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,

I would like to welcome everyone back to Term 3 and I trust that the holidays, (they seem so long ago!), were a happy and restful time to recharge the batteries. We were certainly blessed with beautiful weather and also some very frosty winter mornings!

What a difference two weeks make! Who would have thought that we would return to school wearing masks and with increased restrictions due to the current Covid outbreak. Unfortunately, it seems that things may get worse before they get better, however, we are very grateful that we were able to welcome our students back to school and begin face to face teaching last week. I know the thought of another term of home learning sent shivers up the spines of many parents and probably teachers as well. We pray that this situation improves for everyone and we can continue to support our students on their learning journey at school. (Please read the current Covid guidelines below.)

Whilst it has been a disrupted school holiday break for many as we navigate our way through more COVID-19 induced lockdowns and travel restrictions we are grateful for the great position Australia is in compared to many places in the world. We remember those in our communities whose health and livelihood have been adversely affected since the start of the pandemic.

We are very disappointed that we are again, unable to have parents and visitors on site as it seems not that long ago, that were were finally able to host events with parents and carers present. I know that you will understand the reasons for these restrictions and support us as we implement them at St Carthage's.

I look forward to another term of great learning

Term 2 Parent/Teacher Interviews

I would like to offer belated thanks to our parents for your support of Parent/Teacher interviews at the end of last term. This is a great way to build your relationship with your child’s teacher and also to have two way sharing of information about your child. This certainly helps the teachers to know their learners in a very special way. We really appreciate your support in this learning partnership. When you value the school and your child’s teachers, statistics prove that students do better at school and gain higher learning outcomes. Teachers value the support and insights of parents too and are always enriched by these conversations with you.

Covid Protocols

Parents and carers are discourage from entering school grounds where possible. If you need to pick up or drop off a child/children or drop off things for your child/children during school hours you must come to the office. No visitors are permitted to go to a classroom or the playground. On entering the school grounds masks must be worn and the two mandatory sign-ins must be completed. (see below)

Morning and Afternoon Drop Off and Pick Up
We will be reverting back to our pick up and drop off procedures that were in place at times, throughout last year. Our Years 1-6 parents and carers will be familiar with these, however, for our kindergarten and students new to the school these will be new.

• Students will be welcomed at the gate by a staff member (usually myself and one of our APs) and we will accompany your child/children into the school grounds. This may be difficult the first time but we ask that you trust your children to us as prolonging the goodbyes can make it more challenging for everyone.
• Where possible we ask that parents and carers remain outside the gates in the afternoon and children will come to you. If you need to come into the school grounds please maintain physical distancing and wear a mask

Mandatory Two Step QR Sign in
Under the current Public Health Order, all visitors must sign in to both the Service NSW COVID Safe Check-In AND WOL (Who’s on Location). This allows us to meet child protection and emergency management legal requirements, AND the Public Health Order requirements. Unfortunately, no one system will meet all current legal requirements. Service NSW and Who’s on Location QR codes are on the walls outside the office and in the office foyer. 

Unwell students and visitors
If your child has cold or flu symptoms, please follow the health advice, get tested and stay at home while unwell. Students who are unwell and attend school will be sent home with the request to get tested. Visitors who have cold or flu symptoms will not be permitted to enter the school.

Mask requirements
NSW Health and Catholic Schools NSW, although not mandatory, have recommended that all staff wear masks. All visitors must wear masks upon entering school grounds. Due to these restrictions, we ask that you please check with the school office before coming in.

We always enjoy parents and families being welcomed into our school activities and events and are deeply disappointed that these current restrictions prevent this. However, these restrictions do not prevent us from our primary purpose, that is, the delivery of quality Catholic education to your children in a safe, caring and supportive environment. 

NAIDOC Week

We will be celebrating NAIDOC at school in Week 4. This celebration occurs nationally in the July school holidays. During NAIDOC Week celebrations, our country is called to remember with respect and understanding, the long history of our Aboriginal people. Mr Craig Condie, our Indigenous Education Worker, has been busily organising activities to celebrate this event through classroom activities etc. The 2021 theme is HEAL COUNTRY.

Students are invited to wear casual clothes on Friday 6th August, where possible wearing the colours of the Aboriginal flag.

Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions Mr Condie has had to postpone some of the visitors and activities that he has planned until later in the term. 

Personal Development, Health & Physical Education (PD/H/PE)

This subject prepares and supports students to lead, and contribute to, healthy, safe and meaningful lives which promote respect, responsibility, enjoyment, inclusion and social justice for self and others.

This term, all students at St Carthage’s will be learning about how they are growing and changing, reflecting upon their emotional and physical responses, how they can help everyone to feel safe and included, recognising respectful relationships and developing a safety network. Some of the content of the programs deals with sensitive issues. The school recognises this by teaching about these issues within the context of a developmentally appropriate program and by providing information to you about the program.

All programs will be implemented in a manner that supports the role of parents and caregivers and reflects the ethos of the school community.

For more information on PDHPE go to https://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/pdhpe/. The school program aims to encourage students to make informed decisions about their lifestyle taking into account the values of the family, culture and religion to which they belong.

The following table is an overview of the units being taught in all grade levels this term.

