Orana Catholic Primary School

God of all people,

You have united us through the gift of the risen Jesus. Just as Jesus taught us to love our neighbour as ourselves, help us to remember our call to be servants to one another. With selfless hearts, may we reach out to all people, breaking racial and cultural divisions, so that everyone may experience a sense of mutual respect and belonging.

We make this prayer through your Son, and our risen Lord, Jesus.

Amen

Dear Parents and Carers,

Catholic Identity Pillar

Project Compassion Long Walk Fundraiser

During Lent, all Catholic schools and parishes commit to fundraising for Caritas through Project Compassion. This year’s theme is ‘Unite Against Poverty.” Money raised supports vulnerable communities globally, empowering them to overcome poverty through sustainable development programs. The Social Justice Team are organising a Long Walk Fundraiser. Please give generously. There is more information in our Faith section below.

Father CJ’s 10th Anniversary

Yesterday, Father CJ celebrated 10 years since his ordination as a priest. Father CJ has made significant contributions to our school community. He regularly visits classrooms; participates in school events, and provides spiritual guidance to students and staff. His dedication and compassion is greatly appreciated.

Education Pillar

Interschool Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to Orana’s Interschool Swimming Team; we finished 2nd, by a small margin from 1st place. The team had a fantastic day. Thank-you to Tayla Lake and the parent volunteers for their seamless organisation and assistance. For more information please see the Sports news below.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parent/teacher interviews will be held over Week 9 and 10 this term, commencing on Monday 31st March. This is one of the ways that we report to parents. It is an opportunity for parents/carers and teachers to discuss student progress and emphasise the partnership between home and school in developing each child to their full potential. You will receive a link to book your appointment times next week.

Behaviour Education and Support Guidelines

Orana Catholic Primary School’s Behaviour Education and Support Guidelines is based on our School Values: Generosity, Respect, Excellence. The Student Code of Conduct is a student-led process and is created at the commencement of each academic year. This Code of Conduct guides all expected behaviours at Orana Catholic Primary School. Based on Restorative Practice, Orana Catholic Primary School endeavours to ensure children accept responsibility for their education and behaviour, understanding that attitudes and behaviours have a natural consequence.

Community Pillar

Harmony Week

Harmony Week (Monday 17 - Sunday 23 March 2025) is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

On Wednesday, students and staff wore something orange to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia. Students were involved in a variety of activities to embrace the diversity and difference of our Orana Community. Thank-you to our Cultural Diversity Staff Team for coordinating the activities.

P and F Hot Cross Buns

Please support the P and F by ordering some delicious Lawley’s Hot Cross Buns. These were very popular last year. Thank-you to Shannon and Pamela for leading this fundraiser. Please see the link below.

Stewardship Pillar

Advisory Council News

I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Mathew Maoli, who has stepped down from the Advisory Council. Mathew served as the Advisory Council Secretary and provided invaluable support throughout 2024. His dedication to the role has contributed to the success of our 2024 initiatives. Thank you, Mathew, for your commitment and service to our community.

Our Orana Catholic School Advisory Council have had their first meeting. The following positions on the Advisory Council have been filled and I thank the members that have volunteered to take on these roles.

We thank our parent leaders who assist in guiding and endorsing our school-based decisions.

Advisory Council Vacancy - Can you help?

There is now a vacancy on the Advisory Council; if you would like some information about joining the Advisory Council, please contact the office.

The positions for 2025 are as follows:

Chair: Carmelle Wilkinson

Deputy Chair: Emma Monaco

Treasurer: Cesar Villar

P and F Representative / Advisory Council Member: Shannon Foster

Advisory Council Member: Brenda Guyon

Parish Representative: Emma Monaco

Attendance – Every Day Matters

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) reinforces the strong correlation between school attendance and student achievement and highlights the importance of forming good attendance habits early. Poor attendance has serious and lasting consequences, in limiting achievement, social isolation, reducing engagement and the possibility of negative family dynamics to name a few.

2026 and 2027 Kindy and Pre-Kindy Enrolment

Enrolments are open for 2026 and 2027. Please ensure that if you have a younger child, or you know someone that is wanting to attend Orana, that the enrolment expression of interest if completed as soon as possible. Interviews are currently underway.

God bless you and your family.

Dee Johnston

Principal

Project Compassion

A Jubilee year only comes around every 25 years, and it brings with it a special invitation for each of us. That invitation is close to the heart of Caritas Australia's Project Compassion. The theme of Jubilee 2025 is Pilgrims of Hope. It is hope which calls us to come together and Unite Against Poverty. Donations can be made via the QR code here or https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/o/orana-catholic-primary-school . Our students will be fundraising throughout Lent. Look below for what is happening on Friday, 28th March!

