Term 3, Week 10

26 September 2023

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 23 October
Whole School
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 3​​​​​​​​
  • ​Andrew Chin Concert - Wednesday 27th September
  • Footy Colours Day - Thursday 28th September
  • Assembly - Friday 29th September
  • Last day of Term 3 - Friday 29th September

MRs Gratton's Reflection

student support co-ordinator


"May peace prevail on earth"
Welcome everyone to week 10,

Recently, OLOL welcomed an exciting addition to our school grounds in the form of a Peace Pole. This is a symbol of our commitment to peace and unity and carries a message of hope, love, and harmony for all.

A Peace Pole is an internationally recognised symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four sides. Our Peace Pole represents this message in Tasmanian Aboriginal (Palawa Kani), Malayalam, Sinhala and English. These languages were chosen to represent our school community's rich cultural tapestry and emphasise our commitment to diversity and inclusion.


In 2021, to mark the centenary of Rotary in Australia, Rotary set a goal of 100 Peace Poles in 100 schools to recognise 100 years of Rotary service in Australia. This goal has been achieved through collaboration with schools, organisations and Rotary Clubs around Australia, and today, there are over 320 Peace Poles in every state and territory. In fact, there are an estimated 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.


The installation of the Peace Pole at Our Lady of Lourdes is a tangible expression of our dedication to peace and unity. We would like to invite all members of our community to attend our Peace Pole ceremony at 2 p.m. on the 19th of October to reflect upon its message and join us in spreading peace and love throughout our school and beyond.
 
May peace prevail on Earth, and may it begin with each of us.


Wishing you and your families a restful, joy-filled holiday break. 


Kind regards,

Eve
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Mary MacKillop once said: “Keep your mind in peace whatever happens" (1890). However it can be so hard having a calm, peaceful mind in our lives today and it has always been a challenge for humans. Mary Mackillop wrote this well over a century ago and she meant that if we could keep our mind at peace we would not miss the ordinary. “If we have a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow” George Elliot (1819 – 1880).  

This current topic of mindfulness was one Jesus and the Old Testament also spoke of. Beginning with a day of rest: to honour the Sabbath by taking time to rest (mind, body and soul); to experiencing the wonder and awe of our daily lives.  As Psalm 104(24-25) states: How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small.  Can we take the time to appreciate the wonder around us and in that moment be at peace.

In this beautiful Isle of Tasmania we have so much beautiful natural landscapes and spectacular flora and fauna to be constantly grateful for and when we are able to use our awareness of these wonders to take time to just stop, pause and be at peace, it beneficial not only to our health and those around us but can also develop a relationship with God.   Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God’.  In saying this psalm regularly,  the appreciation of the majesty of creation leads to a deeper connection with God.
 
It is about slowing down our minds and looking around;  appreciating, recognising the ordinary in everyday life.  The students at OLOL have been full of the energy and delight of spring and they just enjoy moments like: playing together, enjoying the classroom and the playground, delighting in their lessons, the care taken setting up the daily prayer mat, Kinder’s exploring the local community and so much more.  All that we could learn from the children.

I wish all families a really restful holiday break and look forward to your return for Term 4.

My peace I leave with you John 14:27.

​
Carol Seagar

​Farewell to our Flowering Gum Tree 
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes 3​

A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet  no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.  I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. 

Father Jaison’s Homily at our Farewell Prayer Service to the Flowering Gum spoke about the 7 lessons this tree has taught us:
  1. Be patient: a tree takes a long time to grow.  
  2. Weather the storms in life; just as trees do by gathering strength.
  3. Stand tall and be proud of your achievements
  4. Grow towards the light and chase positive energy.
  5. Grow deeper before you grow taller. A tree’s roots are not visible but are its strength - we too can be humble.
  6. In Winter, trees rest and we too need our rest.
  7. Many trees shed their leaves and we can shed those parts of us that don’t serve us or others. Remember to be honest to yourself.
Junior Joeys Late Night In
The Junior Joeys participated in a late night at school to raise awareness of the work of Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul Society). The night started with time to settle in and socialise with each other to prepare for the special night.

Special speakers Bev and Sarah from Vinnies came in and talked to us about what they did and how they help those in need. Sarah, the coordinator of Vinnies talked about how they help, such as giving people advice and food. Bev said that Vinnies do not give out money to people, instead they provide groceries, food and toiletries to help people with daily living. Vinnies offer advice to people to help provide shelter, and to manage financial problems.

Once the speakers left we celebrated prayer together making prayer hand based on the Josephite charisms of integrity, love, determination, warmth, humility. You are welcome to look at our prayer hands on the table outside the main office. 

Dinner was prepared by Mrs Mackie. We shared a simple and delicious meal of homemade soup and bread rolls enabling us to experience meals that people who visit the soup vans would have.

We prepared and cooked slices and muffins for Grans Van to distribute in the community the next day. We also made prayer cards for our Parish community.

The night concluded with a game of hide and seek, a hot chocolate and the story of ‘Bops’.

All in all we strengthened our friendships, helped the local community and had a great time.

Lulu & Siyara

School news

​Class Formation 2024
Class allocation for 2024 involves a variety of factors including balancing the academic, social and emotional needs of all of our students.  Our staff are in the best position to objectively do this.  

