Term 2 Week Three 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, 

A very belated welcome back our students and families for Term 2. I hope that everyone had a great holiday and found plenty of time to rest and relax. We look forward to a very busy and productive Term Two with many events and lots of learning planned!

Traditionally, May is the month when we remember, celebrate and thank Mary, the mother of God, in a special way. During his 26 year pontificate, John Paul II frequently reminded us that the month of May is, in a particular way, dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. In their reflection on the significance of Jesus’ passion, the Church fathers understood that when Jesus, dying in agony on the Cross, said to John, “This is your mother”, he was not merely entrusting Mary to John’s care, but also to making Mary the spiritual mother of all followers of Christ. In Mary’s life on earth we see a strong woman, the author of the Magnificat, who was willing to embrace motherhood as a vocation from God in all its joys and sorrows. Every mother will know exactly, the meaning of the prophet Simeon’s words to Mary, when Jesus was presented in the temple in Jerusalem: “A sword will pierce your own
heart”. She was with Jesus at every important moment of his life: from his conception, his birth in Bethlehem, during his public ministry, at his crucifixion, and with the disciples on Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit came down upon them.
In following the footsteps of Jesus, and in the richness of the Christian tradition, we find in Mary the perfect mediator between mankind and God, in who we can confide our most private thoughts and deepest fears, asking her intercession in the confident
knowledge that Jesus will hear her, as happened at the Feast at Cana. During this month of May, dedicated to Mary, we are encouraged to pray to her to intercede on our behalf.

Tell Them From Me

As you are aware, we are currently surveying our staff, students and families on different aspects of school life at St Carthage's. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Carthage’s Primary School. 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. You can access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
 
www.tellthemfromme.com/gz75d

The survey will remain live for a couple of weeks and we encourage you to participate. Your input is very valuable in assisting us in formulating our goals for our Annual and Strategic Plans.

We currently have 32 parents/carers who have completed the survey.
Our goal is to have at least 50% of our families complete the survey. 
We encourage you to take some time to complete this survey.

St Carthage's Feast Day

Wednesday 15th May, was the Feast of St Carthage. St Carthage is the Patron Saint of our parish and our school. Bishop Doyle and the Presentation Sisters who established our school 139 years ago decided that the Cathedral School of our Lismore Diocese should be named St Carthage‘s in honour of a great Saint who was an inspirational leader and a great teacher. St Carthage, whose name is also given as Mochuda, was born of a good family, in what is now County Kerry, Ireland, about the year 555. Mochuda’s father was an important man in the village so he was given everything that he wanted or needed. When he was young, a group of priests were walking through his village singing songs of praise and he was so fascinated that he followed them to the monastery gates. A while later he decided to join this group of priests and was ordained as a priest in 580 when he was thirty years old. Mochuda was very close to his head priest and took his name, Carthage. Later on young Carthage founded a monastery for young priests and he lived there for forty years. Carthage was an inspirational church leader who set up a monastery that attracted 1000 young men to the priesthood. He set up a school that produced many excellent scholars and the school became famous around the country for encouraging a love of learning.
Later in life, Carthage was consecrated Bishop of Lismore, Ireland. He died on May, 14th 637. After his death, the church and school were named St Carthage’s in his honour.

Mr Tickle organised a very meaningful and interactive celebration for our students to learn more about St Carthage. This was followed by a disco in the afternoon.

Open Night

We had another very successful Open Night last week. We had many families come along for a tour and to learn more about our great school! The enthusiasm and positive feedback from prospective families was testament to the staff and students who were there.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2026

Parents of children who are ready to start school in 2026 are asked to go onto our school website, click on the Enrol Now tab and complete the online Enrolment Application to begin the enrolment process.

It is important that our existing families put in an enrolment application for siblings who will start school next year.

Please pass on this message to family and friends who are intending to enrol children in Kindergarten next year. Children must turn five by 31st July 2026 to be enrolled in Diocesan schools.

Mother's Day

We hope that all mothers, grandmothers and mother figures had a lovely day on the 11th May.

