Welcome back to a new term of learning and engaging at Lourdes.

Term 3 is filled with opportunities for our students to participate in many elements of school life. I recommend that you check your school calendar, and mark off the many important events occurring this term. 

Catholic Education Week

This Sunday we begin Catholic Education Week. This is celebrated annually in the 312 Catholic schools across Queensland and is an opportunity for us to celebrate our Lourdes community. At Our Lady of Lourdes, we strive to make a difference in the lives of all students as we work towards each person reaching their full potential as compassionate, contributing and life-giving members of society. The theme of this year’s CEW is ‘Communities of faith, hope and love’’. To celebrate this important week, the following events will be happening:

• Sunday July 21: Teachers Thank You Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. All members of our community are welcome to join us for this mass at 9.30 am.
• Wednesday July 24: Grandparents Day. I am very much looking forward to welcoming and meeting many of the wider school family.
• Friday July 26: Bishop’s Inservice Day. This is a pupil free day for our students, while our staff come together with the greater Toowoomba Catholic Schools.
• Long Service Awards: Congratulations to Loretta Simmons who has served 25 years in Catholic Education and Allyson Jessen who has served 20 years in Catholic Education. What a wonderful contribution they have made to their school communities during this time.

Building Works on Holberton Street

The outdoor learning area is now complete. This week we opened the play space on Holberton and Ascot Streets for our Year 1 and 2 students to enjoy. Our families can now also use the Holberton St entrance to access the school. This is the end of the building works at Lourdes. An official opening is being planned, and the date will be communicated once confirmed.

Name Cards for School Pick-Up

We have begun distributing a Lourdes name tag, to display on your sun visor/dashboard of your car at pick-up time. This enables a smooth and safe way for students to be collected at the end of the school day. Thank you to the families who have this visible at pick-up time, with the family name clearly written.

Staffing

Welcome to Renee Cook as a member of our school teaching team. Renee recently graduated and has begun teaching in 3C.

Welcome to Ellen Weeding, beginning in Week 2 as a school officer.

Thank you again, for working with the school to support your children each day. Arriving to school on time, wearing the correct uniform and having open communication with your child’s teacher, sets them up for a successful and engaging day of learning and playing!

I look forward to seeing many of you at the various events throughout the term.

Kind regards,

Bridget

Ms Bridget Trenerry
Principal

Upcoming Events

2024 Census

NAPLAN Results

In the coming weeks, parents and carers of students in Years 3 and 5, who took this year’s NAPLAN assessment in March, will receive an individual student report (ISR) of their child’s results. These reports provide useful information on a student’s results in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. It is important for parents and carers to remember that NAPLAN is a point in time assessment.

NAPLAN individual student results are reported against proficiency standards. The standards are set at a challenging but reasonable expectation of what students know and can do at the time of testing. There are 4 levels of proficiency, which provide parents and carers with clear information on their child’s achievement:

• Exceeding: the student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
• Strong: the student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
• Developing: the student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
• Needs additional support: the student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes that are expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.

The front page of the ISR provides general information about the tests and an explanation of how to read the report. The students’ results in each of the assessment areas are set out in the middle pages of the report. The final page of the ISR provides a brief summary of the skills typically demonstrated by students at each of the proficiency levels.

Along with other school assessment reports, parents and carers can use the NAPLAN individual student reports to discuss their child’s progress with their teacher. If you would like more information, you can visit the NAP website at www.nap.edu.au/naplan/results-and-reports or read the parents and carers information guide on ISRs at https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/naplan/isr-parent-carer-faq.pdf.

We look forward to sending these results out to parents and carers in the coming week.

Emily

Emily McKay
Acting Assistant Principal

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope you all have had a restful winter break. It’s been a busy start to Term 3. 

We thank the Year 4’s for their thoughtful prayer for NAIDOC Week at the end of Term 2.

