Term Two Week Four 2023
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.
Webinar - Corey Tutt
The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is excited to invite all families who have children enrolled in Catholic schools across NSW and the ACT to join them in a literacy event.
Acclaimed author and scientist, COREY TUTT will read from his book, THE FIRST SCIENTISTS to you and your child. Parents and carers, you can pick up a few tips to help get the most out of reading with your child at home to improve their literacy skills.
See the flyer below for further details.
ICAS Assessments Are Back!!
Over the last two years we have had to put a hold on offering ICAS assessments due to the flood and having a lack of space and at times unreliable internet. Now that we are nearly back to pre-flood conditions we can now offer the ICAS assessments to our students from Years 3 to Year 6.
ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.
ICAS Assessments are now online, a move that reflects a sector-wide transition to online assessments. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results.
Learn more about ICAS here: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas
Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for all tests. Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the following details to register your child no later than Wednesday 28th June 2023. After the closing data and once you have purchased the assessments you wish your child/ren to sit, I will send the permission note to you via Compass.
PLEASE NOTE that ALL ICAS assessments are online (including writing). Students who sit the writing test will need to be competent at typing.
Access details for parents
School access code is: | UKI389 |
Parent page link is: | https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps |
Dates and Prices
ICAS Test | Sitting Dates | Cost (includes GST) |
Writing | 7th August to 11th August 2023 | $23.65 |
Digital Technologies | 7th August to 11th August 2023 | $19.25 |
English | 14th August to 18th August 2023 | $19.25 |
Science | 21st August to 25th August 2023 | $19.25 |
Spelling Bee | 21st August to 25th August 2023 | $19.25 |
Mathematics | 28th August to 1st September 2023 | $19.25 |
If you have any questions with regards to the ICAS assessments please contact me.
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:
Date |
Time |
Venue |
|
Parent/Carer Information session for the Sacrament of Confirmation. |
Tuesday 23 May, 2023 |
5:30pm |
School Hall |
The evening of the Sacrament of Confirmation |
Wednesday 21 June, 2023 |
Commencing 5:30 pm (Please note change of starting time).
|
Cathedral |
Parent/Carer Information session - Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist (combined session) |
(TBA) Either Tuesday 27 June or 18 July, 2023
|
5:30pm |
School Hall |
Sacrament of Reconciliation |
Tuesday, 22 August, 2023 |
5:30pm |
Cathedral |
Sacrament of Eucharist |
Sunday 22 October, 2023 |
5:30pm |
Mass in the Cathedral |
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.
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. Parents cannot be sponsors but may stand in a 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.)
Q and A - Sacrament of Confirmation
Clothing |
Neat and tidy clothing. |
Times |
Please ensure you are seated at 5:30pm. Bishop Gregory Homeming will speak to the parents prior to the ceremony. Please silence phones and respect the Sacredness of the occasion when entering the Cathedral. |
Photos |
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. |
Reverence |
Please ensure the respect shown for each child at the reception of the Sacramental anointing is continued from first to last. |
Being Anointed |
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. |
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)
St Carthage's Athletics Program
The St Carthage's Athletics Program has now commenced. Located below are the events that the students will participate in, the location and any other important information.
Long Jump and Shot Put - Students in Years 2-6 have now commenced long jump and shot put. Finals for the long jump and shot put will be held at school throughout weeks 2-5. If a student has made the final and they are absent on the day, they will be given the opportunity to throw/jump on another day.
800m - The 800m event was held on Friday 19th May. Results will be posted at a later date.
1500m - Students in Years 2-6 who finished in the top 5 of at the St Carthage's Cross Country have been invited to participate in the 1500m event. This will be held on Thursday 25th May at 9:30am on the St Carthage's Ovals. Students compete in divisions for this event; Junior 8-10yrs, 11yrs and Senior 12/13yrs. Parents are welcome to attend.
Relay Selections - Students in Years 3-6 will be invited to trial for their colour house relay team. Students in Year 3-4 and Year 5-6 will race a 100m race against students in their colour house. The top 4 will be selected to join their Stage 2 or 3 colour house relay team that will compete at the St Carthage's Athletics Carnival. This will take place on Friday 26th May. If students are not present on this day, they will not have the opportunity to be in the relay team for their colour house.
Change of Date
Athletics Carnival - The St Carthage's Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 23rd June at St John's College, Woodlawn. This change was made due to the facilities and lack of power at Riverview park. Please refer to the Compass event for additional information.
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.