School Newsletter
Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials
The Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials were held on Friday 10th March in Grafton and Maclean. St Carthage's had 26 students from Year 5 and 6 that represented our school. We are extremely proud of the effort that they all displayed on the day. Each and every one of them should be extremely proud of their achievements.
Football - Jimi Bradfield, Cooper Green, Jimmi Matthews, Kieran Nolan, Jak Scofield.
Hockey - Mason Smith, Taj Vantaggiato, Priya Vantaggiato, Isaac Wicks.
Netball - Amahli Adams, Ruby Edmonds, Adelaide McFarlane, Erica Robinson, Mya Weekes.
Rugby League - Oliver Collings, Lincoln Cormack, Lachlan Elphick, Reggie Field, Dylan O'Brien, Archie Sauer.
Rugby Union - Hugh Jeffery, Zachary Johnson, Will Lynch, Hayden Tucker, Zavier Zorzo.
Congratulations to Jimmi Matthews (football), Mason Smith, Taj Vantaggiato, Priya Vantaggiato, Isaac Wicks (hockey), Adelaide McFarlane, Erica Robinson (netball), Reggie Field, Dylan O'Brien, Archie Sauer (rugby league) and Zavier Zorzo (rugby union) who were selected in the Lismore Diocesan Team for their respective sport. We wish you the best of luck at the Polding Trials.
Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival
On Friday 3rd March, Heidi Cormack, Lincoln Cormack and Isabella Mullington travelled to Kempsey to participate in the Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Attending the Diocesan Swimming Carnival and competing against students of an extremely high calibre was a fantastic experience for our students in their respective events.
Heidi Cormack
Junior Girls 50m Breaststroke
Lincoln Cormack
Senior Boys 50m Freestyle - 36.38s
Senior Boys 50m Butterfly - 43.78s - 5th
Senior Boys 50m Breaststroke - 50.40s - 5th
Isabella Mullington
Junior Girls 50m Backstroke - 52.27
Congratulations and thank you for the way that you represented our school in the representative pathway for swimming.
Rugby 7's Gala Day
The St Carthage's Rugby 7's team has been busy training and preparing for the recent local gala day. The students travelled to Casino on Thursday 9th March. They won their first two games 6-0 and 3-0. Allowing them to proceed to the semi finals. After a very close contest, the students progressed to the final with a 2-1 victory.
In the final they played a very strong team from Lindesfarm. The game could've gone either way with both teams having multiple opportunities to cross the line to score, if it was not for the outstanding defence. St Carthage's lost in the final, in what was a very tight match. The teamwork and determination shown by St Carthage's throughout the day was truly remarkable.
Thank you to Mr Sheridan and Mrs Lynch for preparing our team for the day. We wish them the best of luck at the regional finals that will be held later in the year.
Maths Problem of the Week - Solutions
There are a number of ways this week's problem can be solved. How did you go?
Year One and Year Two - Mathematics
Year One and Two students have been exploring different ways to measure a wide variety of items. They worked together in teams to measure, record, compare and estimate a variety of attributes including length, area, volume, and mass using informal and formal units. They should now be able to help out around the home; weighing ingredients for cooking, measuring the capacity of their water bottle, measuring how much paint might be required to paint the wall or measuring the length of their height to see how much they have grown.
Problem of the Week...
The Maths Olympiad team is preparing for their first competition next term by completing past questions.
Challenge your family to see who can solve this week's problem of the week.
“Jesus, live in my Heart - Forever!”
These are the words the children say regularly at school - and our recent prayer gathering was another opportunity to really understand what this means.
Our loving God does not cause natural disasters. Rather, our God becomes visibly present through the sacrifice, courage and the service shown by those who work to renew and rebuild. Jesus is in our hearts.
In celebrating this progress and renewal St Carthage’s community turned to our God to express our gratitude for the many gifts evident in that renewal and rebuilding.
Our community focussed upon the Scripture - “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13 – which allowed us to reflect upon our memories of the many acts of sacrifice, courage and Service witnessed.
Music, words and imagery helped us reflect upon the Scripture with a focus upon the Sacred Heart of Jesus – a ‘love without boundaries’ which gifts each of us the strength to act in Service to others.
In preparation for the prayer gathering, each member of the community painted a small red heart - symbolising one act of sacrifice, courage or service - on a stone which were then brought to our Lenten Prayer space. It was quite amazing to see so many students and staff bringing the hearts forward.
As a community, we were able to acknowledge the past but recognise the incredible progress made in renewing our own school and town.
As usual, we were so proud of our students who were so reverent and respectful throughout the prayer.
We captured some reflections from some student after the event
“It was very peaceful and calming – it was a bit sorrowful and happy”
“I loved how the students put lots of hard work into the sacred space”
“I liked the music because it was about Jesus – especially the Sacred Heart song!”
"I liked singing the 'heart song' it made me happy"
"I liked painting the hearts on the stones because it reminded me of prayers and being happy"
Important Information - Sacramental Program 2023
Sacramental dates are now set:
First Eucharist – Sunday 22 October, 5.30pm Mass
Reconciliation – Tuesday 22nd August, 5:30pm
Confirmation - Wednesday 21st June, 6.00pm
Prior to these dates we will hold a session for Parents and Carers of students involved in the Sacramental Program. We will invite parents to bring their children to the session.
Christian Meditation with Year 4
Thank you to Mrs Helen Hunter who visited the Year 4 classes this week to speak about Christian Meditation. The children were interested in hearing about the history of this prayer form.
When I asked them what they had learned they were keen to tell me that there are different forms of meditation and that Christian meditation had a particular way of allowing God to speak with them.
Importantly the children said that different religions have different ways of prayer and meditation but they all allowed the person to pray to God.
Jesus got away from activities and noise to enjoy some stillness and silence with God. "Come a part lest you come apart." (come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest: Mark 6:31)
Our commitment to Christian Meditation echoes the example of Jesus who sought silence with God.
Christian Meditation does not need any special objects or space. Christian meditation can be as short as 30 seconds spent in silence before commencing your school work.
Bible Journalling
Our Year 4 teachers were also interested in introducing the children to Bible Journalling.
Bible journalling is the process of taking notes and doodling illustrations, as well as emphasizing key words and phrases, using various writing utensils, colours, and markings (like circles and underlines)—all within the pages of your personal Bible. The children used their Prayer Journal instead of their personal Bible.
