Term 1 Week 3 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends,

It was wonderful to see so many parents attending our Information Sessions earlier this week. It was especially pleasing to see a number of our new families engaging with the school community. A special mention must go to those who not only attended but also played an active role in the Welcome BBQ. Your involvement is greatly appreciated, and we thank you for your generosity of time and spirit as P&F members.

Correspondence has been sent home to Year 3 and Year 5 families regarding NAPLAN testing, which will take place on March 12, 13, and 14. Any students who are absent during this time will complete their tests in the catch-up week that follows. Included in the communication was a Parent Information Brochure to help guide families through the process.

Next week, our staff will be travelling to Barcaldine for Bishop’s Inservice Day, a diocesan-wide day of faith formation. This year, our workshops will focus on the theme of prayer. As a result, Friday, 21st February will be a Pupil Free Day.

On Monday, our Year 6 students will deliver their leadership speeches in the MPC at 9:00 AM, sharing their thoughts on why they would make an exceptional leader of Our Lady’s for 2025. Following the speeches, students in Years 3 to 6 and staff will vote for our School and House Captains for the year ahead.

On Thursday, 20th February, we invite all parents and friends to our Commissioning Liturgy at 9:00 AM in the MPC, led by Fr Bang. This special ceremony will include:

✔ The presentation of Year 6 leadership badges and Student Representative Council members

✔ The announcement of School and Sports Captains for 2025

✔ The commissioning of our School Board and P&F members

We encourage all families to join us in celebrating this important occasion.

God bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

125 Year 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. Ticket sales close Friday 21st February.

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

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

The Good News of Kind Acts

As I write this, the trucks that have been flood bound around our region and across the north are starting to move.  There are moving stories of local people helping the stuck truckies out with food and supplies. If you want to spend a few minutes on a heart-warming thanks have a look at the Greenvale Roadhouse Facebook page.  They end a list of thanks with, ‘Last but most definitely not least… The Truck Drivers – A huge shout-out to all the truckies for their incredible patience, understanding, and adaptability. They’ve been absolutely amazing through this whole situation—jumping in to help and just being good kind-hearted people. Thank you so much, truckies, and we can’t wait to see you out on the road again soon.’  Makes you feel good to read that. 

We can look at the ‘news’ and almost despair of our world, or we can look around us and notice the acts of loving kindness that are happening.  The people who helped the truckies were in the habit of helping.  The flood was an event to highlight their ordinary, everyday goodness.

We can be like that, and possibly are.  Imagine what you would be teaching your child/ren with small acts of kindness to the people you met in your daily round: being patient in the supermarket, letting another car into a queue, making a meal for the new, or sick, neighbour.  You give off a good aura.  This is the type of love that God wants us to have between us.  Ordinary simple acts.  Then if and when a major challenge comes to us, we will be ready.  And what would your child/ren think. 

 Loving God, you give me the opportunity to show your love in the ordinary situations of my day.  You also bless me in the kind acts of others.  May we celebrate these moments and show our child/ren that this is the true Good News of our world.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Welcome to Week 3 of Term 1!

Gospel Reflection – Luke 5:1-11

In this week's Gospel, Luke 5:1-11, we hear the powerful story of Jesus calling His first disciples. Simon Peter and his fellow fishermen had worked tirelessly through the night but caught nothing. At Jesus’ instruction, they reluctantly cast their nets once more—and to their astonishment, they pulled in such a great number of fish that their nets began to break. In that moment, Peter was overcome with awe and humility, recognising the divine presence of Jesus. He fell to his knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Yet, rather than turning Peter away, Jesus responded with reassurance and a call to something greater: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” This passage teaches us that God sees beyond our doubts and weaknesses, inviting us to trust in His plan and take part in His work. Even when we feel unworthy or uncertain, Jesus calls us to follow Him with faith and courage.

As a school community, this message is a reminder that we are all called to step forward in faith, even when we feel unsure of our abilities. Just as Peter and his friends needed to trust in Jesus’ words and work together to bring in the miraculous catch, we are strongest when we support and uplift one another. In the classroom, students may face challenges in their learning, but with persistence and encouragement, they can achieve more than they ever imagined. On the playground, small acts of kindness and inclusion can make a significant difference, reminding us that we are all part of a greater mission to spread love and compassion. As teachers, parents, and staff, we are also called to nurture the gifts in each child, helping them recognise their own potential and the ways they can serve others. Let us continue to cast our nets into deeper waters, embracing new opportunities with trust in God’s guidance, knowing that together, as a faith-filled community, we can do extraordinary things.

This week, Year 6 will be sharing what they have been learning about in their Religious Education lessons!

Our Year 6 students have begun their first Religious Education unit of the year, focusing on the Eucharist. To start, they engaged in a class brainstorm, sharing everything they already knew about this central sacrament of our faith. This helped them recognise their existing knowledge and reflect on their personal experiences. From there, they took part in an exciting "Flash 5 Minute" group activity, where they worked together to find and share as much important information about the Eucharist as possible within a short time. This fast-paced challenge encouraged teamwork, research skills, and deeper engagement with the topic. To conclude, students developed their critical thinking skills by formulating focus questions to guide their learning throughout the unit. These questions will help them explore the meaning, significance, and role of the Eucharist in our Catholic faith, allowing them to build a richer understanding as the unit progresses.

