From Our Principal
Dear Parents
I frequently talk to the students about the importance of being respectful to our peers, adults, traditions, cultures and special events. I have once again been overwhelmed by the amount of interest from people wishing to enrol their children here at Lourdes. What has been rewarding is when asked why OLOL, most if not all have heard great things from others about our school. And for this I thank you the parents for not only your positive talk but your ongoing support of what we do. The students also play a major role as ambassadors and our teachers are terrific in regard to the lengths, they will go to providing the best learning and pastoral environment possible.
One prospective family mentioned about the level of behaviour of our students, especially in public arenas. How is this achieved? It is something that needs constant attention, but consistent expectation of good behaviour is a major factor. Both my parents were teachers. Now, they were old school. I clearly remember two pieces of advice they gave me just before I started my career in teaching – 34 Yr. 6’s at Emerald State School. Rule No.1 The first thing that you need to set up in your classroom is the establishment of fear. Rule No. 2 Don’t smile till Easter. So I gave it a go. Yes, the 34 eleven-year olds were pretty quiet most of the time, did their work and their mums and dads were happy that they didn’t receive the dreaded phone call from the Principal. Further experience in working with young people in the 30 years since, plus 3 kids of my own, has changed how I interact with students.
Recently, I had the privilege of chatting to a few young men all of whom I had previously taught and still keep in touch with now and then. Now, they were certainly no angels back then, but it is always very rewarding to see how each of them have transformed into confident yet humble, well-spoken and courteous young men, who all speak highly of both their primary and secondary schooling. They all have benefited from clearly defined boundaries, teachers who wanted to spend time with them and got to know them and a quality Catholic education throughout their primary and secondary schooling which has been vital in enhancing the respect they have for themselves and of others.
The word “respect” was once commonly used in all aspects of life. However, as we can see almost on a daily occurrence, an increase in disrespect has grown to almost crisis point in our society as evidenced in the increased violence and anti-social behaviours. Individually, it is extremely hard to change society, but we can make a big difference in our little corner of it. It is up to us, the important adults in children’s lives, to make sure that we are doing our part to be respectful adults and to teach our children to be respectful emerging adults.
We can quickly lose credibility, if we are rude to our children while teaching them to be polite. The following piece of writing is a young person’s response to the invitation to put into writing their feelings about respect – there is a moral to this piece of writing:
“Everyone expects respect
No matter who they are.
The only way to gain it is to treat everyone
As a friend, as an equal person,
As part of our extended family
No matter their colour or creed.
Only then, will you start to get
The respect you so dearly need.” [David Harris]
And the moral: Respect has to be earned not demanded.
It’s for sure that children learn their standards of respect from what they see around them, and parents and teachers are in a powerful position to teach by their own example, as well as by instruction. Because our children take their cues from us, we need to be sure that we are setting the best possible standards. Schools teach children about respect, but parents have the most influence on how respectful children become.
Respect is not the same as obedience. Children might obey because they are afraid but, if they respect their parents and teachers, they will obey because they know that parents want what is best for them. Respect is an attitude and being respectful helps children succeed in life. If children do not have respect for their parents, peers, faith, culture, authority and most importantly, themselves, then it’s almost impossible for them to succeed. The best way to teach respect is to show respect. When children experience respect, they know what it feels like and begin to understand how important it is.
If we reinforce our children’s positive and respectful behaviour and eliminate disrespect by immediately calling attention to it and discouraging it, we are helping to develop the moral intelligence of our children. This will improve their ability to be able to apply critical analysis to television, films, music, injustice, and peer pressure. Remember, that together we can be a powerful influence on building a culture of respect in our school, community and beyond.
Pupil Free Days
A reminder to check the school calendar about upcoming pupil free days. The first of which is Friday 4th September for all schools. On this day teachers come together to discuss and learn more about effective practices in assessment and reporting. Friday 18th September is for all Catholic schools in the Toowoomba Diocese. Our teachers will join with those from the three other Lighthouse Numeracy schools to showcase and share best practice in the teaching and learning of mathematics.
School Fees
It has been brought to my attention that there are numerous families who have fallen in arrears with the payment of school fees. I am hoping that this may be a result on families not receiving or not knowing that school fee invoices this year are sent via email. Reminders will be sent electronically and via hard copy to the families concerned. In the meantime, please double check your emails and if you have not received school fee invoices, please contact the school to double check we have the correct email address. It also maybe a side affect of COVID-19, however, we have informed families about the various financial assistance packages we have available. If we do not hear from you, we can only assume that you remain in a stable financial situation and your ability to meet your financial obligation to the school has not been affected.
The payment of these fees is urgently required. We are unable to proceed in purchasing further resources, provide additional staffing or planned maintenance to building and grounds until we have received these fees and levies. Your immediate attention to the payment of these fees will be greatly appreciated.
Athletics
A big thank you to all the students, staff and St. Saviour’s College students for their efforts in making a success of this year’s carnival. We certainly missed the cheering and the atmosphere parents create at these events, but we do thank you for your understanding of the COVID-19 regulations currently in place.
Our Prep to Year 2 students will participate in their own mini-carnival tomorrow morning, commencing at 9:00am here at school. Program for the event is as follows:
- Students are encouraged to wear their house colours to school
- Please ensure your child has their hat, water bottle and is wearing sunscreen.
- First events will commence at 9:00am
- The order of events will be 5 years boys, 5 years girls, 6 years boys, 6 years girls, 7 years boys, 7 years girls, 8 years boys, 8 years girls and relays
- Presentations will be at 12:30pm in the school hall
- Parents are welcome to attend but please observe the following requirements:
- Please sign in all adults on the attendance register at the gate
- Please utilise the hand sanitiser on arrival
- Spectators are required to stay behind the bunting – please do not mingle with the children
- It is important that all adults avoid congregating in groups. Please observe the 1.5m rule while on school grounds
- Depending on numbers, some spectators may need to watch from behind the fence.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mrs. Rachel Salisbury for her ongoing efforts in organizing this year’s athletics carnival. We could have taken the easy option and cancelled athletics for the year but we were in full agreeance to provide the kids with as many opportunities as possible.
Fathers’ Day Stall
Our annual fathers’ Day Stall will be held next Thursday – 3rd September. Our Year 5 cohort will be once again hosting this event. We still require further donated Fathers’ Day gifts. It would be greatly appreciated if all donations be dropped into school by next Wednesday. Thank you for your continued support.
Swimming
A reminder that swimming lessons will be held each day of Week 9, commencing Monday 7th September. Mrs Salisbury has already forwarded home all the information regarding these lessons and this info can also be found in the PE News of the newsletter. Please note that unfortunately no spectators are permitted at these lessons.
Assemblies
Thank you for your continued support and attendance at our weekly assemblies. The kids get a real buzz out of you being there. Our last assembly of the Term will be Thursday 10th September. There will be no assembly in the last week of term due to the number of other end-of-term activities occurring.
Last Week of Term Events
- Monday 14th September
Speaking Festival – Hall
- Tuesday 15th September
Yr. 4 Gala Sports Day – Kearneys Spring Sporting Fields (no spectators)
Celebrating the Early Years (Under 8’s Day)
P&F Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday 17th September
P-2 Gymnastics
Free Dress Day – Crazy hair theme (Gold coin donation)
Juiced up Grom – healthy eating presentation - Grades 2-6 1:40 p.m. (gold coin)
Mr. Golightly’s birthday
- Friday 18th September
Pupil Free Day
Thanks for reading…Chris