Our Lady of the Cape Primary School

Dear Parents and Community Members,

I hope you all had a relaxing holiday break with your family and friends. It was quite a wet break in the southwest, so hopefully you managed to stay dry and warm as well. Welcome to the start of a new semester of learning.

Term 3 dates are available on our website for your planning. This term there are a range of spiritual, sporting, academic and cultural pursuits. Please make sure you are informed about some exciting events which will be happening this term including Interschool Cross Country, Reconciliation for Year 3’s, OLC Feast Day and Mission Markets, Year 5 Culture Nature Challenge Days, Book Week dress-up day, Wellbeing Week, Sports Carnival, Learning Journey, Assemblies, EduDance and so much more! Please note these dates in your diary and keep an eye on the Newsletter for any changes of dates.

Monique Wendelin is enjoying some time at home with a gorgeous new addition to her family. Congratulations to Monique, Hugh and Florence on the arrival of their precious son and brother, Murphy. Mrs Jess Goff is joining us as Kindy Teacher on Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays, and Mrs Chloe Umbers will be our Pre-Kindy teacher on Wednesdays. We welcome them both to our staff team.

At the end of last term, there were many activities and events that contributed towards a well-rounded educational experience at OLC. Please see attached photos of Cultural Week activities, end of term Mass and Staff vs Students Soccer match. Did you see the feature in the two local newspapers about our Cultural Week, with a particular focus on our Italian Gnocchi cooking sessions? Special thanks to the P&F for supporting Cultural Week activities by providing funding allocation for our activities.

This started again yesterday. We are excited to welcome families with babies and toddlers to come along for an informal play as they start their OLC familiarisation journey.

If you are interested in enrolling your child in Pre-Kindy for next year, we are currently taking enrolments. If your child turns 3 between 1 July this year and 30 June next year, they are eligible to attend. Pre-Kindy is held on Mondays and Wednesdays during term time, and is a separate enrolment form, independent of enrolment from Kindy to Year 6. Please spread the word and contact the office if you are interested.

Shortly the Year 3 and 5 students will be bringing home sealed envelopes containing their NAPLAN reports.

Please consider the following points:

• NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy and provides a snapshot of how students are progressing.
• This is one form of assessment, which together with other school-based assessments provide teachers with a range of information which is used to support student learning.
• The enclosed brochure explains how to read the report.

Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any concerns or questions regarding their academic progress.

Students in Years 3 and 5 will be participating in the Religious Education Assessments (REA) in the coming weeks. This assessment is administered in a similar way to NAPLAN and is part of their classroom learning.

As part of our ongoing professional growth and development, we are required to provide our dedicated staff with opportunities to enhance their teaching skills and keep current with research through engagement with professional learning opportunities. On the last day of Term 3, all staff participated in a session with our CEWA Students with Disabilities consultant, Helen Brown, in the morning looking at the valuable roles of Education Assistants in supporting students. In the afternoon, we had Denise and Derek Kickett from ‘Australians Together’ present and interesting and informative session enhancing staff knowledge of First Nations perspectives. It was a refreshing day that had a focus on personal and professional development. On Monday this week, all staff travelled to Bunbury Catholic College for a day with many other South-West schools presented by Paul Salmon from Springfox, as part of the Resilient Educators Program. We explored why ‘wellbeing’ matters, and looked at ways to personally ‘Reflect, Recharge and Reignite’. It is important that we take time to invest in ourselves because resilient educators create thriving learning environments.

Each year, as per CEWA directives, we are required to have four professional development days throughout the year. It is the responsibility of each school to allocate these days and communicate them to parents well in advance, which we do at the end of each school year, for the following school year. Although it may be inconvenient at times, it is really important for our staff to be able to continue to provide the quality of education here at OLC, through maintaining our own professional growth and development.

In addition to the professional development days, one day is provided each year in recognition of staff involvement in Sacramental celebrations which are held on weekends. This year, that day will be Monday 24 August. Students and staff do not attend school on this day. Please note that there is not a student free day at the end of this term. Term 3 finishes for students and staff on Friday 25 September.

Our canteen is open for students to order lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The menu is both nutritious and delicious! We are so lucky to have Mrs Sara Drmota in our canteen. Please order using QuickCliq.

Please note that teachers record attendance in the mornings between 8.45 and 9.00am. If your child arrives later than that, you will need to sign them in at the office, so their attendance can be changed from ‘absent’ to ‘present’. It is important that students are at school in time to unpack their bags, greet their teachers and friends, and settle into the classroom for a good start to the day. Thank you for helping us with this.

