Term 3 Week 2 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends,

Next week is Catholic Education Week, a special time to celebrate and reflect on the theme “Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.” At Our Lady’s, we will mark the occasion with our annual Kindness Walk along Eagle Street, where students will share gifts with local businesses and community members. This much-loved tradition strengthens our bonds within the Longreach community and allows our students to live out the values of compassion and connection.

On Friday, we will gather for a whole-school Mass at 9:00am at St Brigid’s Catholic Church, where we will acknowledge our Spirit of Catholic Education Nominees – the 125th Anniversary Committee. This group worked tirelessly to unite past, present, and future members of the Our Lady’s community from all over Australia in a celebration of our shared Catholic identity.

Earlier this week, families received an email invitation to attend the upcoming Berry Street Education Parent Webinar on Tuesday, 6th August from 7:00–8:00pm. This 60-minute session will provide practical strategies for helping children manage their stress response. Facilitated by Berry Street, it will explore what happens in a child’s brain during moments of dysregulation and how parents and carers can help bring them back to a calm, regulated state. We encourage parents to join us in the MPC to view the session on the big screen. While the webinar is intended for adults, children are welcome if needed — a movie will be available for them in C Block during the session.

This term, our staff are continuing their professional learning to support the school's strategic goals of improving spelling instruction and enhancing staff and student wellbeing:

• Bianca McLeish (CEDR Consultant) will return to work with our Teacher Assistants, focusing on trauma-informed practices.
• Teacher Assistants will also begin training in the Berry Street Education Model, our Diocesan framework for wellbeing and trauma-informed education.
• Teachers will work with John Campbell (CEDR Mathematics Consultant) on planning and assessment, with a focus on deepening mathematical thinking.
• Deb Foster (CEDR English Consultant) will continue her support in analysing spelling data and refining classroom practice.
• In addition, all staff will participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to engage with topics such as Religion, Inclusive Education, and Curriculum.

This commitment to ongoing learning ensures our students receive high-quality, evidence-based instruction and support.

This Friday is Photo Day. Please ensure students in Years 1–6 wear their full formal uniform, including:

• Grey socks (boys)
• All black shoes
• Hair neat and tied back as per our uniform policy
• No makeup is to be worn.

If your child arrives in an incorrect uniform, the school will provide the appropriate items for the photo. Thank you for supporting our efforts to present a consistent and polished image of our school.

A reminder that the Sandpiper Street car park is a walk-in collection zone only. For safety reasons, no child is permitted to leave school grounds unaccompanied from this location. If you're looking for a quick pick-up option, we recommend the rear MPC car park loop, which is supervised and suitable for all students, including Preps. Please consider making the switch to help ease congestion and improve safety for all.

God bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

Marvellous moments

I am a procrastinator.   Indeed, they can put on my tombstone, ‘She put the pro in procrastination.’  Of course, putting things off inevitably leads to a situation when I am overwhelmed by what needs to be done.  One trick I have found helpful is to do an ‘hour of power’.  I commit myself to work with energy and concentration for one hour at something of what needs to be done, be it housework, gardening, writing.  In manageable doses, I can face even the unpalatable.  The trick is to break down the overwhelming task to manageable size. 

The wisdom behind this is that we can only deal with life one moment at a time, and if we focus our energy, wit and wisdom into that moment, we can face tasks that might otherwise seem intimidating.  This is how AA counsels alcoholics: one drink at a time, one day at a time.  One situation, one moment at a time is what we are often reduced to in dealing with fractious children or difficult people.  We cannot control or change the whole situation but, only moment by moment, can we give loving attention.  Indeed, this is how St Benedict teaches us to pray:  keep it short.  What God wants and what we need to give is a moment of attentive love that truly expresses what our heart feels.  Here, now, moment by moment are challenges to be faces, are we given opportunities to love, are we given the gift of prayer. 

