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To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of his mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,
Don’t we all long for some rest sometimes? We ask a lot of ourselves; running families whilst working fulltime, trying to keep up with demanding work schedules, housekeeping, looking after extended family members, keeping up on Facebook and other (un) important stuff that continually asks for our attention.
We have come to the end of term 2 and I contemplate the enormous challenges of the past 3 months and all that we have achieved despite them. I, again, express my sincere gratitude to all staff, students and families for your unwavering support and flexibility throughout these times of continued uncertainty. I think there are many of us who are ready for some peace, quiet and rest, I certainly know I am!
Lucky that today marks the start of a two week holiday. Unlike last ‘lockdown’ holidays, I hope these holidays will bring glorious weather and plenty of friends for the kids to play with. I hope these holidays there is lots of time for reading and long conversations with our partners. I hope these holidays there are lots of activities for the kids to do, because after these holidays we need to be recharged long enough to make it to the next break.
Term 2 has been filled with rich learning opportunities for all students. Students have been able to engage in meaningful learning that has been catered to their individual needs and abilities. Whilst on a learning journey it is important to understand that everyone will need different support at different times.
I hope you have had time to read through your child’s report and portfolio. Maybe you have had the opportunity to sit down with your child and read through it together. As a parent I fully understand that my children will have strengths in some subjects and will still be developing in others. I personally believe that the grade students receive for effort is the more important grade; although a child is still developing in a subject, this grade tells me they are trying their best. If a child receives a C grade for achievement they are exactly where they should be for their age and year level. Anything beyond that means they are learning above their year level standard. With the knowledge that all children learn differently and at different times, a child might receive a D grade. This is not immediately cause for concern. It is important to understand that your child is close to the standard but is also still developing in that subject. I hope that if you had any questions about your children’s reports and portfolios you would have contacted me. You will have an opportunity to meet with staff early in term 3 to discuss your child’s learning in parent-teacher interviews.
This week we have been able to welcome parents back into the school grounds. It has been very nice to be able to reconnect face to face with you as you drop off and pick up your children. Hand sanitiser has been placed at all gates and at classroom doors for you to use before you enter.
Moving into Term 3, families of children that are currently in kindergarten will begin thinking about where to send their child. I have already begun showing families through the school and others have already booked visits early in term 3. If there are any families that you know of that might be interested in a tour of the school I ask that you encourage them to make a time with me.
Although these blissful holidays have finally arrived, I also know, even though we may imagine a perfect holiday, things don’t always turn out that way. A few days into the holidays, the kids are constantly fighting with each other. The long and quiet conversations with your partner get interrupted by little people who either can’t sleep or won’t sleep. Family members don’t seem to be wanting to do the same activities and arguments are starting to run high. Then there is the realisation that no family can live on lazy meals alone and that cooking a decent meal is now unavoidable. Time just seems to be flying by and the book that longs to be read still lays untouched.
Nothing in life is perfect, not even a perfect imagined holiday. Live in the moment and enjoy all that surrounds you and those who are with you. God is also with you. Even when you don’t read the bible or have your hands folded in prayer, God is there. You can see him in those you love, your partner and your children, in nature and the sun that warms your body, on these cold winter’s days.
Wishing you all a safe and peaceful holiday. I look forward to welcome everyone back on Monday 20th July.
Nanda de Winter
Pope Francis’s prayer for July
This Sunday’s Gospel Message for Families
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 5 July 2020
(Brisbane Liturgy website)
“I am gentle and humble of heart.”
Something to Think About
Do you sometimes feel worried about things?
Do you sometimes feel tired or frustrated and just need a rest?
In this Sunday’s gospel we learn that we can give our worries to Jesus and Jesus will give us rest and peace.
The Story
In Sunday’s gospel story from Matthew, Jesus makes a clear delineation between ‘wise and educated people’ and ‘ordinary people’ (in other translations ‘mere children’).
