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,

We have recently had both the privilege and pleasure of meeting some of our new Kindergarten students and their families for 2024. These are families who are new to our school community and when asked why they have chosen St Carthage’s for their child/children they have unanimously said that they have heard great things about the school. Word of mouth is our best advertisement and it is affirming to hear that our parents are speaking so highly of our school to others and I thank you for continuing to support St Carthage’s. 

St Carthage's Feast Day
Last Sunday, 14th May, was the Feast of St Carthage. St Carthage is the Patron Saint of our parish and our school. Bishop Doyle and the Presentation Sisters who established our school 137 years ago decided that the Cathedral School of our Lismore Diocese should be named St Carthage‘s in honour of a great Saint who was an inspirational leader and a great teacher. St Carthage, whose name is also given as Mochuda, was born of a good family, in what is now County Kerry, Ireland, about the year 555. Mochuda’s father was an important man in the village so he was given everything that he wanted or needed. When he was young, a group of priests were walking through his village singing songs of praise and he was so fascinated that he followed them to the monastery gates. A while later he decided to join this group of priests and was ordained as a priest in 580 when he was thirty years old. Mochuda was very close to his head priest and took his name, Carthage. Later on young Carthage founded a monastery for young priests and he lived there for forty years. Carthage was an inspirational church leader who set up a monastery that attracted 1000 young men to the priesthood. He set up a school that produced many excellent scholars and the school became famous around the country for encouraging a love of learning.
Later in life, Carthage was consecrated Bishop of Lismore, Ireland. He died on May, 14th 637. After his death the church and school were named St Carthage’s in his honour.

Catholic Schools Week

This week we have celebrated Catholic Schools Week with the theme Living our Mission. Our week started with a Prayer Service followed by open classrooms where our families were able to share some learning with their children. This was followed by morning tea. Unfortunately the weather was not very kind, however, it was great to see so many families come along to share this special time with us.

After our prayer service our students wrote what they liked best about St Carthage's on colourful ribbons. They tied their ribbons to the fence so that everyone could read what they liked.

This morning the students from Years 2-6 participated in the 800 metres event in preparation for the Athletic's Carnival later in the term.

In the middle seesion students rotated around a disco led by our very own DJ, Mr Camilleri, relay games prepared and led by Mr Tickle and a craft activity prepared and led by Mrs Seymour. The comments from many of our students was 'the best day ever!'

School Office

Our school office is now back in its original building. The office now looks brighter and has more space for our students and visitors. Thank you for your patience over the past 15 months while these works were completed.

Professional Learning Day Reminder - 31st May

Wednesday 31st May is a Professional Learning Day for staff. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on this day. Active Kids will operate, however, bookings are essential.

Active Kids - Staff Carpark

The Staff Carpark is for school staff only. If you are dropping off or picking up children from Active Kids please park in the Visitor's Carpark or by the kerb. We have had a couple of near misses with children running through the Staff Carpark.

Mothers’ Day Breakfast

Thank you to the many mums who came along and shared the Mothers’ Day breakfast with us. It is always a great event and it is an opportunity for us as a staff, to say thank you to our mums and significant mother figures of our students. It was lovely to see families socialising together outside the school hall. 

I hope you enjoyed your Mother’s Day gifts that the children took great delight in choosing!

School Family Partnership Meeting

On Tuesday we had our first School Family Partnership meeting. At this meeting Janita Thompson - Family Parent Lead from the Catholic Schools Office discussed our new model for sharing and gathering information between school and home. Thank you to the parents who were able to join us for this meeting.

Our next meeting will be in Term 3. We will provide further information later.

Parent Storytelling

We had another very successful Parent Story Telling session last Monday. Parents and grandparents came along and spent time reading stories to our Year One children on the playground. The students were very engaged and loved sharing this special time with our story readers.

Our next session will be for our Year One students on Monday 8th and Year Two will have their turn on Monday 22nd May.

Thank you to parents and grandparents who were able to come along and enjoy this special time with our students.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2024

Parents of children who are ready to start school in 2024 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 2024 to be enrolled in Diocesan schools.

School Reports and Interviews – advance notice

School Reports will be sent home in Week 9 and interviews with teachers will be held in Week 10. We will again be using the online booking format for Parent/Teacher interviews and more information will be sent home and a reminder on how to book these interviews electronically as the time draws closer. 

