Term 1 Week 9 2025

A Message from the Principal

Dear families and friends,

This will be our last newsletter in what has been a very full and fast-moving Term 1. It’s hard to believe just how quickly the weeks have flown by.

Driving back from the Rockhampton Principals' Conference yesterday, I was struck by the sheer volume of water sitting on the sides of the road after the recent rains. While rain is always welcome in our western communities as a life-giving gift, our hearts and prayers go out to those who have experienced hardship through this weather event — especially those who have lost livestock or homes.

I was stopped for a while at a flooded creek just outside Jericho and watched the water rush through. It was a powerful reminder of nature’s strength and beauty. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze.

Next Wednesday, we look forward to holding our Cross Country Carnival after today’s postponement. A huge thank you to Mrs Neuendorf who has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring it all together. Families will receive a message on Tuesday if the track is still too wet to proceed. Best of luck to both houses — though with all this water around, I think it might be a Pelican’s race to lose!

As we journey through Holy Week and towards Easter, we invite all family and friends to join us for our Easter prayer celebrations, taking place today and continuing into next week. A big thank you to the classes presenting these important stories.

Easter is a special time in our faith — and it's important that our children understand that it is more than chocolate eggs. It is a time of hope, new life, and celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

Wishing all our families a safe, restful, and joy-filled Easter. We look forward to seeing you back for Term 2.

God bless,

Mr Peter Thurecht

125 Year Anniversary Merchandise

Merchandise from the 125-year anniversary including tea towels, stubby coolers, packs of magnets and anniversary magazines are available for purchase from the front office.

Magazine $30

Tea Towel $15

Pack of 3 Magnets $10

Stubby Cooler $10

Reflection - Sr Kym Harris OSB

God of another go

Last Sunday, our Gospel reading contained a quirky little parable.  The owner of a garden noticed his fig tree was bearing no fruit.  He told the gardener to cut it down.  The gardener asked to give it another go.  He would dig around it, manure it, care for it for a year. Our God is like that, only God gives us another chance, over and over…but do we give ourselves that chance.

All of us have things we regret not having done.  Perhaps making amends with someone we have fallen out with, keeping in touch with family or friends, writing a book, keeping up with exercise.  I could go on but I needn’t as each of you can think of your own personal regrets more easily that I can make them up.

This season of Lent is a time to give ourselves another go.  We can toughen up and take ourselves in hand…dig around the places where we have become entrenched and feed our hearts and minds with good things that will encourage us to get up and have another go.  In other words, we give ourselves some compassionate, tough love.

And we will find that as we give ourselves ‘another go’, we will give others another chance.  As we are truly compassionate to ourselves, we become compassionate with others. 

Loving God, you know where I have let myself down and in doing that have let down my family and friends.  With the strength and wisdom of your Holy Spirit, can I give myself another go and grow into the person you desire me to be.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

Welcome to Week 9 of Term 1, it is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the first term of 2025!

Third Week of Lent – Cultivating a Heart of Change

As we journey through Lent, the Gospel for this third week, Luke 13:1-9, presents us with the parable of the barren fig tree. Jesus reminds us that just as a tree needs care and time to bear fruit, we, too, need patience and nurturing to grow in our faith and actions. God does not give up on us but instead offers us opportunities to change and flourish. This is a powerful reminder that Lent is not just about sacrifice but about transformation—allowing God to shape us into people of love, kindness, and mercy.

Within our school community, this message encourages us to reflect on how we can create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to grow. Are we patient with ourselves and others? Do we offer encouragement rather than criticism? Like the gardener in the parable, we are called to support and nurture one another, helping each other to develop our strengths and overcome challenges. This week, let’s focus on building each other up with words of affirmation, acts of kindness, and a spirit of forgiveness.

