Term 4 Week Six 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 Parents,
Yesterday, 21st November, the Presentation Sisters around the world celebrated their Foundation Day, known as Presentation Day. Our school was
founded by the Presentation Sisters 139 years ago so their history and involvement in our school, is an integral part of our history.
Nano Nagle founded the sisters and we now have a Colour house named after her – Nagle House. Nano Nagle was born in 1718 in Ballygriffin in Ireland. She had 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Catholic schools were not allowed so Nano attended a forbidden ‘hedge’ school. When Nano was 12 she was smuggled to France for the education forbidden in Ireland. She was well educated, talented and enjoyed life in France but she decided to return to Ireland and teach the poor children. Nano found that this was not possible as the strict laws had not changed.
She returned to France in order to become a religious sister and to be able to pray for her Irish people. Nano could not settle to this and knew that she had something important to do. She returned once again to Ireland and lived in Cork with her brother Joseph where she secretly taught children. Soon there were 7 schools being taught by Nano and some other ladies. When she wasn’t teaching, Nano was visiting the sick, poor and lonely around Cork. When it was dark she carried a lantern and soon she was known as the “Lady of the Lantern”.
At age 57, Nano Nagle founded the Order of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary – the Presentation Sisters. There were three ladies with her and she knew that a Religious Order was needed to carry on the work they were doing. She was a sick lady and on the 29th April 1784, she died. In 1886, a small group of sisters left Lucan in Ireland and came to Lismore to establish a Convent and schools. On 11th October 1886, St Carthage’s School was opened.
We celebrated this special day today with a prayer service attended by representatives of the Presentation Sisters.
May the Spirit of Nano Nagle and her Sisters who have been a part of our school’s history, continue to grow in each of us.
Advent
Next week we begin the season of Advent in the Church Year. The four weeks of Advent allow us time to ponder how Jesus came into the world in such a stunningly humble way. As we contemplate His birth in a bed of straw, in a messy stable, perhaps we see our own life as being a little messy too. Our life is often distracted, self-centred and sometimes leaves us wishing we were better people. If we can slow down and refocus our attention, we might realise that God is there, waiting to love us, even though we have so many unfulfilled good intentions.
“Are we there yet?” This is a question we have probably heard, and probably asked, multiple times throughout our lives. It is a question that frequently comes up, especially when the kids are sitting in the back seat wondering when they will finally arrive at the destination. It is also a question that we may be tempted to ask during the Advent season. We know that many people have now jumped right into their Christmas festivities, barely taking taking time to catch their breath but, with this Advent season, we are being reminded that we’re not there yet. This season of Advent, this beginning of the Church’s new liturgical year, is an opportunity for us to take the time to enjoy the journey. To proceed a little more slowly and intentionally towards Christmas – to notice what God is doing in our lives, and in the world around us, to help us be better prepared to welcome Jesus anew.
So, we may not be “there” yet, but, even now, Jesus is here, with us, as we begin this journey through Advent.
Jesus, through Your Holy Spirit, grant us the light and strength needed to journey through this Advent season, so as to always be prepared to encounter You.
Year Five Camp
Year Five students will be going to Lennox Head Sport and Recreation Centre for their annual camp next week. They are very excited and are looking forward to participating in the many activities organised for them.
Stage 2 Excursion
We are excited to announce that Year 3 and Year 4 students will be going on an excursion to Otherworld in Byron Bay on Thursday, 5th December 2024. This immersive and interactive experience offers a fantastic opportunity for students to explore creative worlds and engage in hands-on activities that inspire imagination and learning.
We thank our teachers for organising this great opportunity for oiur students.
Christmas Concert
Our school Christmas Concert will be held on Monday, 16th December starting at 5:15pm with a BYO picnic tea. For those families who are not coming to the picnic tea, we will require all children to be at school at 5:45pm for a 6:00pm start. All our families are invited to bring a chair or picnic blanket along to enjoy the evening’s performance.
All students are expected to participate in this concert, but if your child is unable to do so, please advise their teacher in writing by Friday, 6th December.
An invitation is extended to all our new families who will be joining St Carthage’s School community in 2025.
End of Year Mass
On Wednesday, 18th December we will celebrate the conclusion of our 2024 school year with Mass at 9:30am in the Cathedral. At the conclusion of Mass, we will farewell the 2024 Year 6 students. All members of our school community are invited to join us for this important celebration.
