Term 1, Week 7

14 March, 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 20 March
Early Years School Prayer
(Grades Prep - 2)
Prep B leading.
9:00am in the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

​Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 1​​​​​​
  • NW Primary Schools Swimming Carnival (Tuesday 14th March) - Burnie Aquatic Centre
  • NAPLAN (Wednesday 15th - Monday 20th March)
  • Assembly (Friday 17th March) - Grade 5M
  • Harmony Day (Tuesday 21st March) - Orange clothes day

Mrs seagar's  Reflection

Principal

St. Paul’s assertion is that freedom, given to humanity through grace and love, is “the supreme and new law of Christian life,” which “opens us up to welcoming every people and culture, and at the same time opens every people and culture to a greater freedom”
Pope Francis, Oct 2021.
Welcome everyone to Week 7 .

Harmony Day
Next week across Australia there will be celebrations for Harmony Day on 21 March. Created in 1999 to celebrate unity and diversity, Harmony Day was originally an Australian celebration but is now marked worldwide by conscientious citizens. Whether you want to be better friends with your neighbours or stand in the shoes of another, creating understanding of the stories of other human beings allows for great dignity and unity.

The theme this year is ‘Everyone Belongs’

Some wondering questions:
  • Do we really know what it is like to walk a mile in the shoes of another?  
  • What are some strategies to start a conversation with someone we don't share a common experience with?
  • How can we do or say welcoming and inclusive things - if we have no idea where to start?
Some possible answers to the wonderings above are:
• Say ‘Hello”, “How are you today?” “My name is and we have children in the same class…”
• Touch base regularly at school when you see the other person in passing.
• Shared experiences of school are a conversation entry and reason to expand the conversation.
• As you get to know someone better, it is then appropriate to :

  1. Share a little bit about you and your personal story – where from, what you enjoy, personal anecdotes from your life. The intention is to find some connection.
  2. Questions that are open-ended facilitate dialogue and discussion. For example: Where did you grow up and what is most memorable about it? Or how was it like when you went to college? Or what sports do you like to watch? Such questions give the other person a chance to express themselves in a non-threatening manner which leads to positive communication.
  3. Body language often dictates how others see us. So be aware of your own body language and use body language cues to indicate you are friendly and open to making friends. Avoid crossed arms, hands in your pocket, playing with keys or even checking your phone as they can be taken as signs of disinterest.
  4. Be genuine about your intention of getting to know the other person. People are generally very perceptive and can often spot insincerity a mile away. Remember to always be honest and sincere in your effort to get to know the other person. Ask questions that you really want to know answers for and build on them to carry the conversation forward and to help you understand better. This facilitates conversation. For example:
  • My knowledge about X is very limited I am afraid, would you be open to talking and sharing about what it was like for you?
  • I have never met someone from A and I have always been interested in knowing more about A – can you point me to a good resource to learn? Would you be open to sharing about your life in A?

One of the worse things we often do in our fear of saying the wrong thing or asking the wrong question is to completely ignore the person/issue. This can  make people feel more alienated and isolated. People, by nature, are social creatures who want and crave company and camaraderie.
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God Bless

Carol

Source:
https://culturallyours.com/2018/10/05/cross-cultural-conversation-starter-tips/#:~:text=%231%20Share%20a%20little%20bit%20about%20you%20and%20your%20personal%20story&text=Use%20these%20as%20a%20way,trying%20to%20find%20a%20connection.

McCarthy Centre
Our school gym is named the McCarthy Centre. It is named in honour of Sister Mary Francis McCarthy who with two other Sisters of St Joseph established Our Lady of Lourdes in 1891.

2023 NAPLAN Grades 3 & 5

2023 NAPLAN Grades 3 & 5

Students in Grades 3 & 5 will be sitting NAPLAN between 15 and 27 March 2023.

The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so. 

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

This is the first year NAPLAN will be held in March, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year, so they can be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year.

Why NAPLAN is conducted online
NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results.  One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do.  Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN.  Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.  Please note that students in Year 3 complete the Writing Test on paper.

Parent information brochures and other resources
Your questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers
The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website.

Please contact Mr Farr if you have any further queries regarding NAPLAN or your child's participation in NAPLAN.

