Dearest Our Lady of Lourdes Families, 

After another wet and challenging week for many, we hope everyone is staying safe amid the flooding. We are grateful for the resilience and community spirit shown by our families, students, and staff during this time. Please know that our school is here to support anyone in need. Let’s continue to look out for one another as we navigate these conditions together.

Relationships are at the very core of our Christian belief in our Triune (three persons in one) God. The Holy Trinity is God in relationship! This beautiful theology inspires all of us in Catholic schools to endeavour to be a living Christian community in relationship with God and others. It is essential in such a community that all members recognise and respect their own rights and responsibilities, as well as those of other members of the community and of the school itself.

The responsibility for promoting and upholding these core values of the school community must fall on those with the greatest capacity to reason and control their actions. Therefore, it is the expectation of the school that all parents/guardians/caregivers/volunteers model acceptable behaviour at all times within the school and at school sponsored activities.

As a parent, celebrate that you play a formative role in the development of your child's sense of justice, equity and worth. You are one of the most influential role models within your child's life. Let us all strive to build a harmonious community where students can flourish. There will be times during your child’s schooling where you need to bring your concerns to the attention of the staff at the school. If you have concerns about your child’s learning, please make a time to discuss your concerns with the child’s teacher in the first instance as they are placed to have the initial conversation. The Leadership Team is also here to support you with your concerns. If you are requiring a meeting with a member of the Leadership Team, please contact the office to schedule an appointment. I have attached a copy of the Townsville Catholic Education Code of Conduct for parents and volunteers for your perusal. 

Code of Conduct

Building Community at Our Lady of Lourdes

We are excited to share that our recent Family and Community Engagement (FACE) meeting was a great success! A number of parents attended and contributed valuable ideas on how we can continue to strengthen family and community connections within our school. To ensure we hear from as many families as possible, we will be sending out a short survey - please take a few moments to share your thoughts on the activities and opportunities you’d like to see at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Here are the minutes from our first FACE meeting of the year.

NAPLAN Update

We are pleased to share that our students have successfully completed their NAPLAN assessments for this year. We are incredibly proud of their efforts, resilience, and positive approach throughout the testing period. A big thank you to our teachers and staff for their dedication in preparing and supporting our students, and to our families for encouraging them along the way.

While NAPLAN provides valuable insights into student learning, we remind our students that these tests are just one measure of their growth and achievements. We look forward to using the results to continue enhancing learning experiences at Our Lady of Lourdes.

National Close the Gap Day

At Our Lady of Lourdes, we recognise the importance of National Close the Gap Day, a time to reflect on the ongoing journey toward health and education equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This day reminds us of our shared responsibility to work toward a future where all Australians have equal opportunities to thrive.

As a school community, we are committed to fostering respect, understanding, and inclusion. Through education and meaningful conversations, we aim to empower our students to be advocates for positive change. Let us continue to learn, listen, and work together to close the gap for future generations.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead. 

Many Blessings, 

Jo Desailly

Principal