Week 4 Term 3 2022
- From Our Principal - Mrs Janelle Heffernan
- From Our Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching - Mrs Amanda Deeps
- From Our Assistant Principal Mission - Mr Danny Hatchman
- NAIDOC Week Celebrations - From Mr Condie
- From Our Leader of Pedagogy - Mrs Abbie Matthews
- From Our Leader of Sport - Mr Brendan Tickle
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 F amilies,
We are moving towards the half way point of the term and students and staff have been extremely busy in many areas. We finally have all of our students in their regular classrooms and our library is now back up and running. Learning is humming along in all grades with students involved in many different learning opportunities. As we continue to expand our skills and devices in technologies, staff are facilitating authentic learning opportunities that foster engagement and creativity.
In Stage Three, under the guidance of Mrs Loadsman, the students are engaging in a $20 Boss program. This is an immersive learning program for building the enterprise skills of young people that has been developed in consultation with students and educators and is the largest entrepreneurship program in Australia. The program gives students $20 of funding to create, launch and operate their own venture over the course of a semester.
Our infants students are engaging in activities using the new ipads and teachers are continuing to be up-skilled in the use of these devices.
It is an exciting time to be a student in our school today!
The Feast of the Assumption
On Monday 15th August, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory".
The Assumption signals the end of Mary's earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary's body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.
NAIDOC Week
Last week we celebrated NAIDOC Week at school. The students were involved in lots of activities throughout the week. We thank Mr Condie for organising our visitors. Mr Condie was very busy visiting classrooms and talking with students, sharing art and craft activities and leading our NAIDOC assembly.
The students loved wearing casual clothes in the indigenous colours.
We thank Mr Condie for his continued passion, hard work and commitment to ensuring our indigenous students are acknowledged and valued and for sharing his knowledge and wisdom with all students - great job!
Tell Them From Me Parent Survey
Last week the parent link for the Tell Them From Me School Survey was sent out via Class Dojo and Compass. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. If you are having any issues accessing the survey or would like further information please contact the office.
St Carthage's Kindergarten 100 Days of School Celebration
On Wednesday evening 24th August we invite our Kindergarten families to come along to our 100 Days of School Celebration. This is an opportunity for our kindergarten families to come along and share a meal and participate in some fun activities and get to meet other families.
We look forward to sharing this evening with our kindergarten families.
Book Week Parade - Advance Notice 
This year's Book week theme is “Dreaming with eyes open...”. We will again be having our Book Week dress up and parade at school. This will occur on Friday 26th August at 9.30am. Parents are very welcome to come along and view the parade.
Fathers’ Day Sausage Sizzle Reminder
A flyer went home this week about our Father's Day sausage sizzle. This will be held on Thursday afternoon, 1st September. This will be a great opportunity to catch up with other families and to celebrate our dads.
We will also have our Fathers’ Day Stall on this day. Please bring along $3.00 to buy a gift for dad or grandad.
2023 Enrolments
If you are aware of anyone who may be considering enrolling at St Carthage's please encourage them to make contact with the school or go to our school website and complete the online enrolment form. Enrolments for Years 1-6 for 2023 are also open.
New English & Mathematics Syllabuses K-2
From 2023 the new English and Mathematics K–2 syllabuses will be taught in all NSW primary schools. The new curriculum will give students more time to focus on key learning areas so that they can acquire a deeper understanding of central concepts. It will ensure students develop strong foundations for learning, life and work in a complex and fast-changing world.
English
The new English syllabus recognises that for most students, oral language comes before written language. Oral language outcomes and content are inclusive of students whose primary communication is not through speaking and listening.
Each research-based key to reading has an explicit outcome, including phonics. The teaching advice suggests that teachers should typically provide daily opportunities for students to practise reading.
There is a greater emphasis on writing and ensuring that students have a clear understanding of how to create a sentence.
‘Literature’ is highlighted as essential in the development of core knowledge for the subject of English. Listening to and using literature can foster an understanding, appreciation and love of reading.
Content in the new syllabus is structured to highlight the parallel connections across oral language, reading and writing.
Mathematics
The new Mathematics syllabus clearly shows essential learning and supports students to make connections across concepts as outlined in the research for building foundations in Mathematics.
There is a focus on developing reasoning skills to support a deeper understanding.
Content is structured to highlight the parallel connections across Number and Algebra, Measurement and Space, and Statistics and Probability, underpinned by the latest research.
The new syllabus affirms the strong evidence base of outcomes and content, with an increased emphasis on place value.
