Term 1 Week 6 2023 Newsletter

A great start

I am loving the feeling around the school. Children and staff have settled well into 2023. I’m not sure that I can accurately articulate the feeling around the school. I try to visit every classroom at least once a day, and I see students engaged, learning and happy. On recent tours of the school, the most common word prospective families have used to describe the school is ‘calm’.

Some staff have noted the number of enrolment tours I have engaged in already this year. I always ask families:

“What has brought you to Our Lady Queen of Peace School?”.

I am pleased to share the most common response I receive is:

“We have heard good things about the school”.

This is the very response I want to hear from every family I meet, but an area I still need to work on, is ensuring people know that we exist and where we are located. My follow up question to their response is:

“Did you know we were here before you received the positive feedback?”

Approximately 50% of the families reply "No". I am currently working on a strategy regarding this.

Photographs/images and consent

There appears to have been a decrease in the number of families providing consent for their child’s photo to be used by the school or an external party this year - a decision we are happy to respect. When speaking with a few families, however, a significant part of their decision making focused on not wanting their child's image to appear on a bus stop or a billboard.

It is important to know that if your child's image is being considered for promotional use on a school banner, bus stop or billboard artwork, you will still be contacted and your permission sought, despite any consent you may have already provided on the Student Photograph/Video/Artwork Consent Form. We see this process as an imperative, respectful and courteous part of the school-family communication channel.

To ensure clarity, please be aware that selecting ‘NO’ to "I consent to the above use by the school/college" means that your childs’ photo CANNOT BE USED for or within the:

• school newsletter,
• school’s social media,
• school website, or
• school magazine (which will be a whole school publication in 2023).

As a school community, we are respectful of your decision but want to ensure you understand the implications of saying "NO" to the use of your child's image, especially within a school context. You are most welcome to contact the school if you have any questions or want to update your preferences.

School improvement update

I have been in contact with the company that is resurfacing our courts. I am pleased to share that this work is due to commence and be completed before the end of the Term 1. This will mean that the courts will be out of action for a short period of time, and some bunting will need to be in place in the walkway into the school.

The work commencing will include creating two half-courts and a full court. The basketball backboards will be on a hydraulic system and will be height adjustable. The surface will have a 5mm underlay of recycled tennis balls, creating a softer landing for users.

I have also spoken with the City of Charles Sturt regarding the approval of the sun sails for the front of the school, protecting the Year 5/6 classes. I am hoping to hear of the outcome soon. Once approved, the sails will then immedicately go into production and be installed.

Passing of a past Principal

I am mindful of the strong shoulders that I stand on as Principal of Our Lady Queen of Peace School. Sadly, Mrs Cecilia Quigley passed away recently, 21 February 2023. She was Principal of the school, 2006-2012. In her eulogy, her son, James, spoke about the fond memories she had of her time as Principal of the school.

Staff Update

Congratulations to staff member Courtney Elliott, Ryan and Lincoln, on the safe arrival of baby Brodie Elliott. I hear that both mum and baby are doing well.

Last week, we welcomed another Education Support Officer (ESO) to our team. Maureen is now 4 days a week in the front office, creating a vacancy two days a week in classroom support. We welcome Ms Chevelle Prokop; she will be working on Thursdays and Fridays.

Kind regards

Lee Abela
Principal

‘Walk with Jesus’ window display

As part of Lent, the whole school has contributed to an art display located on the last section of windows as you walk into school. The image is inspired by our actions during Lent to "walk with Jesus" – 40 days to fast, pray and give.

Mercy Social Justice Group

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us”, Catherine McAuley

This year we will be introducing the Mercy Action Group. This group will involve the Year 6 cohort who will become advocates within our school and community by putting our school Mercy values into action.

They will meet regularly to prepare and run social justice initiatives. The aim of the Mercy Action Group is about making a positive difference through acts of Mercy, and is inspired by the work of Catherine McAuley.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion boxes were distributed to the oldest child in each family last week. The theme for Project Compassion this year is "For All Future Generations". It is an expression of hope and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. Any donations made are greatly appreciated. Donations are to be returned to school by the end of Week 11, Term 1.

Click on the Project Compassion prayer below for a larger image.

Marissa Redden
APRIM

Thank you all for welcoming me to Our Lady Queen of Peace School! I have met many of you the last two weeks and look forward to meeting more of you in coming weeks.

The main question I am asked when meeting families is, "What is your role?". Great question! Allow me to share a little bit about myself and how this underpins my work here with your children.

