Term 2 Week Six 2025

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,

On Sunday the Church celebrated the great feast of Pentecost. The Church celebrates Pentecost (so called because it is fifty days after Easter), as the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, gathered in an upper room with Mary, mother of Jesus, "as a mighty, rushing wind", fulfilling Jesus' promise when he "breathed on them", as recorded in John's Gospel (Chapter 20). This event, which marks the beginning of the Church, is recorded in the book of Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2. The liturgical colour for Pentecost is red, a reminder of the flames that "rested on them". Another symbol for the Holy Spirit is the Dove, usually emitting golden rays of light. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles gifts of grace through which they would undertake the evangelical mission of the Church. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were given the miraculous "gift of tongues", so that everyone from every country understood the Christians’ inspired message of salvation as if they were hearing it in their own languages. Thousands were converted by the preaching of Peter and the other apostles.

The Solemnity of Pentecost ends the Easter Season. For centuries, the Sundays of the Catholic Church year between Pentecost and Advent were numbered as "after Pentecost". Since the Second Vatican Council, this period is called "Ordinary Time" (the first period of Ordinary Time is that between the Epiphany and Lent). Three Solemnities are celebrated in the weeks immediately following Pentecost: Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As parents, you have given life to your children and are their principal educators. It is in the family group that Christian values are first instilled and Christian attitudes formed.

School Reports and Interviews

At this time of the year, teachers are very busy finalising students’ assessments and Semester One reports. Teachers have worked tirelessly to assess students' progress and write reports reflective of students performance and effort. I frequently hear them talking and discussing work covered, results gained and effort applied, in order to decide on a final grade. Reporting is not an easy process and there is much time, thought and deliberation put into the final result. I congratulate all staff on their commitment in ensuring that students’ reports are a true and accurate reflection of their progress and effort. School Reports will be emailed home on Friday, 27th June.

Parent/Teacher interviews will be held in Week 10. We will again be using the Compass online booking format for Parent/Teacher interviews and more information will be sent home and a reminder on how to book these interviews electronically.

I share the following reflection, Beatitudes for Teachers, as they prepare these reports for their students:

Blessed are you who are called to teach, for you walk in the footsteps of the Master.

Blessed are you who sow peace and harmony in your school, for yours will be the joy of the Lord.

Blessed are you when you share your faith with others, for your name will be written in their hearts.

Blessed are you who plant seeds of hope in youthful hearts, for your legacy will be the harvest.

Blessed are you who are sensitive to the cries of youth, for you will become their voice.

Blessed are you who anguish now when your students are difficult, for your effort will be their light.

Blessed are you when you leaven your teaching with patience and empathy, for this is to teach as Jesus did.

Blessed are you when you reach out for your students, for you will find God and rejoice.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Congratulations to our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last week. It was a lovely celebration led by the Bishop, supported by Fr Bing and Fr Phillip.

We thank our Year Three teachers; Mrs Winkler, Mrs Sudiro and Miss Wells, and Mr Tickle for everything they did to prepare our students. We also thank Mr Whitney for the beautiful music, Mrs Parsons and Mrs Fraser for the administration work. 

School Improvement Review
Our school will undergo a School Improvement Review in Week3 next term. All Lismore Diocesan Schools undergo this process every three years. School improvement is a continuous process, centred on maximising outcomes for all students, and sustaining this improvement over time. 

School improvement;

• is not an event that happens every few years, it is regular and ongoing
• involves all stakeholders; students, staff, parents, the community.
• is about looking forward not back.
• is driven by data and research.

The ultimate purpose of the School Review is to improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes for all students.

The School Review uses the ACER School Improvement Tool and looks at the following 9 Domains:

1. An explicit improvement agenda
2. Analysis and discussion of data
3. A culture that promotes learning
4. A targeted use of school resources
5. An expert teaching team
6. Systematic curriculum delivery
7. Differentiated teaching and learning
8. Effective pedagogical practice
9. School-community partnerships

More information to follow.

Professional Learning Day Reminder

Friday 4th July and Monday 21st July will be a Professional Learning Day for staff. 

There will be NO school for students on these day. Active Kids will be available for care. Bookings are essential.

Enrolling for Kindergarten 2026

If you have a child beginning school next year, or know of anyone who does, would you please advise them to go onto our school website and complete the Online Application form. 

Tell Them From Me

The Tell Them from Survey has now closed. Thank you to the 85 parents and carers who filled out this survey. This will provide us with valuable information to inform our next Strategic Plan. We will provide feedback to parents when we have analysed the data.

Respect for All Members of our School Community

Respect is one of our school values and something that we are constantly talking to our students about. Respect for self, respect for others and respect for our environment is a message that our students hear regularly, and we encourage them to reflect on what this looks like in their daily interactions with others.

It is important that, as adults we also show respect to our students and families in all that we say and do. Similarly, we ask that our parents and families show that respect to each other as well. I know that there can be times, particularly around drop off and pick up times, there can be frustration and annoyance, however it is important that we remain respectful and patient to all members of our school community. I ask that we refrain from speaking negatively or disrespectfully, as this does not set a positive example to our children.

