Term Three Week Six 2023
- From the Principal - Mrs Janelle Heffernan
- From the Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching - Mrs Amanda Deeps
- From the Assistant Principal Mission - Mr Danny Hatchman
- From the School Counsellor - Beth Cronin
- From the Leader of Pedagogy - Mrs Abbie Matthews
- From the Leader of Sport (Acting) - Mrs Michelle Sudiro
- Noticeboard
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,
As we come to the end of another very busy fortnight we may wonder how we will get the energy and motivation to keep going. Below is an article that talks about ways that we can nourish our soul.
We all need to be nourished and nourishment comes in different ways for each of us. Sometimes we need to reach for that piece of fruit, have a short nap or a longer night’s sleep, pause in the middle of our day or listen to an uplifting song.
The vegetable garden was one to envy. The bounty was plentiful. The dinner plates were full. Everything on that dinner plate came from that veggie patch. Sometimes we desire the harvest but forget what it takes to get it. We want and need sustenance but often forget to nurture and care for the garden. Plants require food, water and sunshine to grow. Without them, they are lifeless.
Our faith needs nourishment too. Without feeding our faith, we too can become lifeless, mindlessly moving through our days without stopping to pause for spiritual nourishment.
Prayer, song, scripture, quiet reflection and coming together as a community of faith are some of the ways we can receive this nourishment. Central to our spiritual nourishment is the Eucharist. It encompasses all of these things in one place at one time. It is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. It nurtures us, feeds us and allows us to grow. Ron Rohleiser OMI explains there are a number of ways the Eucharist nurtures us: ‘by giving us God’s physical embrace (“the real presence”), [it gives] us a oneness with each other that we cannot give to ourselves, it provides us with a life-sustaining ritual, a regular meeting around the Word and person of Christ that can become the daily bread of our lives and our communities.’
He goes on to say, ‘The Eucharist is meant to be God’s regular nourishment for us, daily manna to keep us alive within the desert of our lives.’ And some days our lives can feel like the desert, especially when our to-do lists are long and others are asking for more than what we feel we can give. Sometimes it takes everything to just show up in life, let alone at the table of the Lord. This is precisely the time that we need to come for nourishment. When we come and encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, his words echo in our hearts:
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Father's Day
I hope you enjoy the following reflection:
A FATHER’S REFLECTION
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I cannot achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I cannot force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.
I can teach you the facts of life, but I cannot build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I cannot say no for you.
I can warn you about drugs, but I cannot prevent you from using them.
I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God’s family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you unconditionally all of my life...and I will!
Happy Fathers’ Day to all dads, step dads, granddads and father figures for next Sunday. Have a wonderful family day!
Leave
I will taking Long Service Leave from Friday 8th September until Friday 13th October. In my absence Mrs Amanda Deeps will be in the Acting Principal role.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Next Wednesday evening our Year Four students will be celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Cathedral at 5.30pm.
Please pray for our students as they prepare for this very special sacrament.
Fathers’ Day Sausage Sizzle Reminder
A flyer has gone home about our Father's Day sausage sizzle. This will be held on Thursday afternoon, 31st August 4.15-5.45pm on the bottom playground. This will be a great opportunity to catch up with other families and to celebrate our dads.
Father’s Day Stall
Our Fathers’ Day Stall will be held on Thursday, 31st August. Gifts will be $5.00 per gift.
Book Week
This week we have celebrated Book Week at school. It has been a great week celebrating reading and the enjoyment of books. Books have such great power; they provide us with information, they inspire us to use our imagination and can transform us to other worlds. The Book Week them, Read, Inspire, Grow is a great mantra for us to follow.
Thank you to our families and friends who have come along to read with our infants students. It is was great to see so many visitors reading books to our students.
Book Week Parade
This morning we celebrated our Book Week Parade. There were many wonderful and creative costumes and our students were very excited to be able to dress up as book character. It was fantastic to see our school staff also entering into the spirit and dressing up.
