Term One Week Three 2024
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 our new school year and our first Newsletter for 2024. I hope you all enjoyed a very relaxing and enjoyable time with family and friends over our Christmas break. We begin this new year filled with hope and anticipation. We look forward to a year full of unknown opportunities for us all to support each other in our partnership of educating, guiding and modelling Christian values to our children.
The term has started with a real sense of purpose and a great spirit of co-operation and enthusiasm for learning. Teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that classrooms are ready for learning and I am sure that you will be happy with your child‘s new learning environment. We especially welcome our 2024 Kindergarten students and the many families who are beginning their educational journey at St Carthage’s. We hope your time here is happy and rewarding and we thank you for trusting your children to our care.
Congratulations to our students for the way you have started on this new stage of your learning journey and thanks to parents for having them so well prepared for school. Thank you to the staff who spent holiday time at school setting up rooms, developing programs and organising resources and school events for Term One. It is this dedication and commitment which allows us to start the year so smoothly. Well done all!
To you, the parents and families, I eagerly look forward to meeting you over the next few weeks at our beginning of the year meetings, our Welcome Barbeque or out in the playground at drop off and pick up. We are here to work in partnership with you and I would appreciate any input or suggestions which you may have to ensure that our school runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
As we complete our third week of school, I hope that your children are settled and happy in their new classes. Certainly, the talk has been very positive, with teachers commenting about how eager and enthusiastic the students have been. As we begin this new year, it is important to remember that parents and teachers are partners in helping each child achieve a successful transition into adulthood. This combined support is essential if the transition is to be a positive developmental experience for your child. A good relationship with your child‘s teacher will make it easier for you to stay informed about your child‘s progress across all areas of schooling and to work together if difficulties or problems arise throughout the year. On occasions, you might find that teachers offer advice or constructive criticism about your child that you may not agree with. However, it is important to keep an open mind to the teacher‘s comments (and they to yours). Unfortunately, none of us are perfect, so if a problem arises, it is important to consider both sides of the story. The outcome should be one that helps your child succeed at school. There needs to be a sensitivity which respects the parents who have a special knowledge of their children, and the teacher as a trained professional.
School staff at St Carthage's are dedicated and caring people and they want to be not just good educators, but educators who their students will remember because they shared their knowledge and love of learning with them. Jonathan Sarks, Rabbi and author of ―The Politics of Hope, said about teachers:
“Educators open our eyes to the world. They give us curiosity and confidence.
They teach us to ask questions. They connect us to our past and future.
They are the guardians of our social heritage.
Life without a teacher is surely not a life.”
May 2024 be a great year for you and your children and please remember, if you have any questions, queries or concerns regarding your children throughout the year, please contact your child‘s teacher, our Assistant Principals or myself so that we can work together on a joint solution.
Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent
This week we celebrated Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Our students in Years 4, 5 and 6 joined with our parish community at Mass and our Kindergarten, Years 1, 2 and 3 students participated in a prayer service led by Mr Hatchman and Sr Di. These celebrations signify the beginning of our faith journey toward Easter and new life.
The word Lent comes from the Old English word ‘lencten’, meaning spring - the time of new life in the northern hemisphere. To move toward ‘new life,' fasting and prayer are practised in Lent as remembrance and reflection of our Lord’s fasting in the wilderness.
During this time, we often talk about what we are going to refrain from. We also discern what we are going to give. Pope Francis has previously told us almsgiving - donating money, goods or time to the poor - ‘sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone.'
Pope Francis not only underlines giving in Lent, but he warns against our culture that takes, uses or discards: ‘How many of God’s children are mesmerised by momentary pleasures, mistaking them for true happiness! How many men and women are entranced by the dream of wealth, which only makes them slaves to profit and petty interests! How many go through life believing that they are sufficient unto themselves, and end up entrapped by loneliness! How many young people are taken in by the panacea of drugs, of disposable relationships, of easy but dishonest gains! How many more are ensnared in a thoroughly digital existence, in which relationships appear quick and straightforward, only to prove meaningless!’
So this Lent, in fasting and giving, let us also think about what it is to take; what it is to discard others; what it is to deny the ‘least of our brothers and sisters.'
Kindergarten 2024
It was great to welcome our Kindergarten students and their families to our school and to see them happily arrive at school each day. I think that there will be some very tired little people tonight and I also think their teachers and support staff will also sleep well!
Congratulations on a great start!
