Newsletter February 6, 2025

From the Principal

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

Welcome back to school for the 2025 school year and a very special welcome to all our new families. It has been very rewarding to see the excitement and joy on the faces of the children in the first few days of the year. The Staff have worked exceptionally hard to provide an environment where the children feel safe, comfortable and excited to learn. The wonderful space we have outside provides the opportunity for children to burn off energy while playing and socialising with their friends.

We are all looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential and become the best versions of themselves. We understand that to be successful in school, our children need support from both home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a significant difference in your child’s education.

We are all very excited about the year ahead and know that whatever we are faced with we will work through as a community, supporting each other as we have in the past.

Best wishes,

Terry Cooney

Principal

2025 YEAR OF JUBILEE

On Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis symbolically opened the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, marking the start of the 2025 Jubilee Year. They have been celebrated throughout the history of the Church, but their roots go back to the Old Testament, when the Israelites were commanded to celebrate a jubilee every 50 years. Beginning with the blowing of a ram’s horn on the Day of Atonement, it was meant to be a kind of ‘reset’ or ‘refresh’ for their relationship with God and with each other. Debts would be forgiven, misappropriated land returned, slaves freed, and the land given rest.

As the Jubilee Year begins, Pope Francis has encouraged everyone to reflect on how they can bring light, hope and kindness into the lives of others:

• How can I open a window of light in my environment and in my relationships?
• Where can I be a glimmer of light that let’s God’s love pass through?
• What practical actions can I do today, this term, this year in my school, home, world? (2025).

The Jubilee Year of 2025 offers a profound opportunity for renewal, unity and hope. We are invited to rediscover the joy of the Lord and embrace the mission to transform our world so that this year may truly be a time of jubilation. Let us step forward as pilgrims of hope, embracing God’s call to transform our world with love and compassion and remember as St Paul wrote to the Romans ‘Hope does not disappoint’ (Romans 5:5)

ENROLMENT NUMBERS

This year marks more growth in respect to enrolment numbers for Our Lady of the Way. Our current enrolment is 709 made up of 4 classes in Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4, Year 5 and 3 classes in Year 6.

This is an increase of a class, with 4 year 5 classes this year rather than 3 for 2024. In 2026 we will have 4 classes at each level with an estimated enrolment of between 730 and 740 students.

We have waiting lists at various year levels across the school. 

USE OF THE JUNIOR PLAYGROUND BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL

If you are dropping off your school aged child and you have a pre-school aged child with you, please note that they are not permitted to use the play equipment. This is a safety issue for your child as we have a very large number of school children using the equipment before school. School staff are on duty from 8:30 until 8:45 to supervise the Our Lady of the Way students. Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.

UNIFORM

As we begin a new year I would like to remind all families of the uniform requirements at Our Lady of the Way. We have a wonderful uniform that all children wear very well. However, the way in which we present ourselves in that uniform is also very important.

This applies to hair styles, hair colouring, jewellery, make up and nail polish. Make up and nail polish is not permitted at any time. A watch, a simple chain around the neck or a bangle for religious and cultural purposes are permitted. Earrings should be studs or small sleepers and there should only be one piecing per lobe.

I ask that hair colour is kept natural and no extra colouring is added. If your child’s hair is past the collar then it will need to be tied back. If your child’s hair is over their eyes it will need to be kept in place with either clips or a headband. Extreme hairstyles are not appropriate, this includes shaving of part of the hair and keeping other parts longer in length.

I fully understand that the term ‘extreme’ is very subjective but I ask you to ensure that your child’s hair is neat and presentable.

If there is ever a time when your child is out of uniform please provide a note of explanation to your child’s class teacher. Thank you for your continued support.

SCHOOL SITE ACCESS

Pedestrian access to the school includes Alcantara Blvd, the gate at the corner of Mackinac and Alcantara Blvd, the gate near the Soccer Pitch on Mackinac Avenue and Newbridge Blvd adjacent to the Church.

A reminder that when you are driving down Alcantara Blvd the speed limit is 40 at all times in front of the school and 40 along Newbridge Blvd in the morning and afternoon.

Vehicle access to the school is from Newbridge Blvd. In the morning parents can park in the Church Carpark, within a designated parking bay, or drop their child off at the designated drop off zone outside of the Church portico. Students can then walk along the path and into the school ground through the pedestrian gates.

I would like to remind everyone that there are designated paths and marked out crossings in and around the Church Car Park for the safety of all and I recommend these are used rather than walking along the bitumen to and from cars. In the afternoon at pick up time I am asking that at no time a child walks to a car in the car park or crossing a street to get to a car unsupervised. Please collect your child and walk with them back to your parked car.

A reminder that if you are parking your car, please ensure that you are parked in a designated car park either within the school grounds or in the streets around the school. No-one should double park or block access to driveways of houses. Thank you for your support in this matter. The safety of everyone in and around cars and car parks is everyone’s responsibility.

Mr Terry Cooney

Principal

Contact details:

Please ensure we have the most up to date contact details in case we need to contact you for any reason, especially an emergency.

School times are listed below.