Mrs Hunter was also good enough to also introduce the art and prayer form of Bible Journalling to Year 4.
For students, Bible journalling is an exciting way to engage with Scripture. With pen in hand, you can visually capture Scripture, meditate on God's Word and memorize the text.
Mrs Hunter speaking with our Yr 4 students about Prayer Journalling.
Our Yr 4 students were very attentive!
Below: Some of our students starting out on their journey of Bible Journalling.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Our St Patrick's Feast day Fund-raising Effort (Casual Clothes with a hint of Green!) raised $650 which will go to our Project Compassion fund-raising.
Thank you for your generosity!
Date Claimers
Feast of the Annunciation - 25th March
Palm Sunday - 2nd April
Sunday April 2 at 3.00pm - Lismore Symphony Orchestra performing in the Cathedral - For bookings visit their website https://www.lismoresymphony.org/events/2023-renaissance/
Holy Thursday/Good Friday - 6/7th April
St Carthage’s Feast Day - 15th May
Our Lady Help of Christians - 24th May
Ascension of the Lord - 29th May
Sacrament of Confirmation - 21st June 6pm - Cathedral
First Eucharist – Sunday 22nd October, 5.30pm Mass
Reconciliation – Tuesday 22nd August, 5:30pm
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 in a safe and happy environment. 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.
We celebrate Holy Week in the last week of the school term. This is the most important time in the Church’s calendar. Holy week begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday next Sunday, the beginning of our journey to Easter. Holy Week is most definitely a very sacred time of the year, for it is then that we will commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus' life on this earth. These are the days leading up to the great Easter Feast. The Lenten season of sacrifice and self-denial comes to an end. In Holy Week, the greatest focus is the Passion (suffering) and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events which lead up to it. Historical documents tell us, that as early as the fourth century, the Church celebrated this "Great Week" with a feeling of profound sanctity.
We celebrate Palm Sunday next weekend (2nd April) and this marks Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The palms will be blessed and then borne in procession to the church, where an entry is made with a certain amount of ceremony, after which the Mass is celebrated. The other notable and very ancient feature of the present Palm Sunday service is the reading of the Gospel of the Passion by three readers.
Especially important for Catholics is the Easter Triduum. This is the three days just before Easter Sunday. On Holy Thursday, we re-enact 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, we have the veneration of the Cross. A service is held at three o'clock in the afternoon (the hour He is believed to have died). There is no consecration of the Eucharist on this day, and the Communion we receive will be from the night before, which has been reserved in the tabernacle. The Holy Saturday Mass begins after sundown as the crowd gathers. In the darkness a new fire is kindled and blessed by the Bishop or priest. 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." Those who engage themselves wholeheartedly in living the entire paschal cycle (Lent, Triduum and Easter's Fifty Days) discover that it can change them forever. This is especially so of the Triduum which, standing at the heart of the Easter season, is an intense immersion into the mystery of what it is to be Christian. During these days, we suffer with Christ so that we might rise with Him at His glorious Resurrection.
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, happy and Holy Easter and holiday and I look forward to a very productive and positive return to school on Wednesday, 26th April. Just a reminder that student's last day of school for the Term One is Wednesday 5th April.
St Patrick's Day
Our school was a sea of green last Friday as our students dressed in green to celebrate St Patrick's 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 Jo Kelly (CSO Parent Assembly Cluster Coordinator) and Mrs Kirstie McCluskie (a school parent rep on Parent Assembly) and her daughter Bonnie who provided the hospitality for the evening.
Save the Date - School Family Partnership Meeting
Next term we will be having a meeting to discuss our new model for sharing and gathering information between school and home. Mrs Janita Thompson- Family Parent Lead from the Catholic Schools Office will be facilitating this meeting. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 2nd May at 6.00pm in the school hall.
All parents and carers are very welcome to attend. A flyer will be send out next week.
Tell Them From Me - Parent Surveys
In the first two weeks of Term 2 (beginning Monday 24th April) 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.
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 proceed as normal this year. Tuesday 25th April is Anzac Day. 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 Tuesday 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 2024 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 2024 to be enrolled in Diocesan schools.
LITURGY TIMES FOR TRIDUUM AND EASTER AT THE CATHEDRAL
Smoking Ceremony
In Week 4 we had Uncle Gilbert Laurie perform an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony at our school. Uncle Gilbert is an artist, language speaker and teacher of his culture. He is well respected in our local community and has visited us several times. The smoking is a tradition to bring in the good and to cleanse an area of the bad. In recent times we have had floods in the Lismore area and the Covid virus. The ceremony was part of the healing of the land and its people.
New Online Resources To Help Parents Engage In their Child's Learning (NSW)
As part of the NSW Curriculum Reform, parents and carers of children from Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 have access to a free online library that contains information, interactive games and activities to support learning in the classroom. Please see attached the media release from Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell which contains information about this library as well as the link.
Mathematics Olympiad - Years 5 & 6
This year we are excited to register a team to compete in the Maths Olympiad. This is a competition where students participate in six separate contests over the year, completing challenging problem-solving questions.
Each contest comprises of 5 questions, worth 1 mark each, and must be completed in a specified time frame of 30 minutes. Questions are completed individually under exam conditions. The first competition will be held in early Term 2.
Students were nominated based on past NAPLAN and whole-school testing results as well as teacher recommendations. Parents have been notified if their child is participating in this competition. Students will work with myself leading up to and between each contest, preparing and reviewing practice-style questions.
I know the students are excited (and a little bit nervous) about this opportunity and I look forward to working with them throughout the year.
Project Compassion
We were very proud of our Leaders from Year 6 - Ruby Edmonds, Tyler McLennan, Noah Tatton and Chelsea Gosling - who recently participated in a Zoom QandA with Caritas - the Catholic Church's international aid and development agency in Australia. Caritas works alongside the most vulnerable.
A member of Caritas staff speaking with our students
Mrs McFadden's class 6 RED spent time discussing Laxmi's Story. Laxmi lives in Nepal and is one of the people our children learn about and raise funds for during the time of Lent. During their learning the class developed a number of excellent questions to pose to the staff and volunteers they spoke with from Caritas.
Our students were able to engage directly with Caritas Australia’s program staff learn more about the impact of their generous donations.
Don't forget....
St Patrick's Feast day - 17 March - Casual Clothes with a hint of Green! (Gold Coin donation will go to our Project Compassion fund-raising)
Incitāre retreat for selected Year 6 students
In late February the annual Incitāre retreat for Year 6 students was held. The students had a wonderful experience and were involved in a variety of activities - as you can tell by the photos below!
