Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Dear Families,

Welcome back to our new school year and our first Newsletter for 2025. 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 2025 Kindergarten students and their families and the many new 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 second 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 2025 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.

School Annual Improvement Plan 2025

Our School Annual Improvement Plan for this year falls under 3 Domains. Please see these domains and the outcomes below. These outcomes will form the direction of our planning, professional learning and main focus throughout 2025

        1) Enlivened Catholic Identity

- Students, staff and families are provided with the opportunity to engage in prayer, mass, liturgical celebrations and evangelisation opportunities.

- Students are provided with the opportunity to actively serve others within the school and local community.

          2) Thriving Learners 

- Improve the wellbeing of students at St Carthages.

- Foster a school culture where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered through thoughtfully designed physical spaces that encourage social connection and personal growth.

- Staff engage with the new syllabus documents - Creative Arts & Science and Technology- so that they are confident they can implement these in 2026.

- Use student data, feedback, and observations to identify specific needs that ensure all programs are implemented with fidelity and adjustments are made as necessary.

         3) Sustainable Futures

- Establish a collaborative and trusting leadership team between the Principal, Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching and the Assistant Principal - Mission fostering mutual respect, clear role definitions, and aligned vision to effectively support the school community.

Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent

Ash Wednesday is on the 5th March and marks the beginning of Lent.

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 2025

It was great to welcome our Kindergarten students and their families to our school on Monday and to see them happily arrive at school each day as the week progressed. 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!

Please see photos below with more to come at a later date.

Child Protection and Child Safeguarding Policy

The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) is wholly committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

As school communities and as individuals, we commit to fostering communities of safeguarding that recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all children and young people. Our commitment is drawn from the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, in love and justice, whereby the dignity and sacredness of each child is respected.

The DLCS and St Carthage's Primary School is committed to:

• a zero tolerance to the abuse of children and young people
• a culture of openness that supports the safe disclosure of risks of harm to children and young people
• involve families and carers for input and provide open and transparent information sharing
• appropriately vetting and engaging the most suitable people to work with children
• implementing current safeguarding procedures and practices underpinned by legislation, to maintain safe and supportive physical and online environments
• listening to the voices of children and young people as we constantly strive to remain alert and make improvements
• providing continuous training and education to our staff, volunteers and partners
• adequately resourcing our child safeguarding responsibilities
• responding sensitively, respectfully and in a timely manner, to those who bring forward a suspicion, concern, knowledge or allegation of abuse of a child or young person, in line with our lawful obligations and our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Our commitment to ensure a child safe environment and culture within our schools will continue to remain at the centre of our thinking and action. Our hope is for each child and young person entrusted to our care to experience the ‘fullness of life’ (DLCS mission) and we understand the essential role that safety and wellbeing play in achieving this vision.

For more information or to raise a concern, please visit the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Child Safeguarding website or to raise a concern, please contact here.

School Leaders 2025

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 2025:

School Captains:   Isabella Mullington and Billy Bradfield

Vice Captains:  Luka van der Walt and Henry Hogan

Colour House Captains

Carthage:  Ella Davey and Isaac Barry

D'Arcy:  Sassy Zorzo and Billy McCarthy

Doyle:  Georgia Dodds and Harrison Behan

Patrick:   Ruby Hall and Jack Hutley

Nagle:  Clancy Jeffery and Tobhi Olive-Conte

Thomas:  Maggie Hughes and Gus Collings

Welcome BBQ and Disco

The Welcome Barbeque and Disco will be held on Thursday evening, 6th March 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 will be sent home and if you are able to join us please fill out the return slip and return it to school for catering purposes.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to what promises to be another exciting school year! As we embark on this new school year, I am thrilled to welcome both returning students and those joining our school community for the first time. I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating break, filled with fun, family, and perhaps even a little learning along the way.

The start of a new school year is always a time of fresh beginnings, new opportunities, and renewed enthusiasm. It's a chance to set goals, explore new interests, and build upon the successes of the past. Here at St Carthage's, we are committed to providing a stimulating and supportive learning environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential.

Our dedicated team of teachers has been working hard over the break to prepare engaging and challenging lessons. They are passionate about teaching and committed to creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, encouraged, and empowered to learn. This year, as staff, we are particularly excited about our further professional development around the new English and Mathematics syllabuses and how we continue to effectively implement these to engage our students and improve their learning outcomes. We will also start unpacking two new syllabus documents (Creative Arts & Science and Technology) ready for their implementation in 2026.

We also recognise the vital role that parents and families play in the success of our students. We encourage you to actively participate in your child's education by attending school events, communicating regularly with teachers, and fostering a love of learning at home. We believe a strong partnership between school and home is essential for student success.

We look forward to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and achievement. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Wishing you all a successful and rewarding school year!

Sincerely,

Amanda

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 occur from Wednesday 12th March to Monday 24th 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 2025, 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.

Please see further information from ACARA about NAPLAN in the flyer below. If you have questions about NAPLAN or do not wish for your child to participate in NAPLAN testing, 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.

Start the School Year Safely: Tips for 2025

As children return to school, it's important to prioritise their safety on the journey to and from school. Take time to discuss these key safety tips with your child:

Getting In and Out of the Car:
○ Always use the door closest to the curb to prevent stepping into traffic.
○Make sure your child waits until the car has completely stopped before exiting.

Walking Safely:
○ Encourage distraction-free walking by asking your child to remove headphones
and put away devices while crossing streets.
○ Teach your child to stay alert, follow traffic signals, and use designated pedestrian
crossings.

Using the Bus Safely:
○ Wait at the bus stop together, standing at least one step back from the edge of the
road.
○ Always meet your child at the bus stop on the same side of the road—never call
them across from the opposite side.
○ Wait for the bus to leave before crossing the street, ensuring it is safe to cross.

Using Wheeled Transport:
○ Remind your child that helmets are mandatory when riding a bike in public—it’s
the law.
○ Encourage helmet use and protective gear for other wheeled activities, such as
scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades.

Never sacrifice safety for convenience, source: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/.

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 Compass.

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.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
 year of schooling
 category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
 level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:
 formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
 consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
 develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.
The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the
Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school.

Council of Catholic School Parents - Free Parenting Webinars

Cross Country

The St Carthage's Cross Country will be held on Thursday 6th March at the St Carthage's Ovals and adjacent fields of the Lismore Rugby Club. This is a school event for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6. All students are expected to attend the cross country. Students are welcome to run, jog or walk. It is important that they participate at a level that they are comfortable with. If they are unable to participate for a medical reason, please write a note to your child's classroom teacher and they can support and encourage their peers from the start line. Students will attend the cross country for their event and return to school once they have finished. Parents and family members are welcome to come and support our students throughout the morning.

Trinity Open Night

Horses, Hands and Hearts

Basketball