Newsletter Term 2 Week 2, 2024

Mother’s Day

This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day. A special day to highlight the central roles our Mother’s play in our lives. We also celebrate all the other women in our lives such as grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, cousins, teachers and special friends who have helped to shape and form us into the person we are today.

I would like to especially thank the Reception classes, Ms Willson, Ms CIbich and Ms Jensen and Mrs Caldinez for coordinating our beautiful prayer service today and our morning tea.

We pray to our Mother Mary to bless all the mothers of Our Lady of the Visitation School community.

May Mary bless you all, inspiring and energising you by her gentle example of love and perseverance. May she guide you each day as you care and guide your child/ren to grow and flourish.

I wish all our mothers a happy and joyous Mother's Day and trust that you will have a great time celebrating with your family. For those of you who can't be with your Mum this Sunday, give thanks for all she has done for you, call her, send a text, or recognise her in a way that is meaningful to you and your loved ones.

Fr Roderick Retirement

Vicar General Dean Marin has announced the model that will be adopted on Fr Roderick's retirement (May 20 - his 75th birthday).  Fr Roderick will not be replaced by a priest.  Deacon Tim Grauel will become the Pastoral Director of the Lefevre Catholic Community, and Vicar General Dean Marin will be the Priest Moderator.

 Deacon Tim Grauel is not on the pathway to becoming a priest.  He is a married person with a wife and family.   He does a lot of work for the Archdiocese and will work in the parish 2 days per week.  He will continue to live in Hallet Cove.  We are not sure which days he will work in our parish.

 As a Deacon he can not "say" masses.  Vicar General Dean Marin assured the gathering that he will try his utmost to ensure there is a parish mass for our school and the parish on weekends.

School Soccer

This term marks the commencement of the School Soccer Season.  This year we have the highest number of children playing soccer in the history of our school.  I would like to thank John Merrett for coordinating these programs.  I would also like to thank all our coaches for accepting this great responsibility with our children.  Coaches and parents are pivotal in helping with children's participation in sport and physical activity which of course is fundamental to their health and development.

 I ask all parents and spectators to be supportive of our coaches and children at all times.  Anyone with any involvement in sport has seen "the ugly parent" - the ones who adopt an aggressive, overbearing, or pushy approach to their child's involvement.  It doesn't go down well with anyone particularly the ugly parent's child.  The basic premise of all physical activity for anyone; adult or child, is to "have fun”.

Winter Uniform

The beginning of Term 2 is the designated change over to the Winter School Uniform.  There is a two week change over period – but given the unseasonal warm weather this will be extended by a week.  

I urge parents this weekend to ensure that names are on all tops, jackets & hats.  It is cool in the morning, but as the days warm up, the children take items off and can not remember where they dropped them.  Any items with a name will be returned to the owner.

Hats – are still worn in May for PE Lessons and play times.  Students not wearing a hat at play will be asked to sit under a verandah.  We do not wear hats in June, July & August.

Dearest All,

Welcome back to what is proving to be another busy Term.

Mother’s Day is already upon us, a very special day for all the beautiful women in our lives. Mother’s Day dates back to the early Greeks, but the more recent origin of Mother’s Day was introduced by a woman named Anna Jarvis starting a campaign for an official holiday honoring mothers in 1905, the year her own mother died. Anna Jarvis put Mother’s Day on the calendar as a day dedicated to expressing love and gratitude to mothers, acknowledging the sacrifices women make for their children. Then Anna Jarvis teamed up with florists while she was lobbying to get the holiday recognised, even recommending a white carnation as the symbolic flower of Mother’s Day.

Mothers, and other influential women, fill so many roles in our lives. They are often our first teachers, our first role models, and our first friends. They are the person we turn to when we've had a bad day and just need a hug. They're the ones we call up on the phone or turn to and ask for advice. And they're the same ones we occasionally roll our eyes at when we don't like ‘said’ advice! So, while we should be showing love to all women, especially our mother figures, all year round, it’s absolutely beautiful that we have one day set aside to celebrate them.

That said, from one mum to another, I would like to personally wish all the beautiful women out there among our community, and beyond, a very special Mothering Sunday. Take the time to be with your loved ones, allow them to acknowledge all that you do for others and spoil you in the very way you deserve.

Dear God,
Bless all who ‘mother’ and bring new life in any way, these ‘mothers’ who teach and guide, who encourage and heal.
Invite them to the table of your eternal feast, these ‘mothers’ who feed and nurture the life that has been entrusted to them.
Embrace them warmly in your love, these ‘mothers’ who embrace with affection those who are helpless and dependent.
Bless them today with all good things: with health, with laughter, with joy and with love, with pride in their ‘children’ and the support of many friends.
May all ‘mothers’ who have nurtured life in others be themselves nurtured one day in your strong embrace, there, for all eternity, to rejoice with their families and friends.
Amen.

Have a wonderful weekend.

God Bless.
Linda  

Firstly, let us wish all mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures a happy happy day for this Sunday. May those little rays of sunshine – your children – bring you great joy for the day, and for every other day of the year too! Thank you to all who were able to attend our liturgy this morning (Friday 10th May), it was a wonderful way to celebrate as a community.