First Reconciliation

Last Sunday, the parish had the first preparation workshop, at 10:30 am, for those children (Year 3–6) who are preparing for the Sacrament of 1^st Reconciliation in the OLOL Church. The children received their booklets and completed some activities.  All those who haven’t sent in a copy of their Baptism Certificate and A5 photo to the parish – please do so as soon as possible.  

This workshop will be followed by the second parent/child information workshop on Sunday 11/8/2024 after Mass at 10:30 am in the OLOL Church. The third preparation workshop is on Sunday 25/8/2024 at 10:30 after Mass. A practise afternoon will be on Monday 2nd September at 3:30 in the OLOL church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Tuesday 3/9/2024 at 7 pm. Any questions or queries please contact the OLOL Parish office. (07 4634 1453 Monday – Friday 9 am - 1pm) or email  olol.parish@bigpond.com 

Pyjama Day

 It’s “Pyjama Day” tomorrow 18/7/2024 – Please join in the fun by wearing your Pyjamas and bringing a Gold coin to support the “Pyjama Angels Foundation” -This group 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 foster 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 her for the time and commitment she shares with the child she sees.

Catholic Education Week - Grandparents Day

Week 3 is Catholic Education Week.  We will be celebrating with a special prayer assembly led by Year 2, for our OLOL Grandparents, starting at 9:00am on Wednesday 24th July 2024. After our prayer, Grandparents will be invited to spend some time in their grandchildren’s classrooms followed by morning tea–Please ask your children’s Grandparents to mark this day in their diaries and encourage them to come along to pray and see what is happening in our classrooms.  Please remind grandparents to be mindful of parking around our school.  Our neighbours driveways need to be kept clear.

Please fill in this simple form by Monday 22/7/2024– so we can estimate the number of chairs we will need to put out and what our catering needs will be. https://forms.office.com/r/nj88w91tAx

Please send in 1 photo for the Grandparents Day PowerPoint, no later than COB  this afternoon – Wednesday 17th July 2024.  

Long Service Leave Recipients

Congratulations to our Long Service Award recipients – Mrs Allyson Jesson – LST – 20 years service and Mrs Loretta Simmons – Art and Italian – 25 Years service to Catholic Education

If there are any Volunteers available to help with our morning tea – please contact Mrs Moore ASAP.  Please note there will be no assembly on Thursday 25/7/2024. 

Bishop’s In-service Pupil Free Day will be on Friday 26th July 2024.  Teachers will be attending an In-service at St Mary’s College. Students can enjoy a long weekend.

The OLOL Parish has invited all school staff and families to attend a special “Thank you Mass” on Sunday 21/7/2024 at 9:30 am. Morning tea to follow.  Donations of a plate of food are welcome.

Father’s Day

Just reminder to take a photo of you and your Dad/Grandad/Poppy ( N.B. one Photo per family), and email it to Mrs Moore (Janice.Moore@twb.catholic.edu.au ) by Wednesday 21/8/2024 for our OLOL Fathers’ Day Mass PowerPoint on Thursday 29/8/2024. 

We will share a sausage sizzle with our Dads/ Grandads/Poppies– so if there are any willing sausage cookers available- please let Mrs Moore know – we will start cooking at 8:30 am.   

Crazy Sock Day

Last year we asked for New Sock donations for The Base Soup Kitchen. We thought we would do this again when we have our "Crazy Sock" coloured clothes day on Thursday 12^th  September. We ask families to donate a new pair of socks with their gold coin – The Gold coin going to Catholic Mission and Socks to The Base Soup Kitchen. The Base Soup Kitchen were very appreciative of our thoughtfulness last year– a new pair of socks can provide a small amount of dignity to those who are suffering hard times.  Socks can be sent in at any time. Please support both these initiatives to encourage our students to be thoughtful Global Citizens for our local and global communities. 

Please note there are only assemblies in Weeks 2, 4, 7 and 10 this term.

