Week 2 Term 1 2021
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,
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. This year hopefully brings with it some more stability and more consistency in teaching and learning after a challenging 2020. It promises to be 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 2021 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.
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 a lot of their 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 Parent Information nights, Welcome Barbeque and Parent/Teacher Meetings. 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 Toni Lynch, Mrs Hayley Loadsman and Mr Luke Collings to our staff teaching this year. Toni and Luke come to us from St Mary’s Casino and Hayley joins us from St Francis Xavier in Ballina. All three teachers have taken leave from their permanent jobs to experience life at St Carthage's. We also welcome Mrs Jan Seymour who will be working each Friday teaching social skills through Creative Arts. We also welcome Ms Tanya Jackson and Ms Anastasia Elliott to our school. Tanya and Anastasia are our new school counsellors and we are very excited to have them join us. I know you will support each of them as they transition to St Carthage's.
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 well trained professional.
Teachers are dedicated and caring people (particularly the teachers at St Carthage‘s!) and they want to be not just good teachers, but teachers 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:
“Teachers 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 2021 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.
SCHOOL LEADERS 2021
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 2021:
School Captains: Maude Webster and Andreas Periera
Vice Captains: Emily Thorneycroft and Theo Rogusz
Carthage House: Ellie Brady and William Bullpit
D’Arcy House: Eden Kelly and Jesse Cooper
Doyle House: Eden Flood and Logan Coglan
Jerome House: Jared O'Brien and Grace Kavanagh
Nagle House: Kaytlin Turner and Case McQuilty
Thomas House: Macy Field and Blake Collings
LATEST COVID-19 Guidelines
Please read the latest guidelines from the Catholic Schools Office;
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, the NSW Government is taking some
precautionary measures to ensure that our schools remain safe places for everyone at the commencement of the 2021 school year.
For Term 1, the NSW Government is reverting back to some of the restrictions that were in place in November 2020. It has made these changes in response to the current situation and in line with NSW Health advice.
Parents
Parents and carers can enter the school to:
● Purchase or pick up uniforms from the uniform shop.
● Meet with school staff with a pre arranged appointment.
● Attend parent orientation meetings for Preschool, Kindergarten or Year 7 and ‘meet the teacher’ meetings with school staff for all year/stage groups after school hours. Meetings should be limited to 1 hour.
Following this advice, drop off and pick up needs to continue, as per 2020, at the gates. (Kindergarten parents may come into the school and drop their child off, but are encouraged to leave as quickly as possible). We will have staff at the gates to assist students into school.
Parents must enter the school via the office area. Sanitising, social distancing and signing in are essential for everyone.
Visits to the Uniform Shop are possible as long as it is straight there and back. Pre-arranged Parent-Teacher catch-ups are possible too. But no drop-ins please.
School operations
It is essential that schools:
● Continue to exclude students and staff with even mild symptoms of COVID-19 and
encourage them to seek testing immediately. Parents of symptomatic children should
provide evidence of a negative result prior to returning to school. In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a letter from the GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.
While we have not seen any cases locally we are now experiencing far greater travel and interactions between other areas so we need to remain vigilant.
Sporting activities
● All inter-school sport and physical activities, zone carnivals and gala days can continue. This means that schools and students can travel outside of their local community.
● Sporting events and activities held outside of the school site during school hours will need to follow the COVID-19 Safety Plan of the venue or organiser.
We thank you for your support.
PARENT INFORMATION MEETINGS
We are delighted to be able to offer our annual Parents Information night on site (as per the above information). These meetings will be held at St. Carthage’s on Tuesday, 9th February in classrooms.
We will be required to follow the following Covid guidelines;
- Check in via the QR Code on your phone located in various locations on walls near your child’s classroom.
- Please go straight to the classroom where your meeting is being held.
- Follow Covid protocols of 1.5 distancing, sanitise hands on entry and exit.
In order to make it easier for parents to attend these important meetings, we will repeat each meeting at a different time on the same evening. This means that parents will be able to attend each of their child’s class meetings on the one evening. The meetings will run for 30 minutes.
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.
See table for the schedule for these meetings.
YEAR SIX INDUCTION MASS
Due to the Covid restrictions on numbers in the Cathedral we are unable to have an Opening School Mass. We can however, have an Induction Mass for our Year Six students. Families are welcome to attend. This Mass will be on Thursday, 11th February at 9.30am
Fr Bing well celebrate a Mass with all students in our hall later in the term.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday is 17th February. Mass times in the Cathedral are;
8.00am, 12.00pm and 5.30pm.
WELCOME BARBEQUE AND DISCO - Save the Date
We will be holding our Welcome Barbeque and Disco on Thursday, 4th March at 5.00pm. More details will follow.
CHANGES TO YOUR CHILD’S AFTERNOON PICK-UP ARRANGEMENTS
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 & 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. (Parents are asked to try to make dental appointments, etc. outside school hours if possible.)
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, email, Skoolbag app or note, to explain absences.
