Term 2, Week 1

30 april 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 6th May
(9:00 am - 9:15 am)
Primary (Grade 6)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 1​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • Grade 5 Excursion Tiagarra/Bluff - Monday 6th May
  • Mother's Day Celebration - Thursday 9th May
  • NW Futsal Tournament - Friday 10th May

Mrs seagar's Reflection

principal
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 To all people of good will who are working for social justice; never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity. 
Pope Francis
Welcome back to you all as members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School community. The joy, excitement and energy that the students exhibited yesterday on their return to school was palpable and very infectious. They really bring life to our school and our school to life.  Our students are the very reason that the school exists and all staff at OLOL deem it a privilege to work with each and every student. 

The dignity of each member of our community: staff, students, parents and carers is of central importance to Our Lady of Lourdes, as it was modelled to us by Jesus. Catholic Social Justice teaches us that all people are made in the image of God and so possess an equal and inalienable worth. Because of this essential dignity, each person has a right to all that is needed to allow him or her to live their full potential as intended by God. 

There are 7 principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
ANZAC Day
I was very proud to participate in the ANZAC Day (25 April) service with our 4 School Captains. As we know it is a day of remembrance in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.  Ann Gilroy (rsj) https://www.sosj.org.au/anzac-day-reflection says that “ANZAC Day reminds us that war unleashes inhumanity. When a war is ‘over’ it’s not tucked away, finished and done with — like tidying the house. The geographical, political, social, religious, physical and mental trauma lingers from generation to generation. Violence is committed as though it’s normal behaviour, rather than atrocity.” Unfortunately we see this today in many parts of the world and are reminded daily of the horrors of war - both past and present.

​God Bless

​Carol
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Feast of St Joseph the Worker (1 May) celebrates St Joseph the Worker
The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to recognise the dignity of work.
Lord God, You have created all things, and imposed on man the necessity of work. Grant that, following Joseph’s example, and under his protection, we may accomplish the works You give us and obtain the rewards You promise. This we ask through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
​Amen.
​
Welcome to our 2 New Priests to Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the Mersey-Leven Parish.
Father Sunil De Silva is from Colombo, Sri Lanka, seventh in the family with four brothers and three sisters, his second elder sister is a cloistered Carmel Sister.
He was ordained in 1990 and since then he worked in several parishes in Sri Lanka. Served as the Secretary to 2 Archbishops of Colombo and as the Episcopal Vicar for Administration. He also worked as a Fidei Donum priest in Pakistan, in parishes and as a school principal. For a brief period, he also worked in Egypt for the Sri Lankan Catholic Community.
He came to work in Australia 2021 and since then he has been working in Campbell Town parish. For his extracurricular activities, he played cricket and basketball up to the highest level in Colombo district and athletics to the district level.

Father Chathura 'Chatty' Ranmuni Silva was born in Kalutara Sri Lanka, with three siblings. He joined the Archdiocese of Hobart in 2014 and went through priestly formation at Corpus Christi Seminary. He was ordained a deacon in 2019 August in Launceston and was ordained a priest in 2020 at​ Church of the Apostles Launceston. He was appointed to Launceston parish as an assistant priest in 2020 to current day.

School news

OLOL Sports Policy
The current Our Lady of Lourdes Sports Policy is currently under review.
Please accept our apologies for this inconvenience as we refine and clarify the processes and procedures within this policy.

​BOARD NOMINATIONS
OLOL would like to increase the current size of the School Board.  If you are interested please contact Carol Seagar for a nomination form.                                   
7.3 Role of the School Board
Within the parameters of canon and civil law, the policies and practices of the Archdiocese of Hobart, the Commission and the TCEO, the School Board has the following responsibilities in support of the leadership of the School Principal.               
  1. To promote the Catholic identity and evangelising mission of the school;
  2. to develop the school vision, mission and strategic plan;
  3. to develop school-level policies as appropriate
  4.  to support the development of the school budget and the monitoring of the
    financial sustainability of the school;
  5.  to ensure that the approved processes of review and monitoring of educational outcomes are implemented; and to assist in collaboration, consultation and building of partnerships with local parish/parishes, the parents and the broader community.
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Mother's Day Invitation - Thursday 9th May

​Volunteer Request
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is looking for volunteers, interested in joining Gran's Table, a Saturday Lunch Project. 
The project is supported by Gran's Van, currently delivering free meals in Devonport from Sunday to Friday. 
Gran's Table will offer a free meal to anyone who can come to OLOL Parish Hall on Saturday from 12 to 1pm. 
With this project, we will cover all 7 days of the week, and nobody will have to go without food in Devonport.
The volunteers are expected to be able to offer approx. 3 hours of their time once a month, i.e. on Saturday from approx. 11am to 2pm. There will be  a roster, where each volunteer helps just once a month, e.g. the first (second, third, or fourth) Saturday of the month. The first meeting with volunteers is planned in the hall on 5 May 2024 at 11am - see the attached leaflet.
Gran's Van offers volunteer management, aligned with the applicable Australian regulations.
The project is nondenominational (volunteers don't have to be catholic), and there is no age limit for volunteers. Children can also volunteer, as long as they are supervised by their parents or carers.
Student Pick up on Stewart Street
Any students who are picked up at the Stewart Street side of the school MUST NOT cross Stewart Street to be 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.
We thank you in anticipation of your cooperation with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School.

Car Parks at OLOL
We have inquired with the Devonport City Council whether we can have more disabled carparks at Our Lady of Lourdes,  We put forward a case with the number of grandparents and parents with a disability, but have been informed that we have the correct ratio for the area and community we serve.  In light of this, can we ensure that only the correct use of disabled parks is adhered to and maybe staggering pick up times between 2:55 and 3:15 will assist with this congestion.

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.

Drop Off and Pick Up
In order to avoid congestion at the end of the day, please be reminded, that students are not to wait for collection at the main office.  
We would appreciate families accessing our school by the 2 main external entry/exit points, rather than the main office doors.
  • Main gates from Steele Street Carpark
  • Side gate near Parish Hall 
We thank you and your children for your cooperation.

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.

Fish Free School Zone & Nut Awareness
Can all parents be vigilant about enforcing our fish free school zone and nut awareness.
​
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.
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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.

Technology NEWS

Sports News & Rosters

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

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 2
Monday 29 April - Friday 5 July 
TERM 3
Tuesday 23 July - Friday 27 September
TERM 4
Tuesday 15 October - Wednesday 18 December