Issue 5 I  5 May 2022

Dear Parents & Carers,

Term 2 has started with much excitement. Students have been engaging in events that we no longer take for granted! The challenges of the past two years have certainly made us appreciate any opportunity we have to gather and celebrate. My thanks to each of the teachers who have prepared for the extra events with meticulous attention to detail and care.

Prayer
We started the term with our ANZAC Day liturgy on the Tuesday, followed closely by our whole school Mass last Friday to celebrate our Feast Day. It was beautiful to see all the students together in the Church, they were both reverent and respectful during the Mass.

Camp
This week Year 6 have enjoyed their overnight leadership camp at Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation at Narrabeen. Congratulations to the students who conducted themselves with great maturity and leadership. Thank you to the Stage 3 teachers who gave up time with their own families to support this opportunity for our Year 6 students; Ms Bland, Ms Houston & Ms Gearin.

Cross Country
Congratulations to our OLGC running team! Each of the selected students proudly represented our school at the Northern Beaches Cluster Cross Country Carnival this week against students from the Catholic schools in the area. I had the privilege of witnessing the tenacity, dedication and will power as each of our students gave their very best. Congratulations to the students who have been selected to represent at the Broken Bay Diocese Cross Country at Fagan Park.

2023 Enrolment Meetings
We are very quickly settling our enrolments for the two kindergarten classes for 2023. I’ve been meeting with each of our newest students and their parents to welcome them to our community. We are close to finalising places, so if you know of anyone in the local area who is thinking about enrolment at OLGC and has yet to complete the application form, please encourage them to do so ASAP. We will waitlist applications once the classes are full.

Congratulations – Teacher Babies!
We love the celebration of new life! We have three teachers who are expecting new additions to their families this year, such a blessing! The replacement teachers covering them while they are on leave will be communicated with each relevant class. Greg Egan will be expecting his third child next month, with Monica Lobascher and Kayla Bulla expecting their babies in August and September respectively.

Mother's Day 
Thank you for all the donations we have received for the Manly Warringah Women’s Resource Centre. To find out more about the centre and where your donations are going this Mother’s Day please visit the website https://womensrefuge.org.au/
To all of our Mums, Grandmas and female role models in the life of our students, I wish each and every one of you a special day on Sunday full of hugs, smiles and memory making moments.

Warm regards,
Fiona Dignan

With the easing of cross-grade playground restrictions, this term we are excited to offer the children the opportunity to participate in optional Lunch Clubs. This is in addition to the wide variety of sports equipment available to facilitate student led games during the play breaks.

Lunch Clubs offer children the chance to have fun and interact with students from other year levels. Students are able to engage in activities that they enjoy, and “take a break” from the unstructured play time of the playground. 

Lunch Clubs provide a more structured setting for peer interaction and their use in schools has been associated with improving social skills, increasing friendships and promoting peer social acceptance.

The clubs will take place during the second half of the lunch block once the children have eaten their lunch. The focus of the clubs will be adjusted term by term. This term we have on offer:
Mondays - Drawing, colouring in, reading and chess activities in the library with Mrs Lobascher (Years 3-6 children welcome)
Tuesdays - Drawing, colouring in, reading and chess activities in the library with Ms Houston (Years K-2 children welcome)
Wednesdays  - “Let your light shine” performing club in the hall with Mrs. Morello and Mr. Strozer (Term 2 - Years 5 and 6 children welcome)
Thursdays - Games on the oval with sport captains and student leaders (Years K-2 children welcome)
Fridays - Games on the oval with sports captains and student leaders (Years 3 and 4 children welcome)
 
We hope the children enjoy these opportunities and look forward to seeing lots of joy and friendship during lunch time.

Paola Brannan
Assistant Principal

Friday 6 May
Mothers Day Open Classrooms, Prayer & Morning Tea (8:15am - 9:45am).
Masks MUST be worn by all adult visitors in the classroom.

Monday 9 May
Students to wear winter uniform

Tuesday 10 May - Friday 20 May
NAPLAN

Thursday 12 May
School photo back up day

Monday 13 June
Public holiday

Friday 24 June
Disco (more information to follow)

Thursday 30 June
Last day of Term 2 (Students)

Monday 18 July 
First day of Term 3 & Athletics Carnival

Across many grades, students have been using a fantastic game-based learning platform called Prodigy.  Students begin the game, meeting a friendly creature who guides them as they enter a fantasy world filled with battles and rewards. As students encounter monsters to battle, they must answer math questions to earn a spell. The spell helps them win the battle and move forward in the game. Math questions adapt to student’s skill level, and the more questions they answer correctly, the more spells, coins, and other rewards they earn.  Teachers can ensure specific Australian Curriculum aligned concepts are incorporated into the questions students encounter, ensuring the time spent on Prodigy supports the different outcomes taught throughout the term. This platform has proved to be a great success in engaging students in mathematics but also helping to develop the abilities of students throughout the school.  