Dates for your Diary for Term 3  

Thursday 18^th July – Pyjama Day – Gold coin Donation for “The Pyjama Angels Foundation”  

1B Assembly 2:00pm

Catholic Education Week – Week 3 

Sunday 21^st July - Teacher Thank you Mass - 9:30am - OLOL Church  

Wednesday 24^th July - Grandparents Day /Catholic Education Week Assembly  -  9:00am – Led by Year 2 – followed by classroom visits and shared morning tea. Children will have their own packed morning tea.

Friday 26^th  July – Bishop’s In-service Pupil Free Day  

Thursday 1^st August – 1T Assembly 2:00pm

Thursday  8^th August – St Mary of the Cross Mackillop Feast Day Prayer 10:00am OLOL Church – Prep – 3 Classes 

Sunday 11^th August – 2^nd Reconciliation Preparation Workshop 10:30am  OLOL Church

Thursday 15^th August – Assumption of Mary Feast Day – 10:00am  OLOL Church – 4-6 classes 

Thursday 22^nd August –Book Week Dress – “Reading is Magic”  - 5R Assembly 2:00pm

Sunday 25^th August – 3^rd Reconciliation Preparation Workshop – 10:30am OLOL Church

Thursday 29^th  August – OLOL Fathers’ Day Mass and sausage sizzle – 10:00am - OLOL Hall  

Friday 30^th August - CTJ Pupil Free Day  

Week 9 – Swimming week

Monday 2^nd September – Practice for the Sacrament of Reconciliation 3:30pm OLOL Church 

Tuesday 3^rd  September – Sacrament of First Reconciliation–7:00pm OLOL Church  

Friday 6^th September – OLOL Art Show - 5:30pm - OLOL Hall

Wednesday 11^th September – Celebrating the Early Years (Prep to Year 2)  

Thursday 12^th September – Crazy Sock Coloured Clothes Day – Gold coin donation for Catholic Missions and a new pair of socks for The Base Soup Kitchen.

Friday 13^th September – End of Term 3 Assembly – 5MG  – 12:00 noon  

Another fun filled term ahead!  

Have a great week!  Stay warm!

Cheers

Janice

Janice Moore
Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE)

Prep

Welcome to Term 3! We hope everyone had a lovely holiday. It was great to hear about all the adventures everyone got up to.

We have jumped straight back into the regular routines of Prep. Class newsletters were sent home in satchels. Please keep an eye out for these. Newsletters outline important curriculum information and important dates.

We want to remind you the importance of school routine. Healthy diet, regular exercise and good sleep is fundamental to your child’s development and learning. Please also remind your child to continue to follow the Lourdes Way and to discuss what it means to be a Lourdes Learner. We are hoping that even at home children can follow the Lourdes Way and continue to be amazing bucket fillers.  

As the weather is becoming colder, we are encouraging everyone to either wear warm clothing or pack warm clothing in school bags. We also ask if all items of clothing (including hats) are clearly labelled with your child’s name to avoid items going missing. A reminder that hats need to be worn in the morning before the bell.

Homework:

Just a reminder that homework is due every Thursday. Readers will continue to be sent home this term. These books are designed to help consolidate sight words and the reading strategies we are using in class. At the end of the reading please ask a few questions to assist in comprehension of the book. As our reading begins to take off this term it is very important to use strategies to decode words. Sight words are only one strategy and unfortunately, we can’t teach students all the words they need to know. Students are able to sound out the words, but it is important they blend them together carefully. Repeated reads of a text help to develop fluency and orthographic mapping skills.

Students are asked to read their fluency booklet four times per week (parents please sign at the bottom of each day completed – make any notes if necessary for the Teacher to read), complete the letter of the week activity in their homework books and a number page in their new number homework book.