School Reports
School Reports will be emailed home on Friday, 13th December.
2025 Date Reminders
Dates for starting school next year:
- Staff: - Administration Day: Friday, 31st January 2025
- Years 1-6: - Complete Maths Assessment Interview (M.A.I.): Monday 3rd February - Wednesday 5th February. We will advise when bookings are open.
- Years 1-6 return: Thursday, 6th February 2025.
- Kindergarten: - Complete M.A.I. & Best Start: Monday 3rd February - Friday 7th February
- Kindergarten begin: Monday, 10th February 2025.
Semester Two Reports
As we move through Semester Two, it's time for our teachers to start preparing your child/ren's Semester Two reports. These reports not only reflect how well students have performed in each Key Learning Area but also offer valuable insights into their areas of achievement and growth and their future learning goals.
How are achievement grades determined?
Kindergarten
Achievement Grades in Kindergarten are identified on a three-point scale using the following descriptors:
- Working Towards
- Working At
- Working Beyond expected achievement.
Stage 1 (Year 1 & Year 2), Stage 2 (Year 3 & Year 4) and Stage 3 (Year 5 & Year 6)
Achievement Grades in Year 1 to Year 6 are identified on a 5-point scale using the descriptors from the Common Grade Scale: The Common Grade Scale describes the performance of students in Year 1 to Year 6 at each of the five grade levels A-E using the following descriptors:
- Extensive (A)
The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
- Thorough (B)
The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
- Sound (C)
The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
- Basic (D)
The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
- Elementary (E)
The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of the content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.
Teachers make professional judgements about student achievement based on various assessment information and teacher observations against syllabus outcomes and content. Teachers make decisions based on student achievement in relation to what students have been taught and how well they have achieved (up to the time of writing a Student Report). The teacher makes a judgement and selects the descriptor from the 3-point scale for Kindergarten or the Common Grade Scale for Years 1-6 that best describes student achievement at the time of writing the Student Report.
Can achievement grades vary from one report to another?
Yes. A variation in achievement grades may occur as a student’s achievement grade is based on what is taught up to the time of writing a Student Report. This means that student achievement can change depending on what a student has been learning and how well a student demonstrates their learning at various points in the year.
What is the Learner Profile?
The purpose of the Learner Profile is to provide parents with a holistic picture of their child. This includes their learning behaviours and social skills at school. The Learner Profile is an opportunity for teachers to recognise the individual characteristics, strengths and areas for growth of a student. The Learner Profile has two parts:
- student strengths
- student’s area/s for growth
The Presentation of Mary
Today, we gathered as a school community in the hall to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary—an important occasion that holds deep significance for St Carthage’s Primary School. Although the feast day is traditionally observed on 21st November, we celebrated it on 22nd November to warmly welcome the Presentation Sisters, whose presence added a special blessing to the event.
The celebration provided a moment to reflect on the life and legacy of Nano Nagle, the founder of the Presentation Sisters, and the remarkable contributions the sisters have made to the life of our school and parish community. Nano’s dedication to education and care for the marginalised has been a guiding light for generations, and her example continues to inspire us to "Let Your Light Shine," living out our school motto.
During the gathering, students and staff came together in prayer, song, and thanksgiving, expressing gratitude for the profound influence of the Presentation Sisters on our school’s history and identity. Their commitment to faith, learning, and service has shaped St Carthage’s into the vibrant, nurturing community we cherish today.
The Feast of the Presentation of Mary is a powerful reminder of Mary’s dedication to God from a young age and invites us to renew our own commitments to faith and service. In celebrating this day, we honour not only Mary’s life but also the enduring mission of the Presentation Sisters, whose work continues to inspire our school community to live out Christ’s teachings with courage, compassion, and love.
We thank the Presentation Sisters for their presence and legacy!
Year 4 Accendre Retreat: Sparking the Flame
Last Friday, our Year 4 students participated in the Accendre Retreat, a special experience designed to "switch on" their faith and allow the to explore God's love and the importance of showing kindness and compassion. Accendre means “to kindle, catch fire, or spark a flame,” and the retreat provided students with moments of reflection, prayer, and connection to help ignite their spiritual journey.
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Year 4 teachers for planning and running this retreat, creating a meaningful experience for our students. We also extend our gratitude to the students from St John’s College, Woodlawn, for their support and guidance throughout the day. Their leadership and presence made the retreat even more impactful.
