Term 4, Week 8

3 december 2024

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 9th December
(9:00 am - 9:30 am)
Primary 5B (Advent Wk 2)
Parents and carers are welcome!

upComing Events

Term 4​​​
  • ​OLOL & SBSC Orientation Day - Tuesday 3rd December
  • Prep Nativity Play (OLOL Gym) - Thursday 5th December
  • Surf Awareness (Grade 6) - Monday 9th December
  • Surf Awareness (Grade 5) - Tuesday 10th December
  • Prep Arboretum Excursion - Tuesday 10th December
  • Christmas Dress Up Day (gold coin donation) - Wednesday 11th December
  • Assembly (Prep B sharing) - Friday 13th December

Mrs seagar's Reflection

principal

The Pope encourages us to use Advent to consider how we live our faith. Perhaps we have become too worldly, or spiritually insular? Maybe our prayers have become dull and routine, rather than heartfelt? Now is the moment to reflect on what really matters and act. Not to wait but to act now in our prayers.
Sourced at https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2024Dec01
Psalm 24: 4-5
Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, Teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
For you are God my saviour.
Advent is a four week season, that we are just entering, dedicated to the reflective preparation for the arrival (advent) of Jesus Christ and a celebration of this event.

To prepare for this special occasion we use the Advent wreath which consists of four candles, which are arranged in a circular pattern, surrounded by evergreen branches. The wreath as a whole is meant to remind us of both the immortality of our souls and God’s promise of everlasting life to us through Christ. Each candle corresponds to the four respective Sundays through Advent, representing hope, peace, joy and love. Three of the candles will be purple or blue in colour, and the other one will be pink. The four candles on the Advent wreath represent the light of Christ entering the world. One candle is lit each Sunday, marking the progression of the four weeks of Advent.

Each week during Advent has a specific meaning and relevance.
  • In the first week, Catholics will light the first candle. This signifies hope as it is commonly known as the “Prophet’s candle” and signals that Jesus is coming.
  • On the second Sunday, a candle is lit to celebrate faith. This is based on the everlasting love of God, and it is also commonly referred to as the “Bethlehem” candle. This reminds everyone that Mary and Joseph undertook the journey to Bethlehem.
  • On the third Sunday of Advent, it is traditional to celebrate Joy with the “Shepherds” candle. This third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and a literal translation here is to “rejoice.” It is a Sunday to remember Mary as the mother of Jesus.
  • On the fourth Sunday, the candle symbolises peace and is known as the “Angels” candle. The simple message here from the angels is “peace on earth and goodwill towards men.”​
​
Come, Lord Jesus! Come! May this Advent be a time of deep renewal in my life, dear Lord. May it be a time in which I strive with all my heart to seek out Your gentle and profound voice. Give me the grace, dear Lord, to turn away from the many noises of the world that compete for my attention and to turn only to You and to all You wish to say. Come, Lord Jesus, come into my life more deeply during this Advent season. Jesus, I trust in You.
God bless,

​Carol.
NEW Uniform called The Smart Play Uniform
This week we begin our promotion of the New Smart Play Uniform (The PE Uniform) that the community overwhelmingly supported as a change beginning next year, with a 2 year transition time.

The brochure is attached with Uniform Policy and pictures of the uniform. Students are welcome to wear this uniform full time from the start of 2025. Students may wear the academic (dress uniform) for the next 2 years, except on PE days, and the expectation is that they wear this correctly please.

Please continue to support your child looking smart in our school uniform at all times, purchased from Midford in East Devonport; address on the policy attached.

School news

Uniform Clearance Sale  (Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th December)
Some new and second hand.
Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th December.
8:00am - 10:00am & 2:00pm - 3.30pm each day.
In the school Gym.
Eftpos available.
Years 3-6 can wear full uniform during this 2 year transition period.
So come and grab a bargain!

Compass Parent Portal Access for Grade 6 Students and Students Leaving in 2024
The Compass Parent Portal will be rolled over in mid December ready for the 2025 school year.
This means that parents with students in Grade 6 or students that are leaving Our Lady of Lourdes in 2024 will no longer have access to the Compass Parent Portal.
Hard copy End of Year Reports will not be sent home.  Please ensure that you have downloaded any relevant reports via the Compass Portal prior to Friday 13th December.

Last Day of Canteen - Friday 13th December
Some menu items may become out of stock - apologies for any inconvenience.

School Canteen Ordering System Change for 2025
Our Lady of Lourdes is moving to a new Canteen online ordering platform in 2025 - there will be more details communicated over the coming weeks.
Please note the following:
  • Top-up of school24 accounts will cease on Friday 22 November 2024.
  • Pay upon check out using a credit card will only be available from this date, unless you still have funds remaining on your account.
  • Please use your balance by the end of Term 4. Remaining balances can only be refunded upon contact with school24

Families Leaving OLOL 2025
Can all families (excluding 2024 Grade 6) please inform the School Office if they will be leaving OLOL at the end of this year or in 2025.
Under the enrolment form, signed by parents - 10 weeks notice is required.

