Jess Black giving her approval of the writing by one of her many fans.
What a week OLA had for BOOK WEEK…
Author Visit
Jess Black visited our school to talk to all grades about what it is like being an author. Jess Black is an Australian author of children's books. She has written over twenty-five junior fiction books and has two picture books coming out in 2016. Jess is the co-author of the hugely successful Bindi Wildlife Adventure series, the RSPCA Animal Tales series and The Kaboom Kid series with David Warner.
Jess has a new four book series called Keeper of the Crystals. Book one, Eve and the Runaway Unicorn, is available from June 1st. Students had the opportunity over the past few weeks to view some of her work and become familiar with her writing style and also had the opportunity to buy her books and have it signed by Jess during her visit.
PO-ET-RY!
It's all about Enunciation and Expression! OLA students had the great privilege of having Annette Kosseris work with them for a day on their poetry recital. Annette is a renowned writer of children's poetry. Each year, OLA students participate in the verse speaking section of the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod and Annette's poems are often a popular choice for their recital. Annette, who runs her own school of Performance Poetry for Children, was very happy to be back working a school and especially pleased that schools are still valuing the importance of speech.
She went on to say that she was particularly impressed of the spirit in the school, the rapport among the teachers and their obvious interest in the students. "You should be proud!" she said. We are. The school is very grateful to Annette, not only for her time but for the poetry books she donated and dedicated to OLA students. These will be a source of poetry recital for many years to come. Thursday afternoon also saw our regular whole school reading afternoon.
Annette Kosseris shared her knowledge with the students in Years 1 to 4 before their Verse Speaking Eisteddfod.
OLA Verse Speaking choirs achieved a 1st, 2nd, 4th and Highly commended amongst some very tough competition - well done to you all!
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18 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Today, our school community came together to mark the beginning of Lent with a reverent and meaningful Ash Wednesday Mass. It was a special time to pause, pray, and reflect as we received the ashes and were reminded of the call to grow in kindness, hope, and love. We are grateful to share these moments as a school family, supporting one another as we begin this Lenten journey together.
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Our Kindergarten students have had a wonderful start to Big School. They’ve been learning about how special they are in Religion lessons, using hands‑on maths equipment to count and explore, making new friends on the playground, visiting the library, and spending time with their Year 6 buddies. To finish off the week, the children practised their fine‑motor skills by creating a special artwork for their families, showing just how much they love them “to pieces.” Their smiles said it all. We’re so proud of how confidently they’re settling in and embracing every part of school life!
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18 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Today, our school community came together to mark the beginning of Lent with a reverent and meaningful Ash Wednesday Mass. It was a special time to pause, pray, and reflect as we received the ashes and were reminded of the call to grow in kindness, hope, and love. We are grateful to share these moments as a school family, supporting one another as we begin this Lenten journey together.
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Our Kindergarten students have had a wonderful start to Big School. They’ve been learning about how special they are in Religion lessons, using hands‑on maths equipment to count and explore, making new friends on the playground, visiting the library, and spending time with their Year 6 buddies. To finish off the week, the children practised their fine‑motor skills by creating a special artwork for their families, showing just how much they love them “to pieces.” Their smiles said it all. We’re so proud of how confidently they’re settling in and embracing every part of school life!
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday, some of our Stage 3 students took part in an exciting skills workshop with Joash Papalii and Kitione Kautoga from the Parramatta Eels as part of the @nrl Schools Blitz. The boys ran a session encouraging teamwork, wellbeing, and healthy habits, and our students were eager to learn from them. A highlight was the Q&A session, where students asked thoughtful questions about their footy journeys- their playing history, inspirations, and hopes for the future. The players were generous with their stories and advice, and the kids absolutely loved it. We’re so grateful for the visit. Thanks Joash, and Kitione, you brought great energy to OLA yesterday!
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Today, we celebrated our new Semester 1 SRC members- students proudly chosen by their peers to represent their classes. A highlight of the morning was seeing families share that special moment on stage as badges were presented. The pride on every face said it all. Congratulations to our Semester 1 2026 SRC team. We can’t wait to see the ideas you bring to our school!
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
This term in Religious Education, Year 6 has been exploring the concept of Human Dignity- a precious gift from God that calls us to respect and honor the worth of every person. This week, their learning led them to reflect on how God invites us to love one another in the way of Christ each day. With this in mind, they chose tomorrow's upcoming Valentine’s Day- a day that celebrates love in our society- as a special opportunity to put their faith into action by showing kindness and care through their words and deeds!
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our first Outstanding Achievement and St Francis award recipients for the year!
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
10 Feb 2026
Choosing a School: A Guide for Parents
Choosing a school is a big moment. Right up there with choosing a pram, a first pet or agreeing to sign your child up for weekend sport for the next decade. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, but take a breath. This guide is here to make the process feel lighter, clearer and a lot less daunting, so you can feel confident you’re asking the right questions and find a school that truly fits your child for any grade.
09 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Our Kindergarten and Year 6 students met their buddies on Friday and absolutely loved it. So many smiles and sweet moments as new friendships began to grow. A beautiful start for both our youngest and oldest students.
09 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Kindergarten enjoyed their first week of school. They visited the church for the first time and loved having a turn on the Infants Playgym!