The Accendre Retreat reminded our students of the light within them and the importance of sharing that light with others. Well done, Year 4, for embracing this opportunity to grow in faith and understanding!
Year 5 Leadership Day: Exploring Our Gifts
Our Year 5 students recently participated in a special Leadership Day, preparing them to step into their roles as leaders in our school community next year. The day was led by Mr Puglisi and the Year 10 CSYMA students from Trinity Catholic College, who inspired and supported our students throughout the program.
The day provided an opportunity for students to reflect on their unique gifts and talents, exploring how they can use these to serve and lead others. Through engaging activities and discussions, students learned the importance of teamwork, responsibility, and leading by example.
A big thank you to Trinity Catholic College, the CSYMA students, and Mr. Puglisi for delivering such a meaningful experience. We are excited to see how our Year 5 students will continue to grow and shine as leaders in the year ahead! Thank you to our Year 5 teachers for supporting throughout they day.
Service
Year 3 Spreads Joy Through Letter Writing
Our Year 3 students recently participated in a heart warming initiative by writing letters to the residents of St Joseph’s Nursing Home. Through these thoughtful messages, students shared prayers, stories, and drawings, bringing smiles and joy to the residents’ days.
Last week, the excitement reached a new level as the students received letters back from the residents! The heartfelt responses shared stories from the residents’ lives, creating a meaningful connection between the generations. The exchange not only brightened the days of the nursing home residents but also inspired our students to reflect on the power of kindness and communication.
This beautiful initiative showcases the spirit of service within our school community, reminding us all of the importance of reaching out and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Well done, Year 3—you have truly let your light shine!
Year 6 Community Service: A Heart warming Experience
Last week, our Year 6 students embarked on a meaningful community service journey, visiting various local facilities to lend a helping hand and connect with others in our community. Students visited Gingerbread House Lismore, the Parish Preschool, Caroona Aged Care, St Joseph’s Nursing Home, Our House, and the East Lismore Cemetery.
The feedback from students, staff, and the facilities was overwhelmingly positive. Students shared how the experience opened their eyes to the joy of giving and the importance of building relationships. At the aged care facilities, they played a range of games and shared smiles that brightened everyone’s day. At the Parish Preschool and Gingerbread House, students engaged with the younger children, helping with activities and spreading cheer.
Visiting Our House and the East Lismore Cemetery gave students a deeper appreciation for the diverse ways people support and remember one another in times of need. These experiences provided a powerful reminder of the impact of kindness and compassion.
This initiative plays a vital role in our students' development, helping them to cultivate a sense of community and understand the importance of helping others. Thank you to all the facilities for welcoming our students and to our St Carthage's staff for supporting this wonderful program.
Year 6, you have truly let your light shine!
Christmas Hampers
Invitation to Support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
We are excited to support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal by creating Christmas hampers to bring joy to those in need this festive season. Each class is invited to contribute by donating items to fill these hampers, spreading the spirit of Christmas within our community.
We kindly invite families to donate non-perishable food items such as:
- Canned vegetables and fruit
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Rice
- Breakfast cereals
- Biscuits
- Long-life milk
- Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate
- Christmas treats like puddings, mince pies, or chocolates
All donations must be brought in by Monday, 16th December. Please ensure items are unopened and within their expiry dates.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity in helping us share the joy of Christmas. Together, we can make a difference for those in need!
Parish Mass Times
St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore
- Tuesday - Thursday 8:00am
- Friday - 12:05pm
- Saturday Vigil - 5:30pm
- Sunday - 9am & 11am
Carmelite Monastery Chapel, Goonellabah
- Monday - Friday 7:00am
- Saturday 8:00am
- Sunday 7:00am
St Dympna’s Church, Dunoon
- Sunday - 8.30am
PBS
At St Carthage’s Primary School, we value the importance of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) in creating a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment where every student can thrive. Over the next fortnight, our PBS focus will highlight two essential aspects of our school expectations.
Week 7-8: Be Responsible - Playground
Students are encouraged to demonstrate responsibility by:
- Listening carefully when the teacher is speaking.
- Following instructions the first time they are given.
Week 9-10: Sacred Spaces
In preparation for Advent and Christmas, we focus on reverence in our sacred spaces, emphasizing:
- Moving around safely.
