Term 4, Week 6

21 november 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 27 November
Primary (4M)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 4​​​​​​​​
  • Grandparents Morning Hour - Thursday 23rd November
  • Tas All Schools Triathlon - Friday 24th November
  • Infant Swimming Program (Nixon Street Pool) - Monday 27th - Thursday 30th November
  • Grade 3 Excursion (Dulverton) - Tuesday 28th November
  • Grade 4 Excursion (Hive Tasmania) - Tuesday 28th November
  • Kinder Excursion (All Stars Gymnastics) - Tuesday 28th November

MRs gratton's Reflection

student support coordinator

The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading it. It isn’t achieved by the book alone, nor by the child alone, nor by the adult who’s reading aloud - it’s the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony. 
Mem Fox

Welcome everyone to Week 6.

Recently, I was privileged enough to attend a question-and-answer session with Mem Fox as the guest speaker. 

This event was a true celebration of the power of books to bring us closer together as a family. Reading stories aloud not only builds our children’s literacy skills but also opens the door to meaningful conversations, new discoveries, and quality bonding time. 

Our school library is filled with a wonderful selection of books that provide opportunities for students to explore new ideas, gain knowledge, and ignite their imaginations. When we read aloud together, we get to experience the magic of stories coming to life through engaging characters, exciting plots, and vivid descriptions. Beyond entertainment, books also introduce us to people, places, and perspectives that we may not encounter in our day-to-day lives. They can help nurture empathy, compassion, and open-mindedness in our children. Through the pages of a good book, we get to explore different perspectives, cultures, and social/emotional lessons. Stories connect us with people we may never meet, but whose experiences can profoundly shape how we see each other.

Most importantly, reading provides a natural springboard for discussion. As we reflect on books with our children, we have the chance to explore important themes and topics. Conversations inspired by books allow us to share perspectives, listen to each other, and grow closer through the exchange of ideas. We can reflect on lessons learned, unpack challenges, or simply share which parts we enjoyed the most.

In our busy world, it can be hard to find time to pause and listen closely. But reading together requires this intentional presence - and nurtures it. Books invite us to have our minds expanded through the exchange of ideas. They remind us how conversation can deepen bonds when we open our hearts to each other. 

Let books open your home to discovery, imagination and togetherness. 

If you ever get the opportunity to hear Mem speak I urge you to make the effort to go along. I guarantee, you will not be disappointed.


Kind regards,
Eve

RE NEWS
At Whole School Prayer each Monday morning we follow a routine of:  ‘We gather’; We listen’;’ We reflect’; ‘ We respond’; and ‘ We go forth’. This structure allows us to appreciate Whole School Prayer as a community, to listen to the Word of God and reflect on its meaning and then to take our reflections and learnings out into our daily lives. There is always a challenge to go out and live the gospel values each and every day.

In the parable Matthew 25:14-30  that Jesus tells in today’s Gospel, the master praises the efforts of the first two servants, who used the talents they were given and improved upon them. The master criticises the action of the third servant, who hid the talent, did nothing, and was paralysed with fear.
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The students were ask to reflect on:
‘When have you been like the first and second servants, using your talents in a way that benefits yourself and others?’
‘When have you been like the third servant, not using your talents and not bringing benefit to yourself or others?’

The photos below show some of the learning and focus around the classrooms in Religious Education: learning from Scripture, prayers to God, understanding the scope of the books of the Bible and asking God to protect our servicemen and women past and present.
RE Learning & Focus in the Classrooms

School news

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
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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.

National Office for Child Safety - One Talk at a Time
The National Office for Child Safety recently launched ‘One Talk at a Time’, a national awareness raising and behavioural change campaign on child sexual abuse. 
One Talk at a Time aims to protect children and young people from sexual abuse by helping adults understand that child sexual abuse is preventable and encouraging them to have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations with children, young people and other adults in their lives. 
The campaign is a key measure under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and fulfils a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.   
Online Safety - eSafety Commissioner's Office Resources
People usually know how to keep themselves safe offline, but it's not always the case when we go online. In our latest initiative, we compare online safety to everyday objects that keep you safe – just like eSafety does when you go online.

When it comes to online safety, we can help. We educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children and young people, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse and illegal and restricted content.
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The eSafety Commissioner can support with:
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
  • Touch Football
  • Triathlon - Timetable and Event Procedure 
  • 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