Term 4 Week Three 2024
Aboriginal Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We commit ourselves to actively working alongside Aboriginal people for reconciliation and justice.
Dear Families,
Today, 1st November, the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints. The feast of All Saints recognises all the saints – those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven – both known and unknown, in a single celebration. November is the special month in our church year when we celebrate, remember and give thanks for the lives of the people we love and hold dear who have died. We pray that they are now at peace with God.
We imitate the saints because they offer examples of how to be disciples of Christ, and to ensure that those who remained offered models of discipleship which are relevant for the Church in all ages and places.
As always, what the church believes is expressed in its liturgical prayers:
A PRAYER FOR THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER
God of Compassion,
We remember with gratitude and love
all the people we have known and
who you have called home to yourself.
In this month of the holy souls
we give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses
who have shaped us, inspired us, loved us and forgiven us.
We pray especially for our deceased family members,
knowing that they also pray for us.
We hold out to you
the millions who are dying because of war, famine,
disease and climate change.
We pray for refugees who die in search of safety.
May our sorrow encourage us to work for a more just world
where every life is treated with equal dignity.
Living and dead, we are all your family.
May your perpetual light shine on us all.
Amen.
(Written by Michael McGirr)
All Souls' Day is celebrated tomorrow, on 2nd November directly following All Saints' Day, and is an opportunity for Christians to commemorate the faithful departed.
Congratulations
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Brendan Tickle as our new Assistant Principal - Mission in a permanent capacity at St Carthage's. Brendan brings a deep commitment to fostering our school’s values, enhancing our community, and supporting our students’ growth in faith and service.
In this role, Brendan will focus on advancing our mission of providing a nurturing, inclusive, and spiritually enriching environment. He will work closely with our students, staff, families and the parish community to develop programs and initiatives that promote our core values and strengthen the school’s connection with the wider community.
We congratulate Brendan on his appointment.
Remembrance Day
On the 11th November our students will acknowledge Remembrance Day. At 11am on 11th November, 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The red poppies, a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day, bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War 1. Mr Tickle will prepare a prayer that will be celebrated in each classroom.
World Teacher's Day
Last Friday we celebrated World Teacher's Day. This was a great opportunity to say thank you to our teachers who work tirelessly to ensure our students are learning and growing each and every day. We say a special thank you to our teachers for meeting each challenge as it comes along with positivity and hope, always keeping the students at the forefront!
Kindergarten 2025 Orientation
Over the past 3 weeks we have welcomed our 2025 kindergarten students to our school. They have spent each Thursday morning engaging in activities in the kindergarten rooms, meeting teachers and new class mates.
They have one more week with us before they begin school in the new year. We thank our teachers and staff for preparing these valuable opportunities for our new students.
School Community Group Meeting
Our final School Community Group Meeting will be replaced by our Parent session on Online Safety with Kirra Pendergast - CEO and Principal Consultant of the Safe on Social Group at 6.00pm on Tuesday 26th November in the school hall (please see Compass Newsfeed for details on how to register).
In today's digital age, helping children stay safe online is more crucial than ever. With so many apps, games, and social media platforms available, children can sometimes unknowingly encounter risks like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or strangers who may not have good intentions. By teaching kids to create strong passwords, keep personal information private, and only interact with people they know, we help protect them from online dangers.
Parents and carers can also play a big role by staying informed about the apps their children use, setting up parental controls, and encouraging open conversations about online experiences. Together, we can help children navigate the internet confidently and safely, ensuring they get the best out of it while staying secure.
We encourage all families to come along and hear about how we can keep or children safe online.
Year Six Brisbane Excursion
Our Year Six students have returned from their excursion to Brisbane. A great time was had by all. You can view photos of the week on our school Facebook page.
We thank the staff who have accompanied them throughout the week, leaving their families to support our students; Mrs Lynch, Mr Matthews, Mr Powell, Mr Tickle, Mrs Ireland, Mr Bullpitt and Miss MacDonald. I congratulate all of Year Six for their behaviour, manners and respect for all shown at all times.
After School Sport
If your child is attending sports training or games after school and it is a change to their normal routine could you please let the school know via a note to the school office.
Reminder to Parents and Guardians
Please be mindful of informing the school of any diagnosis or change in medical condition for your child so that School Action Plans and records are current and accurate. This is especially important for those students with Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes and other medical issues.
Anaphylactic Allergies
We do have a growing number of students with allergies which can cause an anaphylactic reaction. It is a policy of our school that children do not share food and teachers often remind the children in their classes about not sharing food. We ask for your assistance in reinforcing this at home and by labelling all lunch boxes with your child’s name.
Christmas Concert- save the date!
St Carthage’s School’s annual Christmas Concert will be held on the evening of Monday, 16th December. Further details will be sent home at a later date.
