Parent Assembly

All parents are warmly invited to attend the upcoming Parent Assembly Conference to be held on 15th June at Opal Cove where we'll delve into the theme "Your Child Our Schools: Nurturing Hearts and Minds." Discover valuable insights and strategies to support your child's holistic development. Register soon as places fill quickly.

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Jan's Bucket Club

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Trinity Race Day

Release of Information and Digital Technology User Agreement

You would have received a Compass notification/email regarding our Release of Information and Digital Technology User Agreement form with the following information.

As a school, we have moved to an electronic Release of Information and Digital Technology User Agreement. In line with our commitment to ensuring a safe and secure digital learning environment for all students we, with the support of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Office, have developed a Digital Technology User Agreement that now can be signed online. This agreement outlines the responsible and acceptable use of technology within our school community, including guidelines for internet usage, device handling, and online conduct.

We kindly ask that you carefully review this agreement with your child and provide your signature where indicated to signify your acknowledgement and agreement to adhere to the terms outlined. Your cooperation in this matter is vital for promoting a positive and productive digital technology environment that fosters learning and growth while prioritising safety and respect.

To facilitate this process, there was a link to follow in the email. We ask that you click on the link and take the time to read through the document thoroughly and complete the online consent with your child by Monday 29th April. After this date, if the agreement has not been signed your child/ren may have limited access to digital resources until we have the signed agreement.

Should you have any questions or require further clarification regarding any aspect of the agreement, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support in ensuring the wellbeing and development of our students in the digital age. Together, we can create a secure and enriching environment that empowers our children to thrive responsibly in today's digital world.

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee

Last year Year 4 participated in the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. Students had to individually sit the Spelling Bee via an online competition. Their results were ranked on accuracy (how many words they spelled correctly) and speed. The top 100 ranked entrants from the School Competition Round in each state and territory were invited to participate in the State and Territory Finals Competition Round. 

Congratulations to Brody Johnson who was named a State Finalist for NSW. He did a fantastic job and we are extremely proud of his results.

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,

As we near the end of our first term and as this is our last Newsletter for Term One I want to thank all members of our school community for the contribution each of you has made to ensure our school continues to be a place of quality learning. We have had several opportunities for parents and carers to visit our school in both a social and educational context and we look forward to continuing this next term.

Over the past week we have celebrated Holy Week. This is the most important time in the Church’s calendar. On Holy Thursday, we re-enacted the Lord's Last Supper, which He shared with His apostles on the night He was betrayed and arrested. This is one of the most beautiful liturgies of the entire liturgical year. On Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion and death of our Lord, the Church venerates the Cross. The Holy Saturday Mass begins in darkness and a new fire is kindled and blessed by the Bishop. This new fire symbolises the light of salvation and hope that God brought into the world through Christ's Resurrection, dispelling the darkness of sin and death. From this fire is lit the Paschal candle, symbolising the Light of Christ. This Paschal candle will be used throughout the season of Easter, remaining in the sanctuary of the Church or near the Lectern, and used throughout the coming year at baptisms and funerals, reminding all that that Christ is "light and life."

We look forward to our holidays as an opportunity to rest, relax and recharge in preparation for the coming term and we ask that God stays close to each and every one of us as we enjoy this family time together. I hope that everyone has a very safe and happy holiday and I look forward to a very productive and positive return to school on Tuesday, 30th April. Just a reminder that the student's last day of school for Term One is Thursday 12th April.

Catholic Education Week - 8th-12th April

Our school will join with more than 45 schools across the Lismore Diocese to celebrate Catholic Education Week (CEW). This will take place next week.

This year’s theme is “Innovation and Faith’. The transforming power of innovation and faith working in unison to ensure our students experience the fullness of life (John 10:10). 

For many of the great innovators throughout history, their faith motivated them to explore and understand the wonders of the universe. Our Catholic schools walk alongside clergy, parishioners and families to prepare and nurture our future innovators and faith leaders on their journey. 

I would like to extend a warm invitation for you to participate in our Catholic Education Week events and faith celebrations. Please take the opportunity with members of our parish and wider community, to experience innovation and faith in our Catholic school. 

Below is a schedule of events for the week;

Monday 8th April
11.30am - Catholic Education Week Prayer 

Tuesday 9th April
2.15pm - Open Classrooms - come along and visit your child/childrens classroom
3.15-6.00pm - Open Afternoon - School Tours for current and prospective new students and their families. 

Please let anyone you know who may be considering St Carthage's as a school option to come along next Tuesday afternoon. Everyone is welcome.

Thursday 11th April
Colour Run - 11.30am - 1.00pm

Final day of Term 2 for students

Friday 12th April is a Professional Learning Day for staff (student free)

Thank you for your ongoing support. I look forward to seeing you during our celebrations for Catholic Education Week in 2024.

St Patrick's Day

Our school was a sea of green on St Patrick's Day as our students dressed in green to celebrate this special feast day St Patrick was an Irish Bishop and as the legend goes he chased all the snakes out of Ireland. Our students each donated a gold coin to The Caritas Lenten Appeal.

We thank our students for letting their lights shine and helping those in need.

Teddy Bears and Prayers - Kindergarten Celebration

It was great to see so many of our Kindergarten students and families at our annual Teddy Bears and Prayers evening. There were many happy faces as children arrived clutching their teddies and soft toys. The prayer began with a beautiful gathering song that the children sang to welcome their families. They then participated in a little prayer service before completing a craft activity.

Families then shared a meal together and took the opportunity to meet other families.

