TERM 2, NO. 5
8 JULY 2026

Our Lady of Lourdes catholic school

​We are Respectful

Whole School
​Prayer

Monday 10th August
Founder's Day
​(9:00am - 9:30am)
Parents and carers are welcome!
We are Responsible
We are Safe

upComing Events

Term 2​​​​
  • Tasmanian Premier's Challenge - Monday 22nd June - Sunday 30th August
  • ​Parent Teacher Conversations - Thursday 9th July
  • Term 2 Ends - Friday 10th July
  • Student Free Day - Monday 27th July
  • Term 3 Commences - Tuesday 28th July
  • ​Mary MacKillop Feast Day Mass - Saturday 8th August
  • Founder's Day Celebration - Monday 10th August
Welcome to the end of Term 2. It has certainly flown by and I don’t feel ‘new’ anymore, albeit I am still getting used to the flow of our school life and the different things that unfold across the year. What has stood out most is how lovely it has been to gradually get to know more families, students and staff. Each conversation, classroom visit and moment at the gate or on Top Cement has helped me understand our community more deeply and appreciate the heart that sits within Our Lady of Lourdes.

As we move through Ordinary Time in our Church calendar, we are reminded that God is present not only in the high feasts and celebrations but in the steady rhythm of our everyday lives. Ordinary Time invites us to notice God in the small moments - the quiet growth, the gentle routines and the daily acts of kindness that shape who we are as a school.

As we return for Term 3, our community will step into two significant celebrations - Catholic Education Week and the Feast of St Mary MacKillop. Both moments invite us to pause and recognise the legacy we stand on. Catholic Education Week reminds us that our schools exist not simply to teach but to form young people in hope, dignity and faith. Mary MacKillop’s feast day, so central to the history of Our Lady of Lourdes, calls us back to her simple yet profound conviction to “never see a need without doing something about it.” Her courage, her compassion and her unwavering trust in God continue to shape the way we teach, lead and care for one another.

I was privileged recently to enjoy my first Snack with the Principal where I was joined by students chosen from each class who had shown compassion within their classes. We had some fabulous discussions about different moments of compassion, why we think it matters and how it links to our school history whilst enjoying some delicious snacks. Their insights were thoughtful and sincere, reminding me once again that compassion is not only part of our Josephite story but alive in our students today.

Mrs Emily Sass

School news

Book Week Dress Up Day - Wednesday 26th August
Can you hear it? The pages are turning, the stories are gathering, and the excitement is building…
The theme for 2026 Children’s Book Week has officially been announced, and it’s… Symphony of Stories!
It’s time to start dreaming, imagining and planning! Which book character will you become? What wonderful stories will inspire this year’s costumes?
We can’t wait to see our school come alive with colourful characters, big imaginations and a celebration of the books that make us laugh, wonder and dream.

Tasmanian Premier's Reading Challenge - 22 June - 30 August
The Premier's Reading Challenge has commenced. Reading logs and bookmarks have now been given out to students. Additional reading logs are available from the library for students who are challenging themselves to read more than 10 books.

important reminders

​Parent Teacher Conferences - Thursday 9th July
​Parent teacher meetings for Kinder to Grade 6 will be held on Thursday 9th July and bookings are available via the Compass Parent Portal. Bookings will close 10:00am Thursday 9th July.
You will notice there is now an option to book appointments with our Specialist Teachers. If you only wish to meet with the class teacher, just select their name from the list.

​Footprints of Our Lady of Lourdes - A Gathering
At Our Lady of Lourdes, we are shaped by those who walked the path before us.
We invite all past staff of Our Lady of Lourdes to join us for an afternoon of connection as we share stories, rekindle friendships and enjoy a tour and hospitality with our 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.
If you know of anyone who meets this description who may not be on social media, please let them know about this or encourage them to call our office. We look forward to reconnecting with you!
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Term 3 Important Dates

Religious Education

Vinnies Winter Appeal
A heartfelt thank you to our school community for your wonderful generosity in supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Your donations will make a real difference to those in need in our local community this winter. A special congratulations to MacKillop, whose contributions earned them a bonus 500 house points! Thank you to our Junior Joeys for leading this fundraiser.
Mary MacKillop Feast Day
We warmly invite our school community to join us in celebrating the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop with an OLOL Children's Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Saturday 8 August at 5:00pm. All are welcome!
An event invitation will be sent via Compass shortly. Miss Casey is also looking for students who would like to participate as a reader, as part of the offertory, or in the choir. If your child is interested, please look out for further details in the Compass event.

Founder’s Day - Monday 10th August
​Following our Mary MacKillop Feast Day celebrations, we are excited to mark Founder's Day on Monday 10 August. The day will begin with a Whole School Prayer Service in the Church, before students join their buddy classes to explore our school charisms together.
At first lunch, students will enjoy a special shared lunch of a sausage sizzle - a lovely way to celebrate our community! Normal classes will resume after first lunch.
We look forward to a wonderful day celebrating the spirit and mission of Saint Mary MacKillop.

Save the date…Father’s Day Breakfast - Wednesday 2nd September
We look forward to celebrating our fathers and father figures at our annual Father's Day Breakfast on Wednesday 2 September. Further details will be shared at the start of Term 3, with breakfast orders opening in the weeks leading up to the event. Watch this space!
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Friendology
Growing up, were you taught friendship skills?
​Educators and parents today have become more aware of how important it is to teach children friendship skills. With the onslaught of social media and technology, friendships have considerably evolved; but in other ways, they remain the same as when you were young: we all want to get along and belong.

In this heartfelt conversation, Meg speaks with friendship expert and founder of URSTRONG, Dana Kerford. With a global reach of over 1 million, URSTRONG teaches schools and educators how to empower kids with friendship and relationship skills that will benefit them for their entire lives. In this conversation, you’ll learn what is friendship and why learning friendship and relationship skills is essential at a young age. You’ll also walk away with actionable tips you can bring to the classroom to promote wellbeing for all.

In this conversation we discuss:
  • The importance of friendship skills
  • Why being friends with everyone is bad advice
  • How to put a Friendship Fire out
  • And so much more…

​My Mind Check
My Mind Check Wellbeing Check-In
In Week 2 of Term 3, students in Prep to Grade 6 will participate in My Mind Check, a brief online wellbeing check-in designed to help schools better understand and support the mental health and wellbeing of students. My Mind Check is an evidence-based tool developed by Macquarie University and funded by the Australian Government. 

The check-in is completed during school hours under the supervision of school staff and takes approximately 10–15 minutes. Students answer age-appropriate questions about areas such as wellbeing, emotions, relationships, and their experiences at school. 

My Mind Check is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace professional assessment or support. Instead, it provides valuable information that helps schools identify wellbeing strengths and areas where additional support may be beneficial. School staff receive summary wellbeing indicators rather than students' individual responses. 

Thank you to those families who have already provided their consent via Compass. If you have not yet responded, please accept or decline consent by the end of this week so we can finalise arrangements for the check-in.

The information gathered helps us continue to foster a safe, supportive, and responsive learning environment for all students. We encourage families to talk with their children about the check-in and the importance of looking after their mental health and wellbeing. If you have any questions, please contact the school

Sports Update & Information

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

student of the week

Week 8                                                                         Week 9

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
ADULT BEHAVIOUR POLICY (UPDATED)
PUROSE OF POLICY:
The aims of this policy are twofold:
  • To set out clear standards for the behaviour of adults when in a Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) workplace.
  • To support CET workers to establish and maintain strong and healthy relationships with other members of the CET community.​

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