Newsletter April 3, 2025

From the Principal

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

The first term holidays are upon us and at this time I encourage all members of the Our Lady of the Way Community to reflect upon the significance of the upcoming Easter season. The death and resurrection of Jesus are important for all Christians, bringing hope and meaning to our lives as we reflect on Christ’s example of how to live in the light of His sacrifice. Jesus offers forgiveness and hope of eternal life.

I would like to thank everybody for the support you have given the school during the first term of 2025 and wish you all a wonderful Easter holiday period with your family and friends.

We look forward to welcoming all the students back on Tuesday 22nd of April.

Best wishes,
Terry Cooney

Principal

Staffing Changes

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Archal Pinto all the best for her maternity leave and the upcoming birth of her baby. We look forward to meeting her baby when she comes back to visit. In Archal’s place we welcome Callen Ryan. Callen has done many days of CRT with us at Our Lady of the Way and we are excited to welcome him to the role of 2D Classroom Teacher. We believe the transition for the children will be very smooth. Callan is very excited about his new role and he cannot wait to get started and develop some positive relationships with the children of 2D.

PBL Value of Respect
Throughout the first term we have had an emphasis on one particular PBL Value and that is Respect. How do we show respect in our Learning Spaces, in Outdoor Spaces, in Digital Spaces and in all spaces at all times? This has been a focus in PBL lessons in each classroom with weekly reminders to children at Assembly Prayer. To a great degree the children have understood this and are interacting with the friends, classmates and teachers in a respectful manner, however there is always room for improvement. When situations arise where respect hasn’t been shown we will work with all people involved to restore the relationships as best we can. Below you will find some sections of the Student Code of Conduct that I invite and encourage you to discuss with your child.

Student Code of Conduct Purpose
Our Lady of the Way is committed to ensuring a respectful learning environment that is safe, positive and supportive for all students at the school. It is the intention of Our Lady of the Way to provide clear guidelines to all students regarding the conduct expected of them while in a school environment, at school related locations or engaging in school-related activities or representing the school. Students are expected to uphold the school’s core values at all times.

Principles
This Code of Conduct is based on the following principles that everyone at Our Lady of the Way
 has the right to be safe
 has the right to be treated with respect and be valued, even in diversity

 has the right to participate within a secure environment without interference,
intimidation, harassment, bullying or discrimination
 is encouraged to be respectful, polite, courteous and considerate of others
 has the right to be supported and challenged as ongoing learners.

Expected Conduct and Bearing of all students
It is expected that every student will:
 uphold the school’s core values at all times
 behave in a manner that does not endanger the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves or others
 respect the authority of members of staff and observe school rules and teacher directions as required
 strictly adhere to the ICT Acceptable Usage Policy and User Agreement
 be respectful and supportive of the school’s beliefs and values
 behave with courtesy and consideration for others
 refrain from all forms of bullying, harassment, racial vilification, and discrimination of any nature
 report any behaviour of other students that is harmful to other students, or to the teachers or school
 support other students, or seek help for other students who need assistance or are in a vulnerable situation
 refrain from behaviour which would interrupt the work of any class or hinder the learning opportunities of other students

Unacceptable Conduct
Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:
 touching, handling, pushing or otherwise physically engaging with students or others in a manner which is not appropriate and may endanger the health, safety and wellbeing of that person
 any form of physical or verbal violence (including fighting, assault, or threats of violence, name calling, racial discrimination or discrimination on grounds of disability, appearance, or religion)
 any form of cyber bullying or cyber abuse
 language or conduct which is likely to offend, harass, or unfairly discriminate against any student, teacher, contractor or visitor
 the use of inappropriate or profane words or gestures and images
 unacceptable class attendance levels
 being uncooperative with teachers during class or school activities and generally disrupting planned activities.

Supporting Positive Behaviour
The Student Behaviour Policy is based on a model of positive behaviour support. This is a model that acknowledges the positive behaviour of the majority of students and puts strategies into place to model and specifically teach expected behaviours. It targets focused support, including staged sanctions, for the minority of students that do not embrace positive behaviour.

