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 back to Term Four! It was wonderful to see the children arriving back at school with a big smile on their faces as they reunited with their teachers and friends. Hopefully we are on track to have a more settled and consistent term to finish our year. 

October is traditionally the month of the Rosary. The Rosary is a prayer that is made up of Four Mysteries that trace the events of the life and death of Jesus and the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary. It is customary to recite five decades at a time while meditating on one set of Mysteries. A decade is one “Our Father” prayer followed by 10 “Hail Mary” prayers and one “Glory Be” prayer. The whole Rosary was traditionally made up of 20 decades. In October 2002 Pope John Paul II added the “Mysteries of the Light” to the Holy Rosary, calling us to pray the Rosary daily, for our families and for world peace. The four traditional Mysteries are:

The Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation; The Visitation; The Birth of Jesus; The Presentation; The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

The Luminous Mysteries: Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River; The miracle at the Marriage Feast at Cana; The Proclamation of the Kingdom, The Transfiguration and The Institution of the Eucharist.

The Sorrowful Mysteries: The Agony in the Garden; The Scourging at the Pillar; The Crowning with Thorns; The Way of the Cross; The Crucifixion.

The Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection; The Ascension; The Descent of the Holy Spirit; The Assumption; The Coronation.

Over the past months staff have had the privilege of meeting parents and students who will be joining our school community for the first time in our Kindergarten
class of 2023. Last week, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming these children to St. Carthage’s for the first of their orientation visits. The students engage in four orientation visits to assist them in the transition to school. It is always wonderful to see their happy, smiling faces as they engage in the activities which the Kindergarten
teachers have prepared for them.

I have been reflecting on how lucky the children in our school are, to have such strong family support and parents who really take their roles seriously.

‘A Parent’s Prayer’ is shared as a tribute to parents who model the intentions of this prayer.

A Parent’s Prayer

Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to answer all of their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them and contradicting them.

Give me courage to confess my sins against them and to ask of them forgiveness, when I know I have done them wrong.
May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children.

Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment. So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do, that goodness produces happiness.

Reduce, I say, the meanness in me.

May I cease to nag, and when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.
Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things they do. Give me a ready word of praise for honest effort.

Help me to treat my children as those of their own age, but let me not exact of them the judgments and conventions of adults.

Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to choose and to make decisions.

Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction.

May I grant them all of their wishes which are reasonable, and have the courage always to withhold a privilege which I know will do them harm.

Make me so fair and just, so considerate and so compassionate to them that they will have a genuine esteem for me.

Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children.

Amen.

I trust that we all take the time each day, to say thank you for the gift of our children.

Visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury - Archbishop Welby

Last Friday our school leaders were invited to the Cathedral for a prayer service where the Archbishop of Canterbury was present. The Archbishop took time out of his very busy schedule to visit Lismore to express his support for Lismore residents devastated by the floods earlier in the year. The students had the opportunity to meet him after the prayer.

(The Archbishop said the Homily at the Queen's funeral service).

Year Six Brisbane Excursion

Last week our Year Six students were away on their excursion. The decision was made to change the venue of this excursion so the students would be closer to home and hence the week was spent in and around Brisbane. A great time has been had by all. You can view photos of the week on our school Facebook page.

We thank the staff who have accompanied them throughout the week, leaving their families to support our students; Mrs McFadden, Mrs Innes, Mr Matthews, Mr Tickle, Mr Bullpit, Mrs Ireland and Mrs Deeps. I also had the privilege of attending the excursion last week and I congratulate all of Year Six for there behaviour, manners and respect for all shown at all times.

Reminder to Parents and Guardians
Please be mindful of informing the school of any diagnosis or change in medical condition for your child so that School Action Plans and records are current and accurate. This is especially important for those students with Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes and other medical issues.

Anaphylactic Allergies
We do have a growing number of students with allergies which can cause an anaphylactic reaction. It is a policy of our school that children do not share food and teachers often remind the children in their classes about not sharing food. We ask for your assistance in reinforcing this at home and by labelling all lunch boxes with your child’s name.

Christmas Concert- save the date!
We ae finally able to have a Christmas concert! St. Carthage’s School’s annual Christmas Concert will be held on the evening of Monday, 12th December. Further details will be sent home at a later date.

