Term 4 Week 3 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

I’m writing this week’s update from Year 6 Camp in Brisbane, and what an amazing time we’ve had! It’s been a busy and action-packed four days so far. Monday began with some students experiencing their very first flight, which was a special moment for everyone involved. Tuesday’s visit to SeaWorld was brilliant, and a huge thank you to Ella's Uncle Clint for his informative talk and behind-the-scenes tour—it really added to the excitement!

The students were also able to connect their classroom learning to real-life experiences when we visited Parliament House on Wednesday, linking back to their HaSS lessons. And, of course, Australia Zoo left everyone in awe, especially when the students got to see some of the incredible African animals up close.

One of the most impressive things on this camp has been the students' impeccable sense of direction. They were always eager to help when Mr. KD or I took a wrong turn while navigating the city! Everywhere we’ve been, we’ve received compliments about the excellent behaviour of our students, which is a credit to both their families and the wonderful culture of our school.

I want to give a big thank you to Mrs. Cutting and Mr. KD for their tireless support throughout the camp. They’ve taken time away from their own families to make this a memorable experience for our students, and we are all very grateful. I hope you’ve all enjoyed seeing the photos on our Facebook page. I’m sure the children will be sleeping soundly this weekend after such a full week!

In other news, a huge congratulations to Our Lady’s P&F, who came second in the Shark Suit Challenge at last weekend’s Longreach River Festival. Mr. KD and I found ourselves literally on our hands and knees through the preliminary rounds and finals! It was fantastic to see so many of our families enjoying the festival, and we are thrilled that the prize money will go toward new resources for our students.

Looking ahead, we have two important events next week. On Thursday, 24th October, we will be raising awareness for Catholic Missions with our Crazy Sock Day. Students are encouraged to wear their craziest socks and bring a gold coin donation to support those in need worldwide. Then, on Friday, 25th October, we will be supporting Day for Daniel by wearing red. Our community walk will take place after assembly, with students walking down Eagle Street to demonstrate Our Lady’s strong commitment to child safety.

Finally, don’t forget to secure your tickets for our 125th Anniversary Ball on the 1st of March 2025! If you’d like to sponsor a page in our Commemorative Magazine, please contact the school office on 07 4994 8375. Ms. Wall will be following up with families and businesses who have already expressed interest in sponsoring a page. With just two weeks left to confirm your spot – get in quick!

Wishing everyone a restful weekend and looking forward to another wonderful week ahead!

God Bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Party Time

One of Jesus’ favourite images for the Kingdom of Heaven is of a party. Admittedly he uses the terms ‘banquet’ or ‘wedding feast’ but then these are just fancy words for ‘great party.’  When we look at how Jesus uses the image of a party, we realise that to be a follower of his we need to develop party skills.

Firstly, we need to be able to join in.  That is, leave our work and our role behind and be free enough to be with people just as we are.

Secondly, we need to be able to celebrate, to be joyful.  Nobody wants to party with someone who brings all their emotional baggage along.  At these times, we need to be generous enough to leave our sorrows and preoccupations behind and share joy with others.

Thirdly, we need to look out for others.  We need to notice and encourage the shy ones, pass round the food and drink, let the weary get a space to rest.

Fourthly, we don’t have to be the centre of attention.  It is not ‘all about me’ but rather ‘about us’.

These skills can be used not only at parties but often when we are with our family, friends or community.  As we hone these skills, we will discover that the Kingdom of Heaven truly is in our midst and that we are revealing the face of God to others.

Loving God, you sent your Son Jesus into our world that we may learn how to join in your life of joy and love.  Send us your Spirit that we know how to share your joy and love with others.  We ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Hi, Welcome to Week 3 of Term 4!

Gospel Reflection:

Mark 10:17-30

 "The Rich and the Kingdom of God"

In Mark 10:17-30, a rich young man approaches Jesus, seeking guidance on how to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to follow the commandments, which the young man claims to have kept since his youth. However, Jesus challenges him further, asking him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man, saddened by this demand, walks away because he is very wealthy, highlighting the struggle of attachment to material wealth.

Jesus then turns to His disciples and teaches them about the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, comparing it to a camel passing through the eye of a needle. The disciples, astonished, ask who can be saved. Jesus reassures them that while it is impossible for humans, with God, all things are possible. He also promises that anyone who leaves behind family or possessions for His sake will receive even greater rewards in this life and eternal life in the age to come. This passage invites us to reflect on our priorities and the importance of placing our trust in God above material things.