Lost Property
We have an overwhelming amount of lost property at present. All items with names on them have been returned to their rightful owner but there are still over 50 jumpers in lost property. Some of these items look brand new. If your child/ren has lost of jumper of late it might be a good idea to remind them to have a look in lost property. We ask that you clearly label all your child/ren's property so in the event of it getting lost we can return it.
Pick Up and Drop Off
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. We have noticed some students being dropped off on the driveway near the staff carpark then walk through the carpark to enter school. This area is not a pick up or drop off area for parent’s use before or after school due to safety concerns. We ask that you park your car to drop children off and ensure that they enter school through the appropriate gates. Thank you for your support in this matter so that everyone remains safe.
What is our Mission?
To carry on Jesus' mission using our Heads, our Hearts and our Hands!
St Thomas Moore College Sunnybank - (Hands!)
We are so fortunate to be receiving gifts from other schools - just this week we received two gigantic boxes of reading books for our Library and classrooms! Thank you to the St Thomas Moore College Community who were very active in serving others. Thanks to Mrs Morrissey who is carefully looking through the books to ensure our Library is enriched even further!
Thank-you Presentation Sisters - always thinking of St Carthage's! (Heart!)
As a Catholic school we endeavour to carry on the mission of Jesus trying to embed these values into our actions, our words and the decisions we make. The Presentation Order established our school and we have a wonderful set of values to live by: Compassion, Love, Trust, Simplicity and Hospitality.
The Presentation Sisters have supported the school and its families during the recent events and have written to us with a request:
On Monday 15 August, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
Sacramental News (Head, Heart and Hands!!)
Students in Years 3 and 4 who are Baptised Catholic have received information and an Enrolment Form for Reconciliation (Yr 4), Confirmation (Yr 3) and Eucharist (Yr 4). Any Baptised child in Years 4-6 who has missed the opportunity to celebrate either Confirmation, Reconciliation or Eucharist in the past may also enrol for these Sacraments. Forms are available from the School Office.
As we prepare children in Years 3-6 for Sacraments, it is important that school records stating your child's Religion are accurate.
- Reconciliation - August 29 - 6:00pm in the Cathedral
- Confirmation - 26 October - 5:30pm in the Cathedral
- Eucharist - 27 November - 5:30pm in the Cathedral
Information for Confirmation
- Our Year 3 students will prepare for this Sacrament. However, any Baptised child in Years 4-6 who has missed the opportunity to be Confirmed in the past may enrol for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- A copy of a Baptismal Certificate needs to be provided unless your child was Baptised in the Cathedral Parish or you provided one during enrolment.
- A Sponsor (a practising Catholic over 18 years of age) needs to be nominated for each student to accompany them on the evening of their Confirmation. If the Sponsor is unable to attend the Confirmation a parent/carer can stand in for them.
Information for Eucharist and Reconciliation
- Our Year 4 students will be preparing for these Sacraments. However, any Baptised child in Years 4-6 who has missed the opportunity to make their first Reconciliation and/or Eucharist in the past may enrol.
Reconciliation Information Package
An information package will be sent home to families of children making their first Reconciliation next week. It will include information for families and "A Simple Guide for Reconciliation" which you can read with your child (teachers are already preparing students at school but we strongly encourage parents/carers to read this through and preparing children for this wonderful Sacrament).
How will you use your Head, your Heart and your Hands to enjoy your weekend to the full!!??
Get Up Stand Up Show Up NAIDOC 2022
Last week our school celebrated NAIDOC Week. The theme for this year was "Get Up Stand Up Show Up." I have to say that this was one of our best NAIDOC Week's because of the way our students and staff got into the spirit of learning and sharing.
NAIDOC is an important part of our school year where we recognize the great history and culture of our First Nations peoples. The theme this year emphasised the need to take a stand and to become part of the reconciliation movement in our country.
We began our week on Monday with an assembly. There was a smoking/water blessing ceremony that purified and cleansed the space of our assembly. We had prayers to heal the country and the people of this land. The music of the Aboriginal Lords Prayer was played while the Australian and Aboriginal flag were raised together. At the end of our assembly we acknowledged the passing of Archie Roach and listened to one of his well known songs ‘Took the Children Away’.
On Tuesday Yaegl/Bundjalung man Mitch King ran body movement and dance workshops. Mitch got us physically active and his workshops incorporated elements of hip hop and Indigenous dance. He also made us think of rhythm and how our bodies have an internal beat.
On Wednesday Arakwal/Bundjalung woman Aunty Delta Kay came to our school to do cultural lessons. Our jarjums (children) listened to stories from Byron Bay and the coast. She reminded us to look after Bundjalung Jugun (Land) and to respect the spirits of this place. Aunty painted our faces with ochre in patterns of the dolphin, eagle and snake. Her wisdom and wealth of knowledge was something everyone took away from her lessons that day.
