Confirmation

Congratulations to Jack Burnett on making his Confirmation with Bishop Karol at St Therese church, last Saturday. It was a joyful reminder of our unity as Our Lady of the Riverland Parish, with students and families from Barmera, Berri, and Renmark coming together to share in this special moment of faith. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to guide and strengthen Jack as he grow in faith.  

OLOR Mass Times - St. Mary's Church, Berri

Sunday August 31^st – 9:00am

Sunday September 7^th – 9:00am

Saturday September 13^th  – 6:30pm 

Sunday September 21^st – 9:00am Confirmation Rite of Commitment.

Saturday September 27^th – 6:30pm 

Sunday October 5^th – 9:00 am

The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,' The Southern Cross,' is available at Southern Cross Latest Issue

A Father’s Day Blessing 

Loving God, 

we give thanks for all fathers: 
for those who comfort us in scraped knees and sorrows, 
who guide us with wisdom and patience, 
who surround us with hugs and laughter, 
and who love us unconditionally each day. 
 

Bless them with the strength, faith, and gentleness of Saint Joseph. 
May they know the deep love we hold for them, 
and may Your grace guide them always. 

Like You, our loving Father, 
may they plant seeds of hope in the hearts of their children, 
nurturing faith, kindness, and trust in Your promises. 

We remember with love the dads who cannot be with us, 
and those who now rest in Your eternal care.                             

May they be held in Your peace, embraced by Your mercy, 
and forever live in the light of Your love. 

We make this prayer through Jesus, Your loving Son, 

Amen. 

Rosemary Perre

APRIM

Our school has been a rather busy place over the past few weeks with many events being celebrated. We take pride in the wide variety of learning opportunities and experiences we can offer our students.

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Our parish community came together for a deeply meaningful event last weekend: the Sacrament of Confirmation. This year was particularly special as our students joined with their peers from St. Joseph’s Barmera and St. Joseph’s Renmark. The special ceremony took place at St. Therese Church in Renmark, where Bishop Karol Kulczyzki presided over the Mass and Fr. Hau concelebrated. It was a powerful service that marked a significant step in the faith journeys of all the young people involved. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jack, and we were incredibly proud to witness him take this important step. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Perre and Mrs. Grocke from St. Joseph’s for their dedicated support and for the time they invested in the formation of the students, helping them prepare for this sacred moment. 

Riverland Music Festival Success 

The air was filled with beautiful music at the Riverland Music Festival, thanks to the outstanding performances of our talented choir students. Their participation showcased not only their incredible musical abilities but also their commitment and passion. Each song was a testament to the countless hours of practice and hard work they put in. We are proud of their dedication and the professionalism they displayed on stage. A special thank you is due to Mrs. Owens for her tireless guidance and support. Her encouragement and expertise were instrumental in preparing our students for this unforgettable experience, helping them shine so brightly. 

Year 3 Monarto Zoo Camp 

Our Year 3 students embarked on an unforgettable adventure at the Monarto Zoo camp. It was much more than a typical zoo visit; the students got to experience what it's truly like to be a park ranger. They enthusiastically participated in hands-on activities, like helping to clean up animal enclosures, and got to make animal shelters as well. The learning continued into the evening, with a thrilling night walk and a session of stargazing. Against the backdrop of a starry sky, they were treated to a great view of the Milky Way, all while hearing the majestic roar of the lions in the distance—a memory that will surely last a lifetime. A huge thank you goes to Miss Stewart for her meticulous organization, and to Pat and Mel for their invaluable support on the camp, which ensured everyone had a safe and wonderful time. 

A Note on Smartwatches and Mobile Phones 

Recently, we've noticed an increase in students wearing smartwatches to school. While we recognize that these are excellent tools for adults and can be useful for children, they can become a significant distraction in the classroom setting. Many of the smartwatches available today have the same capabilities as mobile phones, which are not permitted in class. I have spoken with students to clarify that while they are welcome to wear their smartwatches, they should only be used to tell time while at school. To avoid any distraction for themselves or others, teachers will follow the same protocol as with mobile phones and ask students to put them away if they are being used inappropriately. We kindly ask that families reinforce this message with their children. This is also a good opportunity to remind students who carry mobile phones in their bags to please hand them to their class teacher at the start of the day to ensure they are kept safe and secure until the end of the school day. 