There was definitely a buzz on the playground throughout the parade and it was extra special that our younger siblings came along and joined in our parade.
A big thank you to Miss Overell, Mrs Atlee and Mr Camilleri for organising our Book Parade today.
Book Fair
Thank you to Mrs Morrissey for organising our Book Fair throughout this week. We had many families come into the library to purchase books. We thank Lismore Book Warehouse for supplying the books for our Book Fair. A percentage from the books sold will be donated to our school to purchase new books for the library.
Grandparents Prayer and Shared Morning Tea
We were overwhelmed with the large number of our grandparents and families who were able to join us for our Grandparents Prayer and morning tea last Friday. It was a great celebration and a wonderful tribute to our grandparents.
Thank you to everyone who was able to come along and share the morning with us.
School Community Group Meeting - Tuesday 22nd August
On Tuesday evening we had our 2nd School Community Group Meeting. Whilst we did not have a large number of parents/carers come along it was a very successful meeting where our 3 year Strategic Management and Annual Plans were shared.
Beth Cronin, our School Counsellor also gave a very informative session on building resilience in our children and ourselves.
We thank Mrs Janita Thompson - Family School Lead and Mrs Jo Kelly - Parent Assembly Coordinator for assisting us.
We will have another meeting next term.
Kindergarten Parent/Carer Information Evening
We will be having our Kindergarten 2024 Parent/Carer Information evening on Tuesday 29th August at 6.00pm in the school hall. Our families will receive valuable information about our school and what our new students will require to begin their educational journey at St Carthage's in 2024.
Prospective Kindergarten families are also invited to come along sand learn a little more about our school.
2024 Enrolments
If you are aware of anyone who may be considering enrolling at St Carthage's please encourage them to make contact with the school or go to our school website and complete the online enrolment form. Enrolments for Years 1-6 for 2024 are also open.
Poetry and Public Speaking
Students are very busy practising their poems and public speaking speeches in preparation for our Poetry and Public Speaking competition. Each grade will select a number of students to recite their poems and public speaking in our school finals on Friday 8th September.
Winners will represent our school at the Regional finals held at our school on Friday, 15th September.
More details will follow.
Safe on Social - Kirra Prendegast
With technology changing so fast and new Apps and games regularly becoming available, it’s important that you feel educated, empowered and informed when it comes to online safety for your children. We invite you to attend this very important session on Wednesday 6th September at 6.00pm where the most current and up-to-date online safety topics will be shared by Kirra Pendergast - CEO and Principal Consultant of the Safe on Social Group. Light refreshments will be served at 5.30pm. Please view the flyer further on in the Newsletter to register.
Kirra will also do some sessions with our Stage Two and Stage Three students during the day.
Professional Development Days
Just a reminder that we have a Professional Learning Day (PUPIL FREE DAY) on Friday, 22nd September and Monday 9th October. Staff will be working on the English and Mathematics curriculums.
Attendance Note in Compass App
There is a known issue with the Compass App regarding the loss of the ability for parents to “add an attendance note” from the shortcuts in their app.
This is due to Compass making a significant change to their system, which has removed the ability for some parents to add attendance notes.
Parents can continue to add an attendance note using the SMS link for absences and in some cases, are able to submit an attendance note using the “open in browser” mode. Alternatively, you can phone or email through notifications for upcoming absences until this is resolved.
Protect Your Child Online from Inappropriate Content
As children explore the online world, they may encounter inappropriate content that can be harmful and disturbing. This content can have emotional consequences, causing nightmares or changes in behaviour, especially if it's vivid.
Inappropriate content includes prohibited or offensive material that is unsuitable for children's age and developmental stage. It can be accessed inadvertently through search engines, hyperlinks, pop-ups, junk mail, online games, or referrals from others.
Prevention
- Talk openly and regularly about online behaviour
- Let them know they should come to you if they encounter online problems or see something wrong, emphasising that they won't get in trouble for seeking help.