Our Class Formation Policy states that we:
  • Provide each child with the opportunity to be part of a class of children where they will have the best opportunity to learn.
  • Provide evenly balanced classes in which the social, emotional, academic, spiritual and physical needs of each child are taken into account.
  • Ensure that optimum use is made of prior knowledge that teachers, parents and other key stakeholders have of each child before class placement. 
To support our staff to create balanced classes where the needs of each of our children are met, this year we will be utilising a program called ‘Class Solver’.  This is a program that several other Catholic Schools have used in the past and have recommended it to us.  The program allows our staff to input information regarding each student ie their friends, academic needs etc and any valid requests from parents.  The program will then sort classes according to the data it has been given.  We as a staff are then able to review the classes suggested and make adjustments as required.  We envisage ‘Class Solver’ will support us to continue to create balanced classes that meet the needs of all our students, parents and staff in a more streamlined and efficient manner, whilst allowing teacher understanding of student’s needs to remain at the forefront of our process.

We appreciate working with you, the first educators of your child, and you are welcome to meet and share any valid concerns with Mrs Seagar as part of this process.  These concerns are not friendship requests, but born of a genuine need that would affect the future learning of your child.

This process does take us considerable time and discernment, therefore any parent requests received after 27th October will not be considered.  As such, if any parents have valid concerns for class allocation in 2024, please contact the school Office for a conversation with Carol between Monday 18th September and Friday 27th October: [email protected]

​If parents know that they will not be continuing enrolment of their child/children at OLOL in 2024, please let the school Office know as soon as possible. The realities around budgets in schools rely heavily on maintaining the right numbers of students. Knowing whether any students will be moving schools helps our school immensely with maintaining staffing, allocating resources and balancing classes.
Canteen
AFL Special Day - Thursday 28th September
Due to the large number of AFL orders, we will be splitting the lunches.
Kinder - Grade 2:   1st Lunch
Grade 3 - 6:    2nd Lunch  (Please pack extra food for students to eat at 1st lunch)

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.  Although the weather is beginning to change (slowly!) and it is lovely in the after school sun, our 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.

Digital Citizenship Guidelines
Our Lady of Lourdes is asking for parent support. If your child contacts you through their iPhone watch asking to go home, can you please ring the office so that the class teacher is fully informed of what is happening.
In our school Digital Citizenship Guidelines it states:  I will only use Digital Technology when I have permission.
​
Head Knocks at School
If your child presents to First Aid with a head knock, we will assess and treat 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.

Student Free Days 2023
Student Free Days for 2023 are:
Term 4: Monday 16 October

​​Uniform Shop
Updated Hours
Monday August 28th - Wednesday September 27th
Monday October 16th - Wednesday October 25th
​Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Afternoons Only
1:30pm - 3:30pm
​
Compass App Update
The latest Compass App update will advise parents of any unexplained absence for all of 2023. 
You may notice a new alert for your child’s unexplained absence and will be taken to the area  in the student’s profile to explain these absences.  
You can select morning or afternoon session times and provide an explanation for the unexplained entries.
OLOL Student Free Day - Malangenna School Holiday Program
Malangenna will be open on OLOL student free day, Monday 16th October at the OLOL service.
Families Tasmania - Online Workshops
Families Tasmania are thrilled to be offering some great online workshops. For more information and to book, access the link below.

Technology NEWS

Student of the week

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
  • Devon Netball Spring Roster
  • Devonport Primary Spring Basketball Registration
  • Triathlon
  • OLOL Sports Policy

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

Community News

Click here access 'Community news'​​​​​
  • City of Devonport Brass Band
  • Cricket
  • Mersey Rowing Club - Learn to Row Program
  • Come & Try Scouting
  • Girls Primary School Football - 15 Sept - 6 Oct
  • School Holiday Tennis
  • Tennis - Come & Try Day
  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • Slip Stream Circus
  • Try Touch Football Day

Policy in Focus

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Class Formation Policy


Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Devonport is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for its students, staff and volunteers. This commitment includes the social, emotional, spiritual and academic growth of each child.
A clearly defined, collaborative and transparent process for the creation of classes at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Devonport will assist in maintaining a positive environment for all stakeholders, particularly students, and create a school community that is effective in its core purpose of providing education for its students.
The purpose of this policy is to provide a clear framework for the process of placing children into classes and ensure Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School:

  • Provides each child with the opportunity to be part of a class of children where they will have the best opportunity to learn.
  • Provides evenly balanced classes in which the social, emotional, academic, spiritual and physical needs of each child are taken into account.
  • Ensures that optimum use is made of prior knowledge that teachers, parents and other key stakeholders have of each child before class placement. 

OLOL School Calendar

2023 Term Dates

​
2023 TERM DATES
TERM 3
Tuesday 25 July - Friday 29 September
TERM 4
Tuesday 17 October - Thursday 14 December

2024 TERM DATES
TERM 1
Wednesday 7 February - Thursday 11 April
Easter Break
Friday 29 March - Wednesday 3 April
TERM 2
Monday 29 April - Friday 5 July 
TERM 3
Tuesday 23 July - Friday 27 September
TERM 4
Tuesday 15 October - Wednesday 18 December