Orana Catholic Primary School

Loving Loving God, thank you for the life of Pope Francis.

Help us to keep his kindness alive in our words and actions. May we be helpers, peacemakers, and friends to all. May God bless us with joy in our hearts, kindness in our hands, and love in everything we do.

AMEN

Dear Parents and Carers,

Catholic Identity Pillar

Pope Francis Tribute

On Wednesday, 30 April, the Orana school community gathered to pay tribute to Pope Francis. The service was a heartfelt celebration of his remarkable life, and it was thoughtfully designed to cater to all students from Pre-primary to Year 6. We prayed that eternal rest be granted unto him, and that perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Junior Community and First Holy Communion Commitment Mass

Our Junior Community Mass will be held next Saturday, 10 May, where students from Years 1-3 will join the Saints John and Paul community in celebrating the Word of God. This special occasion highlights the wonderful partnership we share with our Parish. We warmly invite all members of the Orana community to attend and celebrate with us. Fr CJ will celebrate this Mass, as he will be on leave then joining a new parish on his return.

This Mass will also coincide with the students celebrating their First Holy Communion Commitment Masses on both 10 and 11 May. Further details can be found in the Faith in Action section.

Stations of the Cross

We were incredibly proud of our Year 4 students who dramatised and read at the Stations of the Cross at Sts John and Paul Parish last term. Their reverence, effort, and commitment were truly exceptional. We are blessed to be part of such a vibrant and dedicated Catholic community. Thank you to Mrs Alp, Mr Patat and Miss Waghorn for their time and organisation.

Education Pillar

iPad Conference

Today, our Year 6 students participated in the Kids iPad Conference, joining peers from five other Catholic primary schools for a day filled with learning, innovation, and socialisation. Every student I spoke to was thoroughly excited about the day and the valuable insights they gained. Thank you to Leah Adams from the City of Canning with her presentation on Sustainability. A special thank you to Miss Purio and her team for ensuring this event ran seamlessly.

Make a Move

Our Make a Move Dance program has officially started at Orana, and both staff and students are thoroughly enjoying it! To ensure your child’s safety while participating, please make sure they are wearing sports uniform on their dance day.

Berry Street Education Model

On the pupil-free day, Monday 28 April, the staff of Orana Catholic Primary School completed Day 4 of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM). This evidence-based framework equips educators with practical strategies to engage all students, particularly those with complex learning needs, by focusing on self-regulation, relationships, wellbeing, growth, and academic achievement. The BSEM emphasises the importance of small adjustments in teaching practices to create a supportive and trauma-informed learning environment.

Dehaine

Congratulations to Dehaine for his outstanding achievements at this year’s Western Australian Championships! Dehaine qualified and competed at the 2025 Swimming WA Junior State Championships, where he earned an impressive 3rd place in the 9-year-old boys’ 50m Backstroke and 5th place in the 100m Freestyle. We are incredibly proud of his dedication and success.

Community Pillar

CSAC Position Filled

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Mahisha De Silva, who has joined the Orana Catholic School Advisory Council. With this appointment, we have now filled the final position on the council. We look forward to Mahisha’s contributions and the positive impact they will have on the continued growth and improvement of our community.

Stewardship Pillar

WA Student Assistance Payment

Please refer to the attached flyer for instructions on how to receive your child(ren)'s WA Student Assistance Payment through the ServiceWA app. To complete your claim, you will need to use SEQTA Engage (where you access your child's academic report) to find your child's WA Student Number (WASN). Make sure to claim before the deadline on Friday, 4 July 2025!

Fence Damage

We have noticed some damage to the fence on the eastern side of our school oval. Please be mindful of where you are parking, as this may impact our neighbours. Your cooperation in maintaining a respectful and considerate environment is greatly appreciated.

Smoking or Vaping

All Catholic Education Western Australian schools prohibit smoking or vaping on school grounds. This policy is also reinforced in our Work Health and Safety Guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all students, staff, and visitors.

Term 2 Winter Uniform

High standards of uniform presentation set a precedence for our school and the image we portray. Clear expectations for uniform and grooming are available on our website. Please support your child in meeting these expectations to ensure Orana students are united by wearing their uniforms with pride and to a high standard. Formal winter uniform for Year 3-6 begins on 12th May.

2026 and 2027 Kindy and Pre-Kindy Enrolment

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

Have a safe holiday and blessed Easter.

Andy DiCarlantonio

Short-term Principal

Through the combined efforts of our whole community, Orana raised around $4000 for Project Compassion this year.

We would like to make special mention of Jude who raised funds through a neighbourhood car wash and 'Containers for Change'. Thank you so much, Jude! #togiveistoreceive

It is a big term for our Year Four students as they prepare to celebrate their First Communion.