We thank Leanne Robbins (CSO Parent Assembly Cluster Coordinator) who provided the hospitality for the evening and the Miller family for serving and cleaning up for us

Tell Them From Me - Parent Surveys

In the Weeks 2 and 3 of Term 2 we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Carthage's Primary School.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You will be able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL that we will provide when the survey opens.

More information will follow.

Classrooms - Before School

Please be aware that students or parents should not be going into classrooms before school unless there is a teacher present in the room.

Thank you for supporting this request.

Active Kids - Staff Carpark

The Staff Carpark is for school staff only. If you are dropping off or picking up children from Active Kids please park in the Visitor's Carpark or by the kerb. We have had a couple of near misses with children running through the Staff Carpark.

This is not a safe drop-off or collection area.

Thank you for supporting this request to ensure our children remain safe.

The service station is also not a safe area to park for drop off and pick up off as cars are continually entering and exiting and are not looking out for children.

Anzac Day

We have received notification from the RSL Lismore Sub-branch that the Anzac Day March will again be held. Thursday 25th April is Anzac Day. This is in the holidays. We invite all students to join us for the March. We value our students making the effort to join us on this day and appreciate the effort from our families in allowing this to occur. Students will be required to assemble at the Clyde Campbell Carpark by 8.45am on Thursday 25th April and the march will begin promptly at 9.00am. Students wear their normal school uniform with their school hat. Staff will be at the carpark to meet students as they arrive. Students may stay for the Memorial Service at the Cenotaph in front of the Lismore Baths or may be collected at the end of the march. Students will stay with school staff until they are collected by a parent at the end of the service.

Online Enrolment 

Enrolment Applications are now done online. The online application form can be accessed via our school website. There is a tab on the top right-hand side of the launching page that says ENROL ONLINE. By clicking on this button you can begin the application form. If you require a paper copy please contact the school office.

Parents of children who are ready to start school in 2025 are asked to fill out the online Enrolment Application. Please pass on this message to family and friends who are intending to enrol children in Kinder next year. Children must turn five by 31st July 2025 to be enrolled in Diocesan schools.

Woodlawn Open Night

Melanoma March

Baseball

Hockey

Martial Arts

Do It for Dolly

God Moments!

We are always on the look-out for God-moments when we are with the children!

A God-moment is that instant in time when someone has a choice to make and they make a choice based upon the right values.

There really are too many to recount but every now and then we choose a couple to mention at our Assembly and we name the student and what they did.

This is one example: "I would like to nominate (student) for a God-moment award at this Friday’s assembly. He packed up all the toys first thing in the morning without being asked.  He packed up responsibly, he was respectful and reverent and shows a mature attitude towards school expectations."

Another..."I just wanted to let you know of a beautiful moment that happened yesterday at bus lines. (Teacher) brought one of her students up to the lines and let me know that her buddy wasn't on the bus that day. (student) overheard this and offered to look after her and make sure she was on the right bus.It is nice to see a younger student stepping up and helping the younger ones".

From a parent at the school..."My son has been a little hesitant to go to school lately. However, I would like to acknowledge an older student in an older grade who one morning asked my son how he was and said he would take him to put his bag away and then take him to where his class would be playing and find a friend there. I was so happy (and relieved) at the kindness shown by this older student."

Re-opening of the St Vincent de Paul Offices in Lismore

We were so proud of our students Savannah McPherson and Abigail Challinor who were invited to read the Acknowledgement to Country at the recent re-opening of the St Vincent de Paul Offices in Lismore. 

St Patrick - Casual Clothes Day to fundraise for Project Compassion

Dear families, St Patrick is the patron Saint of the Diocese of Lismore and the feast day of St Patrick is on the 17th of March. As the 17th of March is a Sunday, we invite students to wear casual clothes on Friday the 15th March (that’s next Friday!) If you wear casual clothes please bring a gold coin for Project Compassion.

Casual clothes have to be sun-smart and if you can please include some green colour in memory of St Patrick.

The Story of St Patrick

Saint Patrick was born in England, but when he was a teenager, he was captured by Irish pirates who took him to Ireland as a slave. After six years, Saint Patrick escaped and returned to England and his family.

When Saint Patrick became a priest, he traveled back to Ireland as a missionary so that he could teach the people about God. He used examples to explain the mysteries of the faith in simple ways. One day, Saint Patrick compared the Trinity to a shamrock. He said that the shamrock has three leaves, but it is only one plant. In the same way, God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—but one God.

God used Saint Patrick’s kidnapping to convert the Irish people. 

Classroom Learning - Holy Week

As part of the children's Lenten Units in the Religious Education curriculum I was invited to see of the finished work from 4 Blue.

Kaley Bennett, Evie Collings and Laura Brickhill were able to explain the story of Holy Week, the significance of each event and what these mean for them as young followers of Jesus.

I was delighted to listen to the girls as they explained what they lad learnt.

Incitare Retreat at Tullera

This week some Year 6 students attended the Incitare Retreat at Tullera. They said that they enjoyed meeting other students from other schools, games, music, the environment (after the morning rain!), and the opportunity to learn more about their faith. Thank you to the students who participated in such a positive manner!

"The Way of the Cross" and 'Music of Light'

We have a couple of wonderful musical events happening in the Cathedral.

“The Way of The Cross” on 24 March with Warren and the Choir (Free event) and then on 7 April the Lismore Symphony Orchestra will hold “Music of Light”.

Indulge your senses at ‘Music of Light’ as the LSO, joined by the Murwillumbah Philharmonic Choir and organist Warren Whitney, present a captivating concert of music sure to illuminate the spirit and delight the soul. This event will be held in the Cathedral on Sunday 7 April. Doors open at 1.30pm, Concert at 2.00pm.Tickets are available at www.lismoresymphony.org.
Adults $35, Concessions and 12-18yo $30, under 12 free.

