Term 4, Week 2

24 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 29 October
Primary (6M)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 4​​
  • Fire Awareness Week - Monday 23rd October - Friday 27th October
  • Grade 6 Camp - Wednesday 25th October - Friday 27th October
  • World Teachers & Hats off to Educators Day - Friday 27th October
  • Assembly (Grade 2) - Friday 27th October
  • OLOL Athletics Carnival - Thursday 2nd November

MR farr's Reflection

deputy principal


I'm looking to become not the pray-er, but the prayer.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Welcome everyone to Week 2.

This is one of my favourite songs.  It can be easy to misunderstand the lyrics, particularly the 'I don't wanna pray'.  However, this piece resonates with me in the sense that the narrator is singing about how they are striving to genuinely live out God's message of love and truly become the prayer. 

There is a line in the song "It's alright to talk, as long as you walk it."  This is perhaps the most challenging thing for each of us to do, and it is especially hard for our students to do!  We know what's right, we know what's wrong, but how often do we turn to anger when we should turn to love?  How often are we impatient with others, quick to temper, selfish or unforgiving?  For me, it's usually the more tired I become - so watch out Grade 6 campers on Friday!

This song is a reminder for me of constantly trying to be more than just a person that knows the words and knows the right thing to do, and be a person who truly lives out these words each day.  In our school's context we teach our students about being Respectful, Responsible and Safe.  About our Charism of Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Simplicity, Humility and Trust in God.  We unpack each of these words so that we have a shared understanding of what they mean and what they look like when they are lived out.  In the end it is up to each individual to choose to live these values and our Charism or not.  Of course we will make mistakes and as we are not perfect, we simply will not be able to do this at all times!

I hope the song resonates to some degree with each of you and perhaps it can be a reminder to live strive to become the prayer, not just the pray-er as well!

Enjoy your week,

Stu
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
Feast of St Francis of Assisi
Although it was 20 days ago on October 4th, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi was celebrated and is one of my favourites. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church's patron saint of animals and the environment (ecology).

Francis was an Italian mystic and Catholic Friar who founded the Franciscan Order. He was inspired to lead a life of poverty as an itinerant preacher. Francis gave away his enormous wealth to assist the poor and became a beggar himself, took on the life of a penitent and rebuilt a ruined  church near Assisi, Italy.

The Prayer of St Francis below is so very powerful and one that deserves to be recited regularly.​
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CURRICULUM & PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
World Teachers & Hats off to Educators Day - Friday 27th October
To celebrate world educators day we would like all students to wear a hat that can be doffed at staff in appreciation.
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INSIGHT Pedagogies continued
In classes you will see teachers following this model for learning.   This ‘TAPPLE’ model provides for explicit teaching, checking for understanding and immediate feedback on learning. TAPPLE motivates students and holds them accountable for their learning. Engagement Norms ensure children are doing something every minute, whether it be discussion with a partner, reading text aloud, showing responses on a whiteboard or gesturing.

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.
Fish Free School Zone & Nut Awareness
Can all parents be vigilant about enforcing our fish free school zone and nut awareness.
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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.
 Uniform Expectations
​Can all parents and carers  please ensure that:
  • Students' socks are white or navy blue with the Sports Uniform (the school is moving to navy blue).
  • No logos on socks.
  • Black (polishable) shoes with the formal uniform.
  • Shirts can be worn out with the boys Summer Uniform.
  • No necklaces or fancy earrings - just plain gold or silver studs.

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

OLOL Athletics Carnival - Thursday 2nd November
BBQ available
Sausages, water & juice   $2.00
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.
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
  • Niche Movement

  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • Slip Stream Circus
  • Nipper "Come & Try" 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