Newsletter 31 January 2018

Principal's Message

Welcome
On behalf of the school staff I welcome all our returning families and especially those who are just starting their time at OLG. Hopefully the holiday season has been a good one for you.
While the start to the school year got off to an unusual start this morning it went quite smoothly. If you did not get the chance to look around the new buildings and rooms, please feel free to do so some other day that suits you.

New Staff
Across last year we had a number of retirements and hence this year we welcome some new faces to OLG.

Teachers: Ali Magee (6B), Assunta Trichilo(PPB)
Education Assistants: Karen Calder, Michelle Campbell, Shannon Ferguson, Lorna Masters, Jenni Spadaccini, Sharon Tzaicos, Mary Tuson
Canteen Manager: Jemima Gorton.
Handyperson: John Onofaro

Classrooms will open at 8.25
All classrooms will be open for students and parents by at least 8.25am each day. For many teachers this is still time they will be setting up their rooms for the day but it is an opportunity for students to put their gear away and even catch up on homework!

Play Arrangements for First Month

Recess

• Pre Kindy, Kindy and PP will use the Nature Play area
• Play areas:
  • Hall
  • Year 1- 2 courtyard (BIG games - TW)
  • Hardcourt area
  • North side of hall

Lunch

• • All Years 1 – 6 go to ‘oval’
  • First group move off at 12.55
  • Rest by 1.00
  • All ‘duty’ staff not in ECE go to oval as well as Chris and Anne.

• No child is permitted to use Nature Play area before school.
• For the first month or so, children will not be permitted on the grassed areas. The grass needs time to become established
• The area previously known as the Adventure Playground: will remain fenced off until grass is established. After that, available for just Years 1-3 until demolition of old K/PP rooms when it is open to all.

Parent Information Evening

When:           Next Tuesday, 6th February.
Program: 

5.30pm Gathering in the hall
6.00pm First classroom session
6.35pm Repeat classroom session

The purpose of the evening is to inform parents of general school changes, opportunities for family involvement and school protocols that are considered worth reinforcing and then class level matters and programs that we believe, based on parent suggestions, you will find worthwhile. 

I sincerely encourage you to attend.

Start Smart Financial Literacy Sessions
It’s never too early to teach children the value of money. Research indicates that it is crucial to develop financial literacy skills from an early age. The Start Smart Primary program teaches these skills in a way that students can understand and enjoy. It was developed with a panel of leading specialists in primary education, cognitive development, instructional design and financial literacy. By making money management interactive, engaging and fun through a series of free workshops and online resources, students are equipped with the confidence and competence to make smart decisions about money.

Dance Lessons with Mrs Dorothy Gaunt

PP to Year 2
Lesson Dates: Thursdays Feb 1, Feb 8, Feb 15, Feb 22, Mar 1
Concert: Mar 2

Years 3 and 4

Lesson Dates:  Thursdays Mar 8, Mar 15, Mar 22, Apr 5, Apr 12

Concert:  Apr 13

Be Positive: From tiny sparks of possibility to flames of achievement.
"Sometimes we can lose touch with the purpose of what we are doing in our life; if we let go of our dream, we live without hope and to be without hope is to be without purpose."

"Being positive about ourselves comes not just from the things we actually do but how we feel about ourselves and the level of contentment we have. If we lack self-belief or continue to live in the past or have too strong a desire to be perfect, then we deliberately place obstacles in our life, for we immediately place limits on our development as persons. If we constantly compare ourselves with others, we undermine our worth; it is because each of us is different, that each of us is special. We should not let life slip through our fingers by living in the past; by living one day at a time, we live all the days of our life. We should never be afraid to admit that we are less than perfect; it is this fragile thread in us that binds us together.

So, what are the messages that our children receive by watching and listening to us lead our lives? Do they learn to accept and respect the reality of their own life when it is pleasant and painful; do they learn not to blame others? Do they learn to forgive others and themselves and correct their mistakes? Do they learn to be patient, kind, gentle and compassionate with others and themselves? Do they learn that they don’t have to prove themselves better or worse than anyone else?"

Stage 8a

Portion 1: Construction and completion of the three buildings. Due 12 January. Mostly completed on time and on budget. Staff began ‘moving in’ on 15 January. New furniture arrived during that week and the next.

Classes have taken up occupancy from today!

Portion 2: Landscaping. Due end of February.

