From the Principal - Mrs Janelle Heffernan

Dear Families,

We are nearing the end of the term and a time when we all start to drag our feet and maybe doubt or compare our abilities to others. This story reminds me of how we are all so different, with different gifts, talents and skills and yet, in the eyes of God, we are all the same.

In was a Friday night, and the local footy oval was buzzing. Families sat on the sidelines with hot chips, kids ran around with their jumper half on, and the floodlights shown down bright. In the middle of the field, Kai, a Year 9 student, was having a rough game. He’d missed a kick, missed a pass, and by halftime, he was on the bench with his head in his hands.
 
He muttered to himself, “I’m useless. Everyone must think I’m a joke.”
 
From the stands, his dad noticed. He walked down, crouched beside him, and said quietly, “Mate, no matter how many goals you kick or how many mistakes you make, you’re my son. Nothing changes that. I love you. Just give it your best, that’s all I ask.”
 
Something in Kai shifted. He jogged back onto the field – not suddenly perfect, but lighter. He played with freedom, laughed with his teammates, and even managed a decent kick or two. He knew he was loved, no matter the scoreboard.
 
That moment is a glimpse of what Jesus is saying in John 3: 13 - 17. God doesn’t love us because we’re flawless, or because we “score goals” in life. God loves us because we are God’s children. God sent Jesus not to condemn us for our dropped marks or mistakes, but to lift us up, to show us what eternal life looks like – a life where we know we’re loved beyond measure.
 
For families, for schools, for communities, this story is real. Kids, parents, teachers, – we all have days when we feel like we’ve failed, like we don’t measure up. But the heart of our faith is this: “God so loved the world that God sent us Jesus.” That love is steady. That love heals. That love gives us the courage to get back out there, live fully, and share hope with others.

As this is our final newsletter for the term, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who makes St Carthage’s such a special place.

To our wonderful students—you inspire us with your enthusiasm, kindness, and eagerness to learn. We are truly fortunate to have such bright and caring young people in our school community.

To our dedicated staff—thank you for your unwavering commitment and passion. Your hard work and care make a positive difference in the lives of our students every single day.

And to our families—thank you for your ongoing support and involvement. Whether volunteering your time, participating in events, or simply encouraging your children at home, your generosity and partnership are vital to our school’s success. Without your help, we could not achieve the positive outcomes that make St Carthage’s a nurturing and thriving environment.

Together, we continue to build a strong and caring community, and for that, I am truly grateful.

I hope all our students, students and families have a very enjoyable and restful break and I look forward to seeing all our students on Tuesday, 14th October.

Sacrament of the Eucharist

We congratulate our students who are receiving First Communion for the very first time on Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral. This is a very special sacrament for them and one they can receice regularly throughout their lives.

We thank Mrs Atlee, Mr Matthews and Mr Camilleri for prepaing our students and Mr Tickle for his organisation.

I know you join me in praying for these children.

School Disco

There was much fun and excitement last night as the students gathered to celebrate the end of term with our Colour Explosion Disco! It was a wonderful night with Mr Camilleri providing our music and lights.

We congratulate our students on their wonderful behaviour throughout the evening!

New Playground

It is with great excitement that we are able to share with you the news that our new playground has begun! This process is led by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Property Services. Students in Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 were shown 2 playgrounds last week and, supported by staff and a very small number of parents at our School Community Group Meeting, we are excited to confirm that we will be installing Roamer.

The strudents are really enjoying watching the machinery as it prepares the ground in readiness for the installation in January.

Please see the image below.

The new playground will be built on the hill next to the ramp going down to the bottom playground. To prepare for this, significant earthworks will commence on Monday 22nd September. Sandstone blocks will be used to create a 3 tiered wall. This will elevate the playground out of the moderate flood level. Temporary fencing will be installed on the bottom playground during this period to keep the students away. The earthworks are expected to take approximately 3–4 weeks, after which the ground will be remediated.

The installation of the playground will take place during the Christmas holidays, ready for students to enjoy in the new school year.

We are looking forward to this long awaited project getting underway. 

Regional Poetry and Public Speaking Finals

Yesterday St Carthage's students attended the Regional Poetry and Public Speaking Finals at Holy Family Primary School. Students from our local Richmond schools competed in both Poetry and Public Speaking. We congratulate all finalists and, in particular, the finalists who represented our school so well. We are very proud of you!

We thank Mrs Matthews for practising and supporting our students in the lead up to these finals and yesterday.

Please see Mrs Deeps' section of the Newsletter for further details on those students who made the finals.

Father's Day Celebration

Thank you to our families who were able to come along and celebrate Father's Day with us. This was a wonderful celebration with many of our families coming along to share some fun, food and social time with our school families. Over 900 sausages were cooked and enjoyed throughout the afternoon. 

Thank you to our wonderful staff who helped to set up, serve and pack up. May this be the start of many more to come!

Professional Development Days
Just a reminder that we have a Professional Learning Day (PUPIL FREE DAY) on Friday, 26th September.

Our last Professional Learning Day for 2025 will be on Monday 13th October.

Active Kids will be operating on these days. If you wish to take advantage of this service go to the Active Kids tab on our School Website for information on how to enrol and make a booking.

We thank you for supporting us in our Professional Development opportunities.