Term 2 Week 7 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

Next Wednesday, we will proudly acknowledge National First Responders’ Day with a short prayer assembly in the MPC, followed by a morning tea served by our wonderful Year 4–6 students. We warmly invite any and all local first responders—police, ambulance, fire, hospital staff—to join us. Please spread the word to those in our community who serve in these vital roles. All are welcome.

Across the school, we have begun breaking open our Wellbeing and Behaviour Support Policy with a series of 30-minute weekly lessons. This policy is guided by the Berry Street Education Model, a trauma-informed approach to behaviour and learning that is supported across our diocese. Nearly all of our staff have now completed this professional development. This week, our students are learning about what it means to be ‘Ready to Learn’ vs. ‘Not Ready to Learn’, exploring the feelings associated with each and strategies to help return to a regulated, learning-ready state.

We were also thrilled to host Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Kylie Palmer this week as part of the Olympics Unleashed program. Kylie shared her journey and experiences as an elite athlete with our students, inspiring them to set goals and stay motivated. Thank you to Mr Kopacz for organising this fantastic opportunity in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee and Queensland Academy of Sport.

Our Year 3–6 students are in for a treat this Friday with a live performance of George’s Marvellous Medicine brought to town by the Longreach Shire Council. This exciting adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic story is sure to spark imagination and laughter. Thank you to the Council for their continued support of the arts in education.

Next Friday 13th June marks one of the most anticipated events on our school calendar—our Interhouse Athletics Carnival, to be held at the Longreach Athletics Track at LSHS. Students are to be dropped off by 8:30am for roll marking. Please refer to the carnival schedule included in this week’s newsletter. While the schedule is a guide, events may run ahead or behind throughout the day. A big thank you to our P&F Committee who will be supplying students with a free sausage sizzle, popper, and Zooper Dooper—sure to keep our little athletes fuelled and hydrated! Pre-events have begun, with impressive efforts in discus already on display—well done to Mrs Neuendorf and the students.

We’re also preparing to welcome both local kindergartens next week as part of our Step Into Prep transition program. C&K will visit on Monday and Longreach Kindy on Thursday. These visits not only give our future students a taste of school life, but are also a delight for our current Prep students.

A reminder that Prep enrolments for 2026 are now open. We will be contacting families before the end of the term to arrange enrolment interviews in Term 3.

Finally, I’d like to express sincere thanks to all the parents and friends who have volunteered their time and effort for this weekend’s ASHOF Campdraft. I know the postponement meant a few changes behind the scenes, but your support and flexibility are deeply appreciated. Let’s get behind this wonderful initiative and help raise valuable funds for our students.

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

P.S. Don’t forget to return those motorbike raffle tickets before Monday morning’s assembly, when the big draw will take place!

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Bodied Spirits

“I am a spiritual person but I don’t ….”  Fill in the blank with whatever religious practice you have heard someone refer to. It bothers me this statement – not so much because of the religious practice the person says he or she is not doing – but because of their idea of ‘being spiritual’.  I find myself wondering, “Does this person have something against the body?”  Our Christian religion, because we believe in a God who became flesh in Jesus Christ, has a very big and very positive appreciation of the body. 

The body is where we experience the life of the Spirit.  For us, the experience of the Spirit is not of a warm, fuzzy, gentle presence remote from ordinary life.  Rather the Spirit is like a good, strong, practical woman who rolls up her sleeves and gives love, attention and practical help -  in just the way the people need it.  For us to practise our faith, we have to use our bodies – in prayer, alone and together – but also in showing love, care and support to those around us.  This coming Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost.  In the Scripture reading, we see the disciples transformed from a frightening, cowering group of people to a confident, joyful group prepared to meet the world and offer it salvation. Jesus has told us that that transformation can happen to us also.  If we try to live by the teachings of Jesus, we will find the Spirit there working within us, guiding what we do, say and think.  Our spirituality will then embrace all of life – body, soul spirit – in our actions.

