Newsletter March 20, 2025

From the Principal

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

A few weeks ago, the Gospel spoke of our need to ‘Love our enemy’ and ‘Love one another as Jesus has loved us’. Not an easy task by any means, especially when we feel we have been wronged. In the context of school life Pope Francis speaks of the responsibility a teacher has to educate each child in their class, however he stated it goes further than this…

“Indeed, the duty of a good teacher – all the more for a Christian teacher – is to love his or her more difficult, weaker, more disadvantaged students with greater intensity. I ask you to love ‘difficult’ students more… those who do not want to study, those who find themselves in difficult conditions and situations, the ones with extra needs, who today pose a great challenge.”

I believe that in a school community such as ours this responsibility is not simply left to the classroom teacher, or even the school staff but extends further to all members of the community. We need to practice ‘Unconditional Positive Regard’ for all students at all times. This is when we remove the ‘person’ from the behaviour and accept and value a person, not their actions or behaviours, without judgment or conditions.

This is a challenge we are faced with. We are often blinded by how a situation affects us personally, and want what we consider justice or a result that makes us feel better. However, as Christians we are required to look at the situation through compassionate eyes, attempting to discover a ‘reason for the behaviour’, find a solution where all involved feel loved and as a result the dignity of each person is respected by showing and practicing mercy.

I acknowledge that emotions often take over and it is not easy to look beyond the immediate result of an incident, however we are taught through the scriptures that we should act in a way that we are a visible sign of God’s mercy in our world. Kindness, mercy, compassion and love are great values for us to practice and model for our children and those in our community. Let us strive for understanding and not judgement and we may indeed be a visible sign of God’s mercy in our community.

We must continually remind ourselves that all children are good, sometimes they may make poor choices and at these times we must try to separate the child from their behaviour and educate them as to what is appropriate behaviour here at school and in the wider community.

Best wishes,

Terry Cooney

Principal

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
There are 2 spaces available on our School Advisory Council for anyone interested. No particular expertise is required except a desire to represent and give voice to the parent body in advising the principal about important matters particularly related to the school’s ongoing desire to provide the best possible education for our children.

Members of the council offer valuable support and advice on such matters as:
 The Religious Education program
 Curriculum
 Enrolments and enrolment policy
 School resources
 Improvements in the school
 Annual Report to the school community
 Family partnerships
These are just some of the ways a School Advisory Council can give advice to the Principal and Leadership in the school – there are many other areas as well. Therefore, if you are a member of the parish or have children in the school, and wish to be part of this council, we would welcome your application in writing to Terry Cooney, principal@ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au.

2026 ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS
Enrolments for Foundation in 2026 are now open. As of the middle of March we have 104 applications and 122 total enquiries for foundation next year. Once again, our intake of Foundation students will be 100. If you have a child ready for Foundation in 2026 and you already have a child at Our Lady of the Way, a place will be made available for you, however you must fill in an application form online. Therefore, I urge you to put in an application so we will have the information that we need to ensure there is a space for your child.
I cannot emphasise this enough… If you have a child who is ready for school in 2026, it is imperative that you fill out an enrolment application ASAP. Enrolment applications can be accessed through the school website. Enrolments for all other year levels are also open with application available on the School Website www.ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au. If you have a relative, friend or neighbour who is considering Our Lady of the Way as the school for their child could you inform them
of the process required and encourage them to fill in an application.

CHILD SAFETY CONCERN
It has come to my attention that some parents are using the school toilets at drop off and pick up time. Please note that this is a breach of the Child Safety Standards. The school toilets (including the disabled toilets) are only for school children so please do not use the toilets during school times. If toilet facilities are needed, please head up to the main office where toilets are available. Thank you for your support in this matter.

SAFETY AROUND THE SCHOOL

A reminder to all families about the importance of safety around our school. We have a designated safe drop-off area near the church. If you are dropping your children off in other areas, we ask that you please park and let your children out of the car. Recently, there have been several instances where children have been allowed to get out of cars and run across the road in front of traffic. To ensure everyone's safety, please use the drop-off zone and encourage your children to walk safely across the road. Your cooperation is vital in keeping our school community safe.

SUPERVISION TIMES
A reminder to all parents and carers that supervision of children by Our Lady of the Way staff begins from 8:30 each morning. If you need to drop your child off before this time you will need to use the services offered by the OSHC. This also applies for after school supervision which concludes at 3:30pm.

LUNCH ORDERS-Important!