Background

I am a social worker with a background in working with families to strengthen relationships between children and their carers, along with experience working with children and young people supporting their wellbeing.  This has brought me here to Our Lady Queen of Peace where I will work in tandem with our school's identity: Connect | Learn | Grow.

• I am very passionate about supporting mental health and positive wellbeing in children and young people (Grow),
• as a vital platform for developing healthy relationships (Connect),
• and for preparing them for successful learning (Learn). 

I have absolutely loved my first couple of weeks at Our Lady Queen of Peace School. I have been spending time in classrooms getting to know your children and it has been an absolute pleasure. My role going forward will continue to focus on making connections with the children, some one-on-one work, targeted group work, and talking with families about strategies to support wellbeing at home.

Stay tuned each newsletter for an update from me and some shared information related to something we have been working on with students.

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
– Mother Teresa.

Tina Napier
Wellbeing Leader

"What Lifts You" Project

The art room has been a hive of activity at Our Lady Queen of Peace School with students already creating some fantastic pieces of work.

Our whole school collaborative wing project, "What Lifts You" is close to being complete and is made up of over 300 feathers created by the students. Each year level used a variety of materials and techniques to make their feathers. I am looking forward to sharing some photos of the finished large-scale artwork very soon.

Art Club

As part of the specialist Visual Art program, students from years 4–6 can join the OLQP Art Club, held every Thursday at lunchtime. It is an opportunity for our school’s budding artists to develop their art skills, be involved in special projects and enter art competitions. We are currently learning about some more advanced watercolour techniques which members are thoroughly enjoying.

In the Art Room

Students have begun to explore a whole variety of media including watercolour, chalk pastels. oil pastels, water soluble oil pastels and tempera paints. It has been wonderful to see them working so enthusiastically on their pieces.

The following gallery is a snapshot of various year levels creating in the art room.

Please ensure you have clicked on "Read More" when initially accessing the newsletter to access all the gallery images.

Suzanne Healey
Visual Art teacher

The Best Part of Me

In 1M we have been exploring what makes us different, special and unique. We discussed that each of us have gifts and talents to share with the world, and that no one else is quite like us.  We chose our favourite parts of ourselves and wrote a sentence explaining the best part of me! 

Some of the best parts of us include:

• Our brains because they help us to think and to learn
• Our hands because they help us to draw, write and create
• Our legs because they help us to stay active and run around 
• Our hearts because they help us to move 
• Our eyes because they help us to see, and are all unique
• Our hair because it is pretty and fun to style
• Our ears because they help us to listen to our favourite music 
• Our voices because they help us to sing and to talk to our friends

Please ensure you have clicked on "Read More" when initially accessing the newsletter to access all the gallery images.

Tara May
Year 1 teacher

Literacy

In 3/4C we have been SUPER busy with our learning in literacy.

Firstly, we have learnt about types of sentences. A simple sentence has a participant, process and circumstance. A simple sentence turns into a compound sentence when we add a conjunction. The three conjunctions we have focused on are and, but and so. ‘And’ is used to connect two similar ideas; ‘but’ is used to connect two different ideas; and ‘so’ is used to connect an idea which happened because of the other.

We will then use our sentence knowledge to write an information report on an animal. Did you know an information report includes the following features:

• index,
• glossary,
• labels,
• captions,
• photographs,
• headings,
• italic print,
• bold point, and
• table of contents.

We have been using information report books to learn and practise our reading skills and build our vocabulary. Strategies include read on, glossary, look at visuals, dictionary and ask someone.

In the following gallery are some photos of us practising our vocabulary reading strategies using information report books and creating compound sentences.

Please ensure you have clicked on "Read More" when initially accessing the newsletter to access all the gallery images.

Lia Cummings
Year 3/4 teacher

On Tuesday 7 March 2023, OLQP students Dylan, George, Ignacio and Miles (all from 5/6 T) participated at the Port SAPSASA Swimming Carnival held at Largs Bay Swim Centre.

With only 4 students in the OLQP team, their 9th place overall was a valiant effort! Fabulous individual results, included:

George

• 3rd - 10-11 year old boys freestyle relay
• 4th - 11 year old boys breaststroke
• 4th - 11 year old boys freestyle

Ignacio

• 3rd - 10-11 year old boys freestyle relay
• 3rd - 10 year old boys breastroke
• 3rd - 10 year old boy backstroke
• 2nd - 10 year old boys freestyle

Miles

• 3rd - 10-11 year old boys freestyle relay

Outstanding individual efforts saw both George and Ignacio selected for the State SAPSASA boys relay teams in their respective age groups!