School Leaders 2024
Congratulations to all our Year 6 student leaders who will be our role models by setting the standard in terms of presentation, respect for all and appropriate behaviour at all times throughout this year. Special congratulations to our School Captains, Vice Captains and Colour House Captains for 2024:
School Captains: Luca Lombardo and Archie Sauer
Vice Captains: Isabella Mitchell and Mason Smith
Colour House Captains
Carthage: Lexi Behan and Ben Ryall
D'Arcy: Dusty Zorzo and Zack O'Driscoll-Wilson
Doyle: Penelope Gorman and Oliver Collings
Jerome: Sophie Bertoldi and Lachlan Elphick
Nagle: Mila Smith and Jake Holmes
Thomas: Mila Woolston and Reggie Field
Welcome BBQ and Disco
The Welcome Barbeque and Disco will be held on Thursday evening, 22nd February from 5.15pm - 7.00pm. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a school community to celebrate the new school year.
Flyers have been sent home and if you are able to join us please fill out the return slip and return it to school by Monday for catering purposes.
Parent Information Meetings
Parent-Teacher Information Meetings are a vital communication link between home and school. I encourage every family to attend these meetings. This sends a powerful message to your children about the value you place on your child’s learning this year. Teachers go to a lot of trouble preparing these nights and I thank them for giving up their family time to assist your children’s education.
Our Kindergarten Meeting was held last night and I thank our families for coming along and gaining information about the year ahead.
Meetings for Years 1-6 are as follows.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
We look forward to welcoming our parents and carers in Week 8 (18th - 21st March) to meet with teachers. 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.
More information to follow.
School Photos
Our School photos will be taken on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th March. School Photo envelopes will be sent home with the students soon. Please return these envelopes, with the correct payment enclosed, on the Monday of the photos, as
these will be handed straight to the photographers. We do not handle photo money. Sibling envelopes will be available from the School Office. Please ensure that students are in their correct school uniform on these days.
Active Kids Drop Off and Pick Up
Thank you to those parents and carers who have followed our direction to use the Visitor's Carpark as a drop-off and pick-up point for Active Kids. This has become a major safety issue and it is imperative that ALL drop-offs and pick-ups are in the Visitors Carpark or on the kerbs outside of the school grounds.
The Staff Carpark is for staff use only.
We thank you for supporting this request in an effort to keep all of our students and families safe.
Social Media Reminder
It is quite common for parents to establish social media groups or pages to share information or connect with other parents in your child’s class and school community. Please be reminded that it is not permitted to establish a social media presence using the school's name or logo without written permission from the Principal. Any permitted social media pages/groups/accounts must adhere to the schools and the Catholic Schools Office Diocesan Social Media Policies.
Changes to Afternoon Pick Up
If there is a change in your child’s travel arrangements, please let us know by note or phone call. We ask that phone calls to the Office to advise children of an unexpected change to pick-up arrangements be made prior to 2:45pm. This provides Office Staff with the best chance of ensuring that your child receives the message. As you might imagine, a flurry of last minute phone calls at this busy time of the school day is not ideal.
If a child is unsure of their home time arrangements on a particular day, and we have received no notification, the child will be sent home on their bus as usual.
Late Arrival and Early Departure
- Students arriving after the school bell has rung must be brought to the Office by their parent/carer upon arrival.
- Parents/carers collecting students early must come to the School Office. Staff will call students to the Office for collection.
Please Note: We are unable to allow children to go with another parent unless we have permission (preferably written). If unknown to Office Staff, parents/carers calling to collect children will be asked for photographic I.D. This is not meant to offend and is only in the interest of your child/ren’s safety.
Notification of Student Absences
Parents of students marked as Absent (unexplained) will receive an SMS notification asking you to advise the reason for your child’s absence by return SMS. As SMS messages are now considered legitimate forms of communication, a follow-up phone call or note is not required. However, if you are unable to respond to the SMS then the school does require some form of communication via a phone call or email to explain absences.You can also enter your child's absence prior to getting the SMS notification using the Compass App.
It is both a legal requirement and a safety issue that all visitors report to the Office and sign in and out of the school. This is necessary in the unlikely event of a fire, evacuation, lockdown etc. but more importantly for the safety of the students in our care. If you are staying at the school, you will also be issued with a visitor’s badge.
