Term 3 Week 10 Newsletter
As a principal of a school, there are many collective moments where you feel proud of the school, the students, staff and community. I would like to share with you a few current examples.
Catholic Schools Music Festival
On Monday 26 September 2022, I attended the Catholic Schools Festival of Music. Our children were amazing. Amazing at the rehearsal earlier that day and amazing on the night. It was fabulous to see our students step out of their comfort zone and shine! A very proud principal moment!
The success of the choir on Monday night is no accident. I would like to acknowledge Mr Andrew Heuzenroeder for his commitment and effort to organise, teach and support our children to be their best. Not taking anything away from Andrew but all the staff at Our Lady Queen of Peace School (OLQP) work hard to ensure your child is supported to be successful.
District Soccer Fair Play Award
We were recently notified that Our Lady Queen of Peace School (OLQP) won the North West Junior Soccer Association (NWJSA) Fair Play award! We had three teams that competed in this competition, and they clearly made their fair play attitude felt. Another very proud principal moment.
Basketball
This week I had the opportunity to watch one of our basketball teams during a game. This team has been playing exceptionally well and have moved from Division 3 up to Division 1. Whilst I was watching, a child from the other team fell and remained down while OLQP were in the attacking half of the court. A child from our team stopped playing and checked to see if the child that fell was okay. An excellent example of
kindness and sportsperson-ship! An additional very proud principal moment!
Moving forward during the holiday break
As we come to the end of Term 3, 2022, I finally feel that we have some things in motion, and we are no longer waiting for school improvements to occur - they will occur. Over the holidays we are having:
- some more work completed and furniture (but not all) arriving in the library/STEM space
- the external buildings of the school painted
- the paving at the entry of the school relayed
- our school bell replaced with a PA system, incorporating a music playing function.
In addition to this, we are still working with GGA architects on the formation of our Master Plan, and we are waiting for a quote for our Nature Play area.
Staff appointments
We are currently in the middle of our teaching staff appointment process for 2023. I will provide more information about staffing as this unfolds. This will include the classroom structures and which teacher will be allocated to each class.
In this process, I am hoping to increase the number of specialist subjects we have available to our students. My hope would be to add Science/STEM and Art to our current offerings of Music, Spanish and PE. Of course, this is based on finding the right teachers.
The opportunity to win a permanent teaching position at a school is the dream of most teachers. I am excited for Lucy Dutton as she has won a permanent position at Rosary School, Prospect, in 2023. In addition to this, I-Nah Baynes is on the move to Cairns. She will be working at a Catholic School there. We will farewell them later this year. I'm also excited to announce that Ms Courtney Elliot is pregnant. It is likely that she will be at school for the first few weeks of 2023 and then subsequently access maternity leave.
Journey so far ...
As we come to the end of Term 3, I have been reflecting on the journey so far. At the end of last year, I was invited to answer a couple of questions for The Advertiser's “Newly Appointed Principals” feature. One of the questions asked was what I perceived as my “Biggest challenge ahead”. My response was “Developing trust with the community".
When I join a community, I give my everything to the school. At my previous school, I was the third principal in three years, and I learnt that given the amount of change, you are not able to win everyone over and develop a trust relationship in that time. Fortunately, the majority of families held on, and that trust developed in my second year but sadly, a couple of families didn’t and decided it was time to move school.
Thinking about Our Lady Queen of Peace, I am the fourth principal of the school in just over 12 months. Given this significant amount of change, I am unsure if I have been able to win the trust of all families yet. Our school is moving in the right direction and the change moving forward has already begun. I would hope that every family has the opportunity to be part of the exciting plan ahead which provides excellent learning opportunities for students, an improvement in school facilities and a “we take care of each other” culture.
I look forward to seeing you in Term 4 and showcasing the school improvements from the term break.
Lee Abela
Principal
I cannot believe that we are at the end of Term 3! Thank you to everyone for making me feel welcomed into the community at OLQP. I am looking forward to seeing what Term 4 brings.
Mercy Day
On Wednesday 21 September 2022, we celebrated Mercy Day. Our day began with a wonderful liturgy in the church, hosted by the Year 3/4 cohort. This was a great opportunity to celebrate and recognise the work of the Sisters of Mercy. This was then followed by the Mercy Day fundraising stalls, organised by the Year 6s, to raise money for Catholic Charities. It was a great day where our school community came together to support those in need. Well done to everyone involved.
Click each image to enlarge.
Click "Read More" to view the next article that contains more images!
Who was Catherine McAuley?
I thought it would be good to explain a little bit more about why we celebrate Mercy Day. Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Mercy School, founded by the Sisters of Mercy. Our Mercy ethos and the values that we teach are all connected back to the works of Catherine McAuley.