On Thursday we had a BBQ Lunch for our indigenous students and their families. We even got to taste some kangaroo along with the sausages we are familiar with.
On Friday Solid Mob from Ballina came in to run an anti-smoking program with our Year 5 students. We were reminded of the health dangers of smoking and the rise of
vaping in our society. I want to thank Leanne from Solid Mob for the prizes she brought and for the information she gave us. We also had a casual day where students and staff came in the Aboriginal flag colours. It was a sight to see everyone celebrating together with this small gesture.
Throughout the week we ran the ‘Deadly Doors’ design competition where each class had to decorate their classroom door in an indigenous theme. There were some amazing designs and it was great that the office/library participated as well. In the next newsletter I’ll let you know the Primary and Infants winners, but the ‘Deadly Doors’ was more about everyone being involved and showing their creative skills.
For NAIDOC Week we had the word ‘jingala’ (hello) in each classroom. Learning some of the Bundjalung language is something we can all do and is a small way we can learn from our First Nations peoples.
Overall a big week of celebrating and one that was very rewarding. A big bugalbeh (thankyou) to Mitch, Aunty Delta and Leanne for coming into our school last week. Lastly a big bugalbeh to our students for embracing the messages behind NAIDOC Week and the garimah (respect) they showed.
Mr Condie
Indigenous Education Worker
Sound Waves Spelling
The focus sound for the next two weeks are:
Kindergarten
| Week 5 | Week 6 |
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 |
Years 1-6
| Week 5 | Week 6 |
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On the Student Sound Waves website (link above), there are a variety of activities that can be completed at home. This allows students the opportunity to practice the focus sound (phoneme) and link this with the written corresponding letter/s (graphemes).
Some of the activities include:
* Segmenting Tool - students practice breaking the word into separate phonemes which is an important strategy when learning to read and write words.
* Read and sort - students sort words according to their grapheme.
* Match up - students match the beginning and end of a word to make the whole word. Kindergarten students match the word to an image.
There are also video clips that support the pronunciation of the phoneme, the Sound Waves song as well as printable activities that can be completed at home.
More information can be found in the following pdf's
NSWPSSA Cross Country
Congratulations to Amirah who placed 2nd at the NSWPSSA Cross Country in Sydney on Friday 22nd July. She completed her 3km race in a blistering 11 minutes and 25 seconds. She is a dedicated, determined and humble athlete who lets her light shine. Amirah will now represent New South Wales at the National Cross Country Championships in Adelaide at the end of August. We are extremely proud of Amirah and wish her the best of luck at nationals!
Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival
- Eliana Tucker
- Reggie Field
- Toban Huet
- Grace Mills
- Isabella Moretti
- Archie Sauer
- Noah Tatton
- Audrey Zwiers
- Mali Cooper
- Luella Harris-Kerr
- Jimmi Matthews
- Mya Weekes
- Zahlia Chilcott
- Zara Hellyar
- Amirah Shah
Lismore Diocesan Athletics Carnival
On Wednesday 10th August, 14 St Carthage's students travelled to Coffs Harbour to participate in the Lismore Diocesan Athletics Carnival. The excitement and energy that they arrived with was maintained throughout the day. I could hear the St Carthage's students in the stands cheering on their peers as they competed in their events. I was extremely proud of all of the students for their effort, sportsmanship and manners throughout the day. Congratulations to the following students who were selected to attend the Polding Athletics Carnival in Newcastle on Friday 9th September:
Amirah Shah - 1500m (1st) and 800m (1st)
Zara Hellyar - 1500m (3rd) and 800m (3rd)
Archie Sauer - 1500m (2nd)
Isabella Moretti - Shot Put (2nd)
Luella Harris-Kerr - 200m (1st) and Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
Zarlia Chilcott - Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
Chiara Doherty - Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
Mali Cooper - Senior Girls Relay (2nd)
We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing photos and results from the Polding Athletics Carnival.
NSW Netball Schools Cup
Local Gala Day
Regional Finals
The St Carthage's netball team travelled to Casino on Wednesday 10th August to compete in the regional finals of the NSW Netball Schools Cup. The girls progressed through their pool undefeated. In both the semi final and the final the girls fought off some extremely tough competition to win each game by 1 point. The team will now progress to the state finals on November 1st, in Sydney. We wish them the best of luck! Thank you again to Mrs McRae for her time and commitment to the school netball teams.
