Term 2, Week 6

30 may 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 5 June
All School Prayer
(Early Learning - 1M Leading)
9:00am in the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

​Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 2​​​​​​
  • Cross Country (Grade 3-6) - Tuesday 30th May
  • Grade 4 Excursion (Hagley) - Thursday 1st June
  • Assembly (Prep M) - Friday 9th June (2:00pm - 2:45pm)
  • NW Primary Cross Country (Grade 3-6) - Friday 9th June
  • Public Holiday - Monday 12th June​

MRs GRATTON's  Reflection

student support coordinator

Prep Voices
“Thank you God and Aboriginal people”  Ethan 
“To be kind and share”  Charlie
“Being kind to everyone”  Ally
“Talk and speak to all other people.”  Mila
Welcome everyone, to Week 6!

As we reflect on the profound significance of National Reconciliation Week, with the theme "Be a Voice for Generations," we are reminded of the need to build bridges of understanding, respect, and empathy in our diverse society. This annual observance in Australia aims to foster reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians while honouring the rich cultural heritage and resilience of First Nations people.
 
This week provides us with a valuable opportunity to reflect, educate, and take meaningful action. By becoming a voice for generations, we can ensure that the future inherits a nation built on understanding, respect, and equality. At Our Lady of Lourdes, we strive to create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and promotes reconciliation. Our curriculum incorporates education about Indigenous history, culture, and perspectives, offering all students the chance to develop a deep understanding and appreciation for First Nations people. We encourage students to engage in respectful conversations and inquire, fostering an environment where reconciliation can thrive.
 
Reconciliation Week also presents parents with a wonderful chance to celebrate our indigenous culture and guide our children in developing respect, understanding, and kindness towards all. We encourage you to engage in ongoing discussions at home, exploring the themes of reconciliation with your children. Share stories of strength, resilience, and cultural significance. Encourage them to ask questions and, together, seek answers. By nurturing these dialogues, we foster a profound understanding that transcends the boundaries of our classrooms and enriches our entire community. We understand that small, consistent steps over time are significant. Introducing our children to our nation's history early on will help build a brighter and more equitable future.

Here are some of our favourite books to spark conversations with your children during Reconciliation Week and beyond:
Coming Home to Country
This picture book by acclaimed Aboriginal author and illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft evokes the feeling and comfort of returning home, especially the connection Indigenous people have with their land.
Baby Business
Baby Business tells the story of a Darug baby smoking ceremony that welcomes baby to country. The smoke is a blessing – it will protect the baby and remind them that they belong.
Respect
This picture book welcomes and introduces children to important elements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. It teaches children the importance of family who show the way, plus how we need to listen, learn and share. 
Once there was a Boy
Written and illustrated by Dub (David) Leffler—descended from the Bigambul and Mandandanji people of south-west Queensland—this is a poignant universal story of friendship, temptation and reconciliation.
Say Yes : A Story of Friendship, Fairness and a Vote for Hope
A story about how the events surrounding the historic 1967 Referendum played out in the everyday lives of two young girls. 
Once there were two little girls who were best friends. They did everything together. As they got older they weren't allowed to do the same things anymore, because they looked different. Because of the law. This is a story about the landmark 1967 Referendum, the two women who came together to change the law ... and how the Australian people said YES.

As we move forward, let us remember that change begins within ourselves. Small acts of kindness, compassion, and inclusivity have the power to ripple through generations. By embracing reconciliation as an ongoing journey, we shape a better future for all.


Kind regards,
Eve
Our Lady of Lourdes Masterplan
Our Lady of Lourdes under the guidance of Catholic Education Tasmania has begun the process of a Masterplan for our school. Please see the documents attached which reflect the wishes of 16 students, staff and parents who worked with an independent team to share their wishes for OLOL into the future. The Facilities Team from Catholic Education Tasmania have been working with a Project Team (Leadership, Admin Staff, Groundsman, Student Support) to draw up some possible plans for this Master Plan. These will be shared with the community, for your input, as soon as they are available.

On the 4th of April, an informal Sense-Making Workshop was held online with the leadership team from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. In the workshop, participants were presented with systemised feedback and a summary of the visions and challenges, of each group, as well as all the workshop outputs. They were asked to identify top challenges, reverse engineer those challenges to themes, and to start developing their school vision. The conversation was followed by the participants creating actionable ‘quick wins’ for what they can do now that will cost no money to improve their schools. 

The results of this workshop helped inform the Place Vision and Principles report that will be provided to Catholic Education Tasmania with this report.