Loving Jesus, send me your Spirit that I might live by your teachings and have my life transformed.  May the people with whom I live know, through me, in practical ways the power of your love.  I ask this in your name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Welcome to Week 7 of Term 2!

Pentecost
This Sunday, we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, a major event in our Church calendar. Pentecost commemorates the moment the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to go out and proclaim the Good News. Often referred to as the "birthday of the Church", it marks the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world.

At school, students have been learning about the symbols of Pentecost—wind, fire, and the colour red—which remind us of the Holy Spirit’s ongoing presence in our lives. We encourage families to reflect and pray together this Sunday, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us with love, peace, and joy.

Pentecost is rooted in the Jewish festival of Shavuot, which celebrated the giving of the Law to Moses. For Christians, it occurs 50 days after Easter. As described in Acts of the Apostles (2:1–4), the apostles, gathered in Jerusalem, experienced a rushing wind and saw tongues of fire rest above each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, enabling them to share Jesus’ message with people from many nations. This extraordinary event marked the beginning of the apostles’ mission to spread the Gospel across the world.

The 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit & Living Them in Our School Community

• Wisdom
  Allows us to see life from God’s perspective and act in love.
  → We live this gift by making thoughtful decisions rooted in Jesus’ teachings, building a just and caring school environment, and turning to God in prayer.
• Understanding
  Deepens our insight into our Catholic faith and strengthens our relationship with God.
  → We show understanding through learning Scripture, engaging in Religious Education, and practising compassion toward others.
• Counsel (Right Judgement)
  Helps us to make good choices that align with God’s will.
  → At school, we seek guidance through prayer, listen to our teachers and priests, and support one another in making moral decisions.
• Fortitude (Courage)
  Gives us strength to live our faith, especially in challenging situations.
  → We practise courage by standing up for what is right and facing difficulties with the same trust and boldness Jesus showed.
• Knowledge
  Leads us to understand God’s plan and the value of His creation.
  → We use knowledge across all learning areas, appreciating how the world reflects God’s design and applying our faith to everyday life.
• Piety (Reverence)
  Inspires love for God and a desire to worship Him with sincerity.
  → We live this gift by praying regularly, celebrating Mass, receiving the sacraments, and showing respect for others and the sacred.
• Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe)
  Fills us with awe at God’s greatness and deepens our gratitude for His love.
  → This gift is seen when we acknowledge God’s presence in our lives, offer thanks for our blessings, and honour Him through kind words and actions.

Sunday Mass Invitation
This Sunday is a very special occasion for both our parish and school community. Bishop Michael McCarthy will be leading Mass at St Brigid’s Church to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. It is a time of joy and renewal, as we remember the Holy Spirit’s gift of courage and guidance to the apostles.

Making this celebration even more meaningful, three students from Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School will be receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion during the Mass. This is a sacred and exciting step in their faith journey, and we are incredibly proud of them.

We warmly invite all members of our school and parish community to attend this beautiful Mass. Your presence and prayers will offer great support to our students and their families as they continue to grow in faith and love of Christ.

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.

Athletics Carnival Friday 13th June

Tuesday 10 June: High Jump for all ages

Wednesday 11 June: 9 – 12 years 1500m @ Our Lady’s students need to be at school ready to commence at 8:00am

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

Raising Healthy Minds app

The Raising Healthy Minds app is a free, personalised, pocket resource to help parents and carers raise confident, resilient children. Co-designed with parents and experts and funded by the Australian Government, Raising Healthy Minds aims to support children’s social and emotional wellbeing with evidence-based information.  

You’ll find information on topics like dealing with worries and making friends, as well as ideas for day-to-day life, like creating family routines, looking after yourself as a parent, and building strong relationships.  

The app offers a mix of quick-read articles, videos and animations aimed at parents and carers of children aged 0-12 years. You can tailor information to the age of your child and opt-in to receive helpful tips.  

Raising Healthy Minds provides simple-to-use information at your fingertips with clear actions you can start today.  

Download from Google Play or the App Store or go to raisingchildren.net.au/rhm to learn more and raise a healthy mind 🧠 😊  

Central West Hospital & Health Services