Tickets for “Music of Light” must be purchased by visiting the LSO website.

Palm Sunday

Sunday March 24 is Palm Sunday. Please join in with this lovely ritual at your local Parish. Those attending the Cathedral 9am Mass are invited to assemble on the grounds in front of the Cathedral for the Blessing of the Palms followed by Procession into the Cathedral.

Those attending the Vigil Mass gather within the Cathedral for the Blessing of the Palms. Parishioners are invited to bring their own palm or evergreen for the blessing.

St Carthage's School and Parish Sacramental Program

Students who are baptised are invited into the 2024 Parish Sacramental Program through St Carthage’s Primary School. 

• Sacrament of Confirmation (Students in Year 3) - 27 June, 2024

• Sacrament of Reconciliation (Students in Year 4) - (Date to be confirmed)

• Sacrament of the Eucharist (Students in Year 4) - (Date to be confirmed)

Note: Children who have missed the opportunity to participate in any of these Sacraments may still enrol in a Sacrament e.g a Yr 6 student may be enrolled in any of these three Sacraments.

Very Important: Copies of Baptismal Certificates need to be provided to the school unless your child was Baptised in the Cathedral Parish or you provided this Certificate to St Carthage’s school during enrolment. If this is not the case, please provide a copy as soon as possible. You may need to contact the Parish where your child was baptised to obtain a copy.

If you have not yet enrolled your child /ren into the Sacramental Program please do so as soon as possible. Enrolment Forms have been sent home and are available from the school office.

Chrism Mass

The Chrism Mass will be held at St Carthage’s Cathedral, Monday 25 March at 7.00pm. During this Mass the Priests and Deacons gather around the Bishop who blesses the Holy Oils for use in the coming year. It is also a time where the clergy renew their vows.

Parishioners are encouraged to attend this Mass that celebrates the priesthood, the sacraments and our unity as a Diocese.

St Carthage's school will be represented by our Leadership Team and a number of our student leaders. 

Resilient Kids Program

Next week St Carthage’s has engaged The Family Centre to deliver the Resilient Kids Program – Disaster, Resilience, Social and Emotional Wellbeing ½ day workshop to stage at St Carthage’s Primary School.

The program utilises interactive and engaging activities, which will be completed as a group and individually. Students will be provided with opportunities to explore disaster preparedness, and their individual strengths & resilience. The aim is to discover, explore and share ways they can look after themselves and their emotional well-being.

The Resilient Kids Program is being led by Social Futures,  together with the Family Centre and Human Nature Adventure Therapy. The Resilient Kids Program has been developed with children and young people, their families and carers, schools and service providers.

The Program offers three streams however only stream 1 will be delivered to students at St Carthage’s.

• Stream 1: Education and skill building through school-based supports (delivered at St Carthage’s)

Trained and experienced facilitators from The Family Centre will deliver Stream 1. Teachers will be in attendance.

The Family Centre is a non-profit community-based organisation established in 1988 providing a range of services for children, young people and families that build and enhance relationships and parenting skills. The Family Centre has been developing and delivering programs in public schools in the Tweed Shire since 2001. More information about The Family Centre is available at our website: www.thefamilycentre.org.au

Topics covered will include:

‘Disaster Preparedness’ - Identifying where they stand on climate change, reflecting on natural disasters and action they can take to prepare before, during and after a natural disaster.

‘Resilience Building’ – Exploring what resilience is, their own strengths and identifying factors in their lives that they can draw on to build their resilience.

‘Emotional & Social Wellbeing’ Explore, share and identify ways to manage and increase their well-being and also identify people they can trust and go to for support.

Please contact Danny Hatchman - Assistant Principal (Mission) via the School Office if you have any questions. 

NAPLAN

Just a reminder that the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will take place from Wednesday 13th March to Monday 25th March. NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school's learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.

Absences

Students are considered absent for test purposes if: 

Withdrawals
NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer for various reasons for example religious beliefs or philosophical objections to the testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with the school. If you would like your child withdrawn from NAPLAN testing please contact your child's teacher prior to testing so that the required paperwork can be sent home, signed and returned to school.

NAPLAN Schedule

See the table below for our school's NAPLAN schedule:

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,

We are now entering into the third week of Lent. Our Gospel this Sunday comes from John and we hear when Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Son of Man will be raised up so that those who believe in him will have eternal life.

Parents whose children are afraid of the dark are struck by John’s observation that darkness is preferred to light. Perhaps this is as it should be. God made us to live in the light of his love. But this original friendship with God was corrupted by sin. Our sin causes us to shy away from Christ, the light that has come into the world. During the season of Lent, we try to fight this tendency by remembering God’s great mercy and the salvation that we have received through Jesus. We do not fear confessing our sins, knowing that God forgives us, and so, during Lent, we seek out opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 " O Lord, during these 40 days, let me put away all my pride. Let me change my heart and give up all that is not good within me. Let me love God with all that I am and all that I have."

"God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy." (Pope Francis)

International Women's Day

We hope all of our mums, carers, grandmothers and all of the women in our school community felt acknowledged today- a day of recognition and acknowledgement for the inspiration role they play in the lives of their families and friends.

School Vision

For our new families I would like to share with you our school vision. 

At St Carthage’s Primary school we commit ourselves to
the teachings of Jesus Christ, enabling students to achieve the fullness of life. (Jn:10:10)

We foster an inclusive and supportive environment by
embracing positive and collaborative partnerships.

