Term 2 Week 6 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

Isn’t it great when we can come together to celebrate community events like the Longreach Show? A huge thank you to our families for their support of this year’s school float—our students had a wonderful time taking part in the parade. Congratulations to the Longreach Scout Group who took out first prize!

As I walked around the pavilions, it was heartening to see so many entries from our Our Lady’s community. From Jayden—Grand Champion in Junior Chicken Raising (I hope I’ve got that right!)—to our dancers and horse riders in the main arena, and of course our bakers, cookie decorators, and LEGO builders, Our Lady’s certainly made its mark at the Show. Well done to everyone involved!

This week, we also communicated the postponement of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame Campdraft. The new dates are the 6th, 7th, and 8th of June. We understand this change may affect availability, and we’re now seeking additional volunteers to fill gaps in the bar and canteen roster. If you’re available to help, please email Lisa Neuendorf or add your name to the Signup Zones sent out via email.

On Wednesday, we held ‘Show Your Colours Day’ where students proudly wore their favourite sporting team colours. Whether it was the Queensland Maroons or the NSW Blues, or Blake rocking his Broncos supporter gear (we may need to review the inclusion of the Broncos next year…), the school was buzzing with footy fever! Perhaps we make Wests Tigers colours compulsory moving forward? It was a great day filled with friendly rivalry and state pride.

A quick reminder regarding afternoon pick-up: the Sandpiper Street zone behind Prep is a “hop-out-of-car” area. Students must be collected by a parent walking into the school grounds; they cannot leave the grounds unaccompanied. If you prefer to remain in your vehicle, please use the MPC Loop, which operates smoothly and caters for all students from Prep to Year 6.

We wish the very best of luck to our three Year 6 students—Tania, Mackenzie, and Quincy—who are heading off to the State Netball Championships this week, representing the North West team. We are proud of you and can’t wait to hear all about your games when you return.

Finally, a reminder that our School Improvement Surveys close on Monday, 2nd June. We’ve had a great response so far—thank you to all families who have taken the time to complete them. To unlock our free sausage sizzle day, we need just 25 more responses! These surveys are anonymous and can be completed for each child enrolled. So if you have four children, both parents can complete four surveys each!

God bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Tell Them From Me Surveys

As part of our ongoing school improvement cycle, we are inviting all families to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning parent survey. Your feedback plays a vital role in shaping the direction of our school and helping us provide the best possible learning environment for our students.

The last time we ran this survey in 2022, your insights directly influenced meaningful changes across our school. One significant outcome was the introduction of our instrumental music program, now offered to students in Years 4–6 through The Cathedral College Rockhampton.

We would greatly appreciate your participation again this year. As valued partners in our school community, your views will help guide our priorities for student learning, wellbeing, and family engagement.

The survey is:
 ✅ Anonymous
 ✅ Takes around 20 minutes to complete
 ✅ Available on both computers and mobile devices

To complete the survey, please visit: http://tellthemfromme.com/olcpsl85

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your feedback. Your voice matters and helps us grow stronger together as a school community.

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Growing up to Salvation.

Ask most parents what is one of the greatest challenges in parenting and they will answer: “Letting them go”.  When your children, leave home, marry, make their own lives, your role as a parent does not come to an end but it does come to its fulfilment.  We do not have children to have them stay as children. We have them to become adults and leave. That can be tough.  Having spent so many years trying to instil in them values to live by, you worry about how they will live them out.  But they will never truly live those values until they do it for themselves.

After his Resurrection, Jesus showed himself to the disciples and then left them.  He ascended into heaven. Wouldn’t the logical thing have been for him to stay around and keep the disciples, and us, on the right track?  No, because he didn’t want us to be childish in our faith but to own it and live it for ourselves.  God wants us to own the life of Jesus, but to express it in our lives according to our own unique personalities.  As followers of Jesus, we are not clones of him. Of course we need guidance.  Instead of Jesus being physically present among us we, have the Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives.  In our lives, especially in times of chaos, we can turn within to hear the still small voice of the Spirit guiding us into the ways of God.

Loving God, you want us to grow up to salvation.  May your Spirit move over our lives, especially when we are fearful, overwhelmed or in pain.  May that Spirit remind us of the love of Jesus and guide us into his peace.  We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

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.

Tuckshop Menu

The tuckshop will be closed on the following dates:

• 6th June - ASHOF Campdraft
• 13th June - Athletics Carnival

Revised School Policies

Stay up to date with revised school policies by visiting our school website. https://ollrok.catholic.edu.au/forms-policies

Homework Policy

Uniform Policy

Mobile Phone and Wearable Tech Statement

Key Dates

Our Lady's Catholic Primary School P&F -

ASHOF Campdraft

Change of date - Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June

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/

Community Notices

Qantas Founders Museum Carbon_Dating art exhibition

Outback Acrobatics and Cheerleading

Max Flaherty - Junior Development Tennis Coach

Longreach Stingrays

Central West Hospital & Health Services