Dear Families,

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of walking a past student of Lourdes around the school. She enjoyed the new buildings and surroundings and reminisced about her time here, many years ago. What really stood out though, were her comments regarding the very smart uniform the students now wear, and how they wore it so well. This happened to fall on the same day as school photos and had me thinking around how students present at school each day. As parents, do we ensure that every day, our children are wearing the correct uniform, including earrings and hair ties, and wearing it with pride? As we move into this second part of term 2, I ask that you support your child to be the best possible ‘Lourdes Learner’ each day- both in their positive attitude towards their learning and the way they wear their Lourdes uniform well and with pride.

Laudato Si

This week is Laudato Si Week- this is held each year in May to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ letter on caring for the Earth- our common home. With the new build at our wonderful school almost at completion, and the opening of our turfed area for children to play on, this is a perfect opportunity for us to speak to our students around caring for our school, our gardens and our environment. This may be as simple as not walking through our newly planted gardens, or ensuring we put our rubbish in the right bin. Sometimes it is the small things that make a difference.

The Online World

The challenge of navigating the digital world is becoming a greater challenge for us all. For those students who have access to technology, including mobile phones, the way they communicate, seek information and navigate their world is changing. The esafety government website helps to educate us all about online safety risks. I have included the parent link for you below for ways to support your children. It deals with topics such as parental controls, cyberbullying, screen time, and advice to help kids stay safe online. I hope you find this link useful.

Parents | eSafety Commissioner

Athletics Carnival

I am looking forward to watching our Lourdes kids in action at the athletics carnival next Tuesday. This is a wonderful day for us to come together as a school where all children will participate, encourage each other, do their best and be proud of their house! I hope to see many of you there.

P&F Meeting

On Tuesday evening, May 28 at 6:30 pm, we gather in the staff room for our P&F meeting. If you are interested in being a part of our P&F please come along- new and existing families are all very welcome.

Take care,

Bridget

Ms Bridget Trenerry
Principal

Upcoming Events

School Photos

Ordering of Photos: 

School Photos will be ordered online with a selection of photo packages available. You will have 2-3 individual photos to choose from. An email will be sent when the photos are ready to order.

There is no envelope to fill out & no need to pre-pay or order photos you haven't seen.  Our online ordering is very easy to use and is very a safe secure platform. We are also Australian and European GDPR compliant with our website security.

You will be notified via an email when orders can be placed. This will be approximately 14 days after the 20th May.

Important! If you have more than one child at Our Lady of Lourdes 2024, please make sure you register each child with the same email address. You will receive a separate email for each child to register. You may also need to check your spam emails.

The ordering process is very user friendly. There is a discount period of 14 days to order at a special price. You will be notified via email when this is about to end.
After the discount period, photos can still be ordered but they will be at the normal price. All photo orders will be delivered to the school free of charge for collection. After 14 days of being online the free delivery will not be an option and will revert to postage only option for $11.

Delivery Time is approximately 30 working days from ordering, but we do endeavour to have them ready sooner..

Please note, all children will be photographed individually.

Remember you will be notified when:

1. Photos are ready to order online with instructions.
2. To order during the discount period.
3. You forget to order.
4. The discount period will end.

Please choose your photos carefully as there could be previous years photos there on file!

Another great feature is you can share the photos with grandparents & family.

Any questions please email me orders@owenstudios.com.au with the child's name and school.

Syd Owen

Owen Studio
syd@owenstudios.com.au
0411323177

Mothers Day Mass

A big thank you to all the Mothers and Grandmothers who came to celebrate with us for the Mothers’ Day Mass on Friday 10^th May. We had a lovely time after Mass sharing morning tea. We thank Father Quinlan for his thoughtful Homily about how we need to think about all the things our Mothers do for us every day and it is very important for us all to do as our Mums ask straight away!

I caught a few snaps of Mums and children at morning tea – Enjoy.

Confirmation and First Eucharist

Last night, 24 of our Year 4, 5 and 6 students from our school and parish, received the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was our first Confirmation Sacrament with Bishop Ken Howell. The children enjoyed listening to Bishop Ken talk about the story of Pentecost and how it relates to the candidates receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Ken did a special "laying on of hands" for each child. This symbolised the Holy Spirit coming down on the head of each child. The Sacrament is completed with the blessing of the Oil of Chrism on the forehead of each child. The children were congratulated on their reverence and Bishop Ken assured them that they now have the Gifts of the Spirit with them always. 

