Dearest Our Lady of Lourdes Families, 

As we come to the end of Term 2, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a much more settled and productive term. It has been wonderful to find our rhythm and really settle into the day-to-day running of our school.

One of the highlights of this term has been the introduction of weekly pastoral care sessions led by our School Captains and leadership team. These gatherings have provided a meaningful way to begin each week—with prayer, the celebration of birthdays, and a shared focus on our PB4L behaviour expectations. They have brought a sense of community, purpose, and positivity to our Monday mornings.

We have also spent the past two weeks celebrating our Term 2 achievements through our Learning Breakfasts. It has been wonderful to see so many parents, carers, grandparents, and family members joining us to acknowledge and share in the hard work and learning that has taken place across the term. These mornings have been a fantastic opportunity to connect as a community and celebrate our students’ efforts and growth.

Report Cards

On Thursday, 26th June, our Semester 1 Report Cards will be distributed to families via the Compass Portal. Parents will need to register on the Compass Portal to assess reports cards. Please be aware that parents MUST have the latest version of the App and latest operating system on their devices for the reports to generate easily. 

Over the past few weeks our staff have been assessing and carefully considering the learning of each student in their class. Many thanks to our teaching staff for their commitment in ensuring these reports accurately reflect each student’s learning. If you have any queries upon reading your child’s report, please contact your child’s teacher. If you would like a hard copy of your child’s report, please contact the office. 

Strengthening Our PB4L Framework

Throughout this term, we have been working on the development of our Behaviour Levels of Intervention Matrix, an important addition to our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework. This matrix provides a clear structure for addressing ongoing and major behaviours that require support beyond the classroom level.

Each level within the matrix outlines specific consequences, targeted support for students, and guidance for staff, ensuring a consistent and supportive approach across the school. In addition, we are developing a glossary of behaviour definitions to accompany the matrix, helping to ensure shared understanding and language among staff and families.

This work has been developed in close consultation with our teaching team and has been approved by our School Board. The Behaviour Levels of Intervention Matrix will be implemented from the beginning of Term 3.

We encourage all families to take a moment to review the matrix, which is linked below, to better understand our whole-school approach to behaviour support.

[Click here to view the Behaviour Levels of Intervention Matrix]

Term 3 Important Dates

As we come to the end of Term 2, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a much more settled and productive term. It has been wonderful to find our rhythm and really settle into the day-to-day running of our school.

One of the highlights of this term has been the introduction of weekly pastoral care sessions led by our School Captains and leadership team. These gatherings have provided a meaningful way to begin each week—with prayer, the celebration of birthdays, and a shared focus on our PB4L behaviour expectations. They have brought a sense of community, purpose, and positivity to our Monday mornings.

We have also spent the past two weeks celebrating our Term 2 achievements through our Learning Breakfasts. It has been wonderful to see so many parents, carers, grandparents, and family members joining us to acknowledge and share in the hard work and learning that has taken place across the term. These mornings have been a fantastic opportunity to connect as a community and celebrate our students’ efforts and growth.

Many Blessings, 

Jo Desailly

Principal 

Dear Families,

June, the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated in June by Catholics worldwide. During this time, there is the celebration of Jesus’ divinity and the immense love Jesus has for humanity.

 

When we look at images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we notice the expressions of God’s love through the following symbols:

• The Flames/Fire represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus burning with divine love for humanity.
• The Cross represents the Divine Love of the Sacred Heart, which transforms the Cross into the most powerful act of salvation.
• The Crown of Thorns, Jesus said in His revelations that the crown of thorns symbolises our individual sins, which prick His heart.
• The Open Wound shows us that the Heart of Jesus is always open to us, His mercy always available to us, that He never closes His Heart to us. 
• The Light, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is surrounded by light. Bringing the light of God’s love into our darkness of sins, suffering, fears and doubts.

The feast day is celebrated on Friday, June 27. 

Refugee Week 15th - 21st June - ‘Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community’

This year, Refugee Week continues the theme Finding Freedom, focusing on the importance of diversity in the community. It reminds us that community is more than just a place—it’s where people feel safe, supported, and included.

Many refugees face difficult journeys as they leave behind fear and uncertainty in search of safety. In their new homes, it is welcoming and inclusive communities that help them rebuild their lives.

Diverse communities show us that our differences make us stronger. When we work together, listen to one another, and value every person, we create a space where everyone can thrive.

Let’s take this opportunity to celebrate the kindness and courage found in communities across Australia that open their hearts to those in need of a new beginning. For more information, please visit https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/theme/.

NAIDOC Week 2025 – Celebrating The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

This year marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week – a national celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2025 theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” honours the past while looking boldly to the future. It celebrates the strength of our Elders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy being carried forward by the next generation of young leaders.

As NAIDOC Week falls during the school holidays (6–13 July), our school will celebrate during Week 2 of Term 3, with a range of activities that encourage students to reflect on the importance of culture, leadership, and community. Together, we honour the legacy of those who came before and empower our students to be leaders of hope, justice, and unity.

Catholic Education Week - 27 July - 2 August 

Catholic schools across Queensland will again celebrate Catholic Education Week in 2025, with the theme "Communities of Faith, Hope, and Love." This theme captures the essence of what it means to be part of a Catholic school community. Faith ignites growth. Hope fuels support. Love welcomes all. Together, these pillars nurture students’ spirits, empower teachers, and embrace families, creating a vibrant learning community where everyone thrives.

