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Dearest Our Lady of Lourdes Families and Community,
As we move towards the end of term, we are looking forward to celebrating our Dance units with a Dance Showcase next week.
The evening will begin with a BBQ from 5:00–5:45pm, followed by everyone moving into the hall at 5:45pm. The Dance Showcase will commence promptly at 6:00pm, and afterwards, students can enjoy a school disco until 7:45pm.
Please note: students must be accompanied by an adult. This is not a drop-and-go event.
If you are able to assist with the cooking or serving of the BBQ, we would greatly appreciate your help, please let me know via email.
We are delighted to have our hall back in use, even if only for a short time. It was wonderful to hold our awards ceremony in the hall this week, and we are excited to host our Dance Night there as well.
Prep 2026
Over the past three weeks, Moris, Sarah, and I have had the pleasure of meeting with our 2026 Prep families. It has been a delight to meet the children and their families as they begin their journey with us at OLL.
Next Friday, we will be sending out letters of offer to families who have completed the enrolment process. These letters will also include information about our Transition Program in Term 4.
If you are considering enrolling your child for Prep in 2026, we still have limited spaces available. Please contact our office to collect an enrolment package.
Student Behaviour
Over the past couple of weeks, we have noticed a spike in student behaviour, particularly around rough play and verbal disrespect. We kindly ask that you take some time to have a conversation with your children about the importance of respectful interactions and safe play. Your support in reinforcing these expectations at home is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference in supporting a positive school environment for all.
Opening and Blessing of Our New Buildings
We are excited to invite all families and community members to the Opening and Blessing of our new buildings on Thursday, 30th October at 12:00pm in the Menegon Centre. We look forward to sharing this special occasion with our school community.
Many blessings for the week ahead,
Jo Desailly
Principal
Dear Families,
Faith & Sacramental Life
As we journey through Term 3, our hearts turn to a very special occasion in the spiritual lives of our students. Our Year 3 children are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion, a sacred step in their faith journey. We ask that you keep these students in your prayers as they reflect, learn, and grow closer to God.
The celebration of First Holy Communion will take place at St Patrick's Church, Ingham, on Sunday, September 14th. We look forward to gathering as a community to support and celebrate this beautiful milestone.
St Teresa of Calcutta
On September 5, we celebrate the feast of Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
“The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway”. (Teresa of Calcutta)
Her holiness and her love for the poor were known all over the world. This remarkable woman is a testament to unshakable faith, invincible hope and extraordinary charity.
Cannonisation of Carlo Acutis on 5th September - Saint in Sneakers
Carlo Acutis, who passed away from leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was known for his deep Catholic faith and his innovative use of technology to promote the Eucharist. He created a website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles around the world, earning him the nickname “God’s Influencer.” His canonisation follows the recognition of two miracles attributed to his intercession: the healing of a Brazilian boy in 2020 and the recovery of a college student named Valeria in 2022 after a severe bicycle accident. Carlo Acutis, often called the “Saint in Sneakers,” shows young people that holiness is accessible and relatable in everyday life.
Father’s Day
On Sunday, September 7th, we celebrate Father's Day. This day is dedicated to celebrating the incredible men who have always been there for us and have made countless sacrifices to ensure our happiness and well-being. It's a wonderful opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation and love for our fathers and father figures.
A Prayer for Fathers
God our Father, we give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old.
We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation;
May they find the courage and perseverance to balance work, family, and faith in joy and sacrifice.
We pray for our own fathers who have supported and challenged us;
May they continue to lead in strong and gentle ways.
We remember fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering;
May they know that the God of compassion walks with them in their sorrow.
We pray for men who are not fathers but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice.
We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers who are no longer with us
but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.
Amen
God Bless.
Mr Moris Gori
Matt Cosgrove - Virtual Author Visit
Hinchinbrook Libray Book Week Visit
Year 4 Excursion to Mungalla
We are so grateful for this special opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.
Romanello Shield Carnival 2025
A huge congratulations to all players for their hard work, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Thank you to St Peter's Catholic School whom we joined in to ensure all of our students were able to participate.
Three of our teams made it through to the finals:
50/50 Raffle Update
We have a steady flow of tickets coming into the office. If you have sold your tickets, please return them to the office with your money enclosed in an envelope. We are currently half way to meeting the $2000 prize money.
