Term 3, Week 1

25 July 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 31 July
Whole School
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 3​
  • Assembly - Friday 4th August
  • Catholic Education Week - Monday 7th - Friday 11th August
  • Catholic Education Mass (Grade 6) - Marist, Tuesday 8th August
  • Science Week - Monday 14th - Friday 18th August

MRs Seagar's Reflection

Principal 

The culture of encounter is built in the search for harmony among diversity, a harmony that requires acceptance, openness and creativity.
Pope Francis June 2022

Welcome to Term 3 2023.

It is always refreshingly uplifting to greet our students and families after a holiday break. You all contribute to create our wonderful community and as such it is always so pleasing to see you all again.
 
We know that Tasmania is a culturally, religiously, and linguistically diverse State, with a long history of migration and an indigenous culture of 60,000 years of recognised history.
 
We also know that in the bigger picture Australia is a prosperous multicultural, and ethnically diverse country in the world. It is home to 100 religions and 300 ethnic groups from around the world.
 
Some examples of Australian diversity are:
  • 27.6 per cent of the population were born overseas (2021 census)
  • Top 5 languages used at home, other than English, were Mandarin (2.7 per cent), Arabic (1.4 per cent), Vietnamese (1.3 per cent), Cantonese (1.2per cent) and Punjabi (0.9 per cent). 
  • Top 5 religious affiliations were No religion (38.9 per cent), Catholic (20 per cent), Anglican (9.8 per cent), Islam (3.2 per cent) and Hinduism (2.7 per cent).
  • The top 5 countries of birth, excluding Australia: England, India, China, NZ and the Philippines

Cultural and ethnic diversity includes these characteristics:
  • a long-shared history, the memory of which is kept alive
  • a cultural tradition, including family and social customs, sometimes religiously based
  • a common geographic origin
  • a common language (but not necessarily limited to that group)
  • a common literature (written or oral)
  • a common religion
  • being a minority (often with a sense of being oppressed)
  • being racially conspicuous.
Sourced: https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/cultural-diversity-australia

At Our Lady of Lourdes our cultural and ethnic diversity is represented with 42 (9%),  families of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander decent 29 (6%) families with descent from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines, Nepal, Spain, El Salvador, Indonesia and Kenya. These families speak Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin, Sinhalese, Cebuano, Malayalam, Urdu, Filipino, Nepalese, Sinhala and Tamil at home with the students attending OLOL speaking 2 languages with English spoken at school. 
 
I admire, respect and have great regard for families who embrace Australian culture whilst also keeping their own culture vibrantly alive. This is both enriching for their families and of incredible benefit to those of us who have experienced only the Australian culture.  We can through dialogue and social interactions learn more of the peoples of the world – harmony among diversity.  This can only enhance us all as a community.
 
I would like to offer a coffee morning for anyone interested, in order to open a dialogue on how we can enhance the welcoming nature of OLOL to learn more about the diverse cultures in our school. I look forward to this opportunity for discussion. There will also be opportunities to communicate ideas via a survey in the near future.


Carol
Adult Behaviour Policy 2022, Catholic Education Tasmania

Catholic Education Tasmania now has an Adult Behaviour Policy.

The aims of this policy are twofold:
1. To set out clear standards for the behaviour of adults when in a CET workplace.
2. To support CET workers to establish and maintain strong and healthy relationships with other members of the CET community. 

In alignment with this policy Our Lady of Lourdes are requesting:
• Parent emails to staff to be scheduled between work hours: 8:00 – 5:00pm. 
• Emails will be responded to in a timely manner, which may not be the day of sending.
• Respect the time before school as general greeting and settling time for students. Please make an appointment with the teacher if you wish for a longer chat.
• Please refrain from using any personal social media to communicate to staff on school matters.

School news

School Gates
​The school Steele Street gates will now be 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
​
School Uniform 2024 (Kinder - Grade 2)
A reminder that commencing 2024 - Kinder, Prep, Grade 1 and 2 students will wear as their school uniform the full OLOL PE Uniform. This decision was the result of a survey taken of parents and carers in Term 4 last year.
​Survey results below.
OLOL Breakfast Club - Term 3
Venue: OLOL Gym 
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 8:40 am
All Welcome

Change of Clothes
Due to the wet weather, there seems to be more students coming to the office needing uniform items due to falling over in the muddy/wet conditions. Can all students please pack a spare change of clothes. 

