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 began 2022 with such a positive outlook and excitement for a new year that was shaping up to be almost normal. With Covid sitting in the background, but with no threats of lockdowns, it looked as though we would have a consistent year of learning, sporting and cultural endeavours, family and community participation and so much more. However, who could have imagined in their wildest dreams (or more accurately, nightmares) how this term would unfold! No-one was prepared for the utter devastation and heartbreak that would occur on February 28th. But in true Lismore style the community gathered, wrapped their arms around those affected, rallied troops and the clean up began. But in another cruel twist of fate we were subjected to another weather event that knocked the breath out of us. Again, Lismore picked themselves up, brushed themselves off and began another clean up! Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our families as the clean up and rebuild continues. There will be support provided by the Catholic Schools Office to assist those affected.

Combine this heartache with the increased number of students and staff who have contracted Covid and it has been a very disrupted and challenging term.

As you are all aware St Carthage's was also affected in the floods and we have the lost the use of some of our buildings. However, like Lismore, our school staff rallied and got us up and running as quickly as we could. As with everything we do, our students always remain our highest priority. As you know our students are in different learning and play spaces, but I want to give a shout out to let you know how very proud we are of their incredible resilience, adaptability and the empathy that they have displayed throughout the term. They enter the school with a smile and a sense of excitement. They manage the combined classes well and are thriving with the addition of extra teachers and teacher's assistants in their learning spaces.

At this time we remain in the same classrooms as we are at the moment until the affected classrooms are restored. We hope this will be mid next term.

We would like to say a very big thank you to our Diocesan schools who have donated Easter eggs to go to our flood affected families. A big thank you also to the Diocesan Parent Assembly co-ordinator Jo Kelly for putting the Easter packages together. These will hopefully help to bring a smile to faces at this special time.

I have also been overwhelmed by the positive messages that I have received from parents during this time. I 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 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 Tuesday, 26th April.

Lions Citizenship Award                                                           

Congratulations to Kieran Dwyer who was announced as the Lions Citizenship award recipient. This award recognises school community, leadership amongst peers and school spirit.We congratulate Kieran on this great achievement. Keiran was absent when this was announced and received his award yesterday. 

Parent/Teacher Interviews

It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers attending our Parent Teacher interviews that were held 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. Thank you for your attendance.

Easter 

We celebrate Holy Week in the holidays. This is the most important time in the Church’s calendar. Holy week begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday this weekend, the beginning of our journey to Easter. Holy Week is most definitely a very sacred time of the year, for it is now 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 has come 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 this weekend 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 Catholic. During these days, we suffer with Christ so that we might rise with Him at His glorious Resurrection.

Anzac Day

We have received notification from the RSL Lismore Sub-branch that the Anzac Day March will proceed as normal this year. Monday 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 Monday 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 can now be 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 2023 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 2023 to be enrolled in Diocesan schools.

Trendy Haircuts
Please consider how your child has their haircut during the holidays. While mullets, shaved sides, shave ins and other haircuts may currently be trendy, they do not meet the standards expected under our uniform policy. Any hair at collar length (boys or girls) must also be tied back. We are also seeing a number of long fringes that are hanging over eyes. Staff are reporting that students with longer hair are constantly being reminded to tie their hair back. 

Liturgy Times For Triduum and Easter - Carmelite Monastery
Tuesday 12th April: Sacrament of Reconciliation 9.00am - 9.30am
Wednesday 13 April:
Sacrament of Reconciliation 9.00am - 9.30am
Thursday 14 April - Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7.00pm
Friday 15 April - Good Friday: Office of Readings and Morning Prayers 9.00am Stations of the Cross 10.00am
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 3.00pm
(Collection at this Liturgy supports the Christian Communities and Holy Places in Jerusalem and the Holy Land)
Saturday 16 April - Easter Vigil:
Office of Readings and Morning Prayers 9.00am
Easter Vigil Mass 7.00pm
Sunday 17 April - Easter Sunday:
Carmelite Monastery 7.00am
Dunoon 8.30am
Carmelite Monastery 9am

NAPLAN

NAPLAN tests will take place in Week 3 next term. Students will need to have headphones at school for these tests. These need to be brought into school during Week One.

In advance of taking NAPLAN online, students, teachers and parents are invited to use the public demonstration tests to familiarise themselves with the type of questions and related functionalities available in the NAPLAN Online assessment.

Some of the key features include a range of question types, onscreen tools, timers and interactive navigation. Students are encouraged to try all the tests for their year level to practise the complete range of question formats available in the online assessment.

To access the demonstration site please go to: https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site

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.

Holidays

I hope that all our families have a relaxing and hope filled Easter break. We are so impressed by the resilience that our students have shown this term. Whatever you are up to I hope that you have time to stop and relax. Be gentle with yourselves these holidays and I look forward to seeing all our families next term.

Trinity Catholic College