Term 3 Week 6 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

It’s exciting that Book Week has finally arrived, and we are looking forward to celebrating with our dress-up parade tomorrow at 9:00am. We’ll begin with our Year 3 class leading us in prayer before the parade commences. It’s wonderful to have our local kindy children joining us again this year—through our recent prep interviews they’ve shared how excited they are to dress up and be part of the fun on Friday. The theme for 2025 is “Book and Adventure.”

In a recent prep interview, one of our new families commented on how fantastic our library is and reflected on the books they loved in their own school days. We talked about the funny and quirky short stories of Paul Jennings, the excitement of waiting for a new Goosebumps release, and of course the timeless classics of Roald Dahl that continue to inspire generations. Book Week is the perfect opportunity to talk with your child about which books take them on an adventure, who their favourite authors are, and even share some of your own childhood favourites. You may be surprised to see which ones they fall in love with too!

Parent–teacher meetings will open for bookings on Monday and remain available until Friday of Week 8. Prep to Year 5 teachers will hold meetings in Week 9, with Year 6 interviews scheduled in Week 10. These are valuable opportunities to discuss your child’s progress and set meaningful goals for the remainder of the year.

In Week 9, Mr Komndi-Diggins and I will be travelling to Rockhampton for the annual Student Protection Conference. During this time, Mrs Belinda Thurecht will be Acting Principal, supported by Mrs Lisa Neuendorf. Should you need assistance during this week, please contact Sarah in the front office, and she will ensure Belinda or Lisa follow up with you.

This coming Monday, our students will take part in the Skateboard Workshop organised by Longreach Regional Council. Each group (Prep–Year 3 and Year 4–6) will enjoy two hours with the presenters. A waiver form was sent home yesterday by the organisers—please ensure this is completed before Monday morning. Prep–Year 3 students are to be dropped at the skatepark no later than 8:50am, with a staff member on site from 8:35am. Teachers will provide supervision throughout the day, and Mr Komndi-Diggins and I will transport scooters and skateboards back to school. Students will walk back with their teachers after their sessions. Please note there will be no Monday morning assembly due to this event.

We continue our strong commitment to professional development across our school. This week, our teacher assistants completed the first session of the Berry Street Teacher Assistant training. This program equips them with strategies to support all students in a trauma-informed way. We are proud to be one of the first schools in our diocese to undertake this initiative, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the wellbeing and safety of every child.

Finally, it has been heartening to meet so many of our new Preps for 2026 during interviews. Each child’s unique personality shone through, and I am excited to welcome them into our school community. With 23 enrolled so far, we are looking forward to a beautiful class next year. I look forward to seeing our future preps at tomorrow’s Book Week celebrations, and again in Term 4 for their final visits.

God bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Principal

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

“Book an Adventure”

If you looked at my life from the outside, I’d forgive you for thinking that it was boring.  But when I take the opportunity to tell its stories, that’s a different matter.  I’m still baffled by the confused, crazy, good and challenging life that God has dished up for me and the best way I have found to understand something of this ride is by retelling the events of my life.  Simply put, stories are nearly always the best way we can come to understand ourselves and others.

Jesus understood the power of story.  He didn’t leave a rule book for us to live by but rather commissioned a group of disciples to go out to the world and tell his story.  And he made his mark as a preacher by the stories he told.  Not that his listeners understood them.  The parables baffled the people of his time as much as they baffle us.  They are stories that only reveal their meaning when we try to live by them.

Telling our stories is one of the most powerful ways we can influence our children.  Telling our stories lets them come to know and understand what it means for them to be members of a family, of a community and indeed of a nation.  But we need to take care.  My Mum had a shocker of a childhood and I think she recounted those stories too early for me.  On the other hand, Dad loved his mother dearly and I wish I knew more about what inspired such a passion in him.

As your children celebrate Book Week with its motto, “Book an Adventure”, this could be a good time for you to celebrate the adventure of your life with them.

Loving Father, open our minds and hearts to the power and wonder of story-telling.  Inspired by Jesus’ stories may we tell our own to our children and led them into the deep bonds that make community. We ask this in his name, confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Gospel Reflection: Luke 12:49–53

This Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 12:49–53, invites us to reflect on the challenging words of Jesus as He speaks about the cost of discipleship. Jesus tells His followers that His mission will bring division, even among families. While this may seem surprising, it highlights the courage and commitment required to live a life of faith, grounded in Gospel values.

At times, standing up for what is just, kind, and aligned with our faith may create moments of disagreement or misunderstanding. As followers of Jesus, we are called to remain firm in our convictions, knowing that He walks beside us, giving us strength.

In your families this week, consider discussing how you can live out your faith with courage and love, even when it feels difficult or countercultural. Let us all strive to be witnesses of Christ’s message of hope and truth in our daily lives.

