Term 3, Week 7

5 September 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 11 September
 Early Childhood (2B)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 3​​​​​​​
  • Walk to School Day - Wednesday 6th September
  • Assembly - Friday 15th September
  • Swimming Program (Grades 2-4) - Monday 18th September - Friday 22nd September

MR farr's Reflection

deputy Principal 


There are souls in this world who have the gift in finding joy everywhere, and leaving it behind them when they go.
Fredrick William Faber
(Hymnwriter, Theologian, Priest)
Welcome to Week 7!

Last night I attended a basketball training session with my son, the first session for a new cycle of trainings that run from now until the end of July next year.

The coach at the session was sharing the expectations for training with the group of U14 boys, standard things about competing, working hard, containing on defence, being aggressive on offence etc.  Interestingly, one of the big values that he named up, was joy - when we play basketball, do so with joy, smile, be happy, love the fact that you get to come and train and play a sport you love for an hour and a half!  That’s what we, as coaches on the floor then try to instil in the athletes training - joy.  Love playing the game!

Does it always work?  Of course not!  Sometimes as a coach when players aren’t quite getting to their spots, or executing plays how we want them to it can be hard to instil joy into what is happening because it becomes ‘work’.  I’m sure everyone has seen a crabby coach before, it is a sight that certainly doesn’t look joyous!

On Saturday night I was privileged to attend Mass with around 40 of our Choir members from Grades 2 - 6 and 5 Grade 6 student leaders who undertook the reading ministry.  We had been practising and rehearsing for this for several weeks this term to ensure we were prepared and knew what we were doing!  In the end, the evening was fantastic!  Our students read beautifully and sang sensationally, helping our mass to be a truly uplifting celebration of Jesus’ message!  In reflection, what I loved most about our mass, and being part of our choir in general, is the pure joy that our students have when they are singing together.  This was evident on Saturday night.  Our students were smiling, happy, almost laughing during one of the songs because they were simply enjoying themselves so much!  That’s what our choir is about - if you enjoy singing, come and sing!  There is no audition or tryout, there is no voice training or vocal coaching, it is simply this is the song we are going to sing, this is how it goes, join in when you’re feeling confident to join in!

As we get deep into Term 3 we all, adults and children, tend to get tired, sickness often creeps in and often we are not at our best - it can become rather arduous to push through to the end of term at times!  From my experiences over the last couple of nights at Mass on Saturday and basketball training last night, I recognise that I need to not only see the joy in what I’m doing, but to also do what I’m doing with joy!

Sometimes it’s challenging as parents to do this as we can simply go through the motions of parenting a little bit, or perhaps we are aren’t being truly present to our children or within our relationships.  Perhaps we simply aren’t finding the joy in what we are doing, or doing it with joy.  Perhaps our children are picking up on this and in turn, aren’t being the best versions of themselves either.  

That’s the challenge I think is very fitting for the remainder of this term - to live out the next 3 weeks with joy.  For me, that’s going to be as simple as finding joy in the little, everyday occurrences or moments and genuinely reflecting on these by asking . . .

What brought you joy today?


​Stu
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The nature of fatherhood is that you are doing something you are unqualified to do and then you become qualified whilst doing it.
John Green
It was such a pleasure to have our dads on site on Monday to celebrate and recognise them as the Fathers they are to their children.  Their role is vitally important to children.  The quote above reflects the reality for dads, especially first time dads and Joseph was no exception to this rule.

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus was and is the beloved by Jesus and Mary and so many in the Church who have devotion to him. His tender and compassionate love mirrors God’s compassionate love for all. He obeyed God’s call to him often in dreams, knowing and understanding his role in Jesus’ role. Joseph accepted Mary as his wife, not fully understanding to what she was called and who her child would be. He embraced the course of events, and took responsibility for them and made them part of his history. He was not paralyzed by fear.

Pope Francis proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” and issued the Apostolic Letter ‘Patris Corde’ (With a Father’s Heart) 2021 and stated that Joseph was “A father in the shadows” . Being a father, and a parent, “involves introducing children to life and reality. Not holding them back, being overprotective or possessive, but rather making them capable of deciding for themselves, enjoying freedom and exploring new possibilities.” Joseph was not in the spot-light many times, but Jesus and Mary were. He gave of himself generously so they would be cared for and nourished. Joseph was a “shadow of the heavenly Father,” who gave only good and was always there.

 Sourced at: https://notredamesisters.org/news/reflecting-on-st-joseph-a-father-in-the shadows/#:~:text=In%20his%20letter%20Francis%20calls,who%20have%20devotion%20to%20him.

Pope Francis depicts Joseph as ‘the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence’. In the Bible we have no record of anything Joseph said, and very little is actually known about him. Yet Joseph played a huge part in the history of salvation and the life of the Church and is held up as a model to all fathers. Pope Francis states that: “Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child.” Fatherhood is defined by love, not DNA.  Do we show love, kindness and mercy when they mess-up? How present are we to them?

Joseph led his family with a strength that came from total trust in God. 

Fathers, sometimes too, face uncertainty, difficulty, and disappointment. Joseph teaches us to be ‘creatively courageous’ – to engage with the realities we face, trust in God and dig deep for resources we may not even know we have. Fatherhood is a life of service – often hidden and silent, like Joseph. 
Sources at: https://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/adw_community/with-a-fathers-heart-a-reflection-on-fatherhood-in-the-year-of-st-joseph/ 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html

​Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.
Amen.
­­­­­­
​Peace pole
​The Rotary Club Devonport has donated a Peace Pole to Our Lady of Lourdes.  Each Peace Pole has a plaque on all four sides with the theme ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ written in four different languages: Sinhalese and Malayalam as well as Palawa and English.
These are the languages most familiar to the community of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Peace Poles are a constant reminder of the need for peace. 
Thank you to the Rotary Club Devonport.

School news

​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.
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.
Move Well Eat Well – National Health & Physical Education Day 2023
 At OLOL we encourage all parents, carers and staff members to promote and encourage safe and regular walking as a normal part of every child’s day.  To acknowledge National Health & Physical Education Day tomorrow, Wednesday 6th September 2023, we will be offering a ‘walking bus’.  All students from Kinder to Grade 6 are invited to meet Staff outside Harris Scarfe in Fenton Way at 8:20am.  From here we will walk directly up Fenton Street and turn right into Stewart Street to be at school in time to commence the day.
​
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)
Due to the large number of Pizza orders, we will be splitting the lunches.
Kinder - Grade 2: 1st Lunch
Grade 3 - 6: 2nd Lunch  (Please pack extra food for students to eat at 1st lunch)

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. 

​​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

Eisteddfod results

Technology NEWS

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
  • Triathlon
  • 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
  • Mersey Rowing Club - Learn to Row Program
  • Come & Try Scouting
  • 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