Term 2 Week Nine 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,
As our 2nd last week of Term 2 comes to an end it is interesting to reflect on the many achievements both in and out of the classroom. Our school can celebrate the learning of our students, their hard work and effort that you will see reflected in their school reports emailed home this afternoon.
Next week our term will conclude with our Parent/Teacher interviews. Our reports are based on the NESA syllabus outcomes. We are mindful of maintaining the dignity of the child, whilst providing parents with honest information about their child’s development and achievements in these reports. These reports are the culmination of only one semester’s work and therefore should be read in light of that. Thank you to the many parents who have taken the opportunity to book an interview with teachers – this is a great way to discuss progress and set goals for the remainder of the year.
There are still two terms to complete the required outcomes for each year level and everyone has the opportunity to reflect on this semester’s report and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that progress continues to improve, in preparation for the final report at the end of Term Four.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported our school throughout Term 2. We celebrated Mother's Day, the Sacrament of Confirmation and our school Athletics Carnival to name but a few, all of which were great opportunities for our school community to gather and enjoy the company of others.
Special thanks to the children who are the life and spirit of our school - their interest, enthusiasm, co-operation and happy manner, make this school a welcoming place in which to be each day. Special thanks to staff for their co-operation and support, which ensures everything runs smoothly, and who give their best at all times. Finally, to our parents and carers who daily trust your children to our care and who continually support in so many ways – we say thank you.
Athletics Carnival
A very big thank you to Mrs McRae for preparing and leading our Athletics Carnival at Woodlawn last week. After a term of postponements and change of dates and venues we were finally able to hold our carnival on Monday.
It was great to see our students enjoying the day, despite some light showers, and the smiles on their faces were priceless.
Thank you to Woodlawn for hosting us, Vicki for running the canteen, Lions Club for their Barbeque and Woodlawn students for the coffee van.
2026 Enrolments
We have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting some of our new families enrolling their child into Kindergarten next year. What a delight it is to see the smiles on the faces of the children as we talk about their transition to 'big school.' When I ask our new parents why they have chosen St Carthage's for their child they have unanimously said that they have heard great things about the school. All the advertising in the world can't make up for personal recommendations from someone who speaks positively about their experiences at our school!
Professional Learning Days
Our last day of school for Term Two is Thursday 3rd July.
As we will not have another Newsletter this term we wish our students and families a very relaxing and safe holiday and we look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, 22nd July.
Semester One Reports
The Semester One Reports have been published to your Compass Portal. To access your child’s report login to your portal and click on “view academic reports” under your child’s profile (see image below). This will generate their report as a PDF.
If you are accessing the report via the Compass app, click on your child's dashboard and go to the "Reports" tab. Then click on the 2025 - Semester 1 report.
If you have any issues accessing reports, please don't hesitate to contact the school.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Parent-teacher interviews will be held next week (Monday, 30th June to Thursday, 3rd July). Bookings for Parent/Teacher Interviews will close this evening.
These interviews are a fantastic opportunity to discuss your child/ren's progress, strengths, and areas where they might need extra support. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is key to your child/ren's success, and these interviews are a great way to strengthen that connection.
These interviews will allow you to:
- Celebrate successes: Hear about your child/ren's achievements and positive contributions in the classroom.
- Discuss learning: Get insights into their academic progress and how they're engaging with the curriculum.
- Address concerns: Talk about any challenges your child/ren might be facing and work together on solutions.
- Ask questions: This is your chance to get answers to anything you're wondering about your child/ren's school experience.
To book an interview, log in to your Compass portal. At the top right-hand side of your screen, you will see a green box with a booking link. Click on this and select your time. If you use the Compass App, click the "more" option (at the bottom of your screen). You will see a "Conference" box. Click on this to book your time.
Year 2 Faith, Fun & Family Night
On Wednesday 11th June, our school was filled with smiles and laughter as Year 2 students and their families came together for our Faith, Fun and Family Night.
The evening was all about connecting as families, enjoying time together, and seeing how faith can be woven into everyday family life. From exciting games and creative activities to moments of reflection and prayer, the night offered a warm and welcoming space to simply have fun and share in our school’s Catholic spirit.
It was a joy to see parents and children working together, talking, laughing, and deepening their bonds in such a positive and faith-filled setting.
A big thank you to Mr Evans, Mrs Jones, Mrs Van der Walt and Mr Nick for organising a wonderful evening that truly celebrated the spirit of community at St Carthage’s.