- Avoid device threats that may discourage open communication. Children may fear losing their device, causing them to keep online problems hidden.
- Monitor the content your child accesses online, including video games and streaming services. Utilise parental controls for streaming platforms.
- Ensure children access online content in common areas like the lounge room, allowing for better supervision and reducing the risk of exposure to inappropriate content.
Talk About It
Start conversations with your child about their online experiences:
- Ask if they've ever seen something that made them feel uncomfortable, worried or upset.
- Discuss how to handle negative situations online and ensure their safety.
- Explore their knowledge of online safety and why it's important not to share inappropriate content with peers.
Take Action
If your child views inappropriate content:
- Determine if it was accidental or deliberate, and have an open conversation about their motives.
- Stay calm, listen to their feelings, and offer emotional support as needed.
- Seek advice from resources like NSW Parentline (1300 1300 52) if necessary.
Resources to use with your child
- esafety kids: I saw something online I did not like.
- Younger children watch: Swoosh and Glide and Rule Number 5 story time video
- Hard to have conversations. Tips for parents.
ThinkUKnow I’m worried my child might see something inappropriate online
Safe on Social Parent Information Evening
Please join us for our "Keeping Our Kids Safe on Social Media" parent presentation on Wednesday 6th September at 6pm (light supper from 5:30pm). See flyer below for registration details.
Thank you Grandparents!!!!
We called for Grandparents to come to our Prayer to celebrate the gift of Grandparents - and we had soooo many Grandparents visit!! This was a lovely way to say thank you to our wonderful grandparents in prayer.
Our Opening prayer:
We come together this morning to celebrate the important role Grandparents play in our lives. Our Grandparents are a light for us on our journey.
We thank them as they encourage us, give us their wisdom and endless love each and every day. Just as Jesus is the light of our lives, grandparents also show us what is important in life.
After lighting our school candle we said..
Our Candle also helps us remember the grandparents who cannot be with us. Those who could not travel, who live far away, who are sick and those who are with God in heaven. They are always in our thoughts.
Grandparents are a gift from God to us. They bring us many gifts, much wisdom and heaps of fun times!
We read from the Holy Gospel according to Luke
“A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a tub; they put it on the lamp stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.”
And Sarah read a reflection...
In this Gospel Reading Jesus asks us to let our lights shine!!
Our grandparents do not hide their lamps. They always have shining smiles!
- Their light shines through the way they care for us.
- Their light shines through the way they share their wisdom.
- Their light shines through the way they listen to our stories.
- Their light shines through the way they cook yummy things
- Their light shines through the way they tell silly jokes and play games with us.
On behalf of everyone, this morning we say thank-you to all of our Grandparents.
Sacrament of Reconciliation - 30th August
Please pray for those children preparing for this Sacrament on Wednesday evening 30th August.
Who is this for? For our Year 4 students who have been baptised as Christians. There are some other students of other ages who are also making their first Sacrament of Reconciliation.
What is it? As Catholics, we have a special way to ask forgiveness of our loving God - the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We say ‘sorry’ to God (we confess our sins) and experience the joy of knowing God will always forgive us if we are sincere. It’s that simple.
Where? When? Seating? There is no allocated seating. Please be seated in the middle aisles by 5:20 as Fr Bing would like to address the families and pray with the students before commencing at 6pm.
After the welcoming prayer, a teacher will invite your child to go to one of the Priests to make their First Reconciliation. They will sit across from each other on two chairs. Music will be playing. We will have a copy of the words they will say to the Priest to take with them and to read from.
How many things should I say? Children ask ‘how many’ things do I need to tell the Priest! There is only a need to prepare 1 or 2 things for which they would like to ask forgiveness from God e.g. “I told mum a lie” or “I told a friend he couldn’t play with our group at school”.
They then say the ‘Act of Contrition’ (on the sheet they take with them) and then go back to their family, kneel and say their ‘penance’ (a small prayer they will be given by the Priest - perhaps a Hail Mary or Our Father).