Prep Excursion to St Brigid’s Parish Church

Last week, our Prep students enjoyed an exciting excursion to St Brigid’s Parish Church, a cornerstone of our faith community. This experience gave our youngest learners an opportunity to explore and understand the sacred space where we worship and grow in faith.

The students were taken on a guided tour of the church, where they saw key features such as the altar, the baptismal font, and the beautiful stained-glass windows. They also learned about St Brigid’s role within the parish and the significance of these sacred elements in Catholic worship.

Year 5/6 Leadership Session with the NET Team

On Thursday, our Year 5/6 students participated in an inspiring day with the NET Team (National Evangelisation Team). The NET Team is a group of passionate young Catholics who travel across Australia to share their faith and encourage students to deepen their relationship with God.

The theme of the session was Youth Leadership, where the NET Team guided students through activities, discussions, and prayer to explore how they could use their unique gifts to lead with humility, courage, and kindness. The students were encouraged to consider what it means to live out their faith through service and action, following the example of Jesus.

This dynamic experience was deeply enriching for our senior students, equipping them with tools to be confident leaders in both their faith and their school community. We are immensely grateful to the NET Team for their energy and dedication to empowering young people in their faith journeys.

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.

2026 Schedule of Fees

Thank you for your continued support of Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School and for engaging with our school in
understanding the changes to Non-Government school funding and the impact on School fees, as we transition to
full implementation in 2029.

Below are the 2026 Schedule of Fees, along with the “School Fees Explained” and “School Fee Accounts” flyers. As in 2025, fees are presented as a single All-Inclusive Education Fee covering curriculum offerings, plus a Building Levy to support modern learning spaces.

The schedule outlines annual, term, and weekly payment options, with discounts available for eligible families and support for those experiencing financial hardship.

The “School Fees Explained” flyer, provides context on changes to Government funding and the Federal Government’s affordability assessment.

The “School Fee Accounts” flyer serves as a reminder of each family’s commitment to fee payment as a condition of enrolment. For any concerns or questions, please contact the school finance office.

Once again, thank you sincerely for your support of Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School. Please do not hesitate to
contact me with any queries that you may have.

School TV

Bullying

Bullying is an ongoing or repeated misuse of power in relationships, with the intention to cause deliberate psychological harm. Bullying behaviours can be verbal, physical or social. It can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious or hidden. Bullying in any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Despite the efforts made to reduce bullying behaviours, the research tells us that one in four students still report being bullied every few weeks. However, not all negative behaviour should be considered bullying. The key difference is that bullying does not stop on its own. It’s important young people learn how to identify behaviours that are rude, behaviours that are mean, and behaviours that are related to bullying. 

Often the reasons for bullying can be complex. Some young people do it to get approval from others, some do it to regain control, whilst others may do it because it makes them feel safe. Supporting young people as they work through their emotions will help them unpack the motivation and reason behind the behaviour. 

In this edition of SchoolTV, caregivers can better understand why some young people engage in bullying behaviours and what to do to support a child experiencing it.

https://ollrok.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/bullying

Book Week Parade Friday 22nd August

Bookfair

Skateboarding Workshop - 25th August

Please scan the QR code below or click the following link to complete the waiver for the skateboarding workshop. Every student must have a completed waiver in order to participate.

https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5f2d0223dc44f/web/ 

Schedule:
Prep – Year 3: Students are asked to be dropped off at the skatepark by 8:50am. Their workshop will run from 9:00–11:00am, after which they will walk back to school.

Year 4 – 6: Students will walk down to the skatepark at 10:30am. Their workshop will run from 11:00am–1:00pm.

What to Bring:
Scooter or skateboard (equipment will also be supplied if needed)
Helmet (mandatory)
Water bottle
Hat

To assist families, Mr KD and Mr Thurecht will transport scooters and skateboards back to school after each workshop and before for Year 4-6.
In addition, there will be an after-school workshop at 3:30pm, open to any interested Longreach children.
We sincerely thank Longreach Regional Council for providing this wonderful opportunity for our school community.

* Please note the BBQ is only for the after school session all students will need to bring their normal school lunch.

2026 Uniform Orders

We are now taking uniform orders for the 2026 school year. To ensure your child/ren have the correct uniforms ready, please complete the following form:

👉 Uniform Order Form

Important Information:

• Deadline: Please submit your response by 3:00pm on Wednesday 10th September (Week 9).
• How to record sizes: Use the format Size x Quantity (e.g. Size 6 x 3).

The school office is open daily from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM if you'd like to come in and try on sizes.

Father's Day Celebrations

Tuckshop Menu

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

CSPQ - Our Lady's Catholic Primary School P&F

How are Australian parents doing right now?

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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/

Community Notices

Longreach Regional Council

Bushkids

Desert Channels Queensland

Queensland Government - Women's Health & Equality

Central West Hospital & Health Services

RESQ - Driving Lessons

Longreach Sporting Opportunities