Newsletter December 6, 2024

From the Acting Principal

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of the Our Lady of the Way Community,

As we approach the close of another remarkable year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the collective efforts, dedication and growth that have defined the 2024 school year. It has been a year full of challenges, triumphs, and memorable moments,
and it is thanks to each member of our school community that we have been able to navigate this journey successfully.
To our students, I am continually inspired by your resilience, creativity, and dedication to learning. Whether through classroom achievements, athletic accomplishments, or your positive contributions to our school culture, you have made
this year unforgettable. Remember that each step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goals and we encourage you to always strive to be the best versions of yourselves.

To our teachers and staff, your hard work and commitment to fostering an environment of excellence and compassion have been the heart of our school. You continue to inspire, encourage, and challenge our students every day. Your tireless efforts to ensure our students’ success, well-being, and growth do not go unnoticed. Thank you for your passion, dedication, and for going above and beyond in your work. You truly make a difference in the lives of our students. To our parents and families, your support and partnership have been invaluable. Whether through volunteering, attending events, or simply providing encouragement at home, you are an essential part of our school community. Your involvement makes a tremendous impact, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us to guide and nurture your children. We look forward to continuing our work together in the years ahead.

As we close this year, let us also look forward to the opportunities and challenges of the next. Together, we will continue to build a strong, vibrant community that supports and celebrates the growth of every student. I wish you all a restful and joyful
holiday season, filled with time to recharge and reflect on the many blessings of the year.
Thank you once again for everything you do to make Our Lady of the Way such a special place.

May the blessing of joy abide within you;
May the blessing of peace rest upon you;
May the blessing of love flow out through you;
May all the blessings of the Lord be yours at Christmas and in the new year.

Mrs Annette Moore

IMPORTANT DATES

Please see the image below which shows where to locate the links to the calendar in this new format. The underlined section also indicates where the language can be changed. 

The last day for students is Wednesday, December 18 at 3.15pm.

2025 Beginning of the year dates:

Tuesday, January 28- School Office opens

Wednesday, January 29-Staff Planning Day (No students on site)

Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31-Year 1 to 6 Testing Day (Students required to book in for either day for testing)

Bookings will be open soon!

Friday, January 31-Foundation First Day of School 8.45am-12.00pm

In the light of Christ

St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

We are once again supporting the St. Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal. This is an opportunity to donate an item to the Christmas hampers to make a local family’s Christmas a little easier.

While you are shopping and if you are able to, here are some of the items which can be donated to our hampers:

Cordial                 Tinned Fruit                 Christmas Cake           Carrots                  Powered Custard     Corn

Potatoes              Tinned Tomatoes         Christmas Pudding     Tinned Beans         Shortbread              Sweet Biscuits

Mince Pies           Peas                              Sugar                          Long Life Milk          Pasta                        Gravy 

Dry Biscuits          Serviettes                     Lollies                           Coffee                   Bon bons                 Jelly

Milo                     Tea                               Chips                            Gift Vouchers

Donation Baskets are in the classrooms.  Donations will be handed to the Vinnies Wednesday 11^th Dec at the Parish Mass.   

Please donate if you can.

Wellbeing- Positive Behaviour and Learning

Learning and Teaching

As we near the end of the year, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful parents and families for your unwavering support throughout 2024. Your involvement, encouragement, and partnership have been instrumental in fostering a positive learning environment for our students. Whether it’s helping with homework, attending school events, or supporting our programs from home, your contributions make a world of difference. Together, we’ve achieved so much, and it’s been a joy to see our students thrive and grow.
Thank you for being such an integral part of our school community. Wishing you all a safe and restful holiday season!
Thanks
Liz Stoward

Sick Bay Information-Preparing for 2025

Asthma Australia has created a five-step checklist for parents of kids with asthma to follow this year to help ensure their child’s asthma is well controlled at the beginning of the school year and beyond:

1. Book an asthma review
Book an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider to discuss your child’s asthma. Your appointment should cover any symptoms you may have observed over the break and what you need to do to get back on track in preparation for return to school. This might include a renewed or updated prescription, a review and discussion about your child’s triggers, and the completion of a comprehensive management plan, which will include their Asthma Action Plan (see next point). A lung function test might also be recommended.

2. Update your child’s Asthma Action Plan
During the asthma review, ensure your healthcare professional has completed and signed a written Asthma Action Plan for your child. Schools and outside-school-hours-care require a current plan for your child at the start of the school year. Asthma Australia offers Asthma Action Plan templates that can be downloaded and taken along. Be sure to fully understand how this plan should be used in case of worsening symptoms. (Remember to keep a copy to follow at home too.)

3. Make contact with your child’s school
Check with the school about their medicine policy and work with the team to find the best way to manage your child’s asthma medicine if they need it at school. Make time to talk with the class teacher and the school nurse about your child’s asthma, their written Asthma Action Plan and their usual triggers, symptoms and medicine. Also talk to your child’s sport coaches and supervisors of other school, and extra-curricular, activities.

4. Check your child’s reliever
Check the expiry date of your child’s reliever medicine and check the dose counter to make sure there is plenty of medicine remaining. Purchase any new medicine needed and buy a new spacer and mask (if age appropriate) for your child to leave at school. Also make sure your pharmacist labels the medicine with your child’s name.