These children will receive their First Eucharist this Sunday. 

We congratulate these children and their families for the sacramental journey they have undertaken. After Sunday these children will be full members of the Catholic Faith. 

We thank Father Quinlan and the Parish Sacramental Team for the time and effort they put into the Preparation Sundays, preparing, and setting up for each of the Liturgies. We are so lucky to be supported by the close connection we have with our Parish during our Sacramental Journeys and School Mass celebrations.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

If your child is in Year 3 and up and would like to be part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation - a “Forms” note for the Preparation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Term 3 was emailed early this week. If you didn’t receive an email and would like to be part of this year’s programme, please contact the parish office (07 46 341453 9 am – 1pm weekdays) or email the Parish at olol.parish@bigpond.com  It would be a good time now to locate your child’s Baptism Certificate and find an A5 sized photo. 

Dates for your Diary: 

Thursday 23^rd May – Assembly 2pm – Led by 3C

Thursday 30^th May – Visit from St Ursula’s Jakarta and Athletics presentation Assembly – 2pm

Thursday 6^th June – Assembly 2pm – Led by 3F

Thursday 13^th June – Assembly 2pm- Led by 1M

Thursday 13^th June - Free Dress – Favourite Footy Colours – Gold Coin donation for our Catholic Charities of St Vincent De Paul – Our Local St Vincent De Paul chapter support the families of our Parish who are finding things difficult in our current economic climate. If you know of someone that may need such support please do not hesitate to contact our OLOL Parish Office (07 46 341453 9 am – 1pm weekdays or email the Parish at olol.parish@bigpond.com ) and they will put you in contact with our local St Vincent De Paul Chapter. Or alternatively, if you would like to be a volunteer in this area – please also contact the Parish Office.

Friday 21^st   June – NAIDOC Assembly – 12 noon- Led by Year 4 (No Thursday Assembly on 20th June 2024) 

Term 3 

Thursday 18^th July – Pyjama Day – Wear your pyjamas today and bring a gold coin for the “Pyjama Foundation” -  The Pyjama Foundation provides volunteers who help children in care. Through a simple program known as the “Love of Learning Program”, volunteers called “Pyjama Angels” are matched with a child in care, they spend an hour per week focussing on learning based activities, reading stories aloud, playing games, helping with homework. In this time, they demonstrate that the child is loved and valued. We have our very own Pyjama Angel –Mrs Monte – we thank Mrs Monte for the time and commitment she shares with the child she sees.

Wednesday 24^th July – Catholic Education Week Assembly – Grandparents Day– 9 am School Hall - Please email in 1 photo of your grandparents to Mrs Moore ( Janice.Moore@twb.catholic.edu.au ) for the photostory ppt. Photos need to be in no later than Wednesday 17/7/2024.    If there are any Volunteers available to help with a morning tea – please contact Mrs. Moore. 

Friday 26^th July – Bishop’s Inservice Pupil Free Day

Finally, we wish Mrs. Melita Hohn all the very best as she takes on the OLOL APRE Leadership role for the next 4 weeks and we welcome Mrs. Michelle Newman to Prep H.

Have a great week and I’ll see you in Term 3 with lots of stories about my time in the United Kingdom! 

Janice

Janice Moore
Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE)

Reporting Semester One

At the end of this Semester, teachers will conduct reporting against the achievement standard in the Australian Curriculum.  In conjunction with assessment and achievement, teachers also make judgements on students' efforts. Our effort marks incorporate the traits of a Lourdes Learner and provide teachers, and our students, a five-point scale to reflect on their effort and engagement in learning. In the below table, you will see an outline of the effort scale. If you need further clarification, contact your Class Teacher.

Growth Mindset

In life, we often encounter obstacles and face challenges that test our resilience and determination. It is during these moments that our true character shines through, and we have the opportunity to grow and learn. We believe in fostering a growth mindset—a belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, and a willingness to learn. 

