OLR News Week 4 2023
Principal's Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to our first edition of Schoolzine. We hope this will be a more streamlined method of communication. Our intention is to utilise Schoolzine fortnightly with my Principal’s Update coming out on alternate weeks.
Opening School Mass:
We held our first whole school Mass on Friday morning at the Our Lady of the Rosary Church. It was a beautiful way to celebrate the beginning of the school year, induct our School and House Captains and welcome our SRC members. Thank you to the families who were able to join us and thank you to Fr Brian for celebrating with us.
Carpark Safety:
A gentle reminder to watch children if you are parking in the staff car park for Busy Bees drop off and pick up outside school hours. The car park is often a very busy space and is very unsafe for children to walk through or play in. In light of the recent tragedy, we need to always be alert to the safety of our children.
School Uniform:
Thank you so much supporting our school uniform policy. Our children look so good in our beautiful uniform and represent our school so well in it. We do understand there are some issues with uniform supply. Please let your child’s teacher know if they are unable to wear the correct uniform for any reason.
Kinder ‘First Day’ Photos:
Our beautiful Kinder children had their first day photos taken on Thursday. I am very much looking forward to seeing them when they are ready.
Goal Setting Meeting:
Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you during the goal setting meetings in Week 5. Please book via Compass. Kinder parents do not need to book a time as you are invited to attend an information session on Wednesday 1st March at 5pm in the school hall. This is the same night as the Parent Teacher Goal Setting Meetings so if you have older children in the school, you can book their interview around this session.
Yvette Owens
Principal
Religious Education Update
Welcome to the 2023 school year! At OLR, our Catholic faith is at the heart of all we do. I am here to support families in their faith development in any way I can. If you ever have any questions about Masses, Liturgies, the Sacramental Program, what students learn about in Religious Education, or anything else related to the religious life of the school, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Opening School Mass
On Friday we gathered for our Opening School Mass. It was wonderful to come together as a school community in our Parish Church, to pray for God’s blessings for the year ahead.
We also presented our 2023 School Leaders with their badges. We congratulate them and know that they will responsibly and capably lead our students this this year.
Ash Wednesday
Next Wednesday, February 22nd, we will celebrate Ash Wednesday with a whole school Liturgy at 10am. Parents and carers are most welcome to join us for this.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and signifies the beginning of our preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we receive a cross of ashes on our forehead reminding us that we are called to turn away from sin and follow the example of Jesus. At our Liturgy, we will bring forward the Lenten Promises that each child will make. These promises help students to think of ways they can try to live the example of Jesus as they prepare their hearts for Easter.
Reconciliation
We ask you to keep the children and their families who are preparing this term for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Parish Connections
We are very blessed to have a close relationship with our Parish. Our Parish Priest, Father Brian, regularly visits the school. This year, Father Brian is joined in the Parish by an Assistant Priest, Father Leonse as well as a Seminarian, Tan Nguyen, who has just completed his fourth year of study for the Priesthood.
Upcoming Liturgical Celebrations
Wednesday February 22nd - Ash Wednesday Whole School Liturgy 10am at school
Tuesday February 28th – Years 5 & 6 Grade Mass at school
Tuesday March 7th – Years 3 & 4 Grade Mass at school
Tuesday March 21st – Year 2 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
Hi! My name is Colleen Smith, and I am extremely excited to be the Parent Engagement Coordinator for Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, The Entrance. I have lived in The Entrance area for most of my life and have been a parishioner of both The Entrance and Wyong parishes for many years. I have previously been involved in the Sacramental team of Wyong parish for over 10 years and other ministries including reading and extraordinary minister.
I was involved in the executive teams of the P&F at my son's school in both primary and secondary and represented the Central Coast region as an executive on the Diocesan Parent Council now known as Broken Bay Catholic School Parents. I recently resigned from my role after 17 years with CCD Broken Bay who provide special religious education to Catholic students in state schools to follow my heart to assist and support families in their faith journey.
I attend weekend Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary, The Entrance and many that know me know that my faith comes from the heart and love of Jesus, and I share this love in a gentle nature with others without judgement. I have a passion for helping people and I am looking forward to answering questions and assisting families in our school community.
Kids Club:
The next Kids Club is on Saturday 25th February. The Theme is Salt of the Earth, Light of the World. This is a beautiful, fun way for your children to not only connect with their faith but have fun doing so. It goes from 3.00pm - 4.45pmin the Reynolds Room. Hopefully your children can join this great event. Please see attached flyer!
Colleen Smith
Parent Engagement Coordinator
Canteen News
Once again I would like to thank everyone who put their hand up to volunteer for Canteen in Term 1.
I will include the fortnightly roster in each newsletter as a reminder and i look forward to welcoming you all.