PEANUT AVOIDANCE
It is our intention to endeavour to make our school environment as safe as possible for all. Our most urgent concerns have been for a small group of children who have a severe allergy to nuts. Exposure to nut products for these children will trigger a serious reaction. Such a reaction could be fatal if not treated quickly and appropriately. For this reason we are asking your co-operation to help reduce the risk for these children. Ideally, this means that we are strongly recommending parents pack lunches and snacks which are free from nuts or nut products and should discourage children from sharing food at all times. The school staff and parents of these children are implementing strategies to help these children to be aware of their allergies and to learn responsibility. We sincerely thank each and every parent for taking time to read and consider this request. We understand that these measures will require extra thought when packing your child's lunch. Your co-operation, however, will enable these children and their families to feel supported and safer in their school environment.
VISITORS’ PROTOCOL
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.
PARKING ON SCHOOL PREMISES
The School Visitor/Accessible parking area (in the front of the Administration building) is for short term parking between the hours of 9:15am – 2:45pm. You are welcome to use this carpark during these times if you have an appointment at the school. It is not a pick up or drop off area for parents’ use before or after school (unless you are entitled to Accessible Parking). The Staff Carpark (behind the Administration building) is for Staff only and not for visitor use at any time.
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
Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, 17th February. Mass times in the Cathedral are;
8.00am, 12.00pm and 5.30pm.
Welcome Back to 2021
Welcome back to the 2021 school year to all our returning and new families. I hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break. We have started the 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 Wednesday 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 on Friday afternoon. Thank you to our Kindergarten parents for organising a time for there 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.
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 containers) 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 and boys are to have a conventional hairstyle. If 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
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 with their hat on, near the Bus Bay 17-20 line. Teachers will escort them, via the underpass, to the Cathedral. All children are asked to walk in an orderly way.
A “Drive-Through” operates as outlined below.
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).
Cathedral Pick-up and Drive-Through Guidelines
- 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).
- No parking in the middle grassed area of the Cathedral grounds.
- ONE WAY TRAFFIC only.
- The Drive-Through-Lane is only for parents of children who do not need assistance getting into cars. (speedy operation) Parents, please do not leave your car. Teachers will direct your child/ren to your car when it is time and safe 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 ClassDojo.
We would appreciate it if all parents could read and share guidelines with other people who might pick up your child and support us in this endeavour in keeping your child safe.
Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAI)
Most students have now completed their MAI's. The Mathematics Assessment Interview (MAI) is undertaken by every student in our diocesan primary schools at the beginning of each year. The MAI data provides valuable information for classroom teachers that allows their planned learning experiences to be targeted to the needs of their learners.
These assessments are part of the Extending Mathematical Understanding (EMU) system initiative which is an evidence based, whole school approach for the teaching and learning of mathematics.
At St Carthage's we strive to continually improve mathematical outcomes for students through the development of conceptual understanding of Mathematics.
The core beliefs of the whole school approach are that:
- It is a fundamental right of every student to be numerate
- All students can achieve high standards given the right time, support and opportunity
- Early and on-going intervention are essential
- All teachers need to be able to articulate the instructional decisions based on their data and pedagogical content knowledge
Although the information gathered from this interview is primarily used by the classroom teacher to assist with the planning and teaching of mathematics, all families will receive feedback from their child's classroom teacher in the upcoming parent teacher interviews.
Welcome Kindergarten Students!
This week we welcomed 60 new students into Kindergarten. It is an exciting and sometimes anxious time for these students and their families.
As leaders of our school, the Year Six students have the privilege to support our Kindergarten students through our buddy system. On their first day, Year Six students were very excited to visit their buddies and help with making their first day a little easier.
.
Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival
The Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday 15th of February at the Lismore Memorial Baths. Times from the St Carthage's Swimming Time Trials have been used to form the St Carthage's Swimming Squad. All students have now received notes. Good luck to the following students:
Amahli Adams, Jazmine Adams, Ruby Allen, Lachlan Allen, Annika Allen, Quinn Begley, Billy Bradfield, Adrian Brickhill, William Bullpitt, Oliver Carney, Oliver Collings, Heidi Cormack, Lincoln Cormack, Ruby Edmonds, Grace Edmonds, Hayden Ellem, Reggie Field, Jimmy Field, Macy Field, Henry Hogan, Grace Hogan, Jessica Holmes, Clancy Jeffery, Hugh Jeffery, Harrison Jenkins, Alexa Johnson, Sammie Jones, Ruby Lake, Hugh Martin, Jimmi Matthews, Ellie McKay, Case McQuilty, Isabella Mullington, Jared O'Brien, William O'Connor, Hugh O'Reilly, Annie Oliver, McKenzie Olivieri, Willis Rielly, Isobel Rose, Autumn Taylor, Hayden Tucker, Myles Weekes, Mya Weekes and Gigi Zorzo.
I know that you will represent our school with good sportsmanship. We look forward to hearing about your results.
Richmond Zone Winter Sports Trials
Year 5 and 6 students were invited to nominate for the Richmond Zone Winter Sports Trials. These sports include Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby Union and Rugby League. Trials may be required at school level. Students will be notified of these trials, their date and equipment required. If your child has not nominated, they must see me by Friday 5th February.
Local Sport Information
Morning Fitness
Morning fitness will commence next Friday (Week 3). This term the students will be running on the bottom playground to prepare for the school cross country. Students from Year 2-6 are invited to meet Mrs Atlee and Mr Tickle outside the canteen at 8:20am. Students who arrive after this time are welcome to join morning fitness on the bottom playground when play starts.
Brendan Tickle - St Carthage's Primary School
Phone: 0266215529
brendan.tickle@lism.catholic.edu.au