Term 3 Week 10 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

What an incredible day of poetry appreciation and performances we had on Wednesday! Our Lady's lit up the Winton Poetry Festival with strong showings from both our group and individual performances, making us all proud.

Congratulations to our class groups for their outstanding achievements:

Prep: Highly Commended

Year 1 and 2: 2nd Place

Year 3: Highly Commended

Year 4: 3rd Place

Year 5 and 6: 2nd Place

The individual performances were equally impressive, with a variety of captivating poems. Some of my personal favourites included a touching piece about a soft koala bear, an inspiring State of Origin poem, the classic Mulga Bill’s Bicycle, a humorous sibling rivalry poem involving a doll in a loo, the relentless frustration of flies, and why a collie makes a great pet.

Special recognition goes to the following students for their outstanding individual performances in their age divisions:

Prep: Rosie N (1st place), Elyssa S (3rd place)

Year 1: Tommy A (2nd place)

Year 2: Henry H (6th place)

Year 3: Greta N (1st place)

Year 4: Clayton H (5th place)

Year 5: MacKenzie W (5th place)

A big thank you to all the parents who generously volunteered their time to transport our students to and from the festival. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Year 5 Wins the Accelerated Reader Challenge! A huge congratulations to our Year 5 class for winning the Accelerated Reader Challenge for Term 3! They read the most books and answered their comprehension questions with impressive accuracy. As a reward, they will enjoy a Picnic in the Park this Friday at 9:30am. Additionally, individual students who have earned more than 30 points and maintained their comprehension skills above 80% will also be attending the picnic. Well done to all these students for their hard work and dedication to reading!

Don’t forget, tonight is our much-anticipated Movie Night in the MPC! We’ll be screening Kung Fu Panda 4 for all students. These community events are a fantastic opportunity for us to come together as a school, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there! Food and refreshments will be on offer throughout the night as well as a Gold Coin entrance fee.

As the term comes to a close, I would like to wish all our families a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday. Whether you're traveling or spending time at home, I hope you find time to relax and recharge. We look forward to seeing everyone back for an exciting new term ahead!

God bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection – Sr Kym Harris OSB

Holy Days are coming

And what are you doing for your holidays?  There are probably as many different answers as they are people taking holidays this coming week.  They can be a time of stress in families.  Even if parents didn’t have time restrictions and money constrictions, the challenge of change in routine can make holidays a little to be feared, even if they are welcome.

Try looking at them differently. The holiday comes from the words holy day. For us, as Christians, there is something sacred about taking our holidays.  So much of the media presents ‘holiday’ as getting away from it all, when it is actually an opportunity to enter more deeply into the mystery of life.  As parents, imagine if you were open to the mystery of your child/ren during these days.  The change in routine give you a chance to just be with them, to spend time wondering about them as they go about whatever activities they do.  They are God’s gift to you.  Enjoy them, pray over them, play with them.  Make this holiday, true holy days wherever you are, whatever you do.

Loving Father, as we take these days of change in routine may I make space in my time and my heart to truly enjoy the child/ren you have given me.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Welcome to Week 10 of term 3:

Gospel Reflection:

Mark 7:31-37

Jesus heals the deaf man

In Mark 7:31-37, Jesus travels through Decapolis and is approached by people who bring a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment, asking Him to heal him. Jesus takes the man aside, touches his ears and tongue, looks up to heaven, and says, "Ephphatha," which means "Be opened." Instantly, the man's hearing and speech are restored, and he is healed.

The crowd is astonished and praises Jesus, declaring, "He has done everything well." Despite Jesus' request for them to keep it quiet, the news of His miracle spreads widely. This passage highlights Jesus' compassion and His ability to heal both physically and spiritually.

Mark 7:31-37 teaches us about compassion, inclusion, and the impact of small acts of kindness—values essential to our school community. Jesus’ healing of the man demonstrates that everyone deserves care and attention. Similarly, in our school, we should support those in need, whether they are struggling with their studies, feeling left out, or needing encouragement.

Just as Jesus enabled the man to fully participate in life, we can foster inclusivity and support by being attentive to the needs of others. By showing patience, kindness, and understanding, we build a compassionate community where everyone feels valued and can thrive.

Society of the Divine Word Jubilee (SVD):

Last Sunday, Mr. Thurecht and I had the privilege of attending a special Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Barcaldine, along with other members of the Central West. This Mass was particularly significant for two reasons. Firstly, both Mr. Thurecht and I were commissioned into the new Regional Parish Council. Secondly, it marked the beginning of a year-long build-up to the 150th anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).

This event holds special meaning for the Catholic primary schools of the Central West, as our parish priest, Fr. Bang, is one of nearly 6,000 missionaries who are part of the Society of the Divine Word. The SVD, founded in 1875 by St. Arnold Janssen in the Netherlands, focuses on spreading the Gospel and serving communities around the world, especially in areas where Christianity is less present. Their mission includes providing education, healthcare, and social justice initiatives, with a strong emphasis on intercultural dialogue and support for the marginalized.