This term during Coding lessons, students will be trialling a Minecraft redstoning (use of the Red Stone in Minecraft) tutorial. Redstoning is a surprisingly simple but in-depth Boolean (form of data with two possible entries) logic system designed around the mechanics of the Minecraft 3D world. By the end of the term, students will be able to light up entire villages for the night, create impressive and functional doorways, create mega-farms to boost the economy of their town and dabble with elevators and flying machines. Some fun with TNT cannons may also be included! 

Greg Egan (ICLT Coordinator) and Andrew Diggins (Coding Teacher) 

Thank you to the parents who volunteer and assist in the Canteen.

If you would like to volunteer, please visit https://www.carebookings.com.au/code/mrasx. Please note all volunteers need to be fully vaccinated and are required to show proof of vaccination upon arrival at the office. However no canteen experience is necessary. 
 
There are a few volunteer options that are being trialled for Term 2.

• AM volunteer (9am – 11:30am)
• PM volunteer (11:30am – 2pm)
• Select both AM & PM volunteer if you are available all day. Lunch will be provided. 

Attached you will find some Frequently Asked Questions which will assist you in logging in to the CareBookings website.
 
Thank you in anticipation for the time you are giving to our community.
 
Niki Gavranic 
Canteen Manager

The Australia My Country (AMC) Competition is sponsored annually by the Forestville RSL Sub-Branch and is designed to enhance the sense of pride and patriotism of participants by commemorating, through writing and art, Australia’s proud military heritage.  The Competition is open to Year 3 to 6 students of the local Primary schools.

Participants can choose between written work (composition or poetry) or art works to meet the Competition requirements. The topic for 2022 is “31st May 1942, the day War came to Sydney”.
 
Entry forms explaining details are available from Mrs. Brannan and can also be found in the Forestville RSL website. Entries close on Friday 13th May and will be collected from the school during the week ending Friday 20th May.

Dear Parents and Carers,
 
Firstly, a Happy Mother’s Day to every family for this weekend and welcome to all of the mother’s attending the school tomorrow.
 
Our school is unique in the spirit we have developed by giving, rather than receiving at major holidays. As a result, Australia’s main major newspaper, The Catholic Weekly will be celebrating our parent’s Mother’s Day initiative in their edition this weekend.

Thanks so much to our Year 2 team who have been busy coordinating our collection for the Manly Warringah Women’s Resource Centre. We have had many wonderful donations and will provide a full update in the next newsletter.

School Disco
Our Year 4 parents have started organising one of the most exciting nights of the year for our children, the disco, which will be taking place on Friday 24 June. More information about bookings will be provided soon. Thanks to our great team of volunteers who are working hard to bring this all together.
 
Playground Resources
Thank you so much to all of the families who have participated in the discussions surrounding the purchasing of new playground resources. Our school is a reflection of our community, so it was fantastic to have all the parent’s feedback. In addition, a student survey is being carried out by the school leadership team, so the students can also have their say.
 
More information to be provided to parents a couple of weeks before voting at the Term 2 General Meeting.
 
Term 2 P&F General Meeting – Tuesday, 14 June 2022 
We will be joined by a guest speaker Dr Julian Wojtulewicz a paediatric sleep specialist who will assist in providing parents with tips on how to address issues associated with 21^st century life and a lack of sleep and to answer any questions parents may have.
 
If you have any agenda items you would like included for discussion at the P&F Meeting, please email them to pf.olgc.forestville@gmail.com
 
Uniform Shop
The Second Hand Uniform Shop is physically open again every Wednesday from 8:30am – 9:30am and from 2:30pm – 3:30pm for parents to call in to buy second hand items.
 
Alternatively, parents can remain ordering online via the order form to olgc@dbb.catholic.edu.au. Once the order is filled, we will phone parents for credit card details and the order will be sent home with the eldest child of the family. 
 
Easter Raffle
Thank you to everyone who gave donations, bought raffle tickets and congratulations to the winners. Special thanks to the Year 3 co-ordinators of the Easter Raffle
 
Entertainment Book- Mothers’ Day special
There is currently a Mother’s Day special on the Entertainment books where you will receive store gift cards up to $40 dollars each with each purchase. Please see here for more details: https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/2040e72
 
OLGC P&F Committee

Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize
Students are invited to participate in the Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize. 

Entries are now open for young artists and designers from 7- 12 years. Entries close at 5pm on Wednesday 11 May 2022.

Please see the Northern Beaches Council website for more information and an entry form.

CatholicCare Parenting Programs Term 2 2022
Please see the attached parenting documents for programs available in Term 2 2022. 
Parenting Programs 
Program Schedule

Double Dutch Skipping
The Double Dutch Skipping program is an advance skipping program that is focussed on fun and fitness.  It is conducted weekly of a Friday lunchtime. I started the program when my daughter was at OLGC in Yr 2 – she is now 22! I have expanded the program to 10 schools and see 400 students weekly.  Kids vote with their feet and love the activities. 
 
For more information go to OLGC www.trybooking.com/7786

Mark Saunders