Catholic Education Week’s theme aligns with the 2025 Jubilee Year theme: Pilgrims of Hope. This reminds us of the profound significance of hope and its universal reach.

I wish you a safe and happy holiday with your family. I hope this time is restful and relaxing for all families and that you enjoy time together.

End of Term Prayer

We thank you, Lord, for our term together. For the successes, the challenges, and what we have learnt this term, we are

grateful. Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends. Give us 

strength and courage to do what is right; to

be witnesses of our faith. Keep us safe in our activities; give us rest and good fun. As we prepare for Term Three, bring

us all back refreshed and ready. Thank you for our friends and classmates, including staff, families and the community of

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School who care for us all.

Amen

God Bless!

Moris Gori

Cowboys NRLW Visit

Year 5 had an absolute blast with Krystal Blackwell from the Cowboys NRLW team! She joined us in Week 4 and put us through some exciting drills. The energy was electric, and the skills were on fire!

Huge thanks to Krystal for inspiring our young athletes!

Term 2 Learning Breakfasts

Today, we launched our Term 2 Learning Breakfasts with Prep A, Prep B, and 3A. It was wonderful to see so many parents and grandparents come together to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our students. Here’s to another fantastic term of learning and growth!

Year 5 Learning Breakfasts

Today our Year 5 students showcased their learning to their families. It was another wonderful celebration of all their hard work during Term 2.

Whats Happening in 5B

5B had lots of fun this morning exploring the topic of algorithms! They created repeating patterns, identified patterns in other groups, and then explained their pattern rule to the class.

Learning Breakfast with Year 2B and 3B

Our families of Year 2B and 3B were warmly welcomed into the classroom for our Term 2 Learning Breakfast. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to share their learning in a relaxed and engaging setting. With books open, activities ready, students proudly demonstrated their skills across the creative arts, writing, and mathematics. Parents and carers were able to sit alongside their children, ask questions, and see firsthand the progress and enthusiasm shown in the classroom. It was a fantastic morning of connection, celebration, and community!

Marble Run Fun in Year 4! 

On Wednesday, the Year 4 students were tasked with building a 10-second Marble Machine. They worked in teams of three and used cardboard boxes and sticky tape to construct their machines, with the challenge being to keep a marble moving for 10 seconds.

The kids had some fantastic ideas, worked brilliantly with their teammates, and made a whole lot of mess while having a heap of fun.

Mrs Barbagallo finished by showing off her very simple design solution and we discussed assumptions and challenging ourselves to “think outside the box”.

The children are now looking forward to next term’s challenge!

URStrong 

Friendship Groups, Cliques,& Fitting In

“What if there’s someone in my group that isn’t very nice to me?”

“Can I be in more than one group?”

“What if my group of friends don’t get along with another group?”

“I don’t feel like I fit in with my group and I want to switch groups!”

This pack-like mentality is very common with kids who are striving to find their way in this world, but it’s not always the healthiest approach. Friend groups and cliques can be exclusive and alienating. Stereotypes emerge, peer pressure is at its worst, and kids start to mold to fit the group’s reputation and rules.

Being part of a group, however, can feel good. Kids truly fear social isolation and sometimes make poor choices in their friendships so as to not be seen to be alone. Over the years, countless kids have told us they would rather have a bad friend than no friend at all. Being with a group can feel safe.

In our Friendology 101 curriculum, we talk to students about the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendship groups using the Friend-o-Meter. Some friendship groups feel good and some do not and we discuss the qualities of a healthy friendship group.

To support children to try and break down these invisible walls that exist in their friendships, here are 3 important conversations to have with them:

• Discuss the difference between “fitting in” versus “belonging”, which Dr Brené Brown explores in her research on vulnerability and shame. Our goal is to help children feel that vital sense of belonging. We can feel we belong, even when we’re alone. We can feel we belong, even if we don’t get invited to every birthday party. We can feel we belong, even if our friend is hanging out with another friend. How are you fostering that sense of belonging in your students or your child? We need to reinforce Friendship Fact #3: Trust & respect are the two most important qualities in a friendship and help build that capacity for self-compassion and self-worth in every child.
• Encourage your students or child to think about each friendship individually. Group dynamics are tricky and the reality is that ‘group mentality’ reinforces unhealthy thinking patterns like stereotyping and discrimination. We need to teach children to look at people as individuals; they are more than the sum of their parts. Reinforce Friendship Fact #2: Every friendship is different and encourage your students or child to focus on what works in each one of their individual friendships.
• Glennon Doyle Melton, author of Love Warrior and Untamed, posted a story on Instagram encouraging people to switch to horseshoes instead of circles when they’re standing with a group. A circle is closed off and doesn’t leave room for people to join, while a horseshoe is welcoming. We talk to kids a lot about the messages they’re sending with their body language. What message is the group sending when it stands in a circle? A horseshoe says, “We’ve got room for more!”

If our children are going to form groups, which they will, let’s give them the tools they need to understand they are individuals (and so are their friends) who always belong…even when they’re alone.

Written by Dana Kerford
Friendship Expert and Founder of URSTRONG