OUR LADY OF HOPE NEWSLETTER - Term 4 Week 9 2023
A Word from the Principal
Dear Families
A massive thank you for your ongoing support of Our Lady of Hope School during 2023!
As another year passes, we take time to reflect upon the growth that we have witnessed with our children, staff and school site.
A number of highlights include:
- Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project
- Sports Day and Sports Carnivals
- OLOH Picnic Day at Thorndon Park
- Mother's Day Breakfast & Liturgy
- Father's Day Breakfast & Liturgy
- Book Parade & Grandparent's Morning
- Catholic School Music Festival
- Wellbeing and Behaviour initiatives (Positive Behaviour Interventions & Support (PBIS) & Life Buoyancy Institute (LBI)
- Future Focused Learning Network (Student Agency focus)
- Consolidation of our Weekly Community Prayer
- Uniform Review
- Establishment of Wellbeing Suite & STARS facility
- Nature Play and upgraded Senior Playground
Over the last week we have farewelled a number of staff, with a particular focus on Mrs Kerry Neville and Mrs Ali Wallace who are both retiring. Whilst her tenure at OLOH has been seven years, Kerry concludes 46 years service within Catholic Education SA. This is a significant commitment and was acknowledged with a certificate from the Executive Director, Dr Neil McGoran. Likewise, Ali has diligently served our school family for 18 years. This has encompassed classroom support and also Playgroup and STARS. Both Kerry and Ali possess a genuine love of children and this is reflected in the relationships they have formed at OLOH. We extend an enormous thank you for their dedication to OLOH and trust that they will be blessed with excellent health and much love and laughter in the years ahead. Our lives have been enriched because of their presence at Our Lady of Hope School.
On behalf of our diligent and dedicated staff I extend our love to every member of our school community and hope that you will be immersed in a peace filled Christmas surrounded by those that love you unconditionally.
We wait expectantly for 2024!
May God continue to be within us and amonsgt us.
Paul
Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Religious Dimension
Our Lady of Hope School staff
wish our school family
a blessed and holy experience this Christmas.
In a world desiring peace,
may this be reflected in our hearts
& homes this festive season.
Christmas Schedule for St David’s Parish
Tea Tree Gully & Greenwith
Sunday 24th December - Christmas Eve
- Our Lady of Hope Chapel - 6pm
- St David’s Church - 6pm, 8pm and Midnight with Carols at 11.30pm (Live-streamed)
Monday 25th December - Christmas Day
- Our Lady of Hope Chapel - 9am
- St David’s Church - 10am (No Evening Mass)
Farewell Our Lady of Hope School
As we conclude 2023 we extend our appreciation to the following staff who are concluding their connection with Our Lady of Hope School:
- Kerry Neville
- Ali Wallace
- Jenny Mittiga
- Caryn Vonhof
- Michelle Muggleton
- Nicolette Roberts
- Mel Moss
- Mel Baluch
- Tegan Caruso
Whether a significant career at OLOH or a shoter term contract, we appreciate the dedicated service that these educators have demonstrated in their time at Our Lady of Hope School. Our lives have been blessed from having had these women disply their deep love for children and their learning. May they be blessed in the years ahead and their lives continue to be filled with love and laughter.
Our Lady of Hope & St Eugene please protect and guide these staff with a spirit of love
Learning Dimension
STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2024
We congratulate the Student Leaders for 2024. We look forward to them demonstrating their service to their peers, staff and broader school community. It is also opportune to acknowledge all of the children who were prepared to risk the process of nominating and presenting their speech. Our school is extremely proud of the endeavours of our senior students in undertaking this process. Our appreciation to Mrs Alford for facilitating this program.
Meet The Teacher 2024
Date: Wednesday 24th January Time: 11.30am - 4pm
Our Lady of Hope School has four key values which are known as the 'OLOH Way'.
The first of these is 'Relationships'.
In order to commence the 2024 academic year in a positive and relational manner, we invite families to book a meeting with their child's new teacher. This will enable you to know the location of your child's classroom, but more importantly, spend some time sharing your hopes for your child for the new year and commencing the important process of building a successful relationship with their teacher/s.
Families are invited to book a time via the 'Meet The Teacher' tile which is located under the 'Home' tab on SZapp. We trust that this process will prove fruitful in establishing a solid foundation and constructive partnership between home and school.
NB: The Uniform Shop will be open on this day from 12-3pm
Administrative Dimension
Uniform Review
Our Uniform Review Committee have undertaken the initial consultation with our school family and have arranged to meet with three uniform suppliers early in 2024 to discuss alternative uniform options that we can then share with our community. Some people are inquiring about the potential timeframe for any modification/change to our existing uniform. We wish to reassure our community that any alteration won't be likely to occur until early/mid 2025 as we discern styles, fabrics, prices etc. When any decision is made, a transition period will be established to ensure families are not left holding existing items. Thank you for your patience as we aim to undertake a thorough investigation of how we can ensure our uniform reflects student pride in their school and allows them to be active and comfortable when undertaking indoor and outdoor activities.
