Newsletter August 7, 2025

From the Principal

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

I take this opportunity to inform you all that 2025 will be my final year as Principal of Our Lady of the Way. I will be finishing up at the end of this year. This is a decision I have reached after a lot of personal reflection. 

As I prepare to step down from my role as principal of Our Lady of the Way, I find myself filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. Serving this incredible school community has been one of the greatest honours of my career. I am immensely proud of what we have built as a School Community beginning with 63 students in 2018 to a current enrolment of around 700.

Over the past 8 years, I have witnessed countless moments of growth, resilience, and achievement. From the first day of school jitters to graduation day joy, I have seen our students rise to meet challenges and embrace opportunities. Their energy and potential have been my inspiration every single day.

As I turn the page to a new chapter in my life, I carry with me fond memories, lasting friendships, and the lessons this community has taught me. I know that Our Lady of the Way will continue to thrive and I thank you for the trust, the support, and the joy of being part of this remarkable school family.

Thank you and Best Wishes
Terry Cooney, 

Principal

IMPORTANT-SICK BAY

We have had an increase in students attending school while unwell. To help prevent the spread of illness and protect the health of our school community, we kindly ask that you keep your child at home if they are unwell.

Even mild symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, runny nose, or fever can spread easily to others.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students and staff safe and healthy.

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.

FOOD ALLERGIES

A reminder to all families that we have students in the school with Anaphylaxis. To help keep all students safe, please avoid sending any nut products in your child’s lunchbox.

We appreciate your support and understanding.

LUNCH ORDERS!

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. 

SMART WATCH REMINDER

Please ensure that any student who wears a smart watch to school has it set to School Mode. This means the device must not be used during school hours.

Thank you for your cooperation.

CHANGES OF CLOTHES

With the recent rain, there are some muddy patches throughout the yard, and several students have unfortunately slipped or fallen in these areas, requiring a change of clothes.

To help us manage this more smoothly, we kindly ask that you consider packing a spare pair of pants in your child’s school bag, just in case they need a change during the day. While we do have some spare uniform items available, we may not always have the correct size for your child.

Should we be able to supply a change of clothes for your child, we kindly ask that these items be washed and returned at your earliest convenience. If underwear is provided, please note that it is brand new and does not need to be returned, as it cannot be reused.

Thank you for your support.

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. Please also check to see if your child has come home with another child's uniform item, and return it to the office if this is the case.

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

Religious Education-Pilgrims of Hope

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament will take place on Friday 5th September at 6.00pm. Registration for the sacrament should have been made via the survey on PAM or by returning the letter to your child's yr 6 teacher.

To receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, students must; 

- Be baptised in the Catholic faith

- Have participated in Sacrament of First Reconciliation 

- Have received sacrament of First Eucharist 

- Be in Grade 6 or above. 

Our family faith night will occur online on Wed 13 August at 6.30pm. Students making confirmation will need to be online for this workshop with at least one adult family member.

Students should begin to think and select a person to be their sponsor, to support them on their faith journey. The sponsor must be a baptised and confirmed Catholic, it may be a godparent chosen at baptism, or another a family member or family friend over the age of 16. It CANNOT be the child's parent. 

Students can also think about an inspirational Saint's name, to be taken as their name in Confirmation (or be confirmed as their own name given in baptism) They will investigate this further in class as they learn more about saints, the sacrament and the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, as well as how they can live out their mission as a member of the faith community.

Should you require any further information please email 

Mrs Nicole Pegler, Faith & Mission Leader nicole.pegler@ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

Parents & PBL: Supporting Positive Behaviour at School

Our school uses Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) to create a safe and positive learning environment for all students.

What is PBL?

PBL is a comprehensive, proactive system that teaches and reinforces desired behaviours, focusing on prevention rather than just punishment. It helps create a school culture that emphasises respect, responsibility, resilience and safety. PBL is an evidence-based framework that helps schools improve academic achievement, attendance, behaviour, and overall school climate. It works by explicitly teaching expected behaviours, setting consistent boundaries, and providing extra help when needed.   

How Parents Can Help with PBL:

Supporting PBL at home is highly effective because children often look to adults to guide their behaviour, and consistent routines provide predictability and help children regulate their emotions.   

• Understand School Expectations: Familiarise yourself with our school's positive behaviour expectations and matrix

• Reinforce at Home: Support consistent routines and positive behaviours at home, aligning with what your child learns at school. For example, if the school encourages "moving safely", reinforce walking safely at home.   

• Model Positive Behaviour: Children learn by observing. Demonstrate the behaviours you expect, such as cleaning up after yourself or speaking calmly when frustrated.   

• Acknowledge Good Behaviour: Be specific when praising your child ("I saw you shared your toys with your brother/sister, that was very kind!") to help them understand exactly what positive behaviour looks like.   

• Communicate with Us: Maintain open communication with teachers about your child's progress and any needs. Positive communication between home and school is key to success!

By working together, we help every child feel safe, connected, and ready to learn.

      Have Your Say – MACSIS Parent Survey Now Open        We invite all parents and carers to take part in the 2025 MACSIS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys). Your feedback plays a vital role in shaping the direction of our school.

The information you provide helps us build our next set of school improvement goals. The survey identifies what we are doing well and highlights areas where we can grow. In 2024, the data indicated that parent engagement was an area for further focus—your voice in this year’s survey is more important than ever.

