Week 2 Term 2 2021
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From Our Principal Mrs Janelle Heffernan
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Statement of Intent
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From Our Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching - Mrs Amanda Deeps
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From Our Acting Assistant Principal Mission - Mr Brendan Tickle
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From Our Leader of Pedagogy Mrs Abbie Matthews
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From Our Acting Leader of Sport - Mr Luke Collings
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General School News
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Noticeboard
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 to our students and families for Term 2. I hope that everyone had a great holiday and found plenty of time to rest and relax. We look forward to a very busy and productive Term Two.
ANZAC DAY
Thank you to the many students who participated in the Anzac Day March on Sunday. The number of students who participated was outstanding and the respectful manner in which they did so is to be commended. As a school, we believe it is very important to support the wider community on this day, to show our appreciation and give dignity to those who have worked so hard, some even losing their lives, to bring peace to our world. I thank our students for giving up their time to represent our school at such a significant event. Thank you also to our parents for making it possible for the children to be present on these occasions. We have received many compliments and all students were a credit to their families. Once again, thank you to all students, families and teachers who were able to support our participation in this very important community event.
Catholic Schools Week 2021
We are celebrating Catholic School's Week this week. The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2021 is "Faith in our Future." In 2021, Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in 1820. The first Catholic school in the Diocese of Lismore, St Joseph’s Primary, was established at South Grafton in 1858. 2021 is a time to celebrate the many contributions Catholic Education has made to the Nation.
As a school community we had our major celebration today. Thank you to the many families who joined us for our open classrooms, morning tea and assembly.
Thank you especially to our school students and staff for opening their classrooms to celebrate learning at St Carthage's and to our Year Six teachers and students for preparing and leading our Catholic Schools Week assembly.
Heavenly Father
You call all of us to walk with our students so as to enable
them to achieve the fullness of life in you.
We thank you for the quality education we receive in our
Catholic school and for the gift of all those committed to
Catholic Education in our schools.
We pray that you help us all to make the most of those
opportunities presented to us to share our gifts and bear
the fruits of walking with each other.
Bless the students, families and staff of our school – past,
present and future – as they live out your mission.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Proclaim Staff
Wednesday, 5th May (Wednesday next week), is a Professional Learning Day for staff. Students will NOT attend school on this day.
The day is put aside for our staff to gather together and participate in the Lismore Proclaim Staff Day, with similar gatherings scheduled for all schools in our Diocese. The day is for our staff to participate in purposeful prayer and to strengthen our commitment toward our vocation in a Catholic School.
Over a number of years, the Lismore Diocese has looked to build a stronger Catholic Community within the Mission of Catholic schools. The theme for our day is Catholic Schools: Faith in the Future. This year also marks 200 years of Catholic education in Australia and our day will feature a range of speakers on this theme. Our staff will then be invited to consider future directions for our schools, leading to improved outcomes and experiences for our students and accompanying them to a fullness of life in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Thank for you continued support of this initiative.
Mother's Day
Next Sunday, we celebrate Mothers’ Day – a very special day when we say thank you to our mothers for everything which they have done for us. For some of us, it is a time to remember the past and for others, it is a time to celebrate the future. I am sure that each of us has a very special memory of our mum and on their special day we honour them. Mothers are the precious treasure troves which remain an important part of one's life. There are times when we just sit back and think about the times we learnt from our mother, or suddenly after tasting a dish you prepared, you think of how your mother used to prepare it. These are some precious moments that we are reminded of, even after many years. Such reflections never fail to bring
a smile to our face. Mothers are such that they become a part of your psyche, as cherished memories.
I wish all our mums a very happy Mothers’ Day for Sunday, 9th May.
Traditionally, May is the month when we remember, celebrate and thank Mary, the mother of God, in a special way. During his 26 year pontificate, John Paul II frequently reminded us that the month of May is, in a particular way, dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. In their reflection on the significance of Jesus’ passion, the Church fathers understood that when Jesus, dying in agony on the Cross, said to John, “This is your mother”, he was not merely entrusting Mary to John’s care, but also to making Mary the spiritual mother of all followers of Christ. In Mary’s life on earth we see a strong woman, the author of the Magnificat, who was willing to embrace motherhood as a vocation from God in all its joys and sorrows. Every mother will know exactly, the meaning of the prophet Simeon’s words to Mary, when Jesus was presented in the temple in Jerusalem: “A sword will pierce your own
heart”. She was with Jesus at every important moment of his life: from his conception, his birth in Bethlehem, during his public ministry, at his crucifixion, and with the disciples on Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit came down upon them.
In following the footsteps of Jesus, and in the richness of the Christian tradition, we find in Mary the perfect mediator between mankind and God, in who we can confide our most private thoughts and deepest fears, asking her intercession in the confident
knowledge that Jesus will hear her, as happened at the Feast at Cana. During this month of May, dedicated to Mary, we are encouraged to pray to her to intercede on our behalf.