Infant's Play Equipment After School
Our Infants’ play equipment is designed for use by our younger students under teacher supervision during the school day at the following times: before school from 8:30am to 8:55am, morning tea and lunch. It is not to be used by students from Years 3 to 6 at any time. Students catching buses, walking to Cathedral pick-up or waiting for parents are NOT to be on the equipment as they are not being supervised. Students must be supervised by their parents on the play equipment after school. We don’t wish to spoil fun, but safety is paramount and teachers are spending much time moving students away from this area to where they should be in the afternoons.
Child Protection and Complaints Handling Policies
The Child Protection and Complaints Handling Policies are availble on our school website. Please use the link below to view these policies.
https://www.stcarthlism.catholic.edu.au/policies
Parish Mass Times
The times for weekday Masses in the Cathedral are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00am, and Friday at 12:05pm.
Weekend Mass times are; Saturday Vigil – 5:30pm
Sunday Morning – 9:00am
Sunday Morning – 11.00am
Welcome to the 2024 School Year
Welcome to the 2024 school year to all our returning and new families. I hope you all stayed well and had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break. We have started the school year well and we look forward to continuing to have a great year full of learning and fun here at St Carthage’s.
Our teachers had a wonderful two days sitting with students to conduct the Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAIs) during the first week of school. We thank all our parents for working with us to have students attend their appointments. The information gathered, as a result of the interview, is important in helping us to assess where a child's understanding is at for teachers to plan teaching that is targeted to the needs of their learners to enable them to thrive mathematically.
Thank you also to our Kindergarten parents for organising a time for their Best Start and Mathematics Assessment Interviews. The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment is a state-wide assessment that helps show teachers the literacy skills of each student at the beginning of Kindergarten. As a Diocese, our Catholic schools then complete a MAI with each Kindergarten student so that we have an understanding of their numeracy skills. Both of these assessments help teachers plan lessons to best support the learning needs of every child in their classrooms.
The data collected through the Best Start will be shared with parents during Term One. If you have any questions regarding this please speak with your child’s teacher.
Compass Connect & Seesaw
During the holidays our Diocesan Administrator for Seesaw set up our classes for 2024. During this set up some changes to the platform were made which we have been informed of. The main change to Seesaw functionality that will affect families is that the messaging application on Seesaw for Schools has been disabled.
We are in the process of moving over to Compass Connect, a messaging module built into the Compass App. This will allow us to use one app for all school communication. Connect has a similar messaging system to Seesaw. This new way of messaging will become live as of Monday 26th February.
With regards to messaging, we would like to clarify how to use Compass Connect:
DO’s
- Do message your child’s teacher if you want to share something positive from home or congratulate your child on something they have done in school.
- Do message your child’s teacher if you have a small query or would like to find out something simple.
- You can message on Compass Connect to arrange a meeting time to see the class teacher.
- You can use Compass Connect for any general day-to-day communication.
DON’T’s
- Please do not message your child’s teacher to notify them of absences or illnesses – this should be done via the school office or on the Compass app as normal.
- Please do not use Compass Connect to message about any urgent or serious issues. You must use the school office and normal school procedures for this.
Teachers will always endeavour to reply as soon as possible. However, please be mindful that school life can be incredibly busy and whilst every effort will be made to reply or acknowledge messages that day, there may be a slight delay as teachers cannot check messages during teaching times. Additionally, please do not expect a reply to any messages sent out of school hours, or during weekends or school holidays.
We hope this helps clear up any questions you may have and that you enjoy connecting with us through Compass Connect. Communication about student learning will remain on Seesaw. From time to time teachers may upload or have students upload work to their portfolios so that you can celebrate their learning at home with them.
More information with regard to Compass Connect will be sent out via Compass during next week.
Welcome Kindergarten
We have recently welcomed our new Kindergarten students to our school. They have had such a positive start to their schooling and it has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces each morning.
Over the coming weeks, I will be adding some suggestions to the newsletter on how you can support your child/ren through this transition period.
NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
NAPLAN is held in Term 1 and will take place from Wednesday 13th March to Monday 25th March.
NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school's learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.
In preparation for NAPLAN 2024, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked.
Students and parents can access the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.
Students will need to bring in a set of headphones for the NAPLAN tests. If the headphones could be sent to school as soon as possible so that they can be used in the lead-up to the assessments it would be greatly appreciated.
Traffic Management Plan
At St Carthage's, we strive to ensure that children, staff, and members of our wider community are safe at all times. Additionally, it is our goal to make sure that our community is impacted as minimally as possible by school traffic. Our Traffic Management Plan has been devised to help us to keep all of our community safe. Parents are expected to follow this plan and to cooperate with the directions of staff fully.