A key focus for this week of Lent is actively choosing to respond to God’s invitation for renewal. This might mean taking extra time to pray, making a conscious effort to be more understanding, or looking for ways to serve our school and wider community. Small acts—like including someone who is left out, offering to help at home, or simply listening with an open heart—are ways we can cultivate real change. As we continue through Lent, may we embrace this season as an opportunity to grow, not just in our faith, but in our relationships and daily actions.

Holy Week Prayer Celebrations

As we journey towards Easter, we warmly invite all members of Our Lady's Catholic Primary School community to join us in prayerful reflection during our Holy Week celebrations.

As Easter people, we rejoice in the hope and new life that Christ’s resurrection brings. Easter is the greatest celebration in our Catholic liturgical calendar, reminding us of God’s love and the promise of salvation. Our Holy Week celebrations allow us to reflect on this profound mystery and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

Holy Week is the most sacred time of the year for Catholics, as it commemorates the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These events are at the heart of our faith, reminding us of God’s immense love and the call to live with compassion, humility, and service to others. As a Catholic school, we come together in prayer and reflection to deepen our understanding of this journey and to strengthen our commitment to living out the Gospel values in our daily lives.

We encourage all families to attend and take part in this special time of faith and community as we prepare for the joy of Easter.

Caritas Fundraising Update

A huge thank you to school community for your generous support of our Caritas Australia fundraising efforts! Through our Shrove Tuesday pancake sales earlier this term and Zooper Dooper sales, we have raised over $600 to support those in need. This incredible effort reflects our commitment to living out the values of compassion and service, especially during this Lenten season. We have one week left of Zooper Dooper sales, so let’s keep up the great work and continue making a difference! Your contributions will help support vulnerable communities through the work of Caritas Australia. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

Big Water Walk Week 10:

God Bless,

Mr Sahlie Komndi-Diggins

Sacramental Program - Confirmation and First Communion

St Brigid's Parish are inviting children who have made their First Reconciliation to prepare to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion. To enrol or for more information, please contact Ange Arthur or Sahlie Komndi-Diggins.

angela_arthur@rok.catholic.edu.au
Sahlie_komndi@rok.catholic.edu.au 

Annual Inter-House Cross Country

Our interhouse Cross Country Carnival has been postponed due to the weather, please keep an eye on your emails and facebook for a new date!

Under 8's Day

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Under 8s Day at Our Lady's Catholic Primary School Longreach. This is a special event designed to celebrate and engage young learners in fun and interactive activities, with this year's theme being 'Unleashing Scientific Thinking Through Play.' 

Event Details:

• Date: 29^th of May (Week 6)
• Time: 9:00 - 11:00am
• Location: School Oval 
• Target Group: Children under 8 years old

The day will feature a range of exciting activities aimed at fostering teamwork, creativity, and fun through science and play, culminating in a sausage sizzle and popper for all. Barcoo Coffee will also be available for any parents, friends, or teachers who would like to enjoy a coffee.

Student Protection

Student Protection is taken very seriously within our school and Diocese. Each year all staff undertake mandatory student protection training at the beginning of the year. This year our School Student Protection Officers are Mr Peter Thurecht, Mr Sahlie Komndi-Diggins, Mrs Belinda Thurecht and Ms Sarah Wall. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of our officers.

Parent Orbit App

Some key features of the Parent Orbit App:

• Instant Notifications: Stay up to date with the latest announcements and important alerts on your smartphone (be sure to enable Notifications)
• Events and Payments: Easily approve excursion attendance or make fee payments
• Medical Details: Keep your student’s medical details up to date
• Attendance Tracking: Easily track attendance and notify the School of your student's absence
• Event Calendar: Stay informed about school events, meetings, and important dates
• Parent Teacher Interviews: Schedule parent-teacher interviews and receive reminders
• Academic Reports: View and download your student’s school reports
• School Fees: View your school fees and make a payment