Throughout this unit, students will explore the history of the Eucharist, tracing its origins back to the Last Supper and understanding its deep significance in the Catholic faith. They will also examine how the Eucharist is celebrated today, recognising its role in bringing the community together in faith and worship. Most importantly, they will reflect on why this sacrament is central to our spiritual lives, deepening their understanding of its power to nourish, unite, and strengthen us in our journey of faith.

God Bless,

Mr Komndi-Diggins

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.

Parent Orbit App

Some 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
• School Fees: View your school fees and make a payment

Parent Actions for reporting Student Attendance

Parents may choose from a variety of communication methods to notify the school of absences (phone, letter, email, visit) however the Orbit App or Parent Lounge are the preferred modes. In the Orbit App, parents are presented with five options, these are listed below followed by explanation:

• Illness and medical appointments
• Appointment, event or services
• Holiday
• School avoidance or refusal
• Family Reasons
  
• Other explained reason (If Other is selected, a mandatory comment box appears for parents to explain the absence)

NAPLAN

If you are a parent or carer of a Queensland school student, you won’t want to miss this free parent webinar on Wednesday 19 Feb, 7 - 8.30pm.

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is a national test, conducted online, for school students in Years 3,5,7 & 9 from 12 - 24 March.

Thank you to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority for joining us for the webinar, which is brought to you by Queensland’s four peak parent bodies. 

Click on the link to register your attendance:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4f8bad40-1172-479d-8416-37091fdfe775@0a12fd99-27e1-424b-a198-f866616429ea

Scholastic Bookclub

Bookclub orders are due to the office by Thursday 20th February, cash or eftpos available.

Or you can order online through LOOP: https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx 

Our Lady's Catholic Primary School P&F

March Meeting

When: Wednesday 19th March

Time: 5:30pm

Where: Our Lady's Catholic Primary School C block

125 Years Celebration High Tea

Call for Volunteers & Donations, the Parents & Friends Association (P&F) has been invited to support the school's 125-year anniversary celebrations on Saturday, 1st March, by hosting a high tea during the festivities.

To ensure the success of this event, we are seeking:

• Volunteers to assist with serving food on the day.
• Donations of homemade baked goods or finger foods to be served.
• Monetary contributions for the purchase of food supplies, for those who prefer to support in this way.

Your generosity and support will help make this milestone celebration truly special for our school community. Please click the following link to sign up: https://signup.zone/TLaeCjBSPe4xpgAQd 

For further information or to express your interest in volunteering or donating, please contact Lisa Neuendorf at the school office or via email at lisa_neuendorf@rok.catholic.edu.au 

Uniform Policy

Homework Policy

Homework Policy Update for 2025

Another important agenda the School Board focused on in 2024 is our Homework Policy, which has 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

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. 

Tuckshop

Please note there will be no tuckshop available on Friday 28th February due to 125 year celebrations.

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

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Do you have kids at School and looking to earn some extra money?

Are you semi-retired looking for a little extra cash?

Over 18yrs of age and perhaps @ home studying online and can spare some time, whilst earning some pocket money.

Shifts vary between Approx 1 hour in the morning and ½ hour in afternoon

Would you like to earn money and Help our State School? 🙋

Transport and Main Roads is looking for casual school crossing supervisors at our Primary School to help get our kids safely to and from school!

✅ Generous casual pay-rate starting at $37 per hour

✅ Morning and afternoon shifts

✅ Long-service leave entitlements

✅ The Queensland Government superannuation scheme.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, Contact below

To be deemed suitable for the role, some criteria apply, which include requirements to:

👉 pass a basic health assessment

👉 hold a current blue card or Able to apply

Both requirements we pay for, plus paid training will be given.

For more information or to apply, 07 4983 8747 or 0438 838 740

Community Notices

Longreach Regional Council Community Expo

Max Flaherty - Junior Development Tennis Coach

Longreach Stingrays

Central West Hospital & Health Services

Meet your Nurse Navigators!

Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS) Nurse Navigators are a team of experienced registered nurses who can help coordinate your care.

With expert clinical knowledge and a good understanding of the health system, Nurse Navigators focus on your entire care journey and all your health needs, not just on a specific disease or condition.

Our team covers the Central West, providing support to patients of any age group who have complex health conditions and are in need of a high level of clinical care.

Nurse Navigators can help you understand your medical conditions, talk to you about how you’re feeling, and discuss treatment options and plans of care.

So next time you see them in your neck of the woods, say hello to Carol, Simone, Suzie and Louise (pictured left to right).

Call 07 4652 5500 or visit this link to get in touch with our dedicated team: https://www.centralwest.health.qld.gov.au/patients-and-visitors/nurse-navigators

Below is an invitation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons to attend a 715 Health check.

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health team is hosting a First Nations health clinic at the Longreach Primary Care Clinic (former bulk billing clinic).

This is a great opportunity for you to get your 715 Health Check.

This 715 health check helps identify whether you are at risk of illnesses or chronic conditions.

The team will be giving out Deadly Choices t-shirts to all who complete their health check.

Call 0499714995 to book your appointment Details in the poster 👇