How will they know what to say? They will take a small booklet with them with their words highlighted in red. The Priests understand this is their first time and are very welcoming.
Afterwards? When they have said this the family leaves the Cathedral quietly. Maybe you might have a family meal to celebrate at Maccas!
How can they prepare for Reconciliation? Before meeting with the Priest they can think about questions like:
In my family
Do I do my chores without complaining?
Do I always do as my parents have asked?
In my Parish
Do I always listen well when at Mass?
Do I always pray reverently?
At school
Have I been unkind to my friends?
Have I always obeyed my teachers?
Have I teased others?
Do I always listen well in class?
Do I always pray and meditate reverently in class?
Why we do the things we do!
After some nibblies, a number of parents met with the Leadership Team last Tuesday afternoon (5:30-7:15pm) - this meeting is known as the School Community Group.
One of the interests posed by parents was an interest in 'how and why we do things around here' in relation to the religious and spiritual life of our Catholic school.
If you have a question you are curious about eg. "What year does the Sacrament of Confirmation occur?" I invite you to email the question to me at daniel.hatchman@lism.catholic.edu.au and I will answer these as best I can each newsletter.
Here are some starters!
Why do we have sacraments?
Relationships grow through communication. We communicate in many ways beyond words: smiles, handshakes, gestures of affection, gifts, cards, flowers. In our relationship with God, too, we use signs to express the mystery of God's loving presence. There are many ways we do this, but some community rituals have developed in our Church which we hold to be particularly sacred and which mark the various stages of a person's life as a member of the Church. We call these sacraments: signs or symbols that 'make present' within us the reality of God's love that is signified.
Why go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
people sometimes ask. Isn't it enough to say sorry to God in my heart? The Catholic approach to Reconciliation is deeply community-oriented. For us, sin is never a private affair. When one member of the body of Christ hurts, the whole body suffers. Imagine a husband and wife who harshly criticise each other. They can regret their words and say sorry to God. But for the forgiveness of God to really take effect in their marriage, they also need to reconcile with one another. Similarly, in Reconciliation we offer a public sign to our faith community that we are sorry for the ways we have undermined the unity of the Church and that we desire to renew our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our Accendere Retreat for Yr 4 students - 1st September
Our Accendere Retreat will be held next week! Accendere means to: ‘switch on’, kindle to catch fire, light to strike, to produce/spark the flame. This is one of the Retreat experiences your child will experience as they progress through St Carthage's which provide an opportunity for a deeper relationship with our God.
Other interesting things!
AustralianCATHOLICS
Our latest edition of AustralianCATHOLICS has arrived and will be sent home with the rostered class.
ARC Dad's Group
A reminder about the 10 week group program being offered for St Carthage's dads run by the Men & Family Centre. Sessions will take place on a Tuesday from 5:30 to 8pm starting on Tuesday 22nd August 2023.
Parental Support - "Anxiety and Autism" "Aggression & Autism" and "School Avoidance & Autism"
The Parental Stress Centre is an excellent source of parenting support. Attached is a flyer with links to 3 webinar recordings recently sponsored by the Diocesan Parent Assembly. I have listened to "Anxiety and Autism" and found it very useful. The other recordings deal with "Aggression & Autism" and "School Avoidance & Autism".
Links for you
Diocese of Lismore: https://www.lismorediocese.org/
Lismore Diocese YouTube Sunday Mass with Bishop Gregory: https://bit.ly/3zvcjsW
Parish News
“Two Rooms” Project - For some time now, Lismore Diocese has provided financial
support to Resilient Lismore’s Two Rooms Project thanks in part to the generous donations to the Diocesan Flood Appeal. More than 100 homes have now received assistance. The idea is to build two rooms’ worth of walls to give people a safe, secure and warm place to live in. Crews spend about 20 hours a week on a job sheeting walls an making other running repairs to ensure the space is liveable. The current number is 129 Two Rooms jobs completed with a further 180 jobs on the go.
