TERM 2, NO. 3
10 JUNE 2026

Our Lady of Lourdes catholic school

​We are Respectful

Whole School
​Prayer

Monday 15th June
(9:00am - 9:30am)
Parents and carers are welcome!
We are Responsible
We are Safe

upComing Events

Term 2​​​
  • OLOL Brixhibition Competition - Wednesday 10th June - Monday 15th June
  • Assembly (Grade 3) - Friday 12th June
  • All Schools Cross Country (Symmons Plains) - Tuesday 16th June
  • 2026 Tasmanian Premier's Reading Challenge - Monday 22nd June - Sunday 30th August
  • Harts NW Primary School Netball Tournament (Ulverstone Sports Centre) - Tuesday 23rd June
  • Early Childhood Cross Country (Prep - Grade 2) - Thursday 25th June
  • Assembly (Grade 6) - Friday 26th June

Last week I attended several important events including the Term 2 Catholic Council of Educational Leaders and the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast.

To begin the CCEL meeting, all Tasmanian Catholic Education Principals joined together for Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church where the Archbishop provided a heartfelt homily. He reminded us that our daily work - often unseen and ordinary - is in fact the living heart of Catholic education: carrying the Good News with love, forming young people in faith, and shaping lives in ways that last far beyond the classroom. Archbishop Tony went on to say "Your work flows over into other lives. Long after timetables are forgotten, buildings renovated, policies rewritten, and reports archived, the love, faith, wisdom, courage, and hope you have planted in young hearts will continue to live."  It was a fantastic and engaging homily which shows our leadership of CET is in good hands. You can read the full homily here. 

I was also privileged to attend the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast on Tuesday morning with fellow colleagues. What a powerful experience as the speakers used their own stories to show what reconciliation looks like when it moves beyond symbolism into real action.  Dr Ian Sale shared a story of personal reckoning: in 2025 he and Barbara Sale returned land at Dempster Creek to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania.  Dwayne Everett Smith spoke about the importance of honest truth‑telling - not just about history, but about the lived reality of Tasmanian Aboriginal people today. He emphasised that truth‑telling is not a political exercise but a human one, grounded in dignity, identity and survival. Participants were encouraged to listen deeply, sit with discomfort and acknowledge the realities of history and ongoing inequity.

This shines through every day here at Our Lady of Lourdes and I know, hand on heart, that we are living out what the Archbishop is striving for in Catholic Education in Devonport.

Together in faith,

Mrs Emily Sass.

School news

Tasmanian Premier's Reading Challenge - 22 June - 30 August
Every year, thousands of students across Tasmania participate in the Premier's Reading Challenge. The Challenge encourages personal goals over 10 weeks, embracing diverse formats, including recommended books.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a personal challenge – not a competition. What’s your best reading tally? Can you beat it? 
If you figure out what you love to read, reading will be easier – so try reading different things – fiction, non-fiction – blogs, comics, poetry, lyrics, essays, magazines, newspapers… it all counts in the PRC. 
​This is a challenge for all Tasmanian students. It doesn’t matter what your reading level is, everyone can take part.
​Reading is a skill we need for life.  All the reading you do in this challenge will help you at school and at home. ​
Reading logs and bookmarks will be given out to students during library visits week beginning June 22nd.

​Brixhibition
Brixhibition is Tasmania's premier Lego exhibition event, with annual displays in Hobart, Launceston and Ulverstone. This year our school will participating, for more information see below:

​Prep - Grade 2 Cross Country
​Prep to Grade 2 students will be participating in their cross country on Thursday 25 June onsite at Our Lady of Lourdes grounds. See timetable below.
Little Treasures
12 June  Performing Arts/Kinder Playground
19 June  Pioneer Park East Devonport
26 June  Bells Parade 
3 July     Devonport Community Garden 
​
NCCD – Fact Sheet for Parents, Guardians and Carers
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year.
The NCCD is a collection that counts:
• the number of school students receiving an adjustment or ‘help’ due to disability
• the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.
  *Click here for more information.

Footprints of Our Lady of Lourdes - A Gathering
At Our Lady of Lourdes, we are all but travellers here - shaped by those who walked the path before us.
We invite all past staff members to return for an afternoon of connection in sharing stories, friendship with a tour and hospitality with current staff on Monday 27 July from 1:00pm - 3:00pm, meeting at the main entrance via Stewart Street. 
Please RSVP directly via the link below or phone the school on 6424 1744 to let us know if you are able to attend by Wednesday 8 July.

​7AD Devonport's Floral & Fauna Emblem Competition
A community survey has commenced asking our community what they think our City's floral & fauna emblem should be - please see attached for more information

important reminders

2027 Term Dates
An outline of 2027 Term Dates were sent to families via compass on Friday 5 June. 
Regular attendance at school is essential for your child’s social and academic growth. As our staff work with great care to provide a consistent and high quality learning program, we ask that families avoid taking holidays during term time wherever possible.

Updated Absence Notification Process
​We are updating our absence notification process to further align with Catholic Education Tasmania's attendance policy.
Parents can enter up to four days of absence directly into Compass.
For absences of five days or more, please email the school via [email protected] with an explanation for the extended absence, which will then be forwarded to the Principal.
We appreciate your continued support as we work together to keep our attendance processes clear and efficient.

Religious Education

2026 Sacramental Program
First Reconciliation Celebration
We ask our school community to keep the 15 children participating in our Sacramental Program in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate their First Reconciliation on Wednesday 10 June at 6:00pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
This special milestone in their faith journey is an opportunity for our candidates to experience God's love, mercy and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We congratulate them on their commitment and preparation and thank their families and teachers for their support throughout the program.
May God continue to guide and bless these young people as they grow in faith and deepen their relationship with Jesus.
Please continue to keep our Sacramental Program candidates and their families in your prayers.

Sports Update & Information

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

student of the week

Week 3                                                                          Week 4
Week 5

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