Mother's Day Breakfast
We look forward to seeing our St Carthage’s mothers who accept our invitation to gather for a Mothers’ Day Breakfast next Friday 7th May, 7:30am — 8:30am, in front of the St Carthage’s School Hall.
Mother's Day Stall
We will hold a Mothers’ Day Stall for the children to buy a gift for mum. This will be held next Thursday. All gifts will be $3.00 each - please send money in with the children on the day. There will also be a limited number of gifts which children may purchase for grandma.
KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS 2022
Parents of children who are ready to start school in 202 are asked to go onto our school website, click on the Enrol Now tab and complete the online Enrolment Application to begin the enrolment process.
Please pass on this message to family and friends who are intending to enrol children in Kindergarten next year. Children must turn five by 31st July 2022 to be enrolled in Diocesan schools.
School Behaviour Management:
Our school made the decision 2 years ago to base our Behaviour Management Policy and Procedures on the PBS (Positive Behaviour Support) Model. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a whole school framework which helps our school to create positive learning environments. Our school values, defined by the community, guide the behaviour of everyone in our school; staff, students, parents and community members. This is achieved by developing proactive systems to define, teach and support appropriate student behaviour.
At St Carthage's our four focus areas are; Be RespectfulNAPLAN
NAPLAN tests will be completed during Week 4 (Tuesday 11th May - Friday 14th May) for Year 3 and Year 5 students. The below PDF provides parents and carers some information regarding NAPLAN.
NAPLAN Withdrawals
NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer if there are religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school. If you wish to withdraw your child/ren from NAPLAN testing please contact me and I will send home the form for you to complete and return to school. This needs to be done as soon as possible.
Bus Safety
Child Safety Handbook
The Handbook is available via the following links Handbook, Apple App and Google Play.
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week commenced with an opening service on Monday. The excitement and enthusiasm displayed in this service, set our staff and students up for an exciting week. The theme for Catholic Schools Week this year is Faith in the Future: Celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education. St Carthage's was founded in 1886 and has a long and proud history. As a school we can look back and celebrate our history and look forward to the bright future ahead.
Teddy Bears and Prayers
On Tuesday Kindergarten participated in their retreat, Teddy Bears and Prayers. The students explored the concept that God is always there for me, just like my teddy. He is with us when we are happy, sad, confused or scared. He is always with us not matter how we are feeling or what we are doing.
Thank you to the Kindergarten teachers for preparing and leading this faith experience for our students. It certainly displayed the future of faith in our school, providing a modern and exciting experience for our students. Thank you also to the parents who joined us on Tuesday night for our family session. To be able to share this experience with you means a lot to your children and our staff.
Journey with Jesus Retreat
CSYMA (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia) Junior was launched at St Carthage's this week. The Year 6 students engaged in a retreat which is the initial phase of this program. The Journey with Jesus Retreat was led by the Youth Ministry Officers (YMO's) from St John's College Woodlawn. Throughout the retreat, the students explored the themes of forgiveness, making choices, God's love and the journey of life.
At the conclusion of the retreat, students were invited to join the St Carthage's Ministry Team. The Ministry Team will help lead retreats for our infants students, assist with liturgies and masses, as well as perform acts of service within our school. With over 70% of students nominating themselves for the team, it is evident that they thoroughly enjoyed this faith experience.
The Youth Ministry Officers were astounded with the manner in which the students participated, listened and displayed a genuine interested in developing their relationship with Jesus. Congratulations Year 6 and thank you to the Youth Ministry Officers from Woodlawn for taking our students on this journey. We are excited to welcome Emerson Egan to our school once a fortnight to help lead our Ministry Team. Emerson works as a Youth Ministry Officer at Woodlawn.
Open Classrooms
Thank you to the parents and family members who attended our open classrooms on Friday. It was an absolute pleasure to see our school buzzing with excitement, laughter and happiness. On behalf of the staff and students at St Carthage's, I would like to thank you for joining our celebrations.
Catholic Schools Week Awards
Each year, a Catholic Schools Week Award is presented to one student from each class who consistently demonstrates school spirit. They are a student who demonstrates the values which underpin Catholic Education. Congratulations to this years recipients of our Catholic Schools Week Awards.
Lucy Pereira | KBE | Darcy de Weerdt | 4LM |
Harlan Brady | KMY | Luca McLaren-Phillips | 4DA |
Charlie Simeoni | KFD | Hugh Jeffery | 4JD |
Owen Sauer | 1JC | Sarran Thind | 5MS |
Lucy Lee | 1CB | Kirra Fowler | 5TM |
Eilish Dwyer | 1TS | Connor Slattery | 5TL |
Olivia McLean | 2KI | Emily Kirkland | 6HL |
Zaria Ashcroft | 2KR | Amy Tran | 6JM |
Jack McCarthy | 2HR | Wilson Hauser | 6LC |
Luca Lombardo | 3MW | Luke Dwyer | 6BM |
Jake Holmes | 3KK | ||
Isabella Mitchell | 3MT |
Sound Waves Spelling
The focus sounds for the following two weeks are:
Whole School Writing Focus
In 2021, a major focus for staff professional learning and development is focused on high-impact teaching and learning within Writing.