The survey is completely anonymous and is accessed via an individual code that cannot be used to identify or trace responses. We strongly encourage you to take a  few moments to share your experiences and help us continue to grow together as a school community.

If you are interested in being involved, sharing your experience and having an important say in planning our annual goals for the school please email me to register your interest.
Surveys and the unique codes are available from September 1st .                   

Annette Moore ~ Annette.moore@ourladywallan.catholic.edu.au

Teaching and Learning

BOOK WEEK INFORMATION:

The 2025 theme is Book an Adventure! The feature artist for the year, Jess McGeachin, has brilliantly captured this adventurous spirit in his artwork, which features a whimsical map filled with imaginary characters.

Our Book Week dress up day and parade will be on Monday, August 18!

Our Book Week incursion will be on Friday, August 29th. 

Thank you to all of you that have already donated pre loved books for our fundraiser. If you haven't already, we are still collecting books. The students will have the opportunity to purchase one of these books for a gold coin donation on Monday the 18th of August.

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN WRITING-Year 5B

The Cage by Asher James 5B

As we descended into the abyss, a terrifying silhouette appeared above us. My captain turned on his flashlight… “It’s a great white!” A pulse of fear shot up my spine.

“A what?” I asked to check if I misheard.

“A GREAT WHITE!” my captain replied in an icy voice – his eyes locked on the beast above us. I glanced down at the endless void below us. My eyes drifting to a nearby cavern.
“There it is… Mary’s Cavern,” I added. A voice crackled over the radio in my suit.

“A storm is coming; we don’t know how but we must prepare for the worst,” the radio crackled again and then went silent. My heart racing as it grew darker and darker. The only noise was the sound of the rusty chain croaking under the weight of the cage. I could feel the pressure squeezing me endlessly. The great white following closely behind us clearly ready to lunge at anybody who stepped foot out of the cage.

I checked my oxygen, “2 hours left”. I radioed to the operator, a knife strapped to my thigh in case anything goes wrong. A voice crackled over the radio, again. “We are going to pull you up.”

The rusted cage stops for a moment and starts a ascending. A Doomsday fish glides past me not noticing the monster above us. When in range, the great white lunges through the water tearing a chunk out of the fish, thrashing it tries to escape but it is to late: a dark red liquid gushing from the fish before the shark charges and rips through it, looks back at us, begging for help. The shark’s powerful body charges through the water and delivers the finishing blow. A wave of sadness rushes through my body – I feel it’s my fault.

The cage, now being battered against the rocks, begins to weaken. As I turn around to look at my captain, an icy look covers his face… “Your oxygen tank… It’s been punctured”. My eyes dart to my gauge rapidly decreasing by the second. I glance back up at my captain, “take mine, “he says unstrapping his tank. “I’ll distract the shark,” he says, a grim look on his face.
“Captain you will die…”

100 Days Brighter

What a Milestone!

On Tuesday 5th August, our amazing Foundation students proudly celebrated their 100th day of school. The school was buzzing with excitement as students arrived dressed in their brightest clothes, ready for a day full of special activities.
The celebrations included a KaBoom Sports incursion, where students and teachers showed off their best dance moves and joined in a range of fun tabloid sporting activities alongside their Year Six buddies.
Laughter, energy, and teamwork filled the air! It was a wonderful way to celebrate the Foundation students’ learning
journey so far, acknowledging not only everything they’ve accomplished in 100 days, but also their hard work and growth along the way.
Thank you to our dedicated Foundation staff for organising such a memorable day, and to our students and families for their enthusiasm, preparation, and support in making it so special.

100 days brighter!

Year 5 Gardening

Year 5 students worked hard weeding the school garden, showing teamwork, responsibility, and care for our shared environment.

French Words

Bastille Day! By Anabelle Railey

On the 29th of July Our Lady Of The Way students participated in our Bastille Day celebration! We would like to start this off with a big thanks to Madame Cook, Jaques, Phillipe, and all the teachers for getting involved and having fun. We would also like to thank all of our students for making an effort to dress up as well as showing off their amazing outfits. This day was full of fun and French celebrations which included fantastic word searches, a fun and inclusive Mime show, terrific treasure hunts for our younger students, and eye-catching colouring. Just to make our day even better we had some delicious croissants come around to our classrooms and give the students a taste of France!

Art Show

Thank you to all the Parents and students for supporting the Art Show this semester. The students were proud to show off their creativity and share the story of their artworks.
A special thanks to the many LSO’s who worked with the students on these activities, our volunteer Eileen who assists me in the Art Room with the Foundation students and the many staff who offered help in any way to set up the Art Show. Without their support these things do not happen.
A special mention to Andrew Moore who works in the background and makes things happen.
Thank you one and all.

Art work from Foundation, Year 1, 2 & Year 3A & 3B

Music Lessons

Community Events

Beveridge NetSetGo 
Calling all budding netballers aged 5–10!
Join us for a fun and active program where kids can learn new skills, make friends, and fall in love with netball—all in a safe, supportive environment.
 Sessions kick off at 6pm inside the sporting stadium at Beveridge Primary - Ambrosia Campus.
 Register via the link provided. Every sign-up includes a NetSetGo T-shirt and netball - yours to keep! 
We can't wait to see you there