Social & emotional learning 2023

Resilience: the capacity of a person to maintain their core purpose and integrity in the face of changed circumstances; the ability to bounce back with strength.

RE NEWS
St Joseph
On 19th March we celebrate the Feast Day of St Joseph.
We know little more about the historical Joseph than his name and that he was a teknon, one who worked with his hands. Traditionally we have thought of this as working in wood. In the dry country of Israel, it is more likely that he worked in stone. The ancient village of Capernaum had stone houses and close to Nazareth was a very large Greco-Roman city that had elaborate villas, and a theatre, all made in stone. While having no detailed knowledge, we can glean from the Gospels something of his character. We know he was an observant Jew. He would have seen to Jesus’ education in the faith of Israel. He would have taken Jesus to Jerusalem to celebrate the great festivals of the Jewish people and taught Jesus the prayers of his people. This is what a Jewish father would do for his son. When Jesus emerges as an adult, his faith has to some extent been shaped within his home and the village life of Nazareth.
Dr Mary Coloe PBVM sourced at https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2023Mar20/0/ComMaCol

“(Joseph) employed his legal authority over the Holy Family to devote himself completely to them in his life and work. He turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman (gift) of himself, his heart and all his abilities, a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home.”
Pope Francis 

‘Joseph’s is a unique gift. Given the family structure of his day, only he could correspond with the invitation of God to “legitimise” the birth of Jesus and to provide the context in which the Word could be enfleshed’. 
Mary Cresp rsj, In the Spirit of Joseph, p.10

​Mary MacKillop encourages us to: 
‘Apply to St Joseph with confidence in every difficulty and you will not be disappointed’
Mary MacKillop (1906).
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Prayer
Joseph, Beloved Father, you faced the numerous crises in your life with courage and resilience.
Be with parents and guardians as they deal with the challenges of raising families today.
Help us as we respond, each according to our own capacity.
Amen

Lent
Photos from Grade 3 on their Lenten Promises
Caritas
For 40 days as Catholics we try to abide by prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
As part of almsgiving we are fundraising for Caritas, as we do each Lent.
Caritas works to end poverty and promote justice in countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. Their work tackles global issues like food and water insecurity, national disaster readiness and gender-based violence. Caritas Australia is the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency in Australia.  They are committed to working alongside the most vulnerable and addressing the imbalance of power by including the people affect in the decisions impacting their lives. Caritas’ vision is Justice, dignity and hope for humanity and all of God’s creation.
Sourced: https://www.caritas.org.au/

School news

Student Free Days 2023
Student Free Days for 2023 are:
Term 2: Monday 24 April
Term 3: Monday 24 July
Term 4: Monday 16 October
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Harmony Day (Tuesday 21st March) - Orange Clothes Day For Harmony
Orange clothes day for harmony. Students are encouraged to wear an item of orange clothing or accessorise with something orange to celebrate Harmony Day on Tuesday 21st March.
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Taz Kids Club
Taz Kids provide support and education for young Tasmanians aged 7 to 17 who have a parent or guardian affected by mental health. In the near future, Anglicare Tasmania will be running a program at Our Lady of Lourdes, called Taz Kids Club. All activities are provided free of charge and facilitated by qualified, experienced staff from Anglicare.
If you would like your child to be involved please click on the link below to access the Parent Permission Google Form:
Taz Kids Permission Form

Student of the week

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
  • Devon Netball 
  • Soccer Prep - Grade 6 - Registration Closes Friday 10th March
  • NW Football League Primary School Roster 
  • Devonport Primary Basketball Roster

Move Well Eat Well

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
  • Tennis
  • Hockey
  • Studio 81 Dance Company
  • Mersey Leven Catholic Church - High Tea

Technology NEWS

Policy in Focus

This week in our 'Policy in Focus' section of the Newsletter we have attached our Uniform Policy.  This policy outlines the expectations that we have for our students in regards to the wearing of their school uniform.  We are currently having a focus on 'doing the small things with pride'.  This means boys keeping their shirts tucked in, girls wearing the appropriate headbands, jewellery and nail polish, students with shoulder length hair keeping it tied back and the wearing of black, polishable school shoes.

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School Uniform 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