Important dates
- 30 August - Sacrament of Reconciliation
- 1 September - Accendere Retreat for Yr 4 students
- 22 October - Sacrament of Eucharist
Father's Day
Father’s Day is a special and exciting time for many families and an opportunity to express love and gratitude to the fathers and men in our lives. St Carthage’s Primary School honours the important roles that fathers play in the lives of children. We are actively creating opportunities for dads to get together, to learn from each other as well as from the latest research about what helps kids thrive, and to celebrate and support each other through the highs and lows of parenting.
When it comes to our cars, we check the oil, water and tyre pressure and book in for regular services but don’t often “tune up” the most significant thing in our children’s lives - the relationships we build with them. We’re hoping many dads take up this rare opportunity to attend the ARC dads group right here in our school starting 5th September. This could be the best time investment you make all year.
Other tips or resources you might enjoy:
● https://mensline.org.au/being-a-dad/tips-for-building-emotional-development-in-children/
● https://www.relationshipswa.org.au/Tip-sheets/Fathering-After-Separation
● https://www.interrelate.org.au/programs-services/families
● https://aifs.gov.au/resources/resource-sheets/web-resources-fathers
● https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/blog/celebrating-fathers-day-fatherhood/
We also recognise that Father’s Day can be a complex time for many families and might bring up pain, loss and grief for children and adults alike. Many children and adults are grieving their fathers or father figures due to death or disconnected relationships. Many fathers (biological, step, foster, adoptive or honourary) are grieving their children or grieving the loss of relationship and connection with them.There may be grief around what people wished their relationships with their
father had been or could be, and also grief about time and opportunities they wish they could have back. There are also many diverse family structures in our world today, and not all families have fathers. For families who turned to science to help create their families, LGBTIQA+ families and for children who don’t have a father, Father’s Day can be hard.
Here are some helpful hints about supporting children, and adults, on Father’s Day.
● https://feelthemagic.org.au/5-ways-to-talk-to-a-grieving-child-on-fathers-day/
● Coping on Father’s Day https://mensline.org.au/being-a-dad/coping-on-fathers-day
● How to celebrate someone when they’re not here https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-04/fathers-day-how-do-you-celebrate-someone-when-they-re-not-here/101398638
● 5 ways to support a child grieving a death by suicide https://feelthemagic.org.au/lets-talk-suicide/
● For separated parents https://www.interrelate.org.au/programs/building-connections
● Grief reminders and what to do with them https://standbysupport.com.au
● https://www.rainbowfamilies.com.au/mother_s_day_and_father_s_day_resource
Children and Grief
Year 1 News
Mrs Connelly, Mrs Bailey, Mrs Shea & Mrs Dardengo
Book Week - My Favourite Book!
This term, we have had the opportunity to take part in some hockey clinics. We have had lots of fun learning these skills and keeping active.
In Mathematics, we have been learning how to separate larger numbers by counting by tens.
Football Australian Championships
Lismore Diocesan Athletics Carnival
On Tuesday 15th August, 20 St Carthage's students travelled to Coffs Harbour to participate in the Lismore Diocesan Athletics Carnival. We are extremely proud of all of the students for their effort, sportsmanship and manners throughout the day. Congratulations to the following students who were selected to attend the Polding Athletics Carnival in Sydney on Friday 13th October:
Archie Sauer - 1500m (3rd) High-jump (2nd)
Isabella Moretti - Shot Put (2nd) Discus (1st)
Mali Cooper - Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
Taleah Eades - Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
Erica Robinson - Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
Mya Weekes- Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing photos and results from the Polding Athletics Carnival.
NSW Blues Cricket player visit
On Monday morning Year 4 had three New South Wales cricket players come visit and talk about their careers as professional sports people. These three players also included Australian test superstar Kurtis Patterson. They each talked about their life growing up and how they got to be able to play for the NSW Blues. They talked about flashbacks in the past like injuries, the most enjoyable moments of their career and journey of getting to an elite level. By Gus Year 4
