Dear Parents and Carers,
We have now passed halfway through Term 4, and students have had a great year. It is important that we complete the year to the same high standard set so far regarding living our school values, using our manners, wearing uniforms correctly and finishing work with care and effort.
Catholic Identity Pillar
Loreto Mass
Today, we celebrated our Loreto Mass. We welcomed Sister Francine Roberts and Sister Margie Burke to present the Loreto Award to our worthy recipient, Aimee Crea. This award nomination process involves voting by peers in Year 5 and staff. Aimee receives an award as a memento and a scholarship for Year 6 at Orana. Congratulations, Aimee. Thank-you to Father CJ and to Kathryn Alp and Denise Mouttet for preparing for Mass.
All Saints Day
Last weekend, All Saints Day was celebrated, a significant day in our Catholic calendar. On this day, students focus on a saint they may have been named after at their Baptism or Confirmation and reflect on the values that this saint portrayed.
Education Pillar
Interschool Athletics
Congratulations to our interschool athletics team. The participants performed well and endured the first hot day of the season. Well done for your persistence, teamwork, and determination. Thank you to Mr. Ellis for all the preparation and to the team of staff who assisted on the day.
Health and Physical Education
We have trialled health as a specialist subject for the last two years. After collecting and analysing data, Health will return to being taught by the classroom teacher in 2025. This will allow the class teacher to integrate the Health curriculum with the Keeping Safe Curriculum. In 2025, we will extend the class sport model that the Year 5 and 6 cluster trialled this year. This will involve an additional combined year-level sports session, ensuring we meet the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) recommended time allocation for Physical Education each week.
Community Pillar
Colour Run
There was a buzz around the school for the Colour Run. The students enjoyed the event, and the weather was perfect for a run. Thank-you to Priya and the P and F committee for their time in preparation for the 'fun'draiser. Thank-you to Tanya for coordinating the event on the day. Thank you to those who registered and raised money for our school's projects. We minimise the number of fundraising events within the year and focus predominantly on 'friend-raising' community events. If you missed sponsoring your child before the event, please donate to the P and F directly through the P and F Shop. Thank-you for supporting our P and F.
We Love Orana’s Sense of Community – The P and F Needs YOU!
This year, our P and F teams have been thinly spread. Each P and F Executive member has a job, children, after-school activities and extended family commitments, yet they have made time for our Orana Community. We sincerely thank them for this. The P and F have planned and run the fantastic 'Friendraising' community-building events:
- The Welcome Fundowner
- Homeless Food Service
- Mothers’ Day Breakfast
- Fathers’ Day Breakfast
- Open Night Dinner
- Disco
- Celebrating World Teacher’s Day
- Grandparents’ Morning Tea
- 2025 Kindergarten Transition Morning Tea
The P and F have also raised some funds:
- Hot Cross Buns Fundraiser
- Cookie Dough Fundraiser
- Colour Run
The P and F have provided support to our school that directly benefit our students:
- Locovora Canteen Service
- New reading books
- New furniture in Pre-Primary Classrooms
- Library air-conditioning
- Rhythm Drumming Incursion
- Year 6 Activity Day
With volunteers and committee members, these extraordinary community-building events and celebrations will be able to continue in 2025 to the same outstanding level.
The P and F need you! Please contact the P and F. oranapandf@gmail.com
Stewardship Pillar
Staffing News
Monica De Boni will be on Long Service Leave for the 2025 school year. We wish her all the best for her leave and hope to see her from time to time between her travels.
Class Lists for 2025
The Class list request form is now closed. This week, students completed their ‘friendship circle’, identifying five peers that they work well with. The students’ voice step of our class list compilation procedures is very important. Teachers will use the friendship circle, along with the criteria for balancing classes regarding academic, social, emotional and behavioural considerations, as they embark on the complex task of class list compilation. Each student will have at least one classmate from their list in their class for 2025. Thank you for trusting that our staff are student-focused and always strive to create the best possible class allocations.
Bulk Ordering K-Year 6 from 2025
Kindy to Year 1 has been trialling bulk ordering rather than individual booklists for the last three years. This strategy has proven to be cost-effective and time-saving for families. This approach to stocking consumables is more sustainable and fits with our Earth Care mission. Packing waste is reduced, and transport costs are avoided. We will now roll this out across the school. There will be a levy charged per student on the school fee account.
Annual Community Meeting and Nominations
The Annual Community Meeting (ACM) and Sundowner is scheduled for Thursday, 14th November, at 5.15. Please join us for the sundowner to meet our new staff and acknowledge and thank all parent volunteers for their contribution to our school community. Everyone is welcome. Come along to be in the running for a door prize.
The ACM for the P and F and the Advisory Council will commence at 6pm. It is an opportunity to hear reports on the school's progress in the past twelve months and to spend time together celebrating a successful school year and strong, trusting and collaborative partnerships. All parents, carers and friends are invited and welcome to attend.
Nominations are open for both the Advisory Council and P and F Committee. Please consider contributing to these parent leadership opportunities. At this stage, we have one Advisory Council vacancy and three P and F Committee vacancies. If you'd like to discuss the roles, please call the office or reach out to current Advisory Council members and P and F Committee members.
Term Dates
A term calendar detailing the events for this term has been updated and is on our website. It can also be accessed on the following link www.orana.wa.edu.au/calendar
Further updates and any changes will be uploaded to our online calendar also on the website. Knowing what is coming up in the term and planning ahead reduces anxiety for all community members and ultimately for our children.
Up to Date Contact Details
Please ensure you provide the office and OSHC (if you use this service) with your up-to-date contact details. It is vital that we have the correct phone numbers for parents and emergency contacts.
Kindy Enrolments for 2025 and 2026
Places are filling fast for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten in 2025. We are also taking enrolments for 2026 and 2027. If you have a child or have friends with children approaching kindergarten age, please refer them to our website or ask them to contact the office.
God bless and take care.
Kind regards,
Dee Johnston
