Term 2 Week 3 2025 Newsletter

From the Principal

Welcome to Term 2!

We have launched into the term with great energy and enthusiasm. From the buzz of the Democracy Sausage sizzle to the excitement of Sports Day, the warmth of our Mother’s Day breakfast, the joy of the Book Fair, and the heartfelt connections during our Grandparents’ and Special Persons’ Afternoon — it has been a fantastic start.

These events truly highlight the vibrant and supportive community we are proud to be part of. A big thank you to our students, staff, and families for making each occasion such a success!

Open door leadership

I understand that my leadership style may differ from what some may be used to. I believe in being present, approachable, and student focused. You will often find me engaging with students, building relationships, and fostering a culture of respect rather than one based on fear.

I strive to be available to students, staff, and families, and I genuinely welcome conversations—whether they are about concerns, ideas, or celebrations. I make a point of being accessible during Parent Teacher interviews and other key moments throughout the school year.

While there have been times when I have not been as visible as I would like, please know that I am here, committed, and always focused on what is best for our students. My door is always open, and I am more than happy to meet with families at any time.

If there is something you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact the office — Helen will be happy to arrange a time for us to meet.

I lead with two simple principles:

If I do not know, I cannot help. I cannot support change or improvement unless I am aware of what is happening.
Bring small concerns early. Do not wait for them to become big problems. I often hear, “I do not want to be that parent,” but I would always rather know than not know.

Let’s keep the lines of communication open—together, we can continue to build a strong, supportive school community.

Staffing update

In preparation for the staff changes between Term 1 and Term 2, I was truly impressed by the dedication shown by our team. Many staff members took time during the holiday break to meet and plan with new and returning colleagues. This speaks volumes about their commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful start to the term.

We are pleased to welcome the following staff to our school community:

Teaching staff

Lia Cummings – 5/6SH (Thursday and Friday)
Lilly Cavanagh – 1AM (Thursday) and 2JC (Friday)

Support staff

Anita Montin – Monday to Wednesday
Holly Tolja – Monday, Thursday, and Friday
Madison Scott – Monday to Friday

Building and facilities

As our school continues to grow, we are thinking creatively about how to best use our space — always with a focus on maintaining quality learning environments and preserving play areas.

Over the break, we transformed the Parent Room and Intervention Space into a future classroom. This included removing walls, repainting, and laying new carpet. While this work was completed a term ahead of schedule, it is a key step in preparing for what is to come.

To ensure continuity of support:

The Intervention Space has moved into the Teacher Preparation Area.
The Teacher Preparation Area and Parent Room have relocated to the Finance Office.
Diana, our Finance Officer, has moved to a new workspace behind the front office.

There will be further upgrades throughout the year, but we are carefully staging these to minimise disruption to student learning.

A few final reminders

I have been really impressed with how well students are wearing their uniforms — thank you for your support! Just a couple of quick reminders:

Blue above the ankle socks are to be worn every day, regardless of the schedule.
All black sneakers are required on non PE days. On PE days, students may wear any sneakers, though they are encouraged to stick with their all black pair, for convenience.

Please note: Tuesday 10 June 2025 is a student free day.

Lee Abela
Principal

From the Assistant Principal Religious Identity & Mission

On Sunday 27 April 2025, a memorial mass for Pope Francis was held at St Francis Xavier Cathedral. Archbishop Patrick O'Regan led the service where he reflected on the life of Pope Francis during his homily.

“He called us to be artisans of peace. He reached out to the margins of society, the peripheries, and taught us that true power is found in service. Whether addressing the halls of the United Nations or embracing a child on the streets of Manila, his message remained the same: every person is dignified, every life is sacred, and mercy must be the heart of our engagement with the world.”- Archbishop O’Regan

As a school community, we gathered for a memorial liturgy led by our School Captains and House Captains where we listened to the Good Samaritan. The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that caring for someone in need is one of life's greatest virtues. In this timeless story, a traveller is helped by a kind stranger despite their differences. This powerful lesson on kindness and compassion was a cornerstone of Pope Francis' teachings.

Pope Francis, who touched many lives with his warm heart, often reflected on this parable and its message of being a good neighbour. He reminded us all that offering a helping hand — whether to family, friends, or even strangers — made our communities stronger and more loving. His words encouraged everyone, including our students, to practise empathy and understanding in everyday life.

Even though Pope Francis has passed away, his legacy and the lessons he shared continue to inspire us. His life exemplified that small acts of kindness, like listening to a friend or lending support to someone in need, can brighten someone’s day and create a ripple of goodwill throughout our community. Let us remember his example as we nurture kindness and compassion in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.

One day Jesus told a story to help people understand how to love others.
A man was walking along a road when some robbers attacked him.
They hurt him and left him lying there.
A few people passed by, but they didn’t stop to help.
Then, a man from a place called Samaria came along.
People didn’t expect him to stop – but he did!
He helped the hurt man, cleaned his wounds, and took him to a safe place.
He even paid for him to be looked after.

Jesus asked, “Who was a good neighbour?”
The answer? The one who showed kindness.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

Luke 10:25-37

Marissa Redden
Assistant Principal
Religious Identity & Mission

From the Assistant Principal Learning, Engagement & Teaching

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025 at OLQP

We are excited to support our students at Our Lady Queen of Peace School as they build a love of reading and work towards this special achievement!

