OLR News Term 2 Week 4
Important - New School Phone Number!
Over the past few month we have been transitioning our systems over to Microsoft Teams. The next stage of that is our phone system. Beginning tomorrow the 1st of May we will have a new school phone number. So pop this one in your contacts! 02 7256 2115
Our exisiting number will work simultaneously for one month with our new number before expiring.
Principal's Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
I would like to wish all our mothers, grandmothers, women caring for children and dads filling the role of mother, a very Happy Mother’s Day. The role we play as mother is the most important of all. Our children are our greatest gift and caring for them our greatest purpose. It can be challenging and have moments of heartbreak but the joy our children bring us is priceless.
I hope you had a wonderful day celebrating with your families!
Thank you to all of you who were able to join us for the Mother’s Day celebrations on Friday. We hope you enjoyed it. We appreciate all you do to support us as we work together for your children.
It has been a pleasure meeting parents wishing to enrol their children at OLR for Kinder 2024. It is wonderful to hear the reasons they want to join our beautiful community.
Please ensure you continue to read through this edition of Schoolzine. There is so important and interesting information throughout it.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
Kindest regards
Yvette Owens
In The Loop - School and Office News
K-2 Fun Run
Kindergarten and Year 1 will be having their Fun Run on Friday, May 19th. Students will leave school at 11:30am and walk with their teachers to EDSACC Oval North where they will participate in the run. This will be followed by a picnic lunch and games. They will return to school at approximately 2pm.
You are most welcome to join them at the oval for this event. If you wish to take your child home from the oval after the event, please let your child's teacher know before you leave the oval.
Students will need to wear their sports uniform, hat and sunscreen. They can bring a small backpack or bag to carry their lunch and water bottle to the oval in.
We are looking forward to a fabulous day!
Dance Troupe News
We are very excited to announce that this term Kinder and Year 1 will be joining our dance troupe family.
Junior Dance Troupe (K, 1, 2, 3) will be held on a Tuesday
Senior Dance Troupe (4, 5, 6) will be held on a Wednesday
Students do not need to bring anything for dance troupe, they wear whatever uniform they have worn for that day.
An announcement will come out later in the term around when they will perform and what students need to wear for their performance.
Thanks Mrs Johnson and Mrs Middleton
Enrolments - Kinder 2024
Kinder 2024
Please ensure that you have returned your child’s application and have booked a “Getting to Know you” session.
If you have family or friends wanting their child to come to OLR next year, who do not have children at the school, please remind them to return their paperwork and organise an interview and a Getting to know you session.
Medication
If you need your child to have medication at school, please ensure the Request to Administer Medication form is completed by the doctor/pharmacist. Without this, we are unable to give medication.
You can click on the attachment or collect a hard copy from the office
Religious Education Update
Mother’s Day
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the Mother’s Day celebrations. What an amazing turn out we had for it!
We wish all of the mums and significant females in the lives of our students, a very happy Mother’s Day. We pray that God will always bless you and that you will be guided by the mother’s love Mary showed to Jesus.
Feast of the Ascension
Next Friday, May 19th, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. This feast is celebrated forty days after Easter Sunday and commemorates Jesus ascending into heaven body and soul. The students will be celebrating this Feast Day with an in-class Liturgy.
Grade Masses
Families are warmly invited to join us for Grade Masses. The dates for these are below. If you have not received the Sacrament of Holy Communion, you are welcome to come up and receive a blessing from Father Brian during Communion time. If you would like to do this, we ask that when you get to Father Brian, you place your arms across your chest and Father will know to bless you rather than giving you Communion.
Please don’t ever hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about Religious Education or Liturgical celebrations. I am more than happy to chat and answer any questions you may have.
Upcoming Liturgical Celebrations
Tuesday May 16th – Year 6 Grade Mass at school
Tuesday May 23rd – Year 5 Grade Mass at school
Wednesday May 24th – Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians Whole School Liturgy 9am in Courtyard
Tuesday May 30th – Year 4 Grade Mass at school
Tuesday June 6th – Year 2 Grade Mass at school
Friday June 16tg – Feast of the Sacred Heart Whole School Liturgy 9am in Courtyard
Tuesday June 27th – Year 3 Grade Mass at school
Tuesday March 28th – Year 1 Grade Mass at school
Families are most welcome to join us for these celebrations.
Jo Moore
Religious Education Coordinator
Parent Engagement Coordinator (PEC) Update
On Tuesday 9 May I had the pleasure of attending the Year 1 Mass with Fr Brian. It was our first Year Mass for the term and it was fantastic to see so many parents and grandparents attend and participate in the Mass. As the Year Masses continue to be celebrated throughout the term, we invite parents and grandparents to attend these Masses. For those parents that may not be Catholic you are also welcome to attend and receive a blessing at the distribution of the Eucharist (Communion). I usually attend the school Masses with Fr Brian so if you have any questions about how to receive a blessing, feel free to talk to me before the beginning of the Mass.