The following strategies may help you and members of your family overcome challenges: 

• Embrace Resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt in the face of adversity. By embracing resilience, we can maintain a positive attitude, persevere through difficult times, and keep moving forward.
• Seek Support: Remember that you are not alone. Reach out to teachers, mentors, and peers who can provide guidance and support. Together, we can brainstorm ideas, offer different perspectives, and find solutions that may have been overlooked.
• Foster a Growth Mindset: View challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Instead of being discouraged by setbacks, approach them with curiosity and a determination to improve. Recognize that failure is not a permanent condition, but rather a stepping stone on the path to success.
• Break it Down: Sometimes, challenges can appear overwhelming. To tackle them effectively, break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. By taking one step at a time, you can make progress and build momentum towards your goals.
• Think Creatively: Encourage yourself and others to think creatively, challenge assumptions, and consider different perspectives. Innovation often arises from finding unexpected paths to overcome obstacles.
• Learn from Setbacks: Every setback holds valuable lessons. Take the time to reflect on what went wrong, what could be done differently, and how to apply those lessons to future endeavours. Remember, setbacks are not a reflection of your worth but an opportunity for growth.

As we each navigate the challenges that come our way, let us remember that challenges are not roadblocks but stepping stones on our journey toward personal and academic growth. Together, we can foster a supportive environment where perseverance, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence are celebrated. Wishing you strength and determination. 

Thank you for your ongoing support, and let's make the second half of Term 2 even more successful and rewarding! 

Emily

Emily McKay
Acting Assistant Principal

OLOL Parish Winter Shelter Initiative – OLOL School can help.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish involvement in the Winter Shelter initiative.

The Winter Shelter has been operating in Toowoomba for many years. It is an ecumenical program that works with homeless people by offering them a warm bed and meal each night throughout the winter months. Last year, the OLOL Parish was invited by St Theresa’s, along with the other Catholic parishes, to be involved in assisting them in hosting some nights throughout winter. Some of our parishioners jumped at the chance to be part of this outreach. We had people volunteering time, cooking, cleaning up, setting up, talking with, and hosting the guests for the night. Previously, this program fell under the umbrella of Lifeline but this year, Toowoomba Churches Care has been launched to take over this program with a vision to not only offer care during winter but to also employ a Caseworker / Psychologist to work with the guests. A fundraiser held earlier this year (Kokoda Walk) has raised just on $100 000.00 for this venture.

What does the program entail? 10 vetted guests are offered food, shelter, showers, the possibility to wash clothes, and to have some social time each evening throughout Winter. Churches are set up with beds, a dining table, and places for tea and coffee. There are four shifts throughout the night – set up 3pm – 5pm, evening meal with the guests 5pm – 10pm, overnight supervision 10pm – 2am, 2am – 6am and then breakfast and pack up 6am – 8am. If you can’t give of your time in this way, then perhaps you could cook a meal, provide some muesli bars, lollies, poppers or socks for the guests.

Once again, this year, St Theresa’s, along with St Thomas More, have put their hands up to host 6 Monday nights (3 at each church) and the OLOL parish have gladly offered our assistance.

At a recent meeting, Our Lady of Lourdes was asked if they could assist by providing people to help with the shifts – and to provide the biscuits and slices which the guests are offered on arrival in the afternoon and as part of their packed lunch for the next day. Please keep an eye out, in coming weeks, for a sign-up sheet in the church, for the baking of these goods.

To volunteer “hour time” for the shifts, you need to register through the MyImpact app and be approved by the coordinator of the catholic churches section – Matt Boyd. A QR code will appear in the OLOL Church Bulletin in the next couple of weeks to scan and follow the prompts. If you need any assistance with this – please ask one of the Pastoral Council Members, check in with the OLOL Parish Office or follow the contact details in the OLOL Parish Bulletin.

So, what is the OLOL Parish hoping for?  The message is that the Winter Shelter is fast approaching.

Volunteers for shifts and for cooking are needed.

Gifts of lollies, socks, muesli bars and poppers are needed.

Please watch the OLOL Church Bulletin for more information in the coming weeks and to pray for the success of this practical outreach by churches in our generous city.