Important dates:

Thursday 18 July – Pyjama Day (Please bring a gold coin donation to help support children in foster care)

Sunday 21 July – Teacher thank you Mass 9:30am

Monday 22 July – Catholic Education Week

Wednesday 24 July – Catholic Education Assembly, Grandparents Day 9am

Friday 26 July – Pupil Free Day, Bishop’s Inservice Day

Looking forward to another fantastic term of becoming Lourdes Learners.

Becky, Melita and Amy

Melita, Amy and Becky

Year 1

Welcome to Term 3. We are looking forward to a busy and exciting term as Grade One Lourdes Learners. The children have settled back into the routine of school and are looking forward to participating in all the fun learning activities we have planned. 

Today, we celebrated 100 days of year one. The children have been eagerly counting the days for this event building lots of Maths knowledge along the way and what a fun day it was. The children participated in lots of activities that consolidated their understanding of the number 100. We had a reading corner with 100 books, we practiced counting collections of 100 things, we made an amazing crown, and made necklaces with 100 Fruitloops!

On Thursday, we will wear our PJ’s to school for Pyjama Day to raise awareness and money for the Pyjama Angels Foundation who support children in Foster Care. 1B will also lead prayer at Assembly tomorrow. All are welcome to join us.

In Maths, we began the term by recognising, classifying and making shapes. We will then practice using directional language to follow directions to places and give robots directions to move around obstacles. In English, we have started exploring different text types for different purposes - to persuade, inform or entertain. In Religion, we will study aspects of the church and learn that the church is not just a place but the people. Our Science unit this term is all about Living Things, which links in with our trip to Pilton Zoo in week 6. In HASS, we will be looking at changes that have occurred over time - specifically between the daily lives of the children compared to their parents' and grandparents' childhoods. 

Show and Share has started this term in Grade One. Each child knows what day they are sharing, and a timetable of topics has been sent home. We are looking forward to hearing lots of great presentations from our students.

Have a great week,

Laura, Jenny and Dennielle           

Year 2

Welcome back to Term 3! It was great to have everyone back last week and we give a special welcome to Ryley (2D), Lucilla (2G) and Carlin (2B) who have joined us this term. It is great to have you at Lourdes!

This term, we are reviewing number and place value, patterns, fractions and time in Maths. We will then move into multiplication and problem-solving. In English, we are learning the skills to develop questions and conduct an interview. In HASS, we are exploring changes over time, particularly in the area of technology and we will be investigating the properties of various materials in Science. Our Religion unit will focus on covenants and how the covenant is lived in the daily lives of Jewish people.

Next Wednesday, the Year 2 classes will lead the Grandparents’ Day prayer for the school. This will begin at 9am and grandparents will then be invited back to classrooms. The Year 2 students have written questions to interview their grandparents or special people about their lives. If their grandparent is unable to attend next week, students may like to interview them over the phone or in person at another time.

Don't forget about Pyjama Day tomorrow (Thursday) and the pupil free day next Friday, 26^th July.

Have a great week!

Sarah, Ange B and Ange G

Year 3

Welcome to Semester Two!  We have jumped straight into our Term Three concepts and are enjoying making discoveries and connections to new learning!

We welcome Mrs Renee Cook to our wonderful Year 3 Teaching team this term. We know that the students in 3C have welcomed and supported Mrs Cook as she begins her career as a teacher.

Miss Sophie Maudsley continues her pre-service teacher placement in 3F.

In Maths, we have begun our Term learning about angles. In Year 3, students compare angles with right angles in everyday environments and identify that angles are a measure of rotation. There have been many enjoyable hands-on learning experiences as we explore this topic, including the creation of a right-angle monster, washi tape artwork, and scavenger hunt around the school. Our next topic is capacity where students will estimate, compare, and measure familiar metric units (mL and L). To support them in their learning, you may like to invite your child to help you cook or bake to explore measurement! Throughout the term, students will revise addition and subtraction strategies.

In English this term we are focusing on writing an information report. Students will be learning about the structure, key characteristics, descriptive language, factual information, and punctuation involved in planning, creating, and publishing an information report. Excitingly, students will turn their information report into a PowerPoint at the end of the term to present to their peers.  

