Dearest Our Lady of Lourdes Families, 

As we reach the end of a very busy first term, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your support and resilience. This term has certainly not been without its challenges, with the unpredictable weather causing disruptions along the way. However, through it all, our students, staff, and families have shown great perseverance and adaptability. I feel proud to be a part of this amazing community, thank you all for making me feel so welcome. 

Despite the hurdles, we have found moments of joy—none more exciting than seeing our Prep and Year 1 students finally able to enjoy their playground once again. After weeks of waiting, the sunshine this past week has allowed us to reopen the space, and the sheer delight on the children’s faces as they played in their own area for the first time this term was truly wonderful to witness.

Farewells

As we close out the term, we say a heartfelt farewell to Miss Lauren Larsen, who leaves us this week. We sincerely thank her for her dedication and the positive impact she has had on our students and school community. While we are currently in the process of recruiting her replacement, we are pleased to have Mrs Cheryl Kybus stepping in to teach 4B for the first four weeks of next term.

We also share in the joy of Mrs Barbara Ratton, who is preparing to welcome a new addition to her family. She will begin her maternity leave at the end of Week 1 next term, and we wish her, Johnny, Patrick, and Sammy all the very best as they eagerly await their newest family member. May God bless them and keep them in the palm of His hand during this special time.

We extend our gratitude and best wishes to both Miss Larsen and Mrs Ratton and look forward to welcoming Mrs Kybus (one of our regular relief staff) to our team next term.

Learning Breakfasts 

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us over the past two weeks for our Learning Breakfasts. It was such a joy to see parents, carers, and students engaging in learning together and sharing special moments in the classroom. These mornings are a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the home-school partnership, and we are so grateful for the time you took to be part of them.

Building Update

There’s been plenty happening behind the scenes with our ongoing building works, and we’re excited about what’s to come. Over the holiday break, we’re hopeful that the grass will be laid and that work will begin on our new playground. If all goes to plan—and the weather is kind—we’re aiming for these areas to be ready for the children to enjoy by the end of Week 2 next term.

As many of you are aware, our school hall, the Mengon Centre, sustained significant damage during the major flooding event in Week 2 of this term. We have now received the scope of works and are waiting on final approval of a quote so that repairs can begin. At this stage, it is likely that the Mengon Centre will remain out of action until the end of Term 2.

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these necessary improvements and repairs. We can’t wait to see the joy on the children’s faces as they explore their new play spaces soon!

As we head into the holiday break, I hope that all our families find time to rest, recharge, and enjoy special moments together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another great term of learning and growth.

Wishing you all a safe and happy break.

Mrs Jo Desailly

Principal

Dear Families,

We’ve made it to the end of another action-packed term. Where has the time gone? It has certainly flown by. Some very tired-looking teachers and students are currently getting around. They deserve a well-earned rest after their hard work this term. We hope everyone has a happy and safe Easter holiday break and returns in a couple of weeks refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on all the challenges the new term brings.

Reconciliation

Congratulations to those children who completed the sacrament of Reconciliation this week.  Over the last five weeks, these children have been attending lessons to prepare for this sacrament.  Thank you to the teachers who delivered these lessons and guided the children through this process.  The children’s participation during this beautiful ceremony was very respectful. Thank you to Father John, Father Jomi and Sr Maite for making these evenings so lovely.  

Holy Week

Holy Week is most definitely a very sacred time of the year. It is when we will commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus' life on this earth. These are the days leading up to the great Easter Feast. This coming week is significant for all Christians. 

Palm Sunday (or Passion) Sunday, which remembers the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem for Passover. 

Holy Thursday recollects the Last Supper, the betrayal by Judas and Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. 

Good Friday remembers the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus. 

Holy Saturday is the Sabbath, when Jesus rested in the grave.  We keep watch for the expectant rising of Our Saviour.

The message of Easter is about renewal, forgiveness and love for one another, leading us all to live better lives.  Our responsibility as partners in faith is to immerse children in our Christian story and allow them to soak up the beautiful nature of this liturgical season. Take up the invitation to attend an Easter celebration over the coming weeks and experience the ritual of this sacred time.