Late Arrival/Early Departure

Students arriving after the school bell has rung must be brought to the Office by their parent/carer upon arrival so that their attendance can be recorded accurately. You must also come to the School Office if you are collecting students early. Staff will call students to the Office for collection.

Semester One Reports - Understanding the K-6 Student Reports

Our Semester One Reports will be available through the Compass portal on Friday, 27th June. A notification will be sent to let you know when you can access these reports.

Why are there changes to the K-6 Student Report?

The NSW Government is reforming the curriculum to streamline and strengthen what is taught in every classroom in NSW, so every student is prepared and ready for their future. The curriculum reform has been informed by consultation with teachers, parents and education experts, and is underpinned by extensive research. Curriculum reform involves changing teaching, learning, assessment and reporting to parents. 

The release of the new syllabuses provides the opportunity to revise aspects of the Student Report to align with current research.

“Parents want to know what was taught and how well their child has learnt it, 

as well as where improvement is needed…….  (NESA, 2023)”

For further information about the new K-6 English syllabus click here.

For further information about the new K-6 Mathematics syllabus click here.

How is English, Mathematics, Religious Education and Other Key Learning Areas reported on?

There is a separate template for English, Mathematics, Religious Education and the Other Key Learning Areas. This template includes:

• A statement that explains the aim of the Key Learning Area.
• An achievement grade for each Focus Area in English and Mathematics. 
• Please click here to access the text version of the English Glossary and here to access a multimedia version of the English Glossary. 
• Please click here to access the text version of the Mathematics Glossary and here to access a multimedia version of the Mathematics Glossary.
• An achievement grade for knowledge and understanding, and skills in Religious Education and the Other Key Learning Areas except for Creative Arts, which is reported on in Strands.

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 and Year 2), Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) and Stage 3 (Year 5 and 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 a range of 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.

How are the Student Report Comments structured?

Student Report Comments reflect the Key Learning Areas on the Student Report. There will be multiple comments:

• English Comment
• Mathematics Comment
• Key Learning Area Comment and 
• General Comment

The English and Mathematics Comments will reflect:

• Areas of Achievement and Growth
• Learning Goals

within each Key Learning Area.

The Key Learning Areas Comment will reflect:

• Areas of Achievement and Growth
• Learning Goals

across Creative Arts, Science and Technology, History, Geography and Personal Development, Health 

and Physical Education.

Note: If your child achieves Elementary for each of the Focus Areas within the KLA, the comment may reflect some syllabus content/indicators from the stage below. If your child receives Extensive for each of the Focus Areas within the KLA, the comment may reflect some syllabus content/indicators from the stage above.  

The General Comment will reflect non-academic achievement and could include:

• extracurricular activities and/or
• additional comments to elaborate on the Learner Profile and/or
• demonstration of school values and/or
• a student’s social/emotional learning.

ICAS Assessments - Reminder

Within our school community, there are students who shine brightly, displaying exemplary dedication and academic talent. They deserve to be recognised, and again this year, we are giving students in Years 3-6 the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition.

What is ICAS?  

ICAS is an online academic competition that allows students to challenge their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling, and Digital Technologies. 

ICAS results are in-depth and meaningful, and ICAS evaluates student performance against other competition entrants across the state and nation. The data reveals student strengths and areas for growth and can help you recognise and support your child's academic journey.    

Learn more about ICAS here: icasassessments.com/products-icas/

ICAS results and certificate

Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.

Your child’s ICAS certificates will show their results and the login details, “TAP ID and PIN”.  You use these details to enter the Results Portal https://orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent

How to participate in ICAS  

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please go to the Parent Portal to register for your chosen subjects.

You can do this in one of two ways:

1. Direct login link – faster!

Use this link to log directly into the shop and start registering:

https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/CBC583

2. Log in using the PPS code

Visit our shop and use our PPS code to log in:

Shop link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

PPS code: CBC583

Registration for all subject areas closes on Monday, 21st July.

This year, our students in Years 3-6 can elect to sit the following assessments:

Please note that we cannot facilitate refunds or make alterations, as all money is paid directly to ICAS Assessments.

Read the terms and conditions here: icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf 

Privacy collection statement  
The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure.

ICAS Assessment is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd (We, Us, Our).

To deliver assessment products, Janison will require your child’s School to obtain your consent to provide Janison with certain personal information of students. Janison will collect, store, use, disclose and otherwise deal with such personal information in accordance with its privacy policy (below). We are aware of our responsibility to protect personal information related to children and students from being disclosed when we deliver an ICAS Assessments product. Unless you, as the child’s legal guardian consents, we will not:

• collect any personal information or data of children other than the information we need for the successful completion of an assessment, test, or exam.
• transfer any personal information we obtain from a child in the delivery of assessments and tests to any jurisdiction outside of Australia.
• share any personal information relating to children with any third parties (except for those third parties necessary for us to carry out our Services or provide our Products e.g., medal engraving).
• use any personal information or data relating to children for marketing purposes.