OLOL Parish Council

Prep

Here we are halfway through Term 2! We have had a terrific start to the term and are entering a busy period over the coming weeks.

Assessment - We are commencing our testing for Semester One this week. Revision is the key to learning in the Early Years and we very much rely on your support at home to be practising letters and sounds, segmenting and blending with the fluency booklet, and sight words. Bedtime reading is also a must!

Attendance - As we begin our testing, please note that attendance is crucial during this time. If your child is unwell, however, we recommend that they stay home to recover. This will also help reduce the spread of germs amongst our Prep cohort.

Clothing - All children need to be dressed in their winter uniform and all warm clothing must be navy blue. A navy skivvy under the school shirt is a perfect way to stay warm but allows the child to move around freely. Please also ensure that all items of clothing are clearly named so that we can return misplaced items.

Hats - Please ensure hats are worn during morning play, and that hats are on heads ready for morning fitness on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.

Mother’s Day- Thank you to all the mothers and grandmothers who attended our Mother’s Day Mass, morning tea and the fun in our classrooms. It was such a special occasion for us all and it was certainly treasured by the children. If you were not able to attend this occasion, please know that you were very much a part of our celebration.

As always, thank you for your continued support during your child’s learning journey

Melita, Amy and Becky

Year 1

Welcome to Week 6! In English this week, we have been busy publishing our retells of the Dreamtime story ‘Echidna and the Shade Tree’. Published work is meant to be presented to an audience, so we will share our retells with our Buddies when they are complete. Our next unit is all about poetry!    

In Maths, we are taking what we have learnt about patterns in numbers to dive deeper in our learning about two-digit numbers. We are locating two-digit numbers on a number line, and ordering two-digit numbers from the smallest value to the largest value. We are still practising skip counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, so please quiz us in the car!

In Geography and Science, we continue to investigate our school environment; to notice the features of our place, and to wonder about the changes occurring with some trees. We are very lucky to have such a beautiful landscape here at Lourdes!

It has been wonderful to observe the growth in maturity in our students as they strive to be Lourdes Learners every day. Lourdes Learners are CALLed to Think and the children are at the stage where they are showing a greater understanding of what it means to be a learner. Their talk about the learning, shows that they are thinking, wondering, and engaged.

We seem to have a lot of misplaced hats and jumpers at the moment, so it would be appreciated if you could please check that your child has their belongings. We are still working on putting things into our bags and zipping them up! Often times things fall out and then are picked up and put into wrong bags.

Have a great week!

Dennielle, Laura and Jenny

Year 2

Welcome to Week 6!  

In Maths, we have been investigating telling the time (o’clock, half past, quarter to, and quarter past) and fractions through repeating halving will give us halves, quarters, and eighth). Any additional experiences you can provide at home will greatly benefit your child’s understanding of these tricky concepts.    

In English, students are enjoying researching their chosen animal on Brittanica. They will then use this research to write an information report for assessment. Many students are fascinated by the fun facts they are discovering about their animal.   

Fun Fact: Did you know that kangaroos cannot walk or run backwards? 

 In Hass, we are exploring ways in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples maintain special connections to the land, sky, and water of our country.   

We had lots of fun at the Planetarium last week, consolidating our understanding and schemas of the sun, moon and stars. Enjoy a few pics from our excursion.  

Have a wonderful fortnight! 

Sarah, Ange B and Ange G

Year 3

Welcome to Week 6, we are officially halfway through Term 2!

In Mathematics, students have been working hard on their 5 times tables and division facts. We highly encourage that you help your child recall these facts with accuracy and speed at home. Students have also been learning about different tools and units of measurement to find the length of an object.

In English, we have continued developing our knowledge of explanation texts. Students have shown a keen interest in learning how we hear, how flour is made, and how rice is farmed. They are working towards writing their own explanation texts independently for their upcoming assessment.

HASS has been a very interesting subject for us all. This week, we have been learning about Indonesia. We learnt lots of exciting new facts and enjoyed exploring this country. Enjoy some our facts:

• Indonesia has 17,000 beautiful islands.
• Indonesia is about one quarter the size of Australia.
• One of the most common types of farming is rice farms.

