Term 3, Week 4

15 august 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 21 August
Primary (5B)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 3​​​​
  • Science Week - Monday 14th - Friday 18th August
  • SBSC Production (Grades 5 & 6) - Thursday 17th August
  • Assembly - Friday 18th August
  • Children's Book Week Dress up Day - Thursday 24th August

MR farr's Reflection

deputy Principal 


Golf… is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well.
P.G. Wodehouse
Welcome to Week 4,

I was reading over a previous Newsletter piece that I had written on the weekend as I could vaguely recall sharing a reflection similar to what I was thinking of writing this week.  If you're an avid reader of this Newsletter I'm sure you would recall a reflection from 2018 where I made a connection (perhaps tenuous) between golf and parenting!

I wanted to leave a small piece of that reflection here this week to remind us that as parents one of the biggest challenges we have is how support our children to learn and grow from their mistakes, and accept that our children will make them!  Lots of them!

"There are no shortcuts to improve at golf, at any other sport, activity or learning for that matter.  To better ourselves we need to work at it.  There are no shortcuts and it doesn’t happen overnight.  We need to go through challenges, learn from our mistakes and improve.  Unfortunately when I play golf it feels as though all I’m doing is chasing my mistakes and not learning from them - but it doesn’t stop me trying.  

In our school we support and encourage our children to make good choices and to live out our Charism in what they do and say.  But it is something that needs to be worked at.  Our children are just that - children.  They learn by testing boundaries, pushing limits and finding what is and isn’t acceptable by picking up and making sense of social cues, norms and behaviours.  Our children will make mistakes.  It’s important to really take that in - our children will make mistakes.  How they, and we as their parents and teachers, respond when they make their mistakes, will have the greatest impact in shaping who they are and who they will grow to be.  

As parents we might be helicopters - hovering over our children ready to swoop in at the first sign of trouble.  Or perhaps we are lawnmowers - mowing the grass in front of them so they never get into trouble.  Maybe we’re ambulances - following along behind them ready to hit the sirens and make a giant fuss at their first stumble.  To bring this back home to the beginning of this reflection, perhaps we ought try to be caddies - following along behind our children, ready to hand them a new club to try, give them a suggestion or tip to approach the next shot, congratulate them on a sweet hit, celebrate their successes and empathise with their failures.  But at no time do we take the next shot, make excuses for them or complain to the stewards that the ground was uneven."

I still think the analogy is sound, and it remains a constant challenge for me as a parent to be a caddie, not a lawnmower or a helicopter or an ambulance.  My first reaction to my children when something 'goes wrong' or at the first sign of adversity is so often to run in and fix it rather than to let it play out and support my child to manage the situation themselves.  I imagine you all as parents experience something similar.  It's something worth thinking about and reflecting upon, how do you support your child to learn and grow through adversity?  Or do you not give them the opportunity to?

Enjoy your week!

Stu

School news

Building Redevelopment
In conjunction with Catholic Education Tasmania, the Administration Block redevelopment has been placed on hold due to the prioritisation of other capital projects within Catholic Education.  The Leadership Team at Our Lady of Lourdes and the Board support this decision as it promotes and supports equity within Catholic Education.
 
The plans drawn up in collaboration with the Staff Building Committee will still be reviewed by Catholic Education, in conjunction with all masterplans across the system. These plans will still be used in the future, when monies become available for this project or another project if we decide on increased priorities for building at OLOL.
 
Carol and the Board thank the Admin Committee that contributed to the plans for this redevelopment
Flowering Gum Tree Update
Thank you all, for your patience when we have strong winds and we need to isolate the Flowering Gum Tree at the entrance to our school on Steele Street.
 
We are having testing completed to evaluate the structural integrity of the tree and what its future might be.  Catholic Education Tasmania will then liaise with me as to the best outcome for the community and the tree.
 
The community will be fully informed on our choices going ahead and the future of the Flowering Gum.
​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.
Digital Citizenship Guidelines
Our Lady of Lourdes is asking for parent support. If your child contacts you through their iPhone watch asking to go home, can you please ring the office so that the class teacher is fully informed of what is happening.
In our school Digital Citizenship Guidelines it states:  I will only use Digital Technology when I have permission.

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 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.
​
​Science Week Dress up Day - Wednesday 16th August
To celebrate National Science Week this year, we are offering an optional dress up day on Wednesday the 16th of August.
Science Week provides an opportunity to participate and be inspired by Science.

​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
Come dressed as a story book character.
Picture
Uniform Shop
New stocks of rugby tops now available.
Specials
Art smocks:  $10.00
Grey tights (2pk):  $10.00
Soccer socks:  $2.00
White socks (2pk) - sizes 13,2,3 & 8:  $2.00
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

Technology NEWS

Student of the week

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
  • Devon Netball Spring Roster
  • Soccer - Season Commences 1st April 2023 
  • Soccer Medals
  • Devonport Primary Spring Basketball Registration
  • Triathlon
  • Local Futsal
  • 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'​​​​
  • Libraries Tasmania Book Week Bookmark Competition
  • City of Devonport Brass Band
  • Come & Try Scouting
  • Mersey Rowing Club - Learn to Row Program
  • Tennis - Come & Try Day
  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • NAB - AFL Auskick - skills development program
  • Slip Stream Circus

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

​
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