2023 Planning
Dates for starting school next year:

• Staff: - Administration Day: Friday, 27th January 2023
• Years 1-6: - Complete Maths Assessment Interview (M.A.I.): Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st January 2023. We will advise when bookings are open.
• Years 1-6 return: Wednesday, 1st February 2023.
• Kindergarten: - Complete M.A.I. & Best Start: Monday 30th January -Thursday 2nd February 2023.
• Kindergarten begin: Friday, 3rd February 2023.

$20 Boss Market Day 

Where: St Carthage’s School Hall 

When: Tuesday 29th November (Week 8)

Time: 12:20- 1:10pm and 2:20-2:50pm

All students from Year 5 and 6 will set up and operate a market stall to sell and/or advertise their business, products and services that they have created this semester. It is a time to celebrate their hard work and the entrepreneurial skills that they have developed over the course of the program. 

All students across the school will access the market throughout the day.

We are especially excited to invite parents and friends to visit the market and support our students.

Information about the businesses, products, services and possible item prices for the market will be provided closer to the event.

Information about the program:

This semester, the Year 5 and 6 students at St Carthage’s have been participating in the $20 Boss  immersive learning program during their digital technology lessons with Mrs Loadsman. The program was developed in consultation with students and educators and was designed to build the enterprise skills of young people, better preparing them for a future of work.

The program gives students $20 of funding per student to create, launch and operate their own venture over the course of a semester. Students were encouraged to work in groups and have been learning key elements of social entrepreneurship. They have also focussed on how to create social good by benefiting humanity and/or the environment through their business. The $20 Boss program is aligned with the National Curriculum across English, Economics, Business and Mathematics.  

Please direct any questions to Mrs Hayley Loadsman

hayley.loadsman@lism.catholic.edu.au

Resilience Survey - Information for parents and caregivers

Students at our school from Years 2-6 will be participating in the Resilience Survey from Monday 31^st October – Friday 4^th November.

The Resilience Survey is Australia’s most widely utilised mental health and wellbeing survey for schools, designed and delivered by Resilient Youth Australia. It is the first step in a new local initiative, the Resilient Kids program.

Funded by Healthy North Coast and supported by a $10 million grant over 4 years from the National Emergency Management Agency, Resilient Kids will implement mental health and trauma-informed supports for primary and secondary school-aged students across the Northern Rivers.

The Resilience Survey measures the self-reported resilience and wellbeing of students and will provide valuable information to assist us to design supports that meet our students’ needs.

While the survey is completely voluntary, the more students that participate, the better picture we will have of how our young people are going and the better we can respond.

The survey is completely anonymous and user-friendly for students aged 7 years and over. It will be administered in class and typically takes students 20-25 minutes to complete.

The data from the survey will be reported only by year level and gender and no individual student responses can be identified.

The survey has been reviewed and approved by the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval number 22/82).  

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s participation in this survey project, please contact the school on 02 6621 5529.

If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please complete the form and return it to the school by Friday 28^th October 2022.

You can also visit hnc.org.au/resilient-kids to learn more about the Resilient Kids Program and the Resilience Survey.

To learn more go to: hnc.org.au/resilient-kids or scan the QR code.

A Catholic school not only cares for the academic, physical, emotional and social growth of students but seeks to help each student grow as spiritually healthy people. 

Students at St Carthage's are provided with different opportunities to explore their faith. With support from our Catholic Schools Office, students can apply to attend the Exuro retreat! 

Exuro is a retreat day for selected Year 5 students from parish primary schools based in regions of the Diocese to celebrate their faith at a diocesan level. Exuro is Latin for ‘on fire’.

This retreat is an opportunity to bring students together with peers from other schools to share and build relationships that strengthen the practice of their Christian faith and to be leaders in building strong Catholic school communities. The activities include a mixture of large and small sharing groups as well as celebrating a Liturgy together. The program has been developed to meet the needs of these Year 5 students.

This year we were fortunate to have 15 students attend along with Mrs Sudiro who accompanied the students through the day! 

Another way St Carthage's does this is through encouraging students to value their Sacramental life. What is a sacramental life? Sacraments are one important way we can become closer to God. 

