Term 1 Week 9 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

I've had the privilege of attending the Principal's Conference in Rockhampton this week, and it's been an incredibly enriching experience. The agenda has been packed with insightful discussions and workshops covering a wide range of topics relevant to our roles as educational leaders. One highlight for me was the opportunity to hear from Chris Smyth, the former Director of the Diocese of Armidale, as he shared his expertise on school improvement initiatives. His insights have provided valuable perspectives that I look forward to applying in our own educational context. I also extend my thanks to Mrs Ange Arthur who was Acting Principal in my absence.

We are delighted by the overwhelmingly positive response to this week's parent-teacher meetings. Seeing so many parents actively engaging in conversations with their child's teacher fills us with great enthusiasm. Your active participation in your child's educational journey is deeply valued, and we express sincere gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate closely with you.

Get ready for some action! Our Annual Interhouse Cross Country event is happening next Wednesday. Mrs. Neuendorf has mapped out a course that winds through our school grounds, promising loads of excitement for everyone involved. We can't wait to see who'll come out on top—will it be the Thomson Pelicans or the Kennedy Kangaroos? After the race, parents are welcome to sign out their children at the school office. What a great way to finish our term and hopefully the Thomson Pelicans get the chocolates!

Next term, we are pleased to welcome back Mrs. Thurecht to our team. Mrs. Thurecht will be returning to support students' learning for two days a week. We look forward to her valuable contributions and the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our school community.

This will be our final newsletter for Term 1 as school concludes next Wednesday 27^th April. As we near the Easter holidays, it's an important time to reflect on the profound sacrifice made by Jesus for all of us. It serves as a powerful reminder of the immense love and selflessness that lie at the heart of this season. I hope all our families have a safe and prayerful Easter break.

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

Principal

Reflection – Sr Kym Harris OSB

I love ‘ensemble stories’ – you know books, plays, films where we see a number of different characters reacting within a story. When we look at the Passion Narratives, especially Mark’s, we miss the point if we focus solely on Jesus’ suffering and death. In fact, the Narratives make little of Jesus’ physical suffering. More emphasis is placed on how people react to Jesus. This is an especial feature of Mark’s account.

His Passion account proper begins with the unnamed woman, lavishly pouring costly ointment over Jesus’ head. Somehow, she has recognised what all the other disciples have missed: Jesus is going to his death. She gives a most precious gift is response to his most precious gift. At the end of Mark’s account stands the Centurion, also unnamed, who is the ultimate witness to Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. This man of violence, who probably supervised the scourging, the ridicule, as well as the crucifixion proper sees ‘the Son of God’ in the ignominious failure and death. These two people stand as models of discipleship: one the faithful follower who risks ridicule to show love to Jesus; the other, a hard person transformed, converted to believer.

In between these two figures of faith, we have all sorts of other characters: scheming self-serving priests, a weak politician, frightened disciples, a cocksure Peter shamed at the crow of a cock. These people are written into the story that we might see ourselves there. We know our weakness and failures of character. As we see ourselves echoed in the Passion Narrative, we can remind ourselves that Jesus loved these, all these, and us, to the end.

Loving God, as we enter into the mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, may we find the meaning and love of our lives, in his life and loving. In our times of darkness and pain, may we find strength and direction in taking up our cross with him. We ask this in his name, confident that you will hear us.

APRE News

As Term 1 winds to a close, we work our way towards the end of the Lenten Season. This Sunday is known as ‘Palm Sunday’ in the Catholic Church and marks the beginning of Holy Week (the week preceding the Easter Triduum).

Easter is arguably the most important feast in the Liturgical Year. We unpack this with students by demonstrating that Christmas is important and it is given 4 weeks of celebration, while the Church sees Easter as even more important and devotes 6 weeks to celebrating this season.

Our school Holy Week prayer assemblies will commence tomorrow morning and continue through until we finish our school term next Wednesday afternoon by celebrating the joy of the Resurrection together.

Palm Sunday – lead by Prep at 8:35am on Friday 22^nd March
The Washing of the Feet – lead by Year 3 at 8:35am on Monday 25^th March
The Last Supper – lead by Year 1 at 2:40pm on Monday 25^th March
The Agony in the Garden – lead by Year 2 at 8:35am on Tuesday 26^th March
The Crucifixion – lead by Year 6 at 2:40pm on Tuesday 26^th March
The Resurrection – lead by Years 4 & 5 at 2:40pm on Wednesday 27^th March

All are welcome to join us for as many of these celebrations as is practical for you.

So where does the Easter Bunny fit into all this Easter stuff?
As with so many religious feasts such as All Hallows Eve, Christmas and St Valentine’s Day, the commercialisation and secularisation of Easter has somewhat overshadowed Jesus as the reason for the season! Personally, I think there’s room for both! I encourage you to take time with your families to share Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and perhaps attend an Easter Mass Service (times for St Brigid’s Church below). I also encourage you to enjoy every aspect of Jesus’ triumphant Resurrection, indulge in Easter Eggs and take full advantage of the 6 weeks of the Easter Season to continue treating yourself!

Palm Sunday - 6 pm Saturday 23^rd March
Holy Thursday - 6 pm Thursday 28^th March (Mass of the Lord's Supper)
Good Friday - 3 pm Friday 29^th March (Celebration of the Lord's Passion)
Holy Saturday - 6 pm Saturday 30^th March (Easter Vigil)

For more information on the connection (or lack thereof) between the Resurrection and the Easter Bunny, please read the article below from the Discovery Channel. It provides some interesting historical links.

