Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Newsletter

Term 1 Week 3, 12th February 2021

Key Dates


Wednesday 17th FebruaryAsh Wednesday
Friday 19th FebruaryHills Zone Swimming Carnival
Tuesday 23rd FebruaryP & F Meeting 7.30pm 
Thursday 1st AprilHoly Thursday and Last day of term 1



Gospel

6th Sunday Ordinary Time 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

Ref:Liturgyhelp.com

Living the Gospel – Who is your leper?

Living the Gospel – Who is your leper?

There is a story of Francis of Assisi in which he encountered a horribly disfigured leper. Initially, Francis was repulsed by the man but remembered that this man too was a child of God and made in the image and likeness of God. Overcoming his fears, Francis ran forward and embraced the man. Rather than seeing the disease, Francis saw the person. We can ask the question, Who is your leper? Who is the person in your life that you need to embrace rather than reject? Who would benefit from you viewing them with different eyes? Soft eyes! Eyes of compassion!

 © Greg Sunter 

Our Lady of Lourdes- 11th February

Mary, Jesus’ mother, is the greatest saint. She has appeared to many people over the centuries. Each place she has appeared she has been given a different title. Our Lady of Lourdes was the title she was given after she visited Bernadette Soubirous, a fourteen-year-old girl in 1858.

One day Bernadette was out with her sister and a friend to gather wood for the fire. Bernadette, who suffered from asthma and was often sick, did not cross over the stream to gather wood on the other side with her sister and friend. While they were gone, Bernadette heard a noise over near a cave-like area, and she went to investigate. There, Bernadette saw a lovely lady dressed in white who had a blue sash around her waist and a rose on each foot. She was beautiful!

Bernadette prayed the rosary with this lady before she disappeared. The lady asked her to come back again. The lady appeared to Bernadette a total of eighteen times. Bernadette was teased and laughed at; many believed that she was either imagining the appearances of Our Lady or making it up.

When a spring miraculously appeared after one of the visions, many who doubted her began to believe. Those who bathed in the spring were often cured of serious sickness or disability. Eventually, the lady identified herself: “I am the Immaculate Conception,” she told Bernadette. It was then that people realized for sure that it was Mary, the mother of God, appearing to Bernadette.

 © Teaching Catholic Kids.

 With the help of Mary our Mother may we have the faith of Bernadette to know, love and serve God.

Morning Arrival

We will continue with our drop off procedures each morning, but from next Monday, the children in Years 3-6 will be directed to the bottom playground from 8:30 am until the 8:55am bell rings.

We ask that Kindergarten , Year 1 and Year 2 children on arrival,  proceed to the top playground via the small gate on arrival where they can play with friends until  the 8:55am bell rings.

While our Kindergarten Parents continue to encourage their children to walk to this area without them, a teacher will be at the small gate to assist if still required.

There will be teacher supervision on both playgrounds from 8:30am. If there is wet weather the students will be directed to their classrooms.

Thank you for the patience and smooth way most people are dropping off children in the morning before school. Please be considerate and remember to move up the road towards the end of the church to make room for others and do not park in the drop off zone if you walk your children to the front gate.  Please do not do a three point turn in Canyon Road. We ask everyone to drive carefully and be aware, for the safety of our children. 

Hats

A reminder students need to come to school with their hats. 

Parent Information Evening

An Information Evening will be held for Kindergarten  next  Monday and Tuesday . An email was sent home about the meeting during the week.

 We are still restricted with all other grades and will inform you if conditions change.

Covid-19

    Students with even mild symptoms of COVID-19 are encourage to seek testing. 

    We ask parents of symptomatic children to provide evidence of a negative test result prior to them returning to school. 

        In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurring symptoms, a letter from their treating doctor is sufficient.  

         

        Emails

        Teachers are having some issues with parent emails recently. Some emails are being directed into spam. We are trying to have this issue addressed. 

        Social Skills

        Respect and Integrity - example's of showing  manners and good communication skills:

        • Good morning and good afternoon
        • Using peoples names
        • Eye contact 
        • Smile

        P&F Thank You

        Thank you to the P & F for organising a welcome gift for our new families to the school community. 

        Congratulations

        Congratulations to the Khazzouh family on the birth of a baby boy. A brother for Levi (KM) .

         

        Sports News

        Zone Swimming Trials

        Our Lady of Lourdes held the Zone Swimming Trials last Friday at Stanhope Gardens Indoor Pool. I would like to congratulate all students on their outstanding behaviour for the duration of the Zone Trials and their excellent efforts in all Swimming events. 

        Congratulations to the 25 students who made it through to the Hills Zone Swimming Carnival which will be held at Mount Druitt Swimming Centre, next Friday the 19th of February. We wish you the best of luck for this event!

        P & F News

        P & F Meeting

        Our first P&F meeting for 2021 will be held on Tuesday 23rd February at 7.30pm in the school open learning area. All parents are welcome. 

        Library

        Parish News

        For Youth in the Parish of Baulkham Hills

        We are making a return to Youth Groups this term at the Parish of Baulkham Hills. Please pre-register via the following link if you are wishing to attend.

         Our Youtube Channel is also still up for those still wishing to engage with the ministry, but are unable to come along. Videos present input, games, activities and a few tips for keeping connected! If you have any suggestions for future videos please forward them via the contact details below!

         Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFy52lMn0ChQv7iEuR2ptAg

         Pre-Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/preregoyouth

        Youth Groups

        Y5-8: This Friday the 12th of Feb., come to the Downey Room from 7-8:30pm for the first youth group of the year! Come along for a night of food, games, and activities, as we celebrate the return of youth group!! We look forward to seeing you there.

        Y9-12: Friday the 19th of Feb., come along to the Old Church from 7-9pm as we kick off our first senior youth group for the term – enjoying food, games and activities in great company! We look forward to having you along! 

        If you have any general questions or concerns please contact the Youth Minister Paul Fam, on 0407 773 174, or send an email through to youth@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au

        Kind Regards,

        Paul Fam

        Youth Minister 

        Parish of Baulkham Hills, NSW

        Children's Rosary Movement

        Children's Rosary gather together to pray the Rosary every Monday during the school term. Bring your Rosary beads and spend some time in prayer. 

        Where : OLOL Parish

        When: Mondays (school term only) 

        Time: 3.30pm 

        Contact : anitamolina@hotmail.com

        Oakhill College Open Day

        We warmly invite prospective students and families to the Oakhill College Open Day on Sunday, 7th March from 10.00am-2.00pm.

        Join us for a student led tour around our beautiful campus and visit our subject displays, meet our staff and students, watch some of our co-curricular activities and a variety of performances.

        Our Principal’s Address is at 10.00am, 11.00am and 12.00pm. Bookings are essential, so please register on our website and for any COVID-19 updates: www.oakhill.nsw.edu.au

        Thank you in advance for your assistance.

        Kind regards,

        Gabby

        SkoolBag App

        The newsletter and other communication will sent out through the Skoolbag App.  Please follow the instructions on the attached flyer to download free Skoolbag App on your smartphone.  Be sure to search ‘Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Baulkham Hills South  and select your year group.
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