Welcome to the OLA website!

Our Lady of the Angels' School prides itself on the spirit that can be found in our students, teachers, sporting teams, achievements, friendships and approach to learning. We are a co-educational school with a current enrolment of 533 from Prep through to Year 7.

Our Lady of the Angels' School offers the latest in teaching and learning, technology, extra curricular activity, and the benefits of being a high quality inclusive Catholic school. We offer our students a rounded education that encourages personal growth based on Christian values. We encourage students to develop a knowledge of other cultures, languages and environmental and social issues.  We encourage our students to participate as fully as they can in the life of the school.

 

As our mission statement proclaims, we offer a program that seeks to empower and celebrate all as lifelong learners and leaders who are inspired by the lives of Nano Nagle and St. Francis. As a Catholic school, we also strive to deepen the understanding of, and nurture the relationship with our God, through an extensive Religious Education program and community worship opportunities based on the Catholic Traditions.           

Community News

This week marks the end of a very productive and successful academic term for our students which has also been action-packed with cultural, sporting, community and social pursuits.  Thank you to our hardworking staff for their continued excellent efforts to support and challenge students in all areas.  Thank you to parents and carers for your wonderful support and partnership.

We thank our student leaders for this term. They have done a fantastic job throughout the time assisting in the External Review, Celebration Day, mural painting for the Preps to Year 3s and the week-by-week organisational jobs of assembly, newsletter writing, flags and signs.  We hope that they have learned many wonderful lessons being involved with their link class and being responsible in making our school a great place to be. 

Congratulations to our Middle and Senior Primary students who had an excellent day at the Gala Sports day last Thursday.  We are proud of our students’ behaviour and athletic participation at all venues.  This excellent record was also on show last Wednesday when the Middle and Senior Choirs and Strings ensemble went ‘on tour’ to several aged care homes.  Well done to all!

Our next Family Mass is on Sunday 2nd August when we will celebrate our school’s feast day – Our Lady of the Angels. Please put this date in your diary as we would love to see a whole community celebration on that day.  The P and F have generously arranged to host a BBQ following the mass.

With regard to Swine Flu. National authorities have announced a new “protect” response phase to manage the outbreak of H1N1 Influenza 09 (also known as Human Swine Influenza) in Australia.  As at 17 June 2009, Queensland Health advised that Queensland will move to the “protect” phase of human swine influenza along with the Commonwealth and all other Australian states and territories by 23rd June.  The policy of school exclusions and closures will remain in place in Queensland until the end of the current school term this Friday (June 26).

Queensland Health  therefore request that at a school where a student has tested positive for human swine flu, and  regardless of whether or not the student has been away from the school for a few days, there would be a mandatory closure of seven days from the date that Queensland Health advised the school of the confirmed case.  Note: This Queensland Health protocol will cease as at the end of the current school term, Friday June 26.

This means that widespread school closures or school exclusion for students who have travelled to areas of high prevalence are no longer appropriate and will not be continued on a national basis.  Families travelling overseas or to Victoria during the winter vacation will not need to be quarantined on return to Queensland.

Have a great holiday – full of rest, regeneration and good family time.  We look forward to seeing you all next term.