​*See attached reports.
Our Lady of Lourdes Place Vision
Our Lady of Lourdes Workshop Summaries 

Social & emotional learning 2023

School news

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Strategic Plan 2023 - 2025

As part of our ongoing school improvement process Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School develops a 3 year Strategic Plan.  This plan is aligned to both the Archbishop's Charter and the Strategic Plan of Catholic Education Tasmania.  Our goals have been developed through a process of discernment and consultation amongst staff and our school board as a representative of our parent and community and are reflective of the feedback provided through our Validation process in 2022.

Our Strategic Plan is attainable in that it has 3 accessible, broad goals which we as a community have discerned to be of most important to our school, yet it is aspirational and identifies how we as a school aim to support all members of our community to be the best version of themselves.  As you can see below our Strategic Plan has 3 goals, which are unpacked further to identify the strategies and structures that we will live out over the next 3 years.

Throughout the course of this Strategic Plan we will be gathering data through a variety of means to determine how successful we, as a school community, have been in achieving the goals identified and to provide future direction as we continually strive to make Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School the best it can be for all members of our community.
Emergency Practice
In the coming weeks there will be a fire drill practice for staff and students. This is an unannounced drill to test our response to a potential emergency situation. The school will be locked for the duration of the fire drill. The practice will be as least disruptive to student learning as possible.
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School Gates
The school Steele Street gates will now be 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 3: Monday 24 July
Term 4: Monday 16 October
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Uniform Shop
Uniform Shop Hours
Amended hours - commencing Monday 5th June - Wednesday 6th July
Open afternoons only.
Monday - Wednesday 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Outdoor Play and Learning
Dear OLOL community,
We are seeking resources for our lunchtime Loose Parts Play. If you have access to resources such as pipes, plumbing connections, flexi pipe, milk crates, tarps etc. we would very much appreciate your donations. 
Please contact the school admin team via: [email protected]
SBSC Enrolments
Second-round enrolments for Year 7 2024 will close on Friday, 30 June 2023, contact us today to secure your enrolment interview as spaces are filling up quickly! Interested students and their families can get more information by contacting the College Enrolment Registrar at [email protected] or visiting www.sbsc.tas.edu.au/enrolments.
Don't miss out on the chance to join our vibrant and supportive learning community, where we provide a quality education that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning.
Contact us today to start your educational journey.

​Children's Book Week Dress Up Day - Thursday 24th August

Student of the week

Move Well Eat Well

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
  • Devon Netball 
  • Soccer - Season Commences 1st April 2023 
  • NW Football League Primary School Roster 
  • Devonport Primary Basketball Roster​

Mersey Leven Catholic parish

Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil
  • 6:00pm St Mary's, Penguin
  • 6:00pm 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

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

eSafety
The eSafety Commissioner website is a Government website that provides up to date, effective advice and support for parents, educators and children to safely and effectively navigate and manage the challenges that often come with being 'online'.

We encourage you, as parents, to access the eSafety Commissioner website to further develop your understanding of the Apps your children may be using, how to have difficult conversations with children regarding a range of online behaviours and how to recognise that your child may be experiencing harmful online behaviours such as cyberbullying, looking at inappropriate content for their age or perhaps overuse of technology.

You can visit the eSafety Commissioner website here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Additionally, you may like to view the attached resources which can be downloaded directly from the eSafety Commissioner website: 'Online Safety: A guide for parents and carers' and 'eSafety: Early Years - Online safety for under 5s'
School Technologies Focus

Community News

Click here access 'Community news'​​​
  • Devonport Surf Life Saving Club - Aquathlon - 17th March
  • City of Devonport Brass Band
  • Net Set Go Come and Play - Netball  5-10 years
  • Devon Dragonflies North West Netball Clinic
  • Tasmanian Tennis Academy
  • Tennis
  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • Mersey Leven Catholic Church - High Tea
  • School Holidays @ Hive
  • NAB - AFL Auskick - skills development program

Policy in Focus

This week in our 'Policy in Focus' section of the Newsletter we have attached Catholic Education Tasmania's Outdoor Play and Learning policy.  As we reinstate loose parts play at lunchtimes it is timely to view and read this policy.

Tasmania Catholic Education Commission Outdoor Play and Learning Policy

OLOL School Calendar

2023 Term Dates

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2023 TERM DATES
TERM 1
Friday 3 February - Thursday 6 April
TERM 2
Wednesday 26 April - Friday 7 July
TERM 3
Tuesday 25 July - Friday 29 September
TERM 4
Tuesday 17 October - Thursday 14 December