Next Wednesday we invite families to bring their children to the Cathedral for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is the second step in the process of initiation. It takes place after Baptism and before Eucharist. The three sacraments are connected and together represent the presence of God in one’s life.

Confirmation builds upon the promises made at Baptism. During the Ceremony of Confirmation students become more aware of the fruits and gifts received through the Holy Spirit which enables them to continue the mission of Jesus.

The role of families

“Parents are the first and most important educators of their own children” – Pope John Paul II. 

St Carthage’s Primary School continues to acknowledges the central role families play in the faith formation of children and we acknowledge the responsibility that you have entrusted us with as partners in your child’s faith journey. 

The students learn about...

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In the Book of Isaiah 11:2-3, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are described. 

Piety helps us pray to God in true devotion.

Knowledge is the ability to think about and explore God's revelation, and also to recognize there are mysteries of faith beyond us.

Fortitude is the courage to do what one knows is right.

Fear of the Lord is the feeling of amazement before God, who is all-present, and whose friendship we do not want to lose.

Counsel is the ability to see the best way to follow God's plan when we have choices that relate to him.

Understanding is the ability to comprehend the meaning of God's message.

Wisdom helps us recognize the importance of others and the importance of keeping God central in our lives.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are the effects of living a life according to the will of God, a life of holiness. The tradition of the Church lists twelve fruits: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity." (CCC 1832).

What happens during the sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation consists of the renewal of baptismal promises, the laying on of hands and anointing with the oil of Chrism. The anointing of the candidate is a sign of confirming the gift of the Spirit, and calling the candidates to use these gifts to become involved in the life and mission of the community.

The Laying On of Hands

This ritualises the connection to Baptism and the strengthening of the Holy Spirit in our vocation to follow the way of Jesus.

Anointing with oil

The anointing of the candidate at Confirmation recognises that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The bishop anoints the candidate’s forehead with the Oil of Chrism, saying ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’. They respond, “Amen”.

 The Sign of Peace

At the end of the rite, the bishop puts his hand on the side of the candidate’s face and says ‘Peace be with you’ and the candidate replies with ‘And with your spirit’, symbolising the candidate’s place within the Church community.

Confirmation Retreat - "I've Got Spirit"

The Year teachers have been busily preparing a very meaningful Confirmation Retreat - "I've Got Spirit" - for the Year 3 students and Confirmation Candidates from Year 4-6 this week. This retreat allows students to develop their relationship with God and allow them to not only learn about the Holy Spirit, but experience its presence in their life.

Some final reminders about the Confirmation Ceremony -

Wednesday 26th October - 5:30pm

Please ensure you are seated at 5:30pm - Bishop Gregory Homeming would like to speak to the parents. After that the ceremony will commence. Please silence phones and respect the Sacredness of the occasion when entering the Cathedral and at all times.

NO PHOTOS ARE TO BE TAKEN IN THE CATHEDRAL ONCE THE LITURGY IS UNDERWAY. Candidates will have an individual photo taken by a photographer at the Anointing and a group photo at the conclusion where you are also welcome to take photos.

The Sponsor

The Candidate and Sponsor will walk up together with the Sponsor carrying the Confirmation Card in the left hand. The Sponsor hands the Card to the Priest and then places right hand on the Candidate's right shoulder. Both walk back to their seats in the direction from which they entered.

The Sacrament of Eucharist - First Holy Communion

Eucharist is the final step in the process of initiation when one can fully participate in the Eucharist by receiving Holy Communion. Eucharist is a unique sacrament as it is central to the Catholic Faith. During this time, participants encounter the real presence of God. Year 4 students and older students are involved in the preparation for this Sacrament. Information will be sent out to these families next week.

In other news....

Please note: Change of date for Crazy Socks Day to the 28TH OF OCTOBER.

The students are invited to bring a Gold Coin on that day and may wear Crazy Socks! Money raised goes to help Catholic Mission help families in need - this year in Ethiopia. Thank you to Year 5 Red who have been busy advertising this event at school. Get those CRAZY socks out!

Catholic Schools Week

TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram

Want to know more about apps including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram and how to ensure your children have safe online experiences? 

See the attached flyer about an upcoming free webinar hosted by the Councils of Catholic School Parents to help support parents. The webinar is on Wednesday 26 October: 7.30 to 8.30pm.