All cancellations should come via the office. No contact should be made with the Cafe directly.

Students need a fruit snack and morning tea on days that lunch orders are placed. 

LABELLING UNIFORMS

Please ensure all uniform items are clearly labelled with your child’s name. We’ve been receiving uniforms in the office daily without any identifying labels, and unfortunately, these items cannot be returned to the students without proper identification.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep track of all belongings!

IMPORTANT! CONTACT DETAILS:

Please check PAM to ensure we have the most up to date contact details in case we need to contact you for any reason, especially an emergency. We also need to have at least one emergency contact listed in case we are unable to contact parents. 

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 during the day. 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

Reconciliation

Currently we have over 50 students preparing to participate in the Sacrament of First Reconciliation on March 26.

First Reconciliation is the second sacrament in the Catholic faith journey, and was previously known as the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament of healing is about forgiveness and reconciliation, with both God and with others.

All students in year 3 have been exploring scripture and real life examples of Reconciliation as well as developing an understanding of 5 steps to forgiveness, the 5Rs

1. RESPONSIBILITY – recognising that you have made a mistake
2. REGRET – feeling remorseful or sad about what you have done
3. REPENTANCE – seeking out a way to make amends
4. RECONCILIATION – saying sorry and repairing the relationship
5. RESTITUTION – moving on to restore the relationship

Please keep all the students who are preparing for their First Reconciliation in your thoughts and prayers.  We wish them all the best for the upcoming event.

Church Choir

We are looking for new members to join the Our Lady of the Way Church Children's choir. If your child loves to sing and become more involved in the parish, we would love you to join. The children’s choir will learn a range of liturgical songs and perform at school and church celebrations.

Practice on Tuesdays at 5.30pm in the Church and at the end of 9.00am Mass every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the Month.

To join or get more information please call Bernadette De Vos; 0411 353 600

Catholic Education Week

In 2025, Catholic Education Week will run from Sunday 16 March to Sunday 23 March.

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate their Catholic identity, the pivotal role they play within their local community and the strength of the sector.

There are 293 Catholic primary and secondary schools across MACS, enrolling 116,000 students and employing more than 16,000 staff. Catholic schools provide a high-quality education in a faith-centred environment. This annual event is held to promote the special ethos of Catholic schools and to highlight the great things that take place in Catholic schools every day.

The theme for Catholic Education Week 2025 is ‘Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Is 60: 1)' which draws from the motto of the Holy Year, the Year of Jubilee, and the Australian Catholic Youth Festival’s theme – ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

Later this week our School Captains and Faith and Mission Leaders will represent Our Lady of the Way at the mass held at St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by a special Concert in the Park to celebrate Catholic Education Week.

There is also a FREE Creative Arts Exhibition, that showcases the wonderful artwork of primary and secondary students in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, which will run from Sunday 16 March to Saturday 22 March at the Catholic Leadership Centre in East Melbourne and is open to the general public. For more information or to book, check out the website https://catholiceducationweek.com/

Project Compassion

Lent is a special time of year. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, a time to be the ‘good news for the poor’ (Luke 4:18).

This Lent, we’re invited to Unite Against Poverty with Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity.

Project Compassion 2025 shares three stories from around the world.

At School, your children have been learning about the ways Caritas Australia makes a difference to communities.

Last week we met Toefuata'iga - (Toy-foo-ah-tah-ing-ah) a young student from Samoa who faced severe water shortages at her school. Thanks to Caritas Australia and the generosity of supporters like you, her school now has a 10,000 L water tank, improving access to clean water and allowing teachers to prioritise education

This week we got to know Lam from Vietnam. Born with short stature, Lam faced social exclusion and limited employment opportunities. Through the I-SHINE program, Lam completed a course and is now a freelance graphic designer.

And next, we’ll meet Irene from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who faced immense challenges after losing her father to war and raising her children in poverty. With support from Caritas Australia, Irene received vocational training in sewing and farming and can now support her whole family.

As individuals we can help others, but when we come together though Project compassion, our good becomes great. Our combined kindness grows. And when we unite with each other – and with people living in poverty – we can create BIG, lasting change.

Each family has received a Project Compassion box to collect donations from your family. These can be returned to school by April 9 (Week 2 of Term 2)

Every classroom also has a large collection box on the prayer table. Children are encouraged to donate whatever they can this Lent and together, as a school, we can UNITE AGAINST POVERTY this Lent.

