Term 1 Week 7 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As you would have seen, communication regarding the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) surveys was sent home this week. Catholic Education in the Diocese of Rockhampton joined with other Australian dioceses in 2015 to participate in this research project, led by Professor Dr. Didier Pollefeyt from KU Leuven (Catholic University Leuven).

The ECSI research identifies different types of Catholic schools, ranging from Confessional Schools and Schools that promote common (Christian) values to Secular Catholic Schools and Catholic Schools engaging in recontextualisation and genuine dialogue to remain meaningful and relevant in today’s world. These surveys provide valuable insight into our Catholic identity—both where we currently stand and where we aim to grow in the future. I strongly encourage all families to take the time to complete the survey, as your input will help shape the direction of our school’s Catholic identity. Currently, Prep are winning the pizza party reward with 26% of their families having responded. Year 6 are in 2^nd place with 20% responses received from families.

This week, our Year 3 and 5 students participated in NAPLAN, demonstrating determination and enthusiasm throughout their assessments. I had the opportunity to observe the Writing Test on Wednesday, and it was wonderful to see students giving their best effort. Well done to all of our students—we are incredibly proud of you! NAPLAN results will be sent home later this year in Term 3.

Next Friday, 21st March, we will observe World Down Syndrome Awareness Day at Our Lady’s. This is a special day to celebrate inclusivity and the uniqueness of every individual in our community. To mark the occasion, students are invited to wear free dress with bright-coloured socks. Our Year 6 leaders will be promoting the event at Monday’s assembly, helping to spread awareness and encourage participation.

We are also excited to welcome our next group of Kindy friends who will be visiting our school next week. These visits are always a highlight as we introduce new and existing families to the Our Lady’s community. Additionally, Prep enrolments for 2026 are now open, so please help us share this news with friends and families who may be interested in joining our school.

Finally, a big thank you to our P&F Committee for their generous support in purchasing this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted books for our library. These books will be a fantastic resource for students to enjoy both in class and at home.

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

125 Year Anniversary Merchandise

Merchandise from the 125-year anniversary including tea towels, stubby coolers, packs of magnets and anniversary magazines are available for purchase from the front office.

Magazine $30

Tea Towel $15

Pack of 3 Magnets $10

Stubby Cooler $10

Classroom Teacher (Prep)

⭐ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖! ⭐

We are seeking applicants for the position of  𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 (𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩) to join Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Longreach.

👉𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 - https://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER1272

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Sharing Compassion

One of the greatest joys in life is sharing passion with another – think about it.  Now when you thought about it, you thought about people very close to you - spouse, partner, children, very best friend.  But when you consider the words we use in English for sharing passion – ‘compassion’ (Latin background), ‘empathy’ (Greek background), we see that the relationships in which we show these feelings reach a far wider group of people – even people we have never met.   Compassion and empathy stretch our minds and hearts and school us into making friends with many people in a variety of ways. 

During Lent, Australian Catholics support ‘Project Compassion’.  This is the fund-raising drive of Caritas, the international relief, development and social service agency.  Throughout Lent your children will hear about the people helped by the projects of Caritas. As they hear they will be invited to help these people, not only through fundraising but also through prayer and interest. For you, as parents and carers, it is an opportunity to widen the horizons of their hearts and minds, to teach them to care for people beyond their own circle.

Loving God, we are each and all your children.  Give us the wide deep love of your holy Spirit that we may recognise all people as brothers and sisters in Jesus. May we share in his compassionate heart.  We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us. 

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Hi, Welcome to Week 7! It is hard to believe that we only 3 weeks of the term to go!

Lenten Journey – The First Week of Lent

As we enter the sacred season of Lent, we are invited to reflect on our relationship with God and others. The first week of Lent calls us to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we prepare our hearts for Easter. In this time of repentance and renewal, we remember Jesus’ time in the desert and his example of faith, strength, and sacrifice. It is a time to pause, seek forgiveness, and consider how we can grow spiritually through small but meaningful acts of love and kindness.

This Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 4:1-13) tells the story of Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil. Despite being offered food, power, and glory, Jesus remained faithful to God, rejecting the temptations before him. This passage reminds us of the importance of trust in God and the strength we can find in prayer and scripture when facing challenges in our own lives.

Just as Jesus faced temptation in the desert, we too encounter daily struggles that test our patience, honesty, and kindness. In our school community, students may experience the temptation to take the easy way out, to give up when things are difficult, or to put themselves before others. Lent is a time to reflect on these moments and ask: How can we make choices that bring us closer to God? By showing kindness, including others, and making sacrifices—big or small—we can follow Jesus’ example and strengthen our faith in everyday life.

Ways Our School Community Can Participate in Lent

Lent is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to deepen our faith and live out the Gospel values. Here are some ways we can journey together:

• Prayer – Begin each school day with a special Lenten prayer or reflection. Encourage students to spend quiet moments with God.
• Fasting – Choose something to give up or take up, such as limiting screen time or practising patience and kindness.
• Almsgiving – Support those in need by contributing to a school charity appeal, collecting food donations, or writing letters of encouragement to those who are lonely.
• Acts of Service – Encourage students to perform daily acts of kindness, whether at home, in the classroom, or in the wider community.

As we walk through this Lenten season, may we open our hearts to God’s grace and strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Introducing Caritas – A Mission of Love and Compassion

Caritas Australia is the Catholic Church’s international aid and development organisation, dedicated to working alongside the most vulnerable communities around the world. For over 55 years, Caritas has been committed to bringing hope, dignity, and lasting change to people facing poverty, conflict, and injustice. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus and Catholic Social Teaching, Caritas partners with local organisations to empower communities through education, sustainable development, and emergency relief. Each year, Caritas leads the Project Compassion appeal during Lent, encouraging schools and parishes to support life-changing initiatives that uplift those in need.

