Newsletter June 13, 2024

From the Principal

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

Recently in the media there has been discussion about a change in approach to how students best learn and what we as teachers should adopt in the way of instruction. MACS has launched a Vision for Instruction believing that research and evidence now supports explicit instruction as the best way of teaching children.

Explicit instruction promotes direct teaching over student-led or inquiry-based learning, breaking down new concepts into smaller steps and modelling each step before progression. The method is underpinned by an evidence-based, scientific understanding of how students learn. The practice has already been embraced by individual schools in all sectors, but the Melbourne Archdiocese will embed a system-wide approach, providing teachers with training and curriculum resources to ensure each school operates under the same framework.

The School Leadership Team and other staff members have participated in various Professional Learning Sessions associated with the Explicit Instruction Model and Science of Reading. Many of the components of these approaches are already being used by staff at Our Lady of the Way. We will have the opportunity to spend Professional Learning Sessions focusing on MACS ‘Vision for Instruction’ as well as a School Closure Day later in the year.

The implementation of these approaches will take time. It will not be rushed, but rather implemented, practiced, reviewed and refined until it becomes routine and part of who we are and how we learn at Our Lady of the Way.

We will also be implementing changes as to how we enter and exit our Learning Spaces as well as how we move around the school during Learning Time. We will have a Bell before the music to indicate the end of playtime. The music is time to prepare, once again for learning. Students will line up, walk to class in an orderly manner and wait for the cue to start learning from their teacher. Music will also be played just before the bells to begin recess and lunchtime as all children will be dismissed for their breaks from outside the classrooms.

The idea behind this is to work towards creating engaged, positive and productive classrooms. This is aligned very closely with our Positive Behaviours for Learning approach, and we know when children enter a learning space in a calm manner they are able to focus and engage in their learning without being disrupted.

Our aim in all of this is to strive towards building a school culture that enables students to flourish and become the best versions of themselves. I will keep you updated on the when these changes will be implemented.

Best wishes,
Terry

STAFFING UPDATE

I take this opportunity to welcome Mrs Tenneale Grayden to Our Lady of the Way. Tenneale will be taking over from Mrs Fiona Gough in Year 4A, while Fiona is on Parental Leave. Tenneale comes to us with a wealth of experience, most recently spending the past 6 at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Epping. I am confident the change for the students of Year 4A will be a positive one. Fiona will be on leave from week 3 of Term 3. We wish her all the very best for the impending arrival of her baby and can’t wait for her to come and visit.

SAFE PRACTICES IN AND AROUND CAR PARKS

It is time again for a gentle reminder about the need for safety in and around the school during pick up and drop off times. Firstly, thank you to the large number of parents and carers who are following the safety procedures during before school drop off and after school pick up.
A reminder that when you are dropping your child off in the morning you can:

* park in the streets surrounding the school and allow your child to safely enter the school via one of the entrance gates, making sure they are walking along the pathways

* park in the Church Car Park and walk your child into the school

*drop your child off at the crossing next to the portico of the church where a staff member will ensure they walk safely along the pathways into the school

*please enter and exit from the correct gates. We have had too many near misses by parents using the incorrect entry/exit points almost causing an accident.

Cars should not pull up in the Staff Car Park to let their children out. It is not a safe practice to double park in a car park and get your children to walk between parked cars. Also, when exiting you will be driving over a crossing that is not staffed. We have a staff member at one end of the Car Park to allow safe movement of the children through the car park along the pedestrian paths and with the support of everyone following these guidelines all members of the community will be safer.

Thank you for your support in these areas, the safety of our community members is our number one priority.

SICK STUDENTS

At this time of year there are many illnesses going around, and we need to try and do all we can to lessen the spread of germs and diseases. Many students are arriving at school with cough and cold symptoms. If your child is unwell they will be asked to wear a mask whilst they remain in first aid until a parent arrives to collect them. 

AFTERNOON PICK UP

There is a teacher on yard duty until 3.30pm to supervise students. We understand, occasionally that there are delays out of the ordinary that prevent parents from making school pick up by this time. If this is the case, please call the office to advise us. Students need to remain with yard duty teachers until 3.30pm. If students have not been collected by 3.30pm, they will wait outside the office whilst staff contact parents. 