These students are leaders of the school and certainly behaved in that manner. I was very impressed with their willingness to volunteer answers in front of a large group and contribute in a very positive way to the activities.
We thank the students from Woodlawn College who helped run the day which was sponsored by the catholic Schools Office.
Christian Meditation at St Carthage's
Our students have been involved in the practice of Christian Meditation for many years now. As the students progress through the years they are introduced to this prayer practice which has many benefits. A connection with God spiritually is a very healthy practice and has many benefits for our wellbeing. We hope that students eventually leads each child to a place where they can meditate for even a few seconds as a way of connecting with both their inner 'quietness' and a God who loves them.
Why Christian Meditation?
Busyness and noise have become so much apart of our lives that many of us are uncomfortable with periods of stillness. Eliminating activities and noise is an essential way to remove the clutter and hush the rush so we can focus, rest and relax. Then we'll be prepared, from within our inner selves, to a sense the divine presence.
Meditation is a universal tradition found in all the great religions. Many Christians have been helped to recover contact with their own tradition of meditation, or contemplative prayer, because of the work of Fr. John Main, who is the inspiration of the World Community. His teaching of ancient tradition of prayer is rooted in the Gospels and the early Christian monastic tradition of the Desert.
Jesus got away from activities and noise to enjoy some stillness and silence with God. "Come a part lest you come apart." (come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest: Mark 6:31)
Our commitment to Christian Meditation echoes the example of Jesus who sought silence with God.
Each class meditates every day and Year 3 Blue, after coming into the library after lunch spend a few moments in quiet Christian meditation
St Carthage's Parish Sacrament Program
Students who are baptised are invited into the Parish Sacramental Program through St Carthage’s Primary School.
- Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 - 21 June, 2023)
- Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 4 - Date to be confirmed)
- Sacrament of the Eucharist (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. Simply use the nomination form (below) and return to the School Office.
Students in Years 3 and 4 have received an enrolment form directly from their classroom teacher.
Note: 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.
Stormbirds Program
A reminder that the Stormbirds Program will be made available this year once again. This program was developed following Black Saturday fires In Victoria and is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are a normal and natural part of life. The program is delivered to small groups of their peers over four sessions. The group is led by a 'Companion' who stays with the group for the four sessions. The program is not therapy and students in the program get to...
1) Share their experiences of change and loss in safe ways
2) Come to understand and attend to their feelings
3) Learn skills for adapting and recovering
For more information go to
https://www.goodgrief.org.au/stormbirds
We invite parents and carers to nominate students who might benefit from Stormbirds Program via the link below:
https://forms.gle/kq1ZHsnVwfehw1wz6
If you, or a teacher, nominate your child to participate in Stormbirds, a Permission Form and Information Letter further outlining the Program will be sent home with your child.
Date Claimers
Feast of the Annunciation - 25th March
St Patrick's Feast day - 17 March - Casual Clothes with a hint of Green! (Gold Coin donation will go to our Project Compassion fund-raising)
Palm Sunday - 2 April
Sunday April 2 at 3.00pm - Lismore Symphony Orchestra performing in the Cathedral - For bookings visit their website https://www.lismoresymphony.org/events/2023-renaissance/
Holy Thursday/Good Friday - 6/7 April
St Carthage’s Feast Day - 15 May
Our Lady Help of Christians - 24 May
Ascension of the Lord - 29 May
Sacrament of Confirmation - 21 June 6pm - Cathedral
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.
This should lessen the confusion and temptation that some children have to play on the playground equipment when the bell rings. Parents, this equipment is out of bounds until the Cathedral Line and the Bus Bay Lines have moved off. However, no child should be on the equipment at any time if their parent is not supervising them.
- Cathedral grounds (preferred option):
Children being picked up from the Cathedral of an afternoon, line up near the Bus Bay 18-21 line. Teachers will escort them, via the underpass, to the Cathedral. All children are asked to walk in an orderly manner.
A “Drive-Through” operates as outlined below.
Cathedral Pick-up and Drive-Through Guidelines
Please note: Whilst it is not signposted a 10km/h speed limit should be adhered to as there are children crossing.
- All children must sit on the grassed area and wait for parents to collect them. (No children are to run off to meet their parents).
- ONE WAY TRAFFIC only.
- The Drive-Through-Lane is only for parents of children who do not need assistance getting into cars. Parents, please do not leave your car. Teachers will direct your child/ren to your car when it is time and safe to do so.
- 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 grounds and walk over to pick up your child.
- All pedestrian access via Cathedral steps and paths. Please do not cross in front of queuing “drive-through” traffic.
- Vehicles exit “Pick-up Parking” area on inside lane of Drive-Through queue (see diagram below).
- Parents in Drive-Through-Lane have 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 3:40pm any children still waiting to be picked up will walk back to school with the supervising teachers.
- In the event of funerals at the Cathedral, wet weather or storms, children are to be collected from the Library steps. A message will be placed on Seesaw and sent out through Compass.
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 in keeping your child safe.
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).
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 you know with are in the church season called Lent. Please read the following article that was in our weekly Newsletter from the Catholic Schools Office. This reflection from Mahatma Gandhi gives us another perspective on fasting.
Lent is our 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practise self-discipline and fast in other ways. Monica Dutton suggests two other practical types of fasting this week, relating to the modern dilemma of busy-ness and speed; and many people’s (including the media’s) preoccupation with negativity:
Fasting from speed and negativity
“Mahatma Gandhi said ‘There is more to life than
increasing its speed; Not everything has to be done fast.
In fact, some things deserve to be done slowly – like
reading a bedtime story to a child, eating lunch with a
friend, cooking a special meal, pottering in the garden,
watching the sunset… Slowing down nurtures patience’.
Slowing down gives us a chance to also become positive…
Negative people see the world through grey-coloured
glasses. They focus on what’s wrong with the world instead
of what’s right. They complain. They shoot down every new
idea and every expression of hope. Yes, life has
disappointments. Yes, life has pain. But life is also filled
with goodness, joys, and beautiful surprises. If we tend to
look at life negatively, then Lent is a good time to get a new
pair of glasses”.
International Women's Day
We hope all of our mums, carers, grandmothers and all of the women in our school community felt acknowledged on Wednesday - a day of recognition and acknowledgement for the inspiration role they play in the lives of their families and friends.