We provide quality and innovative learning and value the highest standards of behaviour.

We strive for excellence in all we do.

Let your light shine!

Parent Consent and Student Digital Technologies User Agreement

At St Carthage's, we use a variety of digital technologies to promote engagement and creativity across the learning areas. The attached Parental Consent and Student Digital Technology User Agreement provides our families and students with the processes in place to build responsible digital citizens and also helps create an understanding of the expectations when using digital technology throughout the school year. This is a new process initiated by the Catholic Schools Office. The Parent Consent and User Agreement will need to be signed each year by families.

This form will be sent out to all families. Please take the time to read through the Digital Technologies User Agreement with your child when you receive it.

School Attendance

Good attendance in primary school will be a skill that will help students succeed in high school.

It is a legal requirement and vitally important that students attend school every day and on time.

Good attendance in primary school is a fundamental building block for academic success and overall wellbeing, and it sets the stage for success in high school and beyond. Primary school is the foundational stage of a child's education. Regular attendance ensures that children build a solid understanding of fundamental concepts and skills that serve as the basis for more advanced learning in high school.

By recognising the long-term benefits and reinforcing the importance of regular school attendance in primary years, students are better equipped to succeed in high school and beyond. Attending school regularly instils a sense of responsibility and work ethic in students and participating actively in class are essential components of success.

Easter Raffle

We are having an Easter Egg guessing competition at school. Students can have one guess for 50cents or 3 guesses for $1.00. Students can have a guess during the morning tea and lunch breaks. The winner will be drawn on Wednesday 27th March.

School Community Group Meeting - Tuesday 12th March

We will be having our  School Community Group Meeting on Tuesday evening 12th March at 5.45pm. During the meeting you will hear school reports, information about the Seesaw app, Parent Assembly events and there will be opportunities for our parents and carers to collaborate on future meeting topics important to your child/children.

A flyer has been sent home for your information. 

National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)

Students in Years 3 and 5 will undergo the National Assessment Program beginning on Wednesday 13th March. All students in all states and territories in Australia will participate in these tests over this period. All assessments, with the exception of Year Three writing will be done online.

If you do not wish your child/children to participate please notify the school and we will provide you with the necessary form.

St Patrick's Day - 17th March (celebrated at school on Friday 15th March)

Our school will celebrate St Patrick's Day on Friday 15th March. St Patrick was an Irish Bishop and as the legend goes he chased all the snakes out of Ireland. Our students are invited to wear green on Friday 15th and donate a gold coin to The Caritas Lenten Appeal for the privilege.

School Photos Reminder - 18th - 19th March

Our School photos will be taken on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th March. School Photo envelopes will be sent home with the students soon. Please return these envelopes, with the correct payment enclosed, on the Monday of the photos, as
these will be handed straight to the photographers. We do not handle photo money. Sibling envelopes will be available from the School Office. Please ensure that students are in their correct school uniform on these days.

We thank our students for letting their lights shine in advance of their support in helping those in need.

Parent/Teacher Interviews - 18th - 21st March

Parent and Teacher interviews will be held in Week 8, 18th - 21st March. These interviews are booked online and will be available for booking early next week. Working together in partnership helps to clarify goals for your children, inform about areas of strength and areas to work on as well as clarify any issues or concerns which we may not be aware of. We thank you for taking the time to attend these important sessions.

Compass Enrolment Form - New

Our school is moving to different online enrolments using Compass (previously Dashboard Funnel).  As an existing user of Compass, you will find a new tile in the Compass app called Family and Enrolments, found under the “More” icon in the Compass app or under the Cog icon in your preferred browser. This feature is now live and, as a parent or carer, you can update your contact details at any time. We strongly encourage you to log in to confirm your details. If you update your details, they will update across all schools where you have a child enrolled.

Applications for 2025 are now open. If you have already applied via our old system, rest assured we have your application; there is no need to reapply. 

Welcome Barbeque and Disco

It was great to see so many of our families join us for our barbeque and disco. It was wonderful to see our school community coming together to enjoy a meal, enjoy each others company and have fun!

Sharing of Food

Students have been reminded about not sharing food, or buying things at the canteen for their friends or indeed giving money to others to spend at the canteen. We have a number of students with food allergies and the sharing of food can present significant health risks. Please reinforce these messages with your children.

Active Kids - Staff Carpark Reminder

The Staff Carpark is for school staff only. If you are dropping off or picking up children from Active Kids please park in the Visitor's Carpark or by the kerb. We have had a couple of near misses with children running through the Staff Carpark.

This is not a safe drop off or collection area.

Thank you for supporting this request to ensure our children remain safe.

The service station is also not a safe area to park for drop off and pick up off as cars are continually entering and exiting and are not looking out for children.

2024 Professional Learning Days (student free days)

• Friday 12th April (Term One Week 11)
• Monday29th April (Term Two Week 1)
• Wednesday 29th May (Term Two Week 5)
• Monday 22nd July (Term Three Week 1)
• Friday 27th September (Term Three Week 10)
• Monday 14th October (Term Four Week 1)

We thank you in anticipation of your support. Active Kids will be available on these days. Bookings are essential.

Anzac Day - Advance Notice

We have received notification from the RSL Lismore Sub-branch that the Anzac Day March will again go ahead on Thursday 25th April. This date is in the school holidays. We invite all students to join us for the March. We value our students making the effort to join us on this day and appreciate the effort from our families in allowing this to occur. 

Further information will follow as the date gets closer.

Parenting Tips

RealTalk - A Free Resource for Parent - helping tackle tricky parenting topics 

Supporting parents in tackling topics such as online behaviour, friendships, concent and many more, this resource is provided free through  the Catholic Schools Parent Assembly. 

Position Vacant

Please see the position for Parent Assembly Coordinator with the Catholic Schools Office via the link below.

Parent Assembly Coordinator - Catholic Schools Office

Trinity Open Night

Hockey

Pope Francis' take on Lent - In a social media era - make private time for God.

Pope Francis said recently that in the social media era, “Even the most tragic and painful experiences risk not having a quiet place where they can be kept. Everything has to be exposed, shown off, fed to the gossip mill of the moment,” he said.

Pope Francis asks us to carve out a silent space for God amid the buzz of the digital era in which little remains private. Francis said God’s invitation for Lent is to “Enter into the secret, return to the centre of yourself.”

In his homily, the pope asked that during Lent to focus upon praying, fasting and giving alms “in secret,” saying Jesus’s invitation to the disciples to “go to your room” to do these things instead of seeking public recognition for them is at the heart of the Lenten season.

Going to one’s room, in this sense, he said, “means journeying from without to within, so that our whole life, including our relationship with God, is not reduced to mere outward show, a frame without a picture, a draping of the soul, but is born from within and reflects the movements of our heart.”

“Without realising it, we find ourselves no longer having an ‘inner chamber’ in which we can stop and care for ourselves, immersed as we are in a world in which everything, including our emotions and deepest feelings, has to become ‘social’,” he said.

“Precisely there, where so many fears, feelings of guilt and sin are lurking, precisely there the Lord has descended in order to heal and cleanse you,” he said.

Ash Wednesday

Project Compassion

Bishop Greg’s Lenten Talks 

Bishop Greg will be holding his Lenten Talks in St Mary’s Chapel, 6.00pm on Monday 19, 26 February and 11 March. This year he will speak of “Themes from St Therese of Lisieux”. All are most welcome to attend. 

St Carthage’s Cathedral Parish Caritas Project Compassion Fundraising page: https://parishes.projectcompassion.org.au/o/lismore-cathedral-catholic-parish-2480

A Prayer during Ash Wednesday 

Loving God,

This Ash Wednesday, we enter into Lent and a period of reflection. The days before us invite us to reflect upon our relationship with God and others. Help me take the time pray to the Holy Spirit to have the courage to fill those empty spaces. Give me the grace to enter into this time with an open heart and mind. Let your loving kindness flow over me and be evident in my thoughts, words and actions.

Amen

St Carthage's School and Parish Sacramental Program

Students who are baptised are invited into the 2024 Parish Sacramental Program through St Carthage’s Primary School. 

• Sacrament of Confirmation (Students in Year 3) - 27 June, 2024

• Sacrament of Reconciliation (Students in Year 4) - (Date to be confirmed)

• Sacrament of the Eucharist (Students in Year 4) - (Date to be confirmed)

Note: Children who have missed the opportunity to participate in any of these Sacraments may still enrol in a Sacrament e.g a Yr 6 student may be enrolled in any of these three Sacraments.

Very Important: Copies of Baptismal Certificates need to be provided to the school unless your child was Baptised in the Cathedral Parish or you provided this Certificate to St Carthage’s school during enrolment. If this is not the case, please provide a copy as soon as possible. You may need to contact the Parish where your child was baptised to obtain a copy.

Event	Date
Parent/Carer Information session for the Sacrament of Confirmation	To Be Advised
Retreat for students being Confirmed	TBA
Sacrament of Confirmation	27 June, 2024
Parent/Carer Information session for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist	TBA
Sacrament of Reconciliation	TBA
Sacrament of the Eucharist	TBA

Please download, complete and return the Enrolment Form (below) to nominate your children for the Sacrament program. Paper forms will also be available from the Office.

Sacramental_Program_enrolment_form_2024.docx_1_.pdf

Sacramental_Program_enrolment_form_2024 _docx_1 pdf 157.23 KB

Mini-Vinnies

The letter below is a thank you message from the Lismore St Vincent de Paul Society President and is in response to our very generous donations to SVDP last year - our Christmas Hampers.

The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.

This year we have some very eager Year 5 students who are being formed as the Mini-Vinnies group. The mission of our mini-vinnies is to do the same on a smaller scale.

Savannah McPherson, Abbie Challinor, Caitlin Gapes, Elly-Mae Hauser, Jack McCarthy, Georgia Dodds and

Patrick Young

Welcome to the 2024 School Year

Welcome to the 2024 school year to all our returning and new families. I hope you all stayed well and had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break. We have started the school year well and we look forward to continuing to have a great year full of learning and fun here at St Carthage’s.

Our teachers had a wonderful two days sitting with students to conduct the Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAIs) during the first week of school. We thank all our parents for working with us to have students attend their appointments. The information gathered, as a result of the interview, is important in helping us to assess where a child's understanding is at for teachers to plan teaching that is targeted to the needs of their learners to enable them to thrive mathematically. 

Thank you also to our Kindergarten parents for organising a time for their Best Start and Mathematics Assessment Interviews. The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment is a state-wide assessment that helps show teachers the literacy skills of each student at the beginning of Kindergarten. As a Diocese, our Catholic schools then complete a MAI with each Kindergarten student so that we have an understanding of their numeracy skills. Both of these assessments help teachers plan lessons to best support the learning needs of every child in their classrooms.

The data collected through the Best Start will be shared with parents during Term One. If you have any questions regarding this please speak with your child’s teacher.

Compass Connect & Seesaw

During the holidays our Diocesan Administrator for Seesaw set up our classes for 2024. During this set up some changes to the platform were made which we have been informed of. The main change to Seesaw functionality that will affect families is that the messaging application on Seesaw for Schools has been disabled. 