Girls who are wearing the school dress may wear BLACK tights (like stockings), not leggings and socks, under their dresses for additional warmth. Thank you for your assistance with maintaining the standard of our school uniform. Also, did you know that there is a very smart black trouser option for the girls to wear with the white school shirt instead of the dress for extra warmth and comfort, if they choose this. Pop in to the uniform shop to see a sample or try them on.

Over the school holiday break, our talented groundsman/handyman Rob Wielgus has given our old, tired administration area and office foyer a makeover. Rob has repainted, recarpeted, and installed wood panelling and a new benchtop. It looks fresh and new and has given a new lease of life to the first part of the school that people visit. Pop in and have a look if you get a chance!

A reminder that school photos will be taken on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 August, Week 3. Please note that formal uniforms are worn by students in Years 1-6 for their school photos. Kindy and Pre-primary wear their usual uniform. Pre-Kindy Wednesday students may come along with their parents in the first session from 8am on Monday or Tuesday to have their individual photo taken.

Your child/ren should have brought home a form with their unique shootkey to enable online ordering. If you have not received this form, please contact the office. Sibling photo forms can be collected from the office prior to photo days. Note sibling photos are not available to order online and these forms need to be completed with credit card details or correct money - they can then be handed to the photographer on the day the photo is taken.

We are committed to building a school community where every child can flourish. The new Parent and Carer Code of Conduct articulates our shared expectations for respectful engagement, safety and support. By working together in partnership, families and staff help create a welcoming environment where all students are valued and empowered to succeed.

Here is a link to the document:

Every 4 years, all Catholic Schools have a review that focuses on what has been happening over the last years and planning ahead for the next few years. The review is about school improvement. A panel of reviewers will be in our school from Tuesday 11 August until Thursday 13 August. They will meet with the Leadership Team, staff and student groups, the P&F Executive and School Advisory Council. We look forward to showcasing the wonderful things happening at our lovely school and having a focus on how we can make it even better in the coming years.

It is great to have our students back at school. Looking forward to a wonderful term of fun and learning together.

May God bless you.

Mrs Angela Hegney

Principal

Starting tomorrow, we'll have a coffee van on site every Friday morning from 7:30am.

Please show your support for this fantastic local small business and treat yourself to a coffee (or two!) before the day begins.

Note they won't be here on the 31st July, but will be here on Fridays for the term.

The paid position of crosswalk attendant has still not been filled. We have many students who walk or ride to school, and need to cross Cape Naturaliste Road each day. Their safety is a great concern for us. Until an attendant is appointed, we will endeavour to provide school staff to attend the crossing. Please note that students who ride their bikes to school will need to wait for supervision before walking their bikes when on school grounds to get to the crossing.

We are working closely with the Dunsborough Police to promote the position and would appreciate your assistance in spreading the word if you know of anyone who would be available.

For more information you can contact the Children's Crossing Unit on (08) 6274 8731 or email on childrenscrossingsunitsmail@police.wa.gov.au.

Packed with practical, evidence-based advice, Raising Girls Who Like Themselves details the seven qualities that enable girls to thrive and arm themselves against a world that tells them they are flawed. These include:

• possessing a power perspective
• having body confidence
• owning her body and its autonomy
• staying calm and optimistic
• being independent and masterful
• cultivating strong relationships
• remaining true to herself

Free of parental guilt and grounded in research, Raising Girls Who Like Themselves is imbued with the warmth and wit of a mum and dad who are in the same parenting trenches as you, fighting for their daughters’ futures.

Boardstore is excited to launch a fun, creative Kids T-Shirt Design Competition open to students at Our Lady of the Cape and Dunsborough Primary School! This is a great opportunity for our local kids to showcase their talent, the winning design will be printed on our next run of Boardstore kids’ t-shirts and also receive a few prizes!

Competition Details:
Theme: “Surfing, Yallingup, Dunsborough” – Anything fun, ocean-inspired, surf culture, beach life or creative imagination is welcome!

Who can enter: Students in Years 1 to 6.

Prize: The winning design will be professionally printed on our next batch of kids’ tee shirts. The winning student will also receive:
1 free Boardstore t-shirts featuring their design
A $100 Boardstore voucher
And public recognition!

We will also select a few highly commended designs for special mention.

How to Enter:
Students can draw their design on an A4 sheet (template provided) or digitally. Hard copies are available at the school office.

All entries must be submitted via the school or handed into Boardstore by 30th July.

This competition is a great way to encourage creativity, design thinking, and local community connection.

Email: admin@ladyofcape.wa.edu.au
Website: www.ladyofcape.wa.edu.au
Location: 245 Cape Naturaliste Road, Dunsborough WA, Australia
Phone: 9781 3200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLCDunsborough/