Term 1 Week 4 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

Well done to the Thomson Pelicans for their outstanding victory in our first interhouse event of 2024! The energy was palpable as our year 6 students engaged in an exhilarating pancake flipping competition. It was a sight to behold, with spatulas flying and batter sizzling. While the Pelicans soared in the kitchen, it was evident that the Kennedy Kangaroos might need to brush up on their culinary skills for next time. Nevertheless, it's heartwarming to see our school community come together to honour traditions like Shrove Tuesday in such a spirited and fun-filled manner. Many thanks to Mrs Arthur, Mrs Cutting and Mrs Carter for running the event.

Our school gathered on Wednesday morning for our Ash Wednesday mass at St. Brigid's Catholic Church. It was a meaningful occasion, made even more special with the presence of our new parish priest, Fr. Peter Bang. Fr. Bang guided our students in understanding the significance of Lent, fostering a sense of reflection and renewal as we embark on this sacred season. A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and friends who joined us, enriching the experience with their presence and support.

Looking ahead, Friday, 16th February, marks Bishop's Inservice Day, granting our students at Our Lady's a well-deserved break. While the students enjoy their day off, our dedicated staff will be delving into workshops centred on social action and justice within our Catholic schools and communities. These sessions provide invaluable opportunities for dialogue and growth.

Exciting times are also ahead for our budding musicians! This week, our Year 4, 5, and 6 students will embark on a musical journey with the staff from The Cathedral College, Rockhampton. This partnership offers our students the chance to explore various instruments, from keyboards to violins. Thursday mornings are bound to be filled with melodies resonating from C Block as our students immerse themselves in the joy of music-making.

Over the past two years, the dedicated staff at Our Lady's have committed themselves to enhancing their professional development in the crucial area of behaviour management and supportive classroom processes. At the heart of our approach lies the Berry Street model, a cornerstone of our school's ethos. This model emphasizes trauma-informed practices and prioritizes the holistic wellbeing of each child, recognizing that a student's emotional and psychological needs profoundly impact their learning journey.

Central to our philosophy is the belief that fostering positive behaviour is a collaborative effort between the school and the home environment. Our Student Wellbeing and Positive Behaviour Support Policy articulates this partnership by delineating clear expectations under three guiding principles: 'Be Respectful', 'Be Safe', and 'Be a Learner'. These principles serve as touchstones for our students, providing a framework for responsible conduct and mutual respect within our school community.

When students encounter challenges in meeting these expectations, whether due to personal struggles or external factors, they are supported by a network of caring professionals. Through open communication and individualized interventions, our class teachers, support staff, and school leadership work collaboratively with students to address issues, foster resilience, and cultivate positive behavioural patterns.

At Our Lady's, safety is not just a priority—it's a non-negotiable fundamental human right. It forms the bedrock of our educational mission, underpinning every facet of our school environment. Our commitment to ensuring a safe and nurturing atmosphere enables us to fulfill our mandate to educate and empower every student who walks through our doors.

As we continue to refine and strengthen our approach to student wellbeing and behaviour management, we remain steadfast in our dedication to providing a supportive, inclusive, and enriching educational experience for all members of the Our Lady's community.

God Bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection – Sr Kym Harris OSB

Why this food?

As I write this, it is Pancake Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.  Perhaps at your child’s school they are cooking up pancakes to raise funds for Project Compassion.  But why pancakes? you may sensibly ask.  The Lenten fast many years ago was very strict: no meat, eggs, milk, butter, even no oil.*  So, the day before Lent, all the eggs, milk, etc were used up in one feast.  Then, during Lent, meals were bread, vegetables and salt.  Pretty tough but then, that time of the year was.  For most people living off the land in Europe, late winter and early spring were the lean times.  The summer crop was running low, very low.  Spring was coming, but at Easter.  So, the Church turned a lean time into something spiritual.  And the wealthy were expected to follow the fast so, for a period of time, they too felt what it was like for the peasant, and hopefully, it would lead them to be generous to the poor. 

Today, our society has year-long abundance, with produce shipped from across the country, even the globe.  Yet we have a complicated relationship with food.  Nearly all of us have done, or are doing, a diet, most of which don’t work.  For various reasons, sometimes medical, mostly not, we go gluten free, lactose free, sugar free, meat free…  We have months of the year when we don’t drink this, don’t eat that.  Why?

Yes, why?  May I suggest that this Lent, before saying we won’t eat this or that, we stop and ask ourselves, why, and why do we have such a difficult relationship with food?  It is a God-given gift, after all.   God didn’t intend it to be complicated.  Maybe we may need to fast, even to diet, to bring us an appreciation of just what a gift it is.  So let us begin before God, asking God what is best for us.  As we accept food as the precious gift it is, it can become a means of praying with our bodies.

Loving God, as this year’s Lent begins may I appreciate the good food you have given me.  Let me eat mindfully, recognising all the work that has gone into producing my food. I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

*Today, the Orthodox Church still recommends this. 

APRE News

Yesterday we gathered as a Parish Community to celebrate the Feast of Ash Wednesday at St Brigid’s Church. Thank you to our Year 3 Class and Miss Megan Kelleher for their ministry during this celebration. This was also our last opportunity to gather as a school community with Father Shaiju Lookose before he leaves to continue his ministry in Rockhampton. We sincerely thank Father Shaiju for his faith and friendship towards our school community over the past four years and we hope he is never a stranger to our school and community.