 We are in the process of moving over to Compass Connect, a messaging module built into the Compass App. This will allow us to use one app for all school communication. Connect has a similar messaging system to Seesaw. This new way of messaging will become live as of Monday 26th February.

 With regards to messaging, we would like to clarify how to use Compass Connect:

DO’s

• Do message your child’s teacher if you want to share something positive from home or congratulate your child on something they have done in school.
• Do message your child’s teacher if you have a small query or would like to find out something simple.
• You can message on Compass Connect to arrange a meeting time to see the class teacher.
• You can use Compass Connect for any general day-to-day communication.  

DON’T’s 

• Please do not message your child’s teacher to notify them of absences or illnesses – this should be done via the school office or on the Compass app as normal.
• Please do not use Compass Connect to message about any urgent or serious issues. You must use the school office and normal school procedures for this.

Teachers will always endeavour to reply as soon as possible. However, please be mindful that school life can be incredibly busy and whilst every effort will be made to reply or acknowledge messages that day, there may be a slight delay as teachers cannot check messages during teaching times. Additionally, please do not expect a reply to any messages sent out of school hours, or during weekends or school holidays.

We hope this helps clear up any questions you may have and that you enjoy connecting with us through Compass Connect. Communication about student learning will remain on Seesaw. From time to time teachers may upload or have students upload work to their portfolios so that you can celebrate their learning at home with them.

More information with regard to Compass Connect will be sent out via Compass during next week.

Welcome Kindergarten

We have recently welcomed our new Kindergarten students to our school. They have had such a positive start to their schooling and it has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces each morning. 

Over the coming weeks, I will be adding some suggestions to the newsletter on how you can support your child/ren through this transition period.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN is held in Term 1 and will take place from Wednesday 13th March to Monday 25th March.

NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school's learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.

In preparation for NAPLAN 2024, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked.

Students and parents can access the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.

Students will need to bring in a set of headphones for the NAPLAN tests. If the headphones could be sent to school as soon as possible so that they can be used in the lead-up to the assessments it would be greatly appreciated.

Traffic Management Plan

At St Carthage's, we strive to ensure that children, staff, and members of our wider community are safe at all times. Additionally, it is our goal to make sure that our community is impacted as minimally as possible by school traffic. Our Traffic Management Plan has been devised to help us to keep all of our community safe. Parents are expected to follow this plan and to cooperate with the directions of staff fully. 

The information below provides you with an understanding of the Traffic Management Plan that has been implemented by St Carthage's. Please share this information with anyone who will be picking up and dropping off your children from school.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Arrangements

Before and After School

The following areas have been designated as safe areas for the children to be dropped off before school and to be picked up after school:

• School grounds: Parents may collect children from the school grounds. Children will wait on the Library steps for collection. Parents, please note that the playground area is 'out of bounds' until all bus bays have moved off.
• Cathedral grounds (preferred option): Children being picked up from the Cathedral in the afternoon line up with their hats on and near the Bus Bay 17-20 line. Teachers will escort them via the underpass to the Cathedral. All children are asked to walk in an orderly way.

DO NOT PARK: Parents are asked to avoid blocking bus zones or private driveways and are not to park in the Police Youth Club Car Park, the Service Station or the Staff Car Park, including the driveway access (located off Dawson Street).

A 'Drive-Through' operates as outlined below at the Cathedral during pick-up time.

Cathedral Pick-up and Drive-Through Guidelines

• All children must sit on the grassed area and wait for their parents to collect them. (No children are to run off to meet their parents).
• There is no parking in the middle grassed area of the Cathedral grounds.
• ONE-WAY TRAFFIC only.
• The drive-through lane is only for parents of children who do not need assistance getting into cars. (speedy operation) Parents, please do not leave your car. Teachers will direct your child/ren to your car when it is time and safe.
• NO CHILD is to enter a car from the right-hand side of the vehicle when using the drive-through.
• If your child needs assistance, parents must park in the "Pick-up Parking" area on the far side of the grounds and walk over to pick up their child.
• All pedestrian access via Cathedral steps and paths. Please do not cross in front of queuing "drive-through" traffic.
• Vehicles exit the 'Pick-up Parking' area on the inside lane of the Drive-Through queue (see diagram below).
• Parents in Drive-Through-Lane have the right of way.
• Please do not block driveway access to the Presbytery, Parish Office or Priest's residences.
• Parents who need to park and collect children may wish to stagger their pick-up time until after the initial rush.
• At 3:40 pm, any children still waiting to be picked up will walk back to school with the supervising teachers.
• During funerals at the Cathedral, wet weather or storms, children are to be collected from the Library steps. A message will be placed on ClassDojo.  

We would appreciate it if all parents could read and share guidelines with other people who might pick up your child and support us in this endeavour to keep your child safe.

Road Safety

Road Safety is a Back to School Essential. As children return to school, it is essential to keep safety in mind. Talk with your children about safely getting to and from school.

• Keep children safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.
• Keep children safe by walking distraction-free. Expect your child to take off their headphones while walking.
• Keep children safe getting on and off the bus. Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the road's edge. Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across. Wait until the bus has gone before crossing the road.
• Keep children safe while using wheeled transport. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it is the law. Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective equipment.

Be a positive role model when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver. Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.

Never sacrifice safety for convenience, source:https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/.

Bus Safety

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,

Welcome back to our new school year and our first Newsletter for 2024. I hope you all enjoyed a very relaxing and enjoyable time with family and friends over our Christmas break. We begin this new year filled with hope and anticipation. We look forward to a year full of unknown opportunities for us all to support each other in our partnership of educating, guiding and modelling Christian values to our children.