Father's Day Celebration 

To all the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other special role models who joined us for our Father's Day afternoon, we extend our most sincere thanks. Your presence made the day truly special. We hope you had as much fun as we did, and the smiles on our students' faces clearly showed how much your support and love mean to them. We truly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedules to connect with your children and celebrate this special occasion with us. Thank you for being wonderful role models and for the endless love and care you provide. As Sunday approaches, we wish you a very happy Father's Day and hope your children treat you as well as you deserve.

Mr Michael Slagter
Principal

Assembly Awards

Congratulations to  Cruz, Ada, Laura, Anna, Archer K, Harper, Tahj, Lilli, Hugo and Lucas who all received Certificate of Achievement Awards at our assembly in recognition of their efforts during the past few weeks.

We were also proud to announce our PBIS award winners for earning the highest number of points in each category. Congratulations to -

Catie - RESPECT

Serah - KINDNESS

 Harry - RESILIENCE 

Ada - BEING YOUR BEST 

(and Gracie from the previous assembly)

What a wonderful week of reading, imagination, and adventure we had during our Book Week celebrations! It was a fantastic success, filled with creativity and a love for literature.

This year's Book Week was a true adventure, starting with a very special visit. A huge thank you to the Year 9 students from St Francis of Assisi College, Renmark, who joined us. The older students read to our junior primary classes and led some fun craft activities. These partnerships are incredibly valuable, and it was a great way to celebrate our shared love of books.

A huge thank you as well to everyone who participated in our 'Book an Adventure' Book Week Parade. The costumes were absolutely incredible and showed off some amazing imagination. It was a joy to see our entire school community come together to celebrate the power of reading.

From dressing up as favorite characters to participating in engaging storytelling, there was something for everyone. The week-long celebration not only fostered a love of reading but also encouraged students to explore different genres and authors. Our 1/2 and 2/3 classes even took a special trip to the Berri Library for some fun activities.

YEL Forum Adventure at Murtho – Week 5 Highlights!

The YEL team headed out for our third forum of the year—this time at beautiful Murtho, and wow, what a day!

We kicked things off with a nature walk through the wetlands, binoculars in hand and cameras ready. We spotted emus strutting, black swans paddling, whistling kites soaring, and pelicans just chilling. It was like stepping into a real-life nature documentary!

Next up: seed bombs! Yep, we got our hands dirty making these awesome little balls of clay, fertiliser, and seeds. Once they dry, they’re ready to be planted—eco-friendly and super fun.

But the heart of the day was something truly special: helping to planting 900 trees to create a habitat for the local regent parrots, all in celebration of Dr Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday. It felt amazing to be part of something so meaningful.

To wrap up the day, we headed back to the YEL base and joined other schools for a classic sausage sizzle—great food, great company, and lots of laughs.

Hot Shots Tennis

On Thursday of Week 7, our Year 3 and 4 students participated in the Hot Shots Tennis Carnival. For most students, this was their first Riverland sports carnival, and it was a great introduction to the amazing opportunities that SAPSASA provides our middle and upper primary students. All students demonstrated a great dedication to learning the game and made great improvements in their skills as the day progressed. Congratulations to Celise Drake and Harry Burnett on receiving the values awards for their sportsmanship and effort on the day. All students represented OLOR with pride and received compliments for their kindness and sportsmanship from other schools. 

Sports Day

Students have begun preparations for Sports Day which will be held on Wednesday the 24th of September. House teams have been learning their chants and practicing the health hustle ready for the big day. More information about the day will be coming out to families in the coming weeks.  

Luke Dunn
PE Teacher

Choir

Last week on Wednesday 27th August, our choir performed at the Riverland Primary School’s Music Festival. All students did a fantastic job and were great representatives of our school. Congratulations to Catie who performed as part of a solo group. Choir is now finished for this year, but we look forward to performing at the Berri Carols later in the year. 

Dance Troupe

Dance troupe has now begun. Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays at 8:15am. All students in Year 2-6 are welcome to attend – no dance experience necessary. We will be preparing a dance to perform in our end-of-year production. 

Production Announcement!

I am very excited to announce that this year, our school will be performing The Wizard of Oz for our end-of-year production. All classes will be involved in the performance, and some students will have the opportunity to audition for a main role.  

THE WIZARD OF OZ 

By L. Frank Baum 

With Music and Lyrics 

by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg 

Background Music by Herbert Stothart 

Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard 

Orchestration by Larry Wilcox 

Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company 

Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by 

Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by 

Warner Bros. 

Adaptation and support materials for the Young Performers’ Edition 

Developed by iTheatrics 

Under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald 

“The Wizard of Oz” is presented by permission of ORiGiN™ Theatrical 

on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC., A Concord Theatricals Company