In our school community, the story of the rich young man reminds us of the values we hold dear, such as generosity, compassion, and putting others before ourselves. Just as the young man was challenged to let go of his possessions, we are encouraged to examine our own lives and consider how we can share our time, talents, and resources with those around us. Whether it’s participating in service projects, helping classmates, or supporting families in need, we can all contribute to building a more caring and inclusive community.

Furthermore, Jesus' teaching about the difficulty of prioritizing material wealth over our relationship with God serves as an important reminder for us all. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to become distracted by the things we own or the achievements we pursue. However, this passage encourages us to focus on our spiritual growth and the bonds we create with one another. By fostering a spirit of collaboration and selflessness, we can ensure that our school is not only a place of learning but also a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and supported in their journey of faith.

October – Holy Month of the Rosary

The Holy Month of the Rosary, celebrated in October, is a special time in the Catholic Church dedicated to honouring the Virgin Mary and reflecting on key events in the lives of Jesus and Mary through the prayer of the Rosary. The Rosary is a form of meditative prayer that involves the repetition of prayers like the "Hail Mary" while contemplating different "mysteries," or moments from the Gospel, such as the birth of Jesus, His crucifixion, and His resurrection.

For a school community, the Month of the Rosary offers an opportunity to come together in prayer and reflection. It encourages students, staff, and families to deepen their faith by focusing on the life of Jesus and seeking Mary's intercession. Through praying the Rosary, we connect with centuries of Catholic tradition, seeking peace, guidance, and a closer relationship with God. It is also a chance for our school to cultivate a spirit of devotion and unity as we pray together for our needs and for the world.

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Rockhampton for Professional Development. During the week I went into the Catholic Education office to get some extra work done and came across the incredible sacred space that Jocelyne Benoit had created in the front of the office. In this scared space, it can be seen and tree with different types and versions of rosary beads hanging from its branches. Beside this sacred space, hangs a large hand made set of rosary beads with beads that have been designed by students.

Jocelyne’s inspiration was from a beautiful rosary tree in Lourdes, France in 2012. She stated it was a very powerful space that gave people the opportunity to share their belief in prayer and highlighted how Mary gives us grounding during prayer.

God Bless,

Mr KD

What's happening at Our Lady's during Socktober

• Completing mission packs in class focussed upon building awareness around Catholic Social Teaching and Socktober
• Fundraising by selling Zooper Doopers after school on Tuesday & Thursdays in Week 2-5
• Crazy Sock Day on Thursday 24/10 – gold coin donation
• Inflatable Soccer Field set up for Week 4 – Teacher vs Year 6 Soccer game

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.

Scholastic Book Club

The final book club of the year will be going out this week all orders are due back on the 25^th of October.

Swimming Lessons Commencing Week 2

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

Due to a number of apologies received Wednesday's P&F meeting was postponed. We will reschedule the meeting to a date to be advised later.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

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

Homework Policy

Homework Policy Update for 2025

Another important agenda the School Board has focused on this year is our Homework Policy, which will come into effect at the beginning of 2025. After thoughtful consideration, some significant changes have been made to better align with the developmental needs of our students.

For students in Prep to Year 2, homework will still remain optional. At this early stage of learning, we recognise that students often require an adult to assist with homework tasks. Understanding the busy schedules of families, we know this won’t always be possible, and as such, we encourage, at the very least, regular reading at home. Reading together as a family fosters a love for learning and is an excellent way to build essential literacy skills.

For students in Years 3 to 6, homework will be compulsory. As children move into the middle and upper years of primary school, we aim to instil greater independence and a sense of responsibility in their learning. The rigor of homework at these levels is designed to support the development of key skills that will benefit them throughout their educational journey.

We are excited to see how these changes will positively impact both our students and their learning experiences moving forward!

Mobile Phone & Wearable Technology Policy

Uniform Policy

Tuckshop

There will be no Tuckshop on Friday 18th October due to Mrs. Cutting attending year 6 camp.

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

St Joseph's Online Conference - St Vincent de Paul Group

Do you want to make a difference in our community? You’re invited to join the St Joseph’s Online Conference (St Vincent de Paul Group). We are taking expressions of interest from anyone throughout the Diocese. Meetings are monthly, online via Microsoft Teams.

Training will be provided. Email membership.rocky@svdpqld.org.au if interested.”

The Feeding of the 5000 Project

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

Positive Partnerships

Central West Hospital & Health Services