Should you require further information in relation to the PDHPE units your child/children will be engaging with this term, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, who will be more than happy to discuss these units with you.

ICAS Timetable

Our ICAS assessments are starting in a few weeks time. Please see the timetable below for assessment times. If your child is away for their assessment they have the whole of that week to catch up on the assessment. If they happen to be away for the whole week their is a second testing window later in the year.

I’d like to say a very sincere "thank you" for the messages of ‘welcome back’ I received upon my return to St Carthage’s. I undertook treatment for cancer over the past two Terms and enormously grateful to be back!

During my time away I gained so much strength from the support of everyone, especially support given to me by the leadership and staff of St Carthage's school.

The Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist

Thank you to Mr Tickle and Fr Bing who recently held a zoom meeting with parents and carers of students preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Tuesday 27 July) and Eucharist (August). We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

All Yr 4 students also experienced a time of reflecting upon their learnings about this Sacrament and how they can act as peacemakers at home and at school. Thanks so much to Mr Tickle and class teachers who guided the students through this experience.

Please pray for these students, their families and their teachers as they prepare for these important steps (not only for the students but also for the whole family!)

A model for Peacemaking at school -  We ask students to Sit and think! 

At St Carthage's, we encourage students to reflect calmly upon inappropriate actions. We ask them to:

• Write or draw what happened
• How did this make the other person feel?
• How can I make things right?
• What will I do next time?

A reflection upon the act of forgiveness

In Mark's Gospel, Jesus taught us to love our neighbour as ourselves. It is not for us to decide which neighbour we will reach out to in love, we are asked to love and to treat everyone as our neighbour because as Pope Francis said, "In the face of every person, especially the smallest, the most vulnerable, defenceless and needy is the unique image of God."

Dates

Thursday 22 July - St Mary Magdalene Feast Day

"Mary, go and find the brothers and tell them"

It’s been five years since a Vatican decree declared the liturgical celebration honouring St Mary Magdalene a ‘feast’, putting her on par with the apostles. Saints are honoured with either a ‘memorial’, a ‘feast’ or a ‘solemnity’, with solemnities ranked the highest, followed by feasts and then memorials. St Mary Magdalene’s celebration was increased from a memorial to a feast because she had the honour of being the first witness to the Lord’s resurrection. 

Tuesday, 27 July - Sacrament of Reconciliation evening in the Cathedral

Week 4 - 2 August - Celebrating NAIDOC week

Friday, 6 August - Feast Day – Transfiguration of the Lord 

Sunday, 8 August - Australia's Saint - St Mary MacKillop – (St Mary of the Cross) Feast Day

Monday, 9 August - International Day of the world’s indigenous peoples

Diocesan Parent Conference

The Lismore Catholic Schools Parent Assembly is an important body of people keen to support parents and carers who have children enrolled at Catholic Schools in the Lismore Diocese. They will be hosting three regional parent gatherings this term in place of the Diocesan Parent Conference. Currently, these events are still scheduled to proceed, however, they will be postponed if forthcoming NSW Health Guidelines change. You can register using the methods indicated on the event flyer.

Sound Waves Spelling

	Week 3	Week 4

Spotlight on ....... Year Four!

Bump-it-up Walls 

Year Four students have been using Bump-it-up Walls to develop their writing skills. This scaffold is used to make the learning visible to the students. It provides examples of texts at a variety of levels with associated criteria.

Through self-assessment and conferencing with the teacher, students are able to identify what they are doing well in their writing and set goals to improve. 

What students like about the Bump-it-up Wall -

Pomodoro Technique 

Year Four teachers have been using the Pomodoro technique with their students within their writing block. This idea of Pomodoro is to break longer writing tasks into shorter bursts, with small breaks in between. This approach helps writers by not being overwhelmed by the enormity of a single task. The small break between sessions also allows for the student to have a mind break, which helps with writing fatigue as well as the formation of ideas.

What students like about the Pomodoro technique:

Pomodoro Writing

Lismore Preschool

Lismore City Council - Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Help us create a more inclusive Lismore

Lismore City Council is developing its new Disability Inclusion Action Plan and seeks your feedback.

The plan outlines actions that Council will take to make Lismore a more accessible and inclusive community.

There are 3 ways you can be involved and provide your feedback;

1. Attend a workshop

We are holding five community workshops in July and August 2021

• 9:00am until 11:00am on Tuesday 20July at Council Chambers located at 43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah.
• 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Wednesday 21July at Lismore Regional Gallery located at 1 Rural Street, Lismore
• 9:00am until 11:00am on Tuesday 27July at Lismore Regional Gallery 1 Rural St, Lismore
• An online workshop from 9:00am until 10:30am on Friday 30July using zoom. Password 524610
• 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Wednesday 4 August at Nimbin Bush Theatre Café located at 2 Blue Knob Rd, Nimbin

Please register at www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au or contact us directly.

2. Complete our online survey

Please complete our online survey by visiting www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au

The survey will be open until the 30^th June 2021.

3. Talk to us in person

• If you prefer to talk to us in person, please contact Flora Zigterman on 6625 0497 or via email zigterman@lismore.nsw.gov.au
• If you need an interpreter you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450

If you use Auslan? FaceTime or video message 0408484822