Term 1, No. 2

25 February 2025

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

​We are Respectful
We are Responsible
We are Safe
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.

What's On?

Whole School
​Prayer

Tuesday 3rd March
(9:00 am - 9:30 am)
Primary 4M 
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 1​​​​​​​​​
  • Grade 6 Camp - Wednesday 26th February - Friday 28th February
  • OLOL Swimming Carnival (Grade 3-6) - Tuesday 4th March
  • Ash Wednesday Liturgy (10:00 - 10:30am) - Wednesday 5th March
  • School Photos - Wednesday 5th March - Thursday 6th March
  • Public Holiday - Monday 10th March
  • NW Primary Swimming Carnival - Tuesday 11th March
  • Assembly  (2:00 - 2:45pm) - Friday 14th March

Miss Wootton's Reflection

acting deputy principal

 
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
​Isaiah 41:10
I feel incredibly privileged to once again be attending our upcoming Year 6 camp this year, a special time for our students to reflect, have fun, face challenges, and step outside of their comfort zones. One of the highlights for me last year was an experience that pushed me far beyond my own limits—abseiling.

I have a fear of heights, and the thought of standing at the top of a 9 metre drop ready to descend was both exciting and terrifying. But it was an opportunity to model courage, vulnerability, and perseverance for our students. I admitted to some of the students that I was feeling nervous, and they quickly reassured me that I’d be okay. "Once you get to the top, Miss Wootton, DO NOT look down," they said with a smile.

Standing at the top with 15 eager Year 6 students looking up at me, I thought to myself, You can do this. With their encouragement and a deep breath, I took the plunge. In that moment, I was reminded of the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, no matter how daunting it may seem at first.

That experience taught me a valuable lesson about handling fear and embracing challenges. It wasn’t just about the physical act of abseiling—it was about confronting something that scared me, trusting in my own abilities, and pushing through.

As we head into this year’s camp, I’m excited to face new challenges alongside our students. It’s a wonderful opportunity for all of us to grow, learn, and experience the power of stepping out of our comfort zones together.

The Grade 6 cohort are focussing on being beacons of Light and Hope for Others this year. I can’t wait to see all of our students Shine Bright in a different learning environment this week!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead. 

Meg Wootton 
Acting Deputy Principal

School news

School Photos - Wednesday 5th - Thursday 6th March
​Our school photos will be held on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th March. 
All students are required to wear their sports uniform for these 2 days and all shoulder length hair is to be tied back as per our School Uniform Policy.
The cut-off date for family (sibling) photo orders is Friday 28th February at 3pm. 
Should you have any queries regarding photo packages, please don't hesitate to call or email us on 0483 338 338 or email [email protected]

​Before School Supervision
A reminder to families that students are NOT supervised by staff prior to 8:30am each morning. Students are not permitted to be in the school grounds before 8:30am or after 3:30pm, unless they are involved in a supervised activity
​
Canteen
Swimming Carnival (Tuesday 4th March) - Sausage Sizzle
Sausages $2.00
Juice or Water $2.00
Canteen will be closed for lunch orders for Kinder - Grade 2
QKR Online Canteen
Lunch orders can be placed on Qkr! Online Canteen. 
​For more information click on the button below.
Please note:
  • Cut off for orders now 8:45am (on the day of order)
  • Cancelling a lunch order is required before the daily cut off at 8:45am. Canteen staff can no longer do this.