School opens: 8.30am-8.45am (Teacher on duty)
Prayer and Roll: 8.45am-8.55am
Learning time: 8.55am-10.50am
Recess eating time: 10.50am-11.00am
Recess: 11.00am-11.30am
Learning time: 11.35-1.25pm
Lunch eating time: 1.25-1.35pm
Lunch playtime: 1.35-2.05pm
Learning time: 2.10-3.05pm
Packing up : 3.05-3.15pm
School finishes: 3.15pm (Teacher on duty until 3.30pm)

Late arrivals/Early pick ups:

Please be mindful of the the above times if you need to pick up your child. It is very hard to locate the students during outside play times which sometimes delays the early pick up. It would be beneficial to call or email ahead and advise what time you will be arriving to pick your child up.  

Pilgrims of Hope

PILGRIMS OF HOPE - JUBILEE 2025

Pope Francis has dedicated 2025 as a Jubilee Year, something which happens every 25 years. The motto is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, intending 2025 to be a year of hope for the world.

Our 2025 Liturgical theme, “We are Pilgrims of Hope,” is taken directly from Pope Francis’ motto for the 2025 Jubilee Year. The word ‘jubilee’ comes from the Hebrew word, ‘yobel’ which is the rams horn instrument used to sound the beginning of this holy year. The earliest indication of this can be found in the book of Leviticus, when the Lord describes instructions for the Jubilee Year to Moses (Leviticus 25:8-54);

This Year of Jubilee in the universal Church calls us to embrace, and be renewed in, the hope of Christ—a hope that does not disappoint. We are embarking on a particular time of pilgrimage, and as the Holy Father has reminded us, Jesus, ‘is the destination of our pilgrimage’. He is both the way, and the path to be travelled.

The Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church offers a unique and profound opportunity for evangelisation in Catholic schools.  Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools is planning a rich program of Jubilee activities to support schools and their communities to participate more fully in the blessings of the year, including prayer and liturgy opportunities, pilgrimages, an ambassador program, Catholic Education Week and Australian Catholic Youth Festival. At school we will explore the theme of Hope and how we can hear Pope Francis call for us to be tangible signs of hope in our world; specifically for those vulnerable in our society including the sick, elderly, young, migrant and the poor.

Sacraments

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2025

Our Lady of the Way provide opportunities for students baptised in the Catholic Tradition to continue their Sacramental Journey. Sacraments are available in the following years, provided they have completed the previous sacraments:
First Reconciliation ~ Grade 3 and above. Pre-requisit: Baptism 

Sacrament Date: Wednesday 26 March at 5.00pm or 7.00pm (select 1)

First Eucharist ~ Grade 4 and above. Pre-requisit: Baptism and First Reconciliation

Dates: Sunday, 9am during Parish Mass at Our Lady of the Way Church on 1/6/25 or 15/6/25 or 22/6/25 or 29/6/25 (select 1 date)

Confirmation~ Grade 6 and above. Pre-requisit: Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist

Date: TBC (term 3)

Families wishing to participate in the Sacramental Program need to complete the survey sent via PAM in the coming dates

Any concerns please contact:
Nicole Pegler - Faith & Mission Leader; nicole.pegler@ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing Wonderings

Welcome back for Term 1.

It has been terrific to see the lovely, settled manner in which the students have approached their return to school this year. While the weather has been particularly warm, the students have enjoyed what time they have had outside on the yard. Please remember that we are a SunSmart school and that hats are required to be worn outside during Terms 1 and 4.

National Healthy Lunchbox Week (9-15th February)

One of the difficult adjustments for students on their commencement or return to school is not having the freedom to ‘raid the pantry’ whenever they feel hungry. They have had 6 weeks to pretty much eat and drink when and whatever they please. A healthy lunchbox assists our children to build energy through healthy sources such as fibre, protein and natural sugars. Water is always the best option to replenish energy and safest to avoid spills or food contamination at school.

It may be worthwhile having a conversation with your child as to what they would like to see in their lunchbox. This builds their ability to make wise choices, share ideas and learn how to compromise. The website attached below has a number of tips and ideas to assist with the creation of a healthy lunchbox. https://www.lunchboxweek.org/

Please keep in mind that some grades also have students who have Anaphylaxis or other food allergies, so we ask you to be mindful of this as well.

Trust in your teachers with any concerns

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s well-being at school, please feel free to contact their classroom teacher first and discuss the matter with them. They will then alert the Wellbeing Team of any issues you have raised.

Wellbeing quote of the week:  “One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and didn't fall apart.” - Linda Poindexter (former Episcopalian Priest.)

Have a great week,

Daniel Phelan

Mental Health Wellbeing Leader.

Learning and Teaching

Welcome to a New Year of Learning – 2025!
Welcome back to another exciting year of learning at Our Lady of the Way! As we begin 2025, we look forward to fostering a love of learning, building strong connections, and supporting every student to reach their full potential. Our dedicated teachers are eager to engage students in rich and meaningful experiences, using data-informed planning, daily review strategies, and collaborative learning approaches.

We thank our families for their ongoing support and look forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Liz Stoward
Learning & Teaching Leader

Finance Office

Sick Bay Information

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/

French Words

Each week we will have a clip of the French word the students are learning in the classroom. 

Safety around schools

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. 

Parents and Friends

Scholastic Book Club-The latest edition of the magazine has been sent home with the students. Orders are to be cut off by:

                                                                                   Friday, March 7. 

Music Lessons

Before and After School Care

Community Events