God bless, have a wonderful Easter and restful holiday.
Ange

April 3, 2010, 1:47 AM AEST / Source: Discovery Channel

By Lauren Effron

There's no story in the Bible about a long-eared, cotton-tailed creature known as the Easter Bunny. Neither is there a passage about young children painting eggs or hunting for baskets overflowing with scrumptious Easter goodies.

And real rabbits certainly don't lay eggs.

So why are these traditions so ingrained in Easter Sunday? And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?

Well, nothing.

Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

According to University of Florida's Center for Children's Literature and Culture, the origin of the celebration — and the Easter bunny — can be traced back to 13th century, pre-Christian Germany, when people worshiped several gods and goddesses. The Teutonic deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal’s high reproduction rate.

Spring also signified new life and rebirth; eggs were an ancient symbol of fertility. According to History.com, Easter eggs represent Jesus' resurrection. However, this association came much later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.

The first Easter bunny legends were documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, according to the University of Florida's Center for Children.

The tradition of making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs soon followed. Eventually, nests became decorated baskets and colorful eggs were swapped for candy, treats and other small gifts.

So while you're scarfing down chocolate bunnies (hey, I hear chocolate is good for you!) and marshmallow chicks this Easter Sunday, think fondly of this holiday's origins and maybe even impress your friends at your local Easter egg hunt.

Happy Easter!

Altar Servers

Fr Peter is looking for volunteers for Altar Serving - children aged 8 years and over. If you are interested, please come along to the Church at 3:30pm on Tuesdays 26^th of March for 30 minutes to learn what this role involves. Please RSVP to Angela Arthur – angela_arthur@rok.catholic.edu.au

Exciting News: Our New Website is Live!

We are thrilled to announce that our brand-new website has officially launched this week! While some elements are still undergoing updates, we couldn't wait to share our revamped online presence with you.

A huge shoutout goes to Anne Webber for her fantastic work in capturing the essence of our community through her stunning photography. We are immensely grateful for her talent and dedication. As we continue to fine-tune and enhance our website, be sure to keep an eye out for more photos being added from our photo shoot last year.

Explore our new digital home at ollrok.catholic.edu.au. Your feedback and suggestions are invaluable to us as we strive to create an engaging and informative online platform for all our stakeholders.

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.

Cross Country Carnival - 27/3/24

Due to recent rain events the Motor Cross Track has been deemed unsafe for our Cross Country Carnival. Our Cross Country Carnival is now being held at the school on Wednesday 27th of March. As this is a very different track than the usual Motor Cross Track, we will record any records gained during this event separately to the Motor Cross Track Records to be transparent and fair to all runners past and present.

Students can wear SunSmart coloured house shirts (Blue for Thomson and Yellow for Kennedy) and are able to wear any appropriate running shoes. All students will require a water bottle and hat to participate in this event.

Approximate Race times are as follows.

Parents are invited to spectate or to participate in the fun run component of the morning. As this is the last day of school for Term 1 students can go home after the Cross Country if their parents collect them and sign them out at the school office.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school office and we will be happy to assist you.

We would love to have you join us for this fun annual event.

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

Community Notices

ALTS

Get Egg-cited for Easter @ ALTS!

Come and celebrate Easter with ALTS with three egg-stra special easter events at the pools, including a visit from the Easter Bunny himself.

Easter Bunny Visit, Easter Egg Hunt, Egg and Spoon Race, Hip Hop Sack Race, Fish & Chip Menu, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Face Painting and Hair Braiding, Guess the Easter Egg Jar, Splash 4 Cash and much more .....

PLUS your chance to win 10 FREE swim lessons with our colouring in competition. Simply return the attached to one of our pools before Easter Sunday to go into the draw to WIN!

Join us in Longreach on Sunday 31st March from 10am to 5pm!

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.

Longreach Regional Council

Longreach Youth Week

Youth week activities, are now open.  Please click the following link to Longreach Regional Council's website where the online booking form can be found Youth Week – Longreach Regional Council 

Making better places to walk in Longreach

Longreach Regional Council is working on a project called the Longreach Walking Network Plan.

We need to know your favourite places to walk to help Council with this project. We also need to know things that will make walking easier for you such as better paths, more footpaths and other things like lights and water bubblers.

Please help us by answering the questions in this survey. https://www.cprgroup.com.au/LongreachWNP

This survey will close on Sunday 14 April 2024.

Non State School Transport Assistance Scheme

The Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS), funded by the State Government and administered by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC), provides financial assistance to families transporting children to non-state schools in Queensland.

The Scheme’s Bus Fare Assistance Program (BFAP) provides a rebate above a threshold amount to eligible families whose student attends a non-state school outside the Brisbane City Council boundary. Setting a threshold is necessary to ensure the funding provided by the State Government is adequate to meet demand.

The weekly family threshold for Semester One 2024 was set by the Committee in August 2023 at $35 ($25 for a concession card holder). Applications for Semester One travel can be made in May at SchoolTransport.com.au.

The threshold is reviewed by the NSSTAS Reference Committee every semester and adjusted based on available cash reserves and anticipated demand. It is set before the start of the upcoming semester to ensure schools and families can appropriately plan their travel arrangements.
The Committee has reviewed the Scheme for Semester 2 2024. I am pleased to advise the weekly family threshold will reduce to $25 ($15 for a concession card holder). Increased funding to recognise enrolment growth and a high rate of indexation has resulted in an increase in the total grant funding received, enabling the reduction. We are pleased that this will help families with greater financial assistance in a period of increased cost of living. Applications can be made online on the website for Semester 2 travel in October and further information about the Scheme is available at SchoolTransport.com.au.

School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers

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

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Longreach Playgroup

Australian Camps Association (ACA)