Please donate today.
You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes at home, at church, at the school office or in the classroom or by scanning the QR code above. Donate or learn more online at: caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Project Compassion

Wellbeing Wonderings

Learning and Teaching

NAPLAN UPDATE

We are pleased to announce that NAPLAN has now finished for this year. A big thank you to all our students, teachers, and parents for their dedication and support in preparing for this important assessment. Your efforts are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to seeing the positive results of everyone’s hard work!

Introducing IXL: Our New Online Learning Program

We are excited to announce that all students from Prep to Year 6 now have access to IXL, a new online learning platform! This program replaces Matific and Nessy, which we have used in the past, as we explore fresh ways to support student learning.

 IXL offers engaging and interactive activities that help students practise and strengthen their skills both at school and at home. Each student will receive a new IXL login and password, and we encourage families to make use of this fantastic resource at home.

Thank you for your support as we introduce this new program. We look forward to seeing how IXL enhances student learning!

Home Learning at Our Lady of the  Way

We value the opportunity for students to reinforce their learning at home and recognise the important role that revision plays in deepening understanding. At the same time, we appreciate the need for balance, ensuring students have time for other activities and the chance to rest and recharge.

Our Home Learning Policy outlines our approach to supporting learning beyond the classroom while considering student well-being. We invite you to read the attached policy and thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a positive learning environment. Please see the Home Learning Policy below. (It can also be found in the side panel where documents are located.)

Specialist Teachers

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

Help Needed!

New Library Books!
We are excited to share that our library has received a fresh batch of books! If you are available to help cover some of these new additions, please stop by the office to collect a bag with the materials. Your support in keeping our library resources in great condition is much appreciated!

Parents and Friends

It is that time of year again! Our Colour Fun is on. It will be on Thursday, April 3. 

The Colour Fun Run will commence at approximately 1.15pm. The students will have an early lunch from 12.30-1.00pm and then pack up for the day before heading out to join in the Fun Run!

The fundraising details are below as well as the colouring competition sheet!

As well as the individual prize incentives available, the following extra prizes can be worked towards:

The class with the Highest amount fundraised -Movie afternoon with popcorn.

The highest fundraiser from each class gets a PBL ticket. 

Class with the most online profiles - Free icy pole for each member of the class

Top 3 fundraisers- Colour bomb a mystery staff member

Top 10 fundraisers- Slime fest - (water guns) 

COLOURING COMPETITION-Ends of April 3rd (Copies are available in the office)

The colouring competition sheet is attached below! There will be prizes for the following categories:

Category: Foundation to Grade 2

Category: Year 3 to Year 6

Each winner will receive a $20 voucher for the upcoming Book Fair in July/August.

Congratulations to our Fun Run Wristband Competition Winner! Hazel is the lucky winner of $500 worth of Fun Run prizes! 

EASTER RAFFLE

Stay tuned for more information on how to win the amazing prizes below!

Each student will receive 5 tickets to sell at $2.00 each.

 Easter Raffle Donations

A huge thank you to the families who have generously donated items for our Easter raffle. Your support is greatly appreciated! Donations are still welcome – please drop any items off at the office by Monday. Let’s make this year’s raffle a big success!

Just some of our amazing raffle prizes to be won!

Safety around schools

Music Lessons

Before and After School Care

Community Events

ASPIRE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND KINDERGARTEN

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming community event at Beveridge on Saturday, 15th March, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow community members, enjoy fun activities, and learn more about what's happening in our area.We would be thrilled to have you join us for this special event. 

Kilmore Kookaburra Girl Guides
Thursdays 4.30 – 6.00pm

Kilmore Girl Guides is looking for new Girls to join, to have fun and make new friends. Girls develop confidence, self-reliance, learn team building and leadership skills while participating in Girl Guide activities. Girl Guides learn by doing.
There’s a lot of on offer; local unit, Region, State and even International communities and activities - something for everybody. We’re connected globally to over 10 million members in 150 countries.
For over 100 years Girl Guides Victoria has been providing fantastic opportunities for Girls aged 5-18 years to meet personal challenges. As part of the largest volunteer organisation for Girls and Women in Australia our team is proud to be helping to develop a cleaner, brighter, better world around us.
Your daughter is welcome to attend three meetings for free to see if she would like to join us!
Please contact:
Carolyn: 0400 578 103 or Kristy: 0422 138 908 or Carolyn.atkinson@guidesvic.org.au