We are delighted to share with the parish the wonderful happenings and achievements that have taken place in our school community over recent weeks. We are grateful to the parish community for taking the time to read our contribution to the Parish Newsletter this week.
Learning beyond the classroom context is a very important part of the student’s experience at OLPS. Just recently our Year 5/6 students undertook a four-day study tour of Canberra, and flying both ways just made the trip even more exciting. Whilst at our nation’s capital, the students explored the following locations; the National Portrait Gallery, and the Australian War Memorial, where they participated in a school wreath-laying ceremony, the National Archives, Questacon, Parliament House, National Film and Archive Museum, the Observatory, the National Museum plus many more places of interest. I am very grateful to the staff that attended camp; Mrs Carissa Bright, Mrs Jane James, Mr Tony Hollamby, Mrs Tanya Spencer, and Ms Clare Hicks.
May is also a very special month as we celebrate the very special women in our lives. Our PFA has hosted a Mother’s Day Lunch and Breakfast, both were opportunities to come together in appreciation and support of one another.
On Wednesday, 15 May we also celebrated Grandparents and Special Friends Day. We are grateful to Fr Hoang for celebrating Mass for us, our PFA for hosting morning tea, and our students and teachers for welcoming our special visitors into our classrooms.
Below is a reflection from each class as to why their special people are important to them:
Prep: Elle – I love my Yaya because she cooks yummy food with me.
1/2U: Sophie – I love my grandparents because they have a big backyard with monkey bars and they play fun games with me.
1/2L: Paddy – We love our grandparents because they make us laugh.
3/4LH: Hattie – Hello, my name is Hattie and I’m lucky enough to have six grandparents. I’m going to tell you why I love them. To start, Nana and Poppy look after me a lot and give me lots of lollies. Next up is Gargey and Pop. I love them because every time I go up to Ballarat for two days, they make it count, and, especially in winter, they take us ice skating. Last but not least, are Grillsy and Heck. I don’t really go to their house, but they always come to our birthday parties and they are so much fun! So that is why I love all my grandparents.
3/4DC: Olivia – I love my grandparents because they are loving and kind. They are so thoughtful and never say ‘No’! I love baking with my Nanny, reading books with my Grandpa, and riding the jetski with my Opa.
5/6BS: Ashlee – My grandparents mean a lot to me. My Nan has 7 grandchildren and she makes sure none of them are left out. My nan is so brave no matter how scared she is she will do it. She travels from Melbourne to Echuca every week to work. My nan is strong and loyal.
5/6HH: Mason – I am so grateful for my Grandparents because they always do something in my life that makes a big difference whether it’s taking me to guitar lessons, picking me up from school, cooking delicious food, taking me to cricket or just hanging out with me, I will always keep them in my heart.
Running Group continues to be a very popular extracurricular activity at OLPS. Every Tuesday morning at 7.45 am, students 8 years and above are welcome to attend the running group at Bluebell Reserve. Last week, students did a one kilometre run time trial, many of the students were amazed at how their time had improved from the last time we did this time trial over a month ago. We are building our fitness in preparation for the Box Hill District Cross Country Carnival on Monday, 20 May at Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster.
Our Lady’s has a wonderful inquiry question this term which connects so richly to our faith and prayer life. “How can we be peacemakers?” is a rich and authentic question that we can reflect upon several times, each and every day. We are encouraging our students to stop and think, before any action or speech, ‘how will this add peace to the situation?’ To be a peacemaker is hard. We make connections to our prayer and meditation, which supports us to stop and let go and just be. As a school, we continue to meditate together on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11.45 am after playtime. Pausing before acting, particularly when you are angry is quite a challenge. Therefore structured times of practice, during meditation and prayer, can support us to be peacemakers.
At Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, we deliver a knowledge-rich, evidence-based English framework. Every student is supported to achieve proficiency in literacy. Our explicit instruction is underpinned by this sequence of teaching; Explicit Instruction, Modelling, Guided Practice and Independent Practice, Assessment, and Regular Reviews. In this way, we teach the four key areas of spelling; phonemic awareness, synthetic phonics, morphology, and etymology. As a whole school this term we are excited to incorporate into our teaching a whole school resource called Sound Waves. Sound Waves is a whole-school program developed by Australian teachers for use in Australian classrooms. It is informed by research on the best practices for teaching reading and spelling. You may remember spelling instructions from days gone by when we learned lists of words. Learning to spell no longer relies solely on lists, but on a study of sounds, letters, and etymology, a much richer and engaging experience for our students.
As part of our work with the Resilience Project, we teach the students about the value of gratitude and the positive impact it can have on our mental health and spiritual well-being. It is not only important to be grateful but also to express gratitude. Below, I share a message from one of our parents;
“We are immensely grateful to be a part of the nurturing community at Our Ladies. The exceptional pastoral care and the warm, welcoming atmosphere have truly been a blessing for us. It’s incredibly valuable that my children are learning far beyond the basics of reading and writing; they’re being instilled with core values, developing essential interpersonal skills, and fostering a deep sense of belonging. For our family, Our Ladies isn’t just a place for education; it’s a vibrant community we’re proud to be a part of. Jessica Lees – Parent Year 1
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
Published: 17 May 2024
19 Brenbeal Street, Balwyn VIC 3103
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