Dear Parents, Carers and Students, 17th December, 2019

The end of a school year is a good time to reflect on our many achievements and celebrate another year of

school life. We take a moment at this time of the year to reminisce on the legacy of our retiring teachers: Mr

Chris McArdle and Mrs Anne Croughan. We also say farewell to Miss Alessia Cesario safe in the knowledge she

leaves Our Lady’s with our blessings and also our way of being a teacher. Time to shine their light elsewhere.

In Our Lady’s Care, our Before and After School Care facility, closes its doors tonight after providing this service

to our school community for a number of years. We thank Margaret Mangone, the Director, her staff Margaret

Talbot: Program Co-ordinator, Lisa Pringle, Nicole McPhee, Bhairavi Patel, Delmy Gigliotti, Mahboob Mohiddin

and Samantha Telepe Program Adminsitrator. Their efforts in providing this necessary service for our families

has been much appreciated by our school community and we wish them well in their future endeavours.

Birthday wishes to all these children who celebrate their birthday this week and next week as well : Zara 3N,

Alvaro 2A, Chris 3N, Luciana Prep H, Aziz 6N, Nathan 3C, Genevieve 1S, Alistair 1C, Jackson 5G,

Emmanuel 3C, Massimo 5C, Mia 1P, Sarah 6B, Glory 5F, Aritz 3N, Ryan 3C, Shaina 4E, Max 2A, Sienna

Petrolongo 4E, Bianca 4E, Amelia 1P, Tiernan 1S, Ronan 5C, Noah 6S, Ryder 2H, Hamish 1S, Tristan

5C, Elodie 2A, Andrea Prep H, Onita 6C, Ruben Prep D, Vincent 3N, Luna Prep C, Majd 5F, Vernon 3N,

Diyon 1T& Rozanne 4M. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL!

JO BAIRD AWARD: Every year, at Our Lady’s, we select a Year 5 student who displays the qualities we found

so dear in Jo Baird, a teacher at our school who passed away some years ago. Jo was a quiet achiever who,

through her dedication to our students, and her passion for teaching, made our school a better place. Her focus

on making everyone feel good about themselves in a quiet and non-intrusive manner made her a role model

for all our school community. This year’s recipient selected by the staff displays an attitude that Jo would

approve is Stephanie Perera, congratulations to Stephanie as she heads into her final year at Our Lady’s.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Holy Christmas,

Paul McEntee

Principal

Wednesday 29th January Term 1 Commences 8:45am

Wednesday 29th January School Uniform Sales 9:00am-10:00am (Time change from 2:30pm)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Masses in Term 4: All Welcome Sacrament dates for 2020

Week 10 Whole School Third Advent Mass Friday 13th december

Week 11 Whole School End of Year Mass Tuesday- 17th December

Reconciliation

Tuesday 17th March 2020

Eucharist

Sunday 21st June 2020

Confirmation

Sunday 23rd August

Gospel Reflection and Challenge MATTHEW 11: 2-11

GOSPEL CHALLENGE: BE PATIENT!

Our theme this week is the coming light of joy. The third

Sunday of Advent is called ‘Gaudete’ Sunday (which comes

from the first word of the Latin,) meaning ‘Rejoice’ and the

liturgical colour is ‘Rose’ instead of purple this is because

rose is a liturgical colour for joy. The third candle recalls how

the shepherds, even though they were afraid, believed in

Jesus and told everyone about His coming with joy.

This week is also an ideal time to pause and reflect on all the

joy we have experienced and all that we have achieved

during our school year. As we approach the festive season,

we recall the joyful events that we have been part of at Our

Lady’s. We have had our Sacramental celebrations of

Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation along with a

number of class masses and whole school masses. Fundraising events for those less fortunate have ensured

that we are doing our bit to bring joy to others. Students have been involved in a number of excursions,

incursions and camps that have brought joy to all who have participated. Our whole school events such as

sports day, carols, the Art Show and our Feast Day really demonstrated the joyous nature of the Our Lady’s

community. We especially rejoice in all the support that the parents and families of our school community

have provided for our school. They have been the main source of our joy and help throughout the year.

Now, more than any other season of the year, the weeks before Christmas is a time when young people learn

patience and hope. Imaginations run wild with visions of holidays and presents, and the weeks seem to take

forever. Who is the most patient and hopeful person you know? What is she or he like? How does her or his

patience and sense of hope affect others? How can you try to be like that person? What is something you are

hoping for? What is something you are expecting, something that makes it hard to be patient?

Thank you for your Generosity during the Christmas Season. Our Hampers

were picked up today by St. Vincent De Paul Society and will be delivered to make a family’s

Christmas a happier occasion!

Year 6 Graduates Now you’re ready to SHINE!

We wish the following children our best on their graduation from Our Lady’s. We thank them and

their families for the positive contribution they have made to our school. God bless them.