The first group probably refers to the Pharisees and others who rejected the messages of both John the Baptist and Jesus. ‘Ordinary people’ seems to refer to both those who are ‘child-like’ in their understanding (the disciples) as well as to children themselves.
The key message of Sunday’s gospel is: do not worry, for Jesus is gentle and humble and will give us rest.
The Scriptures
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 11:27-30
On one occasion Jesus said:
"The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son.
But the Son wants to tell others about the Father,
so that they can know him too.
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens,
come to me and I will give you rest.
Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me.
I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is always there To Help You
Term 3 Masses
Throughout the past Term, classes have prepared Digital Liturgies of the Word to share across the school. This has been a new and different way to celebrate our Catholic identity. Assuming restrictions remain the same as they currently are, we will be able to resume hosting our Class Masses in the Church. We look forward to celebrating with the wider Our Lady of the River Parish community.
Aug. 6th Year 4 Class Mass 9:00am St Mary’s Church
Aug. 20th Year 1 and 2 Class Mass 9:00am St Mary’s Church
Sept. 3rd Year 6 and 7 Class Mass 9:00am St Mary’s Church
Sept. 17th Foundation and Year 1 Class Mass 9:00am St Mary’s Church
Special Days
August 8th Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
August 15th Feast of the Assumption of Mary – Holy day of obligation
September 6th Father’s Day
70th Birthday
There will be a gathering at the OLOR School Hall on Saturday July 18th from 2.00pm until 4.00pm. No-one is invited, but anyone is welcome. He is cooking 3 Gobblers for the occasion and some nibbles and refreshments will be supplied. Definitely no Presents, but you are welcome to make a donation to Caritas Australia. Please BYO chair and bring a plate of nibbles to share if able.
As the term draws to a close this is a good time to reflect on the many blessings and growth in learning we have experienced.
Wishing peace and rejuvenation to all families over the next two weeks.
May God’s peaceful Spirit be with you always,
Rosemary Perre
Religious Education Coordinator.
Witness
The Witness is a bi-monthly publication released every February, April, June, August, October and December, please click the following link to view.
Co-editors; Jennifer Wainwright and Michael Preece.
Our YEL forum this term has looked a little bit different. We have held all our meetings at school and Cindy (our NRM Education Officer) has uploaded all the information to Microsoft Teams and we have been following along at school. There were some videos that we had to watch about how the Starkey family at Loxton are a ‘Sustainable Farm’ and how the Schubert family from Loxton expanded their farming to include crickets in order to maintain an income during the drought.
We learned about the importance of sustainable farming. Sustainable farming is when you look after the resources you have and make sure you can re-use the land and water for years to come. The Starkey family talked about how they use machinery that was gentle on the land they were farming to ensure minimal soil erosion and added nutrients to the soil when seeding.
We wanted to see if we were able to use what we had at school to become a bit more sustainable and decided that the fruit scrap bins were a great place to start. Previously, our fruit scrap bins were placed in an area that ended up with the full afternoon sun. This created a smelly problem for our class (and other classes who would also empty them) as the flies and bugs were all over it. We decided that we needed new tubs that had lids and encouraged all the classes to help by making sure the lids went on after the scraps were placed in the bin. Secondly, we found a new home for each bin, and made sure that it was always in the shade.
Once we had everything ready to go, signs were printed and laminated, and we let each class know of the new location for each bin. This has been a huge success so far and every student has helped by placing their fruit scraps in the bins and replacing the lids. This fruit and food then goes home with Mrs. Hunter and she feeds it to her chickens.
After watching the video from Zachery Schubert and learning about how they farm crickets, we looked at ways we could use the fruit and food scraps to help OLOR become more sustainable. With bugs and insects on the brains, we decided that a worm farm would be a fantastic addition to the school. The worm juice could be used on the school veggie garden and the fruit and food scraps could be used to feed both the chickens and the worms. Worms are a sustainable farming option because they use fruit and food scraps we have on hand and do not cost much to keep.
