OLR News Term 4 Week 8
Principal's Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 8. I hope you have had a fabulous, fun filled weekend.
The busyness of Term 4 continues! In the last two weeks we have celebrated Light Up the Day for Kay, the Year 6 Mini Fete, the Kindergarten Bush Dance and Little Learners Christmas Extravaganza. These events are always highlights and it's great to see kids having fun, enjoying themselves and celebrating all their hard work this year.
With only three weeks of school left, the teachers are finishing up this year and getting organised for next year. They are completing assessments, writing student academic reports, getting classes sorted, working out end of year awards, preparing for the Christmas Concert and the end of year Mass, all while continuing to teach their students.
For all upcoming events please check the key dates section at the bottom of the newsletter. Please add them to your diaries if you haven’t done so yet. There is so much on and we don’t want you to miss anything.
The demolition is in full swing, so we have attached some of the action from this week. It’s been such a long wait; it is still hard to believe it has finally begun!
Have a wonderful week!
Kind regards
Yvette Owens
Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal
We are once again participating in the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. This year we are asking for donations of food items that will be used to create Christmas Hampers for families in need in our local community.
We acknowledge that the cost of living is impacting all families at the moment. Please only give what you can. There is absolutely no pressure to contribute if you are not in a position to donate this year.
Please see attached a list of suggested items for each grade.
Thank you,
The Mini Vinnies Team
OLR Christmas Concert
We are very excited for the Christmas Concert this Tuesday the 28th November. The concert will commence at 5pm and each grade will perform.
Please feel free to bring along a Picnic rug and picnic. The concert will be held on the school oval.
We look forward to celebrating Christmas with you all.
The carols will be starting at 5:30pm.
Carols Order
Kinder – Little Drummer Boy
Year 1 – Oh What a Glorious Night
Year 2 – Christmas Time is Here
Choir – Jingle Bell Rock
Year 3 – Aussie Jingle Bells
Year 4 – Christmas In the Scrub
Year 5 – Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
Year 6 – All I Want For Christmas Is You
Dance Troupe – Deck the Halls
In The Loop - School and Office News
Leaving Students
If your child is leaving OLR at the end of the year, or at any time, please ensure you download their school reports prior to them leaving.
Changes to break times
Due to the building works we are trialling new break times to ensure the children have adeqaute space to play safely. Please note the times below.
Recess Years 3-6: 10.15 - 10.55
Years K-2: 10.55 - 11.35
Lunch Years 3-6: 12.55 - 1.35
Years K - 2: 1.35 - 2.15
Compass Entries
Away for the whole day - Please ensure you enter your child's sick days/full day appointments etc on Compass the day they are away - you only have 7 days to enter these absences.
Arriving Late/Leaving Early - Please only enter this on the kiosk in the school foyer when you arrive/picking up. Do not enter this on Compass. You can certainly send the teacher a courtesy note on Seesaw to let them know, but not on Compass please.
Sick Bay - If you receive a call asking you to collect your child from Sick Bay, please note that we will sign them out.
Change of Address
Can you please notify us of change of address, emails and mobile numbers as soon as this occurs so that we can update our system?
World Children's Day
World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.
At CSBB we are committed to providing environments where students feel safe and their rights promoted. CSBB Rights & Responsibilities Booklet is a great resource for our students.
Religious Education Update
We have been very blessed to have had a new altar made for us to use for Masses held here at school. The altar was hand-crafted by a local parishioner. Father Brian joined us on ‘Light Up the Day For Kay’ to present the altar to the school and bless it, along with a framed portrait of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, which is on the wall in the school foyer. Both of these were gifted using money that Kay left us to be used to commemorate and remember the wonderful work the Sisters of St Joseph did for our school and wider community. We are very grateful for these two precious pieces.
End of Year Thanksgiving Mass
Our End of Year Thanksgiving Mass will be held on Tuesday December 12th at 10am at our Parish Church at The Entrance. Due to limited space at school, our Awards Presentation and 2024 School Captains Presentation will be held in the Church at the conclusion of Mass. You are warmly invited to join us for this special occasion where we come together as a school community to thank God for all of the blessings we have received this year.
Parent Engagement Coordinator (PEC) Update
Wow! The end of term 4 is coming to a close fast and it has been an absolute honour to be a part of the OLR school community, meeting and interacting many parents and children in my first year. I am looking forward to what 2024 will bring.
Before the close of year we still have a few activities that you and family and friends are welcome to attend, one of them being the doll painting. This is a huge task to complete and will definitely continue next year until all dolls are painted. Join me on Friday 1 December from 9:30am – 11:30am in the Parish Hall (next to OLR Church) 239-243 The Entrance Rd, The Entrance. See the flyer for more details.
If you haven’t already see the latest edition of Council of Catholic School Parents Newsletter be sure click on the link for helpful parent information.
This time of year can be challenging financially for families, if you are on Facebook please check out The Entrance Food Hub https://www.facebook.com/groups/640283126064222/ They have opportunities to shop for food items and the more that people shop there to support them the more money they raise to help others that are unable to afford to buy food. The hub also offers free community dinner every Monday 6-7pm. Always check their Facebook page dates and times over the holidays.
Canteen News
Last day for Recess/Lunch Orders will be Tuesday 12th December, the canteen will then only be open at lunch time selling ice blocks till stocks run out.
Please be aware that as the term draws to a close, stock levels will become low, if an item is out of stock your child will be offered an alternative.