 Living our Mission!

This week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week using the theme “Living our Mission”. 

At our prayer on Monday morning we listened to a reading from the Gospel of Mark 1:17.

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”

We remembered important people in our history - Nano Nagle and St Carthage - who gathered people together to learn about Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit - they 'fished' for people to be followers of Jesus.

At St Carthage's school, we learn about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and become followers of the model and Word of Jesus Christ through our words and actions.

The ancient symbol used by persecuted Christians - the Ichthys - containing the names of each student was brought forward as part of our Sacred Space. 

Some ichthyses were placed on classroom sacred spaces and a few made their way to the foyer of our School Office - bringing smiles to our friendly Office Staff!

JOLT – Jesus Over Lunch Time - Continues!

Thanks to Megan (the Youth Ministry Officer from Woodlawn College) and our wonderful Yr 6 Leaders - JOLT! has continued. At the last JOLT, some of our keen Yr 6 students took charge of the session and led Year 5 and 6 students through a series of games and songs focussed on COURAGE!

Parish Youth and Family Mass and BBQ

The Parish will be holding their next Youth and Family Mass on Saturday 20 May at 5.30pm. The Mass will be followed by a sausage sizzle at the rear of Doyle House where all parishioners are invited to attend. If you can help with the BBQ or your child would like to participate in some way in the Mass, please contact Sr Di on 6626 0253.

ST CARTHAGE’S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2023

The dates and times for the 2023 Sacramental Program are listed below:

Which Sacrament is my child involved in?

Generally, the Year 3 students are involved in the Sacrament of Confirmation and Year 4 students are involved in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (Holy Communion). If your child is in a year other than Years 3 and 4 but involved in these Sacraments you are also invited to attend these Parent/Carer Information sessions.

By this time you should have completed an Enrolment Form for each child - click the link below for a copy. If you are unsure if you have completed a form you can call the School Office to check.

If your child is being Confirmed they would have received a Return Form asking you to advise the following:

1) Confirmation name: All Candidates are free to choose a Confirmation name. It may be their baptismal name, or a new, additional Christian name may be chosen, that of a beatified or canonised saint (not simply a hero). It should be the name of one who has inspired them. Students do not have to take a Confirmation name. If no name is chosen their First name will be used by the Bishop.

A list of Catholic Saints

2) Sponsor: Confirmation is a reaffirmation of the promises made at Baptism, therefore the Church recommends a child’s godparent take on the role of Sponsor for Confirmation. Sponsors should be: at least 16 years old, a Catholic who has been confirmed and receives Communion.  Since a sponsor has such a significant role to play in the development of the candidate for Confirmation, and offers support and encouragement during the Confirmation preparation process. It is important that this person be one who is a living example of faith, one whose actions reflect the actions of Jesus. If your choice of Sponsor is unavailable to attend on the day, there is no restriction as to who may stand in as a Proxy. 

3) Seating - Each pew (seat) will be marked with your family’s surname. Due to the numbers of children being Confirmed we are able to allocate ONE pew to each family. If you would like additional people to attend, they are welcome to sit to the sides. On the Return Form there is room to indicate the number of people attending.

You can download this Return Form using the link below and then return to the School Office. (Copies of this form will also be available for you during the Information session on Tuesday 22 August.)

Visit by Year 11 students from Trinity College - Wednesday  7/6/2023

We will be visited by students from Trinity College as part of their practical Service projects for their Catholic Faith in Action studies. As a practical service to others these students will be helping in classrooms. Please make them feel welcome if you see them!

Important dates for this Term are:

20 May - Youth and Family Mass 5.30pm

21 May - THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

23 May – Information night for Sacrament of Confirmation

24 May – OLHC Feast Day

26 May –National Sorry Day

28 May (Sunday) – Pentecost Sunday

31 May - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

13/14 June - Ten:Ten Experience at our school

21 June – Sacrament of Confirmation (5:30pm)

TBA - Parent/Carer Information session - Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (combined session) 5:30pm

22 August, 2023 - Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:30 pm Cathedral

22 October - Sacrament of Eucharist - Cathedral

Discussion Panel - Trinity

Trinity is holding a Discussion Panel hosted by the Parent Assembly for current and future Trinity parents and carers. Please see the flyer below if you are interested in attending.