The term has started with a real sense of purpose and a great spirit of co-operation and enthusiasm for learning. Teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that classrooms are ready for learning and I am sure that you will be happy with your child‘s new learning environment. We especially welcome our 2024 Kindergarten students and the many families who are beginning their educational journey at St Carthage’s. We hope your time here is happy and rewarding and we thank you for trusting your children to our care.

Congratulations to our students for the way you have started on this new stage of your learning journey and thanks to parents for having them so well prepared for school. Thank you to the staff who spent holiday time at school setting up rooms, developing programs and organising resources and school events for Term One. It is this dedication and commitment which allows us to start the year so smoothly. Well done all!

To you, the parents and families, I eagerly look forward to meeting you over the next few weeks at our beginning of the year meetings, our Welcome Barbeque or out in the playground at drop off and pick up. We are here to work in partnership with you and I would appreciate any input or suggestions which you may have to ensure that our school runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

As we complete our third week of school, I hope that your children are settled and happy in their new classes. Certainly, the talk has been very positive, with teachers commenting about how eager and enthusiastic the students have been. As we begin this new year, it is important to remember that parents and teachers are partners in helping each child achieve a successful transition into adulthood. This combined support is essential if the transition is to be a positive developmental experience for your child. A good relationship with your child‘s teacher will make it easier for you to stay informed about your child‘s progress across all areas of schooling and to work together if difficulties or problems arise throughout the year. On occasions, you might find that teachers offer advice or constructive criticism about your child that you may not agree with. However, it is important to keep an open mind to the teacher‘s comments (and they to yours). Unfortunately, none of us are perfect, so if a problem arises, it is important to consider both sides of the story. The outcome should be one that helps your child succeed at school. There needs to be a sensitivity which respects the parents who have a special knowledge of their children, and the teacher as a trained professional.

School staff at St Carthage's are dedicated and caring people  and they want to be not just good educators, but educators who their students will remember because they shared their knowledge and love of learning with them. Jonathan Sarks, Rabbi and author of ―The Politics of Hope, said about teachers:

“Educators open our eyes to the world. They give us curiosity and confidence.

They teach us to ask questions. They connect us to our past and future.

They are the guardians of our social heritage.

Life without a teacher is surely not a life.”

May 2024 be a great year for you and your children and please remember, if you have any questions, queries or concerns regarding your children throughout the year, please contact your child‘s teacher, our Assistant Principals or myself so that we can work together on a joint solution.

Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent

This week we celebrated Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Our students in Years 4, 5 and 6 joined with our parish community at Mass and our Kindergarten, Years 1, 2 and 3 students participated in a prayer service led by Mr Hatchman and Sr Di. These celebrations signify the beginning of our faith journey toward Easter and new life.

The word Lent comes from the Old English word ‘lencten’, meaning spring - the time of new life in the northern hemisphere. To move toward ‘new life,' fasting and prayer are practised in Lent as remembrance and reflection of our Lord’s fasting in the wilderness.

During this time, we often talk about what we are going to refrain from. We also discern what we are going to give. Pope Francis has previously told us almsgiving - donating money, goods or time to the poor - ‘sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone.'

Pope Francis not only underlines giving in Lent, but he warns against our culture that takes, uses or discards: ‘How many of God’s children are mesmerised by momentary pleasures, mistaking them for true happiness! How many men and women are entranced by the dream of wealth, which only makes them slaves to profit and petty interests! How many go through life believing that they are sufficient unto themselves, and end up entrapped by loneliness! How many young people are taken in by the panacea of drugs, of disposable relationships, of easy but dishonest gains! How many more are ensnared in a thoroughly digital existence, in which relationships appear quick and straightforward, only to prove meaningless!’

So this Lent, in fasting and giving, let us also think about what it is to take; what it is to discard others; what it is to deny the ‘least of our brothers and sisters.'

Kindergarten 2024

It was great to welcome our Kindergarten students and their families to our school and to see them happily arrive at school each day. I think that there will be some very tired little people tonight and I also think their teachers and support staff will also sleep well! 

Congratulations on a great start!

School Leaders 2024

Congratulations to all our Year 6 student leaders who will be our role models by setting the standard in terms of presentation, respect for all and appropriate behaviour at all times throughout this year. Special congratulations to our School Captains, Vice Captains and Colour House Captains for 2024:

School Captains:   Luca Lombardo and Archie Sauer

Vice Captains:  Isabella Mitchell and Mason Smith

Colour House Captains

Carthage: Lexi Behan and Ben Ryall

D'Arcy: Dusty Zorzo and Zack O'Driscoll-Wilson

Doyle: Penelope Gorman and Oliver Collings

Jerome: Sophie Bertoldi and Lachlan Elphick

Nagle: Mila Smith and Jake Holmes

Thomas: Mila Woolston and Reggie Field

Welcome BBQ and Disco

The Welcome Barbeque and Disco will be held on Thursday evening, 22nd February from 5.15pm - 7.00pm. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a school community to celebrate the new school year. 

Flyers have been sent home and if you are able to join us please fill out the return slip and return it to school by Monday for catering purposes.

Parent Information Meetings

Parent-Teacher Information Meetings are a vital communication link between home and school. I encourage every family to attend these meetings. This sends a powerful message to your children about the value you place on your child’s learning this year. Teachers go to a lot of trouble preparing these nights and I thank them for giving up their family time to assist your children’s education.

Our Kindergarten Meeting was held last night and I thank our families for coming along and gaining information about the year ahead.