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.

Supervison 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.  

Parish News

PARISH MASS TIMES

Please be aware that the Parish council, after a review and consultation with the Parish Community, have adjusted Sunday mass times at Our Lady of the Way Church, Wallan and St Patrick's Church, Kilmore. Considerations were made to allow the priest more time to travel between Churches within the Parish, but also time to be with the community following mass, as well as providing opportunity for confession at Our Lady of the Way Church prior to the Sunday morning mass. As a result, the new Sunday Mass times are listed below and will commence from THIS SUNDAY (6 April). 
Sunday 8.45am Mass – Our Lady of the Way (Wallan) * Confession from 8.10am to 8.35am
Sunday 10.45am Mass – St. Patrick’s (Kilmore)
Please note that the Vigil Mass times on Saturday are not changed.

FIRST EUCHARIST Please note, the new mass times will affect the start time for First Eucharist Masses in June, as this Sacrament is made during a Parish Mass. If you have already registered your child to receive the sacrament this year, more information regarding the Sacrament of First Eucharist will be provided, including confirmation of the date which you had listed as your preferred mass (now an 8.45am start time). 
Students must be baptised in the Catholic Church, have made their First Reconciliation and in Year 4 or above to participate in the sacrament. If you have not registered your child and would like to, or if you have any questions, please email the Faith & Mission Leader - Mrs. Nicole Pegler; nicole.pegler@ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au.

RECONCILIATION

Last week 53 students from Our Lady of the Way celebrated their First reconciliation. The students' teachers and family had done a great job in developing their understanding of the Sacrament of forgiveness and healing and we thank all those involved, including the members of our Parish community for their prayers and support during their preparation.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is one that can and should be repeated often. It is an opportunity for the penitent to reflect on their relationship with self and others and become closer to God. Regular reconciliation helps us when we miss the mark, to use Gods' love and His grace to repair our relationships and help us follow the example of Jesus.
From Term 2, students in yrs 3-6 who are baptised and have already made their first reconciliation, will be offered the opportunity to participate in reconciliation following the Wednesday morning Parish Mass, when their class is scheduled to attend.
Kind Regards,

Mrs. Nicole Pegler

Faith and Mission Leader & eLearning Leader

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

MASS OF ST PATRICK FOR SCHOOLS 2025

On Friday, March 21st the 3 Mission Captains, 2 School Captains, Mr Van Zyl and Mrs Peglar represented our school by going to St Patrick's Cathedral in the city. We celebrated the Mass of St.Patrick for schools 2025.  There were 297 Catholic schools and over 1000 students and Church leaders present, including our Archbishop Peter Andrew Comensoli. Before the mass started, our school captains Wynnie Luxford and Oliver Barclay represented us by carrying our school banner up to the altar. Alongside a lot of other schools, the Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop himself, and 8 altar servers. 

The theme of the Mass related to Pilgrims of Hope and the importance of Having Hope in our lives. 

After the mass ended we had a browse around the amazing historic Church and we took some photos with the paintings and the statues of the Saints, including St Patrick, St Joseph, St Francis of Assisi, St Catherine and Mary our Mother. After looking around, we went to a concert which was performed by high school Students. 

It was a great opportunity to catch up with other people from other schools and we all had a great time.

Our visit to St. Patrick's Catherdal.

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.

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

Harmony Day, 2025

On Friday 21st March our school community came together to celebrate Harmony Day and Wellbeing Day, embracing the values of Responsibility, Respect, Resilience, Safety and the importance of physical and mental wellbeing. The event was a fantastic opportunity for students and staff to connect, be active, and appreciate the diverse skills we have to work together to build a more vibrant community.

A highlight of the day was the rotational tabloid sports activities, where students participated in a variety of fun and engaging games to build co-operation and problem solving.  It was wonderful to see students cheering each other on, trying new activities, and learning about the importance of staying active for overall wellbeing.