​School Effectiveness Survey Insight SRC is conducting a survey on behalf of Our Lady of Lourdes and Catholic Education Tasmania. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents' perceptions of their children’s experience of school. 
The results will benefit everyone within the school by providing valuable information about the ways in which the school can use staff, student and parent input to plan programs and activities to improve your child's experience at school. 
While your participation is voluntary, it is important to remember that the success of this important project is dependent on the involvement of all parents.
The survey will be available in weeks 8 & 9. 
​
Mobile Phones, Devices & Wearable Technology Policy
Catholic Education Tasmania joins a growing number of educational sectors nationally and schools worldwide seeking to manage the use of mobile phones and wearable technology.
From the start of term one 2025, students will have access to distraction free classrooms and the freedom to relax during break times.
The implementation of a systemwide Mobile Phones, Devices and Wearable Technologies Policy means that mobile phones, student owned mobile devices such as tablets, and wearable technology such as smartwatches will need to be stored whilst students are at school including during break times.
We will develop a Protocol to provide information for staff, students, and families about how we will manage the use of devices and wearable technologies. 
We appreciate your ongoing support as we work to provide the best learning environments for our students.
Please visit the Catholic Education Tasmania website button below to access more information.
Access the Policy and Procedure information via the buttons below.

​Breakfast Club
Breakfast club is held in the school canteen each school day from 8am until 8:40am.  
The first meal of the day is a chance to get the energy we need to learn, play and stay healthy. While most Australian children eat breakfast, skipping breakfast is still common.  Children who eat breakfast have better school attendance, better academic performance and improved wellbeing. Eating breakfast is associated with better dietary and physical activity behaviours.
Everyone is welcome to Breakfast Club.

Picking up Children Early
Our Lady of Lourdes reminds parents to provide advance notice if you are picking up your child early. An email to [email protected] is the best communication method. Phone call is also an option. It allows for advance preparation if the office staff are given significant advance notice as organising students to leave class or specialist lessons can take some time. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Playing in the Playground After School
It is our school expectation that if parents choose to allow their children to play in our playground after school then it is their responsibility to supervise and support them to be Respectful, Responsible and Safe through direct behaviour support of their own child and modelling of appropriate adult behaviour.  Effectively, you are responsible for your child after you have collected them at the end of the day. Our school gates will continue to be locked at 3:30pm each day.  We do ask that you please ensure you have left our school grounds by then.

Head Knocks at School
If your child presents to First Aid with a head knock, we will assess and treat it with ice. If they appear fine your child will go back to class where they will be monitored by Staff. The office will send you an SMS so you are aware and able to check in with your child when they get home. If we are at all worried about your child we will phone you so they can be collected.

School Gates
The school Steele Street gates are now locked from 3:30 pm each day.
If requiring any assistance after this time, please come to the Stewart Street school entrance and knock for assistance.

Buses
Please contact Merseylink/Kinetic on 6427 7626 for further information on routes and times. If your child will be catching the bus, please contact the office with your child's name and the bus number and we will add them to our daily bus lists.

Drop Off and Pick Up
In order to avoid congestion at the end of the day, please be reminded that students are not to wait for collection at the main office.  
We would appreciate families accessing our school by the 2 main external entry/exit points, rather than the main office doors.
  • Main gates from Steele Street Carpark
  • Side gate near Parish Hall 
We thank you and your children for your cooperation.

Pick Up Zone
A reminder to families to drive around the block if Steele Street entrance to the school is full with parked cars from 2:50pm. Staff are on duty to 3:20pm enabling pick at any time within 30 mins after school.

Morning Entry to Classes
A reminder to families, when entering the classrooms of a morning Prep - Grade 2 are to use the front blue sliding door and Grades 3 - 6 use the back oval doors.

Little Treasures Program
Our Little Treasures Program runs on Fridays 9:30 - 11am in our Kinder classroom. Please bring a drink and fruit. All members of the community with children from Birth to 5 years old are welcome. 

Student of the Week

Week 2
Week 3

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
sports Policy

RATIONAL
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is committed to the development of the whole person. This includes providing opportunities for students to be involved in and develop healthy lifestyle habits. Students are encouraged to participate in Team Sports for a variety of educational, personal and formative reasons.
​

OLOL School Calendar

Term Dates

2025
TERM 1
Friday 7th February - Thursday 10th April
 TERM 2
Monday 28th April - Friday 4th July
TERM 3
Tuesday 22nd July - Friday 26th September
TERM 4
Tuesday 14th October - Thursday 18th December