We need new lunch crates in the canteen, I have managed to collect a few but if anyone is able to get some light grey milk type crates I would be eternally grateful!
PCN News
PCN 2023
Wow, how quickly has 2023 flown by? It’s hard to believe there are only three weeks of school left!
What a wonderful year it's been for the PCN. Our first meeting was way back in March – on a very hot day – where positions were filled, then it was go, go, go from that moment on.
So much goes on behind the scenes with the PCN... attending 4 meetings a year is the smallest part of it!
The main role of the PCN is to host 4 events each year, as well as listen to concerns that families have, and raise them with the school executive.
Communication
We understand how awkward it can be to raise issues, so we have several communication methods:
* Email olrpcn@gmail.com – this mailbox is monitored by the PCN executive;
* Email olrpcnsecretary@gmail.com – accessed only by the secretary who is happy to raise issues on your behalf if you'd prefer to stay anonymous;
* Suggestion Box – will be placed in the office foyer from tomorrow morning;
* In person – Amy, Stef, and Jen are always happy to listen and chat.
The PCN hopes that all families feel included and heard, and enjoy being part of the OLR community.
We can't raise your issues or concerns if we don't know about them, so please let us know when you have any suggestions.
Events Wrap up
Term 1 Water Fun Day was held in wonderful weather for a very wet, slippery, muddy, fun-filled afternoon.
Term 2 Walkathon brought Michelle from Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to OLR to share her heartbreaking story of loss, and to raise awareness of road safety.
Term 3 Disco gave us a loud, steamy, bright, neon, 80s themed night of fun and dancing.
Term 4 Spring Carnival brought rains that dampened our plans but not our spirits, and a fabulous night was had by all.
Special mention and thanks must go to our amazing Events Coordinator, Stef Wilson. She hit the ground running with just a few weeks to singlehandedly plan the Water Fun Day, and continued on with brilliant ideas and planning for the next three events. The time, energy, effort, and commitment she has shown should be commended.
PCN 2024
PCN meetings are very welcoming, relaxed, quick, and painless. Please feel free to attend in person, or via Zoom.
The real need is to have a team of committed volunteers for events, to help the Events Coordinator with brainstorming, planning, undertaking tasks beforehand, and at the actual events.
The planning of each event doesn’t always take as long as the admin type tasks. Having a team to call on when a task needs to be done (eg cutting out ‘hands’, writing names on raffle tickets) would be amazing. Many tasks could be done at home, so if not being available during school hours is holding you back from joining in, don’t let it!
One option we will consider next year is having one or two parent representatives for each Year group who would be responsible for signing up, managing, and assigning tasks and roles to their team of volunteers.
Keep an eye out early next year for details of our first meeting, and come along if you’d like to get involved!
Merry Christmas
We hope you all have a happy and safe school holiday break, and that your Christmas is filled with love, laughter, and the people most special to you.
Best wishes,
Jenny and the PCN Team
Around the Grounds
Light Up the Day for Kay!
Last week we celebrated Light Up the Day for Kay. The school was a sea of colour. In the afternoon the whole school hit the dance floor.
A huge thank you to all the families who donated a gift. These gifts have been delivered to Central Coast Kids in Need. They will surely make some little people's Christmas brighter.
Year 6 Mini Fete
On Monday, Year 6 entertained the whole school with the annual Mini Fete!We enjoyed face painting, nails, photo booth, trivia, obstacle courses and the infamous Haunted House! 
Thank you Year 6 students and teachers for all the effort that went into such a fun day for all!The countdown to the end of primary school is officially on! Enjoy the next few weeks of “lasts” at OLR!
Kindy Bush Dance
In Creative Arts this term, the children have been learning various line dances. As part of our end of year celebrations, on wednesday the children performed the traditional twilight bush dance for our Kinder Parent Community followed by a picnic.
Thank you to all the kinder families who joined us for the evening.
Little Learners Christmas Extravaganza
On Thursday we held our final Little Learners Storytime for the year. What a wonderful time we had at the Christmas Extravaganza. There was even a special visit from Santa!
Thank you to all who joined us for this session and all of the sessions throughout the year.
Key Dates
Week 8 Term 4
Monday 27th November ~ St Peter's Orientation Day
~ Awards Assembly K-2 in the hall at 2.20pm
Tuesday 28th November ~ OLR Chrismtas Carols Night 5pm
Wednesday 29th November ~ House Colour Mufti Day!
K-2 House Cup Championship 9-11
~3-6 House Cup Championship 10.55-12.55pm
~ Basketball OLR Round Robin Comp ( Year 5 & 6)
Thursday 30th November ~ OLR Swimming Carnival
Friday 1st December ~ Year 5 & 6 TLSC - The Entrance Sport Morning
Week 9 Term 4
Monday 4th December ~ Year 2 Excursion
~ SLSC Surf Fun Day Year 3
Tuesday 5th December ~ Year 1 Excursion
~ SLSC Surf Fun Day Year 4
Wednesday 6th December ~ Year 6 Graduation Mass
Friday 8th December ~Year 6 Motiv8 Fun Day
~ SLSC Surf Fun Day Year 5
Week 10 Term 4
Monday 11th December ~ Awards Assembly K-2 in the hall at 2.20pm
Tuesday 12th December ~ End of Year Mass and Presentation at the church 10am
Wednesday 13th December ~Whole School Christmas Mufti Day
~Mini Vinnies Talent Show
Thursday 14th December ~ Step Up Day
Friday 15th December ~ Students Last Day