps when asking someone if they are OK.

• A - Ask, "Are you OK?".
• L - Listen. Let your friends tell you how they feel.
• E - Encourage action. Help your friend think of a trusted adult they could talk to.
• C - Check-in. Ask your friend if they are feeling better later on.

Check out some of the posters we created together to share our learning about how we can be supportive and remind each other of these important steps when asking 'Are you OK?'.

Tara May
1 M teacher

This term we have been learning about narrative writing. We looked at how to write a ‘sizzling start’ using the Seven Steps to Writing Success program.  

Students looked at different examples of story starters and decided if they were a ‘sizzle’ or a ‘fizzle’. We know that a sizzling start must start where the action is and that you only have 7 seconds to hook the reader in. We then used different techniques to help turn the fizzle starts into sizzle starts! These techniques included:

• painting a picture with words (show do not tell)
• starting with a sound (onomatopoeia)
• using dialogue
• starting with a question

Students then had to write their own sizzling fast starts! This meant they were given a story prompt, then asked to write a story opener using one of the above techniques in only 3 minutes. Students thoroughly enjoyed this activity and did a really great job of having a go at using the different story starter techniques. Below are some examples:

Story Prompt: The Birthday Disaster 

• Crash! The cake hit the fence. There was cake everywhere! Oh no! The cake got the birthday boy! “What a hard day!” my mum said. (Indy)

Story Prompt: The Magic Storm 

• Aaaah! The storm is here and I think I see an evil witch! It is, and she’s sucking me in! But the storm is pink? That’s weird. (Freda)
• What! There is a giant storm! Not an ordinary, old, boring storm, it’s a …. Magic storm! Oh no! (Sophie )

Story Prompt: The Excursion to Outer Space 

• Poof! We went through the magic portal. It was getting hot. We were getting too close to the sun! (Mina)
• Woah! This is so cool, I wish I could live here. The sky is a galaxy, and the stars are shining bright. (Aristea)

Story prompt: The Haunted House

• Oooh! Aaah! What was that? Was it a glow in the dark scary, white ghost? I’m not sure. Aaah! Was that a scary witch? (Mantej)

Natalie Urdanoff
2 U teacher

Our community is truly amazing!

It is wonderful to share that our Colour Explosion School Fun Run was a huge success.
It was fantastic to see the spirit and enthusiasm displayed whilst supporting our school. Of course, the true highlights were the smiles on the students faces as they ran.

We raised $12,362 which will go towards the students' wishlist; we are busy getting quotes for a cold water filtration system and sporting equipment.

The incentive prizes have been ordered and are on their way! They will be distributed to students in Term 4.

Again, our most sincere thanks for your support and fundraising efforts. We could not have done it without you!

Corin Mitchell
P & F Committee Chairperson

Start time

Families are reminded that Occasional Care starts at 9am. Please arrive on time so that the children do not miss out on any of the action!

Warm weather preparation

As the weather has become quite warm much earlier in the year, we ask that families ensure their child brings a brimmed hat to wear during outdoor activities. The wearing of hats, in conjunction with the application of sunscreen before arriving at Occasional Care, will ensure that children are practising good "sun safe" strategies.

Extra sunscreen and spare hats are available at each session of Occasional Care.

Alison Ferguson
Playgroup / Occasional Care facilitator

OLQP Quiz Night - Friday 27 October 2023

Email: PnF@olqp.catholic.edu.au

Come and join the fun!

• Playgroup is on Wednesdays 9-10.30am.
• Occasional Care is on Tuesdays 9-12pm for children 3-5yrs.

For more information, please access the flyers regarding Playgroup and Occasional Care from the Useful Links section at the beginning of this newsletter.

More questions?

• Phone: 8279 8800
• Email: Alison.Ferguson@olqp.catholic.edu.au

Alison Ferguson
Occasional Care and Playgroup Faciliator

Current opening times:

MONDAY

• 8.40am – 9am
• 2.45pm – 3.10pm

The second-hand uniform shop service, facilitated by a dedicated group of parents, supports the community to access quality and affordable second-hand uniforms for their children.

Location:

Now located in the P & F Room (near the girls' toilets, adjacent the basketball courts).

Call 8279 8800 if you require more information, or alternatively, you can email the P & F Committee using this email: PNF@olqp.catholic.edu.au.

Louisa Scopacasa
Second-hand Uniform Shop Coordinator
P & F Committee

New families and permanent bookings:

All new family bookings and permanent bookings need to be made through the OSHC office.

Please contact Jo on 0417 840 700, or pop into either the OSHC office or front office for an information pack.

Jo Fahey
OSHC Director

The Little Athletics season commenced on Saturday 23 September 2023, and I would like to invite children to "Come and Try" at our club, free of charge for 2 sessions.

The Woodville Little Athletics Club meets every Saturday morning, 8.45am at the Findon High School oval, Drummond Avenue, Findon.  

Please note our first 4 meets will be held at Port Adelaide Athletics Club due to Findon High School's construction.

Our Athletics Club is family friendly and all inclusive - catering for all levels of abilities - all of our committee members and coaches have a current Working with Children Check.

Sport plays a very important part in children's mental and physical wellbeing so we are encouraging as many children to give Little Athletics a go.

Click on the pictured flyer for more information.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email:

Margherita McAuliffe
Committee Member
Woodville Little Athletics Club
Email: wvl@salaa.org.au

Learning Through Music is a music school located in Seaton (3/80 West Lakes Boulevard), and will be offering music lessons during the school holidays.

Click on the flyer for more information, or contact Learning Through Music via email.

Casey
Administration Team
Learning Through Music
Email: info@LTmusic.com.au

Port Adelaide Cricket Club are staging a Junior Blast competition in Term 4, starting Friday 28 October 2023.

Click on the flyer for more information and contact details.