In HASS, students are exploring the ways First Nations Australians in different parts of Australia are interconnected with Country/Place. So far, students have described their own personal connections to special places in their lives and researched the information on the traditional custodians of our local area.

Science this term connects beautifully with our English and HASS units, as it is all about living things! Students will compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals. There are cross-curriculum connections to English with the creation of an information report and exploration of animal features, habitats, diets, etc, as well as HASS with the exploration of how First Nations Australians care for and are connected to animals and plants.

In Religion, students will be learning Jesus as the Messiah. We will be exploring the Gospels and the different contexts and audiences in which these were written for.  

More information to come regarding Year 3 excursions.

Key Dates:

• 18^th July - PJ Day – gold coin donation
• 24^th July - Grandparents Day commencing with 9am Assembly in Hall
• 26^th July - Pupil Free Day (Bishop’s Inservice Day)
• 29^th July – Cobb and Co Museum excursion
• 16^th August – Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary excursion
• 29^th August – Father’s Day Mass @ 10:00am
• 30^th August – Pupil Free Day (CTJ Day)
• 3^rd September – Sacrament of Reconciliation @ 7:00pm in OLOL Church
• Week 9 – Swimming Week (2^nd September – 6^th September)
• 11^th September – End of Term Line Dancing Liturgy @ 2:00pm in Hall
• 12^th September – Crazy Sock Day – gold coin donation
• 13^th September – Last day of Term 3 and End of Term Assembly @ 12:00 noon

Thanks for reading!

Mel, Demi, and Renee

Year 4

We welcome all our families back to school and hope everyone had a relaxing holiday! Students have settled back into school routines, and many engaged Lourdes Learners are ready to enthusiastically tackle their learning activities!

Homework this term will be given out on a Tuesday and is expected to be completed by the following Tuesday for 4L and 4T. 4V will be required to hand their homework in on a Friday.

Sports uniforms are to be worn on Tuesdays and Fridays this term. Each Friday this Term, the students will be learning line dancing with the Year 3 cohort. Towards the end of the Term, the students will be presenting a Dance Liturgy, in which parents will be invited to attend and watch their child preform the dances. More information about this will be provided later in the term.  

 Units being studied this term include a geography unit which compares Australia with an Asian country, with a particular focus on the different types of vegetation and animal life. In Science, we are investigating the water cycle and in Religion we will study the early church of Australia and the early church in the time after Jesus’s death and we will explore the parables. In our Mathematics unit we will be learning about decimals, multiplication and division facts, area and perimeter and the use of different types of graphs.  Students also get to work with Mrs Simmons for two lessons each week, for Art and Italian lessons.

This Thursday the 18^th is Pyjama Day; children are asked to bring a gold coin donation for the pleasure of wearing their cosy and warm pyjamas for the day.    

We are very excited to be going to The Empire Theatre this Friday to enjoy “Elf the Musical,” please make sure you have completed the permission form on Sentral.

Just a reminder that next Wednesday the 24th is Grandparent’s Day and all are welcome for the 9am Assembly in the hall and next Friday the 26th is a Pupil Free Day. 

Have a wonderful week!

Suzanne, Aleisha, Jessica and Danielle

Year 5

Lourdes Learners

We have started this term with a renewed focus on what it means to be a learner in the classroom. We have discussed how our choices directly affect our ability to learn. Across the three classes, we are focusing on three key areas – listen, discuss, and collaborate. For example, students may view a stimulus in class. After viewing, they will be given questions to discuss in small groups, sharing what they saw and what they think. This means that if they were unsure, by listening to others, they gain ideas. By discussing and listening to others, this means that if they are asked to share with the group, anyone from that group could share what their group discussed. Collaboration has been a focus since the first day of school, as we have regularly discussed the importance of teamwork and how this is a skill everyone requires. Choosing to opt out isn’t an option. To learn you must be an active participant, and the natural consequence of not participating is not learning and gaining clarification.

