Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Ingham eNewsletter

Dear Our Lady of Lourdes School Families,

As we begin this new year, we have already encountered challenges that no one could have anticipated. The recent flooding, which has deeply affected our Ingham community, has been an unprecedented event in our community. We understand how the disruption to learning has been frustrating for students, families, and staff alike. While we have faced unexpected setbacks, I am incredibly proud of how our community has responded.

Our resilient staff, students and families have shown tremendous flexibility and determination in navigating these interruptions. We are committed to providing the best educational experience possible despite these circumstances, and we are working hard to ensure that we remain on track with our academic goals. Thank you to everyone for your understanding and patience as we work through these challenges.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for the warm welcome I have received since joining the Our Lady of Lourdes community. It has been a privilege to witness the strength, spirit, and kindness that define this school. I look forward to partnering with all of you to continue making Our Lady of Lourdes a place where students thrive, and families feel supported.

Thank you again for your continued trust and support. Together, we will move forward with faith, hope, and strength as we navigate the remainder of this school year.

Our Lady of Lourdes - Uniform Expectations

As I have been visiting classrooms, I have noticed that some students are still sporting holiday haircuts, accessories and wearing incorrect uniforms. I would like to take this opportunity to outline our school uniform expectations, which all families agreed upon as part of the student enrolment process. Our uniform policy is in place to provide a sense of belonging and inclusion, and wearing the correct school uniform contributes to these values.

We understand that the back-to-school period is a busy time for families, and sometimes uniform expectations can be overlooked or grooming appointments may be difficult to schedule. However, it is important that all students comply with our uniform expectations. To support families in making any necessary adjustments, we will be allowing a two-week grace period. Due to the flooding we understand many families may need time to rectify this, we will extend the 2 week grace period to the end of Week 5. After this time (Monday, Week 6) students who are not in the correct uniform or who do not meet grooming standards will be issued an orange slip as a reminder to rectify the issue and will be contacted by the classroom teacher.

Below is a summary of our uniform policy, which applies to all students at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Day Uniform (Monday and Friday)

All students wear the school polo shirt each day
Girls: Navy culottes.
Boys: Navy shorts (longer leg).
Black school shoes or black joggers.
Short white socks.
Shirts must be worn tucked in with the day uniform.

Sports Uniform (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Teachers will advise sports/HPE days - on these days Spirit shirts may be worn
Spirit shirts may also be worn on a Wednesday
All students wear the same polo shirt as the day uniform.
All students wear unisex sports shorts.
Joggers may be any color.
Short white socks.
Polo shirts may be worn untucked on sports days.

Accessories & Appearance

Hats: Navy hat with white embroidered logo (compulsory).
Jumpers: Navy zip-front fleece jumper.
Hair Ties: Gold, navy, royal blue, or white.
Hair:

Long hair (beyond shoulder length) must be neatly tied back (girls and boys)
Extreme hair colors (e.g., green, pink, purple) and styles (e.g., tracks, spikes, mohawks, mullets, horsies, rat tails) are not permitted
Hair must be kept natural in color
If a specific hairstyle is required for cultural or religious reasons, parents must seek written approval from the Principal

Jewellery:

A simple cross or Christian medal on a chain.
A simple watch
One stud or sleeper per ear lobe (no other visible piercings allowed).

Grooming:

Fingernails must be trimmed to fingertip length.
No nail polish.
No makeup (except clear nail polish).

Additional Dress Code Rules

Bicycle pants are not part of the uniform.
Swimming costumes such as long board shorts should not be worn under school shorts.
The Dress Code applies during school hours, while traveling to and from school, and on excursions.
If a student is not in the correct uniform, parents must notify the class teacher in writing.

The uniform policy provides clear expectations that students must follow, and parents are responsible for ensuring their child wears the correct uniform each day. The Principal reserves the right to make the final decision on what is deemed appropriate.

Where to Purchase Uniforms

Uniforms, including hats, are available in sizes 4 and up from the following local stockists:

Menz NQ – 57 Lannercost Street | 4776 6440
Ingham Underagers – 16 Lannercost Street | 4776 3277
Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ingham – 1/72-10 Herbert St | 4410 7999

These stockists offer a variety of payment options, so please contact them for details. Additionally, students moving on to Gilroy Santa Maria College for secondary schooling will be able to reuse elements of the Lourdes uniform, providing cost savings for families.

We appreciate your support in maintaining our school’s high standards.