Parent Actions for reporting Student Attendance

Parents may choose from a variety of communication methods to notify the school of absences (phone, letter, email, visit) however the Orbit App or Parent Lounge are the preferred modes. In the Orbit App, parents are presented with five options, these are listed below followed by explanation:

• Illness and medical appointments
• Appointment, event or services
• Holiday
• School avoidance or refusal
• Family Reasons
  
• Other explained reason (If Other is selected, a mandatory comment box appears for parents to explain the absence)

Our Lady's Catholic Primary School P&F

Uniform Policy

Homework Policy

Homework Policy Update for 2025

Another important agenda the School Board focused on in 2024 is our Homework Policy, which has come into effect at the beginning of 2025. After thoughtful consideration, some significant changes have been made to better align with the developmental needs of our students.

For students in Prep to Year 2, homework will still remain optional. At this early stage of learning, we recognise that students often require an adult to assist with homework tasks. Understanding the busy schedules of families, we know this won’t always be possible, and as such, we encourage, at the very least, regular reading at home. Reading together as a family fosters a love for learning and is an excellent way to build essential literacy skills.

For students in Years 3 to 6, homework will be compulsory. As children move into the middle and upper years of primary school, we aim to instil greater independence and a sense of responsibility in their learning. The rigor of homework at these levels is designed to support the development of key skills that will benefit them throughout their educational journey.

We are excited to see how these changes will positively impact both our students and their learning experiences moving forward!

Mobile Phone & Wearable Technology Policy

Isolated Children's Parents' Association Qld Longreach Branch

Family Support Program

Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA) is committed to advocating for equitable education access, opportunities and support for all rural and remote students. Motivated by this commitment the ICPA Longreach Branch is initiating a program that enables our Longreach and district families to access up to $500 in financial assistance toward educational, sporting or cultural/arts support or activities for your children.

•    Educational support for your child may include, but is not limited to, speech therapy, occupational therapy, paediatrician appointment, or literacy and numeracy support.
•    Sporting activities relate specifically to those students selected to represent our region at North West Sports or a specialised coaching clinic.
•    Cultural/Arts activities may include music or drama workshops such as SHEP.

Eligibility criteria include:

•    Membership of the ICPA Longreach Branch. ($50 p/a https://icpa.com.au/qld/membership)
•    The child receiving the support lives in the Longreach 4730 / Ilfracombe 4727 postcode area.
•    The child is aged up to 17 years of age.
•    If the child is of school age, the child must be attending a Longreach or Ilfracombe school.
•    No more than one application per child to be submitted per calendar year.
•    Evidence that your child received the support or participated in the activity.

The ICPA Longreach Branch Family Support Program financial assistance is on a reimbursement basis. Upon receipt of a paid invoice/receipt and proof that your child received the educational support and/or participated in the sporting/cultural activity, up to $500 will be paid via bank transfer to your nominated account. 
ICPA Longreach Branch has allocated a capped budget for this program, so once allocated funds have been spent, the program may be modified with the aim of providing assistance to the maximum number of families in our Branch. The ICPA Longreach Branch committee reserves the right to assess applications on a case by case basis. The Committee's decision is final in all application assessments. Your input and feedback on this Family Support Program is welcome as we aspire to provide a useful service to our Branch members. 
If you are seeking educational support for your child and you're not sure where to start looking, these are providers in our Longreach area:

•    Virtual or face-to-face speech therapy, https://popfamily.au/about/
•    Little Legs - Occupational Therapy based in Central West, https://www.littlelegsot.com.au/
•    Outback Futures - multiple services, https://outbackfutures.org.au/

Please email icpa.longreach@gmail.com for more information on this program, or to submit an application form. 

Tuckshop

Key Dates

St Brigid’s Parish News

Please follow us on Facebook for up to date information on what’s happening in the St Brigid’s Parish. https://m.facebook.com/people/Central-West-QLD-Catholic-Church/100080215845014/

Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Do you have kids at School and looking to earn some extra money?

Are you semi-retired looking for a little extra cash?

