Newsletter December 18, 2024

From the Acting Principal

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

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

Annual Awards

Bendigo Bank Community Award-Gracie Marie Bresciano

Bendigo Bank Community Award-Ness Nagpal

Bendigo Bank Community Award-Damien Brooks

Cooney Family Award for Academics- George Smith

D'Angelo Family Award for Resilience-Storm Bannister

Lions Club Wallan/Wandong Community Service-Levi Dafos

Kurzman Family Award Wellbeing and Service-Brandon Guselev

McEwan Award for Outstanding School Citizenship-Shanini Kulasinghe

Yan Yean Award for Outstanding School Citizenship-Matilda Peterson

Stoward Family Sports Excellence Award-Matilda Milani

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/

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. 

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!