This fundraising event will raise money for Caritas to assist students such as Toefuata’iga in Samoa, to access clean water and improved hygiene.

We are asking our families to make donations via the QR code. Children will be carrying water in buckets to help them to understand the difficulties that other people around the world encounter and their access to clean water. Our school's goal is to raise $1000.

GO ORANA! How much can we help?

THE TASK – Carry 8 buckets of water for the duration of time below without spilling the precious resource next Friday, 28th March. Students will take turns in carrying the buckets.

Year 6 | 30 minutes – 9.15-9.45am (full bucket)

Year 4 | 30 minutes – 10-10.30am (full bucket)

Year 5 | 20 minutes – 11-11.20am (3/4 full bucket)

Year 3 | 20 minutes – 11.30-11.50am (3/4 full bucket)

Year 2 | 15 minutes – 1.30-1.45pm (1/2 full bucket)

Year 1 | 15 minutes – 2-2.15pm (1/2 full bucket)

Pre-Primary | 10 minutes 2.30-2.40pm (1/3 full bucket)

*Younger children can bring a change of clothes/shoes if required.

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Orana Chess Club! This club aims to foster a love for chess among students and provide a platform for them to learn and grow together.

Details of the commencement of our Orana Chess Club:

Start Date: 3rd of April

Time: Thursdays at 8:10AM

Location: School Library

Students: Years 1-6

We warmly welcome parents to join us and play with your child(ren). Chess is not only a fun and engaging game, but also a great way for children to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By learning from each other and playing with peers at the same skill level, students can build enthusiasm and improve their game.

We look forward to seeing you and your children at the first meeting!

Well done to all students in Years 4-6 who were selected to compete at the CAPSS Interschool Swimming Carnival for 2025. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day and the students enjoyed cooling off in the pool. The students represented their school over various swimming strokes, distances and relays and were wonderful sportspeople, cheering their school and competitors on. A special thank you to Mr Di Carlantonio, Carly Pizzuto and Lauren Gonzalez who attended the carnival and helped make it run so smoothly.

Orana finished the day in 2nd place on 224 points 17 points behind 1st! Congratulations to our students who came home with a medal.

· Year 4 Runner Up- Hannah

· Year 5 Runner Up- Dehaine

· Year 5 Champion- Chloe

· Year 6 Runner Up- Daniel

· Year 6 Champion- Amanda

Well done to our fantastic competitors, we are so proud of you all!

Warm Regards,

Tayla Lake

Senior Physical Education Specialist

This framework of nine elements combine supporting a child safe culture, healthy and respectful relationships and extended guardianship in school communities, based on the latest research and recognised best practices. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring each of the nine elements. Please view the video below for an introduction to the framework.

https://childsafe.cewa.edu.au/introduction-key-concepts/

What Does the Element of Culture Look Like?

* Teachers and staff recognise a child and young adult’s right to a safe, engaging and supportive environment.

* Child safety is a responsibility shared by everyone in schools and across CEWA.

* Standardised, quality training is provided to understand the indicators of child maltreatment, e.g. Child Protection Policy and Mandatory Reporting training

* Child safe policies and practices are in place to ensure that unsafe behaviour is recognised and reported.

* There is a culture where children and young adults can raise concerns without worry.

* Parents are treated as partners in child safety and have access to information and support on all aspects of child safety.

* Parents, children and young adults are included in the development of policies, procedures and models of service.

* Staff protect and respect a child or young adult’s cultural and spiritual identity and help to support and preserve their family and community connection.

* Staff actively seek to identify and eliminate racism and discrimination.

* Staff feel confident to identify and present concerns about child safety activities and practices.

* There operates a culture of trust and openness where practice is supervised, discussed, questioned and improved.

* Teachers and staff are alert and aware about how others treat children and young people.

A Heartfelt (and Belated) Thank you!

A huge thank you to our generous parents who donated food and other essentials for last month’s food drive - Nicola Hallsworth, Elaine Loo and her mum Rose, Kenny Low, Margueritta Karam, Verity Laming, Nipuni Rajapakse, Ivana Zdravic, Tanya Leech, Emma Dingle, Indah Wardjojo, Kristy Fry, Sarah Hegarty, Gabrielle Tan-Chew, Adeline Ng & Mahesha De Silva.

Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated, and we are so grateful for your support!