The Thursday morning ‘Cuppa Catch Up’ have gotten off to a great start with lots of chatter, laughter and sharing of ideas. Thanks to our Principal, Yvette for dropping in and catching us up on family (grandbabies) and school life. We had fun last Thursday bagging all the Mother’s Day gifts for the stall so the children can purchase a special gift for mum, we hope you enjoy their selection. So, if you are free on Thursday mornings at 9am – 10am, be sure to drop in the ‘Hub’ for a cuppa and chat and a bit of giggle (and maybe an odd job to help the teachers). We would love to see you!
This term the Council of Catholic School Parent’s FREE webinar is on the topic of ‘Getting the Most out of Gaming’. This 45-minute webinar provides families with strategies for supporting children and young people to have safe, positive experiences when playing games online. It is designed for parents and carers of children aged 7 to 14.
It will cover:
- when gaming can be beneficial and strategies to promote better in-game experiences
- how to keep children safe online – using safety and privacy settings in games and platforms
- strategies to promote more balanced gaming and how to create smoother transitions from game-play to other activities
- the key online risks and where to find help for things like bullying and harassment in games.
Getting the most out of gaming - Register online
When: Tuesday 23 May 7.30pm - 8.15pm
OLR Kid’s Club is on at the Parish this month, 3:00pm – 4:45pm Saturday 27 May in the Reynolds Room. The theme for this one will be Pentecost and it is FREE! See the flyer for more details.
Canteen News
Happy Mother's Day, hope you have all had a lovely day with those you love. One of the all time favourite items in the canteen are the choc chip cookies, the recipe comes from Mrs MacSween, who was the Canteen Co-Ordinator here at OLR for many years and who taught me how to "do canteen" 
Please see attached the fortnightly canteen roster.
Kind regards
Amber Trench
Canteen Coordinator
PCN News
OLR WALKATHON:
Have you got your walking shoes ready? Don’t forget to save the date, 2nd June 2023.
The PCN at Our Lady of the Rosary invites the Children to walk for a cause, the purpose of this walkathon will be to raise awareness of road safety for our children.
Have you heard of The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation? Maybe you are more familiar with the signs “Hold my Hand” or “It’s Holiday Time, slow down kids around”.
The Little Blue Dinosaur foundation is built on the legacy of Tom McLaughlin who was tragically taken in a road accident on the Central Coast in 2014 at the young age of 4. The aim of the foundation is to prevent as many children as possible from falling victim to road trauma.
Michelle McLaughlin the co-founder/CEO and Mother to Tom will be coming to educate and inform the children on road safety. After this talk the children will each receive a “Hold my Hand” bracelet and will commence the walkathon.
There will be lots of jobs that will need to be filled to make this day a success and the PCN are reaching out to any parent helpers. We need Crossing supervisors, Walker helpers and Stampers for the children’s passports. The PCN really appreciates any time you might be able to contribute to this event.
Kindergarten to Year 2 will begin the walkathon first and will do a slightly shorter course in comparison to Years 3-6. The start times will be staggered to avoid congestion along the course.
Kindergarten to Year 2 Course
Year 3 to Year 6 Course
At the conclusion of the walkathon we invite all families to stay for a picnic lunch which will be held on the school oval.
Our Lady of the Rosary would like to support Tom’s legacy by purchasing the “Hold my Hand” signs for the entry ways to our school. We are honoured to be raising funds for the Little Blue Dinosaur foundation and are asking a $2 entry fee per child into the walkathon. If you have 3 or more children attending OLR it will be a $5 entry fee.
If you are able to assist on the day please email complete the below form. Please don’t forget if you haven’t already to sign your child’s permission slip in compass called Local Area Walks.
Kind Regards,
Stef Wilson & Kate Coates
PCN Events Co-ordinator's
Around the Grounds
Mother Day Breakfast
On Friday we gather and celebrated the significant women in our children's lives. We had an amazing turnout this year for the breakfast, liturgy and open classrooms.
Thank you to the amazing staff for cooking up a delicious breakfast. The children also enjoyed selecting gifts for their Mums at Thursday's Mother's Day Stall.
Thank you to our Parent Engagement Coordinator and parent helpers running the stall.
We would like to wish all the Mums, Carers, Grandmothers and other significant female caregivers a very special day on Sunday.
Key Dates
What's On Week 4
Monday 15th May - Awards Assembly K-2 in the hall at 2.20pm
Meditation Sessions
Tuesday 16th May - Year 6 Grade Mass
Meditation Sessions
Thursday 18th May - Coffee and a Chat in the hub at 9am
Sacrament of First Holy Communion Preparation Session 2 at the Parish
Friday 19th May - Kinder and Year 1 Fun Run and Picnic
What's On Week 5
Monday May 22nd - Kinder 2024 Getting to Know You Sessions + Parent Interviews
Meditation Sessions
Awards Assembly 3-6 in the hall at 2.20pm
Tuesday May 23rd - Meditation Sessions
Year 5 Grade Mass
Wednesday May 24th - Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians Whole School Liturgy in the courtyard at 9am
Thursday May 25th - Coffee and Catch Up in the hub at 9am
Sacrament of First Holy Communion Preparation Session Three at the Parish