School Vision
Last year our school underwent the School Improvement and Review process. As part of this we reviewed and refined our school vision. This was a detailed process where we had to take a deep dive into where and what we would like our school to be like in 5 years time. This statement is aspirational and future focussed but allowed us the opportunity to think about our students and school community and where our priorities lay. There was very robust and collaborative discussion around the wording of out statement but I would like to share with you what we achieved;
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!
We will display this statement around the school as a visible reminder of vision for St Carthage's.
We were also involved in developing our 3 Year Strategic Plan 2023-2025 and our 2023 School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP). This was a lengthy process that involved all staff in reviewing our data, deciding our priorities and setting goals. We will share this with you in the coming weeks.
Welcome Barbeque and Disco
It was great to see so many of our families join us last Thursday evening for our barbeque and disco. After a shaky start to the day the weather gods shone down on us and we were able to enjoy an afternoon of fun, dancing, socialising and eating! It is a great feeling to be able to reconnect with our school community and enjoy some social time together.
School Photos Reminder
Our School photos will be taken on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th March. School Photo envelopes have been sent home. Please return these envelopes on Monday, with correct payment enclosed, as these will be handed straight to the photographers. We do not handle photo money. Sibling envelopes are available from the School Office.
All students are to wear their full school uniform on Monday for class photos. Sibling photos will be taken on Tuesday. Uniform for sibling photos is at parents’ discretion.
Professional Development Days
Our first Professional Development Day for 2023 will be on the last day of Term One, Thursday 6th April. The first day of Term 2, Monday, 24th April will also be a Professional Development Day.
We thank you in anticipation of your support. Active Kids Care will be available on these days.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers book interviews this 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.
National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
Students in Years 3 and 5 will undergo the National Assessment Program on Wednesday 15th– Monday 27th 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. Please note that there is 10 day period for these tests to be completed.
If you do not wish your child/children to participate please notify the school and we will provide you with the necessary form.
InitiaLit (K-2) (Whole-class initial instruction in literacy)
InitiaLit is an evidence-based, whole-class literacy program that aligns with the new K-2 English syllabus. This program has been introduced within our K-2 classrooms as part of our daily English Block. It uses a Systematic, Synthetic Phonics approach to teach students how to read and write.
Unlike learning to talk which children pick up naturally, children need to be directly taught the relationship between letters and sounds. This program helps children to learn the relationships between the sounds (phonemes) of spoken language and the letter symbols (graphemes) of written language. They also need to know how to blend and segment these sounds/letters when reading and writing words.
Terminology
Some of the terms used in a Systematic Synthetic Phonics program can sound confusing. Here’s a basic rundown of the most common terms you’ll hear:
Phoneme – the smallest unit of speech sound in a word ( /s/ = ss rather than ess)
Grapheme – the written letter or group of letters that represent a speech sound
Phoneme/Grapheme Correspondence – the relationship between speech sounds and letter symbols.
Decoding (Reading) – the process of reading a word by recognising which sound (phoneme) corresponds with each letter (grapheme) and then blending these individual sounds/letters to make words.
Encoding (Spelling) – the process of spelling a word by deciding which letters represent the speech sounds.
Tricky words - tricky words are words that cannot always be sounded out using phoneme/grapheme correspondence. These were previously referred to as sight words.
How can I support my child at home?
Each grade will outline what home reading activities they would like to be completed. This might include reading decodable texts or fluency passages, practising their sounds or simply reading to and with your child for enjoyment. This will vary according to the grade and the class focus. Some great ways to support your child to continue to develop a love of reading could include:
- Reading interest-based books and stories to and with your child. Discuss the story and point out any new words to enrich their vocabulary.
- Spend time teaching your child nursery rhymes, songs and poems.
- Play language games - talk about letters and sounds in the environment.
- Have your child find 'tricky' words (sight words) in the story.
When readers are sent home, try to spend time listening to your child read, providing support to help them apply their knowledge about sounds and letters to the text. Not all words can be sounded out. These words are called 'tricky' words in this program and are required to be learned by looking for grapheme (letter) patterns rather than solely on the sounds. Due to this, don't encourage your child to sound these words out, as that might cause confusion. Simply, tell them that the word is a tricky word and give it to them. Their tricky word bank will build over time with ongoing exposure and teaching in the classroom.
Tips for parents:
1. Become familiar with the basics of phonics yourself.
Make sure that what you are practising with your child is consistent with what they are being taught at school by learning the principles of Synthetic Phonics for yourself. A good place to start is learning to say each letter sound (e.g. /s/ as in ‘sit’) correctly for reading instead of using the letter name (e.g. ‘ess’) to identify a letter.
2. Look for opportunities to model phonics
When you’re out and about, look for opportunities to demonstrate sound/letter correspondences such as on signs or on menus at restaurants. Demonstrate the sound and letter yourself and then ask your child to do the same.
3. Ask questions
Once your child has successfully decoded a sentence, ask them questions about what they have just read. This will help them to build comprehension skills, which is another essential component of effective reading. You could ask questions like, ‘What do you think that means?’ or ‘What do you think will happen next?’.
4. Offer encouragement and praise
Build your child’s confidence by acknowledging when they have read successfully. Depending on your child’s reading skill, success could be making the correct sound for a letter or reading a complete sentence without assistance. If your child makes a mistake, acknowledge what they have done well and offer corrective feedback for them to try again.
We will provide a variety of opportunities throughout the year for you to learn more about how to support your child at home with reading.
Welcome BBQ
Woodlawn Open Night
Melanoma March
The Season of Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent - a 40 day season of prayer and a time for reviewing our own habits and attitudes.
Years 4-6 attended Ash Wednesday Mass at the Parish Mass while students in Years K-3 attended a prayer celebration where ashes were distributed. The younger students heard about the need to MAKE A NEW BEGINNING FOR JESUS during Lent.
The ashes signify the opportunity to start anew, like green shoots arise from the ashes after a fire.
Each classroom will be given a pot with some soil in it and perhaps, hopefully, green shoots might rise through the soil before Easter! New Life!
Our Focus for Lent
During Lent we learn about the need to pray more, to give to the needy and to try to give up something (it could be a bad habit) like sleeping in too long on a week-day morning!)
We are holding a casual clothes day on St Patrick's Feast day - 17 March - to raise funds to send to Caritas. Casual Clothes with a hint of Green!
(Gold Coin donation will go to our Project Compassion fund-raising).