Special thanks are extended to parents Luisa and Justine, who volunteered as timing officials at the carnival. Without the support of our parents, events such as these carnivals could not be held.

Ensure that you have clicked on the "Read More" link to access the gallery of images that follow this article.

Matthew Annetta
PE teacher / Sports Coordinator
 

Book Club is BACK!!

Book Club recommences for 2023 very soon. Book Club News, which showcases books and other fabulous literacy resources available for purchase, often at bargain prices, will be distributed to all students. 

If you are new to Book Club, it is a way of purchasing books at very competitive prices. You are not only making a huge difference to your child’s life through books and reading, your purchase gives rewards back to our school - OLQP receives 20% in school rewards from all sales, and this goes towards the purchase of new books for the library!

Our last reward was a selection of books, including from the Dog Man and Captain Underpants series!

Access Book Club News online

Click HERE to access the current Book Club News online.

How to order

Please return orders to the class teacher or front offce.

Orders need to be placed in a bag clearly labelled with the student's name, and class, and please ensure the order form and correct money is enclosed.

Alternatively, you can go online to order.

Click HERE to access the online order portal.

Happy reading!

Jeanette Barge
Library ESO

Playgroup is back in full swing.

We have started the year with a great mix of families attending OLQP Playgroup, including our regulars whom we treasure, new families whom we welcome to OLQP, and some returning families who have returned after some time away – it’s great to see them back!

It is great to see so many smiling faces at OLQP Playgroup – playing, singing, dancing, making friends, building, exploring and learning each week.

So far this term we have had some warmer weather which has meant we could do some water play – using containers, jugs, funnels and tubes to do pouring and filling and ice play saving the frozen animals and ice painting.

Excursion to Gordon Reserve Playground

Coming up this term we are going to celebrate National Playgroup Week in Week 8 – Wednesday 22 March 2023 – by going on an excursion to the Gordon Reserve Playground and having Playgroup there.

The children always love exploring the playground with their Playgroup friends. We will run Playgroup as we do at school but at the playground – including nursery rhyme and story time and bubbles.

Feel free to come and join us, we would love to see you there!

For more information, download the flyer by clicking HERE.

More questions?

• Phone: 8279 8800
• Email: Rachael - rstathis@olqp.catholic.edu.au

Rachael Stathis
Occasional Care and Playgroup Coordinator

Download any of the following documents by clicking on the link.

Playgroup & Occasional Care

• Occasional Care flyer
• Playgroup flyer
• Playgroup session outline - Term 1, 2023
• Playgroup Term 1, 2023 outline

Parents & Friends Committee

• Email: PNF@olpq.catholic.edu.au

Second-hand Uniform Shop

• Second-hand uniform consignment form

Enrolments

• Application for Enrolment form

Canteen

• Canteen menu and price list

• Are you 12 years or older?
• Do you like soccer?
• Want to earn some money?

If you answered "Yes" to all these questions, then contact the North West Junior Soccer Association today and become a referee for junior primary school sport that is run on Saturday mornings during Terms 2 & 3, between 8am and 2pm for 5-12 year olds.

ALL TRAINING PROVIDED!

For more information, contact referees@nwjsa.org.au.

Click on the image below to access the flyer.

Mary Anning Art Prize - SA Science Teachers Association

https://www.sasta.asn.au/student_activities/mary-anning-art-prize

Aim of the competition

The aim of the Mary Anning Art Prize is to have young South Australian artists create an original piece of artwork that tells us something about the prehistoric life of South Australia.

What does a successful entry look like?

Here are some previous winning entries! Click on each image to ENLARGE.

Please come and speak with me if you are interested in submitting an entry!!

Tamara Brooker
STEM / Science teacher

The OLQP Second-hand Uniform Shop service, facilitated by a dedicated group of parents, supports the community to access quality and affordable second-hand uniforms for their children.

New location

Now located in the NEW P & F Room (near the girls' toilets, adjacent the basketball courts).

Current opening times

MONDAY

• 8.40am – 9am
• 2.45pm – 3.10pm

Call 8279 8800 if you require more information, or alternatively, you can email the P & F Committe using this email: PNF@olqp.catholic.edu.au.

Louisa Scopacasa
Second-hand Uniform Shop Coordinator
P & F Committee

New families and permanent bookings:

All new family bookings and permanent bookings need to be made through the OSHC office.

Please contact Jo on 0417 840 700, or pop into either the OSHC office or front office for an information pack.

Jo Fahey
OSHC Director