Before & after-school care operates within the school grounds. If your child requires before or after school care please phone 1300 553 583 between 8am and 5pm.

Casual bookings are available.

• The children have morning recess for 20 minutes. Please give your child a small amount of food for this time (e.g. biscuit, cake or fruit).
• At lunch time, a sandwich and a drink are usually sufficient.
• If a child cannot eat all of his/her lunch, we encourage the child to take the remaining food home.
• Teachers supervise the children at lunch and recess breaks.

Please note: It is important to notify the teacher if your child has any food allergies.

Our responsibility for the children commences at 8.30 am when a teacher begins supervision in the playground. The school’s responsibility concludes at 3.10 pm when the school bell rings.

At Our Lady of Lourdes there is a focus on child-centred tasks and activity-based learning. The children are exposed to a wide range of experiences as they explore the six key learning areas of Religious Education, Mathematics, English, Science and Technology, Human Society and Its Environment and Creative and Practical Arts.

Our school also offers:

• music program
• choir
• instruments/band
• literacy support
• services of a psychologist
• special education
• physical education program

For further information see the Learning & Teaching section of the school website.

The school prays together each morning at assembly and the teachers also facilitate shared prayer in their classes. Special liturgical events are celebrated by the school community. Once a term, students prepare and attend the weekly parish Mass and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In keeping with the Parramatta Diocesan Policy, the immediate preparation for Sacraments is parish based and family-centred. Parents take the main responsibility for preparing their children. This is carried out in the home environment and is supported by small group meetings.

The school’s religious education program supplements and complements the parish program. Reconciliation is offered to children from Year 2 onwards and Confirmation and Eucharist are celebrated together, usually in Year 3.

Parents are the primary educators of their children and we work in partnership with them to help our students to reach their full potential.

Forms for bus travel are available from the school office.

As part of the learning experience, excursions are sometimes held. Teachers will send home information about the purpose of the excursion, departure time of the bus, etc. The school takes care not to overburden parents financially by the types of excursion chosen or their timing.

Parents are sometimes invited to help with supervision on these days.

At different times during the year cultural activities may be staged at school.

Each term, the Catholic Education Office allows the school a pupil-free day. This enables staff to use a block of time to develop areas of curriculum or focus on a particular issue. Parents will be notified well in advance of these days.

Each term, the Kindergarten children will have a Year 6 friend. They will meet with their buddies each week for craft, reading or games.

Please read and sign the following form to show you understand and accept the school’s policy on Internet Usage.

Internet Usage Policy

The school office is open from 9.00 am – 3.30 pm. It would be appreciated if fees were paid by 3pm to enable banking and books to be completed. Money for school fees should be placed in the envelopes provided by the school. EFTPOS is available Monday to Friday however parents are encouraged to use the B-PAY facility.

In the event of a serious accident at school, the following procedure will be followed: 

1. The school will ring the parents
2. If the parents are unavailable, the school will then ring the contact person nominated by the parent/guardian
3. The school will take the necessary steps to ensure the well-being of the child

If you have sole custody of your child/children it is requested that you send a certified copy of a court order to the principal.

If you delegate a friend or relative (unknown to us) to take the child/children from school for you, a phone call or a note from you advising us of this would ensure the student’s safety.

If you need to collect your child before the dismissal bell, please call at the office for a leave form to give to the class teacher. Please note that the teacher will not allow the child to leave the school without this note.

Sometimes you may want another person to collect your child. If so, please advise either the office or class teacher.

Once again, this is important for your child’s safety. Please notify the teacher, in writing, of any change to the routine, e.g. different method of departure from school.

It’s a good idea to check your child’s bag for any newsletters or notes from school. The oldest child in the family receives a school newsletter each Thursday.

If you have any concerns about your children, you are welcome to make an appointment to see either the classroom teacher or the principal. Please note that discussions with the class teacher can only be held outside class time.

The school’s parent group is very active and all parents are encouraged to join at least one of the following committees:

• Fundraising
• Pastoral care
• Parent education
• Social

It is essential that you notify the school, in writing, of any changes to your address or phone number. If your child is ill, it is most distressing if the school is unable to contact you because of incorrect information.

If a child is absent from school for any reason, a note explaining the absence must be forwarded to the class teacher when the child returns. Each day the class teacher must mark a class roll. This is a legal document that records the official attendance of all children in class.

If parents want to take their child from school for any period of time, a note to the class teacher, explaining the circumstances, is required.

All correspondence regarding absences sent to the teacher need to contain:

• the date the letter was written
• the date the child was absent
• signature of parent or guardian

• In winter a navy regulation tracksuit may be worn on sports days only.
• Each child will need a paint shirt for painting and craft (e.g. an old business shirt/large T shirt).
• Sometimes Kindergarten students need a change of underwear.
• This is to be stored in the child’s bag.

Note: Please make sure that all clothing is clearly labelled with your child’s name and class.

The uniform shop is managed by parents.

Parents will be advised of opening days or you may send your orders via the school office, marked uniform order.

Please make cheques payable to OLOL Uniform Shop.

Second hand uniforms may also be purchased from the uniform shop.

Uniform Price List

Cheques or Cash only accepted (Eftpos unavailable)

Enquiries:

Margaret Daines       9639 8016
School Office            9639 4172

The school has a uniform policy which is available at the office. Please refer to it for specific details.

Change for a child occurs when he/she moves from the intimacy of the family circle to school life. There are, however, some practical ways in which you can help the transition. Over the next few months it would be helpful if you encouraged your child to:

• dress himself/herself
• lace shoes
• play with groups of children of the same age (encourage your child to share toys and take turns)
• use playground equipment safely
• stay at friends’ or relatives’ houses for a few hours without you
• care for and put away playthings
• help with small jobs around the house
• know what to do if parents are late
• follow simple instructions

It is important that your child knows how to:

• open and close lunch boxes and drink bottles
• use and flush the toilet and wash his/her hands
• ask clearly for items
• say his or her name and address
• recognise name and personal belongings

Parents play an important role in their children’s education. You can assist your child’s progress in school by:

• helping to develop your child’s vocabulary
• listening to your child
• answering your child’s questions
• reading a story every day, e.g. at bedtime
• borrowing books and toys for your child from your local library
• teaching songs, rhymes, jingles, the names of colours and parts of the body
• counting objects with your child and encouraging concept development (e.g. you could ask your child to set the table and count the plates)

One day each week your child will be asked to tell some news or show an object to the class. Please do not send any expensive or breakable toys to school.

Make sure your child arrives at school before 8.45 am. It is important that he/she has some time to socialise before classes.

Ensure that your child is collected on time at the end of each school day. Children soon become worried if they are kept waiting, even for a few minutes.

After a few weeks, you may not need to take your child to the classroom. You can bring him/her to the school gate as this helps to develop a sense of responsibility.

If a student is very ill the parents will be called to come to the school.