Week 10 Term 4 2020
Aboriginal Acknowledgement
As we come to gather 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 come to the end of another year, it is time to reflect on the year that was! It was a year that no-one could have predicted and as we returned to school in January we did so with a great sense of excitement and hope for what 2020 could and would be. We were certainly under a false sense of hope and as the term progressed we knew that things were going to be very different from anything we had ever experienced. And so began the roller coaster ride that was to be 2020! We were all thrown into chaos, both personally and professionally, as we navigated our way through the new normal. Social distancing, hand washing and sanitising become a way of life, parents, carers and families became distanced, technology became our new best friend, children were learning to learn from home and parents were learning to teach and we all discovered skills that we didn’t know we possessed.
Thankfully. as we moved into this final term we saw restrictions being eased, and whilst we still could not have our families on site during school hours we were able to celebrate the Year Six Graduation with parents and carers. Our Year Six teachers also organised a fantastic fun week for the students, which in part, helped to make up their disappointment of missing out on the Canberra excursion.
So we look forward to next year and a much more settled year. I thank each and everyone for your ongoing support, patience and understanding throughout the year. It has been a privilege to be involved in the education of your children. I pray that the peace of Jesus be with you and your families this Christmas and New Year. I encourage all families to celebrate with their Church family. Christmas without Christ just doesn’t make sense.
On behalf of the staff of St Carthage’s, I pray all families will enjoy a holy and blessed Christmas together. I trust the holidays will give you time to relax and rejuvenate yourselves for the coming year. May God bless all families with peace and good health.
I recently read this reflection on the Christmas story put into today’s context and it got me thinking about the way that we are so quick to judge others. During this Christmas season I hope that we all take the time to look at others ‘through the eyes of a child’ so that we can see things more openly and empathetically.
The first Christmas that little Linda learned to read, she was allowed to distribute the family gifts on Christmas day. According to family custom, the one who distributed the gifts could open the first package. After all the gifts were distributed with loving care, Linda kept looking around the tree and among the branches. Finally her dad asked, ‘What are you looking for, dear?’ To which Linda replied, ‘I thought Christmas was Jesus’ birthday and I was just wondering where his present is. I guess everyone forgot him.’
That is the challenge which faces us all this Christmas - to put the Christ back into our family Christmas. This is an ideal time for families to focus on the important things that affect their family life - the time they spend together, the quality of relationships within the immediate and extended family group, the willingness to put others first and to forgive one another. Please remember to include Jesus on your family gift list - make the religious significance of Christmas visible in your home and join with your Church family for this special feast.
And so to another Christmas! The little baby born in Bethlehem, serves to remind us of the truth that our God is a God who loves us, even to the point of becoming one of us. In becoming human, God has given each of us dignity and importance, and the opportunity to transcend the worries of this world and focus on our eternal destiny.
Merry Christmas everyone!
THANK YOU
As this is our last newsletter for the year there are so many people to thank:
- To Fr Bing, who has supported our students, staff and families in his role as School Chaplain and provided faith leadership and guidance to our school community in so many different ways.
- To our Leadership Team, Co-ordinators, Additional needs teachers, Wellbeing Officer and our various teams and committees, thank you for your continued support in all areas of school life.
- To the Teachers and Teachers Assistants, I would like to express my sincere thanks for everything you do to ensure that quality teaching and learning continues to occur.
- To Warren, Lyniese and Amanda, who work tirelessly to assist the students, teachers, parents and visitors to our school. So much of what they do goes unnoticed!
- To you, the parents and families of our students, who continue to support and assist us each and every day.
- And finally to our students, who make us proud to be their teachers by what they do and say, not only when they are ‘on show’ but each and every day they are at school. I believe that we are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderfully supportive school community.
Farewell to Families
We would like to wish all families who are leaving St Carthage’s all the very best for the future, wherever life may take you. Thank you for the contribution which each family has made to our school. Our best wishes and prayers go with you.
Farewell to Staff
We would like to take this opportunity to farewell some of our staff members who will not be returning in 2021. We would like to thank them for the great contributions which they have made to St Carthage’s school community. We trust that their new endeavours will be rewarding and successful and we wish them all the very best for the future. Goodbye and good luck to Mr Sheridan, Miss Buchanan, Mrs Alley and Tayla.
Year Six Graduation and Final Assembly Photos
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 re-energise yourselves ready for 2021.
Stay safe and well over the break and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2021.
Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAIs) and Best Start Kindergarten Interviews
We start the new school year with our Best Start (Kindergarten only) and Mathematics Assessment Interviews for all students. MAIs are on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th January 2021 (Years 1 to 6) and Best Start Interviews (Kindergarten) are from Thursday 28th January to Tuesday 2nd January. Everyone should have received a confirmation email from schoolinterviews.com.au at the time you made your booking or over the last few days if I had to make the booking for you.
Please contact me via email at amanda.deeps@lism.catholic.edu.au if there are any issues with you MAI bookings.
JINGALA (hello)
In week 8 we had the second part of our NAIDOC activities. We had Uncle Mick and Aunty Thelma catch up with the rest of the school. The students in K,1 & 2 made bracelets/necklaces and others had the opportunity to work with clay. Some fantastic animal sculptures and little bowls were made on that day!!
On another day we had a visit by cultural educator Uncle Boomerang (Paul). With a great sense of humour he showed us the didgeridoo, artefacts and the science used by indigenous people for thousands of years. Students learnt about the aero-dynamics of the boomerang, as Paul has represented Australia in the Boomerang World Championships overseas. He also told us that women/girls in some places ARE allowed to play the didgeridoo.
We finally have the winners of the NAIDOC Poster/Colouring In Competition. It was really hard to pick a winner and shows that we have a lot of creative students at our school. They each receive a special pack of goodies for the work they put in.
Kindergarten - Arielle Milgate
Year 1 - Ebony Andrews
Year 2 - Henry Jenkins
Year 3 - Bridget Conlan
Year 4 - Amirah Shah
Year 5 - Ava King
Year 6 - Carly Hughes
To everyone, have a great holiday and I'll see you in 2021.
Many Thanks
Mr Condie
Indigenous Education Worker
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Happy Birthday to all the Staff and Students that have a birthday at this time.
Murphy Hauser, Connor McCarthy,Jimmy Field, Jack Bryant, Machot Maker, Luca McLaren-Phillips, Isobel Rose, Molly Corcoran, Oliver Howcroft, Mila Smith, Charlotte Connors, Isabella Watson, Bailey Hughes, Samuel Brown, Eliza Moloney, Aramaya Priestley, Freya Rogusz, Reggie Field, Erika Andonov, Cohen, Ella Magnay, Phillippa Kirch, Murphy Ware, Madison Baillie, Nadia Cittolin, Armande Gaidier, Lachlan Torrens, Demi Walters, William Crane, Nash Darragh, Jillian Curran, Jada Lamerton, Jamal Magann, William Randle, Jack Sheridan, Brendan Tickle and Cath Bailey