We are very excited for Pancake Day on Tuesday 21st February. A reminder that pancakes will be for cash purchase only. (Not available to order via Qkr) and there will be no other recess orders available on Tuesday. 1 pancake $3 or 2 pancakes for $6
For our new families all recess and lunch orders are ordered via the QKR app. You can find all the QKR information and helpful hints here.
Amber Trench
Canteen Coordinator
In The Loop
Library News:
Volunteers Needed!
We have a large amount of new reading resources for classes that need contacting. If you have the time to cover some books, please collect a bag of books and contact from the Library.
The Scholastic Back-to-School Book Fair has arrived!
With a wide selection of genres, engaging and affordable books, the Book Fairs generates excitement about reading at the start of the year. The Book Fair will be held in the Library in Weeks 3 & 4.
Week 3 will be a viewing week and Week 4 will be for purchasing. This will allow longer time to view the books before making purchases.
In Week 3 students will view the Book Fair during their Library lessons and make a wish list.
If students want to purchase the books they can be ordered and paid for by credit card online. Students then bring back the wish list with receipt number back to school or cash payment.
In Week 4 students can bring their wish list and receipt number to school to collect books or reorder if stock is sold out. Reorders will be delivered to school within 1-2 weeks.
Parents and friends can view the Book Fair in Week 4 before and after school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Thank you for your support of the Scholastic Book Fair. Every purchase helps us buy these engaging Literacy resources for our school Library.
A sample of available books can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-fairs/discover-the-books/
Office News:
Expressions of Interest – Kinder 2024:
I know it’s hard to believe but we are about to begin the enrolment period for Kinder 2024. If you have a younger child that is due to start school next year, can you please click on the link below and complete the Expression of Interest Form?
https://forms.office.com/r/qm5RzkQc9z
Kinder 2024 – New families: Open Day Tuesday 14th March 2023!
If you know a family who does not currently have students at OLR, please share the attached flyer with them and ask them to like our Facebook page.
SWAP IT EVERYDAY IN THE LUNCHBOX:
This week's tip! Veg-Tastic Lunchboxes
Download the flyer for more handy hints on how you can make your child's lunchbox healthier.
PCN News
We have some exciting news for the Parent Community Network. 2023 is our year for focus on enhancing our parent, carer and community engagement. We are excited to align ourselves with the Catholic School of Broken Bay’s vision of authentic networks, delivered with care and compassion.
Our new approach is based on the three core principles:
Reset
Recalibrating our existing structure and approach
Refocus
Developing a refreshed parent and community network
Reconnect
Enhancing opportunities for ongoing interaction between our families, our kids and the school.
Save the date
On Monday 27 February at 7.00pm at the school, we will be facilitating a “Welcome to 2023 – Reset, Refocus, Reconnect PCN" meeting. There will be cheese and wine! Come along and help us make 2023 the best year year for the PCN.
There will be a dial in option (wine and cheese can be ordered in from Menulog).
Please register your attendanc Here.
Zoom link and agenda to follow.
Hope to see you all on Monday 27 February 2023 and look forward to engaging further with you all over 2023.
Around the Grounds
Year 6 PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) Team
This year we are lucky enough to have some 6 students who will be on our PBL team. These students will have various jobs over the term to help ensure students are following our school rules as well as looking out for any students who might be having a tough or sad day.
These students are: Amelia, Olivia, Khushi, Isla M, Lila, Georgia, Gaia, Georgia, Abby, Isla H, Sienna, Mia, Ashley and Tahli.
In addition to our new PBL leaders, one staff member per fortnight will be chosen to be the PBL Spotter. They will be secretly watching all classes and students when they are at morning or afternoon assembly, recess and lunch. They will be watching for classes following our school rules and who are working hard to be the best that they can be.
A class will be chosen every two weeks at Monday afternoon assembly. The class will receive a special award, a class prize AND the most exciting part is they will take home (to their classroom) our SCHOOL MASCOT.....
PETEY BOBBY LEWIS (aka PBL)
Here are some pics of the PBL Leaders with the kindergarten students and Peter Bobby Lewis our new mascot.
Key Dates
Week 4 (20th-24th)
Monday 20th Feb - K-2 Assembly Awards 2.30pm & CCC Swimming Carnival
Tuesday 21st Feb Shrove Tuesday /Pancake Day & Book Fair open for sales
Wednesday 22nd Ash Wednesday
Saturday 25th Feb - Kids Club The Reynolds Room @ OLR Parish. 3pm.
Week 5 (27th-3rd)
Monday 27th - 3-6 Assembly Awards 2.30pm
Wednesday 1st March - Shoe Tying Lessons with Grade 1 & 2
Thursday 2nd March - Sacrament of Reconciliation Preparation Session 1 at the Parish Centre The Entrance 4pm.
Friday 3rd March - St Peter's visiting Yr 6 students.