Parent Community Group Meeting
On Tuesday 10th June, we welcomed parents and carers to our School Community Group Meeting for an evening of connection, learning, and support.
The evening featured a practical session on “Helping Your Child Develop Emotional Intelligence,” which offered simple yet powerful parenting strategies to support children in managing big feelings, building strong relationships, and growing into kind, confident individuals.
It was a fantastic opportunity for families to come together. Thank you to all those who attended. Your involvement strengthens our partnership between home and school — and we look forward to continuing these important conversations at future meetings.
Staff Service - Our House
Last week, members of our St Carthage’s staff took part in a service night at Our House, where they prepared and served meals for those staying at the facility. More than just providing food, our staff also spent time engaging in warm and meaningful conversation with the residents, offering companionship and support.
At St Carthage’s, we teach our students the importance of serving others with kindness and compassion. By stepping out into the community and giving our time in service, we hope to lead by example and show our students what it means to live out our school values in action.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful initiative and look forward to continuing our connection with Our House in the future.
School Mass
On Friday 27th June, our school community gathered in the Cathedral for a beautiful Whole School Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was a special occasion as we warmly welcomed our Kindergarten students to their very first school Mass. They showed great reverence and gave their best effort to join in the singing and responses – a wonderful reflection of their growing faith.
A big thank you to Olivia and Patricia for reading so confidently and clearly during the Mass.
Fr Philip shared a powerful message with the students, encouraging them to be like Jesus – to show kindness, love, and compassion to others, just as Jesus does through His Sacred Heart.
It was a meaningful way to end the term in prayer, community, and love.
Year 2 Retreat - Faith and Friendship
On Friday 27th June, our Year 2 students participated in a joyful and faith-filled retreat centred on the theme of friendship – with one another and with God.
The day was guided by the Gospel story of The Good Samaritan, which challenged students to reflect on how we show kindness, compassion, and care for others. Through games, drama, storytelling, and small group time, the students engaged deeply with the message and had a lot of fun along the way!
A huge thank you to our amazing Year 2 teachers for their work in preparing and facilitating the retreat, ensuring everything ran smoothly and meaningfully. We also extend our gratitude to the members of our St Carthage’s Ministry Team who led the day with energy, leadership and heart.
Thank you to everyone involved for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students to grow in faith, friendship, and love.
Reconciliation and First Eucharist
All families who have indicated that they would like their child to receive the Sacraments of First Eucharist and Reconciliation this year have now been added to a Compass event. All relevant information, including preparation details and key dates, will be communicated through this event.
If your child is in Year 4, 5 or 6 and you would like them to receive these Sacraments but have not yet notified the school, please contact the school office as soon as possible to ensure they are included.
We look forward to supporting our students and families on this important step in their faith journey.
Yarn Up
On Thursday 25th July (Week 1, Term 3), Mr Condie will be hosting a Yarn Up for the parents and carers of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. This is a valuable opportunity to come together, share stories, build connections, and strengthen our partnership in supporting your child’s learning and cultural identity.
Further details will be shared via a Compass event in Week 10.
We warmly invite you to join us and look forward to connecting with you.
Write On Competition
Congratulations to Allie Bradfield (4 Red) and Evie Andrews (5 Red) for being our Stage Two and Three finalists for the annual WriteOn competition. This competition is a state-wide competition where students can submit an imaginative piece of text of up to 500 words based on a stimulus. This year's stimulus was "Could they be changing". Congratulations to all of the students who participated in this competition.
AFL Gala Day – Brunswick Heads
On Friday, 6th June, 54 students proudly represented St. Carthage’s at the AFL Gala Day held in Brunswick Heads. The event, known as the StreetSmarts AFLQ Primary Schools Cup, featured over 20 teams from across the Northern Rivers.
It was a fantastic opportunity that encouraged participation, teamwork, and fun. While prior AFL experience was not necessary, our students demonstrated great enthusiasm, with impressive kicking and catching skills on display throughout the day.
The teams were coached and supported by Mrs Lynch, Mr Camilleri, and Mr Bullpit. Well done to all for representing St. Carthage’s with such energy, teamwork, and sportsmanship!
Diocesan Primary Winter Sports Trials – Rugby Union
After several postponements due to wet weather, the Diocesan Primary Rugby Union Trials were finally held on Thursday, 12th June 2025, at Wollongbar Alstonville Rugby Club – Pioneer Park.