Author Visit - Last Wednesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming children’s author, Nat Amoore, to speak with us about her journey as an author. The cohort enjoyed her humour and left with a new-found inspiration to read her various books. 3L’s Hudson won her coveted prize pack after answering one tricky question!

Athletics Training - We are very grateful to Mr Dugdale and Mr Shoebridge for running our Athletics Training last Friday. Students participated in Discus, Shotput, and Long Jump training. See attached photos.

Key Dates:

• Thursday 23^rd May, 2pm – 3C  Assembly Presentation
• Tuesday 28^th May – Athletics Carnival Day 1
• Thursday 6th June, 2pm – 3F Assembly Presentation
• Thursday 13^th June – Sports Team Dress Up Day – Catholic Mission Gold Coin donation - St Vincent de Paul
• Wednesday 19^th June – Ball Games Carnival
• Friday 21^st June – NAIDOC Assembly @ 12pm – Final Day of Term

Thanks for reading!

Kirsty, Demi, and Mel

Year 4

Year 4 has had a busy few weeks and students have been demonstrating fantastic Lourdes Learner traits. We have continued to have year level cohort meetings most weeks to ensure that all students are heard, and issues are addressed.

We are starting to get the busy time of the term in preparation for Semester 1 report cards.  With all the interruptions this Term, it is imperative that students attend school regularly, if they are well. Most classes have begun working on their convict recount and monologue in class.  Students will be required to present this monologue to their own class.  Classes may be presenting at different times and if students are unsure, they should check with their class teacher.

We have continued athletics training in preparation for the Athletics Carnival.  Next Tuesday, our Athletics Carnival will be held at O’Quinn St Oval.  Students will need to be dropped off and picked up from O’Quinn St Oval unless the school has been advised. Many thanks to Mrs Wigan who has organised this one-day carnival.  Best of luck to all competitors and may the best house win!

Finally, congratulations to all Year 4 students who celebrated their Confirmation last night and are preparing for First Communion this Sunday. What a special milestone for these students who will then be able take part in Eucharist during our weekly Masses on Wednesdays.  

Have a splendid week! 

Suzanne, Aleisha, Jessica and Danielle

Year 5

Week 6 marks the downhill run to the school holidays! That said, there is no rest until we reach that finish line. It was lovely to see all the Year 5 students dressed up for school photos on Monday. We look forward to seeing their big, bright beautiful smiles in our class photos!

Key Dates:

• Tuesday 28^th May – Athletics Carnival @ O’Quinn Street Oval, 8:30am- 2:30pm. Students will require own transportation to and from the Athletics Carnival
• Thursday 13^th June – Sports Team Dress Up Day – Catholic Mission Gold Coin donation to St Vincent de Paul
• Wednesday 19^th June – Ball Games Carnival
• Friday 21^st June – NAIDOC Assembly @ 12pm – Final Day of term

Lourdes Learner Focus

For the remainder of the term, our students are focusing on traits of communicate and act.  Students regularly receive feedback, especially in English and Maths, and should have a clear idea of where they are in their learning against our success criteria.

English

Students have worked well in the development of persuasive texts. They have learnt about different persuasive devices and have been applying these to bump up their work. Students have been practising, receiving verbal feedback from teachers and written feedback from peers.

Maths

Students have been focusing on fractions,  being able to order and compare, and write them on a number line. These concepts are often difficult for students. Reflective practice, checking in and monitoring our progress, will continue to guide our learning journey in Maths.

Athletics Carnival

Athletics carnival is next week. O’Quinn Street is often cold with the wind whipping across the oval. Please remember jumpers, hats, lunches, and water bottles, all of which need to be named. Please see the PE section for more detailed information.

Have a great week!

Sandra, Garry, Lisa, and Jess

Year 6

We are over halfway through Term 2! This term has flown and we’re certain with the busyness of the back end of the term, the next five weeks will fly by too. During our Lourdes Learner meetings students have been reminded to be ’80 minute players’ – to continue to work to their potential right up until the last day!

The Arrival is the text for our current English unit. Just like Boy Overboard, the theme explores migration. It is the story of every migrant, every refugee, every displaced person, and a tribute to all those who have made the journey for a new beginning. The discussions enable us to think as global citizens and to answer our Catholic Social Teachings of human solidarity. The challenge for our students is to “read” the text as it is a graphic novel with no words. All work for this is located on Canvas. However, much of the work will involve making inferences within class discussions.

