TERM 1, NO. 5
8 APRIL 2026

Our Lady of Lourdes catholic school

​We are Respectful

Whole School
​Prayer

Wednesday 6th May
Mother's Day Liturgy
Parents and carers are welcome!
We are Responsible
We are Safe

upComing Events

Term 1​​​​
  • Assembly (Grade 1) - Friday 10th April
  • Term 1 Ends - Thursday 16th April
  • Student Free Day - Friday 17th April
  • Term 2 Begins - Monday 4th May
  • Mother's Day Liturgy & Classroom Visit (2:00pm - 2:55pm) - Wednesday 6th May
  • NW Futsal Tournament - Friday 8th May
We hope you had a safe and restful Easter break. With two short weeks ahead and the days growing cooler, it’s hard to believe we are already nearing the end of Term One.

Easter is the great turning point of our faith - the moment when what seemed lost was transformed by God into something new. The empty tomb reminds us that renewal is always possible, even in the ordinary rhythms of our lives and our school community. In the Gospels, the Risen Jesus meets people exactly where they are: in grief, in fear, in confusion. He walks with them gently and brings peace. This is the quiet miracle of Easter and it invites us to adopt the same posture of patience, hope and attentiveness.

One area where our young people especially need that guidance is the digital world. Recently, we have seen online issues, particularly through social media, spill over into school life, affecting wellbeing, relationships and learning. As many families are aware, new Australian legislation introduced in late 2025 restricts children under 16 from having accounts on certain social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat. This law regulates platform access, not phone ownership, and parental permission does not override these requirements.

​Having spent my career in high schools and Colleges before joining Our Lady of Lourdes, I have seen first‑hand the impact social media can have on adolescents. It is an area I am passionate about and I believe we have a significant opportunity to protect our children from platforms intentionally designed to be addictive. By standing together as a community, we can reduce their influence and support healthier habits for our young people.

I share this with all families because, regardless of your child’s age, this is a challenge every family will face sooner than we expect. As a parent myself, I am navigating these same conversations at home. I encourage open dialogue within our community as we work together for the wellbeing of all our children.

As always, if you need to communicate changes to pickup arrangements or pass on important messages during the school day, our office can assist - helping reduce the need for students to rely on devices.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we promote safe and healthy habits for our children in every aspect of their lives.

Thank you for a wonderful term together,

Emily Sass.

School news

Canteen Special Day - End of Term Sausage Sizzle (Wednesday 15th April)
  • Sausages - $3.00
  • GF Sausage - $3.50
  • Halal Beef Sausage - $3.00
Sauces supplied at no extra cost
Orders will open on Qkr on Monday 30th March and close on Monday 13th April at 9.30am. 
*There will be no other lunch orders on this day*
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Mother’s Day Celebration - Save the Date…
We warmly invite all mothers, grandmothers, or significant persons to join us for our Mother’s Day Celebration on Wednesday, 6th May. More details will be shared shortly.

​Due to the impact morning celebrations have had on students settling into the day after their significant person needs to leave, we will be holding this year’s event in the afternoon. This change will allow us to share a liturgy together and enjoy classroom visits just prior to pick‑up, helping ensure a calmer and more settled day for our learners. 

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

Growing in Faith: Easter Vigil Celebrations
We are delighted to share some joyful news from our parish community this Easter season. At the Easter Vigil Mass held at Sacred Heart Church in Ulverstone, three of our valued teachers took an important step in their faith journey by receiving sacraments of initiation.

Congratulations to Bianca Hankey, who received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. We also congratulate Molly DeZoete and Bobbie Brumby, who both received the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist.
​
This is a beautiful witness of faith and commitment, and a reminder to our whole school community of the importance of lifelong spiritual growth. We are incredibly proud of Bianca, Molly, and Bobbie and we keep them in our prayers as they continue their journey in faith.

Parish Sacramental Program – Expressions of Interest Open
We warmly invite students in Grades 3–6 to register their interest in the upcoming Parish Sacramental Program, beginning in early May.

This special program supports children as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist, and grow in their faith journey within our parish community. Specific details, including dates and session times, will be shared soon.

​If your child is interested in participating, or if you would like more information, please contact Miss Natasha Casey. Registration forms are available via the school office.

If your child has not yet been baptised and you would like this to be arranged, this can be organised by contacting the parish either directly or through Miss Casey.

​We look forward to supporting our students as they take this important step in their faith.

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 7
Week 8

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 1
Friday 6th February - Thursday  16th April
(Easter Friday 3rd April - Tuesday 7th April)
(Student Free Day Friday 17th April)
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)

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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