Writing is explicitly taught within a 2 hour English Block where the gradual release of responsibility model is followed. Writing connections are then made throughout all other Key Learning Areas.
In modelled writing or composing, the teacher models a clear learning focus that may be a structural process, strategy or language feature. The teacher makes clear the audience and purpose of the text.
The teacher verbally walks the students through their writing, stopping to “think aloud” and explain the decisions they are making.
The teacher may model any stage of the writing process: planning, drafting, conferring, refining, publishing; at any time of the lesson.
The students watch and listen and may discuss their learning from the session.
Shared Writing - Teacher does..... students help
In a shared writing or composing session, the teacher and students make decisions together to jointly construct texts concentrating on the language features, text structures, strategies and processes.
The shared writing session can be used to support students to understand how to generate and organise ideas, compose writing, or review and edit their writing.
Guided Writing - Students do..... teacher helps
Students work in small groups with the teacher to work on a particular learning focus in their writing (previously explored in modelled and shared writing).
Students in the guided writing group are encouraged to finish their writing independently when the group’s time is over.
The teacher provides opportunities for the students to share their writing.
Students are encouraged to apply what they learn in guided writing when they are writing independently.
Guided Writing - Students do..... teacher watches
Students apply their learning from modelled, shared and guided writing experiences to independently create and compose a variety of text.
The teacher provides regular and sustained periods for independent writing and composing of texts.
There is an intentional focus on diverse audiences and different purposes for writing, including individual topics of interest.
The teacher allows time for observing students writing and conferencing with them. This formative assessment is used in future planning.
Open Classrooms!
Thank you to all of the families who were able to visit our classrooms for Catholic Schools Week. It has been a long time since families have been allowed to come into the classrooms.
There were many children excited to share their classroom and learning with their families.
Upcoming Dates
Richmond Zone Cross Country - Friday, 7th of May
St Carthage’s Athletics Carnival - NEW DATE: Thursday, 27th of May (see details below)
Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival - Wednesday, 21st of July
Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials
Good luck to our rugby players who are at the Lismore Diocesan trials in Grafton today. All the best to Nate Collins, Jonah Hudson-Sheaffe, Bailey Hughes, Case McQuilty and Joel Tulk.
Polding Winter Sports Trials
St Carthage’s sent 8 talented athletes to the Polding Winter Sports trials in Bathurst last week. The feedback received told that the teams and the individuals themselves were highly competitive, showed great sportsmanship and were outstanding ambassadors for our school and their respective sports. Congratulations to Jesse Cooper. Ethan Welman (rugby league), Eden Kelly, Oliver Kelly, Hugh Marshall, Lachlan O’Brien, Milla Zorzo, Ellie Brady (hockey) who represented the Lismore Diocese at these trials. Very well done to Hugh Marshall and Eden Kelly who were selected to represent Polding at the NSWPSSA State sporting championships later in the year!
Athletics Carnival: NEW DATE
Through an unfortunate double booking that was no fault of our own, our athletics carnival that was set down for Friday 21st of May, has had to be moved to Thursday 27th of May. We apologise for this change but hope that the notice given will allow for as many spectators to attend as possible. The carnival will be held at Riverview Park as in the past. More details on this event will be made available soon.
Cross Country
After a few false starts last term, we managed to hold a successful cross country carnival last week. It was great to see so many parents and friends get along to cheer the kids on. As expected, the runners’ attitudes, sportsmanship and effort were in abundance for all to see. A huge thank you to Cailgh Bell, Mark Harris, Daniel Cohen, Jack Sheridan and Megan Oaten who volunteered their time to be track marshals. We wish our 50 strong team of runners well at the Richmond Zone Cross Country next week.
Week 2 Sporting Reflection
Jackson Conte Toban Huet Faith Praolini Poppy Andre Jack Elphick |
Johney Chan-Sewell Abigail Moore Georgia Dodds Zaria Ashcroft Gene Lovell |
Vincent McDonald Jenna Ryall Noah Matthews Mila Handy Mrs June Blunn |
Baby News!!
Congratulations to Mr Andrew Camilleri and Laura on the birth of their baby boy Laykn on Monday 26th May. Mr Camilleri tells us that Lakyn is absolutely adorable and such a good baby. Mum, dad and bub are doing well. We hope the birth of your beautiful new baby will be the beginning of an incredibly wonderful journey for you and your family.