Student Wellbeing Information:
Wellbeing programs available in Term 3 2025:
Here at Our Lady of Mercy, we care about all our students. Sometimes, students need some
extra care and attention. To help these students we offer two specific programs that support
wellbeing. These programs are called Rainbows and Peaceful Kids.
Rainbows is designed to support children experiencing family change. Each participant can
compare, discuss and share feelings in the group, work through reactions and discuss skills
relating to their own life experience. Forms will be sent home to all students. If you would
like your child to attend the Rainbows program, please return the signed permission form.
Peaceful Kids is a mindfulness and positive psychology-based program to increase resilience in
children. The program gives children the skills, practice and support to utilise coping
strategies that lessen the symptoms of stress and build resilience. If you believe your child
would benefit from this program, they are welcome to collect more information and/or a
permission form from the office.
If there are any questions regarding these programs, please contact our Wellbeing officer Leigh-anne Newington, 63 622 323
Kindergarten Enrolments 2026:
If you know anyone who is considering enrolling for Kindergarten in 2026, please tell them to get in touch as we have limited spaces available.
Meander Valley Mass Times:
From the Principal:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you for participating in the School Effectiveness Survey
We extend our sincere thanks to all families who participated in the School Effectiveness Survey conducted last term.
The results are in, and we have much to celebrate!
When compared to other schools surveyed, our school has performed exceptionally well. Many of our strengths align with the top 25%. Key areas of strength include:
- Parent Partnerships – 84
- Approachability – 87
- Student Safety – 83
- School Improvement – 87
- Connectedness to School – 85
These outstanding results reflect the strength of our community engagement, the positive relationships between families and the school, and our commitment to student wellbeing. Families feel welcomed, involved, and valued — something we are very proud of.
While all areas scored well, there are some identified as opportunities for continued growth and focus:
- Social Skills – 82
- Student Behaviour – 71
These results present valuable opportunities to further support peer relationships, social development, and respectful behaviours within our school community.
The overall results of your feedback highlight the strong performance of our school and reflect the trust and confidence our families have in the work we do. Parents have shared that:
- Their children have access to strong learning opportunities
- There is a clear focus on maximising academic growth
- Students feel connected to school and are motivated to succeed
- The school values parent input and fosters genuine partnerships
We’re incredibly proud of these results and grateful for your continued support in making our school a place of belonging, learning, and growth.
Kind regards,
Mary
Tasmanian Association for the Gifted Inc:
If you are interested in participating in this seminar, please use the link below to register.
https://www.trybooking.com/
Community Events:
St Brendan-Shaw College Production:
It is with great excitement that the cast and crew of St Brendan-Shaw College bring to the stage, Legally Blonde.
Legally Blonde is the story of the main character, Elle Woods, who follows her love to Harvard and studies Law to try and reignite their relationship. As her journey progresses, Elle discovers who she really is and what it takes to become a successful lawyer.
Tickets will soon be available for our special school matinee of Legally Blonde.
Date: Thursday 14th August
Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm (including interval)
Venue: paranaple arts centre
Cost: $5.00 per student.
Tickets: Available from St Brendan-Shaw College
Phone: 6424 7622
Email: admin@sbsc.tas.edu.au
This show is a high paced, energetic show with some great music and dance numbers. However, there are a number of sexual references in the show, which are necessary and important to the context of the show. Many of these comments are delivered in a comedic way and laughter is expected. For any enquiries other than tickets, please phone 6424 7622.
Reconciliation Week, Grade 3:
As part of their learning about the importance of Reconciliation Week, our Grade 3 students created thoughtful artworks using thin wooden boards. Each piece represents their personal reflections and responses to the themes of reconciliation, respect, and unity.
Green Thumb Team News:
News From Grade 1/2 & 3:
Students have been learning about the life of Pablo Picasso and engaged in a discussion about his different art forms. We then looked at his famous portraits and discussed his techniques and how he changed the different facial features. Students then drew a picture of their design and their next step was to use cardboard, paint and crayon to complete their Picasso face.
Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist known for changing the way we see art. He loved to experiment and helped create a new style called Cubism, where faces and objects are shown from many angles at once using shapes like cubes and triangles. His famous “Picasso faces” often have unusual features — like mismatched eyes or sideways noses — making his art fun, bold, and creative. Today, his unique style is known all around the world!
Cross Country 2025:
There has been a lot of running happening at OLOM lately. Our school's Cross Country event was held on Thursday 29th May, and the Northern Midlands Carnival on Thursday 5th June. Students from Grades 3–6 proudly represented Our Lady of Mercy. The carnival was held at Deloraine Primary School.
It was a fantastic day filled with energy, encouragement, and achievement. Our students ran with incredible effort, showing great determination, resilience, and sportsmanship. Many achieved great results, with several placing highly in their age groups.
It was especially heartening to see the way our students supported one another throughout the day — cheering on teammates, celebrating efforts, and giving their all. The weather was a perfect turnout after a frosty morning, adding to the positive and enjoyable atmosphere.
Congratulations to all our runners! You represented our school with pride and should be very proud of your efforts!
Cross Country Champions:
Kinder: Willow Picket-Lee, Angus Dornauf
Prep: Genevieve Vidler, Austin Hawkins
Grade 1: Lila Hind, Layken West
Grade 2: Mia Johnson, Frederick Lyall
Grade 3: Cora Francis, Saxson Wiltshire
Grade 4: Amelia Vidler, George Van Rooye
Grade 5: Zaide Millwood
Grade 6: Ethan Youd
Important Dates:
Meander Valley Parish Mass:
Important Dates:
Local Businesses:
This is a new section in our Newsletter. If any of our OLOM families have a business that they would like to promote through the school please send information to olom@catholic.tas.edu.au
Square Pegs Dyslexia Support Meeting:
Kanangra Visit:
We are so fortunate to be so close to Kanangra. Miss Leigh-Anne and many of our Grade 5 & 6 students regularly visit our neighbours to spend some of their lunchtime together. Visiting aged care homes offers benefits for both generations, including increased social interaction, reduced isolation, and a chance to learn from the wisdom of others. For residents, these visits can boost their mood, encourage physical activity, and create opportunities for engaging in activities. Children, in turn, develop empathy, social skills, and a greater appreciation for the elderly.
News from Kinder:
On Wednesday, our Kinder students embarked on a Wonder Walk.
Our first stop was Vinnies, where we donated clothes and purchased two lovely picture books for our classroom. We took the opportunity to explain to the children that all the items in the shop are donated by members of the community, and the money raised supports people in need through charitable programs.
Next, we continued our walk down to the river and gathered at the Aboriginal yarning circle, where we enjoyed reading our new books together.
The students were fascinated by the geese on the river and took time to admire the autumn trees all around us.
It was a wonderful way to connect with community, nature, and stories.
School Lunches:
Eating well is important at every age, but in childhood, we help our children develop a taste for a healthy diet that could last them a lifetime. Plus, young bodies need good nutrition, including vitamins and protein, to help support their healthy development.
Some easy lunch examples:
Wraps: Tuna, grated carrot and cheese, mayo; BBQ chicken, hommus, salad leaves; ham, cheese, tomato, or ham and cheese. Leftovers in a thermos are always nice coming into the colder months.
Hard-boiled eggs, zucchini slice cut into bite-size pieces, cold pizza, dip and crackers, plain cooked pasta.
From the Principal:
This week, is Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements—and to explore how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia. It is a vital opportunity to teach our students about respect, understanding, and unity.
For our students, Reconciliation Week is about learning the truth of our country’s past, particularly the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It’s about listening to stories, acknowledging past injustices, and understanding how we can move forward together. On Tuesday, we were privileged to have Aunty Dawn, Uncle Hank and Bianca Templar work with our youngest students. Through stories, songs, art, and classroom discussions, we help our students see the strength and resilience of the world’s oldest living cultures
Reconciliation Week encourages us to build a school culture grounded in respect and inclusion. It reminds us that every student has a role in creating a better future. By engaging meaningfully in this week, our students learn to be compassionate citizens who will contribute to a more just and equitable society.
Kind regards,
Simon Wood
Deputy Principal