Students also have a HaSS assignment to complete during class time related to migrants and their stories. Our migration units will culminate with a multicultural day of food, costumes, dance, and soccer during Week Ten– more details to follow.

Assignment work in Religion will be a report on a modern-day prophet. Part B will be persuading the audience that their chosen person is a spokesperson for God and ensures dignity and justice for all. Choices will include Princess Diana, Malala Yousufzai. Bill Gates and Australia’s very own Gemma Sisia.

In Science, students have learnt about suspension, solutions, and forms of matter.

Our sports morning was a great success. Well done to all students who facilitated a game for students from younger years. Students have also been enjoying assisting with morning fitness for Prep students and teachers, skipping, homework club, Just Dance and soccer refereeing. We’re proud of our students’ ability to serve others.

We enjoyed our recent author visit by Nat Amoore. Get ready for the many requests for her books!

Thanks to Mr. Dugdale for the opportunity to practice our athletics skills over the past weeks. We’re eagerly anticipating the Athletics Carnival during Week 7.

Congratulations to Odin who won his 2km cross country race at the recent Darling Downs Carnival. Odin will now represent the Darling Downs Region at the State Championships in Brisbane. Congrats Odin.

Kylie, Shauna, and Steve

Visual Arts

Prep

Over the last couple of weeks, the Preps have had a go at weaving paper to create a rainbow fish. Weaving can be tricky, but it was great to see everyone’s determination to have a go and not give up just because it was hard. We are currently working on a lady bird picture, which has encompassed, drawing, painting, and collage.

Year 1

The year ones have completed a beautiful portrait of themselves and their beautiful Mums. Last week we commenced a picture of a Chameleon inspired by the story, “The mixed up chameleon” by Eric Carle.

Year 2

Year 2’s have been having fun mixing primary colours to make secondary colours on a hexagon. We then used the hexagon to make an umbrella. Last week we began creating different painted surfaces to create visual texture. This week we will use this paper to collage a picture of a crocodile.

Year 5

The year 5’s have been working on an oil pastel picture of a reptile's eye. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm to complete this artwork, including many students coming into the art room during lunch time to work on it. This week we will begin a painted background using tonal gradations, that is mixing a base colour with white and black.

Year 6

The year 6’s have completed a beautiful watercolour painting of a bird. They concentrated on small precise brush strokes to create a realistic finish. This week we will begin work on a “Notan”, a Japanese term for dark and light. The students will expand a black square to create positive and negative spaces.

Italian

Italian Years 5 and 6

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been expanding our vocabulary in regard to food, naming different foods, classifying foods into breakfast (colazione) lunch (pranzo)and dinner (cena). One of our favourite games to help us practise new words is bingo, or in Italian tombola. Did you know, children in Italy have their lunches provided, each day there is a first course (primo), usually pasta or rice, second course (secondo), meat, cheese or fish, a side (contorno) vegetables and finally a snack (merenda). The students thought this would be a good idea for OLOL too ?

Signora  Simmons

In our drama lessons, we have recently been introduced to a variety of poems in each year level.  Over the coming weeks we will be focusing on these in class and learning how to use our voice, body and facial expressions to become a character.  If your child is in Year 1-4, please keep an eye out for a hard copy for your child to keep practicing at home!  (Some students received these last week, and some will receive this week).

I am looking forward to seeing our budding performers shine in our drama lessons this term!

Amanda Holzheimer

Drama Teacher

Amanda.Holzheimer@twb.catholic.edu.au

Upcoming Dates

2024 Track & Field Carnival

Changes to the 2024 Schedule of Events

There are a number of changes to the schedule of events for 2024. These changes have come about because of a number of factors and considerations we have had to make. These changes are largely a result of the incredible growth of the school and a desire to offer fair and equitable opportunities to all. We understand that not everyone will be in favour of the changes, but we ask you to respect our decisions. Many of these changes were simply unavoidable.

* See schedule of events below.