Next year, the SVD will celebrate its 150th Jubilee. The theme of this celebration, “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone,” reflects the Society's enduring commitment to global service, promoting justice, peace, and education, while fostering understanding and unity across cultures and faiths.

God Bless,

Mr KD

St Brigid's Sacramental Program

St Brigid's Sacramental Program is offering to prepare children to make their First Reconciliation. Children must be 7 years or older.

Please contact Angela Arthur to enrol or for more information angela_arthur@rok.catholic.edu.au

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, Mr Sahlie Komndi-Diggins, Mrs Belinda Thurecht and Ms Sarah Wall. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of our officers.

James Anderson - How to talk about Habits of Mind with your children

The Habits of Mind will become your child's greatest asset. They will become their Problem Solving Super Powers, behaviours that will serve them throughout their life. But it's the problems, not the Habits of Mind that we want to make our focus.

The Habits of Mind are only as important as the problems they help us solve. So our focus needs to be on the problems. Use the problems as the focus of your conversations with your child, then ask "which of your problem solving super powers will help you solve this?". This approach gives immediate relevance, meaning and value to the Habit of Mind and will lead to your child wanting to call on them again, and again.

Movie Night - 12th September

Swimming Lessons Term 4

Parent Orbit App

We're excited to announce a new mobile app for Our Lady's Longreach, Parent Orbit, is now ready for you to download and use.

The Parent Orbit app, which is connected to Parent Lounge, will improve our communication with each other as it offers a quick and easy way to receive notifications, view academic reports, book Parent/Teacher interviews, add Student Absences, view and pay School Fees, accept or decline excursions via the Events and Activities, update student details, email class teachers and much more.

Once you are in the app enter your Username and Password.  Your Username is your Parent Code, and your password is the same password that you use to login to Parent Lounge.  If you cannot remember your Parent Lounge password, click here to access the "Forget Password?" feature and follow the prompts to reset your password. Please contact the school office on 4994 8375 if you require further assistance.

Please take the time to explore the app as it offers many useful features. A "How To" guide has been included below. The app is very intuitive and will help keep us connected to support the education of your children.

The key features of the Parent Orbit App:
• Instant Notifications: Stay up to date with the latest announcements and important
alerts on your smartphone (be sure to enable Notifications)
• Events and Payments: Easily approve excursion attendance or make fee payments
• Medical Details: Keep your student’s medical details up to date
• Attendance Tracking: Easily track attendance and notify the School of your student's
absence
• Event Calendar: Stay informed about school events, meetings, and important dates
• Parent Teacher Interviews: Schedule parent-teacher interviews and receive
reminders
• Academic Reports: View and download your student’s school reports

How to download the Parent Orbit App
To download the app, scan the following QR code or follow the directions below

For iOS (iPhone and iPad) Users:
• On the iPhone or iPad device you would like to install Parent Orbit
• Once the App Store page for the app appears, tap "Get" or "Download"
• You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID/Face ID to
confirm the download
• After the download is complete, tap "Open" to launch the app
• Please ensure you enable Notifications

For Android Users:
• On the Android device you would like to install the Parent Orbit app
• Once the Google Play Store page for the app appears, tap "Install"
• The app will request certain permissions; tap "Accept" to grant them
• After the installation is complete, tap "Open" to launch the app
• Please ensure you enable Notifications

Setting Up Your Account

Once you have successfully downloaded and installed the app, follow these steps to set up your account:

1. Open ‘Parent Orbit’
2. Type “oll” (in lower case) into the School Code box and click Submit
3. Select Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, then ‘Continue’
4. Enter your Parent Code (same 6 digit number Username as Parent Lounge which can be found under ‘Account Number’ on your Fee Statement) and Password (the same Password for Parent Lounge), then select ‘Login’
5. Parent Orbit will request access to your student information from Parent Lounge, select ‘Allow’
6. Parent Orbit will request permission to send Notifications, select ‘Allow’
7. You can now navigate Parent Orbit
Please note: A red dot signifies either; a notification, something that needs action ie. Events and Payments or an absence to acknowledge
8. Information such as links or contact details for the school can be obtained via the side bar. This can be accessed by hitting the hamburger menu button located in the top left corner, or by swiping right.
9. For extra security when accessing the parent orbit app, Face ID or a PIN can be setup (dependant on phone settings). This can be done by first going to the settings page and then selecting Face ID or PIN to be enabled.

Our Lady's Catholic Primary School P&F

The next P&F meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th October at 5:30pm in C block. Zoom details will be emailed next week for those who cannot attend in person.

2024 National parent Survey

Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) would like to hear from you!
We are excited to launch our 2024 National Parent Survey which is now LIVE

To have your say, scan the QR code or click on the survey link: https://unesurveys.au1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_d5a7NXLpTKbNAtE

Australian Council on Smoking and Health

The Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH). ACOSH is a not-for-profit advocacy organisation dedicated to creating a smoke-free and vape-free Australia.