Parents of Orana Facebook page

The Parents of Orana Facebook page is a private group exclusively for parents with children at Orana. It is a great place to stay informed about school events, connect with the community, and ask any questions you may have. Simply search “Parents of Orana” on Facebook and request to join!

Hot Cross Buns order closes 3rd April 2025

We are back partnering with Lawley’s Bakery for 3 delicious choices of hot cross buns – fruit, fruitless or chocolate! Irresistible price for a pack of 6 for $9 or 3 pack bundles for $25. Don’t forget to put in your order by Thursday 3rd April 2025 - https://orana-catholic-primary-school-parents-and-friends-association.square.site/shop/2025-hot-cross-bun-fundraiser/B5767YYIKYBSS6HFA72HSLNK. Hot cross buns will be sent home with eldest child on last day of school Friday 11th April 2025. All proceeds go to the P&F fund to support more amazing projects and events at our school.

Orana Volunteer Spotlight : Meet Rebecca McKinnon – the Driving Force Behind Our Canteen!

Join Our Canteen Volunteer Team!

We’re looking for canteen volunteers—whether you can help casually or on an ongoing basis, we’d love to have you! Parents, grandparents, and friends are all welcome, and younger children can tag along too. You can even team up with a friend to make it more fun!

Not sure if it’s for you? Come along on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 12:10 PM – 12:45 PM to see how it works before signing up. Every helping hand makes a difference!

Interested? Reach out to Rebecca McKinnon or visit https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/151727938032/false#/invitation to get involved.

First P&F Meeting on 17th March 2025

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our P&F meeting, especially with your busy schedules. We truly appreciate you making the time to connect, share ideas, and help shape our upcoming events. It was a great evening of meaningful discussions, collaboration, and community spirit.

P&F Car Bay Raffle

Make school pick up a breeze with your very own, reserved Orana car bay for all of Term 2! You can enter as many times as you like. Competition closes 25th April and winner will be drawn and notified on 29th April. https://orana-catholic-primary-school-parents-and-friends-association.square.site/

All proceeds go to the P&F fund to support more amazing projects and events at our school.

Meet Rebecca McKinnon – the Driving Force Behind Our Canteen!

From organising the canteen and rostering volunteers to ensuring all our little humans are happy, Rebecca McKinnon keeps everything running smoothly. Her dedication and hard work make a world of difference every day!

1. What year level(s) are your children in?

I have 3 children, Year 5, Year 1 and Kindy.

2. What keeps you motivated to volunteer, even on the busiest days?

Knowing that I’m doing all I can to help others. It’s a good feeling being a part of the school community.

3. In your view, how does volunteering make an impact on our school community?

Volunteering is so important for our school. It covers so many aspects of the school life and community.

Without volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to do the fun things that the kids enjoy at school and from my perspective, we wouldn’t be able to offer the school lunch service. It wouldn’t be possible without the help of our school families.

Altar Serving Training

If your child has celebrated their First Communion, sign up to learn how to be an altar server! Orana and the Parish would be grateful. Stay tuned for training being held by Mr Di Carlantonio.

Cleaning Angels

The church is in need of more volunteers to help clean our church and keep it in the condition we have been accustomed to. If you have a couple of hours to volunteers every 4-5 weeks, join a rostered group or make up a group of 4 people, please call Rudy - 0418286987 or rudy.mortz@gmail.com

Term 1

Wednesday 5th February - Friday 11th April

Term 2

Monday 28th April - Friday 4th July

Term 3

Monday 21st July - Friday 26th September

Term 4

Monday 13th October - Thursday 12th December

Public Holidays

18th April - Good Friday (School Holidays)

Monday 2nd June - Western Australia Day

Monday 29th September - Kings Holiday (School Holidays)

Pupil Free Days

Monday 7th April

Monday 28th April

Tuesday 3rd June

Monday 21st July

Monday 1st September - Catholic Day

Monday 13th October

2025 - Term 1 | Week 8/9

Friday 28th March - Project Compassion - The Long Walk Fundraising

Friday 28th March - Year 5 Reconciliation

Friday 28th March - Junior Assembly

Monday 31st March - Parent/ Teacher interviews

Tuesday 1st April - CAPSS Interschool Cricket Carnival

Wednesday 2nd April - Parent/ Teacher interviews

Thursday 3rd April - Parent/ Teacher interviews

Friday 4th April - PK Priest visit

Friday 4th April - Pre Primary Liturgy 9.30am

Friday 4th April - Senior Assembly

Friday 4th April - Parent/ Teacher interviews

Friday 4th April - Stations of the Cross - Parish - Year 4