New Volunteer Induction Session
If you have any queries about your current volunteer status or would like to start the process of becoming a volunteer at OLOH please contact the Front Office staff on 8289 8344 or email mmcgrath@oloh.catholic.edu.au
Marion McGrath, Principal’s Assistant & Events Coordinator
Enrolments at OLOH
To all current families; if you have a young child due to start school in 2024 or 2025, please ensure that you have lodged an Enrolment Application (you would have received correspondence from the school if you have lodged paperwork). Places are filling fast! Enrolment applications can be obtained from the front office or via our school website:- OLOH Enrolments. If you are not sure please email us at deeles@oloh.catholic.edu.au and we will check our enrolment records.
School Absentee Notification
If your child or children are going to be away for any reason (i.e. illness, family/social, medical/dental appointment, car trouble, running late etc.) we ask that parents please contact the Front Office via the SZapp absences form or if this is not possible by phone on 8289 8344. If your child arrives at school after 8.50 am, please sign them in at the Front Office.
Uniform Shop News
The Uniform Shop is now open on Tuesday morning between 8:30-9:30 am and Thursday afternoon between 2:30-3:30 pm for the remainder of this term. Any further changes to opening times will be notified via the newsletter and SZapp in due course.
The Uniform Shop will be open on Tuesday 24th January 12 noon to 3.00 pm while Meet the Teacher is on.
The Uniform Shop order form can be found on the OLOH website: https://www.oloh.catholic.edu.au/uniform-price-list or alternatively hard copies of the form are available in the Uniform Shop as well as the Front Office.
Admin Staff
Lost Property
There are a large number of items in the Lost Property cupboard located in the Front Office. The items include: school uniform woollen jumpers, sports windcheaters, drink bottles, lunch boxes and miscellaneous items. Can you please remember to label everything and if you have purchased an item of secondhand uniform, please relabel it with your child's name.
Community Dimension
Save the Dates for Term 1 2024
A few events occurring during Term 1:
- Meet the Teacher Wed. 24th January 11.30am-4pm (Book on SZapp). Uniform Shop 12 noon-3pm.
- Term 1 commences - Mon. 29th January.
- Yr 3-Yr 6 Swimming Lessons (Week 2)
- Beginning of Year Mass - Wed. 14th February (Week 3) (Ash Wednesday)
- OLOH Playgroup commences - Thurs. 15th February (Week 3) (excludes Week 11)
- School Photo Day - Mon. 26th February (Week 5)
- Principal's Tour - Wed. 28th February 9.30 am and 6.30 pm (Week 5)
- Pupil Free Day for Staff Training - Fri. 8th March (Week 6)
- Public Holiday (Adelaide Cup) - Mon. 11th March (Week 7)
- NAPLAN Year 3 & 5 Wed. 13th to Fri. 15th Marh (Week 7)
- Yr 5-6 Camp - Mon. 18th to Wed. 20th March (Week 8)
- Good Friday - 29th March (Week 9)
- Easter Monday - 1st April (Week 10)
- Sports Day - Friday 5th April (Week 10)
- Last day of Term 1 - Friday 12th April at 12.30 pm (Week 11)
School Calendar
Families are able to access a ‘live’ calendar at the following locations:
- Szapp tiles
- OLOH Website ‘News & Events’ tab – School Calendar
- OLOH online newsletter
A paper copy is static and doesn’t allow us to make alterations should circumstances change. Whilst it is our intention to eliminate date changes, should they be necessary, we will communicate these to families via Szapp/Seesaw.
OLOH Playgroup
The children had a fun time at playgroup last Thursday, enjoying all of their favourite things, such as the dollies, the prams, the cots and cradles the kitchen, barbecue, dolls house and Christmas craft.
However, the most important thing about last Thursday's session was Ali Wallace. It was with mixed emotions we began our last playgroup session together. It was Ali's last day at playgroup, as she heads into retirement. It was wonderful to see many original playgroup families come to farewell Ali and share their memories with her.
We did however have fun singing lots of Christmas songs, accompanied by Mr Bennett on guitar. We welcomed Grace Rocca into our Playgroup family and look forward to many fun times ahead with Grace who joins me as playgroup facilitator.
We will dearly miss Ali as she has been a fabulous playgroup facilitator and we have had many fun times along the way and have created many wonderful memories.
We wish Ali all the best for her retirement and look forward to hearing what the next chapter brings for her.
PS I just wanted to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoyed my last playgroup session with all of you. I am going to miss seeing all your beautiful, smiling faces every week and receiving those gorgeous hugs from the children. I wish every single one of you all the best for a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Perhaps I can pop in to playgroup at some stage and say hello. Love to you all. Ali
Bern and Ali, Playgroup Facilitators
