Term 4 Week 9, 2021

End of Year Thanks

Welcome to the last newsletter of the school year! There has been so much to celebrate in amongst a year of uncertainty and general upheaval due to COVID.  Having said this, there are so many great things that we can and must celebrate in regard to this year.

Please find below the transcript of my principal’s address at our End of Year Mass which captures or 2021 school year.

As we approach the finish line of the 2021 school year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for what has been an extraordinary year. We (the staff of OLV) are incredibly proud of ALL community members and our tremendous efforts in supporting one another through the remarkable challenges that 2021 has presented.

I am so proud of all our students and staff.  I believe that Our Lady of the Visitation School is an outstanding school which provides rich and exciting learning programs for all our children and one where we are continually working together trying to become better – better learners, better friends, better teachers and yes even a better principal.

To our students, we are proud of you! We applaud you and thank you for your resilience, persistence, focus and responsibility in taking on the challenges COVID has brought. There are no children in history that have endured such challenging times in their educational journeys as you have in the last two years.

To our parents, thank you for your partnership and your continued understanding of being a parent in COVID times – not being able to attend all the normal school events or even being able to enter classrooms.  We know that it hasn't been easy, however we appreciate the support.

Thank you, also, to all the staff (teaching and non teaching) who have also worked so conscientiously to serve the school community.  I thank Tina Ida – Leader of Learning, and Sandra Naismith Inclusive Education Coordinator for their leadership and assisting our staff become better at what we do.  Our staff all work hard, their care and commitment to all students is outstanding.  All staff are wonderful people who do their work in their own unique way but they all make a difference in the lives of our children.

To Monica and the Preschool staff, I believe we have the best Preschool, which provides a great start to children’s formal learning.

To our OSHC Staff - Sue and Jess and the team, we are so lucky to have an OSHC service that provides such quality care.  I thank them for their efforts and planning.

To our staff who are departing -

Ros Braham – many thanks for all your efforts with the Mid Year Reception Class, Ros will be taking a break for the first part of 2022 and be back mid next year.

Patrick Fitzgerald – who has been appointed substantive APRIM at Mt Carmel College Junior campus.  All the children love Mr Fitz.  The children in GiR look forward to their weekly session with him.  Patrick has left a mark on our school in a relatively short time.

Sandy McNeish - has decided to conclude this chapter of her working life.  Sandy has been a valued member of the preschool for 23 years.  She loved her role in the preschool because it gave her the opportunity to work with our young children in preschool and watch them grow and develop as they grew and became bigger and more mature.  She always took an interest in what they were doing after they left the preschool, looking at them on the other side of the preschool fence.

I extend my warmest wishes to the students and families who are also leaving our community.  I hope that you leave OLV with fond memories.  All members of our community have made valuable contributions. It is through these contributions that OLV has thrived and developed over the years.

I wish you a joyful Christmas and hope you have an enjoyable break and look forward to working with you in 2022.

Frank DeTullio
Principal
 

We have a number of families that will leave our community this year. Each one of you have walked alongside your child in their learning journey and Our Lady of the Visitation School has been privileged to have had you as a part of our school community.  As you leave OLV please know that you and your child have shaped this school to be what it is today. We wish you well as this next chapter begins, may the spirit of OLV live in your hearts forever.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the staff at Our Lady of the Visitation School for the wonderful job they have done this year.  We are very fortunate to have such great staff and I consider myself very privileged to be working with such a hardworking and capable group of people.

I would also like to say a big thank you to all the parents who have helped out in any way this year.  As a school we are very fortunate to have many parents who help us in a variety of ways and without your support the school would not be able to offer all the opportunities that it does for the children.  Your support and assistance is essential to the school and we really appreciate all that you do.

As we move into the Christmas season we should take a moment to say thank you for the many blessings we have and there will be no better opportunity to do that than attending Mass over Christmas with the family to help celebrate the birth of Jesus our Saviour. You are invited to attend the Christmas Eve mass at Our Lady of the Visitation Church which several school staff members are coordinating.  In amongst your family celebrations please make the time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, holy and safe Christmas.  I hope you have an enjoyable time with your families over the next few weeks and that you all come back happy and well for the start of the 2022 school year. 

May God’s shining light, be with you and your family during this festive season. Please take the opportunity to rest and recharge, spend some quality time together and we look forward to seeing you all in 2022.

Merry Christmas.

School Returns for 2022 on Monday 31 January.

Class Placements 2022

These were sent out on Monday.  Teachers spend countless hours trying to get this right, with a whole range of social/emotional, learning and behavioural needs to take under consideration, in balance with the needs of the whole year level cohort of children.  All students had a voice into their placement.  I invited families to share any thoughts with us about class placements several weeks ago and these were taken into consideration along with many other pieces of the giant jigsaw puzzle, for which there are many possible combinations. As a result of this, placements are now finalised.  Your support in encouraging your child to be happy, show resilience and approach the new year with a positive outlook goes a long way to helping them settle with their new peer group very quickly. Your support with this is appreciated.

Uniform Shop – will open Thursday 27 January 8.30 - 11.30 (for fittings & ordering only)

2021 Graduation Awards

The following awards were presented at the Year 6 Graduation Ceremony. 

2021 OLV Education Awards

Our annual OLV Education Awards were held on Monday, which was well attended by invited parents to witness their child receive an award for their positive contributions to our school through either learning, service or friendship to others.

It is wonderful to have been able to recognise so many successful students and I congratulate them for their outstanding contributions this school year.

Congratulations to the following Academic Award winners;

For Service and Contribution to Children’s University

Grace Lewis
Lacey Nicholas

I Congratulate the following award winners:-

Are you attending the Family Christmas Eve celebration with your family?  I encourage all families to attend.  We need our children to assist with the Liturgy as;-

Singers – for children’s choir
Readers – (of the Word and Prayers)
Actors – (enactment of Nativity Story)

A rehearsal will take place on Thursday 23 December 11.30 – 12.30 in the church.

Please contact Our Lady of the Visitation School (82482480) or fdetullio@olv.catholic.edu.au if you’re interested, we hope to see you there.

Our Year 5/6 class were invited to submit entries for the cover art of next year’s songbook for the Catholic Schools’ Music Festival. The cover lettering and illustrations are line drawings for next year’s participants to colour in and include references to the songs in next year’s Festival. After a workshop session with the Festival’s Music Director, Denise Rothall, the students set to work with magnificent, creative ideas. When the finishing touches were done and final entries submitted, each piece was outstanding.

From such an excellent and worthy number of entries, the difficult task was for Ms Rothall and me to decide which illustrations would be chosen and sent off to the publishers. I am pleased to announce the front cover will be the artwork submitted by Mayah Edwards and Tara Coggins, and the back cover will feature an illustration by Lacey Nicholas. Keep an eye out next February when the books are distributed to choir members – the results will be impressive!

I congratulate all the students who involved themselves in this opportunity; Jake Atkinson, Ali Behrendt, Izzy Butler, Anneka Cleaver, Eden Gallagher, Ziva Grimm, Ella Gustard, Mackenzie Howie, Lucas Kalaitzis, Jacob Leonard, Tilley Marlow, and Zahra Sainsbury. I was impressed by the artistic talent and the students’ commitment to presenting quality work. I also thank Ms. Tina Ida for her support of this process during the busiest of school weeks.

Lisa Robson
Music