Term 3 Week 4, 2021

Term 3

This has been a different start to the term, and it is now finally feeling like we are truly underway!  We thank you for your support of your children and their teachers during this time. It was wonderful to see the support and involvement that families were able to give their children while learning at home.

I would also like to thank parents and carers for your understanding as we try to manage the number of adults entering the school.  This is to keep all children and staff safe.  The thinking behind the current procedures is to limit the amount of parents / carers on site.

There are no changes to our current procedures at school.  Could I please remind you:

1. Use the QR code
2. Facemasks are to be worn at all times when on site
3. Please limit the amount of time you are on site – Kiss Drop & Go or Greet and Collect
4. Parents / Carers are not to enter classrooms (exemption for those new to Preschool, GiR and Reception Red)
5. Parents can not attend Assembly / Masses at this stage
6. Sport has resumed but we need to follow the soccer associations COVID Management Plan.

The staff have reviewed the way we planned and worked in our recent lockdown and many thanks for the positive feedback and suggestions. We are preparing in the event of another lockdown, where we are aiming to provide an even better learning program for all of our children.

Term 3 Calendar

Over the last few weeks I have had a number of versions of our Term 3 Calendar.  Many of the activities planned have been postponed or cancelled due to COVID restrictions.  Once there is greater clarity of what we can do I will send out an updated calendar.  But please be aware that our Book Week dress up / parade will be on Friday 27 August at 9.10am.  Given our current restrictions the parade will be held on the Netball Courts – given that it is an outside event, parents can attend (masked and social distanced).  Please start making preparations for your child’s costume, I have!  The theme of Book Week 2021 is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.

LLL (Living, Learning, Leading) Parent and Caregiver Survey

All members of our community are invited to complete this Survey which will give us further information to use in our efforts to track our progress here at school and form educational and community goals for 2022.

The Survey is totally confidential and all participants are de-identified.  Analysis of the Surveys will be presented to teachers, staff, and the School Board and I will also complete a report to the community early next term.

Further information regarding the Survey, along with access via the QR code, Confidentiality, Use of Data etc is available below.

The Survey is also available via this link - www.NSIPartnerships.com.au with the code OLVLLLP in the Start Questionnaire field.

The students (Year 2 – Year 6) will be completing a similar survey.

We thank you for your participation in this important Survey.

You are invited to participate in a survey about your school’s performance. Similar surveys will be administered to staff and students to enable us to capture a community snapshot.

All responses are confidential and will be used for school improvement purposes. Completion of the survey is on a voluntary basis.

Your confidentiality

To protect your confidentiality all surveys are anonymous. All answers go directly to the National School Improvement Partnerships, where the results are analysed for your school. Answers from individual surveys will NOT be reported back to the school. National School Improvement Partnerships staff are bound by a Code of Ethics and follow strict professional conduct.

Use of the data

National School Improvement Partnerships will report the results to the school in an aggregated format so that individuals cannot be identified. To enable drill-down reporting, the information provided to the school will contain data based on background information. This anonymous data will be provided to CESA for reporting and consideration of support for schools.

How to complete the survey

• For each statement, you are asked to rate how well you think the school is performing by circling one of six responses. The responses are numbered 1 to 6, with number 1 being the lowest or worst rating and number 6 being the highest or best rating.
• There are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers. Your opinion is what is wanted.
• Please be sure to answer all questions.
• Some statements may be fairly similar to other statements. Don't worry about this. Simply give your opinion about all statements.

To get started, use the QR code above or go to www.NSIPartnerships.com.au and enter the access code provided by your school.

If you require more information or have any feedback, please contact Belinda Hurcombe. Email: Belinda.Hurcombe@cardijn.catholic.edu.au

Your time and consideration are much appreciated.

Greetings everyone,

I hope that you have been well.

Our Faith

Last Sunday was the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.  Mary MacKillop was canonized and became Australia’s first saint on October the 10^th, 2010. Many celebrations were held over the past few days, and we acknowledged this occasion formally with our school mass on Tuesday.

St Dominic’s feast day was last Tuesday, August the 3^rd. This was acknowledged with our classes celebrating class liturgies. As a Dominican school, we acknowledge this amazing example of a person that lived his life in a manner that allowed others to become acquainted with how Jesus led His life.

Our Parish

Five of our children have now completed a rather significant stage of their sacramental journey. Leo L, Shayda Y, Amir Y, Jackson W and Leonardo Z, have all recently celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. This coming Sunday, they will receive the Body of Christ for the first time at a special parish mass - their First Holy Communion.

These are wonderful children who have been working at school and with their families to prepare for these milestones along their path within the Catholic faith.