May God Bless,
Jo Desailly
Principal

Dear Families,

A warm welcome back to the 2025 school year, and a special welcome to our Prep families and new families joining Our Lady of Lourdes. We hope you experience the warmth, welcome, and community spirit that our school is well known for. Despite the challenges we’ve faced with the recent flooding, our community has shown incredible resilience, and we are excited to embark on another year of learning together.

Although some of our plans were delayed, today we were finally able to officially welcome our new students and their families at our Welcome Assembly. It was wonderful to see so many family members and friends join us for this special occasion.

We are also looking forward to our first school Mass, which will take place on Friday, February 28, at 8:40 am. This will be an opportunity to gather as a community and celebrate the induction of our school leaders. All families are warmly invited to attend.

Mass Days Term 1 Dates

Week 5: Wednesday, 28 February.................School Mass (Student Leader Induction)

Week 6: Wednesday, 01 March…………….. Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Week 8: Monday, 18 March ......................... School Mass (St Patrick’s Day)

Week 10: Friday, 04 April …………………… School Mass

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

February 11th is a special day for our school as we celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes, a time to reflect on faith, devotion, and the Mercy Charism that shapes our community. Students have been learning about the significance of our school’s name and the inspiring story of Saint Bernadette, whose unwavering faith changed many lives. Lourdes remains a place where pilgrims find renewed faith and a call to serve others, reminding us of the profound impact of belief and compassion. As the introduction to The Song of Bernadette beautifully states: “For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.” To learn more about Bernadette’s story, visit http://www.loyolapress.com/saints-stories-for-kids.htm?cId=403415.

Sacramental Program - Reconciliation

Due to recent weather events, the dates for the Rite of Welcome, Reconciliation Preparation Lessons, and the Sacrament of First Reconciliation have been rescheduled. The Rite of Welcome will now take place next weekend (22/23 February) at all Masses in St Patrick’s Church, Ingham—Saturday at 6:00 p.m., Sunday at 8:30 a.m., and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. First Reconciliation Sacramental Lessons will commence the week of 24 February, with sessions held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. in Mercy Hall, Abbott Street. The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 1st, at 7:00 p.m. in St Patrick’s Church.

As we embark on the term ahead, may our school community move forward with resilience, strength, and a renewed sense of unity.

We give you praise, O God,

for everything new and beautiful,

for everything which holds promise and brings us joy.

Bless us as we start this new year with our friends and teachers.

Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.

Amen.

God Bless,

Moris Gori

UR Strong

At Our Lady of Lourdes we are pleased to be continuing URSTRONG, a school wide program which looks at social-emotional wellbeing through the lens of friendship. In 2024, this program was rolled out to all classes. This program is a tool to help deal with friendship situations which may be impacting student wellbeing. Our teachers will also be using URStrong as part of their daily check ins to reinforce the common language about 'Friendship Fires' and 'Mean on Purpose'. We will be providing an opportunity for a parent workshop later this year to further assist with the use of common language and to provide a deeper understanding of the science and research behind the program. We will also provide useful articles in each of our newsletters for the remainder of the year. Please see the flyer below for more information about this program.

Explicitly teaching children how to develop healthy friendships + manage conflict in a positive way is at the heart of helping them flourish. These important social skills are the key to creating safe schools and raising KIND + STRONG children.

Continue Learning our Language of Friendship

Designed for kids in grades 3 to 6 in mind, our Language of Friendship video-series includes 8 videos plus this introduction (above) & a conclusion, mirroring concepts taught in our Friendology 101 friendship skills curriculum for URSTRONG Schools.

Each session is designed for you to watch alongside your child and covers the following concepts:

Session 1: Connecting with the Real You
Session 2: How to Make Friends
Session 3: What’s Normal in a Friendship
Session 4: Healthy vs Unhealthy Friendships
Session 5: How to Put out Friendship Fires
Session 6: Standing up to Mean-on-Purpose Behavior
Session 7: Dealing with an Unhealthy Friendship
Session 8: How to Calm the Butterflies

You’ll also get access to hundreds of resources like helpful articles & activities to continue supporting you and your child on their friendship journey. Let’s empower your child with friendship skills!

–> Get access now by signing up for your (TOTALLY FREE!) URSTRONG Family Membership! This is our gift to you, as we aim to help as many children around the world create healthy, feel-good friendships.

At Our Lady of Lourdes, we believe in fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where all members of our school community can thrive. Grounded in our Catholic ethos, we work together to ensure that respect, kindness, and responsibility guide our daily interactions.