This year, Caritas' Project Compassion theme is "For All Future Generations." Inspired by the Gospel message of love and justice, this theme calls us to consider how our actions today can create a better world for those who come after us. Through powerful stories of resilience from communities in Australia and overseas, we are reminded that even the smallest acts of generosity can have a lasting impact. By supporting Project Compassion, our school community joins a global effort to provide education, healthcare, and essential resources to those in need, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

At Our Lady’s, we are proud to support Project Compassion through our fundraising efforts. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, Zooper Doopers will be available for purchase for $1 at the Sandpiper pick-up area, with all proceeds going to Caritas. Additionally, each classroom has a Caritas donation box where students are encouraged to contribute what they can. Through these small but meaningful actions, we can make a real difference in the lives of others and live out the values of compassion and generosity this Lent.

For more information please see the video below and/or visit the link https://www.caritas.org.au/

God Bless,

Mr Sahlie Komndi-Diggins

Sacramental Program - Confirmation and First Communion

St Brigid's Parish are inviting children who have made their First Reconciliation to prepare to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. To enrol or for more information, please contact Ange Arthur or Sahlie Komndi-Diggins.

angela_arthur@rok.catholic.edu.au
Sahlie_komndi@rok.catholic.edu.au 

Annual Inter-House Cross Country

Our interhouse Cross Country Carnival will be held at the school oval on Friday the 28^th of March, from 9am.

Students can wear SunSmart coloured house shirts (Blue for Thomson and Yellow for Kennedy), new house shirts or sports uniform 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:

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.

Winter Uniform Order Form

To assist with ordering winter uniforms, we kindly ask that you complete the order form sent home with your child on Friday. Alternatively, you can download the form below and return it to the school office.

To ensure timely delivery, please submit all forms to the office by Wednesday, 19th March. Thank you for your cooperation!

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)

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

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

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

Qantas Founders Museum to launch Carbon_Dating art exhibition - OPENING 9:30AM, Saturday 15 March 2025

Qantas Founders Museum proudly announces a prominent exhibition Carbon_Dating showcasing native grasses and our relationship to the environment.  The Carbon_Dating project is a series of networked, experimental artworks situated throughout Queensland, that seek to shift attitudes towards the diverse Australian native grasses that grow in those regions. In this time of environmental stress, the project calls upon adventurous humans and vivacious grasses to collaborate – to breathe life into radically new kinds of relationships with each other.

The exhibition will open on Saturday 15 March at 930am at Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach QLD.

By drawing upon Indigenous cultural and scientific understandings and knowledges of grass and grasslands, and by incorporating sculpture, site-specific growing, networked technologies and artist-led provocations, we will develop a series of connected creative experiments and grass plantings spread across rural, regional and urban (Australia) - that together form the work Carbon Dating.

Carbon_Dating began in 2022 as a series of artwork-based experiments, and a ‘campaign’, that aimed to shift our relationships with Poaceae – those flowering members of the vegetal wild known as grasses. By focusing upon an often-overlooked group of native plants, Carbon_Dating reminds us that restoring the health of our environment will require us to look beyond the 'charismatic species' that so often steal our attention. Drawing on Indigenous cultural, scientific and artistic understandings, the Carbon_Dating Project asks: how we might see grass and grasslands in a new, equitable and ecological way?

Exhibiting artist Keith Armstrong said: “Despite grasses being one of the most critical plants for the survival of life on earth, our understanding and appreciation of them (beyond their use as animal fodder or lawn-making) remains limited… By sponsoring the planting of small Indigenous grassland areas and gardens, we seek to foster living sites for our art experiments; as we build a campaign built on partnership, respect and care.”

Carbon_Dating presents and share knowledge and stories and incorporate a variety of contemporary art forms responding to Queensland Indigenous grasses. The artists present a broad range of mediums including sculpture, weaving, textiles, photography, new media, film and performance-related artworks.

Featuring Artists: Keith Armstrong, Liz Capelin, Daniele Constance, Hilary Coulter, donna davis, Merinda Davis, Mia Hacker, Andrea Higgins, Luke Lickford, Jason Murphy, Kilagi Nielsen, Sasha Parlett, Melissa Stannard, Delissa Walker and Pipier Weller.

OPENING EVENT AND ARTIST FORUM - SATURDAY 15 MARCH 930AM

• The official unveiling of Carbon_Dating will take place at the newly branded Longreach Museum of Art (LMOA), at the Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach.
• An artist forum and floor talk will take place on Saturday 15 March from 930am featuring artists Keith Armstrong, Donna Davis, Koa artist and co-curator Jo-Anne Driessens, grazier and environmental advocate Jody Brown and the Lake Ayre Basin Rangers.

Entry is free, RSVP’s are essential info@qfom.com.au or call 07 4658 3737.

Max Flaherty - Junior Development Tennis Coach

Longreach Stingrays

Central West Hospital & Health Services

Come and have a look!

The Central West Renal Unit is almost ready to go, and CWHHS want you to have the chance to see it for yourself before it becomes fully operational.

There are three sessions to choose from on Friday 14 March, which will start with a short presentation and end with a tour of the three-chair nurse-assisted renal unit.

CWHHS will also be holding an official opening ceremony soon, so follow them on Facebook for information as it comes.