This is something we are still working on, and we will let you know when it is ready.
Lastly, we would like to thank the students at OLOR for taking on the new fruit bins with such enthusiasm (maybe it’s because there are no more smelly fruit bins to walk past!). Seeing you all making sure the lids are on properly and that the food dropped around the bin is picked up has made it so much easier and helped it to be a success.
Emma, Ruby, Anastasia and Madison – YEL 2020
- 5th of August 2020 - Module 1: Mindfulness (Managing Difficult Feelings)
This webinar will introduce "Mindfulness" as a core resilience skill associated with future wellbeing and positive life outcomes.
This dynamic and engaging webinar will introduce and explore the following content:
- An overview of what is "mindfulness", as both a skill and approach to bring to one's life.
- The benefits of mindfulness and grounding strategies.
- Applying mindfulness across different settings, including learning, education, work, family and navigating the demands of Year 11 and 12.
- Exploration of different mindfulness and grounding strategies (including the What-What-How).
- Drawing upon mindfulness to navigate and manage difficult feelings, including anxiety, stress and anger.
- Parenting and teacher strategies that can foster and teach mindfulness and grounding at home and at school.
- How to take a mindfulness (or a mindful intent) to one's life and future decision making.
- 19th of August 2020 - Module 2: Growth Mindset
This webinar will introduce "Growth Mindset" as a core resilience skill associated with future wellbeing and positive life outcomes.
This dynamic and engaging webinar will introduce and explore the following content:
- An understanding of how 'mindsets' can guide future actions, one's experience of the world and future wellbeing and resilience outcomes.
- An overview of the 'growth' versus 'fixed mindset'.
- Drawing upon the 'growth mindset' across different settings, including learning, education, work, family and navigating the demands of Year 11 and 12.
- The 'power of yet' and other strategies that foster a growth mindset.
- Parenting and teacher strategies that foster a 'growth' versus 'fixed mindset' for children and young people.
- How to take a growth mindset (or 'growth intent') to one's life and future decision making.
- 2nd of September 2020 - Module 3: Actioning Values
This webinar will introduce "Actioning Values" as a core resilience skill associated with future wellbeing and positive life outcomes.
This dynamic and engaging webinar will introduce and explore the following content:
- An overview of what are values and why they are important.
- The importance and role of actioning values (or energising them through decision making) as a method to 'live your spirit' (or live authentically).
- An exploration of different values, and how they relate to wellbeing, resilience and optimal life outcomes.
- An understanding of the 3 C's as a way to understand human motivation.
- How to draw upon the motivating properties of values, across learning, education, work, family and navigating the demands of Year 11 and 12.
- Using the What-What-How to activate values and support increased wellbeing, resilience and optimal decision making.
- Parenting and teacher strategies that can support the exploration and activation of values.
- 16th of September 2020 -Module 4: Gratitude and Helpful Thinking
This webinar will introduce "Gratitude and Helpful Thinking" as a core resilience skill associated with future wellbeing and life outcomes.
This dynamic and engaging webinar will introduce and explore the following content:
- The relationship between thoughts, feelings and actions.
- The types and impact of different thinking approaches.
- An exploration of 'helpful' versus 'unhelpful' thinking.
- An understanding of 'gratitude' as a helpful thinking process.
- An overview of different gratitude exercises and strategies that can be applied across home and school.
- How to bring a helpful thinking process to challenging situations, including across school, home, family and stressful tasks (including Year 11 and 12).
Congratulations to the following students who are having a birthday in July:
Foundation - Akirah Trevorrow
Year 1 - Van Koch
Year 3 - Charlize Camilleri - Turner
Year 4 - Layla Vallelonga, Wavely Marsden, Max Schubert
Year 6 - Raahil Sowkath Ali, Oliver Sims, Nicholas Koutouzis
Year 7 - Ryder Hunt, Paul Dale