Term 4, Week 7

28 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 4 December
Early Childhood (2M)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 4​​​​​​​​​​
  • 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
  • Orientation Day - Tuesday 5th December

Mrs seagar's Reflection

principal

Never see a need without doing something about it.
Mary Mackillop 


Welcome everyone to Week 7.

It is wonderful that Mary Mackillop, who established  our founding order the Sisters of St Joseph with Father Julian Tenison Woods, said these words above.

This week's Gospel Reading from Matthew 25:43-46 also gives us pause to reflect upon our own daily actions as well as to challenge us.

The Bible is an absolute treasure trove of realistic challenges to us. The passage below is familiar to us all. Take a few minutes to read it and then ponder.

"For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me." Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” 

I know that we are all good people and do many virtuous things to assist others in our daily lives and for this I am thankful to the community that we are. There are also many times when we do not know the good work that we do. There are many times when our positive interaction with another person can be the difference between hope and sadness or depression; where a smile and friendly comment lifts up the other person; a helping hand, a thoughtful gesture as well as the more extensive assistance we give to others. And we may never know the difference we have made in their life. The challenge presented by Jesus is that whenever we see a person in need our response to them should be as if we were responding to Jesus himself.  

But what of the times we fail to respond to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked and the imprisoned?  This is a bigger challenge because are they for us? … That irritating person who we’ve never been able to get along with? … That person who’s just arrived in the country and can’t speak the language properly? … That kid who always looks dirty and nobody talks to? … That girl who’s no good at relating to other people and everyone avoids her? … The homeless man in the street who asks for money? … The asylum seeker fleeing their country who didn’t go through all the right channels to immigrate? …  We all know that at times we do not feel comfortable reaching out to them and this indeed is the challenge set by Jesus.

It is a challenge to recognise the good we do each day and where our hands, feet, voice and heart assist others and to recognise this and where we cannot assist e.g. wars and famine and so much more, that we can pray to God for help.

I challenged the students at Whole School Prayer to recognise the good they do each day and to consider whether they are the hands, feet, voice and heart of Jesus here on earth.
Some sources: https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2023Nov26/0/RefGreSun

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God bless,

Carol.
RE NEWS
Wonderings of the coming on Advent: Stay Awake!
The season of Advent begins this coming Sunday and continues through the four Sundays of Advent and ends at Christmas Eve. The first week of Advent focuses on the return of the Lord and the following weeks focus more specifically on the anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Rather than simply commemorating an historical event, Advent is a time of preparing our hearts to ‘receive’ Jesus into the world each year. Advent is traditionally marked by the colour of violet – the same colour as used in Lent. In recent years, some parishes have moved to a more blue/mauve colour for Advent to try to distinguish it from the season of Lent.

It is curious that by the time the Church begins to celebrate Advent as a period of preparation towards Christmas, the shops have been filling with Christmas paraphernalia for weeks. It starts out small with a few decorations and wrapping paper and eventually takes over every retail outlet. Many of us love this time of year and the feeling that is engendered by the Christmas mood but it is also a paradox that In the midst of this excess of Christmas consumerism, we are asked to draw our attention to the need to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Christmas. We as Catholics are asked to stay awake, as we are cautioned in  the Gospel next Sunday. Awake to what is happening around us in the world and awake to what is happening within us. It was Jesus who said these cautionary words to his disciples to be alert to the return of the Lord.

To begin Advent with these words, when traditionally Advent has been a time of preparation and waiting is perhaps a call to stay awake and stay alert in faith.  This is a very hard challenge for many today. 

Questions to ponder: 
How can the reflective and slow work of faith help us all?  How can we tap back into this faith? The community are welcome to all Monday Whole School Prayers at 9:00; School Masses and Feast Days. Weekly Masses at OLOL Church each weekend are open to all. In what ways does our society need a call to ‘Stay awake’? To what is happening to us all in a consumerist society and to our care for the needs of others, even those we cannot always help but can pray for. How is it possible to challenge attitudes of complacency of faith in society? Is it one person at a time? A realisation of the need for God’s presence in my life? Can we find a time to be quiet with God each day? How can you demonstrate that faith is an important aspect of life?  How can I live out my faith? How do you nurture your spirituality and faith? Can we use prayer enough in daily life? Can we talk to Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit through a prayer of thanksgiving, petition or praise to begin a process of connecting with our spiritual side of life?

School news

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​​

Families Leaving OLOL 2024
Can all families please inform the School Office if they will be leaving OLOL at the end of this year or in 2024.
Under the enrolment form, signed by parents 10 weeks notice is required.
9. Notice of withdrawal
9.1  Subject to clause 2.5 and termination under clause 14.2, written notice of at least ten school weeks is required prior to withdrawal of a Student from the School. Where notice is not provided, full tuition Fees may need to be paid to the School for the number of school weeks where notice was not provided. This includes withdrawal prior to the start of the school year.

​Uniform Shop
LAYBY now and collect Feb 2024.  No Deposit required.
For all OLOL uniform information, requirements and pricing, please access the button below:
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.

Breakfast Club
The last day for Breakfast Club this year will be on Wednesday 13th December.

End of Year Events
Tuesday 12th December:  Grade 6 End of Year Excursion (Ulverstone Waterslide and Fairway Park)
Wednesday 13th December: Grade 6 Graduation 6:00pm - 7:00pm (Our Lady of Lourdes Church)
Thursday 14th December:  End of year Assembly commencing 1.30pm (School Gym)
*Please refer to school calendar for events.

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