Courage to Serve
Last newsletter I eplained the meaning behind our God-Moment awards. We also have another award at school - the Courage to Serve Award.
This is awarded to students who show courage in meeting a challenge or serving a person or even our school community in some way.
Our first students receiving the award were the Year 6 students who led us in movement during our closing song at our Opening School Mass!
The reason we serve is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
St Carthage's Parish Sacrament Program
Students who are baptised are invited into the Parish Sacramental Program through St Carthage’s Primary School. At the moment we only have the date for Confirmation.
- Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 - 21 June, 2023)
- Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 4 - Date to be confirmed)
- Sacrament of the Eucharist (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. Simply use the nomination form (below) and return to the School Office.
Students in Years 3 and 4 will receive a form directly from their classroom teacher.
Note: 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.
Stormbirds Program
A reminder that the Stormbirds Program will be made available this year once again. This program was developed following Black Saturday fires In Victoria and is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are a normal and natural part of life. The program is delivered to small groups of their peers over four sessions. The group is led by a 'Companion' who stays with the group for the four sessions. The program is not therapy and students in the program get to...
1) Share their experiences of change and loss in safe ways
2) Come to understand and attend to their feelings
3) Learn skills for adapting and recovering
For more information go to
https://www.goodgrief.org.au/stormbirds
We invite parents and carers to nominate students who might benefit from Stormbirds Program via the link below:
https://forms.gle/
If you, or a teacher, nominate your child to participate in Stormbirds, a Permission Form and Information Letter further outlining the Program will be sent home with your child.
Date Claimers
Incitāre retreat for selected Year 6 students - 28 February, 2023
World Day of Prayer - Cathedral on Friday March 3 at 9.30am
St Patrick's Feast day - 17 March - Casual Clothes with a hint of Green! (Gold Coin donation will go to our Project Compassion fund-raising).
Sunday April 2 at 3.00pm - Lismore Symphony Orchestra performing in the Cathedral - For bookings visit their website https://www.lismoresymphony.
St Carthage’s Feast Day - 15 May
Our Lady Help of Christians - 24 May
Ascension of the Lord - 29 May
Sacrament of Confirmation - 21 June 6pm - Cathedral
Uniform Reminder
Just a reminder that our school uniform policy states that hair that is long enough to be tied back must be tied back. We are seeing a number of students (both male and female) who are not following this rule. Your support in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
My School Updated for 2023
The My School website has been updated for 2023 with new profile information on schools and the latest school-level NAPLAN data.
From the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority (ACARA) CEO, David de Carvalho, “My School provides data on schooling right across Australia, helping parents, schools and governments to understand the performance of schools.”
“It’s an important resource for parents to make informed decisions about their children’s schooling. As well as providing an overview of approach and focus of the school, parents and carers can also find information on student and teacher numbers, attendance rates, financial information and NAPLAN results.
“It also provides teachers with important insights into school performance, supporting and driving improvements across the nation.”
The 2023 My School update includes the following:
2022 school profile and population data
2022 school attendance data
2022 NAPLAN results for schools
2021 school financial information, including capital expenditure and funding sources
2021 post-school destinations data.
Student progress data for 2020 – 2022 is not available following the cancellation of NAPLAN in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, parents can still view NAPLAN performance data relative to Socio-Educational Advantage by school on the NAPLAN results page.
My School’s Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) indicates the average educational advantage of the school’s students and is calculated using information about a parent’s occupation and education, school geographical location and the proportion of Indigenous students. A school’s ICSEA value is provided to encourage taking socio-educational advantage into account when comparing school achievement.
My School shows a decline in students’ attendance during Semester 1 and Term 3 2022, but this can be attributed to the impacts of the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak, high influenza outbreaks and floods experienced in some regions of Australia during that time.
To have a look at St Carthage’s Primary School’s profile and results, go on the My School website and enter the full school name in the search field.
NAPLAN Reminder
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.
From 2023, NAPLAN is moving to Term 1 and will take place from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March. The reason for this change is so that results can be returned to schools earlier in the year which will support teachers to understand the learning needs of their students and plan accordingly.
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 2023, 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. If you wish to withdraw you child from NAPLAN please contact Mrs Deeps.
Students will need to bring in a set of headphones for the NAPLAN tests. If the headphones could be sent into school as soon as possible so that they can be used in the lead up to the assessments it would be greatly appreciated.
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 finish Week 4 of Term One it is great to reflect on the first few weeks of our new school year. We have seen our students settle effortlessly into their new class, form relationships with their new teachers, reconnect with their friends, make new friends and continue their learning where they left off! It is wonderful to also see our kindergarten students settling so well into school life. It is amazing how quickly 'big school' becomes their new normal.
On Wednesday we had a school prayer service for our Kindergarten - Year 3 students for Ash Wednesday and Years 4-6 attended the Parish Mass. The ashes were blessed by the Bishop at Mass and distributed by teachers to our students. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent in our Church year. Lent is a very significant time in the Church year. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many Christians think of the forty days of Lent as an opportunity to change their daily lives and become closer to God.
From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence. Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, as a wedding or birthday, Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
These days, Christians around the world observe Lent in many ways. Many from more orthodox and traditional denominations will still observe the fast strictly, beginning with the wearing of ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstinence of meat, fish, eggs and fats until Easter Sunday. Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, meat or alcohol. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time; such as watching TV and even social media. Many Christians also use Lent to pray more intensively and to use simple daily reflections and acts of generosity as a way of putting others first during preparations for Easter.
Pope Francis, in his Lenten message asks; “What are you giving up for Lent?” It’s a question a lot of people will get these next few days. If you want to change your body, perhaps alcohol, sweets and cigarettes is the way to go. But if you want to change your heart, a harder fast is needed. This narrow road is gritty, but it isn’t sterile. It will make room in ourselves to experience a love that can make us whole and set us free. So, if we’re going to fast from anything this Lent, Pope Francis suggests that even more than sweets or alcohol, we fast from indifference towards others.
Let us take time to reflect on the past year and during this season of Lent perhaps think about ways we can ‘fast’ in our own lives.
Year Six Induction Mass
Last Thursday we celebrated our Year Six leaders with a Mass in the Cathedral. Our School Captains, Vice Captains and Colour House Captains were presented with their badges and all of our Year Six student leaders recited their pledge to do and be the best person they can be in their senior year at St Carthage's.
We thank Fr Bing for celebrating this special mass with us.