Thank you to the many mums who came along and shared the Mothers’ Day breakfast with us. It is always a great event and it is an opportunity for us as a staff, to say thank you to our mums and significant mother figures of our students. It was lovely to see families socialising together and enjoying a meal. 

I hope you enjoyed your Mother’s Day gifts that the children took great delight in choosing!

ANZAC Day

Thank you to the many students who participated in the ANZAC Day March during the holidays. The number of students who participated was outstanding, particularly in the wet weather, and the respectful manner in which they did so is to be commended. As a school, we believe it is very important to support the wider community on this day, to show our appreciation and give dignity to those who have worked so hard, some even losing their lives, to bring peace to our world. I thank our students for giving up their time to represent our school at such a significant event. Thank you also to our parents for making it possible for the children to be present on these occasions. We have received many compliments and all students were a credit to their families. Once again, thank you to all students, families and teachers who were able to support our participation in this very important community event.

School Community Group - save the date

Our next School Community Group Meeting will be held on Tuesday evening - 10th June at 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

School Reports and Interviews – advance notice

School Reports will be sent home in Week 9 and interviews with teachers will be held in Week 10. We will again be using the online booking format for Parent/Teacher interviews and more information will be sent home and a reminder on how to book these interviews electronically as the time draws closer. 

Professional Learning Days

Thank you for your support of our Professional Learning days. 

We have 4 Professional Learning days left for 2025;

Friday 4th July - (Term 2 Week 10)

Monday 21st July (Term 3 - first day)

Friday 26th September (Term 3 - last day)

Monday 13th October (Term 4 - first day)

Zanna and the Lost Code

On May 30^th Brainstorm Productions will present their student wellbeing performance ‘Zanna & the Lost Code’ for our students in Years K-6. This live theatre experience inspires and empowers students to be respectful, responsible, assertive and resilient online and offline.

When Zanna and Eddie arrive at coding camp, they embark on a magical journey into the Camp Captain's new online game for kids. Through a series of exciting challenges, Zanna and Eddie experience the power of empathy, respect, kindness and assertive communication. They discover that we all have the power to make the internet a safer and more positive place.

'Zanna & the Lost Code' is developed in collaboration with teachers and psychologists and aligned with key outcomes from the Australian and Victorian Curriculum. The show is designed to spark conversations about bullying, cyber safety and resilience amongst our students.

Brainstorm Productions is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected theatre-in-education companies, performing to over 260,000 students annually. Brainstorm Productions is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider and listed as an evidence-based bullying prevention program on the Victorian Schools Mental Health Menu. Learn more about Brainstorm Productions by visiting their website (brainstormproductions.edu.au.

Please see Compass Events to complete payment details for your child/ren. We thank Mrs Rogusz for organising this visit.

ICAS Assessments

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.  

Maths Olympiad Competitions

This year, St Carthage’s nominated three teams in the Maths Olympiad Competitions. Students were selected for these teams based on school results in Mathematics as well as teacher nominations. Trials were held in Term One where students were introduced to the program and given a number of problem solving activities to complete. Congratulations to the students who have been selected to represent our school in these teams.

Competition Format:

• The Olympiad competitions comprises of four separate contests held approximately six weeks apart, starting in early Term 2.
• Students are required to complete all four contests
• Each contest paper contains 5 questions, worth 1 mark each, and the paper must be completed in a specified time-frame of 30 minutes
• Contest papers are completed individually (Olympiad and Games) and in pairs (Explorer).
• Each contest is held under exam conditions in the classroom and marked by Mrs Matthews who then submits the results to APSMO via our Members' Portal.

The main aims of these competitions are to:

• Provide schools with an ongoing, high quality and well recognised enrichment and extension opportunity for their high potential or gifted students.
• Develop increased creativity and flexibility in problem solving and mathematical reasoning.
• Stimulate students' enthusiasm for, and enjoyment of, mathematics.
• Build students’ confidence in their own abilities.
• Allow high achieving students to showcase their skills and abilities and be recognised for their efforts and achievement.