We are so proud of the way all our Reception students conducted themselves, and their reading - how far have they come? A special thank you to our 3 older students, Sophie (Yr2), Leah (Yr4/5) and Matilda (Yr5/6) for reading our reflection poem, A Child’s Angel, simply beautiful.

Thank you to all our helpers for coordinating the liturgy and the morning tea this morning. And finally, to you, our families, thank you. Thank you for being you, thank you for all you do and thank you for your support……know you matter and matter much.

Happy Mother’s Day

Reception Teachers

STEM - Bee Hotels

Year 1s and 2s

Last term in STEM, Year 1 and 2 students learnt about Australia’s most important pollinators: bees! We learnt that bees are an important part of our ecosystem and without them there would be a food shortage. Then we brainstormed how we can conserve our ecosystem by protecting the bees.

Our students’ design solution was to build bee hotels, where bees can curl up inside the paper straws (we also learnt that bees like to be snug) and lay their eggs inside. That way bees are always reproducing in a safe environment.

Port Sapsasa Athletics Carnival Results

Since the Year 1987, OLV has now won the Division 2 Small Schools trophy 7 times:-
1995, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2024.

OLV has won the Division 3 trophy 2 times:-
2020 & 2023

This year’s results in Division 2:-

1st    Our Lady of the Visitation    67 
2nd   North Haven                           60
3rd    St. Patricks Mansfield Park    28
4th    LeFevre Peninsula                 21
5th    Oceanview College                19        

A special thank you, to Kayla Kersten, Caroline Jiranek and Janet Allen for supervising and marshalling the students. Much appreciated!  I am looking forward to competing at our next Catholic Schools Track and Field Carnival, on Monday 4th November 2024. Section 6 at SA Athletics Stadium, 145 Railway Terrace, Mile End. The students will be competing in the age groups - Year’s 3,4,5 & 6 for that carnival.

Below are the children who were successful in receiving points for our school.     

The following OLV students will be representing Port Sapsasa at a School Sport SA State Day Track and Field Carnival at SA Athletics Stadium, Mile End. This carnival will be on Tuesday 17th September 2024.

Yar K                        Relay
Marites M                 200m, Relay

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival News

Our Lady of the Visitation School performed really well at the recent Section 6 Catholic Schools Swimming Championships.

Overall Placing Points      Age Champion Schools     Individual Champions

1st - Rosary               242       Year 3 - Murray Bridge       Year 3 - Amelia - Murray Bridge
2nd OLV                    230       Year 4-  Rosary                   Year 4 - Thomas - Rosary
3rd Holy Family         109       Year 5 - OLV                       Year 5 - Szymon D - OLV
4th Emmaus               90        Year 6 - OLV                       Year 6 - Max - Emmaus
5th Murray Bridge      83
6th St Monica's          82
7th Mt Carmel            77
8th Albert Park           59

Catholic Schools Swimming Champion Shield

Since 1972 the school has now won the Swimming Champion Shield 9 times:-
1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2022

The following student needs to be congratulated on being named as school captains:-
Parker S, Scarlett R & Leah S.

Congratulations also to the Year 5’s & Year 6’s who were named the Age Champion School.

Below are the children who were successful in receiving ribbons.             

A special thank you to the parents for taking the children to training at the Largs Bay Swim Centre.  Keep up the training over the winter if you can, as we are still in Section 6 next year.

Port Sapsasa Swimming Champion School Results 2024

The following are the results of the Port Sapsasa Swimming Carnival held at Largs Bay Swim Centre.

1st        Semaphore Dominican             55 pts
2nd       Largs Bay                                 37 pts
3rd       Oceanview                                26 pts
4th       OLV                                           24 pts
5th       West Lakes Shore                    23 pts
6th       LeFevre Peninsula                    18 pts
= 6th    Queen of Peace                        18 pts
8th      Mount Carmel College               16 pts
9th      Westport                                    14 pts
10th    Portside                                      13 pts
11th    Ngutu College                             10 pts
12th    North Haven                               3 pts

It was a great carnival! 114 students! 30 staff & officials! 12 schools! 
67 Individual Heat Races!! Then Relay Scramble!!!! Multiclass!!

A huge thankyou to Debbie Sarunic for her work with program, individual cards, and many changes to ensure another successful carnival!  Debbie has been organising the Port Sapsasa Swimming Carnival for the last 16 years!! Huge effort for a volunteer!! 

OLV have won the Champion Schools Trophy nine times since 1983. (1995, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Below are the children who were successful in scoring points for our school.               

A special thank you to Debbie Sarunic, Shey Angove, Tyson Sarunic, Yolette Gale and Kym Meers for helping with the organisation of the carnival.  The carnival was certainly very well organised as a result of your brilliant help!

Also a special thank you to Julie Reed for helping as official/timer.  Amelia Maddern for supervising and organising the OLV students at the Carnival.

Congratulations to Szymon D, Charlotte, Hugo Y, Parker S, Leah S and Scarlett R who made the Port Sapsasa Swimming Team. This team competed in a State Division 1 Metro Swimming Carnival at the Marion Aquatics Centre.

Yours in Sports,
John Merrett