Term 4 Week 8 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

Yesterday, we celebrated our school's feast day, Presentation Day, honouring the presentation of Mary in the temple. The day began with a beautiful 9:00 AM Mass, led by Fr. Bang, where staff, students, families, and parishioners came together in prayer and reflection. Following the Mass, the celebrations continued with joyful activities that brought our school community closer. Students enjoyed sharing a delicious celebratory cake, engaging in meaningful class activities, and having fun at the pool. It was a wonderful day filled with faith, community, and celebration.

Last week, Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School hosted the inaugural Cricket Gala Day for the Central West. It was a day filled with excitement, skill, and community spirit, with 60 students from Years 4-6 competing. We were privileged to welcome Bonnie Berry, WBBL player from the Brisbane Heat, who not only assisted and played but also inspired our students with her passion for cricket. Congratulations to the Barcaldine combined schools team, including Stonehenge State School, who triumphed on the day, defeating a combined team from Longreach State School and LSODE. A special mention to George Sidebottom from Our Lady’s who was part of the winning team. The Our Lady’s teams played with great heart, finishing in 3rd and 4th place. Stacey Parfitt from Queensland Cricket shared that it was one of the best gala days she has experienced—a testament to the collaboration and enthusiasm of all involved.

Looking ahead, next Thursday evening at 6:00 PM, we will host our Annual Awards Night, a highlight of our school calendar. This event celebrates the remarkable academic, cultural, and sporting achievements of our students. We warmly invite all families to join us for this special occasion, with a BBQ dinner provided by our hardworking P&F committee after the awards. We are also honoured to have Mr. Tim Collins, AD: Western Region, in attendance. Please ensure students are wearing full formal uniform on the night.

On Tuesday, it was heartening to welcome our 2025 Prep students for their orientation visit. Their excitement was contagious, with some proudly donning their school uniforms for the first time. While the children engaged with Mrs. Thurecht, parents had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Williams, our Prep teacher for 2025, and hear from Miss Bongioletti and myself about preparing for the exciting journey ahead.

Wednesday night our P&F committee gathered for their final meeting of 2024. Among the agenda items discussed were the year-level booklists for 2025. We are incredibly grateful for the P&F's generosity in donating tissues and A4 paper for all students at Our Lady's, as well as providing headphones for our 2025 Prep class. Thank you for supporting our families and ensuring these essential items are ready for 2025.

This week, our Spelling Bee rounds have been buzzing with energy, and we are thrilled to announce the finalists who will compete next week in the MPC after Monday’s assembly. Parents are welcome to attend and cheer on our talented spellers!

• Prep Finalists: Billy D, Elyssa S, Charlie H, Luka W, Frankie S, Sam P, Ari D
• Year 1 & 2 Finalists: Tommy A, Annabelle E, Audrey G, Aubrey C, Esmae M, Knox D, Primrose G, Cooper S, Henry H
• Year 3 & 4 Finalists: Greta N, Blake H, Addy N, Eloise W, Mac J, Cooper W, Isla C, Clayton H
• Year 5 & 6 Finalists: Tania K, Alani M, Mackenzie W, Lachlan H, Alexie H, Ella K, Zoe H

I want to congratulate all of our students for giving it 100% during the classroom rounds. Everyone should be proud of their efforts!

As the year draws to a close, our calendar is filled with exciting events to celebrate and reflect on a wonderful year. From the Swimming Carnival and Awards Night to the Year 6 Graduation, Carol’s Morning, and Prep Nativity, there’s something special for everyone to enjoy!

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

As Christmas comes

My sister-in-law in Sydney went to Miranda Fair Shoppingtown the other day and wondered what the frenzy was.  Then she realised – Christmas! Frenzy seems to have become an accepted part of Christmas.  Is it seen to add to the excitement?  But there is a down side to it-people get hurt, missed out forgotten.  As we still have a few weeks to go, we have the opportunity to think and care for some of those people and make our Christmas a true sharing in the giving of God.

One group in our society, who get missed, are those who don’t have enough to join in the now very traditional spending spree.  It is especially the children in this group who can feel as though they don’t belong.  The St Vincent de Paul Society, along with other groups, try to help out with food hampers and gifts.  They especially welcome vouchers or gifts for children targeted to age and sex of the child. 

Another group are those with few family or friends.  We all know a few.  Some offer of friendliness over the Christmas period – perhaps a shared coffee, a meal, a gift given – can have an effect out of all proportion to any effort we might have to make. 

When we care for these people, we are thinking and feeling like God…and that is one of the primary gifts that Jesus offered to us: to become divine.  But we can only receive that gift when we give as he gave, generously and without the expectation of return. 