Lord Jesus Christ,

in this sacred and solemn week

when we see again the depth and mystery of your redeeming love,

help us to follow where you go,

to stop where you stumble,

to listen when you cry,

to hurt as you suffer,

to bow our heads in sorrow as you die,

so that, when you are raised to life again,

we may share in your endless joy.

Amen.

Project Compassion Fundraising Boxes

At the beginning of Lent, students received a Project Compassion box. If your family has donated to Project Compassion, please return your mission box to the office as soon as possible. Thank you to parents, students, and staff for your assistance in raising much-needed funds for Project Compassion during this season of Lent. 

“Your generosity is the pebble that allows Caritas Australia to create ripples that will improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities, supporting them in flourishing and creating opportunities for future generations to live to their full potential.” 

Thank you!

School Masses - Term 2

Next term, our school masses will be on the following dates:

• Week 3 - 9th May - 8:45 am

• Week 7 - 6th June - 8:45 am
• Week 10 -27th June - 8:45 am

Everyone is welcome!

And finally...

Please take time over the next two weeks to relax and spend some time regaining energy in time for the start of term 2. Students (and adults) need time to replenish their batteries as we move into term 2, cooler weather and shorter days. We look forward to seeing you return to school on Tuesday, 22 April!

Thanks for a great term!  Have a happy, safe and holy Easter.

God Bless!

Moris Gori

Year 3-6 Reading Assessments @ Lourdes with DIBELS

This term, teachers conducted DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessments to monitor Year 3 to 6 students' literacy development. DIBELS is grounded in decades of research and helps us assess key reading skills such as phonemic awareness, fluency, and comprehension. The reading data gathered allows teachers to identify student strengths and areas for growth, guiding our planning for targeted reading interventions next term to ensure that each student receives the support they need to continue their reading journey.

The Importance of Home Reading

Reading at home plays a vital role in your child's literacy development. When families make reading a regular part of daily life, it significantly enhances students' growth and confidence as readers.

Home reading supports the skills your child is developing in the classroom by giving them extra practice with fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. It also strengthens their love for books, making reading a fun and enjoyable experience that lasts a lifetime.

Engaging with your child while reading fosters important skills such as listening, understanding story structure, and discussing characters and themes. It also

allows you to model fluent reading and encourage expression. Whether reading aloud together, sharing stories, or discussing what they’ve read, these moments help deepen their connection with the text.

We encourage all families to continue reading with their children over the break. Just 15 minutes a day can make a difference, helping your child become a confident and capable reader. Together, we can support their growth and set the foundation for future learning success!

Moderation for Teachers

This term, our teaching staff participated in moderation, a collaborative process designed to ensure consistent and comparable assessments of student learning. Through this process, teachers work together to review and assess student work, fostering professional discussions that enhance teaching practices and improve student outcomes.

Moderation supports fairness and accuracy in assessment, ensuring that all students receive consistent feedback on their progress. By aligning our judgments against the Australian Curriculum, we can continue to provide high-quality teaching practices that meet the diverse learning needs of our students. 

We are committed to ongoing professional learning and collaboration to enhance teaching and learning in our school.

Celebrating a Term of Learning

This term has been a busy and exciting time for our students, filled with growth, exploration, and achievement. To celebrate these accomplishments, each teacher opened their classroom to welcome families, providing a special opportunity for parents to engage in their child’s learning environment.

These events allow families to witness firsthand our students' progress and hard work, fostering a strong home-school connection. Seeing so many parents and caregivers exploring classrooms, engaging with student work, and sharing the joy of learning was wonderful.

We sincerely hope all families enjoyed this experience as much as we did. Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in making this a successful and memorable term!

I hope your break is filled with joy, relaxation, and special moments with family and friends. Thank you for your continued support throughout the term—we look forward to another exciting term of learning ahead!

Happy Easter! 

Sarah Sheahan