Newsletter 26/9/2024
- From the Principal:
- Morning Tea with Mary:
- Staffing Announcements for 2025:
- Student Awards:
- The Australian Mathematics Competition:
- Northern Tasmanian Maths Relay:
- Country Gold Carnival:
- Drama Festival 2024:
- Mercy Day Celebrations:
- School Bus Zone:
- Fiesta on Goderich:
- AFL Girls Holiday Activity:
- Parish Mass Times:
- End of Term 3:
From the Principal:
This week we celebrate the heritage bequeathed to us through Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy who founded our school. Catherine's legacy is felt worldwide in schools, hospitals, outreach programs for migrants and refugees, and in missionary countries. Catherine's story is an interesting one. While born into the middle class in Ireland, her life was full of challenges. Here is a video of her life. I encourage you to spend 23 minutes watching it - our 3-6 class has seen it and asked some “I wonder” questions.
My questions are
I wonder what the Mercy story would have been today if Catherine had not been ‘forced’ into becoming a nun to continue her work?
I wonder what drew the young women to help Catherine for a season of service?
Catherine is on the path to sainthood and is recognised as a person in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived a heroically virtuous life, offered her life for others, and is worthy of imitation.
Enjoy the Term 3 holidays.
Morning Tea with Mary:
Staffing Announcements for 2025:
I am very excited to announce our Teaching team for 2025.
Class teachers….
Megan Badcock
Alisha Mitchell
Lauren Workman
Emma Pagett
Caitlyn Mills
Debra Jones
Classes structures and teachers will be announced in Term 4
Specialist teachers
Jacquie Wood
Montanna Eastley
Support Teachers
Di Murray
Clare Weare
Michelle Donohoe
Student Awards:
Congratulations to our hard-working, compassionate and considerate Students Of The Week - Maddie, Rorie, Evie, Elsie, Nyla, Lenny, Adahsyn, Issy, Riley, Simon and Archer.
The Australian Mathematics Competition:
First run in 1978, the Australian Mathematics Competition is Australia’s longest-running, largest and most well-known maths competition for school students.
This year two of our most talented Mathematicians took part with outstanding results. Grade 5 student, Oliver Brunner, achieved a Credit and Lachie Connell from Grade 3 achieved a Distinction.
Northern Tasmanian Maths Relay:
The Mathematical Association of Tasmania's Mathematics Relays are held annually at three locations across the state for students in Years 5 – 12. The relays see teams of four students take on increasingly difficult mathematical problems as they race to beat other competitors and the clock. For the first time in many years, students of OLOM, were back to compete.
After a few nervous minutes, our Mathematicians were in full flight working together to solve complex maths problems against 18 other primary schools from Northern Tasmania. While we didn't place in the top three, it was a great experience and valuable practice for competing again next year. Thanks to Angus, Connor, Cooper and Lachie for representing OLOM so well and doing us proud.
Country Gold Carnival:
On Thursday 19th September, Lenny Hall and Oliver Brunner represented Our Lady of Mercy at the annual NMPSSA Country Gold Football and Soccer Tournament.
Both boys had a very successful day winning both the Football and Soccer Grand Finals.
Congratulations Lenny and Oliver!
Drama Festival 2024:
Congratulations to Lenny Hall on winning Junior Runner Up Best Actor in the Deloraine Youth Drama Festival.
Mercy Day Celebrations:
Yesterday, we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy and reflected on the work of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and the group of sisters led by Sister Ursula Frayne in 1846 with the goal, among other things, of establishing the first Mercy school in Australia. The pioneering Sisters of Mercy are excellent role models for our community. They are women of courage who were committed to their faith and lived the Mercy values of justice and compassion.
Our school was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1895 in a local hotel opposite the Holy Redeemer Church. For the past 129 years, it has been providing a Catholic education to families in the Meander Valley region. Next year will mark its 130th anniversary.
This day is one of the most important events at the school and is a highlight of the year for many students. The day began with the whole school gathering for the Mercy Day Mass, celebrated by Father Ben. It was followed by rotational activities and a special nachos and milkshake lunch order.
Let us pray that Catherine McAuley, Ursula Frayne, and the Sisters of Mercy's example of following Jesus will inspire us all and that we, too, are “shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
School Bus Zone:
We will be receiving new signage from the Meander Valley Council for our School Bus Zone.
We ask that you please do not park in the Bus Zone from 8:30-9:30am, and 2:30-3:30pm.
The local bus companies are complaining about cars in this zone during school pick-up times.
Fiesta on Goderich:
AFL Girls Holiday Activity:
AFL Tasmania are running a Holiday program on the 8th and 9th of October, as well as All Girls Auskick and Superkick programs in Term 4!
The holiday programs will be great for everyone, no matter how much experience you have playing football!
The All Girls programs will be a great first step in learning football, as well as a great opportunity for those girls already playing to continue to develop their skills!
For more info and to register click below:
Launceston Holiday Program: https://play.afl/club-finder-
All Girls Auskick (4-8): https://www.playhq.com/afl/
All Girls Superkick (8-12): https://www.playhq.com/afl/
If you have any questions, please contact Danyon on 0488 666 849 or danyon.smillie@afl.com.au
Parish Mass Times:
End of Term 3:
