Term 1, Week 3

20 February 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 26 February
(9:00 am - 9:15 am)
ECE - 2B 
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 1​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • Parent-Teacher Meetings - Thursday 22nd February, 3:00pm - 8:30pm.
  • Leadership Assembly (Grade 6 Leaders & SRC) - Friday 23rd February, 2:00pm - 2:45pm.
  • Pied Piper School Photos - Monday 26th February - Tuesday 27th February.

Mrs gratton's Reflection

deputy principal

Respect, Restore, Repair.
Welcome Everyone to Week 3,

I wish to open with a 'thank you' to you all. Each morning it has been a pleasure to greet families as they arrive at school for the day. These connections are one of the things I value most about being a part of the OLOL community.

Last week, Carol’s reflection made mention of the privilege it is to witness as our students grow, learn and evolve. An element I find most exciting is the social and emotional growth of our young people. The way we work alongside our students through a restorative lens creates an opportunity for students to become aware of the impact of their actions on others, understand the obligation to take responsibility for their actions, reconcile and resolve conflict with others and monitor future behaviour. Lifelong skills for lifelong learners. 

A restorative classroom is one that values dialogue through an inclusive approach where everyone expects to be heard, and through this participatory process, students develop the capacity to learn in a practical way that emotions are an important and legitimate expression of healthy classroom conversations and dialogue.

There may come a time when your child/children work with an educator to complete a Behaviour Reflection Sheet. A reflection sheet can be a valuable tool in supporting the restorative practice process. The sheet provides the student with a structured framework to engage in the process, promoting self-awareness, accountability, empathy, and meaningful dialogue within the educational setting. 

This helps students to resolve and understand conflict and differences in respectful ways that engender trust, empathy, and responsibility and foster healthy relationships.

When supporting your young person/people in a restorative manner at home, you may find the following questions helpful:
What happened?
How did it happen?
What part did you play in it?
How were you affected by what happened?
Who else was affected by what happened?
What can you do to repair the harm?
What do you need to do to make it right?

We thank you for working in true partnership with us.

Kind regards,
Eve 
Sara Edwards - Occupational Therapist
This term we are welcoming Sara Edwards to Our Lady of Lourdes. Sara is an occupational therapist (OT) and will be working on Wednesdays, fortnightly. 
Occupational therapist’s promote physical development, mental health and wellbeing, through the use of meaningful activities in order to support students to participate in what they need or want to do.
In a school environment, OT’s address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial and sensory components of performance in everyday activities, with the goal of increasing independence and skill development. These activities may include academic performance, transitions, play, social participation, and the development of self-regulation and self-care skills. 
We look forward to working with Sara in her role of supporting students and their families, as well as staff. 
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.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
“No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.”
John Chrysostom (349 – 407 AD)
Lent
​Our Lady of Lourdes is a Catholic Primary School and as such we practise many religious traditions in order to help us strengthen our faith . These traditions, along with scripture and Church teachings are the framework on which our faith stands. From our participation in Ash Wednesday last Wednesday,  we are reminded that Lent is about prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  And these 3 actions are not meant to be easy and are in fact testing for many of us.

However the good news is: 
​The traditional ‘giving up’ (penance) of things during Lent isn't about doing something for yourself to make you feel bad.  It's about learning from Christ (prayer and reflection) to put all of our hopes and trust in His word and to love and serve our neighbour in whatever ways they need us (service).  Pope Francis in 2015 expressed the idea that we should only give up something for Lent only if it demonstrates compassion and enriches others.

The list below reimagines what Lent could be for you:
Give up complaining and focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism and become an optimist
Give up harsh judgements and think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry and trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement and be full of hope.
Give up bitterness and turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred and return good for evil.
Give up negativism and be positive.
Give up anger and be more patient.
Give up pettiness and become mature.
Give up gloom and enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealously and pray for trust.
Give up gossiping and control your tongue.

This giving up doesn’t not need to be done on your own, God knows each of us well and consequently all of our faults.  If we ask for assistance (prayer) God will help us in our endeavours.

Things to start doing for Lent:
  • Give away something every single day, be it time, money, or something you own.
  • Volunteer once a week at a soup kitchen/ school/community event
  • Give away some clothes to a charity or someone in need
  • Use your weekends to babysit for free
  • Make a list of 40 people who have touched your life and write one each day with a letter of appreciation
  • Talk, play board games instead to TV or computer games
  • Give to Caritas to help others be able to help themselves
  • Cook together
  • Early rising
  • Random Acts of Kindness

All the very best for Lent.


Sacramental Program

School news

Parent-Teacher Conferences (Thursday 22nd February)
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday 22nd February after school 3:30pm - 8:00pm.
Parent Teacher bookings are open and time slots can be booked via the Compass Portal.
To guide our time together, we will be asking three questions:
1. What are your child's strengths?
2. What areas would you like to further develop?
3. For 2024 to be successful, what would you like your child to achieve?

Leadership Assembly - Friday 23rd February (2:00 pm - 2:45 pm)
This Friday's assembly will include guest speakers from St Brendan-Shaw College and our Grade 6 Leaders will be presented and receive their badges.
Parents are welcome.

Digital Citizen Policy
Can parents who haven't read and signed our school Digital Citizenship Policy (Kinder - Grade 6) do so as soon as possible. The policy has been sent via Compass to all families. Students are unable to use any school device if not read and signed.

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.

Learn to Swim Program (Prep - Grade 1)
  • Prep Learn to Swim program will commence March 19th - 21st.
  • Grade 1 Learn to Swim program will commence March 18th - 21st​.
More information has been sent via Compass.
​
Uniform Shop
Our school Uniform Shop will be moving premises.  We have the great opportunity to join Midford Clothing in their new East Devonport Store, as a school along with other schools, providing uniforms to the local area.
The new shop is on 1/59 Wright Street East Devonport, it is directly across from East Devonport Primary School.
​Please see information below on hours.
Before We Move Sale
Last day for uniform sales at OLOL is Tuesday 27th February.
SUMMER & WINTER STOCK HAS BEEN REDUCED

​OLOL Complaint Procedure 
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.

Kinder 2025
We are now taking enrolments for Kinder 2025. Please complete enrolment forms which can be found on our website or collected from our office.
​
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. 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.
​
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.

Student of the week

Sports News & Rosters

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

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
Uniform Policy


​By wearing a school uniform students can readily identify with, and feel pride in their school.
The purposes for wearing a uniform:
  • to develop a sense of belonging
  • to promote pride in the school
  • to promote the image of the school
  • to ensure that students feel equal with each other
  • to promote effective and practical clothing
​

OLOL School Calendar

2024 Term Dates


2024 TERM DATES
TERM 1
Wednesday 7 February - Thursday 11 April
Easter Break
Friday 29 March - Tuesday 2 April
Students Return - 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