Lions Citizenship Award
Congratulations to Bonnie Hogan and Jimmi Matthews who were presented with the Lions Citizenship awards at our Year Six Induction Mass last week. This award recognises school service, leadership amongst peers and school spirit.
We congratulate Bonnie and Jimmi on this great achievement.
Congratulations
Parent/Teacher Information Night
It was wonderful to see parents and carers at the Parent Teacher Information nights over the past week. Hopefully these meetings provided you with an overview of the year ahead and answered any questions/ concerns that you may have had.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
We look forward to welcoming our parents and carers into our class rooms in Week 6 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.
Bookings for interviews are made online. Please check Compass for how to book if you haven't already done so.
Welcome Barbeque and Disco - Thursday 2nd March
We are excited to be able to host our annual Welcome Barbeque and Disco on Thursday, 2nd March. Please return your attendance notes by Monday 27th February for catering purposes. Please see the flyer in the Notice Board section of this Newsletter.
Thank You
We would like to say a BIG thank you to a local primary school for the donation of some playground benches and tables. We are very grateful for this very kind gesture. These will be well used by our students during morning tea and lunch times.
School Photos
Our School photos will be taken on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th March. School Photo envelopes will be sent home with the students soon. Please return these envelopes, with 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.
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.
2023 Dates
St Carthage's
Cross Country - Friday 24th March
Athletics Carnival - Thursday 1st June
Swimming Time Trials - Friday 1st December
Richmond Zone
Swimming Carnival - Monday 13th February
Winter Sports Trials (football, hockey, netball, rugby league and rugby union Year 5/6) - Thursday 16th February
Cross Country - Wednesday 3rd May
Athletics Carnival - Thursday 27th July
Summer Sports Trials (basketball, softball, tennis, touch football Year 4/5) - Thursday 2nd November
Lismore Diocesan
Swimming Carnival - Friday 3rd March
Winter Sports Trials - Friday 10th March
Cross Country - Tuesday 23rd May
Athletics Carnival - Wednesday 9th August
Summer sports Trials - Friday 24th November
Please note that dates may change throughout the year. If required, new dates will be provided leading up to the event.
Representative Sport
Students are provided with the opportunity to participate in representative sport that commences at a school level and progresses through to a national level. The representative pathway below applies for Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country (8-13 year olds), Winter Sports Trials (Year 5 & 6 - AFL, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union) and Summer Sports Trials (Year 4 & 5 - Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football).
Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival
The St Carthage's Swimming Team will travel to Alstonville on Monday 13th February to participate in the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival. This team was selected at our St Carthage's Swimming Time Trials late last year.
We wish the following students the best of luck!
Amahlia Adams, Ebony Andrews, Allie Bradfield, Adrian Brickhill, Laura Brickhill, Oliver Carney, Elliott Cleary, Oliver Collings, Ella Collings, Gus Collings, Heidi Cormack, Ella Davey, Ruby Edmonds, Hayden Ellem, Reggie Field, Penelope Gorman, Grace Hogan, Henry Hogan, Bonnie Hogan, Jake Holmes, Marcus Hunter, Hugh Jeffery, Stella Jones, Jamal Magann, Aidan Mark, Billy McCarthy, Bella McNamara, Isabella Mitchell, Isabella Mullington, Autumn Taylor, Hunter Waring, Myles Weekes and Mya Weekes.
Richmond Zone Winter Sports Trials
The Richmond Zone Winter Sports Trials will be held on Thursday 16th February in Lismore. Students in Year 5 and 6 were given the opportunity to nominate for football, hockey, netball, rugby league or rugby union. Thank you to our staff who ran trials over the last week to select students to represent St Carthage's at these trials.
We wish the following students the best of luck:
Football - Jimi Bradfield, Cooper Green, Grace Hogan, Jake Lindop, Jimmi Matthews, Kieran Nolan, Jak Scorifled and Louie Ware.
Hockey - Mason Smith, Taj Vantaggiato, Priya Vantaggiato and Isaac Wicks.
Netball - Amahli Adams, Ruby Edmonds, Chelsea Goslingy, Adelaide McFarlane, Erica Robinson, Amaya Schilling and Mya Weekes.
Rugby League - Oliver Collings, Lincoln Cormack, Lachlan Elphick, Reggie Field, Dylan O'Brien, Archie Sauer and Anthony Sims.
Rugby Union - Austin Cleary, Hugh Jeffery, Zachary Johnson, Will Lynch, Hayden Tucker, Tom Watson and Zavier Zorzo.
Gold Coast Suns Visit
On Thursday 9th February, Year 6 were fortunate enough to be visited by 3 players from the Gold Coast suns. They had the opportunity to gain insight into what life is like as a professional athlete and healthy eating habits. Following the Q & A session, the students went out and did a range of drills with the suns players and local development officers. We thank them for this amazing opportunity!
Why choose our Catholic School as a partner in forming your children for their future?
Welcome back to a new year. At the commencement of each year I see young parents bringing their children to the Kinder classrooms and ask myself - what brings them to our school?
A Principal I worked with once said to me that Catholic schools are not 'better' than other schools but 'different'. One difference is our endeavour to work and live according to a common set of principles based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Compared to the widely conflicting views and values of society, these principles are consistent.
So, while St Carthage's is not perfect, your children will hear the same messages from Kinder to Year 6, from teacher to teacher, from day to day, from year to year.
Messages based upon the Good News.
Academic progress of your children is vitally important but hearing a consistent message based upon the Good News of Jesus will have a hugely positive impact on their wellbeing into their future.
If they hear the same message at home - the impact upon them is MAGNIFIED!
Let's work together
______________
Please pray for those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
A prayer for children to say...
Dear Jesus,
Comfort those who are trapped in collapsed buildings;
those who have lost loved ones;
those who wait for news and
those digging through rubble to save others.
Grant the gift of hope to all.
We ask this in the Name of Jesus.
Amen.
A prayer for adults
God of mercy, We pray for the people of Türkiye and Syria
following the recent earthquakes.
We mourn the death and destruction.
and pray for those who have died and those who grieve.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
We hold in our hearts those who are injured,
and those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Sustain and guide all responding to this disaster.
Grant them courage and resilience,
as they help lives and communities.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Amen.
______________
God-Moment Awards!
We celebrate some of the ‘God-Moments” which regularly occur at St Carthage’s! This award is presented to students who go above and beyond in acting in a way which reflects the teachings of Jesus. Very soon we will present our first award for 2023 to a boy!