• A considerable amount of this work is already done.
• To be completed:
  • Alterations to the main gate
  • Nature Playground
  • Lay turf and garden planting.
  • Clean-up and builder departure.

May I say that Focus Building is a quality builder and very easy to work with. Their personnel are accommodating, very patient and wonderful in terms of the way they have conducted themselves on a site which is a working school and so comes with own a range of requirements other building sites might not impose.

Stage 8b

Scope of works

• Extension of the hall to the east
• Removal of the sound booth and realignment of the eastern wall of the former music room and the area above it, such that the new wall is in line with the east wall of the canteen.
•  Slight extension of the office/reception area of the Admin building.
• Upgrade to the sick bay.
• Some other minor changes in that end of the admin area.
• Conversion of the Resource Room behind the library to a classroom.
• Create a direct link between the library and the existing staff room which becomes the new Resource Room.
• Create a staff room in the former Year Six classrooms.
• Demolition of the three remaining rooms that separate the hardcourt area from the newly created play area

Duration

March to December, 2018

Interim arrangements

• All admin functions will relocate to the former PP rooms.
• The builder’s site office will be set up in the former Pre Kindy room
• Builder’s yard - TBA
• The back verandah roof will be removed from behind these three rooms
• Work on the hall extension and admin will hopefully happen concurrently.
• During the construction period the Sports Store and P&F Store will need to be relocated. The Sports equipment will move to the former Uniform Shop while the P&F equipment will find a new home either in one of the former PP rooms or the handyman’s shed.
• At best, the use of the hall space by the school will be limited by the building program.

Important Dates

Uniform Shop - New Opening Times

New opening times for the Uniform Shop are as follows:

Tuesday afternoon 2.30 - 3.00pm

Friday morning 8.15 - 9.00am

Canteen

Please contact Peta Taylor on 0419 260832 if you can help out with volunteering.

To access our online order system please visit www.ouronlinecanteen.com.au. Instructions for signing up are on the website or you can contact the Support line on 1300 116 637 for assistance.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Please read

It is imperative that you alter your child's class group on your online canteen profile. Also, once you place your order, check your "active orders" section to ensure that your order has been captured correctly.

Canteen Roster Term 1 2018 - click here

 Medical Emergency Response Plans

A Number of our students have in place action plans to deal with their potential health needs. These plans need to be updated each year to ensure they are current.

If your child is asthmatic, anaphylactic or has other potentially life-threatening health issues please call into the school to collect new forms or you can download them from here and return to the office with current Action Plans and medication.

Student Medical Alert - click here

Request for School Personnel to administer Medication - click here

Student Asthma Record - click here

Food Allergy Alert

Please be aware that OLG is an 'ALLERGY AWARE' school. There are a quite a few children at the school who have a severe intolerance, that is a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to some food, including nuts. They must have an epi-pen, (adrenaline needle), close to them at all times. If your child/ren happens to have had food before class that may have contained nuts or traces of nuts, such as peanut butter, Nutella or even fruit/muesli bars or many types of cereals, can you PLEASE ensure that you wash their hands and faces. The Allergic children can have a reaction that could kill them simply by hugging someone who has had contact with nuts.

It is extremely important that no extra food is brought into the classroom by you or your children (including siblings on roster) unless it is checked by the teacher. This includes snacks and treats they may carry in their hands, bags or pockets as so many foods contain traces of nuts. This also goes for food you may provide for special occasions such as birthday cakes.

When packing your child/ren's lunch boxes could you please ensure that if any of the food labels state that the food may contain traces of nut, that you let the teachers know, as then the allergic children can be steered clear of the food and the area surrounding, and also to ensure that the child's hands and face can be washed after eating.

Assembly

Parish

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME 2018

Welcome back to a new school year with what promises to be an exciting time for all as we continue our journey learning about the love of God and how, if we allow Jesus to be a part of our lives, what a difference it can make.

Confirmation preparation begins with Faith Formation for Parents on the 13th March. Fr, Greg Donovan will inspire us as we reconnect with a sacrament for most of us, we received many years ago. The Meeting will take place in the Parish Centre commencing at 7 pm. Attendance is a required element if you wish your child to prepare and receive the sacrament this year.

For all sacramental enquires please do not hesitate to contact Clare Broad (Sacramental Coordinator) sacramental.olg@gamil.com

Sacramental Program - click here