Term 4 Week 2 2020

Catholic Education South Australia
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From the Principal

Book Week Parade / Assembly - Friday 30th October at 9.15am on the Courts outside St Francis Hall

Next week we will celebrate Book Week.  We have rescheduled Book Week given that we had swimming in Week 2.  Next Friday 30th October, we will have our Book Week Parade at 9.15am on the Courts outside St Francis Hall.  Having this event outside will enable parents to attend.  This will combine Assembly & Book Week.  This will be lead by R/1 Red.

Next week, teachers will engage students in a range of activities celebrating Australian children’s literature.  Shortlisted books will be shared and students will have an opportunity to share their artistic creativity on ‘Dress Up Day’.  The theme for Book Week is ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’ which conjures up a sea full of costume possibilities. 

 

OLV Master Plan

Last week I met with four architectural firms to submit a tender to complete a Master Plan for OLV.  This is an exciting time for our school.

So what does a Master Plan contain?  A master plan will identify renovations, major repairs, reuse of existing buildings, new buildings, ancillary facilities, streetscape, play areas, access, parking, services and landscaping requirements/ aspirations.

I have written an Education Plan which is the rationale behind the master plan, specifically responding to issues identified in the Education Brief and Enrolment Plan components of the school’s Development Plan. This contains:

  • A site plan showing the existing school structures, grounds, points of access, major services, adjoining school owned properties and adjacent roads
  • A site plan for the future spatial organisation of facilities, recreation spaces and landscaping on the site in a manner that identifies uses, function and relationships and supports the orderly operation of the school. A Master Plan is not always about new buildings but it is about;
  • Ensuring the buildings allow the school to teach a curriculum that enables the child to learn, inquire and think.
  • Provides that point of difference to retain and attract new enrolments.
  • Ensuring the existing facilities meet the latest standards for teaching and other statutory requirements.
  • Provides an aspirational goal to aspire to.

A decision to appoint an Architect to develop a Master Pan will be made next week in consultation with Catholic Education SA.  Once a decision has been made, I will communicate this to you.

 
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Swimming Week

Our amazing Reception to Year 4 students have been participating in the Swimming program at the Largs Bay Swim Centre.

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Class Structures and Planning 2021

Over the next few weeks, planning, class structures and the class placement process for 2021 will commence. This is both a time consuming and complex process as we work to develop the right mix of students in the best possible fit in terms of both class sizes and class structures. Our staff aim to keep abreast of the needs of every child through the course of the year and in their discussions with parents, therefore there is very little additional information they require when it comes to the placement process. Please understand that we take into consideration a range of factors including learning styles, academic achievement, gender, previous class history, friendship groups, social and emotional issues, siblings / relatives and so on.

However, there is no doubt that some families will feel the need to write to me regarding placement. If you feel you must write, please base your request on these educational issues for information that you feel we do not currently hold and that is crucial to a successful placement occurring. This is not about ‘selecting a teacher’ but is an opportunity for you to provide information that will help us with the process. I must stress that letters of requests for certain teachers will not be considered as I have yet to confirm staffing for next year. Please ensure all requests are forwarded (fdetullio@olv.catholic.edu.au) to me no later than Friday 30 October.

 

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Congratulations to all students who engaged in the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year. The challenge is now closed for 2020. We thank Shey Angove for collating all our entrants’ information.  More details will be sent home later regarding the presentation of the awards.

 

Assembly Roster

Due to events this term the Assembly will be in the odd weeks this term

  Term 4
Week 1 R/1 Yellow
Week 3 R/1 R & Book Week Parade (change of time 9.15am)
Week 5 R/1 Purple
Week 7 4/5 Blue

Attendance at Assembly:  at this stage parents attending will be limited to 45 (given the dimensions of the Veritas Centre).  This will be by invitation only.  In the week preceding the Assembly I will discuss with the leader of the Assembly who will be invited.  There will be a sign in sheet for parents who attend. 

Parents attending please ensure you follow the COVID protocols - social distancing and hygiene.

 

From the APRIM

Celebrations – Masses and Liturgies

After consultation with Father Roderick towards the end of Term 3, we are planning to have three masses this term, with our Thanksgiving Mass at the end of the year as well. The three class masses will be in Weeks 4, 7 and 8.

As has happened in previous years, the classes will be acknowledging Advent by celebrating whole school liturgies during the last two weeks of the school year. The season of Advent is significant within our faith, focusing our thoughts and prayers on the imminent birth of Jesus Christ. Advent is a season of four weeks, though we will only be at school for the first two weeks.

  Masses and Liturgies for the term…

Week

Date

Time

Classes

Celebration

4

Tues 3/11

9:30am

Rec B & Yr 2

Mass

5

Wed 11/11

10:40am

Yr 4/5 & Yr 6

Liturgy

7

Tues 24/11

9:30am

R/1 R & Yr 3

Mass

8

Mon 30/11

9:30am

Yr 4/5 & Yr 6

Liturgy

8

Tues 1/12

9:30am

R/1 Y & R/1 P

Mass

8

Thurs 3/12

9:30am

Rec B & Yr 2

Liturgy

9

Mon 7/12

9:30am

R/1 Y & R/1 P

Liturgy

9

Tues 8/12

9:30am

APRIM

Mass

9

Wed 9/12

7:00pm

Yr 6

Graduation

9

Thurs 10/12

9:30am

R/1 R & Yr 3

Liturgy

 

Family Faith Formation

The first day of the September school holidays was a significant day for three of our girls. After much preparation, Mackenzie Howie, Ashton Jackson and Alexandra Jackson celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

The girls were fortunate enough to be involved in a beautiful celebration with other children from Semaphore Dominican and the Lefevre Catholic Community Parish. Three masses were led by Father Roderick and the children were surrounded by a lot of love and support.

The next cycle of the Family Faith Formation program will begin soon, with many lessons learnt from the manner in which the program was executed this year.

 

Religious Education

Our class teachers will be spending time planning for Advent in the coming weeks. Unlike the season of Lent (preparing for Jesus’ passion), we are not at school during a portion of Advent, nor the birth of Jesus at Christmas. This will be the focus of class teachers in the area of Religious Education as the year concludes.

 

Our Faith

Last Saturday October the 17th was the 10th anniversary of the Canonisation of Australia’s first saint, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. She is the member of an illustrious club of special men and women that have been recognised by the Catholic Church as being significant in the way that they lived their lives and the legacy that they left behind.

St Dominic, a saint that we hold very dear to us at Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic School was canonised (declared a saint) way back on the 3rd of July in the year 1234.

 

“Do all you can to assist and love one another.”
Mary MacKillop - January 28th, 1890

 

God bless and take care,
Patrick.

 
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MATHEMATICS IN THE SENIOR UNIT - 4/5 BLUE & 6 RED

Graphing

Part of our recent focus in MATHEMATICS in the Senior Unit  has been on supporting students in developing their skills in DATA REPRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION.  

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