- Being reverent when entering, participating, and exiting sacred spaces.
- Respecting sacred spaces and the rights of others to reflect, pray, and participate.
- Being open to encountering Jesus.
This focus helps us to grow in our faith and maintain the sacredness of these special places in our school.
Rewards Sessions – Friday 13th December
To celebrate and acknowledge students who consistently follow our school expectations, each grade will hold a rewards session on Friday, 13th December. These sessions are a wonderful way to thank our students for their efforts and encourage them to continue shining their light in all they do.
Please be aware that if your child has received three SAT forms during this term, they will be required to miss 30 minutes of the rewards session. For each additional SAT form, they will be required to miss an extra 10 minutes from the rewards session. Students who are required to miss out on a portion of their rewards session will be taken to alternative space within the school. Once they have completed their time they will return to their grade activity. This is a reminder that our PBS framework aims to encourage positive behaviours and promote a supportive learning environment.
We appreciate your understanding and support in reinforcing positive behaviours at home. We look forward to celebrating our students’ successes at the rewards session!
Maths Enrichment
Throughout the year, students from Years 3-6 have been involved in the Mathematics Olympiad Competitions. They have competed in four contests and have worked hard between these contests practising their mathematical problem solving skills and building knowledge. Congratulations to all of these students for their commitment and effort.
Maths Olympiad (Year 6)
This competition is specifically designed to stimulate and challenge students in Year 6. Students competed against children from across Australia and New Zealand. Congratulations to the following students: Mavi Mete, Ben Ryall, Sophie Bertoldi, Md Muntasir Faiaz Hasan Zarif, Dek Maciek Rong, Mila Woolston, Alex Crane, Toban Huet, Luca Lombardo, Jake Holmes, Oliver Collings, Tom Rose, Alona Santhosh
A special congratulations goes to Muntasir whose score placed him in the top 10% of the cohort and to Ben who was placed in the top 25% of the cohort. That is a fantastic effort by the boys.
Maths Games (Year 5)
Year 5 students participated in the Maths Games competition. This program provided the opportunity for students to develop their problem solving skills and knowledge. It has set students for the challenge of the Maths Olympiad Competition in Year 6.
Congratulations to the following students: Nashua Loadsman, Oscar Condrick, Henry Hogan, Wyatt Evans, Brody Johnson, Isabella Mullington, Esme Addenbrooke, Ruby Hall, Harrison Behan, Billy Bradfield, Jack McCarthy, Caitlin Gapes, Meera Rajeev, Abigail Challinor, Patricia James, Clara Miller.
A special congratulations is awarded to Nashua for achieving the highest score within the team.
Maths Explorer (Years 3 & 4)
The Maths Explorer program is designed to build confidence, skills and knowledge in solving problems. It is a collaborative program where students work with their peers to make decisions about the way they work together to solve a problem. This program prepares students for the challenges of the Maths Games and/or Maths Olympiad competitions in the later years.
Congratulations to the following students: Nash Taylor, Max McCabe, Coburn Dalli, Elliot Jensen, Jamal Magann, Mazzie Annetts, Luka Robertson, Theah Kelly, Owen Sauer, Ishaan September, Owen Shaw, Ethan Smith, Alexa Andersen, Thomas Cootes, Jonathan Addenbrooke, Hayley Gillett, Hugo Hogan, Nash Marsters, Jack Wood.
We will be running these competitions again next year. Students will be nominated and invited to participate based on their achievement and motivation in the classroom.
Reading Challenge!
Congratulations to everyone who has taken up the reading challenge over the past few terms. We only have a few weeks to go for this challenge and we encourage students to continue to read and log their reading minutes. Our final draws will taking place in the coming weeks.
Congratulations to the winners from last week: Mia Hayward, Lottie Venstra, Samantha Giles, James Webb, Elliott Cleary, Jack Bryant, Dek Maciek Rong.
Richmond Zone Summer Sport Trials.
Congratulations to all of our students who recently attended the Richmond Zone Summer Sport Trials. These trials are a representative pathway for talented athletes in Years 4 and 5 in the sports of touch football, tennis, basketball, cricket and softball.
The following students were successful at the Richmond Zone trials and we congratulate them on their selection. They displayed a high level of skill at their chosen sport. They will now participate in the Diocesan trial and we wish them all the best at these upcoming trials.
Tennis: Tuesday 26th November- Henry Hogan.