Key Dates:

• Friday, 12 July – Catholic Track & Field Carnival
• Thursday, 18 July – Pyjama Day
• Week 3 – Catholic Education Week
• Wednesday, 24 July – Grandparents’ Day Assembly at 9am
• Thursday, 25 July – Catholic Schools Netball and Touch Carnival
• Friday, 26 July – Pupil Free Day for Bishop’s Inservice Day
• Friday 2 August - Sport Commences
• Thursday 15 August – Feast of the Assumption Mass 10am
• Thursday 22 August – Book Week Dress Up Theme: ‘Reading is Magic’
• Thursday 22 August - 5R Assembly
• Thursday 29 August – Fathers’ Day Mass at 10am
• Friday 30 August – Pupil Free Day
• Week 9 – Swimming
• Friday 6 September – Art Exhibition 5:30pm
• Tuesday 10 September – Touch Football Gala Day
• Thursday 12 September – Crazy Sock Day
• Friday 13 September – End of Term Assembly 5MG at 12 noon

Curriculum

Religion – Students dive deeper into the history of pioneering Catholics, specifically St Mary MacKillop and the sisters of St Joseph. We explore and build our understanding of the contribution Mary MacKillop had in shaping a community of believers. By applying their research skills, students develop research questions, locate accurate information and present their findings in the form of a biography.

Maths – We are using our precision skills as we are learning to draw and construct nets for 3D objects. We are gathering all our knowledge from previous years, to discuss properties of 3D objects and how this informs the creation of nets. We are also investigating Symmetry.

English – Our work on historical narratives has begun, with our unit linking into HASS. Students are using texts set in the Goldfields of Australia to explore what life was like and the different perspectives that authors can write from.

HASS – Students are eagerly exploring what life was like on the goldfields and are trying to place themselves in the shoes of the people who were there. We are exploring different perspectives of what life was like, including first nations, women and Chinese miner’s perspectives. This knowledge will be important as they write their historical narratives in English.

Science – Students will explore the observable qualities associated with light. They will further explore the transfer of light and observe how it forms shadows, how it can be absorbed and how it reflects and refracts.

Health- In Health we will be looking at our identity and change. We will be investigating strategies to build our own self–esteem and the self-esteem of others. We will be discovering the effectiveness of practicing gratitude and affirmation. We will also be looking at the impact of social media and technology on our development and emotional well-being.  The students took home a ‘21 day Family Gratitude Challenge’ sheet over the weekend, so they can share this practice with their families.

Drama - Students have begun Drama lessons for the first time this year and are working on pieces to perform in class. The focus will be on characterisation through monologues, duologues and improvisation skills. Keep an eye out for more information about our Loving The Arts at Lourdes Showcase coming up later in the term.

Sports Uniforms:

Some students will be allocated uniforms on Monday for both Friday Sport and Catholic School Carnival in Week 3. Students have been given all instructions relating to these uniforms.

Friday Sport:

• Bring uniform (depending on sport - jersey/singlet/shorts/socks) and protective equipment to school in a sling bag
• Mouthguards must be worn for Rugby League (No safety equipment, no play)
• Shinpads must be worn for Soccer.

Catholic Schools Carnival – (To be worn to school on Thursday 25^th July). These are to be returned to school washed on the following Monday after the carnival.

Formal Uniform:

A few reminders about school uniforms. We have noticed the following:

• Students not wearing their tie.
• Short socks, instead of long socks, with shorts.
• Joggers/runners being worn with formal uniform.
• Haircuts that are not appropriate for school (e.g., mullets).
• Students wearing excessive jewellery (friendship bracelets etc.).
• Students wearing nail polish.

The following is a snip from the Parent Handbook which can be found on the school website.