2025 Date Reminders
Dates for starting school next year:
- Staff: - Administration Day: Friday, 31st January 2025
- Years 1-6: - Complete Maths Assessment Interview (M.A.I.): Monday 3rd February - Wednesday 5th February. We will advise when bookings are open.
- Years 1-6 return: Thursday, 6th February 2025.
- Kindergarten: - Complete M.A.I. & Best Start: Monday 3rd February - Friday 7th February
- Kindergarten begin: Monday, 10th February 2025.
ICAS Results
The school has now received all the ICAS certificates for the students who sat the ICAS assessments in Term 3. We will give these to the students at our Week 5 assembly.
Bell Times
Just a reminder of our bell times to ensure a smooth start/end to each school day and for ease of collection during the day:
- Morning Duty Starts: 8:30 AM
- Start of Classes: 8:55 AM
- Morning Tea Break: 10:55 AM - 11:15 AM
- Lunch Break: 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
- Final Afternoon Bell: 3:15 PM
Please be aware that if you are collecting your child/children during the lunch break, you must come to the Office before collecting them from the playgrounds.
Student Drop Off and Pick Up
As we work together to ensure a safe and smooth experience during drop-off and pick-up times, we want to address some safety concerns that have come to our attention.
We kindly ask all parents to adhere to the designated drop-off and pick-up areas. The School Visitor/Disabled parking area (outside the Administration building) is for short-term parking between 9:15 am and 2:45 pm. It is not a pick-up or drop-off area for parents to use before or after school unless you are accessing the Active Kids service.
Dropping students off on the driveway in the morning creates safety hazards for our students, staff, and other vehicles. It also impedes access and can lead to congestion, making it difficult for everyone.
Your cooperation is essential in maintaining a safe environment for our children. Thank you for your attention to these important matters!
First Eucharist
On Sunday, October 27th, 45 students from St Carthage's celebrated a special milestone, receiving their First Eucharist in a beautiful Mass. Surrounded by family, friends, and staff, the students took this important step in their faith journey, marking a memorable and heartfelt moment.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Fr. Bing, who led the Mass with warmth and joy, and to Mr. Whitney, whose music added a reverent and uplifting atmosphere to the evening. A special thanks to our dedicated Year 4 teachers, who guided and prepared the students with such care, as well as to all the staff members and families who came to support our students.
The celebration concluded with cake and smiles, as everyone gathered to mark the occasion and share in the students' joy. We are so proud of each student and grateful for the sense of community that made the evening so special.
All Saints and All Souls Day
As we enter November, we take time to honour two meaningful celebrations in our faith: All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd. All Saints Day is a celebration of all holy men and women who have lived their lives with faith, courage, and love, serving as role models for us. It’s a day to remember not only well-known saints but also those who led quiet, devoted lives. All Souls Day follows as a time to pray for our loved ones who have passed away, asking God to welcome them into eternal peace. These days encourage us to reflect on our connection with God, celebrate the lives of those who inspire us, and pray for the souls of those we hold close in our hearts. We hope your family joins in these special days of remembrance and prayer.
Socktober
Our Socktober fundraiser was a wonderful success, raising an impressive $714 for Catholic Mission to support children in Mongolia. These funds will help provide essential food, education, and shelter for children who face significant hardships. Through our school’s efforts, we were able to share not only our resources but also our compassion and empathy.
In the lead-up to Friday’s Socktober Shoot-out, students had the chance to make their own soccer balls from recycled materials. This hands-on activity encouraged students to understand and appreciate the resourcefulness of children who might not have the same privileges, sparking meaningful reflection on what it means to live in a global community.
The excitement culminated on Friday afternoon at assembly with the Socktober Shoot-out! One student from each class took their best shot at scoring a goal against Mrs. Heffernan, Mr. Tickle, or Fr. Bing. It was a fantastic afternoon filled with fun and laughter. Thank you to all students, staff, and families who participated and supported this important cause—together, we are making a difference!
Parish Mass Times
St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore
- Tuesday - Thursday 8:00am
- Friday - 12:05pm
- Saturday Vigil - 5:30pm
- Sunday - 9am & 11am
Carmelite Monastery Chapel, Goonellabah
- Monday - Friday 7:00am
- Saturday 8:00am
- Sunday 7:00am
St Dympna’s Church, Dunoon
- Sunday - 8.30am
PBS
For Weeks 3-4, our focus is on Being Respectful in the playground, followed by Being Responsible in learning spaces for Weeks 5-6.
Weeks 3-4: Playground - Be Respectful
In the playground, we encourage students to show respect by:
- Following the rules of games
- Respecting others and their personal space and belongings
- Using kind words and actions
- Keeping hands and feet to themselves
- Listening to others’ ideas and opinions
- Sharing playground equipment fairly
- Keeping our school environment clean and tidy
These actions create a supportive and safe playground environment for everyone to enjoy.