The information below provides you with an understanding of the Traffic Management Plan that has been implemented by St Carthage's. Please share this information with anyone who will be picking up and dropping off your children from school.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Arrangements
Before and After School
The following areas have been designated as safe areas for the children to be dropped off before school and to be picked up after school:
- School grounds: Parents may collect children from the school grounds. Children will wait on the Library steps for collection. Parents, please note that the playground area is 'out of bounds' until all bus bays have moved off.
- Cathedral grounds (preferred option): Children being picked up from the Cathedral in the afternoon line up with their hats on and near the Bus Bay 17-20 line. Teachers will escort them via the underpass to the Cathedral. All children are asked to walk in an orderly way.
DO NOT PARK: Parents are asked to avoid blocking bus zones or private driveways and are not to park in the Police Youth Club Car Park, the Service Station or the Staff Car Park, including the driveway access (located off Dawson Street).
A 'Drive-Through' operates as outlined below at the Cathedral during pick-up time.
Cathedral Pick-up and Drive-Through Guidelines
- All children must sit on the grassed area and wait for their parents to collect them. (No children are to run off to meet their parents).
- There is no parking in the middle grassed area of the Cathedral grounds.
- ONE-WAY TRAFFIC only.
- The drive-through lane is only for parents of children who do not need assistance getting into cars. (speedy operation) Parents, please do not leave your car. Teachers will direct your child/ren to your car when it is time and safe.
- NO CHILD is to enter a car from the right-hand side of the vehicle when using the drive-through.
- If your child needs assistance, parents must park in the "Pick-up Parking" area on the far side of the grounds and walk over to pick up their child.
- All pedestrian access via Cathedral steps and paths. Please do not cross in front of queuing "drive-through" traffic.
- Vehicles exit the 'Pick-up Parking' area on the inside lane of the Drive-Through queue (see diagram below).
- Parents in Drive-Through-Lane have the right of way.
- Please do not block driveway access to the Presbytery, Parish Office or Priest's residences.
- Parents who need to park and collect children may wish to stagger their pick-up time until after the initial rush.
- At 3:40 pm, any children still waiting to be picked up will walk back to school with the supervising teachers.
- During funerals at the Cathedral, wet weather or storms, children are to be collected from the Library steps. A message will be placed on ClassDojo.
We would appreciate it if all parents could read and share guidelines with other people who might pick up your child and support us in this endeavour to keep your child safe.
Road Safety
Road Safety is a Back to School Essential. As children return to school, it is essential to keep safety in mind. Talk with your children about safely getting to and from school.
- Keep children safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.
- Keep children safe by walking distraction-free. Expect your child to take off their headphones while walking.
- Keep children safe getting on and off the bus. Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the road's edge. Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across. Wait until the bus has gone before crossing the road.
- Keep children safe while using wheeled transport. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it is the law. Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective equipment.
Be a positive role model when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver. Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.
Never sacrifice safety for convenience, source:https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/.
Bus Safety
Pope Francis' take on Lent - In a social media era - make private time for God.
Pope Francis said recently that in the social media era, “Even the most tragic and painful experiences risk not having a quiet place where they can be kept. Everything has to be exposed, shown off, fed to the gossip mill of the moment,” he said.
Pope Francis asks us to carve out a silent space for God amid the buzz of the digital era in which little remains private. Francis said God’s invitation for Lent is to “Enter into the secret, return to the centre of yourself.”
In his homily, the pope asked that during Lent to focus upon praying, fasting and giving alms “in secret,” saying Jesus’s invitation to the disciples to “go to your room” to do these things instead of seeking public recognition for them is at the heart of the Lenten season.
Going to one’s room, in this sense, he said, “means journeying from without to within, so that our whole life, including our relationship with God, is not reduced to mere outward show, a frame without a picture, a draping of the soul, but is born from within and reflects the movements of our heart.”
“Without realising it, we find ourselves no longer having an ‘inner chamber’ in which we can stop and care for ourselves, immersed as we are in a world in which everything, including our emotions and deepest feelings, has to become ‘social’,” he said.
“Precisely there, where so many fears, feelings of guilt and sin are lurking, precisely there the Lord has descended in order to heal and cleanse you,” he said.
Ash Wednesday
Project Compassion
Bishop Greg’s Lenten Talks
Bishop Greg will be holding his Lenten Talks in St Mary’s Chapel, 6.00pm on Monday 19, 26 February and 11 March. This year he will speak of “Themes from St Therese of Lisieux”. All are most welcome to attend.