Meetings for Years 1-6 are as follows.

Year 5 and Year 6 - Monday 26th February -  5.30pm

Year 3 and Year 4 - Tuesday 27th February - 5.30pm 

Year 1 and Year 2 - Wednesday 28th February - 5.30pm

Parent/Teacher Interviews

We look forward to welcoming our parents and carers in Week 8 (18th - 21st March) to meet with teachers. Working together in partnership helps to clarify goals for your children, inform about areas of strength and areas to work on as well as clarify any issues or concerns which we may not be aware of. 

More information to follow.

School Photos

Our School photos will be taken on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th March. School Photo envelopes will be sent home with the students soon. Please return these envelopes, with the correct payment enclosed, on the Monday of the photos, as
these will be handed straight to the photographers. We do not handle photo money. Sibling envelopes will be available from the School Office. Please ensure that students are in their correct school uniform on these days.

Active Kids Drop Off and Pick Up

Thank you to those parents and carers who have followed our direction to use the Visitor's Carpark as a drop-off and pick-up point for Active Kids. This has become a major safety issue and it is imperative that ALL drop-offs and pick-ups are in the Visitors Carpark or on the kerbs outside of the school grounds.

The Staff Carpark is for staff use only.

We thank you for supporting this request in an effort to keep all of our students and families safe.

Social Media Reminder

It is quite common for parents to establish social media groups or pages to share information or connect with other parents in your child’s class and school community. Please be reminded that it is not permitted to establish a social media presence using the school's name or logo without written permission from the Principal. Any permitted social media pages/groups/accounts must adhere to the schools and the Catholic Schools Office Diocesan Social Media Policies.

Changes to Afternoon Pick Up

If there is a change in your child’s travel arrangements, please let us know by note or phone call. We ask that phone calls to the Office to advise children of an unexpected change to pick-up arrangements be made prior to 2:45pm. This provides Office Staff with the best chance of ensuring that your child receives the message. As you might imagine, a flurry of last minute phone calls at this busy time of the school day is not ideal.

If a child is unsure of their home time arrangements on a particular day, and we have received no notification, the child will be sent home on their bus as usual.

Late Arrival and Early Departure

• Students arriving after the school bell has rung must be brought to the Office by their parent/carer upon arrival.
• Parents/carers collecting students early must come to the School Office. Staff will call students to the Office for collection. 

Please Note: We are unable to allow children to go with another parent unless we have permission (preferably written). If unknown to Office Staff, parents/carers calling to collect children will be asked for photographic I.D. This is not meant to offend and is only in the interest of your child/ren’s safety.

Notification of Student Absences

Parents of students marked as Absent (unexplained) will receive an SMS notification asking you to advise the reason for your child’s absence by return SMS. As SMS messages are now considered legitimate forms of communication, a follow-up phone call or note is not required. However, if you are unable to respond to the SMS then the school does require some form of communication via a phone call or email to explain absences.You can also enter your child's absence prior to getting the SMS notification using the Compass App. 

It is both a legal requirement and a safety issue that all visitors report to the Office and sign in and out of the school. This is necessary in the unlikely event of a fire, evacuation, lockdown etc. but more importantly for the safety of the students in our care. If you are staying at the school, you will also be issued with a visitor’s badge.

Infant's Play Equipment After School

Our Infants’ play equipment is designed for use by our younger students under teacher supervision during the school day at the following times: before school from 8:30am to 8:55am, morning tea and lunch. It is not to be used by students from Years 3 to 6 at any time. Students catching buses, walking to Cathedral pick-up or waiting for parents are NOT to be on the equipment as they are not being supervised. Students must be supervised by their parents on the play equipment after school. We don’t wish to spoil fun, but safety is paramount and teachers are spending much time moving students away from this area to where they should be in the afternoons.

Child Protection and Complaints Handling Policies

The Child Protection and Complaints Handling Policies are availble on our school website. Please use the link below to view these policies.

https://www.stcarthlism.catholic.edu.au/policies

Parish Mass Times

The times for weekday Masses in the Cathedral are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00am, and Friday at 12:05pm.

Weekend Mass times are; Saturday Vigil – 5:30pm

                                     Sunday Morning – 9:00am

                                     Sunday Morning – 11.00am

This semester, the Year 5 students have participated in the $20 BOSS Project. This program was designed to build the enterprise skills of young people, better preparing them for the future.

The program gave students $20 of funding per student to create, launch, and operate their business venture. The students were encouraged to work in groups. During this, they learned the key elements of social entrepreneurship, business, and organisational skills. Students also focussed on creating social good by donating some of their profits to chosen charities.

The total money donated by Year 5 students was $2606.80. We thank Year 5 for all their hard work and for giving back to our community through their donations.

Paintings

Our indigenous students have been completing some paintings with Mr Condie during their cultural groups. They have done an excellent job producing these artworks and are very proud of their work.

Jan's Bucket Club

Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAI) 2024

Bookings are now open for our Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAI) for next year for our Year One to Year Six students. MAIs will take place on Monday 30th January and Tuesday 31st January 2023. To make a booking go to: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/qfb2e

or use the QR code below:

Follow the prompts to make your booking/s. Please remember to select the year level your child/ren will be in next year (2024).

Bookings must be finalised by Friday 22nd December at 3pm.

Please contact me via email at amanda.deeps@lism.catholic.edu.au if there are any issues with your MAI bookings.

I would like to wish everyone a happy and holy Christmas. I hope you all have a chance to spend quality time with your loved ones and relax and renew yourselves ready for 2024.

Stay safe and well over the break and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2024.