Term 1, No. 3

11 MaRCH 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

Monday 17th March
(9:00 am - 9:30 am)
EASL Students
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 1​​​​​​​​​​
  • Assembly (Grade 5)  (2:00 - 2:45pm) - Friday 14th March
  • ECE Swimming Lessons - Monday 17th - Friday 21st March
  • Questacon Excursion (Grade 5) - Monday 17th March
  • Questacon Excursion (Grade 4 & 6) - Tuesday 18th March
  • Harmony Day (wear orange) - Wednesday 19th March
  • Ride to School Day (Prep - Grade 6) - Tuesday 25th March
  • Ride to School Day (Kinder) - Wednesday 26th March
  • Assembly (Grade 1) (2:00 - 2:45) - Friday 28th March
  • Grade 6 Leadership Excursion - Monday 31st March

Mr Mcculloch's Reflection

acting principal

 

Dear Our Lady of Lourdes Community 

It has been a great pleasure joining this beautiful school community and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week getting to know staff, students, parents and caregivers. I thought that in my first newsletter I best share a little about myself and some of my early observations of the school. 

For those of you who are not aware, I have moved from Stella Maris Catholic School where I was Deputy Principal for three years and more recently Acting Principal. This was the school I attended as a child before heading to Marist Regional College. I began my career at St Brigid’s Catholic School in Wynyard where I spent 10 years in a number roles from teacher through to Acting Principal in 2020. One of the great privileges of my work has been the lasting connections made with families and I have a very strong belief in the power of partnership between school and home and the impact that this can have on the child. Now more than ever we need to work closely together to guide our children through the pressures and challenges of our times. With my eldest daughter, Valerie having started Kindergarten this year I have a renewed appreciation of the educational journey as a parent. Especially considering the little poppet broke her arm at school on Day 2. This year I look forward to building these connections as we place wellbeing, faith and learning at the heart of our work together. 

Throughout this first week it has been wonderful meeting many students. They have been very curious and keen to initiate conversations. I can see such a diversity in gifts and talents and will endeavour to prioritise my time in getting to know each child. A significant but important undertaking. 
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I too have felt the warm reception from staff and have been inspired by their level of professional, team approach and holistic care of our students. Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the leadership team and administration for their outstanding leadership of the school in the formative stage of the year. Particularly Eve Gratton and Meg Wootton for their informed, approachable and compassionate leadership. I am very blessed to be joining such a wonderful team. 

Sincerely 
Ben McCulloch

School news

MYTERN (Take Emotional Responsibility Now)
MYTERN is a powerful communal language that helps students, staff, parents, carers and grandparents handle the daily stressors of life. The effect of minor stressors such as an argument with a friend, a nasty look or nasty word, lower test results than anticipated, not looking good, or not being chosen for a team, can easily go unnoticed, resulting in the development of more serious problems. We cannot eradicate the daily stressors of life. Therefore, MYTERN, combined with other strategies that we already have in place, will strengthen our community’s ability to handle these everyday stressors. MYTERN focuses on creating emotional intelligence, health and resilience, helping all of us deal with everyday situations (be they positive or negative) in a realistic and practical manner. Like reading and writing, this skill is acquired through daily practice, and is just as essential a skill to master as literacy and numeracy. That is why it is so important that the language of MYTERN is practised both at school and at home. To help us facilitate this at home, we recommend that you also download the MYTERN App, follow MYTERNCITY Facebook page or subscribe to the MYTERNCITY Instagram. This will not only help embed the language into your vocab but also assist in applying the skill daily, as the app delivers a message from Monday to Friday at random times within the hours of your choice. We will also be providing a weekly/fortnightly post, educating our community on what MYTERN is and how we can embed the language in our everyday experiences. We are excited about introducing MYTERN and are looking forward to hearing about the different roads that each of you will travel.

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​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
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Canteen
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. 
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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

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.
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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