Over 18yrs of age and perhaps @ home studying online and can spare some time, whilst earning some pocket money.

Shifts vary between Approx 1 hour in the morning and ½ hour in afternoon

Would you like to earn money and Help our State School? 🙋

Transport and Main Roads is looking for casual school crossing supervisors at our Primary School to help get our kids safely to and from school!

✅ Generous casual pay-rate starting at $37 per hour

✅ Morning and afternoon shifts

✅ Long-service leave entitlements

✅ The Queensland Government superannuation scheme.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, Contact below

To be deemed suitable for the role, some criteria apply, which include requirements to:

👉 pass a basic health assessment

👉 hold a current blue card or Able to apply

Both requirements we pay for, plus paid training will be given.

For more information or to apply, 07 4983 8747 or 0438 838 740

Community Notices

Outback Aussie Tours

Qantas Founders Museum to launch Carbon_Dating art exhibition - OPENING 9:30AM, Saturday 15 March 2025

Qantas Founders Museum proudly announces a prominent exhibition Carbon_Dating showcasing native grasses and our relationship to the environment.  The Carbon_Dating project is a series of networked, experimental artworks situated throughout Queensland, that seek to shift attitudes towards the diverse Australian native grasses that grow in those regions. In this time of environmental stress, the project calls upon adventurous humans and vivacious grasses to collaborate – to breathe life into radically new kinds of relationships with each other.

The exhibition will open on Saturday 15 March at 930am at Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach QLD.

By drawing upon Indigenous cultural and scientific understandings and knowledges of grass and grasslands, and by incorporating sculpture, site-specific growing, networked technologies and artist-led provocations, we will develop a series of connected creative experiments and grass plantings spread across rural, regional and urban (Australia) - that together form the work Carbon Dating.

Carbon_Dating began in 2022 as a series of artwork-based experiments, and a ‘campaign’, that aimed to shift our relationships with Poaceae – those flowering members of the vegetal wild known as grasses. By focusing upon an often-overlooked group of native plants, Carbon_Dating reminds us that restoring the health of our environment will require us to look beyond the 'charismatic species' that so often steal our attention. Drawing on Indigenous cultural, scientific and artistic understandings, the Carbon_Dating Project asks: how we might see grass and grasslands in a new, equitable and ecological way?

Exhibiting artist Keith Armstrong said: “Despite grasses being one of the most critical plants for the survival of life on earth, our understanding and appreciation of them (beyond their use as animal fodder or lawn-making) remains limited… By sponsoring the planting of small Indigenous grassland areas and gardens, we seek to foster living sites for our art experiments; as we build a campaign built on partnership, respect and care.”

Carbon_Dating presents and share knowledge and stories and incorporate a variety of contemporary art forms responding to Queensland Indigenous grasses. The artists present a broad range of mediums including sculpture, weaving, textiles, photography, new media, film and performance-related artworks.

Featuring Artists: Keith Armstrong, Liz Capelin, Daniele Constance, Hilary Coulter, donna davis, Merinda Davis, Mia Hacker, Andrea Higgins, Luke Lickford, Jason Murphy, Kilagi Nielsen, Sasha Parlett, Melissa Stannard, Delissa Walker and Pipier Weller.

OPENING EVENT AND ARTIST FORUM - SATURDAY 15 MARCH 930AM

• The official unveiling of Carbon_Dating will take place at the newly branded Longreach Museum of Art (LMOA), at the Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach.
• An artist forum and floor talk will take place on Saturday 15 March from 930am featuring artists Keith Armstrong, Donna Davis, Koa artist and co-curator Jo-Anne Driessens, grazier and environmental advocate Jody Brown and the Lake Ayre Basin Rangers.

Entry is free, RSVP’s are essential info@qfom.com.au or call 07 4658 3737.

Max Flaherty - Junior Development Tennis Coach

Longreach Stingrays

Central West Hospital & Health Services