Dear Parents and Carers

I hope the first couple of weeks have been as enjoyable for you as they have been for our students and staff. We commend you on preparing your children for their return to school and thank you for your continued respect and taking the time to meet your children’s teacher, enabling a smooth transition and building a positive relationship. The Parent / Guardian/ Carer Code of Conduct also supports our respectful and positive way of working together in partnership for our students. As we reflect on the prayer for this fortnight's newsletter, we can be mindful opf Pope Francis message during this Jubilee Year: 'Be Pilgrims of Hope and Builders of Peace.' Andrew Chinn certainly brought joy, hope and peace last week during his workshops and so much fun. Many thanks to Rebecca Nancarrow, our highly skilled  Religious Education Leader, for organising this for our staff and students.

As a staff, we are  grateful for the first day of the year, enabling all our staff  to update their CPR and Level 2 First Aid. A great time to achieve this before the year commences and ensure we prioritise the care, safety and wellbeing of our students.

Annual Action Plan 2025: https://olsotsoceangrove.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/4999/annual_action_plan_2025.pdf

Please click the link above to view our 2025 Action Plan. This stems from our 4 year School Improvement Plan. We continue to reflect and consider discerningly each year, through various data sources,  what it is we are wishing to improve on or “get better at,” for the benefit of your child’s education and outcomes.

You will notice this year there is a  Literacy and Mathematics goal with actions which include coaching and further building teacher capacity in English and Mathematics, while further exploring Science of Learning evidence based research to suit our context. Coaching is recognised as having a huge impact on teacher capacity and ultimately student outcomes as it picks up on the reality of our context and is action focused. Our school has  a supportive organisational structure with our hubs, including extra human resources to enable opportunity for coaching and mentoring, with collaboration being key.  We look forward to seeing the continued benefits. Staff Wellbeing is also a focus which ultimately impacts student wellbeing and includes professional learning to support our students: "To strengthen against anxiety in schools". A parent workshop is also planned on Monday 11 August with the same presenter and supporting you as parents titled “Strengthening Children and Teens Against Anxiety.” This date and others are on the parent calendar and in our newsletter dates for easy access.

Alongside this, all teachers develop personal goals for action and to access coaching or professional learning. They also have a professional learning hub goal. As we strive for improvement, Nationally and internationally, there is unequivocal evidence that the quality of teaching is most significant in school factor affecting student outcomes. Effective teachers can be a source of inspiration and, equally importantly, provide a dependable and consistent influence on young people as they make choices about further education, work and life. We thank all our teachers and leadership staff for striving to achieve their goals and working collaboratively for the benefit of all students. 

WORKING BEE: Many thanks to the following families who attended our Working Bee and enabled our school grounds to look wonderful for the return of our students: Ricky Mullen, Oliver Mullen, Brendan Briggs, Adam Radly, Jesse Jamieson, Levi Jamieson, Aaron Jamieson, Elka Pasque, Pheonix Brown, Charity Brown, Joshua Brown, Beau Brown, Pearse Fay, Amelia Fay, Jason Bonacci, Vinnie Bonacci, Ava Bonacci, Andrew Page, Isabelle Page, Harry Page, Kevin Mitchell, Neil Brown, Indiana Brown, Jeremy Friend, Katie Mulcahy, Finn Mulcahy, Gracie Mulcahy.

Dogs and Other Animals on School Grounds Procedure With the beautiful weather enabling us to walk our animals to school, we encourage you to be aware of our Policy which states we are to keep our dogs on leads at all times and not enter school buildings with them. 

Preps and New Families Welcome Picnic Tuesday 18 February 4.30-6 pm: As communicated previously, Preps and new families are welcome to BYO picnic on the school grounds as an informal way to welcome you and meet and chat with others.

Sibling enrolments: If you have a child due to begin school in 2026, we encourage you to put your enrolment forms in as soon as is practical. You will be invited in for an interview with your child later this term.

Icy Poles: We will continue to offer the opportunity for icy poles throughout the year particularly in warmer months. This week we will have another icypole day on Thursday 13 February with the cost $1 each being brought in on the day (only 1 icypole per child please). Many thanks to the PFA for your support with this initiative. 

Beginning of Year Mass: This Friday 14 February12 noon in the church. All welcome. 

Wishing you all a fortnight of sharing hope and building peace in your daily interactions.

Kerryn