St Carthage’s Cathedral Parish Caritas Project Compassion Fundraising page: https://parishes.
A Prayer during Ash Wednesday
Loving God,
This Ash Wednesday, we enter into Lent and a period of reflection. The days before us invite us to reflect upon our relationship with God and others. Help me take the time pray to the Holy Spirit to have the courage to fill those empty spaces. Give me the grace to enter into this time with an open heart and mind. Let your loving kindness flow over me and be evident in my thoughts, words and actions.
Amen
St Carthage's School and Parish Sacramental Program
Students who are baptised are invited into the 2024 Parish Sacramental Program through St Carthage’s Primary School.
- Sacrament of Confirmation (Students in Year 3) - 27 June, 2024
- Sacrament of Reconciliation (Students in Year 4) - (Date to be confirmed)
- Sacrament of the Eucharist (Students in Year 4) - (Date to be confirmed)
Note: Children who have missed the opportunity to participate in any of these Sacraments may still enrol in a Sacrament e.g a Yr 6 student may be enrolled in any of these three Sacraments.
Very Important: Copies of Baptismal Certificates need to be provided to the school unless your child was Baptised in the Cathedral Parish or you provided this Certificate to St Carthage’s school during enrolment. If this is not the case, please provide a copy as soon as possible. You may need to contact the Parish where your child was baptised to obtain a copy.
| Event | Date |
|
Parent/Carer Information session for the Sacrament of Confirmation
|
To Be Advised |
|
Retreat for students being Confirmed
|
TBA |
|
Sacrament of Confirmation
|
27 June, 2024 |
|
Parent/Carer Information session for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist
|
TBA |
|
Sacrament of Reconciliation
|
TBA |
| Sacrament of the Eucharist | TBA |
Please download, complete and return the Enrolment Form (below) to nominate your children for the Sacrament program. Paper forms will also be available from the Office.
Mini-Vinnies
The letter below is a thank you message from the Lismore St Vincent de Paul Society President and is in response to our very generous donations to SVDP last year - our Christmas Hampers.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.
This year we have some very eager Year 5 students who are being formed as the Mini-Vinnies group. The mission of our mini-vinnies is to do the same on a smaller scale.
Savannah McPherson, Abbie Challinor, Caitlin Gapes, Elly-Mae Hauser, Jack McCarthy, Georgia Dodds and
Patrick Young
2024 Dates
St Carthage's
Cross Country - Friday 22nd March
Athletics Carnival - Friday 14th June
Swimming Time Trials - Friday 22nd November
Richmond Zone
Winter Sports Trials (football, hockey, netball and rugby league Year 5/6) - Thursday 22nd February
Cross Country - Tuesday 7th May
Athletics Carnival - Thursday 1st August
Richmond Zone Football/Netball/Multi sports Gala Day - Friday 30th August
Basketball and Tennis Trials (Year 4/5) - Monday 4th November
Cricket Trials (Year 4/5)- Wednesday 6th November
Touch Football Trials (Year 4/5) - Thursday 7th November
Lismore Diocesan
Swimming Carnival - Friday 1st March
Hockey Trials - Wednesday 6th March
Football, Hockey, Netball and Rugby League Trials - Friday 8th March
Rugby Union Trials - Friday 17th May
Cross Country - Tuesday 21st May
Dio Rugby Union Gala Day - Wednesday 12th June
Athletics Carnival - Tuesday 13th August
Basketball and Tennis Trials - Tuesday 26th November
Touch Football Trials - Thursday 28th November
Cricket Trials - Friday 29th November
Please note that dates may change throughout the year. If required, new dates will be provided leading up to the event.
Representative Sport
Students are provided with the opportunity to participate in representative sport that commences at a school level and progresses through to a national level. The representative pathway below applies for Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country (8-13 year olds), Winter Sports Trials (Year 5 & 6 - AFL, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union) and Summer Sports Trials (Year 4 & 5 - Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football).
Richmond Zone Winter Sports Trials
The Richmond Zone Winter Sports Trials are a representative pathway for students in Year 5 and 6. The sports include, football, hockey, netball, rugby league and rugby union. Thank you to our staff who ran trials over the last week to select students to represent St Carthage's at these trials.