HELP NEEDED PLEASE

We are looking for a parent to help out with collecting fruit from Coles each Monday morning, and dropping it to the school (starting in term 3). If you are able to assist, or would like to know a little more, please contact the office.

SPARE CLOTHES

With the recent rain, the mud is increasing and we have had many students looking for spare clothes after they have had a fall in the mud outside. Please supply a spare pair of socks, underwear and pants for your child in case this happens. 

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. 

From the Finance Office

In the light of Christ

St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal

We are proud supporters of the St.Vincent De Paul Annual Winter Appeal, and this year is no different. Especially during this tine of the year when the days are chilly and the nights freezing, we are thinking of those in our cimmunity who need help getting through Winter. 

If you are able to spare any non-perishable food items or Winter necessities. We will be collecting and donating them to St. Vincent De Paul in August

Some suggestions include:

     Milk UHT                           Cereal                        Coffee                               Teabags                Sugar            

     Tins of baked beans          Rice                           Biscuits                             Tinned Soup         Pasta sauce

     Tinned tomatoes               Noodles                    Sweet or dry biscuits        Pasta                    Jam

Donations can be made in the classroom Winter Appeal Basket in each room. 

We would be most grateful for any donations you can make.  Our Mini Vinnie Team will be promoting this drive at Community Prayer and in classrooms.

Thankyou to everyone who supported the Caritas Australia Lenten Appeal. Our aim for 2024 was to raise $4000.00 to support communities in Samoa to purchase water tanks for their remote villages. The raised a fantastic amount of $3006.00 for this great cause.

Thank you for your generosity, compassion and donations.

Wellbeing- Positive Behaviour and Learning

SAFETY

“I keep hands, feet and objects to myself”

Teaching and Learning

SCHOOL REPORTS

School reports will be available via PAM (Parent Access Module) on Wednesday, June 26. 

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Parent Teacher interviews will be held next term. The dates will be Wednesday, July 17 from 3.30pm-7.00pm and Tuesday, July 23 from 2.00pm-6.00pm. The booking information will be sent out soon, via PAM. 

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data-NCCD

Language at Our Lady of the Way

                                This term we have learnt the following French words and meanings:

           salut  meaning: hi                                                                         au revoir meaning: good bye         

           s'il vous plaît meaning: please                                                   merci meaning: thank you 

           madame meaning: Mrs                                                               monsieur meaning: Mr

           tout le monde meaning: everyone                                             excuse-moi meaning: excuse me 

           les toilettes meaning: toilet                                                       une boire meaning: a drink 

Art Show

Well done Banjo!-Year 2

Book covering help needed!

We have bags of books to be covered in contact. If you are able to assist with this task, please come to the office and collect a bag. 

Specialist Days

Winter Uniform

A reminder to all girls that leggings are not part of the school uniform. The winter uniform is either a kilt or long navy pants. Leggings are not to be worn. Images of the winter uniform are below. This image does not have the school woollen jumper or the soft cell jacket which are also part of our Winter Uniform. Please ensure that the uniform your child is wearing adheres to our uniform policy. This includes school shoes. Shoes need to be all black and I emphasise the all. No other colour should be visible. On sport days your child can wear any colour runners. Thank you for your continued support with this matter.

Music Lessons

Before and After School Care

Assumption College, Kilmore

Community Events

Flamez Netball 

The new season for Flamez is fast approachingIf your child is a new player with the birth year of 2017, 2016, 2015, please complete the following registration form. Compulsory Training and Dress Sizing Friday 14th June 4pm-5pm at Wallan Netball Stadium.

Scout Holiday Program

Wallan Junior Fire Brigade

Wallan Junior Fire Brigade are recruiting new members. 

Kilmore Kookaburra Girl Guides

Kilmore Girl Guides is looking for new Girls to join, to have fun and make new friends. It is on each Thursday 4.30-6.00pm.

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

Kilmore Village Colouring Competition

***WIN with Smokin' Joe's Pizza & Grill***

Get your textas and crayons ready, colour our Pizza Chef and you could WIN a delicious meal from Smokin's Joe's.
Simply drop your completed artwork into Smokin's Joe's, KIlmore before Friday 14 June 2024 and you'll go into the draw to win:
2 Traditional Pizzas * 1 Garlic Bread *1.25L Soft Drink