Term 2 Week 9 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends

Last Friday, we were blessed with perfect weather, vibrant team spirit, and an amazing community atmosphere for our annual Athletics Carnival. It was a brilliant day of fun, sportsmanship, and school pride. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated parents and staff who volunteered their time and energy, and a special shoutout to the Longreach Athletics Club for their generous support, including the use of their equipment and photo finish technology. At the end of the day, the Thomson Pelicans soared to victory—congratulations!

Behind the scenes, our staff have been engaging deeply in Professional Learning Communities focused on our Wellbeing and Behaviour Support Policy, based on the Berry Street Trauma-Informed Education Model. Recent staff sessions have centred on Entrance and Transition Routines, as shown in the poster below. While one group works with a member of the Leadership Team, students are guided through parallel lessons in the MPC, also led by school leaders. Students are developing confidence in using the Ready to Learn Scale and are becoming increasingly fluent in the language of emotional regulation.

This week, our focus has been on Morning Circles. These first five minutes of the day are crucial for setting the tone for learning. A consistent routine—such as forming a circle to review expectations, acknowledge achievements, and share news—helps students feel grounded, connected, and ready to learn. It’s all part of our commitment to building predictable, supportive classroom environments where every child can thrive. For more on this approach, I encourage you to explore: https://www.berrystreet.org.au/learning-and-resources/berry-street-education-model

Our Year 6 students have also been enjoying an action-packed week on camp! Highlights so far have included SeaWorld, Bounce, and a visit to Parliament House. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for them to build memories, independence, and friendships. I know there’ll be some tired faces when they return home—Mr KD and Mrs Neuendorf included!

We also received the results of our Tell Them From Me parent survey this week. Overall, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive—an encouraging affirmation of the tireless dedication of our staff. We are especially grateful to those who offered open-ended feedback; your anonymous insights are being taken seriously. If you raised an idea for improvement, I’d love the opportunity to meet with you, discuss any actions already in place, and consider your suggestions further. These results will be reviewed in detail by our Leadership Team and School Board next term.

I’ll finish with a touching comment from one of our families:

"Every day I am proud to send XXXX to school. Our Lady's has been nothing but supportive and understanding of his needs. The school openly communicates with me, and I feel comfortable approaching the school with any questions. It’s going to be a sad day when we have to leave for high school. Any thoughts about Our Lady’s becoming a high school again? You’d have one student ready to go. Thanks again for everything—XXXX and XX."

What a beautiful reminder of the impact of our work. Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community.

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

Principal

Semester 1 Report Cards – Available Next Friday

Semester 1 Report Cards will be available on Friday 27th June at 12:00pm via the Parent Orbit App. If you have not yet set up the app on your device, please contact Ms Wall in the office on 4994 8375 as soon as possible to ensure you can access your child’s report.

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Small things mean so much

Anyone who has lived and grown in any relationship knows that small things can mean so much.  The ‘just right’ tiny present, the kind word, the helping gesture, given just when we need it, convey an understanding and sensitivity for which we crave.  Forget the big flashy things – what we really want is something that speaks to the heart and says, ‘I know who you are and I love you.’  But to be alive to giving and receiving them, we have to train our minds and hearts to appreciate the small.

Next Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of the Lord.  One of the things that continues to amaze me when I go to Mass is that Jesus chose bread and wine to convey his own self.  In his society, these were so ordinary.  Yes, bread is to us but wine? In Jesus’ time, it was the common beverage – like tea and coffee is to us. Jesus took what was the most ordinary food and said over them, ‘This is my Body, This is my Blood, - these convey me.’  Then when we receive them, we only get a little bit – a small piece of bread, a sip of wine.  And, hopefully, we adore….and are changed into what we consume.  Then in the power and love that we receive, we are to go out and give from God’s love to those we met…in the small presents, words and gestures of daily life. Yes, in our tiny actions the grace and love of God are revealed.

Loving God, let me realise how important are the small thing in the way of love.  May my words, gestures and gifts carry with them your abounding love.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

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.

MPC Loop Carpark – A Few Reminders

As we near six months of using our MPC Loop Carpark, we’d like to thank families for their support and remind everyone of a few key expectations to ensure things continue running smoothly:

• If your child is not yet at the loop, please continue around and park in the squash court area instead of waiting in the pick-up bay.
• If your child is in the car, you are welcome to pull out—even if the car in front has not yet moved.
• For safety reasons, please stay inside your vehicle while in the pick-up zone.
• If there are free spaces at Gates 1, 2, or 3, please move forward rather than waiting at Gate 4.

We appreciate your help in keeping this area safe and efficient for all families.

School Photo Day

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

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

Inclusion Programs and Partnerships, Disability Services

Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety

Workshop for services that support children under 9, their parents and families

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 🧠 😊  

Queenslanders with Disability Network Ltd (QDN)

Background

• The Queensland Government is thinking about what Foundational Supports could look like in Queensland.
• Foundational Supports are specific supports outside the NDIS. They are in addition to services offered by mainstream systems, like education and health. More information about Foundational Supports can be found here: https://www.dss.gov.au/foundational-supports
• The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety is working with Queenslanders with Disability Network(QDN) to better understand what Foundational Supports for children under 9 could look like.
• QDN is a state-wide organisation of, by, and for people with diverse disability. All our work is focused on disability rights and systemic advocacy, and we have a strong network of people with disability and supporters across Queensland. Our motto is 'nothing about us without us'. 

What we are doing

• QDN is coming to Longreach between 23 - 26 June to speak with families, carers and kin with children aged under 9 who are not eligible or not currently receiving supports through the NDIS.
• We want to speak with them about the services and supports their children need, to hear their stories to find out what is working well and what is missing in their community. 
• We want to have one-one-one conversations or small group meetings with families, carers and kin.
• Each meeting will be 1 hour, and each family will receive a gift card for their time. 
• We want to meet up with people at places in their communities and will bring some morning tea or afternoon tea to share.
• We can arrange meetings with families at locations they nominate, and we would also like to make arrangements with community organisations to find out if we can set up there for the day and meet with families at that location.  
• Please email or call Isobel on 0467 346 841 or igordon@qdn.org.aufor more information. 

Central West Hospital & Health Services