Basketball: Tuesday 26th November- Marcus Hunter, Ebony Andrews, Georgia Dodds, Princess Obioha.
Touch Football: Thursday 28th November- Ella Davey, Zarni McGregor, Myles Weekes.
Softball: No Diocesan trial required at this date- Gus Collings, Billy McCarthy, Jack McCarthy, Jack Watson.
Cricket: Monday 11th November: Billy Bradfield, Gus Collings, Billy McCarthy, Brody Johnson, Myles Weekes, Jordy Williams.
The Lismore Diocesan Cricket trials were held in Week 5. We congratulate the following students on their selection: Gus Collings, Jordy Williams and Billy McCarthy. Each of these boys demonstarted a high level of skill and commitment to the sport of cricket. They will now attend the 2025 Polding Cricket trials which will be held on Wednesday 4th December. We wish them all the best at these trials.
The St Carthage's School Swimming Trials
The 2024 St Carthage's Swimming Time Trials will be held on Wednesday 4th December at the Lismore Memorial Baths. This is not a whole school event. These trials are for those students that would like to pursue swimming as a representative sport.
Students will compete at the St Carthage's Swimming Time Trials in the following events. Times from these events will be used to form the St Carthage's Swimming Squad that will compete at the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival in 2025. Additional races are provided at a school level to provide the students with the opportunity to compete against peers of the same age. Age groups are combined when progressing along the representative pathway. Please refer to the table below. Before nominating your child for events, please ensure that they can confidently swim that distance using the appropriate stroke.
|
Event |
St Carthage's Time Trials (2024age) |
Representative Pathway (Zone, Dio etc.) (2025 age) |
|
50m Freestyle |
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12yrs |
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13yrs |
|
50m Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly |
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12yrs |
Junior (8-10yrs), 11yrs & Senior (12-13yrs) |
|
100m Freestyle |
Junior/Senior (7-9yrs/10-12yrs) |
Open |
|
200m Individual Medley |
Junior/Senior (7-9yrs/10-12yrs) |
Junior/Senior (8-10yrs/11- |
If you are interested in your child participating in these trials, please fill our the event details on Compass and pay the necessary attendance fee. Nominations for these events close on the 25th of November. We wish all our swimmers the best of luck at these trials.
Parents and family members are invited to attend our time trials. The Lismore Memorial Baths charges $3.85 for spectators. This is to be paid upon entry. There will be a kiosk available on the day.
Swimsations would like to share with our schools our Early Bird offer for the upcoming Holiday Swim Intensives at Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre and Lismore Memorial Baths. These are available for students from preschool to high school, and all abilities.
Swimming is an essential life skill, and the Royal Life Saving Society 2024 National Drowning Report found that although there was a decrease in drownings for children under 5 years old, the drowning figures for children 5-14 years old was 30% above the ten-year average for that age group. The Royal Life Saving Society also reports that more than 40% of primary school leavers cannot swim 50m, which is one of the National Swimming and Water Safety benchmarks. We can ALL work towards bringing the rate of drowning incidents down.
Summer Holiday Swimming Intensives
Intensive swim lessons are a great way to fast-track a child’s swimming. With daily lessons, their learnt skills are fresh and continue to be built daily, with 95% of children moving to higher levels within the week. From beginner levels (Frogs and Seahorses) to competency in Freestyle, Backstroke, and Breaststroke (Stingrays), our Intensive Swim program is held at GSAC and LMB.
The Carnival Clinic at LMB is the best and true value for money. With a daily 2.5-hour session, we will focus on all students need to know for their upcoming school carnivals. We have nutrition talks with a nutrition morning each week, a mini carnival with ribbons, the all-important starts, turns, and finishes, and building on their strokes/endurance. It's loads of fun and a must.
The Swim Intensive info is available Online through the Swimsations on GSAC.net.au and the QR code will link to this page:
The link to an online sign-up form is also on there
https://form.jotform.com/243038079077865
CASPA's Lismore Christmas Carnival
CASPA’s Lismore Christmas Carnival will be an enjoyable day for all, offering a wide range of market stalls, rides, craft activities, food stalls, live entertainment, and much more!
The event is designed to bring people together in a spirit of fun while also supporting a meaningful cause. We would love to have your students and families attend this memorable day and make a positive impact on the community.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, 30th November 2024
Time: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Lismore Turf Club