You can view our full privacy policy at https://www.janison.com/privacy-policy/.

We may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com or by contacting icasassessments@janison.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact me via the school office or email if you have any questions.  

St Carthage’s Athletics Carnival 

The St Carthage's Athletics Carnival will be held on Monday, 23rd June at Riverview Park, South Lismore.  All students from K-6 will attend the carnival and participate in a range of running, throwing, jumping and novelty events. Although it is a representative pathway, the emphasis of the day is participation and fun. The Lions Club will run a BBQ, Coffee Addictions will have a coffee van and Mrs Bodley will have drinks, icy poles and lollies in the canteen. Parents and family members are invited to join us throughout the day. Please see Compass for further information.

The events held at the athletics carnival are as follows:

800m/1500m

The 800m and 1500m (invitation based on cross-country results) will be run at school before the carnival.

Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival 

The Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival will be held on Thursday, 31st July in Lismore. Times and distances will be used from the athletics carnival to select students to attend the Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival. Selection in each event is based on the following:

St Carthage's Students excel at the NSW Polding Hockey Championships.

Early this term, the Polding Winter Sports Hockey Trials were held in Bathurst, bringing together top primary school athletes across NSW.

Among the standout performers were Maggie Hughes and Lucas Harmon, who showcased exceptional talent in hockey. Maggie earned selection for the Polding Girls Hockey team, while Lucas was chosen for the Polding Boys Hockey team.

Following their selection, both Maggie and Lucas recently represented Polding at NSW PSSA Hockey Championships in Newcastle, where they competed against the best young hockey players from across New South Wales.

These selections and performances are a testament to Maggie and Lucas's hard work, skill, and commitment to their sport. Their achievements reflect the strength of St Carthage's sporting program and the encouragement of dedicated coaches and staff.

Congratulations to Maggie and Lucas on their fantastic efforts—we are incredibly proud of them and look forward to seeing what they accomplish next!

Year 3 and 4 Tennis Program

Over the past four weeks, Year 2 and Year 3 students have enjoyed participating in the “Tennis on Tour” coaching clinics.

The program introduced students to the game of tennis in a fun, active, and engaging way, helping them develop fundamental skills through games, movement, and teamwork.

It was a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable experience for all involved, with lots of smiles and energy on the court each week!

A big thank you to the coaches from Tennis on Tour for making the sessions so much fun and for inspiring our students to give tennis a go!

Brian Kelly 7’s Gala Day – St Carthage’s Shines in Ballina

Five teams from St Carthage’s recently travelled to Ballina to take part in the Primary Schools Brian Kelly 7’s Gala Day.

We were proud to field:

• Two Year 3 and 4 teams – Boys and Girls
  
  
• Two Year 5 and 6 teams – Boys and Girls
  
  
• One Year 5 and 6 League Tag team
  
  

All students represented St Carthage’s with outstanding enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and skill throughout the day. Their teamwork, spirit, and fair play were a credit to the school.

The day was one of the largest primary school Rugby League gala events ever held in the Northern Rivers, with an incredible 49 teams from schools across the region taking part — making it a standout junior sporting event for the area.

A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers and coaches, Mr David Morrissey, Mrs Daniel O’Brien, Mr Ben Schweizer and Miss Abby Parritt, who supported and guided the students both in the lead-up and on the day itself. Your time and encouragement make these experiences possible.

We also extend our huge thanks to the parents and supporters who travelled to cheer on our teams—your encouragement means the world to our students and helps make days like these extra special.

Well done to all involved!

Diocesan Cross Country Championships

St Carthage’s Primary School proudly congratulates nine students who were selected in the Richmond Zone Cross Country team to compete at the Diocesan Primary Cross Country Championships held in Woolgoolga on Thursday, 29th May.

This event provides students with the opportunity to qualify for the NSW CPS Cross Country Championships, which will take place at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Wednesday, 11th June 2025.

A huge congratulations to our talented runners:
Ebony Andrews, Ella Andrews, Zander Annetts, Nadia Cittolin, Ella Davey, Georgia Dodds, Hamish Hughes, Maggie Hughes, and Frankie Veronese.

We are proud of your achievements and the way you represented our school!

NRL League Stars After School Program Term 3

League Stars is an introductory program that is all play, no contact, appealing to the true nature of kids, in all their messy, high-energy, love of fun and play. League Stars is run before or after school for primary school-aged children over 4 -8 weeks. 

The program is suitable for all abilities and ages between 5-12 with the focus on practising fundamental movement skills and having a blast with friends. The activities within these programs not only keep kids fit and active but also teach them fundamental social, teamwork and collaboration skills.

All participants will receive a pack that includes a League Stars Ball and Pump, backpack and shirt printed with the League Stars logo.

Prior to the beginning of the program NRL development officers will conduct an introductory clinic in school to give the students a taste of what the program is all about and gain interest in registering. These sessions run for 30 minutes and we are able to combine two classes in one if this is better suited for your school. "  

If you would like to find more information on the League Stars Program please visit the link below;

www.playrugbyleague.com/league-stars/schools