Sports News Zone 6 Gala Day:   Last Thursday the children in Middle and Senior Primary took part in the CPSSA Zone 6 Gala Day. From all accounts they had a great time competing with and against children from other local Catholic schools. Thankfully the rain held off and the day ran without any interruptions. The children are to be commended for their behaviour and the spirit in which they competed on the day. The Canteen convenor at Rugby League commented that “they were the best mannered children she has dealt with in a long time”.  Some of the OLA successes on the day included our: Yr 4/5 Division 1 Boys Touch Football – Premiers; Yr 4/5 Division 1 Girls Touch Football – Runners up; Yr 7 Division 2 Netball – Premiers; Yr 6 Division 2 Netball – Premiers; Yr 6 Division 4 Netball – Premiers; Yr 5 Division 3 Netball – Runners Up and Yr 5 Division 4 Netball – Premiers. Congratulations to you all and many thanks to the Teachers and Parents that assisted with supervising and refereeing at the different venues. Also to the many parents and family members that came along to support and cheer on the children from OLA your support is greatly appreciated! OLA Rugby League Wrap Up:  Well it was an exciting time for the OLA Rugby League side.  Surprisingly, the side made it to the Metropolitan North Round Robin which has not been achieved since 2003.  I am extremely proud of the way our boys came together as a team and played with such a high level of discipline.  The first Round Robin, through which the boys became City District Champions, saw Jonah become OLA Sportsman of the Day. At the Metropolitan North Round Robin, Danny was named OLA Sportsman of the Day.  We were knocked out in the Met North Round Robin despite the boys putting in a massive effort against the best sides in the Met North region. Thanks must go to all parents who attended the games and supported our boys.  Special thanks to Scott Fletcher and John Chisholm both of whom shared their coaching expertise and Georgina Corcoran for washing the jerseys.  Loretta Smith is an absolute champ as she supplied us with water bottles, took a turn washing the jerseys and was integral in organising a social match with Brothers Rugby League Club.  Thanks parents and thank you to the boys who represented our school to the highest standard. P&F News Well, our carnival is over for another two years. It has been wonderful to see such a fantastic result from all the effort and planning that was undertaken over the past 18 months or so. On behalf of the P&F I would like to thank everyone who has been involved from the Carnival Committee, Convenors, Volunteers, Students, Teachers, Administrators, those who donated goods, my fellow P&F committee members and of course those of you who turned up and spent your hard earned dollars. We have made a substantial profit of about $66,000 and now we need to decide how to spend it. In conjunction with the school we would like to prepare a list of priority projects that we can help fund and as such we will be discussing this at the next meeting. If you have any ideas and cannot make the meeting please email me on Scott.mcewan@anglocoal.com.au. I look forward to seeing everyone there and again thanks for your efforts. Brazil Grumble Drama classes for kids, run at OLA with enrolments now taken for Term 3.  Students are provided with a great range of drama games and activities which aim to improve students’ confidence, imagination and group presentation skills. Visit www.brazilgrumble.com. or call 0411 246 487 for further information.

From the Student Leaders School ends this Friday at 3:00pm; we hope everyone has a good and enjoyable holiday.  Last Thursday was Gala Day and everyone had a great time and participated in matches against other local schools. Congratulations to all those who participated and a big congratulations to the teams that won, we all hope you all had fun. All the best for the holidays from your Student Leaders (SPT) for this term, writing their last newsletter. Lachlan, Sandro and Johanna. Strings Performance The Year 2 and 3 students, along with this year’s older beginners will be performing a concert this Friday in the Hall at 11.15 am.  Parents and family are most welcome to attend. Library News CBCA Readers Cup: Each year OLA enters a team of Senior Primary children in the CBCA competition. Selections are made with the support of class teachers based on the following criteria Good reading record Fast reader Able to take detailed notes                         Good memory Cooperative team member Reliable Organised Self motivated This year the finals were held on Wednesday 10th June at Norris Road State School and we were placed 8th out of 33 schools, and only six points separated OLA from the winning team! Congratulations to Joseph, Alex, Ashleigh and Emma for a great effort and displaying true OLA school spirit. MS Readathon Students are being invited to join in the celebrations of the 30th year of the MS Readathon by registering to take part in this reading event. Since 1979 schools and children across Australia have read to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS).  Students, parents and grandparents can get involved, here's how: Click online for free registration and receive an MS Readathon wristband Flick through books during June, July and August (you can count books from other reading programs too). Collect sponsorship donations from family and friends and collect some terrific rewards. Visit www.msreadathon.org.au or call 1300 677 323 for details. Swine Flu Precautions If you are taking a holiday within term time, parents are required to write a letter of request to the Principal with a copy to the class teacher (this is normal practice).  With regards to Swine Flu, the countries of concern for overseas child travellers are Mexico, Canada, USA, Panama and Japan.  If you are travelling overseas (during term time or holidays), please inform your child’s class teacher and front office staff. The following websites answer many questions you may have and are updated regularly.  Any new developments regarding phase alerts or quarantine will be sent home via a written note. More info available: http://education.qld.gov.au/ or http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu Education Tax Refund In 2008, the Australian government announced the Education Tax Refund (ETR) under which parents can claim a 50% refundable tax offset for education expenses up to $750 for a primary students and up to $1500 for a secondary student.  Legislations to establish the ETR was passed in December 2008 and will take effect from 1 July 2009.  For further information about the ETR and the expenses that can be claimed please visit www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au