Catherine McAuley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1778. She was a devoted Catholic who built a large House of Mercy which was opened on Baggot Street in 1827. This is the location where she and other lay women would shelter homeless women, reach out to the sick and dying and educate poor girls. To ensure that their works of Mercy could continue, Catherine and her co-workers founded a new religious congregation. On 12 December 1831, she and two others professed their vows and became the first Sisters of Mercy. Before her death on 11 November 1841, Catherine founded convents and works of mercy throughout Ireland and England.
Catherine McAuley - www.mercyworld.org/catherine/
It has been wonderful to see students learning about Catherine McAuley over the last few weeks, and I look forward to continuing to see the Mercy ethos alive at Our Lady Queen of Peace.
I hope everyone has a lovely break.
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us” – Catherine McAuley
Marissa Redden
APRIM
This term we have combined our learning in HASS and Science to discover countries around the world!
Year 3s have focused on Australia’s neighbouring countries and Year 4s have focused on countries within Africa and South America.
We have considered how natural environments support animals and people. We have also dived into the features of living and non-living things which exist within these environments. We combined this with writing in English where students learnt about the structure and features of an information report and applied these skills to construct a brochure on a chosen country and animal.
We have so loved our learning this term and all the natural connections across the Learning Areas. The student agency this project has provided has seen high student engagement and enthusiasm which had made for this term to be an enriching experience for all children.
Click on each image for an enlargement.
Lia Cummings
Year 3/4 C Class Teacher
Book a tour today!
Woodville Little Learners is a brand new long day care centre and kindergarten, providing quality care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
We focus on learning through play in a natural environment.
- Large outdoor play environments and regular excursions to inspire young minds
- Carefully planned and fun-filled projects based on children's unique interests and skills
- Nutritionally balanced meals created by our onsite chef
- Full service facility including nappies, bedding and more
- Onsite drop off and pram parking, if needed
- Daily communication with families via our parent portal
A: Level 1, 850 Port Road, Woodville, 5011
P: 08 8244 7717
E: info@woodvillelittlelearners.com.au
Click below for enlarged image.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Sibling enrolments
Do you have a toddler or child at kindergarten? Have you enrolled them at OLQP yet?
While priority is given to siblings of children already attending OLQP, we still require a completed “Application for Enrolment” for each and every child.
All families wishing to enrol their children in Reception for 2023-2025 must lodge a completed “Application for Enrolment” as soon as possible.
Please note: If your child was born between 1 May and 31 October, they are eligible for our Semester 2 intake. Application for Enrolment forms are available from the school office or via the downloadable link below:
Download an Application for Enrolment form here.
Contact Maureen on 8279 8800 for more information.
Maureen Wilkinson
Enrolment Officer
Online bookings
A reminder to families that the new booking app is up and running, please speak to Jo if you are having difficulties accessing it.
Please continue to call or text if you are unable to secure your required spot as spaces are blocked to allow for the correct staff : child ratio, spots may be available on request.
To be able access the website app, families must have an email address that is recorded on their Spike account. Families use their email address and PIN code to sign in. Families will be able to see their children's current and upcoming bookings, invoices and current balance owing.
The parent's child care app, Spike Childcare, can be saved to your mobile phone's homepage. Follow this link: Spike Childcare Booking App
New families and permanent bookings:
All new family bookings and permanent bookings still 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
The OLQP Second-hand Uniform Shop service, facilitated by a dedicated group of parents, supports the community access quality and affordable second-hand uniforms for their children.
Please note CURRENT opening times:
MONDAYS - P & F Room (adjacent the Canteen)
- 8.40am – 9am
- 2.45pm – 3.10pm
Do you have any OLQP uniform items that are washed and in good condition, that your child no longer wears?
If so, please consider passing them onto the Second-hand Uniform Shop.
The staff in the front office are happy to accept and pass on your donation (or consignment items) to the Second-hand Uniform Shop volunteers.
Call 8279 8800 if you require more information.
Louisa Scopacasa
Second-hand Uniform Shop Coordinator
P & F Committee
T
he school canteen is open EVERY Friday.
Orders can be placed via the QKR! App by 8am Friday mornings.
Alternatively, you can place your order in a brown paper bag with money enclosed and place it in the box provided in your child’s classroom.
The updated canteen menu can be accessed and downloaded via the link below.
Download the canteen menu here
Wendy Koegler
Canteen Manager
Occasional Care
OLQP Occasional Care is an accredited program for 3-5 years olds, and is delivered by qualified educators.
OLQP Occasional Care is on Tuesdays 9am to 12noon during school terms.
Cost is $10 per session.
Further important information and details can be found via the link to the UPDATED downloadable flyer:
Playgroup
During Term 3, Playgroup is scheduled on Wednesdays from 9am to 10.30am during school terms.
More information, including times and scheduled activities can be found in the UPDATED downloadable flyer via the link below.
Come along for play-based learning and fun, and make new friends!
More questions?
- Phone: 8279 8800
- Email: Rachael - rstathis@olqp.catholic.edu.au
Rachael Stathis
Occasional Care & Playgroup Coordinator
Social