Term 1 Week 1 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends,

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to both our new and returning families as we embark on the exciting journey of the 2024 school year. It has been heartening to witness the enthusiasm and bright smiles of our students eager to dive into the opportunities and challenges that this academic year holds.

I am thrilled to introduce Miss Megan Kelleher, our new Year 3 teacher, who joins us from Brisbane Catholic Education. We are confident that her passion for education and dedication to fostering a positive learning environment will greatly benefit our students.

We are proud to announce that Our Lady's Catholic Primary School will actively participate in Clean Up Australia Day at Apex Park on Sunday, 3rd March 2024, alongside the Thomson River. We encourage our school community to join us in this meaningful event. Your participation, even for just one hour, will contribute to the betterment of our local environment. Kindly complete the Google Form if you can assist on the morning. https://forms.gle/RYiW8NotG3kgu3pQ8

It's heartening to see the majority of our students proudly donning the correct school uniform. Ange Arthur and I have conducted checks over the first week to ensure compliance. If you happen to receive a uniform notice, we kindly request that you sign it and promptly return it to the school office. In instances where a student consistently does not wear the correct uniform, we will provide one for them. If you encounter any challenges, please don't hesitate to make an appointment to speak with our Leadership Team. Your co-operation is crucial in maintaining the standards of our school community.

On Friday, 9th February, at 8:45 am in the MPC, Our Lady's Catholic Primary School will proudly commission our new school captains, sports captains, and Year 6 Leaders. We invite parents to play a special role on this significant day by personally pinning the badge on their son or daughter. Your presence and support mean a great deal to us, and we welcome all families to attend this memorable occasion.

As we commence this new school year, let us continue to foster a strong sense of community, engagement, and enthusiasm for learning. Wishing each and every one of you a fantastic and successful 2024!

God Bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection – Sr Kym Harris OSB

What do you want?

Yes, ‘what do you want?’ Those are the first words of Jesus in the Gospel of John.  And like the men to whom they were directed, we can be flummoxed if we take them seriously at a deeper level. Yes, we know the answer as to whether we want tea or coffee for breakfast, but in the deeper direction of our lives, the answer doesn’t come so easily.    A way forward may come by not focussing on ourselves but on our child/ren.

As we begin the new school year, ask yourself: what do I want for my child/ren?  Yes, health and happiness are given, so what would you really like for your child/ren this year? Are they fearful, prone to anger, shy, maybe just difficult? You know what issues your child has and they concern you, even if you find it hard to face them.  So now, ask yourself, what do I want for my child?  As you ponder and pray over this, try to imagine, one small thing you could do to help that child face that difficulty.  How could you help them be more confident, be patient, relaxed or whatever it is that you see they need.   One small thing you could do each day.  Don’t be ambitious, one small thing each day can be effective in the long run.

Now back to ourselves. As you discern what you want for your child, you probably will discover what you do want for yourself.  And quite likely that is what God wants for you.  As a parent, God seeks always to nurture us and help us to grow into the fullness of life, into our best self.  So, for yourself, what is the one small thing you could do each day to bring about the change you want?

Loving God, in caring for my child/ren, I discover the care you have for me.  As I seek to help my child/ren grow in life and love, may I too grow into the generous life you want for me.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Welcome back! I hope that everyone enjoyed the Christmas break and that you were able to spend some quality time with family and friends. It is wonderful to have everyone back at school for the excitement of a new year of learning!

We welcome many new families to our school community in 2024, including many of the families of our 22 Prep enrolments. As you grow to learn more about being a part of the Our Lady’s family, I have chosen to share our school’s Statement of Special Religious Character with you as my first newsletter contribution for the year. This is a document that was originally written many years ago but is regularly visited and reviewed by our school staff and board. Essentially it shares who we are as a school community and why we do what we do.