Parent Child Workshop

(Saints John and Paul Parish Hall)

Retreat

(Saints John and Paul Church and Parish Hall)

Sacrament Rehearsal

(Saints John and Paul Church)

Sacrament of Reconciliation

(Orana Classrooms)

Celebration of First Communion

Cake and Certificate Celebration

'I am going on Sabbatical leave for 3-4 months after the week end Sunday 11th May. I will be going to Europe and following this, will spend some time in a number of seminars on the east coast of Australia.

I celebrated my 10th anniversary of ordination and my 42nd birthday recently and I would like to thank everyone for the love shown to me through gifts and prayers in relation to these milestones.

Following this time away, I will announce my new appointment at a new parish. Prior to taking up this appointment, I will return to the parish for an a farewell.

A priest's sabbatical leave is like other professions, where a period of extended leave is given for spiritual renewal, reflection, study or rest, and is typically granted after a certain number of years' service.

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 'Voice of the Child' Look Like?

Recognising each child and young person’s right to be heard and to have a voice in all decisions affecting them.

Actions are:

1. Safety matters affecting children and young adults are heard and understood from the child or young adult’s perspective
2. Children and young adults, particularly those who have experienced neglect or abuse, are offered information on their rights as well as support to understand what constitutes healthy and respectful relationships with peers, family and staff
3. CEWA actively encourages schools to provide ways in which children and young adults can raise their concerns and worries
4. The safety of the child or young adult is always the priority in decision-making
5. Self-esteem and confidence of children and young adults is supported with training to foster self-assertiveness

Mother’s Day Breakfast 9th May 2025

Our next event is the much-loved Mother’s Day Breakfast, happening on Friday 9th Mary 2025 7:30AM at the Quad. All mums, grandmothers, sisters, aunties are invited to sit back, relax, and enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by our team of Super Dads. Don’t forget to pre-order your breakfast by Wednesday 7th May 2025 via https://orana-catholic-primary-school-parents-and-friends-association.square.site/

P&F Car Bay Raffle Winner Announcement

During the Term 1 break, the P&F and Orana staff worked together to revitalise the P&F Reserved Car Bay. This wonderful collaboration is one of many ways the P&F and school continue to partner for the benefit of the Orana community. A big thank you to Andy, Tuan, Shannon, Lucy, Jude, and Steph for their time and hard work in bringing the upgrade to life.

And now, we’re excited to announce the lucky raffle winner – Winnie Ho! Congratulations, Winnie – we hope you enjoy your VIP parking experience!

Canteen Order - $50 Locavora Credit Prize Draw

Lunch orders have started this term with lots of delicious lunches being handed out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We do need volunteers - 35 minutes of your time (12.10pm – 12.45pm) to cross check orders and sort into classroom tubs.

As a thank you, volunteers will go into the draw to win a $50 lunch order credit with Locavora at the end of each term. With the support of Locavora, we’re excited to offer this small token of appreciation. The more times you volunteer, the more entries you’ll receive! Sign up here for this term: https://signup.com/go/dXdgNWV .

What year level(s) are your children in?

I have a son in year 5 and my daughter is now in year 8 at Corpus Christi after graduating from Orana in 2023.

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

It’s been lovely getting to know the Orana staff better as well as other parents and to feel like I’m adding value.

Primary school years are over in a blink so I want to show my kids that I was present, involved and happy to get my hands dirty!

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

I’m a big believer that many hands make light work. If everyone can contribute a small amount then we can achieve great things for our little school community.

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

Monday 2nd June - Western Australia Day

Monday 29th September - Kings Holiday (School Holidays)

Pupil Free Days

Tuesday 3rd June

Monday 21st July

Monday 1st September - Catholic Day

Monday 13th October

2025 - Term 2 | Week 2-3

Tuesday 6th May - Make a Move

Tuesday 6th May - Camp Supervisor's Meeting

Wednesday 7th May - Puberty Workshops for Year 5 - Family Life Education

Thursday 8th May - Make a Move

Thursday 8th May - Kindy Mothers' Day Event - 8.30am - 11.00am

Thursday 8th May - First Holy Communion Parent Formation 7pm - School

Friday 9th May - Mothers' Day Breakfast - 7.30am

Saturday 10th May - First Holy Communion Commitment and Junior Community Mass 5.30pm

Sunday 11th May - First Holy Communion Commitment Mass - 10.30am

Sunday 11th May - Mothers' Day

Monday 12th May - Quest Math Olympiad - 1

Tuesday 13th May - Year 2 - Kings Park Excursion

Tuesday 13th May - Make a Move

Tuesday 13th May - Orana Food Service

Wednesday 14th May - Pre Primary Zoo Excursion

Wednesday 14th May - Emergency Drill

Thursday 15th May - Make a Move

Thursday 15th May - First Holy Communion Parent/Child Workshop - 4.30pm-5.30pm or 5.45pm-6.45pm - Church

Friday 16th May - Year 2 Liturgy 9.15am

Friday 16th May - Year 6 Bike Incursion - TBC

Friday 16th May - Junior Assembly