2025 Book Pack Ordering

​Midford Extended Trading Hours

​Pick up Zone (Steele Street) Traffic Congestion
There has been a banking up of traffic in Steele Street around the Pick Up Zone causing ongoing problems with traffic flow. It would be appreciated if families could drive around the block if Steele Street entrance to the school is full with parked cars from 2:50pm. 

​School Uniform
Please ensure that your child has a spare uniform/change of clothes in their school bag, should they require a change throughout the day.
Due to the current building works we are unable to provide spare clothes to students. 

Building Works
Our Lady of Lourdes will be renovating and creating new offices in the Admin area and at the back of the library.    These offices will create space for counsellors, allied health professionals, finance and leadership; as well as reconfiguring the Main Office for better workflow and access to the First Aid Room.
These building works are planned for all of Term 4.
The impact for parents and students for Term 4 will be:
  • No access to the current Office Area - the temporary School Office will be in the Library, straight through the blue doors; from the last week of school until the end of Term 4 and the Summer Holidays.
  • The Library will be closed.
  • You will see visual fencing and barriers around the school being erected this term.
Please respect these and be guided by directions from staff if you are unsure.

End of Day Pick Up Time
Grade 1 - 6:     2:55pm
Kinder & Prep: 2:45pm (if parents are able to come) Staff will wait with children till 2:55pm.
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Student Drop Off & Pick up on Stewart Street
Stewart Street is becoming very dangerous for our students. Several parents are doing U-Turns or driving in an unsafe manner to drop off or pick up. Please use the Roundabout at the end of the street to turn around.
  • Any students who are dropped off or picked up at the Stewart Street side of the school MUST NOT cross Stewart Street when they are dropped off or picked up.
    Students must stay on the school side of the street and parents pick up from this side only. 
  • It is not safe for our students to cross Stewart Street during school hours and especially at the end and beginning of the day.
  • There is no crossing on Stewart Street, and the Council will not provide one, so parents please drive up on the school side of Stewart Street to pick up your child. Alternatively, use the Pick-Up Zone on Steele Street. 
  • Please be aware of signage during our renovations in Term 4, as there will be some changes.
 
We thank you in anticipation of your cooperation with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School.

Personal Sport Equipment
​Our Lady of Lourdes provides lots of balls and sports' equipment for students to play with at lunchtimes.  We ask that students do not bring in their own sports equipment.
Only toys needed for classroom regulation may be brought to school.

Morning Entry to Classes
A reminder to families, when entering the classrooms of a morning Prep - Grade 2 are to use the front blue sliding door and Grades 3 - 6 use the back oval doors.

Nut & Seafood Aware School
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Seafood and Nut aware school as there are members of our school community that are anaphylactic to Seafood & Nuts.

This means that students and their parents are asked to:
  • Not bring seafood or nut products to school.
  • Be extra vigilant if you eat or come into contact with seafood or nuts before school. 
  • Wash your hands with warm soapy water immediately after touching seafood or nuts. This is crucial in eliminating traces of this product onto furniture, play equipment or any other type of surface. 

These foods can contain seafood:​
  • 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​​ ​​
The school canteen and staffroom will also be Seafood & Nut Aware.

Breakfast Club
Breakfast club is held in the school canteen each school day from 8am until 8:40am.  
The first meal of the day is a chance to get the energy we need to learn, play and stay healthy. While most Australian children eat breakfast, skipping breakfast is still common.  Children who eat breakfast have better school attendance, better academic performance and improved wellbeing. Eating breakfast is associated with better dietary and physical activity behaviours.
Everyone is welcome to Breakfast Club.
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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. 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. Our school 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.

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.

Sports News & Rosters

Click here to access 'Sports News, Registrations and Rosters​​
Basketball
Soccer
​Netball​
​NW Futsal
​Local Futsal
Tennis
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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

Policy in Focus

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
sports Policy

RATIONAL
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School is committed to the development of the whole person. This includes providing opportunities for students to be involved in and develop healthy lifestyle habits. Students are encouraged to participate in Team Sports for a variety of educational, personal and formative reasons.
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OLOL School Calendar

2024 Term Dates


2024 TERM DATES
TERM 4
Tuesday 15 October - Wednesday 18 December

2025 TERM DATES
TERM 1
Friday 7th February - Thursday 10th April
 TERM 2
Monday 28th April - Friday 4th July
TERM 3
Tuesday 22nd July - Friday 26th September
TERM 4
Tuesday 14th October - Thursday 18th December