Book Week Dress up Day & Parade - Thursday 24th August
SBSC Production: Thursday 17 - Saturday 19 August (Tickets on sale Thursday 1st June)
Rehearsals are well underway for the College production of Pippin. Students have been working hard on dancing and singing, and things look positive. We have some talented students in the lead roles and supporting players with great vocal talent. The choreography as well is led by some very well-tuned dance students. The sets are being created by a fantastic artistic team and constructed by Bevan Scramm and his crew.

Pippin tells the story of a young man, fresh from his studies at University, determined to live a fulfilling life and do the extraordinary. As he moves through his life, he realises that the promise of an exciting life isn't all it is cracked up to be. With some fabulous choreography and singing, Pippin will be a show you will never forget.
Tickets are on sale now through the Paranaple Arts Centre.
Adults - $30 
Concession - $22
Student - $20

Teach in 2024 with Catholic Education, Tasmania

Catholic Education Tasmania is excited to announce that we are currently seeking qualified teachers to join our educational community. If you possess a true passion for teaching and are committed to nurturing young minds, we would love to hear from you!

At Catholic Education Tasmania, we value teachers at all stages of their professional development. Whether you're new to teaching, an experienced educator seeking a change, someone returning to the classroom, or even looking to adjust your working hours, we have exciting opportunities tailored just for you.

We believe that every child deserves a quality education that fosters the holistic development of the whole child: intellectually, physically, morally, and spiritually. Our families value this too as we provide student focused, Christ centred learning for life for over 16,500 students across Tasmania.

As a teacher within Catholic Education Tasmania, you will have the opportunity to positively influence the lives of students in our school communities. Together, we can shape the future of education!
Applications can be downloaded from the Catholic Education Tasmania website (via the Button below) and close Friday 24 July 2023 at 5:00pm.

Teaching Schools Institute

Are you planning on studying for a career in education?  Imagine having the opportunity to work side-by-side with an experienced teacher while you study!

At the St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools Institute, we believe in shaping the future of Tasmania's teachers by providing dedicated training and support to students pursuing Bachelor of Education or Master of Teaching degrees in Primary or Secondary education.  Through the Teaching Schools Institute, you can gain practical knowledge by working in the classroom from the beginning of your studies.  Intake for 2024 is now open!

Successful applicants receive:
  • An annual $2500 support payment.
  • One or two days paid classroom cadet placement.
  • The use of a MacBook to assist your studies.
  • The offer of ongoing employment as a teacher at the successful completion of the course.
  • Weekly Intensive Days to support your development.

Cadet Teacher Positions are limited, and entrance into the program is by competitive application.  Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to kickstart your teaching journey.  Click the button below to find out more and complete an expression of interest for 2024!

Student of the week

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
  • Devon Netball 
  • Soccer - Season Commences 1st April 2023 
  • Devonport Primary Basketball Roster​
  • Devonport Basketball Tournament - Rosters/Rules
  • OLOL Sports Policy

Mersey Leven Catholic parish

Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil
  • 6:00pm St Mary's, Penguin
  • 6:00pm 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
  • Tasmanian Tennis Academy
  • Mersey Rowing Club
  • Slip Stream Circus
  • Tennis
  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • NAB - AFL Auskick - skills development program
  • Girls Football (Soccer) Holiday Program

Policy in Focus

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Strategic Plan 2023 - 2025

As part of our ongoing school improvement process Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School develops a 3 year Strategic Plan.  This plan is aligned to both the Archbishop's Charter and the Strategic Plan of Catholic Education Tasmania.  Our goals have been developed through a process of discernment and consultation amongst staff and our school board as a representative of our parent and community and are reflective of the feedback provided through our Validation process in 2022.

Our Strategic Plan is attainable in that it has 3 accessible, broad goals which we as a community have discerned to be of most important to our school, yet it is aspirational and identifies how we as a school aim to support all members of our community to be the best version of themselves.  As you can see below our Strategic Plan has 3 goals, which are unpacked further to identify the strategies and structures that we will live out over the next 3 years.

Throughout the course of this Strategic Plan we will be gathering data through a variety of means to determine how successful we, as a school community, have been in achieving the goals identified and to provide future direction as we continually strive to make Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School the best it can be for all members of our community.

Tasmania Catholic Education Commission Outdoor Play and Learning Policy

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