Semester 2 Specialist Lessons:

• Drama, Music and STEM - Monday
• PE - Wednesday

Homework:

Homework will start from week two, normal homework routine will commence with Maths Online, Spelling and Reading Eggs tasks. A reminder that our classroom is open from 8am Tuesday to Friday for students to come up and complete homework tasks.

Thanks for reading

Jess, Sandra, Garry and Lisa    

Year 6

Welcome back to term three! It's wonderful to see everyone ready to engage and take charge of their learning journey. Focusing on executive functioning skills such as using assessment planners, using Canvas where necessary, timetables and managing homework will be key to success. Your support in ensuring maximum attendance is invaluable—every day truly counts. Let's make this term a great one!

Upcoming dates:

Thursday 18th July – Pyjama Day – Gold Coin donation to wear pyjamas and donate to Pyjama Foundation – assisting those children in foster care.

Friday 19^th July – Excursion to see Elf – St Saviour’s College and St Mary’s College production at Armitage Centre

Thursday 25^th July: Catholic Week Sports – Netball and Touch

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

Canvas:
Students will know how to access Canvas from home.  Just a reminder that the steps are:

1. Log onto office 365 or office.com using the school username and password.
2. Access Teams
3. Canvas has a tab at the top

Assessment planners and timetables:
These have been distributed to students and are for their own study space at home for a visual reference to assist with time management, organisation and planning.

Serviam:
Students have indicated their interest in serving our school community. This term’s groups will include reading with Preps, Prep fitness, skipping club, homework club, handball mentoring (80’s rules), soccer referee, touch referee, yoga, Just Dance, card games and netball.

Thank you, students, for being so willing to sign up and use your talents to help students across our whole school and live out our motto of Serviam.

Reading fluency:
Added to the homework this term is a 60 second reading passage. Students are required to read the passage and record the number of words read in 60 seconds. The purpose of this task is to improve fluency (reading like you are talking). Research has proven that students who read fluently have a greater understanding of what they have read.

Our Learning

HASS: Mia McKenzie “We are learning about Asia. There are over 40 Asian countries. Our maps have been a good start.”

Science: Abbey Cook “We are learning about electricity. William Kamkwamba built a windmill in Malawi, Africa in 2001 to generate electricity and water to help his community in times of famine.

Religion: Lexie Wilkie “We are learning about different titles for messages. We know some of them are the Messiah, Son of God and Bread of Life.”

Congratulations

Congratulations to Odin Phillips who has been selected to represent Queensland at the National Primary Schools Cross Country Championships in Melbourne. Good luck, Odin!

Kylie, Shauna, and Steve

Visual Arts

Very excited to announce that at the end of this term the students will be displaying their artwork at our “Loving the Arts at Lourdes” evening, Friday 6^th September 5:30pm. As you can imagine this term we will be a buzz of activity completing and preparing our art for the display.

This semester the Years 3 and 4 will be attending Art lessons on Wednesdays.

Prep: This week the Preps have created a jelly fish picture, incorporating drawing, painting and collage.

Year 1:  In Year One we have begun a collage of a possum based on the story “Possum Magic’ by Mem Fox.

Year 2: In Year Two we are experimenting with colour to create a modern version of an Australian animal dot painting. They will view artworks by ancient and modern First Nations people in this style to inspire their own style.

Year 3: In Year Three we are working on an image of an owl in a forest, the students will use a variety of painting techniques to create a realistic impression of the forest. Next week they will draw and paint the owl to sit in the forest.

Year 4:  In year four we are drawing a detailed picture of an insect. Using a 2 B pencil they are exploring how to create, value (dark and light) as well as using different lines to sketch the detail of the insect. Once the sketch is complete, they will paint the background with analogous colours (those that are next to each other on the colour wheel).

Loretta

Mrs Loretta Simmons

Italian

Benvenuti (welcome) Year 3 and 4 to Italian. We are looking forward to a fun semester.

Please see the attached photos of Years 5 and 6 in their last week of Italian making pasta and tiramisu. What a lot of fun and from all reports quite delicious.