The Challenge: Students are encouraged to read 12 books in total over the year.

Reception to Year 6: 8 books must be selected from the official PRC booklists, and 4 books can be free choice.

Reading records: Students will receive a PRC Reading Record sheet from their teacher. As each book is read, it should be added to the record and signed off.

This is a fantastic opportunity to encourage a lifelong love of reading while working towards a special certificate or medal. Let’s support and celebrate our readers at OLQP!

Happy reading and enjoy the Challenge!

Wakakirri Performance Squad 2025

This year our dance concept, The Weight of the World, beautifully captures the emotional journey of pressure, struggle, and eventual joy and relief.

The performance begins with the silent storm, where dancers move slowly, symbolising mounting pressure. As Under Pressure starts, movements intensify, reflecting the growing anxiety. Then, characters seek support, and release shifts the tone to hope, as dancers help each other find the joy in their hobbies and extracurricular activities. Finally, all dancers unite on stage, symbolising strength through support. The dance follows an emotional arc, transforming tension into triumph through movement and connection.

Congratulations to our lead characters:

Aria
Maxwell
Salvatore T
Mischa
Maya
Douglas
River

We are incredibly proud of the dedication, passion, and hard work each dancer has poured into bringing The Weight of the World to life. It is a beautiful reminder that while pressure may feel overwhelming at times, we are never alone – and together, we can find strength, joy, and relief.

We invite you to join us for the live performance, an unforgettable experience that will leave you inspired, moved, and hopeful. Stay tuned for upcoming performance dates and ticket information. We cannot wait to share this extraordinary journey with you!

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the show!

Strengthening literacy foundations with InitiaLit

At Our Lady Queen of Peace School, we are committed to building strong foundations in literacy through evidence based teaching practices. This term, our Reception to Year 2 students have continued their journey with InitiaLit, a whole class literacy program designed to ensure all students establish essential reading, spelling, and comprehension skills in the early years.

To monitor progress and provide targeted support, our teachers conduct cumulative review assessments as part of the InitiaLit program. These assessments allow us to track how well students are consolidating their learning over time. The data gives us a clear picture of each student’s progress in key areas such as:

Phonemic awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds in words),
Letter-sound knowledge,
Blending and segmenting words,
Spelling and high frequency word recognition,
Reading fluency and comprehension.

In addition to the cumulative reviews, this term we will also be sharing progress data from the InitiaLit Placement Screener conducted at the beginning of the year. These results will be compared with current assessment data to clearly demonstrate each student’s growth in foundational literacy skills. This will give families an insight into how far their child has come and where support may still be needed.

To keep families informed, teachers will be posting individual results on Seesaw, giving you a snapshot of your child’s progress and development. We are pleased to share that many students are showing strong development, especially in their ability to blend sounds into words and read with increasing confidence. This demonstrates that the consistent, structured approach of InitiaLit is making a real difference in the classroom.

For students needing additional support, this data helps us provide timely and targeted interventions. Whether it is extra practice with letter sounds, small group instruction, or revisiting concepts in a different way, our teachers are using this information to tailor learning and ensure every student can succeed.

Keep an eye on Seesaw for your child’s individual results and feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher if you would like to discuss their progress further.

Together, we are building strong readers and lifelong learners—one sound, word, and story at a time!

Adriana Pilla
Assistant Principal
Learning, Engagement and Teaching

PE / Sport

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival

On Wednesday 2 April 2025, 11 swimmers proudly represented us at the Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival, held at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Competing in Section 7 against a field of other metropolitan schools, our swimmers showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the carnival.

Individually, our students performed incredibly well, securing impressive placements in many of their individual races. Their collective efforts saw OLQP achieve an outstanding second place overall.

A big thank you to parents Louisa S and Sophie S for their assistance on the day.

OLQP at Port SAPSASA Cross Country Carnival

On Tuesday 6 May 2025, 18 determined runners from Years 4-6 proudly represented Our Lady Queen of Peace School at the Port SAPSASA Cross Country Carnival at Point Malcolm Reserve, Semaphore. The challenging course tested their endurance and resilience, but our students rose to the occasion.

There were some outstanding individual performances, with several of our talented runners earning selection to represent the Port SAPSASA District at the State SAPSASA Carnival at Oakbank later this term. We congratulate Henry S, Maya D and Sophie P on this fantastic achievement!

A special thank you to Michelle P, who generously assisted staff on the day.

OLQP Sports Day

On Thursday 8 May 2025, Our Lady Queen of Peace School gathered at Port Adelaide Athletics Club for the annual Sports Day, filled with energy, enthusiasm, and friendly competition. The day was divided into three sections: novelty events, athletic events, and running events. This ensured every student had the opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to their house’s success.

From start to finish, students participated wholeheartedly, demonstrating great team spirit and sportsmanship. The atmosphere was amazing as each house cheered on their teammates, creating a wonderful sense of community.

Results

Siena House proudly took home the Team Spirit Cup.

Francis House emerged victorious, claiming the Sports Day Overall Cup.

Acknowledgments

A huge thank you to our P & F committee for running the food and drink stall throughout the entire event. A special mention to Sarah L, whose efforts in transporting equipment to and from the venue were greatly appreciated.