Maths Olympiad: Year Six    

The Maths Olympiad is a prestigious inter-school competition that presents high-achieving students with a wide variety of problems, designed to challenge and extend them individually. The aim is to provide a level playing field for all students, while encouraging them to think independently in solving the problems presented. Mrs Matthews works with the team in between contests, reviewing the previous contest and completing follow-up questions based on the problems and strategies in each paper. These activities are designed to engage the students in practise and further ongoing mathematical challenge.

Example Question:

A palindrome is a whole number that reads the same forwards and backwards. For example, 30 903 is a palindrome. Jill has worked out the greatest palindrome that is less than 30 903. Kyle found the smallest palindrome that is greater than 30 903. What is the sum of Jill’s palindrome and Kyle’s palindrome?

Maths Games: Year Five

Unlike the Maths Olympiads, students participating in the Maths Games compete only against students within our school. They do not compete against teams from other schools. The primary focus of this program is to build students’ confidence and encourage them to learn and develop their problem solving skills.  

Each paper focuses on the application of two distinct problem solving strategies, starting with the least challenging in the first paper and progressing to more challenging concepts through the year. In between contests, Mrs Matthews meets with the team working through specific problem solving tasks based on the strategies in the upcoming contest.

Example Question:

Jeremy and Kaleb are building a fence around a paddock. They start at one corner and work around in opposite directions to each other. Jeremy takes 30 minutes to build one metre of fence. Kaleb takes 10 minutes to build one metre of fence. The perimeter of the paddock is 80 metres long. How many more metres of fence will Kaleb build than Jeremy? 

Hint: How much of the fence will Jeremy build in one hour?

Maths Explorer: Years Three and Four

The Maths Explorer program allows students in Years 3 and 4 to collaborate with their peers and work together to make decisions about the way they explore a problem.

The primary focus of this program is to build students’ confidence and encourage them to develop their skills in a non-competitive environment. It uses fun and relatable themes to showcase how problem solving strategies can be applied to a variety of problems. It encourages students to work together to expand their knowledge and understanding of key problems solving strategies that can be applied to a wide range of problems.

Example Question:

Comic Book Wendy borrowed a comic book from the library. On Day 1, she read 5 pages. Every day that followed, she read 3 more pages than she read the day before. How many pages did she read on Day 10? 

Answers will be published in the next newsletter

Diocesan Winter Sports Trials – Soccer and Rugby League

Congratulations to the following students who represented St. Carthage’s at the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials in Grafton for Soccer and Rugby League:

• Rugby League: Tohbi Olive-Conte
  
  
• Soccer: Billy Bradfield, Myles Weekes, Brody Johnson, Gus Collings, Caitlin Gapes, Giulia Locatelli, Savannah McPherson
  
  

After being postponed several times due to inclement weather, the trials finally went ahead, and our students certainly made the most of the opportunity. They gave their all and performed admirably against high-quality competition.

Well done to each of you on your outstanding effort and determination in reaching this level of competition. We are proud of you!

Kindergarten and Year 1 Cross Country – A Celebration of Fun and Fitness!

On Thursday, 10th April, our youngest athletes took to the track for the much-anticipated Kinder/Year 1 Cross Country event. Held on St. Carthage’s oval as part of our School Rewards Day and the final day of Term 1, the event was a wonderful celebration of energy, enthusiasm, and school spirit.

The morning kicked off at 9:15am, with the Year 1 Girls leading the way, followed by the Year 1 Boys, Kinder Girls, and finally, the Kinder Boys. It was a delight to see our students give their best effort, cheered on by their peers and guided by their wonderful Year 6 buddies, who lined the track with words of encouragement and support.

Adding to the excitement, the entire school – Years 2 through to Year 6 – gathered to cheer on the Kinder and Year 1 students, bringing a wave of motivation and positivity to the event. Their enthusiastic support was not only heartwarming but also an important part of the competition, as Houses competed for the coveted St Carthage’s Cheering Trophy! Congratulations to Nagle House on winning this prestigious trophy for the Cross Country 2025.