To help create a positive learning environment, we have four key expectations for all students: Be Merciful, Be Respectful, Be Safe, and Be a Learner. These expectations reflect our values and help shape a school culture where everyone feels supported and encouraged to do their best.

As a Positive Behaviour 4 Learning school, we explicitly teach and model these expectations, reinforcing them in all aspects of school life. Our Behaviour Matrix helps students understand what these expectations look like in different settings, ensuring consistency and clarity throughout the year. For example:

	Be Merciful	Be Respectful	Be Safe	Be a Learner
In the Classroom	Be welcoming Be kind with actions and words Be forgiving Be helpful to peers and teachers Be fair and just Create an inclusive environment	Look after your belongings, others’ property and the schools Use manners with teachers Be an active listener Take turns Speak kind words Wear your uniform with pride Be punctual Present your work neatly Welcoming of diversity Be respectful of the thoughts, feelings, opinions and rights of others	Look out for the safety of others Keep hands and feet to yourself Walk, don’t run Use equipment responsibly Helping hands Alert teacher of unsafe situations	Try your best Listen Use your initiative Set yourself goals Be positive Believe in yourself Have a go Never give up Be honest Be organised Be persistent Find your green zone Take a risk Learn from your mistakes Strive for independence

When students make the wrong choices, we use Restorative Practices to guide them in reflecting on their actions and making amends. This process helps students take responsibility for their behaviour and learn from their experiences. The restorative practice sequence includes the following reflective questions:

What happened?
What were you thinking?
What are you thinking now?
Who has been hurt or is sad because of what you have done?
What do you need to do to make things right?
What will you do differently next time?

By using this approach, we encourage students to develop empathy, take responsibility, and actively contribute to a positive school environment. By working together, we can create a nurturing and respectful school community where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to learn.

Ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and families during drop-off and pick-up times is our top priority. To help maintain a smooth and secure process, we kindly ask for your cooperation in following these important guidelines:

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures:

Please use designated drop-off and pick-up areas only
Please do not exit your vehicles in the 'Quick Pick Up' area (which is temporarily out the front of the school).
Pull forward to keep traffic flowing.
Please wait your turn, do not pull in front of other cars.
Do not block crosswalks or double park.
Please refrain from being on your phone whilst waiting for your turn in the pick up line.

Pedestrian Safety:

Always use designated crossings and follow the directions of staff and safety volunteers.
Do not walk in between cars in the 'Quick Pick Up' area
Hold your child’s hand when crossing the street.

Patience & Courtesy:

Follow all speed limits and traffic signs.
Be mindful of our staff and fellow parents—safety comes first!

Your cooperation helps keep our school community safe and ensures a smooth transition for all families. Thank you for your attention to these guidelines and for helping us create a safe environment for our students.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school office.

School fees consist of a Tuition Fee, set annually by the Catholic Education Office, plus a Maintenance Levy, Cleaning Levy, Building Levy, Resource Levy, and other levies set by the school.

School Fees are reviewed annually in line with inflation. To reduce the financial burden on families, the Catholic Education Office offers a significant fee discount for parents/carers who hold a means tested Australian Government Health Care Card (see concession rate below).

EXPLANATION OF CHARGES:

Tuition Fees - These fees are used to cover the cost of office expenses and equipment; teaching and non-teaching salaries and services provided by TCO.

Resource Levy - This levy covers the cost of arts and crafts supplies, subscriptions, software for learning and consumables, Device Levy

Building Levy - Used towards the maintenance of school buildings and grounds, loan repayments for buildings and various capital items.

PREP: The Prep Levy of $20 per child per term is in addition to the above fees and will be billed each term.

PENSIONER AND HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS FEE DISCOUNTS

In addition to these family fee discounts, parents/carers with a means tested Australian government health care or pensioner concession card may be eligible to receive a 70% discount to tuition fees. Card must be in the name of the parent/carer not the child/student. Families without these cards who are experiencing financial difficulty should speak with their school principal to apply for special consideration

Multi-School Discount

Families will receive the benefit of sibling discounts when their children attend both Primary and Secondary – Gilroy Santa Maria College. Discounts are only applicable if the same debtor/s are financially responsible for the fees for all the children enrolled. Please ensure that you complete the MSD form. This form must be completed for the discount to be applied.

If families are experiencing financial difficulty, they should speak with their school principal to apply for a special consideration. No child will be denied enrolment due to financial difficulty. Parent/carers should discuss this matter with the school principal who will treat the situation with understanding, sensitivity, and confidentiality.