Harmony Day is a time to celebrate our values and foster a sense of belonging for all. The combination of cultural appreciation and physical activities made this event particularly special, reinforcing the message that wellbeing is not just about being physically fit, but also about feeling included and supported in a positive environment. During the day students had the opportunity to earn point through team PBL tickets for demonstrating the school values.

Points earned on the day will work towards the end of year House Shield with the highest scoring team being awarded the new Wellbeing Shield. Congratulations to Porsche and Lucas for leading Marian and earning the most PBL tickets. All teams should be commended on their efforts, each team earning collectively over 450 PBL tickets for the day!

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, student leaders, and particularly Mr. Garrett who worked to organize our annual event. Their efforts ensured that everyone had a fantastic time while reinforcing the key values of Harmony Day and Wellbeing Day.

We look forward to more opportunities to celebrate, stay active, and continue fostering a school community that values harmony, inclusion, and wellbeing!

Mrs. Annette Moore

Deputy Principal ~ Wellbeing and Organisation

A time for reflection..

School holidays are a time for rest and relaxation. An opportunity to observe and acknowledge the Catholic meaning and Tradition behind the Season of Easter and to spend special time with family and friends

The holiday break also provides families and students to consider the following:

For students:

• What did I really enjoy about school this term?
• What could I improve on next term at school? This maybe related to academics or relationships with others.
• What strategies could I use to make these improvements?
• What am I looking forward to in Term 2?

From a family perspective:

• How well did our daily routine for school, work? Were we able to start each day in a positive way?
• What challenges did we face at school and home during Term 1?
• What changes can we make to try and overcome these challenges for Term 2
  

Have a great holiday break and a happy, safe and Holy Easter.

Daniel Phelan

Mental Health Wellbeing Leader.

Learning and Teaching

French-Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition

We have had great interest from students who have chosen to participate in the upcoming French Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition. This competition offers an excellent opportunity for students to practice their French language skills and enhance their confidence in public speaking.

To help your child prepare for the competition, please note the following:

1. Poem Access: The competition poem is available on the French Google Classroom. Your child can find the poem and additional resources to help them practice.

2. Practice Resources: Along with the written poem, there is a link to listen to the poem, allowing students to practice along and familiarize themselves with pronunciation and rhythm.

3. Memorisation: Students are required to memorise the poem in preparation for the competition. They will need to recite the poem to a judge via Zoom during their individual performance.

4. Results and Finals: After the recitations, students will be notified of the results. Those who make it through to the finals will receive further instructions.

Please encourage your child to practice the poem regularly at home to ensure they are fully prepared. There will be some time allocated during French lessons and also during play times for practice. 

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to Madame Sonia Cook via email sonia.cook@ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au

We wish all students the best of luck and look forward to their performances!

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/

Parents and Friends

Congratulations to the winners of the Colour Fun Run!

Our top ten overall winners enjoyed the Water fun with the teachers. 

Our top ten winners from each year level colour bombed Mr Cooney!

The students all had an amazing time at the colour run!

Thank you to the Parents and Friends for organising another amazing event!

 Colouring Competition Winners:

Congratulations to the winners! 

Foundation to Year 2: Jeremy P. Year 2C

Year 3 to 6: Emilia J. Year 3B

The Winners: Emilia (R) and Jeremy (L)

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

EASTER RAFFLE WINNERS

1st Prize: Sophie L. (Foundation)

2nd Prize: Jess K. (Parent)

3rd Prize: Zach M (Student)

4th Prize: Rainie O. (Parent)

5th Prize: Matthew M. (Parent)

6th Prize: Holly R. (Student)

7th Prize: Mederic B. (Parent)

All prizes have been collected from the office!

Safety around schools

Music Lessons

Before and After School Care

Community Events

EASTER COLOURING COMPETITION: Copies of the colouring competition available from the office. All entries can be  dropped into Kilmore Village. 

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