STATEMENT OF SPECIAL RELIGIOUS CHARACTER 

Our Lady’s is a Catholic School that is part of the Catholic Education family in the Diocese of Rockhampton.  Our Diocesan schools exist not to be different but to make a difference. Our schools exist to present a vision of reality that has its origins in the Gospel of Jesus.  Some of the most important characteristics of a Catholic School are listed below: 

• The Catholic School is a faith community. It is a place where God is named and recognised and where Gospel values are reflected. 
• It is focused towards By the example of community members, students see how faith and contemporary life can be integrated. 
• It is oriented towards total development of the individual – spiritual, moral, social, emotional and intellectual.
• It assures and enhances the dignity of each person.
• It has a special orientation towards the poor.
• It values openness and seeks truth.
• It is characterised by hopefulness.

We gratefully acknowledge the traditional owners of our land – The Iningai people whose spirituality is captured in various artworks within our school and in the formation of our Yingarna Arid Gardens.  The story of Yingarna, the Rainbow Serpent, who brought life to these arid lands encourages us to continue the mission of Jesus to bring forth a sustainable society founded on a respect for the earth.   

Our Lady’s School Mission Statement 

We, the community of Our Lady’s School 

strive to bring light of Jesus Christ to the world by 

walking His way, 

telling His truth and 

living His life. 

Our Mission Statement demonstrates the value we place on the example Jesus set for us. This provides us with a vision for our school and sets the direction for all initiatives taken.  It is something which remains alive and active within the school. Our mission statement highlights the community aspect in our school.  We are a community:  parents, staff, students, parishioners and our parish priest and as such we rely on each other for support and encouragement. 

Our Lady’s School asks its members to be models of Jesus within their lives.  This requires each of us to strive to show the qualities brought to Longreach in 1900 by the Presentation Sisters.  The influence of the Sisters cannot be denied. These women with their willingness to battle ahead through all hardships, their simple directness and flexibility, their compassion and selflessness, their faith and quiet spirituality expressed qualities that our school community needs to know and strive for. We revisit this rich history when we celebrate Foundation Day on February 19 and we also celebrate our feast day on November 21 which is the feast of the Presentation of Mary, who is our Patron Saint. Presentation Education is focused on social change through compassion and justice, simplicity, courage and hospitality. 

God bless,

Ange

Student Protection

Student Protection is taken very seriously within our school and Diocese. Each year all staff undertake mandatory student protection training at the beginning of the year. This year our School Student Protection Officers are Mr Peter Thurecht, Mrs Angela Arthur and Ms Sarah Wall. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of our officers.

Mobile Phone & Wearable Technology Policy

Uniform Policy

Tuckshop

Key Dates

St Brigid’s Parish News

Please follow us on Facebook for up to date information on what’s happening in the St Brigid’s Parish. https://m.facebook.com/people/Central-West-QLD-Catholic-Church/100080215845014/

Take 2 With Jesus
Daily Reflections on the Sunday Gospel
Week beginning Sunday 21st January

Jesus calls in the midst of life.
This week’s reflections are based on the Gospel readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B,
Mk 1:14-21. Further reflections on this Gospel can be found at https://prayasyoucan.com.au/sunday_programmes/3rd-sunday-year-b/.

Sunday
After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. (Mk 1:14)
Jesus’ ministry begins in a flawed, sinful world, and the world will often not like it.
The verb used for John’s arrest, ‘passing over’, will be used of Jesus’ arrest and of the
disciples’ future arrest after they too have preached the ‘good news’. In this simple
word, Mark is letting us know that the good news can bring trouble.
Loving Jesus, let me appreciate the power of your Good News to face and to
overcome evil…and let this power work through me.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day by noting the times you have to face
wrongdoing and overcome it.

Monday
Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. (Mk 1:14)
Galilee – an unimportant place in Jesus’ time –was, like most of the places where we live, unimportant. But there, Jesus begins proclaiming the Good News, to people as unimportant as most of us are. What we overlook, God uses as the place of grace.
Loving Jesus, let me realise that unimportant as I am, I am all to you.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day by pondering on what you take to be unimportant in your life.

Tuesday
‘The time has come’ Jesus said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand’ (Mk 1: 15)
In Jesus time the words ‘good news’ and ‘time’ (kairos) would have evoked the promise of liberation as preached by Second Isaiah. They were interpreted as social and political change. Against this backdrop, Jesus begins his radically different interpretation – change is coming, but beginning first in the human heart.
Loving Jesus, let me appreciate the ongoing change of heart to which you are calling me. Flowing from that change may I help to change the lives of those around me.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day looking to see where the kingdom of God is unfolding in your life.