Student Wellbeing @ Our Lady’s

…Providing a safe and supportive learning environment

End of Year Speech

KiaraKiaraKiaraKiara Thankyou….Thankyou….Thankyou….Thankyou…. As School Captains we just wanted to say thank you for making us your school captains for 2019. Thank You to all of our teachers throughout the 6 years of us being in primary school. We spend half of our days with you and you all have taught us the right thing to do and taught us so many things. Also we wanted to say thank you to not just the teachers but all of the staff and students here at Our Lady’s for supporting us throughout the whole year in all of the things that we have done. It has been a team effort. So that is why we have needed you all with us.

ChristianChristianChristianChristian Rewarding/Achieved of our school….Rewarding/Achieved of our school….Rewarding/Achieved of our school….Rewarding/Achieved of our school…. We have achieved many things throughout the year especially bringing back the buddy bench and introducing meditation which we hope this will continue through the years to come.

CharlotteCharlotteCharlotteCharlotte Good luck for Leaders 2020….Good luck for Leaders 2020….Good luck for Leaders 2020….Good luck for Leaders 2020…. To the leaders for next year we wanted to say a few things…

• We hope that all of you will have fun being captains but also take it seriously. • We want you to make good decisions for the school because sometimes you will have to make

decisions that may need to be solved by yourself. • There will be a lot of good and fun times, but there will also be some hard and tough times.

So we hope that you will try your best to get through them together. • And finally we want you to have fun as captains because you will remember the moments

you will have for the rest of your life.

EuaggelionEuaggelionEuaggelionEuaggelion Again thank you so much for letting us be your 2019 school captains. We will miss being your leaders but we know that the new leaders will make us proud. THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

SCHOOL COMMUNITY School, families and community working together to improve students learning outcomes

THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

OUR LADY’S CHRISTMAS OUTREACH TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

St Vincent De Paul contacted me during the week to pass on their sincere thank you for your generosity.

Our school hampers have helped to bring Christmas cheer to 150 families in Craigieburn.

FAREWELL AND THANK YOUFAREWELL AND THANK YOUFAREWELL AND THANK YOUFAREWELL AND THANK YOU

This is my last opportunity to thank you, the parents, for giving me the This is my last opportunity to thank you, the parents, for giving me the This is my last opportunity to thank you, the parents, for giving me the This is my last opportunity to thank you, the parents, for giving me the

privilege and honour to partner with you in educating your privilege and honour to partner with you in educating your privilege and honour to partner with you in educating your privilege and honour to partner with you in educating your children. children. children. children.

I have enjoyed every moment spent here at Our Lady’s as I feel this is home. I have enjoyed every moment spent here at Our Lady’s as I feel this is home. I have enjoyed every moment spent here at Our Lady’s as I feel this is home. I have enjoyed every moment spent here at Our Lady’s as I feel this is home.

We are very lucky to have a wonderful school that is welcoming and We are very lucky to have a wonderful school that is welcoming and We are very lucky to have a wonderful school that is welcoming and We are very lucky to have a wonderful school that is welcoming and

determined to support everyone in their learning journey. I have so many determined to support everyone in their learning journey. I have so many determined to support everyone in their learning journey. I have so many determined to support everyone in their learning journey. I have so many

wonderful memories which I wwonderful memories which I wwonderful memories which I wwonderful memories which I will cherish forever. ill cherish forever. ill cherish forever. ill cherish forever.

My wish for you all is to continue building the relationship with staff, My wish for you all is to continue building the relationship with staff, My wish for you all is to continue building the relationship with staff, My wish for you all is to continue building the relationship with staff,

students and the community as it is through working together that we students and the community as it is through working together that we students and the community as it is through working together that we students and the community as it is through working together that we

achieve our greatest success. achieve our greatest success. achieve our greatest success. achieve our greatest success.

Remember to learn from every opportunity, even those that arRemember to learn from every opportunity, even those that arRemember to learn from every opportunity, even those that arRemember to learn from every opportunity, even those that aren’t so en’t so en’t so en’t so

pleasant as they are what make us stronger, supportive and successful pleasant as they are what make us stronger, supportive and successful pleasant as they are what make us stronger, supportive and successful pleasant as they are what make us stronger, supportive and successful

people.people.people.people.

I take many gifts with me today but the most valued and treasured ones I take many gifts with me today but the most valued and treasured ones I take many gifts with me today but the most valued and treasured ones I take many gifts with me today but the most valued and treasured ones

are those stored in my heart as these can’t be lost or taken away from are those stored in my heart as these can’t be lost or taken away from are those stored in my heart as these can’t be lost or taken away from are those stored in my heart as these can’t be lost or taken away from

me. me. me. me.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year.

Kindest regards,

Anne Croughan

CANTEEN……..Thank you to the following ladies who have helped us in the canteen this year, making our job so much easier…….Jane, Sherrie, Lisa & Ann. The ladies gave up their time to help regularly in the canteen and we are very grateful to them. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year…….Maryanne & Tammie