Weeks 5-6: Learning Spaces - Be Responsible
In learning spaces, our focus is on being responsible with our learning. This means:
- Taking responsibility for our learning
- Looking at the teacher and listening when they are speaking
- Trying our best to complete all work
- Using class time wisely
- Asking the teacher for help when needed
- Taking pride in the quality of our work
By teaching these behaviours, we hope to empower our students to be respectful and responsible learners. Thank you for your support in encouraging these expectations as we continue to “Let Our Light Shine” in all we do!
NSW PSSA Athletics
We want to acknowledge the efforts of Tyler Bell who recently travelled to Sydney to compete in the NSW PSSA Athletics Competition. He qualified by winning his 100m age event at the Polding Athletics carnival in Newcastle last term. He has displayed great dedication and commitment to his Athletics this year, so much so that he chose to participate in the NSW PSSA Athletics carnival in Sydney rather than going on his Year 6 Excursion. Tyler won his heat well on the opening day of the competition, which qualified him for the finals the next day. In the final he finished 5th. This is an outstanding achievement- running against such high-quality opposition. We are very proud of what he has achieved this year in athletics. Well done Tyler.
The Todd Woodbridge Cup
The Todd Woodbridge Cup competition is specifically designed for students in grades 3 & 4. On Friday 18th October we had 8 students attend the Regional Play-offs which were held at the Byron Bay Tennis Courts. They achieved this invitation by being part of the winning teams from Round One of the competition in Lismore. All students displayed enthusiasm and some excellent tennis was played throughout the day. We were involved in many great matches and no matter what the result, displayed sportsmanship towards members of their own team as well as opposing teams. We are extremely proud of your efforts. Thank you to Dean from On Tour Tennis Lismore for helping to finalise our squad before the day. Thank you also to Mrs Deeps for accompanying our children on the day.
Our team consisted of Louis Bailey, Nadia Cittolin, Daisy Dunne, Eilish Dwyer, Cohen Kavanagh, Joshua Kirkland, Isabelle Nanscawen, Owen Sauer.
The Matt King All Schools Challenge
On the last day of Term 3 we had 39 students from Year 3 to 6 who travelled to Casino to participate in the Matt King All Schools Cup. It was an awesome day all round. The students were well behaved throughout the day and they displayed some high quality entertainment for all those who came along to watch. They demonstrated some excellent rugby league skills, wonderful tackling techniques and great teamwork. We had some wins and some losses across our three teams but the day was not about results- it was about positive participation and giving the children a chance to play a sport they either love or opportunity to play a sport they want to learn more about. Congratulations to Sam Johnson who was chosen for his “Play of the Day” which led to him being awarded a Roosters jersey. The children loved getting the signature of NRLW player Jamie Chapman. A big thank you to Mr Morrissey who organised the teams for the day and our staff who accompanied the children on the day- Mr Morrissey, Mr Powell, Mr Matthews and Miss Mac.
NSW PSSA CRICKET
Gus Collings recently attended the NSW PSSA Cricket titles as a member of the Polding Cricket team. Gus thoroughly enjoyed his time and continued to demonstrate his exceptional skills throughout the week as a wicket keeper batsman. He managed to score runs, take lots of catches and be an excellent team member. He even picked up a wicket when given a bowl. Weather did interrupt his tournament but despite this, it was a great opportunity for Gus to showcase his talents playing a sport that he loves. He needs to be commended for his commitment to the sport of cricket and we know he will have a busy Summer ahead!
Richmond Zone Summer Sport Trials
The Richmond Zone Summer sport trials are rapidly approaching. These trials are a representative pathway for talented athletes in Years 4 and 5 in the sports of touch football, tennis, basketball and cricket. The basketball trial (3:45 pm- onwards at St John's Woodlawn) and tennis trial (11:45 am-3pm at the Lismore Courts) are on Monday 4th November. The cricket trials are on Wednesday 6th November (3:45pm onwards at St John's Woodlawn). The touch football trials will be held on Friday 8th November (9:45am-2:30pm at St John's Woodlawn). All these trials require private transport to and from the venue. We thank St John’s Woodlawn for the use of their venues to host three of the four sports trials. If your child is successful in these trials, they will have the opportunity to participate in the Diocesan trials to be held throughout Term 4. We wish all of our participating students the best at the upcoming trials.
Australian Baseball Representative
Billy McCarthy recently gained selection in the Under 12 Australian Baseball Team. Billy will travel to Guam in November and participate in the World Series qualifiers, where his team will play against the USA, Japan, Mexico and Germany! Billy will play different positions in the team, from pitcher to centre fielder and will of course be looking to hit home runs when batting! The selection of Billy in an Australian junior team is a wonderful reflection of the dedication and commitment he has towards the sport of Baseball. What an experience! We are so proud of his achievements and we wish Billy safe travels and all the best during these World Series qualifiers. We will be cheering from afar!