Loving God, you know how easily life can whizz by and I hardly know where it has gone.  Give me an attentive heart that I may live in your love and show your life to those with whom I live.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Hi Welcome to Term 3 of 2025!

Making Time for What Matters Most – A Gospel Reflection (Luke 10:38–42)

In this week’s Gospel, we hear the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38–42), two sisters who welcomed Jesus into their home. Martha was busy preparing and serving, while Mary sat quietly, listening to Jesus. When Martha became frustrated that she was doing all the work, she asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus gently reminded Martha that while her work was important, Mary had chosen what matters most—spending time with Him.

This story teaches us a powerful lesson about balance in our lives. Like Martha, we all have jobs to do—homework, chores, and responsibilities. But Jesus reminds us not to get so caught up in being busy that we forget to make time for God. Mary’s choice to pause, listen, and be present with Jesus shows us how important it is to slow down and connect with our faith, even in the middle of a busy day.

At school, this might mean taking a quiet moment to pray, listening carefully to others, or simply being still and thankful. As we move through the term, let’s try to be more like Mary—making space in our day for calm, for kindness, and for God’s presence in our lives.

Reflection Question:
When can you pause this week to be still and listen to Jesus, like Mary did?

Catholic Education Week – Celebrating Our Faith and Learning

Next week, we joyfully celebrate Catholic Education Week, a special time across Queensland dedicated to recognising and giving thanks for the gift of Catholic education. It is a chance to reflect on the unique way our Catholic schools combine faith, learning, care, and community—nurturing students not only in knowledge, but also in kindness, compassion, and a spirit of service.

This year, Catholic Education Week is especially significant, as the Diocese of Rockhampton has the honour of leading and launching the celebrations across the state. It is also the fourth year we celebrate under the theme Communities of Faith, Hope and Love—a reminder of the values that unite all Catholic schools and guide everything we do.

At Our Lady’s, we’ll be celebrating with a range of joyful and meaningful activities. These include gift giving to local businesses as a way of expressing our gratitude for their support, a whole school Mass, faith-based classroom learning through scripture, and creative art projects that explore what it means to be part of a Catholic community. Catholic Education Week reminds us that we are part of something greater—a statewide community of schools working together to shape lives rooted in faith and love.

Mass at St Brigid’s

This week, our school community Mass will be held at St Brigid’s Church on Saturday 26th at 6:00pm. We warmly invite all students, families, and staff to join us in this special celebration as part of Catholic Education Week. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together in faith, give thanks for our school community, and share in the joy of the Eucharist. We look forward to seeing many familiar faces there!

God Bless,

Mr KD

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.

School Photo Day

Parent Session by Berry Street

The Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton (CEDR) Strategic Plan details a commitment to implementing trauma-informed practices and trauma aware schools. In partnership with Berry Street please find below information detailing an opportunity for members of our parent community to participate in the following online professional learning. Please note that this event is free for participants as it is funded by CEDR.

To make the most of this fantastic opportunity and allow parents and carers to fully engage in the session, we are offering the opportunity to gather as a community and watch it in the MPC on the big screen together. Doors will open at 6:45pm, or feel free to watch in the privacy of your home via the zoom link below.

Please register your attendance by completing the Google Form: https://forms.gle/sfAyacn5BPHjRCip6

Bookfair 4th to 15th August

Tuckshop Menu

Tuckshop will be closed on Friday 15th August.

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

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

Catholic School Parents Queensland (CSPQ) invite all
Catholic school parents and carers to a national
Karen Young live webinar on
Strengthening Young People Against Anxiety.

*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. A recording of the webinar will be available for 3 days to registered participants only.

Click on the below link to register: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1F2ru7CCQy-Ey1hGpbn-vw#/registration

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

Longreach School of Dance

National Science Week

register at https://NationalScienceWeekLongreach.eventbrite.com.au

Qantas Founders Museum Carbon_Dating art exhibition

Longreach Sporting Opportunities

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