We teach that we not only need to know about our faith (Head) but we need to have a change of (Heart) and act (Hands) to make a difference!
______________
Ash Wednesday
On the 22nd of February we celebrate Ash Wednesday - marking the beginning of the Season of Lent - a 40 day season of prayer, fasting (for adults), and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter.
Please use this special time of Lent to pray for others and for ourselves, that we 'have a change of heart' about our own lives and reconcile with God and neighbour.
Ashes will be distributed to our children on this day. The ashes signify the opportunity to start anew, like green shoots arise from the ashes after a fire.
Mass times are as follows:
7am - Carmelite 8am - Cathedral
12noon - St Vincent’s hospital
12:05pm - Cathedral
5:30pm - Cathedral
______________
St Carthage's School and Parish Sacrament Program
Students who are baptised are invited into the Parish Sacramental Program through St Carthage’s Primary School. We will send home nomination forms to families to nominate their children for the following Sacraments:
- Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 - 21 June, 2023)
- Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 4 - Date to be confirmed)
- Sacrament of the Eucharist (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.
Note: 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.
______________
Stormbirds Program - Yes!
In 2022 St Carthage’s provided this program to students. This will continue in 2023. Teachers and families will receive information and be asked to nominate any student who they feel may benefit.
The Stormbirds Program was developed following Black Saturday fires In Victoria and is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are a normal and natural part of life.
The program is delivered to small groups of their peers over four sessions. The group is led by a 'Companion' who stays with the group for the four sessions. The program is not therapy and students in the program.
1) Share their experiences of change and loss in safe ways
2) To understand and attend to their feelings
3) To learn skills for adapting and recovering
For more information go to
https://www.goodgrief.org.au/stormbirds
______________
Seasons for Growth Program - Yes!
In 2023 we will be offering the Seasons for Growth Program for students. The program is a loss and grief education program that uses the metaphor of the seasons to understand the experience of grief. It builds knowledge and skills to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing following significant loss by:
- Exploring the impact of change and loss
- Learning about effective ways to respond and adapt
Participants learn that they are not alone in their experience of change, loss and grief, and are able to build their communication, decision making and problem solving skills within a safe and supportive peer group learning environment.
The programs do not provide counselling or psychotherapy but offers children a safe space to come together, and share their experiences of change and loss.
If you would like to learn more about the program see these links:
https://www.goodgrief.org.au/sites/default/files/CYPP%20Web%20Fact%20Sheet_1.pdf
https://www.goodgrief.org.au/seasons-for-growth
Parents and carers are invited to nominate their child for the program.
Look for information in Term 2.
______________
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
February 11 is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes who appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858 in Lourdes, France. In honour of St Bernadette, February 11 was proclaimed World Day of the Sick by Pope John Paul II who said that in times of trouble and concern, we can pray to Our Lady of Lourdes for help and support. At St Carthage’s we try to be practical helping those in need by keeping a FOOD FREEZER FOR FAMILIES IN NEED.
(At the moment we cannot accept meals but over the next few weeks this should change with the purchase of a new freezer.)
Making your faith real...Perhaps as a family you could speak about the need to care for those who are sick in your family or community. You could even cook dinner for a sick mother's family or bring flowers to a member of your parish community who is ill.
______________
Opening School Mass - invitation
Dates claimers!
Opening School Mass - Thursday 16 February 9:30am - Cathedral
Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes - 11th of February
World Day of the Sick - declared by Pope John Paul II - February 11
Ash Wednesday - 22 February
Incitāre retreats for selected Year 6 students - 28 February, 2023
World Day of Prayer - Cathedral on Friday March 3 at 9.30am
St Carthage’s Feast Day - 15 May
Our Lady Help of Christians - 24 May
Ascension of the Lord - 29 May
Sacrament of Confirmation - 21 June 6pm - Cathedral
Welcome to the 2023 School Year
Welcome to the 2023 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) last week. We thank all our parents for working with us to have students attend their individual appointments. The information gathered, as a result of the interview, is important in helping us to assess where a child's understanding is at in order for teachers to plan teaching that is targeted to the needs of their learners to enable them to thrive mathematically.
On Friday we welcomed our new Kindergarten students. From all accounts they have had a great start to "big school" even though there were a few tried faces this afternoon. Thank you 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 to plan lessons to best support the learning needs of every child in their classrooms.
The data collected through the Best Start and MAI will be shared with parents during Term One. If you have any questions regarding this please speak with your child’s teacher.
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.
From 2023, NAPLAN is moving to Term 1 and will take place from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March. The reason for this change is so that results can be returned to schools earlier in the year which will support teachers to understand the learning needs of their students and plan accordingly.
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 2023, 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 into school as soon as possible so that they can be used in the lead up to the assessments it would be greatly appreciated.
School Uniform
At St Carthage’s the wearing of the correct school uniform is compulsory. A note to the school is required if your child is not in the correct uniform. Permission must be sought for a child to be excused for longer periods (e.g. medical reasons).
Please label each item of clothing clearly as we end up with numerous uniform items (particularly hats and jumpers) in Lost Property and they can not be returned to the rightful owner as they have no name on it.
School hats are a compulsory part of the uniform and need to be worn at all times when the students are outdoors (including Bus Bays). If your child/ren comes to school without their hat they will be asked to sit in the shade.
School Uniform - Boys:Short sleeved blue shirt with school badge (tucked in) Grey school shorts Grey socks with blue and gold stripes Black lace-up leather shoes Royal blue school hat |
School Uniform - Girls:Blue/gold check skirt or culottes Blue with check trim over-blouse Royal blue socks Black leather shoes Royal blue school hat |
Sports Uniform - Boys:Gold sports shirt (PE rotation day) Colour House shirt (Sport day) Royal blue shorts Black Joggers- not sandshoes/volleys and no coloured soles, stripes or shoelaces. St Carthage’s School Sport Socks (Optional). Socks must be 5cm above the ankles - NO ankle socks allowed. |
Sports Uniform - Girls:Gold sports shirt (PE rotation day) Colour House shirt (Sport day) Royal blue sports shorts Black Joggers – not sandshoes/volley and no coloured soles, stripes or shoelaces. St Carthage’s School Sport Socks (Optional). Socks must be 5cm above the ankles - NO ankle socks allowed. |
Jewellery:
Students may wear one set of either plain sleepers or plain studs in their ears. Students can wear a necklace with a cross. Leather jewellery is not permitted nor are plastic wristbands.
