Term 3, Week 10

24 september 2024

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 21st October
(9:00 am - 9:15 am)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 3​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • Footy Colours Day
  • Kinder: Thursday 26th September
  • Prep-Grade 6: Friday 27th September ​
  • Assembly (2M sharing) - Friday 27th September.
  • TERM 3 ENDS - Friday 27th September.
  • Student Free Day - Monday 14th October
  • TERM 4 COMMENCES - Tuesday 15th October

Mrs gratton's Reflection

deputy principal

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Martin Luther King Jr 
​
Dear Families,

As we observe this year’s International Day of Peace, it is impossible to overlook the challenges facing our world. From Gaza to Sudan and Ukraine, we see the devastating impact of conflict on civilians, communities, and entire nations. Homes are destroyed, lives are lost, and families are left traumatised. The urgent need for peace is evident in every corner of the globe.

In his message, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, calls on us to create a culture of peace built on justice, equality, and hope. This vision requires all of us to focus on preventing conflict, promoting human rights, and fighting discrimination in all its forms. By propelling the Sustainable Development Goals, we can work toward a future that is fairer and more peaceful for everyone.

Here at school, we have a vital role to play in shaping this peaceful future. By instilling values of empathy, inclusion, and respect in our students, we help create a culture where peace can flourish. Every act of kindness and understanding within our community helps build a foundation for a more just and compassionate world.

As the Summit of the Future approaches, let us take this opportunity to reflect on the ways we can contribute to a more peaceful society, both in our school and beyond. Together, we can nurture a culture where equality, peace, and justice thrive.
​
Warm regards,
Eve

Updated CET Policies
The Catholic Education Commission Tasmania (CECT) recently approved updated versions of the Student ICT Policy and Work Health and Safety Policy at its meeting held on 20 August 2021, please click on the links below to access the new policies. As a result of approving the updated policies the CECT Terms and Definitions document has also been updated.

Religious Education

I read this at the recent Weekend Mass and it challenged me greatly - see how you feel as you read it:

​James 3:16 – 4:3
Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done; whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.
Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. Why you don’t have what you want is because you don’t pray for it; when you do pray and don’t get it, it is because you have not prayed properly, you have prayed for something to indulge your own desires.

The gospel reading from St. James, above,  offers a deep insight into many problematic types of human behaviour when he states that ‘wars and battles’ start from ‘inside your own selves’. 

His solution is to spend time in prayer, to meditate. Today we know something of the way we can project onto others our own inner demons, and then instead of grappling with our own truth, painful though it may be, we demonise the other. We can do this with individuals, and we can do this with groups. But this is the easy way out. Real truth, and the peace and freedom that come with knowing ourselves, warts and all, require quiet contemplative time. As Christians, we need not do this alone, for in prayer we can call upon Jesus to be our friend and guide, leading us on the way to truth and life.

This is indeed a challenge for us all and following Christ can be just that!.

Carol Seagar
Sourced from  https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2024Sep22/0/ComMaCol   Mary Coloe

School news

Upcoming Building Works
Our Lady of Lourdes will be renovating and creating new offices in the Admin area and at the back of the library.    These offices will create space for counsellors, allied health professionals, finance and leadership; as well as reconfiguring the Main Office for better workflow and access to the First Aid Room.
These building works are planned to begin at the end of this term and all of Term 4.
The impact for parents and students for Term 4 will be:
  • No access to the current Office Area - the temporary School Office will be in the Library, straight through the blue doors; from the last week of school until the end of Term 4 and the Summer Holidays.
  • The Library will be closed to students from the end of Week 8 to the beginning of Week 4 Term 4.
  • You will see visual fencing and barriers around the school being erected this term.
Please respect these and be guided by directions from staff if you are unsure.

Parent Invitation for Class Requests for 2025
Class allocation for 2025, 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. They spend 800 hours with your child over the school year. We also wish to work with you as parents if you have valid concerns for class allocation in 2025. 

Please contact the school office for an interview with Carol between Monday 16th  September and Friday 26th October: [email protected]

Not all parent requests can or will be granted. This decision will be the Principal’s, based on conversations between the Principal and class teachers following the parent request.

Our Lady of Lourdes Class Formation Policy provides 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.

We do state that this process does take us considerable time and discernment, therefore any parent requests received after 28th October will not be considered.

End of Day Pick Up Time
Grade 1 - 6:     2:55pm
Kinder & Prep: 2:45pm (if parents are able to come) Staff will wait with children till 2:55pm.
​
Student Drop Off & Pick up on Stewart Street
Stewart Street is becoming very dangerous for our students. Several parents are doing U-Turns or driving in an unsafe manner to drop off or pick up. Please use the Roundabout at the end of the street to turn around.
  • Any students who are dropped off or picked up at the Stewart Street side of the school MUST NOT cross Stewart Street when they are dropped off or picked up.
    Students must stay on the school side of the street and parents pick up from this side only. 
  • It is not safe for our students to cross Stewart Street during school hours and especially at the end and beginning of the day.
  • There is no crossing on Stewart Street, and the Council will not provide one, so parents please drive up on the school side of Stewart Street to pick up your child. Alternatively, use the Pick-Up Zone on Steele Street. 
  • Please be aware of signage during our renovations in Term 4, as there will be some changes.
 
We thank you in anticipation of your cooperation with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School.

Personal Sport Equipment
​Our Lady of Lourdes provides lots of balls and sports' equipment for students to play with at lunchtimes.  We ask that students do not bring in their own sports equipment.
Only toys needed for classroom regulation may be brought to school.

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 3:20 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.

Have your say on the future of Tasmania’s education system
Did you know, the Tasmanian Government has established an Independent Review of Tasmania’s Education System? The Review is being undertaken to provide advice to the Tasmanian Government on how to improve our education system over the next 10 years.
The Review wants to hear from every Tasmanian, including children and young people of all ages, families, those working in the education sector and members of the community. 
There are multiple ways you can get involved. 
www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=www.ier.tas.gov.au&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8Specifically for children and young people, submit a creative response to the question
​
​Imagine yourself at the end of school, what have you learned, what have you achieved and who do you want to be?
You can answer this question by providing an image of a piece of artwork you have done (with a short explanation), or something written – a short story, a sentence, a paragraph, a poem – the choice is up to you! 
Creative submissions, including which year level you are in, can be sent to the Review 
  • by email [email protected] or posted to GPO Box 104, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000 - Attention: Independent Education Review.
Submissions responding to the Consultation Paper must be lodged by Sunday 13 October 2024, and all other consultation opportunities will close on Sunday 27 October.
Visit  www.ier.tas.gov.au today, to learn more and have your say!
Nut & Fish Aware School
OLOL is a Nut & Fish Aware School and encourage parents to refrain from using these products in school lunches.
​
These foods can contain fish:​
  • Fried rice, spring rolls and paella with fish specifically.
  • ​Dishes that are often prepared with fish-based sauces, like oyster sauce.
  • Sushi.
  • Salad dressings.
  • Sauces, like steak and Worcestershire.
  • Seafood soups and broths.
  • Spreads like taramasalata​​ ​​

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. 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.

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.

Technology News

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
Basketball
Soccer
​Netball​
​NW Futsal
​Local Futsal
Tennis
​

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

2024 Term Dates


2024 TERM DATES
TERM 3
Tuesday 23 July - Friday 27 September
TERM 4
Tuesday 15 October - Wednesday 18 December

2025 TERM DATES
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