Signora Simmons

OLOL Ball Games Carnival

Congratulations to BRADMAN on their Ball Games Carnival win! Great skills showed by all!

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

Library Happenings… 

We have had a display up in the library to support our students understanding about NAIDOC week. It has been wonderful to see the children interacting with the art, books and information provided.  

 We have also have the Ozobots which are on loan from the University of Adelaide. All classes who have had a go have thoroughly enjoyed programming these little guys to change colour, spin, zig zig and nitro boost their way from point A to B.  

Pyjama Day 

The Pyjama Foundation in Australia empowers children and young people in foster care by providing them with learning opportunities, life skills, and confidence. Through their Love of Learning program, trained volunteers called Pyjama Angels engage with children once a week. These dedicated mentors read books aloud, play educational games, and assist with homework. By improving learning skills, the foundation makes a positive, lifelong impact, especially for children who face the educational challenges due to their fragile start in life. Currently around 1400 children in foster care spend time each week with a Pyjama Angel. Learn more at  Empowering Foster Kids | The Pyjama Foundation. Please come dressed in your pyjamas on Thursday and bring along your gold coin donation to help us raise much needed funds to support these important helpers in our local community. 

Book Week 

Term 3 means that Book Week is almost here! Over the coming weeks, as you spend time coming up with costume ideas, please keep in mind the following… 

• It is NOT essential to purchase a costume 

• It is OK to be a character or person from any book 

• It is OK to come along as your favourite author – they just wear regular clothes 

• The theme for Book Week is ‘Reading is MAGIC’ but your costume does not have to match the theme 

• Group costumes and themes are perfectly OK 

• Bringing along a copy of the book your character/person is from is NOT required but always welcome 

• There are NO prizes for costumes at Lourdes 

Date Claimer!!! Book Week Dress Up - Thursday 22nd August 

Keep an eye on out for the next edition of the newsletter for all the details about Book Week competitions and all the different ways to WIN a prize in Book Week. 

Overdue Items 

At the time of writing this there were over 350 OVERDUE student loans. Please remind your child/ren to bring back their books each week. If they would like to keep them longer, they can reloan them as long as there are no reservations on that title. Overdue book costs quickly add up and long-term outstanding titles may incur additional charges on your child’s school fees.  

Chess 

Chess lessons with Mr Lord have commenced. If your child is interested and missed the EOI cut off please email Danielle.Leathart@twb.catholic.edu.au ASAP. We have a very limited number of spaces available for children in Year 1 – Year 6 – get in quick! 

Book Club Issue 5 

Brochures were sent to classes last Friday. Orders are due by COB July 24th 2024. There is a special offer in Issue 5… details below! All orders at Lourdes are to be made using the LOOP App. We cannot accept any cash payments for Book Club. Once the order is placed (on July 25th) it usually takes a week for the books to arrive. We unpack the orders and deliver to classrooms as soon as possible after the boxes arrive at school. Thank you for supporting Book Club at Lourdes.  

Keep Reading, 

Mrs Leathart, Mrs Monte and Mrs Kemp.  

Choir will be featured in our upcoming Loving The Arts At Lourdes Showcase in September. If your child is part of choir, could I please ask you to remind your child to attend every rehearsal in the lead up to this big event. 

Rehearsals are on each Monday - first part of morning tea in the music room. 

Looking forward to this great event!

Ebony Rosier - Music, Dance & Choir

The children have been very excited so far this term, getting their gardens prepared for the Carnival of Flowers competition, which will on again this September, for it's 75^th year. Planting, watering and tidying has been extra exciting. 

We have been very fortunate this month, to have had a trailer load of magnificent clivias donated to the school by Marg and Bob Goodwin, as well as a massive amount of glorious Hippiastrum bulbs from Lioni Chapman. Thank you all for your enormous generosity, it is greatly appreciated.

Jo