The event was a fantastic way to wrap up the term, filled with fun, fitness, and school spirit. Congratulations to all our Kinder and Year 1 runners for their incredible efforts, and a big thank you to our Year 6 buddies and all students who cheered and encouraged their peers. It truly was a whole-school celebration of participation and perseverance!

A special thank you to all the parents and grandparents who came along to support the children on the day. Your presence and encouragement made the event even more special for our young runners!

Well done to everyone involved – we can’t wait for next year’s race!

Results-Kinder/Year Cross Country 2025 

Polding Softball Success

On Wednesday, 30th April, Jack McCarthy, Billy McCarthy, and Gus Collings proudly represented the Lismore Diocesan Softball Team at the Polding Softball Trials in Blacktown.

This high-level competition allowed the boys to test their skills against talented players from across the state, all aiming for a place in the Polding Softball Team that will compete at the NSW All Schools Softball Championships.

Jack, Billy, and Gus displayed outstanding skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the event. They rose to the challenge, grew in confidence, and embraced the true spirit of the game.

We are thrilled to announce that all three boys were selected in the Polding Primary School Softball Team for 2025—a remarkable achievement!

Congratulations to Gus, Jack, and Billy on reaching this level of competition, and best wishes as you prepare for the next exciting stage. We are incredibly proud of you!

Diocesan Netball Success

Congratulations to Ebony Andrews on her selection in the Lismore Diocesan Netball Team, which competed at the Polding Netball Trials in Bathurst on Friday, 2nd May.

Ebony proudly represented our school, showcasing her skill and sportsmanship at this competitive event. We are very proud of her achievement!

Diocesan Representation at Polding Hockey Trials

Four St Carthage’s students proudly represented the Lismore Diocesan Softball Team at the Polding Hockey Trials held in Bathurst.

Congratulations to Maggie Hughes, Georgia O’Brien, Levi Dunstan, and Lucas Harmon, who competed for a place in the NSW Catholic Schools State Team.

We commend them for their commitment, skill, and sportsmanship at this high level of competition. Well done on this wonderful achievement!

Richmond Zone Cross Country Carnival

On Tuesday 29th April, the St. Carthage's Cross Country Team proudly represented our school at the Richmond Zone Cross Country Carnival. A total of 47 students competed on the day, each giving their very best effort and showing great determination and team spirit.

The St. Carthage Cross Country Team was: Leo Zajazkowski, Vincent Barry, Hugh Grossfelt, Harry Elphick, Lennox Scotcher, Georgie Scotcher, Billie Fittock, Aria Campbell, Maia Szybinski-Page, Elki Fraser, Nash Robinson, Jarvis McPherson, Dalziel Lovell, Patrick James, Luka Wright, Frankie Veronese, Halle Bull, Lily Murray, Isla Parrish, Samantha Giles, Hamish Hughes, Hugo Hogan, Josh Bryant, Thomas Cootes, Madelyn Perin, Chloe Blainey, Daisy Smith, Ella Andrews, Allie Bradfield, Zander Annetts, Louis Bailey, Nhial Maciek, Levi Dunstan, Cooper Munro, Nadia Cittolin, Emma Clement, Eloise McFarlane, Billy Bradfield. Henry Hogan, Miller Clarke, Billy McCarthy, Jack Bryant, Ella Davey, Ebony Andrews, Maggie Hughes, Georgia Dodds, Ellie Gumbleton.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected in the Richmond Zone Team to compete at the Diocesan Cross Country Championships in Grafton on Tuesday 20th May: Ella Davy, Georgia Dodds, Ebony Andrews, Maggie Hughes, Ella Andrews, Frankie Veronese, Hamish Hughes, Nadia Cittolin, and Zander Annetts.

A special congratulations to Georgie Scotcher, who placed 2nd in the 8-year-old girls division. (*Please note: 8-year-olds are not eligible to compete at the next level of competition.)

Well done to all students involved—we are proud of your efforts and how you represented St. Carthage’s!