Term 2 Week 8 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

It’s finally here – our annual Athletics Carnival is happening tomorrow at Longreach State High School! A big thank you to the Longreach Athletics Club and LSHS for the generous use of their facilities and for supporting us in running this event. The energy and excitement have been building all week, especially with Thomson Pelicans and Kennedy Kangaroos practising their march past. If you ask Mr KD, he reckons the Kennedy Kangaroos are the favourites this year!

A reminder that students need to bring their lunch, a water bottle, and a hat for the day. Our wonderful P&F Association will once again be providing a sausage sizzle, popper, and Zooper Dooper for all students. Please ensure all students arrive by 8:30am for roll marking. Parents and friends are warmly invited to come along and enjoy the day with us.

Yesterday, we held a beautiful prayer assembly to acknowledge and thank our local First Responders. The Gospel of the Good Samaritan was shared and reflected upon — a reminder that compassion, courage, and service to others are values we see lived out daily by our police, firefighters, ambulance officers, and health workers. We were honoured to treat our guests to morning tea following the assembly.

We also recognised School Officer Day, taking a moment to thank the amazing people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our school running smoothly. A heartfelt thank you to Miss Zischke, Mrs Cutting, Mrs Carter, Mrs McPhee, Mrs Doyle, Mrs Hughes, Mrs Murray, Miss Sandie, and Mr Chapman. Your contribution to our school community does not go unnoticed.

Next week, we wish our Year 6 students all the best as they head off to Brisbane for their camp adventure! Highlights include visits to Parliament House, SeaWorld, Australia Zoo, and the Brisbane Museum. For many, flying will be a first-time experience – what an exciting milestone! Thank you to Mrs Neuendorf and Mr KD for accompanying our students on this memorable journey.

Wishing everyone a fun, safe and spirited Athletics Carnival tomorrow!

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Hope

Recently I have come across Nick Caves’ thoughts on cynicism and hope three times in very different places.  So perhaps you too have seen these words from his The Red Hand Files Issue #190*.  He says, “Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, and can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth… It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism. Each redemptive or loving act, as small as you like... keeps the devil down in the hole. It says the world and its inhabitants have value and are worth defending. It says the world is worth believing in. In time, we come to find that it is so."

He learnt this truth the hard way – coming to terms with the deaths of two of his sons.  But we too can learn it in rearing and in teaching children.  There are times when the demands can overwhelm us and we are tempted to give up in cynicism or indifference.  Hope is what teaches us to dig in and dig deep, to keep doing the small acts of kindness and love – to reread the toddler’s story when we are tired and weary of it, to speak to the morose teenager when we would prefer to be lost in our phone, to keep at the boring work knowing that it will support our family.  These are the works of hope.

Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit.  One of the chief gifts of the Spirit is Hope.  For most of us, most of the time, hope is not found in big gestures or sweet feelings.  It is found in the small, daily gestures of love and service when we don’t feel like serving or loving.  We can call on the Spirit of God to uphold us in those times to help us to be faithful, to be hopeful.

Loving God, send me your wise and faithful Spirit to give me the hope I need to grow in love and kindness in whatever difficult situations I face – whether they be big or small.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

* https://www.theredhandfiles.com/do-you-still-believe-in-us/

APRE News

Welcome to Week 8 of Term 2!

Celebrating Students Confirmation and First Communion:

Congratulations to Joshua and Grace on receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion on Pentecost Sunday. It was a joyous and faith-filled occasion, made even more special by the presence of Bishop Michael McCarthy, who led our parish community in a beautiful and spirit-filled Mass. The celebration marked an important step in Joshua and Grace’s faith journey, as they are now fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. We pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and strengthen them as they grow in faith and live out their calling as young adults in the Church. May God's grace be with them always.

Peace Be With You – A Pentecost Reflection (John 20:19–23)

This Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, one of the most important feasts in the Church’s year. It marks the moment the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and filled them with courage and purpose. The Gospel reading from John 20:19–23, which we heard at Mass on Pentecost Sunday, reminds us of the powerful moment when the risen Jesus appeared to His disciples and offered them His peace.

As the disciples sat behind locked doors, feeling afraid and unsure, Jesus came among them and said, “Peace be with you.” He showed them His wounds and then breathed the Holy Spirit upon them, sending them out to continue His mission. This moment is both gentle and powerful—Jesus comforts them, forgives them, and gives them the strength to go out and change the world.

For us in our school community, this Gospel reminds us that Jesus gives us His peace too. Through the Holy Spirit, we are invited to be people who forgive, include others, stand up for what is right, and show love in our words and actions. Pentecost isn’t just something that happened long ago—it continues today, in every classroom, playground, and home where the Holy Spirit is welcomed.

Reflection Question:
What is one way you can bring Jesus’ peace to someone this week?

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.

Athletics Carnival Friday 13th June

School Photo Day - Friday 25th July

• Prep students are to come dressed in their full sports uniform, white socks, black shoes.
  
• Students in years 1 to 6 are to come dressed in their full formal uniform, boys grey socks, girls white socks, black shoes.
  

• Orders can be placed online via our secure online ordering portal using the student’s unique Shootkey at
  www.msp.com.au
• Cash payments may be made via the Order Envelope. Please ensure the correct amount is paid, as no change
  will be provided.
• Orders can be placed AFTER Photo Day by visiting www.mspqld.com.au or by phoning the MSP office.
  Late orders incur an archive fee.
• Orders for Extracurricular Group photos use a different process where we take the photos first, then create customised order forms for each student photographed. Envelopes will be sent to school approximately 2 weeks after photo day.

Tuckshop Menu

The tuckshop will be closed on the following dates:

• 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 -

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