Hair:
Girls should have all long hair tied back. When a boy's hair is below their collar it needs to be tied back. If a girl is going to wear ribbons in their hair they need to be gold or blue only.
Other:
There is to be no nail polish or fake nails at school.
PE & Sport Days
Bus Safety - Flashing Lights Campaign
Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children. By law, a driver must not overtake or pass a bus with flashing lights at more than 40km/h.
Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for about 20 seconds after the doors close. Children are most at risk in the minutes after they get off the bus.
Young children are often unpredictable in their movements. They are still developing the skills that help them to judge the direction of sound and the speed and distance of vehicles.
We know that because of their sheer size and mass, buses can cause severe outcomes for other road users in crashes. Motorists can help reduce the risk of a crash and keep children safe by:
- Slowing down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing, unless a lower speed limit applies
- Looking out for children crossing the road near bus stops, in school zones or along bus routes
- Giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.
School-aged children might seem independent, but they still need a hand. Remember:
- Always meet your child AT school or the bus stop. NEVER wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across.
- Always supervise your child and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop or interchange and when crossing the road until they are at least 10
- Wait until the bus has gone then use a safe place to cross the road
- Encourage your child to take a seat quickly when they get on the bus and to buckle up if the bus has seatbelts.
Talk to your children about Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time they cross the road:
- Stop one step back from the kerb
- Look continuously both ways
- Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic
- Think whether it is safe to cross and keep checking until safely across.
- Sticking to the speed limit and following the road rules in school zones
- Slowing down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing
- Looking out for children crossing the road near bus stops, in school zones or along bus routes
- Giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.
- Never drop off or meet children on the opposite side of the road to the bus stop or call them across the road. Always drop them off or meet them on the same side of the road as the bus stop.
- Encouraging their children to be distraction-free around buses - put down their phone and take off their headphones.
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. 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 2023 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.
I would like to thank you for supporting us in undertaking our Maths Assessment Interviews last week. We have gained valuable information and insight to assist the students with their mathematical conceptual understanding. It was also a great opportunity for teachers to touch base with students before formal classes begin.
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 have 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.
We welcome Mrs Caroline Conte to our staff this year. Caroline will be supervising our canteen and I know that she would welcome any assistance from our parents, grandparents and friends. I know you join with me in welcoming Caroline to our staff.
As we move through our second 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 2023 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.
Kindergarten 2023
It was great to welcome our Kindergarten students and their families to school last Friday and then to see them happily arrive at school ready to go again this week. 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 2023
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 2023:
School Captains: Quinn Begley and Darcy De Weert
Vice Captains: Ella Collings and Hugh Jeffery
Colour House Captains
Carthage: Gabby Krieg and Cooper Green
D'Arcy: Kieran Nolan and Aramaya Priestley
Doyle: Autumn Taylor and Tyler McLennan
Jerome: Mya Weekes and Dylan O'Brien
Nagle: Chelsea Gosling and Jimi Bradfield
Thomas: Caitlyn Marsters and Haydem Ellem
2023 Term Dates
Term 1 Friday 27 January to Thursday 6 April (10 weeks)
Term 2 Monday 24 April to Friday 30 June (10 weeks)
Term 3 Monday 17 July to Friday 22 September (10 weeks)
Term 4 Monday 9 October to Friday 15 December (10 weeks)
Easter Break: Good Friday 7 April to Easter Monday 10 April
Professional Development Days 2023
Please see the scheduled Professional Learning Days for 2023 for your information.
Thursday 6th April - Last day of Term One
Monday 24th April - First day Term Two
Wednesday 31st May - Week 6 Term Two
Monday 17th July - First Day Term 3
Monday 9th October - First Day Term Four
Parent Information Meetings
Parent-Teacher Information Meetings are a vital communication link between home and school. I encourage every family to attend the Kindergarten to Year 6 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, Year One and Year Two meetings will be held on different nights as there will be information shared on the new K-2 English and Maths curriculums.
The meetings this year will be on;Welcome BBQ and Disco
The Welcome Barbeque and Disco will be held on Thursday evening, 2nd March from 5.15pm - 7.15pm. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a school community to celebrate the new school year. It is also a time for us to acknowledge together what our local and parish school community has endured following the devastation of last year's natural disaster. It is a time to reflect and acknowledge this new year with a great sense of hope, renewal and excitement.
A note will be sent home next week.
Congratulations
Principal's Appraisal
Please see the following letter from Mr Michael Mullaly re my upcoming appraisal.
Dear Parents,
During Term One on Tuesday 14th March, Janelle Heffernan will be involved in a principal appraisal process as part of her contract of employment. The appraisal process seeks information from a variety of people associated with the school and uses a number of tools to ensure effective consultation. The process aims to highlight the positive aspects of the leadership offered and identify areas for further development. A timeline is currently being arranged to suit the needs of the school community. The appraisal will be conducted by an External Chair nominated by the Catholic Schools Office. The full principal appraisal process involves:
- a survey and self-appraisal statement completed by the Principal
- an interview with the Principal
- input as arranged with the Parish Priest
- surveys of parents, school staff and Catholic Schools Office personnel
- interviews with the Schools Leadership Team
- interviews with a random selection of staff who request an interview with the Chair
- interviews with a random selection of parents who request an interview with the Chair.
The preferred method of survey completion is by the online survey form. A link to this form will be forwarded to your email address. Please ensure your current email address is registered at the school as this survey link will be sent to you two weeks prior to the appraisal. Parents may express their interest to be interviewed via this electronic form. Not all those who express an interest to be interviewed will be contacted. If not contacted, then parents may wish to email their comments. Anonymous comments and emails will not be considered. In writing the appraisal report, use of the information gathered will remain confidential and not identify sources. Every family in the school is encouraged to complete a survey. Your support of the appraisal process is appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Michael Mullaly
Chair
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.
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
We live in a world surrounded by technology and we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works.
But only a fraction of us are learning how technology works. Only 51% of all high schools offer computer science.
That’s why our school has joined in on the largest learning events in history: The Hour of Code. During November and December students across the school have participated in coding activities with me that involved sequencing, branching, HTML, blocks and robotics. Our Hour of Code reflects our commitment that St Carthage’s is ready to teach these foundational 21st-century skills. Please enjoy viewing some of the students' experiences below.
Mrs Hayley Loadsman
Digital Technologies Teacher
