Our Lady of the Visitation

Weekly Newsletter

This week, we have been focusing on our core school values: Caring, Respecting, and Learning. These values are integral to our school community and guide our interactions and behaviours. We encourage all students to embody these values in their daily activities.

A key aspect of our values is the Golden Rule: "Treat others as you would like to be treated." This principle is fundamental in fostering a positive and respectful school environment. By practising the Golden Rule, students learn empathy, kindness, and the importance of mutual respect and inclusion.

Effective behaviour management is a collaborative effort between the school and parents. We believe that working together is essential in addressing and correcting behaviour errors. Open communication and consistent reinforcement of our values at home and school help create a supportive environment for our students.

We recently sent out a letter regarding our school values and behaviour expectations. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these values at home. Additionally, we are working on an Anti-Bullying and Harassment Procedure to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all students.

Road Safety Reminder

We would like to remind all parents and guardians of the importance of adhering to the signed road rules both around and on school property. Ensuring the safety of our students is a top priority, and your cooperation is essential. Over the past two weeks we have had a number of phone calls from parents and caregivers relating to parents who are parking in No Standing or No Parking zones which is impacting the flow of traffic during busy periods.

We are also reviewing the signage for the Church carpark. Remember, this is a ONE-WAY area, so please turn left as you enter the carpark – this too will ensure the carpark flows and also makes this a safer area for students as they are walking to and from school.

Please note that the front carpark (off Victoria Road) is reserved for staff and deliveries only. The gate will be closed from 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM for student safety.

Building Works Update

Our building works are progressing well. The courts are coming along nicely, and we are in the process of obtaining permission to move the OSHC (Out of School Hours Care) into St Francis Hall. The roofing project is also progressing well, with a focus now moving over the pre-school area.

OSHC Access Changes

The OSHC service will soon be relocating to the St Francis Hall. When this occurs, all children being dropped off or picked up from the OSHC service will need to use the Railway Terrace Carpark – this will result in a smooth transition to the service across the courts and into the Western Door. Sue will notify families when this comes into full effect.

Save the Date: 2025 AGM

Please mark your calendars for our Annual General Meeting, which will be held on 26 March. We look forward to your participation.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Warm Regards
Sean

Sacramental Program

A sacramental program is a way to help children learn about their faith and prepare to receive sacraments. Sacraments are practices that symbolise faith and connect people with God.

Our 2025 sacramental program has started. This year we are blessed to be working alongside 23 candidates and their families. From OLV there are 5 candidates, with a possibility of it being raised to 8: they are Noah, Marissa, Jordan, Diego and Javier.

We ask our community to keep our sacramental candidates in your prayers - meaning actively remember and pray for all our candidates who are currently preparing to receive the sacraments: Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Eucharist (Holy Communion), asking God to guide them on their faith journey and bless them as they deepen their relationship with Him. Thank you.

Pilgrims of Hope – Staff Commissioning Mass

On Thursday 20th February, we celebrated our Staff Commissioning Mass with Fr. Joash presiding. The Mass was hosted by staff and our Year 6 Leaders and was a wonderful opportunity to bless and commission all staff for the 2025 school year. It's an annual event that takes place during Term 1 at OLV Church.

Its purpose:

To bless all staff as they begin their year of teaching and learning
To commission all staff for the school year

This annual Commissioning Mass is a special occasion for all staff. It is a way of acknowledging and celebrating the important work of educating students in our school. Fr. Joash blessed all staff, as did our School Leaders, Diego and Lotus, and staff pledged to be the best they can be.

Fr. Joash’s blessing: Loving God, You have called the staff at OLV to nurture young minds and hearts, to guide and inspire, to teach not only knowledge but also kindness, compassion, and faith. Bless them as they journey through this academic year. May Your wisdom guide their words, Your love shape their actions, and Your Spirit strengthen their calling. May they be reflections of Christ’s light to their students and families. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diego and Lotus’s blessing (on behalf of all students): God of love, Bless all staff with hope, love, and peace. Help them to see the goodness in each of us. Fill their hearts with wisdom, patience and love so that they may guide us to learn and grow in faith. We thank You for them and ask You to bless their work today and always. Amen.

Staff pledge: Lord God, You have entrusted us with the care and education of these young minds. With faith in Your guidance, we promise: To teach with wisdom, patience, and love, To nurture the gifts of each student entrusted to us, To inspire them to seek truth and to grow in faith, To lead by example, showing respect and care And to entrust our work each day to You, Knowing that in serving these children and their family, we serve You. Bless us in our mission as we walk in Your light. Amen.

I would personally like to thank all staff for their commitment and dedication to all who pass through our OLV gates. Our staff matter and they matter much. God Bless you all.

Shrove Tuesday

Good old PANCAKE Day is almost upon us. Are you able to assist, help cook, serve, tidy up? If you are a dab hand at BBQing, flipping pancakes and serving them to our community, then please get in touch, I would love to hear from you.

Every year we celebrate Shrove Tuesday, or as you may know it…Pancake Day! But what is the meaning behind this special day? How and why is it celebrated?

The tradition of making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday comes from families using up all ingredients in their cupboards so that they can start Lent the next day (Ash Wednesday). The ingredients - eggs, flour and milk - used to be very common things for Christians to give up for Lent. These days it's probably the toppings that we're likely to give up - such as chocolate, sugary toppings, ice-cream and or sweets!

Lent is a period of 40 days where Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ. Christians use Lent as a way of testing their willpower - often giving up things like chocolate, other sweet treats, spending money, eating carbs, etc, before Easter. Many around the world, do this as a sign of sacrifice, just as Jesus Christ did when he went into the desert to pray and fast for the 40 days then later dying on the cross for us.

A very exciting time awaits us as we venture into Lent (Week 6), then Easter.

Project Compassion

Each year, throughout Term 1, we raise funds for Project Compassion. The funds raised help Project Compassion continue their charity work around the world helping those who are less fortunate than us.

In the coming weeks, each student will receive and bring home a Project Compassion box. We would like you, if possible, to donate coins for this worthy cause and bring the box back to your child’s teacher before the end of Term 1.

Our SRC class representatives will be asking students for ideas on how we could fund-raise as a whole school. Once the ideas are in and collated, they will discuss as a leadership team and then promote the fund-raising idea or ideas to all in our community.

The Bible emphasises that charity is a way to love others and to help those in need. It also says that charity is a basic belief of Christianity, and that it's a continuous effort to improve the lives of others. So, let’s get together and help improve the lives of those in our community and further afield. Thanking you in advance.

Linda Caldinez