Our Lady of Mercy

Let us pray

O God, powerful and gentle,

you love this southern land and all its people, old and new.

As the Cross shines in our heavens so may Christ bring light to our nation.

As the waves encircle our shores so may your mercy enfold us all.

O God, the wonders of our vast and rugged land reflect your beauty,

ever ancient, ever new.

May your blessings flow upon us as a stream in the desert,

and may your spirit prompt us to use your gifts for the good of all.

May God who formed our southern land be for us a rock of strength.

May God who rules our southern seas keep us safe in every storm.

May God who made our southern skies turn our darkness into light.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN

What a busy and wonderful week it has been at Our Lady of Mercy! There is certainly a lot happening across our school, and it is wonderful to see our students embracing the many opportunities available to them.

Sacramental Preparation

Please keep our Year Three and Year Four students in your prayers as they continue preparing to receive their Sacraments. These are important moments in the faith journey of our children and their families, and we pray that this time of preparation provides opportunities for them to deepen their relationship with God and their understanding of our Catholic faith.

Religious Education Assessments

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students have undertaken their Religious Education assessments. These assessments provide teachers with valuable information about what students understand, know and can apply in relation to their Religious Education learning.

Assessment is not simply about a test or a mark. It allows teachers to identify areas of strength, as well as areas where students may need further teaching, support or extension. This information helps us to continually refine our teaching and ensure that our Religious Education program is meeting the needs of all learners.

Edu Dance

Edu Dance has begun, and it has been such a joy to see the smiles on our students’ faces as they learn their routines and develop their dance skills. There is certainly plenty of enthusiasm, and some very impressive moves!

I look forward to welcoming families to our Edu Dance performance at the end of the term. I know our students will be very excited to share what they have been learning.

A Very Busy Week!

Our students have certainly been out and about this week!

A group of students represented our school at the Spogami event at City Beach, organised by Mrs Michelle Sadlo. Congratulations to the team for taking out first place! What a wonderful achievement and a great reflection of the commitment and enthusiasm of our students. A special thank you to Mrs Sadlo for organising the opportunity.

Representatives from Years Four to Six also attended the Saint Carlo Acutis Exhibition at CEWA. This was a fabulous opportunity for our students to learn more about the life and witness of Carlo Acutis and to explore how faith can be lived out in our everyday lives. It was wonderful to see our students engaging so thoughtfully with this experience.

A big thank you also to Mr Hayden King for organising our Senior Boys’ SSWA Soccer Tournament. The boys experienced a couple of wins and losses throughout the day, but, more importantly, they demonstrated teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship. These experiences provide wonderful opportunities for our students to build relationships, learn how to work together and represent our school with pride.

Breakfast Club

This week we held our first Breakfast Club, and it was wonderful to see students arriving in the morning ready to start their day with a nutritious breakfast and some time together as a community.

We were incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community, including donations of 37 bread rolls, 7 loaves of bread. Our first breakfast saw us use 1kg of butter, 1kg of strawberry jam and, about a tablespoon of Vegemite! Perhaps Vegemite isn't a favourite at OLOM — I must admit, I'm not a great fan either!

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to our Breakfast Club, including those who have provided toasters and other food items. We are also very grateful to Meredith Hammat MLA, Member for Girrawheen, for her generous $200 donation.

Thank you also to the staff who gave their time on Wednesday morning to make the Breakfast Club happen. There is quite a bit of preparation involved behind the scenes, and their generosity is greatly appreciated.

For the time being, Breakfast Club will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:15–8:30am.

A reminder that this is a free service provided to our students. We look forward to seeing it continue to grow as we build this wonderful initiative together.

Parent Code of Conduct

Last week, families received correspondence through SEQTA Engage regarding our Parent Code of Conduct.

I encourage all parents and caregivers to take the time to read through this important document. The Code of Conduct outlines the rights and responsibilities of parents and caregivers as members of our Our Lady of Mercy community and supports us in maintaining a respectful, safe and positive environment for everyone.

Our school community is strongest when we work together in partnership, guided by our shared values of Truth, Love and Mercy.

School Fees

A reminder to families regarding school fees. Thank you to those families who have already finalised their accounts and commitments. If you have an outstanding balance, please attend to this as soon as possible or contact the school office if you need to discuss your circumstances.

We understand that families can experience changing circumstances, and we encourage you to communicate with us so that we can work together to find an appropriate way forward.

School Disco

Our School Disco is next Friday, and I know our students are already looking forward to an evening of fun, music and dancing!

We are always grateful for the support of our wonderful parent community. If you are able to offer some of your time to assist on the day or evening of the event, please consider volunteering. Information regarding the disco and volunteering has been sent home to families.

Choosing Our Words Carefully

Finally, I would like to remind our students, and ask parents to reinforce at home the importance of the words we use when speaking to one another.

We have recently had some concerns regarding students using inappropriate or unkind language towards their peers. Words matter. The way we speak to others can either build someone up or cause hurt.

Friendships form when we act and speak to one another with kindness and respect. Equally, friendships can fail and fracture when unkind words about others are tossed around like a bag of lollies — easily, frequently and without thinking about the impact they might have.

I encourage all parents to have a conversation with their children about the importance of speaking respectfully, particularly when friendships become challenging. We cannot always choose what happens around us, but we can choose the words we use and the way we respond.

As a Catholic community, we are called to treat every person with dignity, kindness and respect. Let us continue to support our children to live out our values of Truth, Love and Mercy in the way they speak, act and care for one another.

Have a wonderful weekend

Rika Andres

NEXT WEEK

Friday 14 August

• Whole School Mass - St Mary of the Cross 9:00am
• P&F DISCO

Saturday 15 August

• Holy Eucharist Commitment Mass 6:00pm

Sunday 16 August

• Holy Eucharist Commitment Mass 9:30am

COMING UP

Monday 17 August

• Book Week Parade 9:00am

Tuesday 18 August

• Penance - Celebration Mass 6:00pm

Wednesday 18 August

• P&F Meeting 8:45am

Friday 21 August

• Pupil Free Day

Monday 24 August

• Pupil Free Day

The P&F are asking for volunteers to help at the disco in both the junior and senior sessions. Just half an hour will help the sessions run more smoothly. Please see Sharon or Fran in the Admin office or email admin@olom.wa.edu.au if you are able to help. Thank you.

Please see the follow link for information regarding the electronic delivery of your child's Mid-Year School Report. Thank you. https://app.smore.com/n/01e7b

Term 1: Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April

Term 2: Tuesday 21 April to Friday 3 July

Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September

Term 4: Monday 12 October to Friday 11 December

Term 1: Monday 2 March (Public Holiday)

Term 2: Monday 20 April (Pupil Free Day), Monday 27 April (ANZAC Day Public Holiday), Monday 1 June (Public Holiday), Tuesday 2 June (Pupil Free Day)

Term 3: Friday 21 August (Pupil Free Day), Monday 24 August (Pupil Free Day)

Term 4: Monday 16 November (Pupil Free Day)

Please note, pupil free days are subject to change. Parents will be advised well in advance.