ACOSH is conducting an online survey to find out what parents think about student vaping in high schools. We would like to hear the views of adults who have a child attending high school in Australia.

All results will be kept anonymous and no individuals or schools will be identified. ACOSH will use the survey results to advocate for improving vaping education and support for students.

Click on the link below to complete the 5-minute survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/acosh_parent_vaping_survey

Isolated Children's Parents' Association Qld Longreach Branch

Family Support Program

Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA) is committed to advocating for equitable education access, opportunities and support for all rural and remote students. Motivated by this commitment the ICPA Longreach Branch is initiating a program that enables our Longreach and district families to access up to $500 in financial assistance toward educational, sporting or cultural/arts support or activities for your children.

•    Educational support for your child may include, but is not limited to, speech therapy, occupational therapy, paediatrician appointment, or literacy and numeracy support.
•    Sporting activities relate specifically to those students selected to represent our region at North West Sports or a specialised coaching clinic.
•    Cultural/Arts activities may include music or drama workshops such as SHEP.

Eligibility criteria include:

•    Membership of the ICPA Longreach Branch. ($50 p/a https://icpa.com.au/qld/membership)
•    The child receiving the support lives in the Longreach 4730 / Ilfracombe 4727 postcode area.
•    The child is aged up to 17 years of age.
•    If the child is of school age, the child must be attending a Longreach or Ilfracombe school.
•    No more than one application per child to be submitted per calendar year.
•    Evidence that your child received the support or participated in the activity.

The ICPA Longreach Branch Family Support Program financial assistance is on a reimbursement basis. Upon receipt of a paid invoice/receipt and proof that your child received the educational support and/or participated in the sporting/cultural activity, up to $500 will be paid via bank transfer to your nominated account. 
ICPA Longreach Branch has allocated a capped budget for this program, so once allocated funds have been spent, the program may be modified with the aim of providing assistance to the maximum number of families in our Branch. The ICPA Longreach Branch committee reserves the right to assess applications on a case by case basis. The Committee's decision is final in all application assessments. Your input and feedback on this Family Support Program is welcome as we aspire to provide a useful service to our Branch members. 
If you are seeking educational support for your child and you're not sure where to start looking, these are providers in our Longreach area:

•    Virtual or face-to-face speech therapy, https://popfamily.au/about/
•    Little Legs - Occupational Therapy based in Central West, https://www.littlelegsot.com.au/
•    Outback Futures - multiple services, https://outbackfutures.org.au/

Please email icpa.longreach@gmail.com for more information on this program, or to submit an application form. 

LSHS Year 6 Highschool Parent Information Evening & Transition Days

Mobile Phone & Wearable Technology Policy

Uniform Policy

Tuckshop

There will be no Tuckshop on Friday 19th July (Term 3 Week 2).

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

Desert Channels Queensland - Junior Fishing Day

National Police Remembrance Day 2024

Thomson River Festival 11th to 13th October

Western Queensland Junior Rugby

Longreach Regional Council

We have an exciting program from September – November 2024 and February 2025 for all girls and women 14 and above. The program consists of exercise, nutritional information and beauty session with a variety of local instructors and businesses.

The program takes places every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon starting 10/09/2024 at 5:30pm and all we need is your commitment! It is completely FREE and for all levels, beginners through to experienced athletes. Grab your girlfriend and sign up! Active Women and Girls – Longreach Regional Council

Longreach Stingrays

Storyfest Out West - 4th to 6th September

2025 Storyfest Writing Competitions Now Open!

The Somerset National Poetry Prize

The Somerset National Poetry Prize encourages young writers in their literary endeavours and is open to all Australian high school students. It is a wonderful opportunity for serious student writers, encouraging them in their literary growth. And there are also some fantastic prizes on offer! 

Here's what the competition entails:

• Write a poem of no more than 50 lines
• ​The Somerset National Poetry Prize is open to ALL current secondary students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents attending school in Australia. Students receiving home schooling are eligible to enter. Entrants must be under 19 years of age as of the competition closing date
• The winner in each category will receive $300 plus flights to the Gold Coast to attend the Somerset Storyfest in April 2025
• Closing date Friday 6 December 2024

Click here to submit your entry!

Storyfest National Novella Competition

The Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition is open to all Australian high school students. It is a wonderful opportunity for serious student writers, encouraging them in their literary growth - and there are also some fantastic prizes on offer! 

Here's what the competition entails:

• Write a novella of between 8,000 and 20,000 words
• Have it judged by an expert panel
• Winners from each State will be flown to the Gold Coast to enjoy Storyfest in April 2025 and will also receive a cash prize
• Closing date Friday 6 December 2024

Click here to submit your entry!

Positive Partnerships

Professional Disability Development Supports & Services

Central West Hospital & Health Services