We are proud to announce that three students from St. Carthage’s—Jordy Williams, Aidan Lindop, and Tohbi Olive-Conte—were invited to participate in the trials. All three students represented our school with outstanding skill, determination, and sportsmanship on the day.
A special thank you to Mr Sam Powell, who managed the Richmond Zone team throughout the trials.
Congratulations to Jordy, Aidan, and Tohbi on this wonderful achievement!
St Carthage’s Athletics Carnival
The St Carthage’s Athletics Carnival was held on Monday, 23rd June at St John’s College, Woodlawn. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 attended and enthusiastically participated in a wide range of running, jumping, throwing, and novelty events.
While the carnival forms part of a representative pathway, the main focus of the day was on fun, participation, and school spirit.
Congratulations to the following houses:
- St. Carthage’s Athletics Shield- Doyle
1st Doyle
2nd Thomas
3rd Nagle
4th Patrick
5th Carthage
6th D'Arcy
- Cheering Trophy- Patrick
- Novelty Trophy- D'Arcy
We extend our sincere thanks to St John’s College, Woodlawn, for allowing us to use their facilities at short notice and for preparing the ovals for our carnival. Special thanks to the Year 10 Woodlawn students who supported our students throughout the day, and to Mr Simon Andrews and Mrs Annette Reen for their assistance in accommodating our event.
A big thank you to the Lions Club for providing the BBQ, the Woodlawn Hospitality students for running the coffee van, and to Vicky Bodley and her team of parent volunteers for their work in the canteen.
It was wonderful to see so many parents and family members joining us to cheer on the students and share in the day’s celebrations. Finally, a huge thank you to the St Carthage’s staff for their dedication and effort in supporting and running such a successful and enjoyable day.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success!
Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival – Thursday 31st July
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent St. Carthage’s at the Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival, which will be held at St. John’s College, Woodlawn on Thursday, 31st July.
Ella Davey, Maggie Hughes, Billy Bradfield, Miller Clarke, Nadia Cittolin, Emma Clement, Louis Bailey, Nhial Maciek, Daisy Smith, Georgie Scotcher, Hamish Hughes, Hugo Hogan, Henry Hogan, Zarni McGregor, Zander Annetts, Frankie Veronese, Mikayla Evely, Georgia Dodds, Jordy Williams, Patricia James, Ishaan September, Ella Andrews, Sam Johnson, Benson Rhodes, Giulia Locatelli, Myles Weekes, Juno Magnay-Ravel, Erin Byrne, Vito Cook, Jing Jackson, Ruby Hall, Vincent McDonald, Eliana Tucker, Nash Taylor, Teslime Mete, Nash Robinson, Thomas Cootes, Isla Rhodes, Dylan Walters, Lucas Harmon, Armani McLean, Josh Bryant, Samantha Giles, Lenny Schweizer, Patrick James, Elkie Annetts, Savannah Duncan, Violett Pritchard, Harry Elphick, Quinton Nguyen, Paxton Walmsley
St Carthage’s Rugby Union – Diocesan Gala Day
Last Wednesday, the St. Carthage’s Rugby Union team travelled to Coffs Harbour to participate in the Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union Gala Day.
Coached by Mr Samuel Powell, the team represented our school in this representative pathway competition. While our players gave their best efforts, they were unlucky not to secure a win on the day, facing some very strong opposition.
There were, however, some outstanding individual performances from Gus Collings, Levi Dunstan, and Jordy Williams. It was a valuable opportunity for our team to compete against high-quality teams and to develop their skills in a spirited and supportive environment.
A special thank you to Mr Powell for his coaching and guidance, and to our wonderful parents for their support throughout the day.
We are incredibly proud of our players and their commitment to representing St Carthage’s at this level of competition!
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 after school for primary school-aged children over 6 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.
On Tuesday 24th June, Northern Rivers Rugby League Development Officers conducted an introductory school clinic to give all K-6 students a taste of what the program is all about and gain interest in registering. These sessions were lots of fun and enjoyed by all.
If you would like to find more information on the League Stars Program, please visit the link below;
www.playrugbyleague.com/league-stars/schools
NAIDOC Week Community Day
Date: Thursday, 10th July 2025
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Lake Ainsworth Sports & Recreation Centre, Bundjalung Country, 164 Camp Drewe Rd, Lennox Head NSW 2478
This is a free school holiday event celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history, and achievements. Everyone is welcome, and we’d love your help in sharing the event details with your networks (flyer attached).
PCYC School Holiday Program
Tennis/Multi Sport Clinic - July School Holidays