As Father Shaiju moves on, we welcome Fr Peter Bang, who with the support of Fr. Kingsley, will continue to minister to the communities of the Central West. Congratulations Fr. Bang on your promotion to the best part of the diocese! We are very excited to welcome you.

Ash Wednesday marked the commencement of the Liturgical Season of Lent, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal which we officially launched as part of Mass yesterday morning. The theme for 2024 is ‘For All Future Generations’. It is about hope and reminds us that the good we do today impacts the lives of people tomorrow, very much in line with our school motto, ‘Light Tomorrow With Today’.                                     

Project Compassion 2024 shares stories of three women from the Philippines, Malawi and Samoa. Though they face very different challenges in their day-to-day lives, they are all united by their dream of creating a better tomorrow for themselves and for all future generations.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pquSO1uw4Zs                                                  

During Lent, our challenge is to respond to these stories courageously, with a yes to God’s call to us all, to act for social and ecological justice.                                                      

Project Compassion is a timely reminder during Lent that by putting our faith and compassion in action today, we have the power to create lasting change for generations to come.

Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. With your support, Caritas Australia has been able to assist communities around the world through income generation, water and sanitation, food security, education and disaster risk reduction programs.

As a school community, our fundraising efforts began with our Annual Thomson V Kennedy Pancake Flip Off on Tuesday. Congratulations to Thomson who came out victorious in our first house challenge for 2024. Alongside the fun and enjoyment of eating pancakes, we were able to raise $183 for Caritas. Our recently elected Student Representative Council will work with Mr KD and myself to organise and promote other fundraising efforts between now and the end of term, watch this space!

Project Compassion 2024 reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow. You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes in classrooms and the school office, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.

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.

Collection Notice

15th February - Parent Info Night & Disco

Foundation Day Mass

Catholic School Parents Queensland - P&F

Wednesday, February 21st, we host our P&F AGM and first general meeting for 2024, all parents are invited to attend and put forward a nomination for one of the executive or non-executive positions. The meeting will be held at 5:30pm in C Block.

We encourage you to attend in person but we understand that this is not always possible, zoom details will be emailed out on Wednesday the 21st.

Executive Positions

President: Bill Seeney
Vice-President: Sarah Wall
Secretary: Sarah Hoolihan
Treasurer: Georgia Seeney

Non-Executive Positions

Fundraising Co-Ordinator: Lisa Neuendorf
Board Rep: Ruth Tindall
Pastoral Care: Hannah Batt
Parental Engagement: Megan Sidebottom

"The Catholic school participates in the evangelizing mission of the Church. It centres its vision on the life and teachings of Christ with the Gospels as the reference points of its philosophy. It is concerned with building a Christian community where parents, staff and students work together.

The Parents and Friends (P & F) Association is the formal structure, recognised by the Church and Catholic education authorities, which represents all the parents/carers in the school and acts in their interests and on their behalf.

The P & F Association exists to support the school community and is involved in the total life of the school. Parents/carers, as first educators of their children, have a vital collaborative role to play in the development and implementation of the educational philosophy and policy of the school.

The local P & F Association plays a significant role in the development of a collaborative and cooperative school community where parents/carers are recognised as authentic partners, with teachers and the administration, in the education of their children."

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/

Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton

The Cathedral College Rockhampton

Community Notices

Qantas Founders Museum to exhibit Internationally Acclaimed Artist Yayoi Kusama’s infinity art experience

Qantas Founders Museum proudly announces a prominent artwork by the globally celebrated artist Yayoi Kusama, to be unveiled from 16 March to 22 September 2024 on loan from the National Gallery of Australia.

Kusama’s infinity experience THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS will travel to Longreach in Western Queensland.

Renowned for her mesmerising installations, sculptures, and paintings characterized by recurring motifs such as dots, eyes, nets, and pumpkins, Kusama delves into the realms of repetition and sensory experiences. This immersive installation showcases Kusama’s signature style, inviting viewers into a mind-bending journey through vibrant colours, mirrors, and meticulously crafted pumpkin sculptures.

CEO of Qantas Founders Museum, Tony Cullen, expressed immense pride and privilege in collaborating with the National Gallery to grant such an iconic installation to regional Queensland. Mr Cullen highlighted the rare opportunity for the local community, schools, and visitors to engage with world-class contemporary art.

Senior Curator Sarah Johnson, Qantas Founders Museum, echoed the sentiment, emphasising the significance of featuring Kusama’s artwork in Longreach, extending the National Gallery’s collection to remote communities of western Queensland. She continued, “Kusama’s art is beloved worldwide, and people of all ages are encouraged to participate in this unique artistic encounter in our community”.          

Dr. Nick Mitzevich, Director of the National Gallery, hailed Kusama as one of Japan's most influential contemporary artists, with the mesmerising nature of the installation and its unparalleled visual appeal. “I am thrilled that more people in regional Australia will be able to experience this remarkable artwork. The National Gallery’s Art Across Australia program will connect more people with extraordinary art from the national collection.”

The official unveiling of THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS from the National Gallery will take place on March 15, 2024, at the Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach. Further details regarding public programs and announcements will be released soon.

This work of art is on loan from the National Gallery of Australia as part of Art Across Australia.

Share #ArtAcrossAustralia

Image caption: Yayoi Kusama, THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS, 2017, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2018 with the assistance of Andrew and Hiroko Gwinnett. © YAYOI KUSAMA.

Clean up Australia Day

School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers

With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours. 

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
• Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

Central West Hospital & Health Services

Longreach Playgroup

Australian Camps Association (ACA)