5. Keep your child’s school updated throughout the year
Remember to keep staff up to date with any change to your child’s asthma management. If your child’s asthma management changes during the year, you will need to get their written Asthma Action Plan updated and provide it to the school. Equally, if your child has had an asthma event at school which required treatment, ensure you get a complete explanation from your school and transmit it to your doctor at earliest opportunity.

Most parents and educators have never heard of back-to-school asthma

CEO of Asthma Australia Michele Goldman said “Among children, there is a peak in asthma hospitalisations in February. This is likely related to respiratory infections associated with a return to school and childcare, with lower use of preventer medications during school holidays potentially contributing to this. We have seen similar patterns in Northern Hemisphere countries as well.

“Asthma Australia surveyed parents of school-aged children with asthma and 80 per cent said that they had not heard of back-to-school asthma. A similar percentage of teachers and educators were also unaware of the asthma risk for kids in late summer.

“That’s why it’s important for us to let parents know about their child’s potential back-to-school asthma risk and outline the five very actionable steps they can take to support their health at this time of year.

“We encourage parents to book an asthma review with a healthcare professional, make sure their child’s Asthma Action Plan is up-to-date, touch base with their school, check and update their child’s asthma medication and keep their child’s school informed of any changes to their Asthma Action Plan as the year progresses.”

How controlled is your asthma? Take the Asthma Control Questionnaire: https://asthma.org.au/asthma-control-questionnaire/

Sports Carnival!

Our annual School Sports Carnival was a huge success, with students thoroughly enjoying the event. Our skilled athletes showcased their talents, competing with enthusiasm among their peers. Team spirit was evident across all houses, with Laffan emerging as the overall winners for 2024

Our amazing athletes

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Christmas Carols

Despite the warm weather last night, everyone had a fantastic time at our annual Christmas Carols event! The students gave stellar performances, with a special shout-out to our solo artists, who truly shone. The evening was made even more memorable with a surprise visit from Santa! A huge thank you to all those who helped make the night a success, and to the students and parents for attending and making it an event to remember

Carols fun

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French News

Back in May, I competed in the Berthe Mouchette Poem Competition which is a French poem competition. There were 495 people in Grade 4 all around Victoria that competed in the competition. All year levels ranging from 3-12 were allowed to compete.

I had to recite the poem to the judges who then decided who went to the finals. In our school there were two people who went through to the finals and I was one of them.

Then, the other person and I had to recite the same poem again. But unfortunately none of us won, but I got an honourable mention meaning I didn’t get on the podium but I did extremely well.

Then, on the 28th of November, my mum, my dad, Madame Cook and I went to St. Kilda Town Hall to get my award. I was really nervous because I had to go on stage in front of heaps of people. It went on for about two hours. 

His journey through the French poem competition has been wonderful. I hope many more people join the competition. The French language deserves to live on and spread because it is such a beautiful language.

Scarlett Thompson 4D

French words

State Athletics

I tried out for discus to compete for Victoria in Sydney. I represented our state there were 7 states they are Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, ACT and Victoria. It was a 5 day event. There was an opening  ceremony and a closing ceremony and lots of activities. It was such a great experience. We got to trade pins with different states, luckily I got the whole collection. I loved it. When it came to competition I was ready. I had 2 practice throws. My 1st throw was a standing throw, it hit the net but bounced and it was 16m. My 2nd throw was perfect, I spun and kept my arm up high it was 27m, my 3rd throw was good it went in but it was lower, it was 26m.  So still good and I ended up making it into the final top 8. I placed 6th out of 14 girls. This time it's not just Victoria, it's out of Australia. I've made such a big improvement and I will definitely keep throwing the discus as far as I can. My favourite part was spending time with my favourite family ever. 

Congratulations Lilly!

Music Lessons

SIMON everywhere app

The SIMON everywhere app can be downloaded and used to access the PAM (Parent Access Module). This is where absences can be logged, medical details updated, access reports and view attendance records.  Please see the video below to assist in navigating your way around the app. 

Specialist Days-Semester 2

Before and After School Care

Community Events

The Kilmore Art Society (KAS) and the Southern Mitchell Rotary Club are seeking entries from the youth of the area in next year’s Kilmore Art Expo.

This is a great opportunity for emerging young artists to showcase their creative talents. We encourage students to participate in the art show, providing them with an exciting platform to display their artistic skills and creativity.

There are monetary and gift pack prizes for artists from 6-18 years of age. All information and online entry forms are available at www.kilmoreartexpo.com.au

 The Kilmore Art Expo will take place from Friday evening, 11^th April until Sunday, 13^th April, 2025 with all welcome to attend. 

Scholarship applications for Year 7, 2027 at Hume Anglican Grammar, Donnybrook and Mt Ridley campuses are open!

If you have not already applied, applications close Friday 31, January 2025.
For more information and how to apply, please click the link below.

https://www.humegrammar.vic.edu.au/enrolment/scholarships

Please be reminded, the shortlisting process for Year 7, 2027 will commence mid-year 2025.

For further information and how to apply, please click the link below.

https://www.humegrammar.vic.edu.au/enrolment/apply-now

Kilmore Village Coloring Competition

Kilmore Village is excited to announce a colouring competition for children! If your child is interested in participating, colouring sheets are available at the office.

Important Dates:

• Entries can be dropped off at the office by Friday, December 13.
• Alternatively, entries can be dropped off directly at the Kilmore Village Shopping Centre.

We look forward to seeing your child's creative masterpiece!