Term 3, Week 5

22 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 28 August
Early Childhood (1B)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 3​​​​​
  • Children's Book Week Dress up Day - Thursday 24th August
  • Kinder Father's Day Afternoon - Thursday 31st August
  • Assembly - Friday 1st September
  • OLOL Student Led Mass - Saturday 2nd September (5:00pm - 6:00pm)
  • OLOL Father's Day (or significant person) - Monday 4th September (8:40am - 9:50am)

MRs seagar's Reflection

Principal 


All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. 
Shakespeare,  As You Like It. Act 2 Scene 7
Welcome to Week 5

This quote used to be often repeated in speeches to make the point that men and women take birth in this world and then, having performed their roles through various stages, meet death; after seven ages of being human, with one of these being the school child.

The connection between this quote and Our Lady of Lourdes is that our young students, in their 2nd stage of life after infanthood, are preparing to enter the stage of performing arts. Next week Our Lady of Lourdes will be entering 17 duologues and 10 one act plays for the Devonport Eisteddfod. These are students in Grade 5/6 who have volunteered to take part. Whose passion for the performing arts is visible and visceral. In addition we have 2 Verse Speaking Choirs in Grade 3 and students in Grades 3,4,5,6 have also submitted a written poem for judging. Our Lady of Lourdes will be very well represented, once again, this year at the Devonport Eisteddfod with over 300 students contributing to the Eisteddfod.


The benefits of participating in performing arts for students are physical, emotional, cognitive and social. Self-confidence is built, imagination is stretched, empathy is created, cooperation and collaboration are necessities, concentration is required, communication skills are essential, fun is created and an emotional outlet is often provided.  Memory is essential, reading skills are developed, verbal and non verbal expression is developed as well as voice projection, fluency, keen listening and patience.

I have recently witnessed an eagerness of these students to improve and develop their performances with lunchtime and before school practices.  Dedication and passion thriving in these drama preparations.

Mrs Donna Ellis has inspired all of these students to want to willingly participate in the Eisteddfod, to put themselves out there!

​We are forever grateful to Mrs Ellis for creating a school culture that recognises the arts and in fact allows students to excel in the performing arts.

God Bless

Carol
Uniform Reminders
Thank you to all families who dress their children in the correct uniform for Our Lady of Lourdes.  It is great to see how well presented these students are and what this reflects about their own pride in attending our school.
Please ensure students:
  • Wear only gold or silver studs as earrings
  • Have the correct PE Sports Shorts, with light blue piping, available from the Uniform Shop
  • Have shoulder length hair tied back
  • Sports Shoes are kept to a minimum of colour with plain laces
We are now moving from white sports socks to navy blue and ask that when students next need sports socks, that these are purchased from the Uniform Shop.

The Uniform Expectations are below.
RE TEACHING AND LEARNING AT OLOL
Student Led Parish Mass
​On Saturday 2 September students from our school will be helping to lead our Parish Mass at 5:00pm in the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.  Our students will be leading the music and singing, and undertaking the readings.  It would be wonderful to have as many parents and families in attendance as possible.  All are welcome! 

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.

Canteen 
Pizza & Garlic Bread Special Day (Thursday 7th September)
Pizza & Garlic Bread (Cheese or Pepperoni - GF available upon request): $8.00
Orders are now open on school24.net.au and will close Monday 4th September at 9.30am.
Late orders will not be accepted. 
No other lunch orders will be available on this day.

2023 Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge
The 2023 Tasmanian Schools Challenge will be held at the Devonport Bluff on Friday 24th November 2023.
All students from grades 3-6 are invited to enter as an individual or as a team of 2 or 3 students.
Swim, bike and run.
Please can students collect entry forms from Mrs Cook's desk in the library.  All entries must be returned no later than Friday 1st September to be eligible to compete.  NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

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
​
​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.

​Uniform Shop
Updated Hours
Monday August 28th - Wednesday September 27th
Monday October 16th - Wednesday October 25th
​Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
Afternoons Only
1:30pm - 3:30pm

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 Policy
  • 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'​​​​​
  • City of Devonport Brass Band
  • Come & Try Scouting
  • Mersey Rowing Club - Learn to Row Program
  • Girls Primary School Football - 15 Sept - 6 Oct
  • Tennis - Come & Try Day
  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • 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