Loving God, we are now winding up for Christmas.  In the rush, let me not forget how Jesus came into our world – poor and marginalised.  Let me welcome him in the people in need in my community.  May our families Christmas be rich in your love.  We ask this in Jesus name confident that your will hear us. 

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Hi & Welcome to Week 8 of the very busy Term 4!

Gospel Reflection:

Mark 13:24-32

Watch for the signs of the coming of the kingdom.

In this passage, Jesus speaks about the coming of the Son of Man and the end times, offering his followers both a warning and a message of hope. He describes dramatic cosmic events, such as the sun darkening and the stars falling from the sky, which symbolize significant changes in the world. Amid these signs, Jesus reassures his disciples that the Son of Man will come with great power and glory to gather the faithful from all corners of the earth. This highlights God’s promise to protect and save those who trust in Him, even during challenging times.

Jesus also teaches the importance of being watchful and prepared, using the example of a fig tree. Just as the budding leaves of a fig tree signal the arrival of summer, the signs He describes will indicate that God’s plans are unfolding. However, He reminds His followers that no one knows the exact day or hour—not even the angels or the Son, but only God the Father. This encourages us to live each day with faith, hope, and readiness, trusting in God's perfect timing.

As a school community, Mark 13:24-32 reminds us of the importance of being ready and trusting in God’s plan, even when we face uncertainty. Just like the disciples, we are called to stay hopeful, work together, and support one another in times of change. By living out our faith through kindness, respect, and care for others, we prepare our hearts for God’s presence in our daily lives. This passage encourages us to remain vigilant and to see each day as an opportunity to grow in faith, learn from one another, and shine as a community of hope and love.

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Temple:

On Thursday we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Temple otherwise known as ‘Presentation Day’. This celebration is the Our Lady’s School Feast Day and is one of the most important days in our calendar year. Nearly, 125 years ago our school was proudly founded by Nano Nagel’s Presentation Sisters and therefore this makes our school a Presentation School.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Temple celebrates Mary’s dedication to God from a young age. According to tradition, her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem as a child to consecrate her life to God. This feast highlights Mary’s purity, faith, and unique role in salvation history as the Mother of Jesus. It is significant because it reminds us of her total devotion to God’s will, inspiring us to deepen our faith and trust in God’s plan for our own lives. Through Mary’s example, we see the beauty of saying "yes" to God and living a life of holiness.

Celebrations for Presentation Day:

Presentation Day was a wonderful celebration of faith, community, and joy for our school. The day began with a beautiful Mass led by Fr. Bang and our Year 6 students, reminding us of the importance and sacredness of this special occasion. Following this, students, staff, parents, and parishioners gathered to share a delicious Feast Cake during morning tea, symbolizing the unity of our school community.

Throughout the day, students engaged in fun and meaningful activities, including creative crafts, quizzes, and other learning opportunities cantered on the significance of Presentation Day. Adding a touch of excitement to the celebrations, everyone enjoyed a trip to the pool, where games and laughter brought the day to a joyful close. This blend of reflection, creativity, and fun truly highlighted the spirit of Presentation Day in our school.

God Bless,

Mr KD

Presentation Day Celebrations

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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.

2024 Annual Awards Night

Please join us after the Awards Ceremony for dinner. We will have on offer steak burgers for $10 and a free sausage sizzle for children.

To assist with catering for the night we ask you to kindly complete the following google form: https://forms.gle/NbNgo9FxR3zDf3PZ8 

Please place all orders by 3:00pm Monday 25th November.

125th Anniversary Celebrations

Past and present families and friends of Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, you are warmly invited to join us in celebrating our 125th Anniversary at our Community Ball.

Purchase your ticket here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1300810

Upcoming Events

Swimming Lessons & Carnival Information

All students will participate in a diving program on Wednesday 27th November.

8:45 - 9:45 - Year 3/4

9:45 - 10:45 - Year 1

11:30 - 12:30 - Year 5/6

12:30 - 1:30 - Year 2

2:00 - 3:00 - Prep

Swimming carnival tuckshop can be ordered via Quickcliq or by completing the following google form: https://forms.gle/xatKPUNEBPszERnh6.

Please note: if you order via Quickcliq you do not need to complete the google form.

Please place all orders by 3:00pm Monday 25th November.

2025 Booklists

We are pleased to inform you that the P&F has generously decided to donate the tissues and A4 reams of paper for all students at Our Lady’s in 2025, as well as headphones for our incoming Prep class. This incredible support helps to ease the financial burden on families and ensures our classrooms are well-equipped for the year ahead.

If you have any questions about the booklists or the provided items, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school office.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the P&F committee for their ongoing commitment to our school community and their generous contributions.

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

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

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

Positive Partnerships

Longreach Regional Council

Longreach Stingrays

Central West Hospital & Health Services