Age-Group Divisions

All students will be issued with a colour-coded name sticker that states their name and year of birth.  Age group coordinators will provide students with their sticker when they check in on day 2 at O’Quinn Street. This will greatly assist staff in ensuring all students are where they should be and competing in the right age group.  Students compete in their age group not their class year.  Please see below if you are unsure what age group your child falls into:

Event Eligibility & Nomination

Points Allocation - Individual Age-Championship & House Points

The following points will be awarded to individual athletes and their respective houses according to the overall places that they obtain in each event.  Heats will be run for all track events (in the 9-12 year’s category), except for the 800m.  One participation point will go towards each students’ individual and house tally following these heats.  Subsequently, finals will then take place to award the major individual age championship points and house points, as below. These points will also be awarded to all 9-12 years students for field events.

1^st Place – 10 points (Blue Ribbon), 2^nd Place – 6 points (Red Ribbon), 3^rd Place – 4 Points (Green Ribbon), 4^th Place – 2 Points (Yellow Ribbon) and 1 Point - 5^th place onwards.

Championship & Participation Field Events

In 2024 we will be trialling a different format for our 9-12 years field events. One change is that 8 years students in Grade 3 will no longer be able to participate in these events. After they complete their running events, they will return to school.

All 9-12 Years students will be assessed in PE classes and separated into Championship and participation events.

Students in the championship events will receive house and age championship points as above and will be eligible for school team selection.

Students in participation events will receive 1 age championship point, as well as points for their house based on how far they jump or throw. These students will not be eligible for school team selection.

80m, 100m & 200m Final Qualifications

All 80m, 100m and 200m events will be timed and the fastest 8-9 runners will proceed to the final.  All students will be required to remain at the finish line until all heats in their age group have been run.  Finalists will then be named, and they will proceed directly to the track marshals to run their respective final.

High Jump

Only Students in the 9-12 Years age groups will be eligible for this event.  They will be required to nominate, as well as clear a qualifying height during PE lessons. Qualifying heights and numbers will vary depending on individual cohorts.

High Jump – Fosbury Flop

As per our risk assessment guidelines, only students that have obtained a certificate of competence will be allowed to perform the Fosbury Flop.  If your child would like to be considered, please contact me on the details below prior to the carnival day.

Medal Presentations

No presentations will be held at the oval.  A special assembly will be conducted on Thursday 30^th May at 2:00pm. At this assembly we will present certificates to the 5-8 years runners, medallions to the 9-12 Years age champions and winning houses.

Catholic Carnival and West Zone Carnival Team Selection

Following the school Track & Field Carnival, Our Lady of Lourdes will be selecting a team to represent the school at the Catholic Carnival and West Zone Carnival.  Only students born 2012-2015 are eligible for team selection.  OLOL are limited to the following numbers of entries in both carnivals.  Only students born 2012-2014 are eligible to participate in the Shot Put and the Discus at zone level:

Students born 2019-2016 are also offered the opportunity to participate in the track events at the Catholic Track & Field Carnival.  The top 3 runners in each age group will be selected.

More information regarding the school track & field team will be made available at a later date.

Absence from the school carnival

If your child is unable to attend one or both days of the school Track & Field Carnival, and they would like to be considered for the school team, please contact me on the details below.  The school will grant exemptions on the same grounds as Darling Downs School Sport. These grounds for exemption are as follows:

1. Medical condition on the day of the carnival & they have a medical certificate.
2. Attending another Zone, Toowoomba, Darling Downs, Queensland School Sport or School Sport Australia Championships or equivalent in community sports.
3. Bereavement or compassionate reasons

If one or more of these conditions have been met, the school will organize to record times and distances for the affected student, preferably prior to the carnival, as a means of team selection.  It is important to note that these times and distances will only be considered for placement in the school team, and not to go towards Age Championship Points.  To be awarded age champion the student must attend the school carnival.  Please contact me if you require further clarification.

Canteen

There WILL NOT be a canteen operating at O’Quinn Street.

Helpers/Volunteers

If you are available to help with marshaling, timekeeping, scoring, amongst other jobs, please email me on the address below.  It is not possible to run the event successfully without the help of our parents.  Thank you in anticipation of your assistance. 