We wish the following students the best of luck at their respective trials:
Football: Tyler Bell, Billy Bradfield, Cole Ruane-Taylor, Myles Weekes, Fraser Wright, Luca Lombardo, Maeve Norwell, Mila Olivieri and Matilda Spokes
Hockey: Maggie Hughes, Georgia O'Brien, Mason Smith, Priya Vantaggiato, Dusty Zorzo and Sassy Zorzo.
Netball: Ebony Andrews, Sophie Bertoldi, Lara Brown, Mikayla Evely and Grace Mills.
Rugby League: Tohbi Olive-Conte, Vincent McDonald, Jordy Williams, Cooper Bennett, Oliver Collings, Lachlan Elphick, Reggie Field and Archie Sauer.
Rugby Union: Oliver Collings, Lachlan Elphick, Reggie Field, Jake Holmes, Archie Sauer, Myles Weekes and Jordy Williams
The Richmond Zone Rugby Union Trials were held yesterday at the Lismore City Rugby Club. Thank you to Mr Gordon for helping run the trials. Congratulations to the following students who were selected:
Oliver Collings, Lachlan Elphick, Reggie Field and Archie Sauer.
We wish you the best of luck in Grafton on Friday 17th May.
St Carthage's Intensive Swimming Program
The intensive swimming program at St Carthage's has been heavily impacted by COVID and the floods of 2022. After investigating options to resume intensive swimming, we have been unable to develop an appropriate program that would be affordable for our families. The program use to be 5 x 30 minute sessions. Due to the increased price of pool entry, lane hire, coaches and transport the cost of this program would now be in excess of $150. If we were to provide this program, the group sizes would be a minimum of 1:7, which is not ideal for learn to swim programs. Many families would be required to send multiple children, making this a substantial cost for families.
In addition to this, the pool at Trinity is no longer running. The process of transporting the students to and from a local venue, getting changed and running the program would take 2 hours each day. This is a significant interruption for our students.
Swimming is a vital life skill and we strongly encourage all of our students to participate in swimming lessons. Many local swimming schools offer intensive blocks during the school holidays. Local options for swimming lessons include, but are not limited to:
Growing Gills Swim School - 0450 061 405
Summit - 6625 2025
Swimsations - 66 255 370
Janelle Heffernan and I have discussed this at length. Please know that this decision has not been made lightly. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this decision please feel free to contact me.
St Carthage's Swimming Time Trials
The St Carthage's Swimming Trials are held in Term 4 each year. This is our school swimming carnival. Not all students from Year 1-5 attend the swimming carnival because not all students can swim 50m. All students who can confidently swim 50m are encouraged to attend. There are a number of safety considerations that need to be made when holding a sporting event, especially when water is involved.
Due to the competency of our Year 5 and 6 students, we will be hosting a non-competitive carnival for them at the end of the year. This will commence once all competitive events have concluded at our swimming trials.
On Friday, the Swimming Carnival Shield for 2023 was presented to Doyle. Congratulations to all of the students from Doyle who attended the swimming trials. It is your willingness to participate and earn points for your house that contributed to your victory.
Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival
On Tuesday 13th November 28 students from St Carthage's travelled to Alstonville to participate in the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival. The effort and school spirit shown by the students was fantastic to witness.
Congratulations to Heidi Cormack, Isabella Mullington and Penelope Gorman who placed in the top 3 for their respective events. We wish them the best of luck on Friday 1st March at the Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival.
A special congratulations to Isabella Mullginton who was awarded U11's Girls Runner Up Age Champion. What a fantastic achievement.
S2/S3 Colour House Competition
In Term 3 and 4, 2023, students from Year 3-6 participated in a Colour House Competition. Over a 6 week period, the students competed against other colour houses in a range of different sports. The Sports included netball, football, touch football, tennis, cricket and t-ball.
On Friday, the students (some) were excited to learn that Nagle were awarded the Colour House Shield for 2023.
Congratulations Nagle!
AFL Clinics
Over the last 2 weeks, all students from K-2 have been involved in an AFL session during their sport time. These sessions were provided to the school free of charge to promote the local Auskick program. Please see the information below for more details.
Registrations are open and we can't wait to see you at Lismore Swans JAFC Auskick!
Starting Wednesday 6th March at Mortimer Oval, Lismore for 8 weeks! Only $90 and you get an amazing benefits pack.
Click here to register and become a Swannies Auskicker! Registration Link - https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/ca6824
Position Vacant
Please see the position for Parent Assembly Coordinator with the Catholic Schools Office via the link below.
Parent Assembly Coordinator - Catholic Schools Office
Trinity Open Night
Hockey
