Term 4, Week 1

17 October 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 4​​
  • Peace Pole Ceremony - 2:00pm Thursday 19th October
  • Fire Awareness Week - Monday 23rd October - Friday 27th October
  • Grade 6 Camp - Wednesday 25th October - Friday 27th October

MRs seagar's Reflection

principal


We must teach more by example than by word
Mary MacKillop, 1867
Welcome everyone to Week 1

Welcome to Term 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes.  Term 4 is always extra special: increasing warmth of the sun as we move well into Spring and anticipate our Tassie Summer; the expectation of Christmas and the importance of the expectation (Advent) and then the  celebration of  the birth of Jesus (Christmas Day); the graduation to High School for our Grade 6 students after 8 years of education at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and the completion of a year of learning for all students.

We welcome this term our new Kinders for 2024 who will be attending their orientation days shortly.  We welcome new and existing families and wish their young children a positive, welcoming and exciting start to their learning at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School.
 
At OLOL and indeed at all Catholic Schools we have had since 2008 Kindergartens attached to and as a very vital integrated part of our schools. These educational rooms are where early learning occurs in an environment rich in curiosity and wonder. The Early Years Learning Framework is addressed and reported to as well as providing students with inquiry based learning to further their interests. This is not formal schooling which begins in Prep but the learnings occurring under 5 years of  age are vitally important for every developing child.

Every Monday morning at Our Lady of Lourdes we also have  a learning group for those students under 5 called ‘Little Treasures’ under the banner of  ‘SetUp for Success’. These morning and afternoon sessions of play and interactions is part of  Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) projects across all Catholic Schools that support and acknowledge the role of parents as first educators and where we  actively seek to work in partnership with families to support children’s flourishing. CET’s SetUp for Success is a holistic and responsive, school-based program focused on engaging and supporting parents in all aspects of development: spiritual, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional. Underpinned by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), SetUp programs respond to the observed needs of participating children and their families, and imbued with the school’s Catholic identity, are an integral part of the school community. Our caring and supportive school environment at OLOL promotes optimal early childhood development that greatly increases children’s chances of a successful transition to school. This, in turn, promotes children’s chances of achieving better learning outcomes while at school, and better education, employment and health after they have finished school.

God bless,

​Carol

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
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OLOL 2023 Tea Towel Fundraiser
The Junior Joeys are excited to sell our OLOL 2023 Tea Towel as a fundraiser for the Archbishop's Samaritan Fund! Money raised will go towards supporting Tasmanian families in need.
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The tea towel designs feature self-portraits drawn by all school students and staff, screen printed on to 100% colour tea towels with colour print. 

Please visit the link below to place your online-order for your tea towel today! 

Cost: $20 each
Orders Due: Friday 3rd November 2023
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​The Rosary
The month of October is dedicated to the holy Rosary as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on October 7th. The best way to celebrate the month is to pray the Rosary. 

The Rosary draws its mysteries from the New Testament and is centred on the great events of the Incarnation and Redemption with each decade referring to an event in the life of Jesus and Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary give us “thumbnails” of the life of Christ and his Mother.
  • The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from Saint Luke’s Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus’ childhood.
  • The Luminous Mysteries bring a deeper understanding to the public life of Jesus. They fill in the blanks between the childhood of Jesus and His suffering and death on the cross.
  • The Sorrowful Mysteries remind us of how much Jesus loves us. They recall how He suffered and died just for us.
  • The Glorious Mysteries tell us what happened after Jesus died-His Resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit and the love Jesus had for his Mother.
Sourced: https://www.st-patricksstafford.com/october-month-of-the-holy rosary/#:~:text=By%20tradition%2C%20the%20Catholic%20Church,course%2C%20to%20pray%20the%20Rosary.

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.
CURRICULUM & PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT)
Over the next few weeks  Prep – Grade 6 students will participate in Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Literacy and Numeracy. These are designed to focus on assessing and monitoring student growth in learning (skill acquisition and understanding) over successive years, mapped to the Australian Curriculum.   By analysing this summative/diagnostic (assessment of learning) data, staff can tailor teaching to the needs of individual learners. We use this information for students into the following year as a starting point for class and individual planning. By analysing this data as a whole staff we can also identify areas in need of a stronger focus as a whole school and thus use it to inform our strategic directions in learning. At Our Lady of Lourdes staff also regularly use summative testing at the end of units of learning in order to monitor the effectiveness of the teaching within that unit of work. Staff also regularly seek formative assessment (assessment for learning) as students are in the process of learning, during daily and weekly learning time in order to check-in on how their learning is progressing and if any modifications or adjustments  need to be made in response  to the learning required for individual students.  When teaching staff ask key questions of themselves as teachers: How do we as teachers increase our instructional competence to provide quality learning experiences and opportunities for our students? and How can we best assess our impact on their learning?  
As Professor Hattie has stated:  Assessment in order to inform teaching impact on student progress, is critical in 21st century teaching.

Professional Learning Day for Staff  (Monday 16th October)
Teachers and Teacher Assistants enjoyed the professional learning day on Monday this week.  There was a continued focus on the INSIGHT framework adopted by Catholic Education Tasmania. This pedagogical framework is a research-based way of teaching; based on the Science of Learning. Its core premise is to provide to all students a knowledge-rich curriculum where all students learn to read and write to a very high level so that they can access all learning.  It uses neuroscience research on how our brains learn best and the neural pathways, connections, and brain networks that enable learning to occur optimally and for learning to remain in the long term memory. Neuroscience for cognitive learning involves automaticity; integration of several topics/concepts; progressive challenge; frequency and intensity, feedback and active engagement in all learning. The Science of Learning uses High Impact Teaching Strategies based on Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, that prevent cognitive overload; ensure learning is embedded in student’s long term memory and allow the teacher to ‘check' for understanding during every lesson.

Our Lady of Lourdes is excited about our progress so far in this teaching and learning trajectory. Our student outcomes are already constantly improving.

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.
Uniform
Thank you to those children who have returned to school wearing the correct summer uniform. There will be further reminders regarding the wearing of the correct school uniform over the next few weeks.

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.
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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.

​​Uniform Shop
Updated Hours
Monday October 16th - Wednesday October 25th
​Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Afternoons Only
1:30pm - 3:30pm
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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.
eSafety guidance for dealing with distressing online content 
We are aware of disturbing content that may be circulating on social media in connection with the situation in Israel and Gaza. A number of schools and education sectors have contacted eSafety seeking guidance for managing this evolving situation.
 
Please refer to the advice below:
  • eSafety has contacted social media companies about this content and will continue working with them to identify and remove illegal and restricted material wherever possible.
  • To support this work, we encourage you to make yourselves aware of eSafety’s guidance  www.esafety.gov.au/report/illegal-harmful-content and report content where appropriate.
  • Please follow your school or sector policies and procedures when communicating with students, staff and families about disturbing online content. We recommend avoiding raising the issue with students explicitly unless it is apparent that they are already aware of it or have been exposed to it. Drawing students’ attention to the content may cause unnecessary worry or distress and increase exposure.
  • eSafety has prepared the attached document and  this webpage to assist.
  • We encourage staff, parents and carers supporting young people who may be more vulnerable to check in with them. If a child or young person is presenting with signs of distress, follow your procedures for managing and supporting students at risk. 
Support services:
If a life is in danger call Triple Zero (000) right now. 
Please encourage anyone who may be at risk or experiencing emotional distress, including worried family and friends, to contact one of the following services: More support services, including state-based services aimed at parents and carers, are listed on esafety.gov.au/counselling-support-services.

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

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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