Wednesday
Jesus said, ‘Repent, and believe the Good News’. (Mk 1:15)
What do you think when you hear the word ‘repent’? Like many, there could be a sense that you have to acknowledge how sinful you are...but notice where Jesus puts the emphasis – not on badness but on goodness. Believing in the overwhelming love of God is what repentance is about. Steeped in that love we can truly transform our lives.
Loving Jesus, transform how I think, feel and relate by deepening my belief in your love for me.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day by sitting and allowing the love of God to wash over you and see how it changes your attitude.

Thursday
As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee Jesus saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake… (Mk 1:16)
While Jesus’ call is personal, it is rarely solitary. We may hear the call in the depths of our heart, but it will be with other people that it is lived out. From the very beginning Jesus calls for community. As the God into whom we are baptised is a community, so our faith will be lived in community.
Loving Jesus, let me recognise the people who support and nurture my faith. In turn, may I support and nurture them.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day by pondering on the people with whom we share your faith.

Friday
And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men and women.’
And at once they left their nets and followed him. (Mk 1:17-18)
Did they have any comprehension was this invitation could mean? Not at all. To those around, it would have sounded insane. But when the call of God came, they felt impelled to follow. The same for us. Those life-changing moments can seem mad to others but to us they make the only sense of the world with which we can live.
Loving Jesus, show me how following you makes sense of my life.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day by pondering how the call of Jesus has transformed your life.

Saturday
[John and James] too were in their boat, mending their nets. Jesus called them at once and leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him. (Mk 1:19-20)
This is one of the tough moments of Gospel teaching. I doubt that Zebedee was pleased with his sons, or looked on Jesus positively. Can you imagine the free and frank discussion that probably took place when they next went home? Sometimes following our faith leads to family tension.
Loving Jesus, give me the wisdom to witness to you, even when it causes tensions or difficulties within my family.
Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…
Continue your prayer through this day by pondering how your faith is accepted by various family members.
‘Take 2 with Jesus’ is an initiative of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. This material is written by Sr. Kym Harris osb. © All material is copyright but may be freely used in free publications with acknowledgement of source and the author.

Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton

Community Notices

Responsible use of digital devices - Webinar with Susan McLean

CSPQ is wanting to support schools with mobile phones. We want parents to know and understand their role in responsible use of digital devices.

We have engaged Susan McLean from CyberSafety Solutions to provide a webinar on the topic on February 7.

Lifestart - Speak Up Program

About Lifestart

SpeakUP is delivered by Lifestart, a non-profit organisation established in 1996 that provides a range of programs and services for children and young people living with disability, as well as their families and carers, with the aim of helping them live their lives to their fullest potential through increased social inclusion and participation. Our organisation is made up of a range of allied health professionals and experts, including speech pathologists and occupational therapists, and is a registered NDIS provider. Explore our website to learn more.

What do we offer?

• SpeakUP is for students aged 7-16 years with a disability who attend a mainstream school in NSW, ACT, VIC, or QLD.
• It is free of charge and open to young people with or without an NDIS plan.
• It is run online, via video sessions, out of school time. Most young people do their sessions when they get home from school.
• Each young person will have 6 online video sessions with a SpeakUP facilitator. During the sessions, the facilitator will lead the young person through different activities, talking about what is important to the young person, what they like about school and what they would like to change so that they can participate more fully at school.
• The facilitator will support the young person to identify and express a small, achievable goal related to participation at school, and then work through challenges they might come up against.
• A key part of SpeakUP is that the goal comes from the young person and isn’t about the parent/ carer’s goal for them, it’s not a therapy goal or an education goal.
• Another key part of SpeakUP is the involvement of parents or carers (we call them allies). We have 2 learning online modules for them to watch and 2 group zoom sessions for them to attend during the term.

Click here to watch a short video to explain SpeakUP to young people.

Click here to register your expression of interest for participation

Central West Hospital & Health Services

Australian Camps Association (ACA)