OLOL Track & Field Carnival Medallions – Sponsorship

In previous years various families and businesses have donated the Age-champion medallions to be given to the children.  All donations given will be acknowledged in the school newsletter and carnival program.  If you would like to contribute to the purchase of the medallions, or know someone that might like to, please email me on the details below. 

Track & Field Carnival - Schedule of Events

Representative Sport—Toowoomba & Darling Downs Teams - Selections

Darling Downs Cross Country Team: Odin (Grade 6).

Representative Sport—Toowoomba & Darling Downs Teams

Throughout the course of the year Toowoomba Primary School Sport and Darling Downs School Sport offer trials to eligible students for a variety of team and individual sports.  To be eligible for selection, students need to be born in 2012, 2013 or 2014. Strict nomination requirements apply, and it is at the sole discretion of the school to decide whether to nominate individual students. 

In order to gain interest levels and an idea of previous experience, an electronic representative Sport Nomination Form has been sent out.  This form outlines all relevant information regarding the trials for the whole of 2024.  Please thoroughly read all information. If your child is of a high standard in their chosen sport/s and would like to be considered for nomination, please complete the nomination form.  No student will be nominated for a trial without a completed form.

Here is the LINK to nominate a student. Please submit a new response for each individual child.

Please see below for upcoming trial dates. Please ensure that you confirm these details when the trial notice is released.

Rachel.Wigan@twb.catholic.edu.au

Oh my goodness Lourdes - you sure do know how to Catch the Reading Bug! Book Fair was, once again, a huge success. Thank you to everyone for supporting us as we foster a love of reading and literature at Lourdes. Book Fair will return to Lourdes in 2025 as part of our Read More in May celebrations.  

Congratulations to our Reading Bug Bucks Winners – Josie, Gabby, Lyla, Abdy, Charlotte and Arlia! Who all received a $10 voucher to spend at the fair. There were a grand total of 42 ‘bugs and garden critters’ hidden in the Library Book Garden. 

Nat Amoore Visit with Year 3 -6 

Nat’s visit at Lourdes was absolutely EPIC! She is a ROCKSTAR AUTHOR, and we loved the way she shared her ZEST for storytelling, her SUPER SPARKLY vibe and her contagious (in the best way) ENERGY with the Year 3/4/5/6 students of Lourdes. If your child has come home desperate to read her books please consider placing an order. Use the Link or QR Code below.  

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National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 2024 

In our Library lessons over the next week, we will be sharing the story of Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker with its gorgeous illustrations and beautifully descriptive language. To celebrate NSS we have 3 copies of Bowerbird Blues up for grabs! Enter by beautifying and bedazzling a Bowerbird. Write your name and class on the back. Cut your bird out and bring it to the Library by Wednesday 29th May. Entries will be displayed on the Library windows and winners will be notified on Thursday 30th May. Print a copy below or drop by the Library to collect a Bowerbird.  

AccessIt 

Please bookmark our Library AccessIt (https://au.accessit.online/ORL13/) page on your family devices. This is a great place to read, find answers and discover NEW things. Available 24/7. Students will need to sign in with their OLOusername@twb.catholic.edu.au and Password to use Wheelers (eBooks), Click View (video streaming service) and Britannica (encyclopedia).  

Wheelers  

Did you know that we have access to Wheelers ePLatform where students can loan digital books to read on their devices. Students will need their school logon details to make use of these digital books. Wheelers is available via the links on AccessIt Library AccessIt https://au.accessit.online/ORL13/ 

Chess Lessons  

Lessons are currently FULL. If you would like to add your child to the waitlist, please email: Danielle.Leathart@twb.catholic.edu.au   

Book Club  

Issue Four is OPEN for families who eared $5 vouchers in Issue 3. Orders Due by COB May 29th 2024. NO paper catalogues will go out for this issue due to Book Fair. Questions about Book Club? Contact: Danielle.Leathart@twb.catholic.edu.au   

Keep Reading – Mrs Leathart, Mrs Monte and Mrs Kemp.  

The children have been having a wonderful time so far this term in Garden Club. They have been collecting and planting seeds, learning about beneficial critters and enjoying the fruits of their labour. Pohlmans Nursery have kindly once again donated veggie seedlings for the kids to grow this Winter.

Jo