Students have received a flyer and tickets for our 50/50 Cash Raffle. Please support us by purchasing them yourselves or selling to family, friends and colleagues.
Tickets can be purchased via RaffleLink, as well as paper tickets. If you require more tickets, please see the ladies in the office.
The raffle concept is simple -the prize pool will be $2000 or 50% of the total monies raised. The more tickets we sell, the higher the prize will be.
Tickets will be on sale until we draw the lucky winner at our Our Lady of Lourdes Christmas Fair on Friday, 14th November at 8:30pm.
As an incentive we will have two additional prizes:
$200 CASH for the family who sells the most tickets
$200 CASH for the family who sells the winning tickets
Please ensure you add in the name of the student who has sold the ticket when purchasing online.
Online purchasing is available via this link: https://rafflelink.com.au/2025oll5050raffle
| Prep A | River Edmonds, Arthur Gofton |
| Prep B | Lyla Mastrippolito, Kash Glenwright |
| 1A | Lucia Toigo, Chad Ferrero |
| 1B | Willow Smith, Sammy Pearce |
| 2A | Hunter Giliberto, Pippa Vecchio |
| 2B | Owen Osterberger, Emerson Ruggieri |
| 3A | Fletcher Rose, Tasha Venturato |
| 3B | Weston Beatts, Georgia Succio |
| 4A | Daley Holland, Hailey Petersen |
| 4B | Alicia Strong, Ebonnie Christensen |
| 5A | Claire Nicita, Dallas Jayasuria |
| 5B | Ethan Bradd, Mia Nye |
| 6A | Boston Davis, Lani Cockburn |
| 6B | Kyla Torrisi, Chloe Stead |
The Science Behind Children’s Friendships
Research conducted by Dana Kerford, Founder of URSTRONG, reveals that the experiences and feelings related to friendships are remarkably similar for both boys and girls. This challenges the prevalent misconception that boys and girls navigate friendships differently. According to Kerford, “Children, regardless of gender, share common desires and challenges in their friendships. They want to feel liked, cool, and accepted by their peers. This desire transcends gender, race, socioeconomic status, and all other factors. It’s a universal truth – all kids want to get along and belong. ”
All children seek connection and acceptance. Whether they identify as girls, boys, transgender, or non-binary, every child experiences emotional ups and downs in their friendships. Feelings can get hurt due to gossip, relational aggression (which is often mistakenly viewed as exclusively a female issue), physical aggression (mistakenly viewed as an exclusively male issue) , and the all-too-familiar Silent Treatment. Kerford emphasizes that “Boys and girls experience similar Friendship Fires®, the term we coined at URSTRONG for conflict in a friendship,” illustrating how their struggles in relationships are more alike than different.
Despite these similarities, historical socialization based on gender has led to some noteworthy differences in how some children navigate friendships:
- Girls are often advised to “Just ignore her! She’s just jealous,” while boys may hear, “Suck it up! Be a man!”
- Girls are encouraged to maintain a sweet demeanor, being told to “Be friends with everyone!” On the other hand, boys are sometimes permitted to express friendship through physicality, encapsulated in the phrase “Boys will be boys.”
- While girls are expected to express emotions openly, boys may face stigma for showing vulnerability through tears.
The impact of gender stereotyping and other cultural influences tend to present themselves as children approach adolescence. The damaging messages surrounding gender roles can significantly influence how children build and engage in their relationships.
Through Friendology, URSTRONG’s friendship skills curriculum for schools, these stereotypes are challenged. The program encourages discussions that provide children with a common language to express themselves and understand their friendships better. By fostering an environment that celebrates individuality rather than conforming to gender norms, students learn to honor and appreciate their unique differences. The Friendology curriculum provides language and strategies to support children in creating healthy friendships and, ultimately, healthy relationships.
Nearly two decades of research from URSTRONG underscores the importance of recognizing the similarities in children’s friendship experiences, while also addressing the societal pressures that shape their interactions. As Dana Kerford states, “When we empower all children to appreciate their differences, we pave the way for healthier, more inclusive friendships.” This understanding is essential for educators and parents alike, as we strive to nurture the next generation’s relational skills.
Click here to learn more about the impact URSTRONG Schools are having on children’s friendships.