TERM 2, NO. 1
13 MAY 2026

Our Lady of Lourdes catholic school

​We are Respectful

Whole School
​Prayer

Monday 25th May
(9:00am - 9:30am)
Parents and carers are welcome!
We are Responsible
We are Safe

upComing Events

Term 2​​
  • School Fire Education Program - Monday 11th May - Friday 22nd May
  • Assembly (Grade 4) (2:00pm - 2:45pm) - Friday 15th May
  • Student Free Day - Monday 18th May
  • Grade 6 SBSC Taster Day - Tuesday 19th May
  • Walk to School Day - Friday 22nd May
  • OLOL Cross Country (Grade 3-6) - Thursday 28th May
  • Assembly (Grade 2) (2:00pm - 2:45pm) - Friday 29th May
  • NW Primary Cross Country (Stella Maris) - Friday 5th June
Welcome back after the term break. We hope you are feeling recharged and reset ready for the colder days ahead. It was lovely to celebrate our Mothers, Grandmothers and the significant women in our lives last week. Thank you to our families for helping make our space a welcoming community for all.

A reminder that we have an additional Student Free Day on Monday 18 May (Week 3) for our Discernment Planning as part of the Building Cultural Capacity Program with Catholic Education Tasmania.

I hope the break gave families time to rest, connect and enjoy simple moments together including time for children to be bored. In a world of constant stimulation it can feel like we need to keep children entertained however research highlights the value of boredom: The benefits of boredom.

Children look to adults for reassurance and through our words and actions we help them feel safe, hopeful and confident about the future. The Bible stories shared with students support this message encouraging them to be courageous to trust in God and to find light in difficult moments.

Unstructured time helps children develop creativity, curiosity and independence. They learn to think, imagine, problem solve and create their own play which are essential skills for healthy development. Last term we also shared information about recent government imposed social media restrictions intended to support children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Growing evidence suggests that early and frequent exposure to social media can contribute to anxiety behavioural challenges and unhealthy comparison during key developmental stages. Delaying access gives children more time to build confidence, resilience and a strong sense of self before navigating an online world. It is important to know when your children are online and what they are accessing. Please see this link for further reading.

Providing children with time to play space away from screens and supportive guidance in their use of technology is an important role we all share.

This week I will be attending the 2026 Tasmanian Josephite Colloquium on 14 - 15 May at Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre, Hobart, exploring Josephite spirituality, the lives of St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods and the Josephite story in Tasmania. I look forward to reporting back on my experience in the next newsletter. 

Together in faith, 

Emily Sass.

School news


A Sneak Peak at Little Treasures for Term 2 
We’re excited to share some changes to our Little Treasures program for Term 2.
Little Treasures will be facilitated in our Performing Arts space for term 2 which can be accessed via the McCarthy Centre (school gym).
We’ll also be heading out on a few local excursions to explore our community.

Term 2 – First 5 Weeks:
Friday May 8th – Performing Arts space (welcome to our new location)
Friday May 15th – Pioneer Park, East Devonport (bring bikes/scooters)
Friday May 22th – Ausplay ( playground near basketball courts)
Friday May 29th – Arboretum, Eugenana (bring gumboots and a warm coat)
Friday June 5th – Performing Arts space

If we experience inclement weather on the day, updates will be communicated via Facebook and sessions will be held in the Performing Arts space.
​We look forward to seeing you for a fun and engaging term!

Important Term Two Dates
*Kinder Cross-Country will take place on a Wednesday in Term 3  when our Kinders have had more experience with our wider school environment.

important reminders

Changes to End of Day Pick Up arrangements
Please advise the office by phone or email by 2.00pm of any change to your child's pick-up arrangements. We appreciate your support.

Start of Day
We know mornings can be busy. A gentle reminder that students should be in their classrooms by 8:55am from Tuesday to Friday so they can start the day calmly and on time with their peers. Please note that on Monday mornings the start of day routines commence at 8:50am to assist with moving to Whole School Prayer. 

Personal items
We have noticed an increase in personal items being brought to school. These items can create inequities, cause issues in the playground and are often misplaced, taking up valuable staff time. We kindly ask that personal items are not brought to school unless approved by the classroom teacher or Student Support team.

​Coloured Shoes
Our uniform policy states that shoes should be mostly black. We understand that purchasing new shoes is not always immediately possible, but we ask that when buying the next pair, families choose mostly black footwear. If you require assistance, please reach out.

Religious Education

Sports Update & Information

For further information regarding sporting events please visit the Website under the heading
​OLOL Sport

Upcoming Sport Registrations
  • ​Devonport Basketball Winter Basketball Roster
  • Devonport Autumn Netball Roster

student of the week

Week 

Mersey Leven Catholic parish

Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil
  • 5:00pm St Mary's, Penguin
  • 5:00pm Our Lady of Lourdes Devonport
Sunday
  • 8:00am St Joseph, Port Sorell
  • 9:00am Sacred Heart, Ulverstone
  • 9:30am Our Lady of Lourdes, Devonport
  • 11:30am Holy Cross, Sheffield
  • 5:00pm St Patrick, Latrobe

POLICY IN FOCUS

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
CET Attendance policy

Why Attendance Matters:
Learning builds day by day
Research consistently shows a strong link between attendance and achievement in reading and mathematics. Even a few missed days each term can add up and gaps in learning can be difficult to bridge.

Habits start early
Attendance patterns are established in primary school. Regular attendance now supports long-term engagement and success.

Belonging matters
Being at school helps children build friendships, develop confidence, strengthen communication skills and feel connected to their community. School is where children can flourish - academically, socially and emotionally.

We Understand Life Happens
Children will sometimes need to stay home due to illness or unexpected circumstances. If your family is experiencing challenges affecting attendance, please reach out - early partnership makes a difference.

How Families Can Support
  • Maintain consistent bedtime and morning routines.
  • Avoid holidays during term time where possible.
  • Speak positively about school. Words matter, and nurture your child’s sense of belonging.
  • Let us know if your child is feeling anxious or unsettled - we are here to support.

OLOL School Calendar

Term Dates

2026

Term 2
Monday 4th May - Friday 10th July
(Student Free Day Monday 18th May)
Term 3
Tuesday 28th July - Friday 2nd October
(Student Free Day Monday 27th July)
Term 4
Tuesday 20th October - Thursday 17th December
(Student Free Day Monday 19th October)

​
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is located on the traditional lands of the Punnilerpanner people of the North Nation. We acknowledge and deeply respect the Palawa people, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community, and all Elders past and present. We are committed to learning alongside our students and community in this place, and support the continued sharing of knowledge and culture