Congratulations to each of these children.

I invite any prospective sacramental participants to contact me with their intentions. We are looking to begin the next sacramental ‘cycle’ towards the end of Term 3. If you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to contact me at pfitzgerald@olv.catholic.edu.au

Prayer/Reflection

May God the Father, who made us, bless us. May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.

May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.

May God give us eyes to see God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God's grace to the eternal Kingdom.

- Prayer of St. Dominic

God bless you and take care,
Patrick.

School & Preschool Fees 2021

School and Preschool Fee Statements with a balance owing, have been sent home this week.  Please take the time to check your statement and ensure payments will repay any outstanding balance in the required time frame outlined in the 2021 School Fee Schedule.  If you have not already entered a regular payment plan (e.g., Bpay/EFT, Centrepay, Qkr! or direct debit repayments) that will clear your fees by the end of the 2021 year, please contact Micaela to discuss payment options available. 

School and Pre-School Fees are invoiced annually and payable over the four terms by the following due dates unless an alternative payment plan has been put in place.  Due dates for minimum quarterly balance payments are by the end of week 7 each term: 12th March, 11th June, 3rd September and 26th November 2021.  Updated statements are forwarded each term and are available on request at any time.

A direct debit payment method can be established to cover the annual total fees over the year, therefore spreading the entire fees over the year. This is the preferred payment option.

Pre-School Lunch Care Fees are invoiced each term as required, due week 7 of the term/s it is accessed.

All fees must be finalised by the end of Week 7 in Term 4 (26th November 2021), unless prior arrangements have been made with the Principal or Bursar.

All parent/caregivers are reminded that it is a contractual obligation that forms part of your enrolment at the school that fees are paid within the terms of our fees policy. Please do not hesitate to come in and speak to Micaela or Frank DeTullio about fees and any assistance you may need.

School Card for 2021

School Card applications are required annually.  2021 School Card application can be submitted online, or forms are available from the front office.  Please apply as soon as possible.

The School Card scheme is administered by the State Government to provide financial assistance towards the cost of education for full time students* of lower income families. Any parent/caregiver who would like more information about the scheme can contact Micaela at the school or the School Card section on 1800 672 758 (free call) to discuss or visit the link below: 

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme 

For eligible families, OLV’s lower income fee will apply once School Card is approved:

1^st child Lower fee of $1,500
2^nd child Lower fee of $1,200
3^rd child Lower fee of $1,050
4^th child Lower fee of $600
5^th child Lower fee of $450

A credit is applied to your account to reflect the lower fee and a revised statement sent home.

*School Card and other discounts do not apply to Preschool fees.

Fee Remission for 2021

Parents/caregivers experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to apply for fee remission ASAP.  Please email accounts@olv.catholic.edu.au for a fee remission form or collect from the front office if you wish to apply. 

We assure parents/caregivers that all details provided will be kept strictly confidential.  If you are having difficulty with meeting your fee obligations or have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Micaela or Frank DeTullio on 8248 2480 to discuss assistance and payment options available.  Please be assured of the school’s support for your family during these difficult times. 

OSHC Fees

Families accessing our OSHC service are reminded that OSHC fees need to be paid promptly after accounts are sent home each week.  OSHC fees are billed on a separate system, with payment details and options listed on the weekly distributed invoice/statements.  Payments made via BPay have the same Biller Code of 297788, however, the BPay Reference Number is different to school fee accounts and must be used so payments are allocated to the correct account.  Payments made via EFT must include either your BPay reference number, or your “child’s name” and “OSHC” as a reference in the payment description.

Thank you.
Micaela Callipari
Bursar

accounts@olv.catholic.edu.au

Year 2/3 Botanic Gardens Excursion  

On the last week of Term 2, the Year 2/3 Unit went to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens for a whole day. We had the opportunity to work with an Education Officer who took us on a Botanic journey and shared his knowledge of the Australian Aboriginal people, his understanding of the Australian environment through an ATSI perspective and his rich knowledge of plants developed over 50,000 years. 

Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who supported us with supervision and who also led us into a self-guided tour. We were fortunate to discover new trails. 

The Scientific Bubble Show

At the end of Term 2, Marty McBubble came to kindy to teach us all about bubbles. We learnt lots of new words like transparent, opaque, liquid and vapour. Marty made a bubble caterpillar, a volcano and even a pair of bubble glasses. Some of his bubbles were enormous! He gave each child a chance to stand inside a giant bubble that he made using a huge ring.

This term we have welcomed 33 new children to kindy. Our learning focus has been on Healthy Food, beginning by discussing all the ways we can look after our bodies. Craft activities and group times have centred on looking after our bodies by eating healthy food.