Term 1 Week 8 Newsletter - 28.03.25

Principal News

Lent as a Time of Reflection and Renewal:

Lent is a period of spiritual preparation for Christians leading up to Easter. It is a time to reflect on our lives, our relationship with God, and our actions. As our Lenten journey continues, may we find the time and space to reflect upon our own lives, guided by Jesus's example.

Parent Forum Meeting

We will hold our first Parent Forum Meeting for 2025 on Thursday, April 3rd, at 6 p.m. Our Parent Forum Meetings are held each term, which allow us to share our current priorities with families and seek feedback from you on areas of school life. The following will be some of the items on our agenda for Thursday.

• 2025 School Improvement  Goals
• School uniform supplier feedback
• School Expectations and Behaviour Policy 

We look forward to you joining us.

Parent /Teacher Conferences

A reminder that our Parent Teacher Conferences are being held in Week 10. The bookings have been published in COMPASS for you to book a suitable time.

Attendance Targets

The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools have updated the procedures for monitoring and supporting schools to promote student attendance. Every school day builds upon the previous one, making it essential for students to attend regularly. Regular attendance is crucial as it fosters resilience and enables students to form vital social connections. Across all NSW education systems the expected level of student attendance is above 95%, and we aim to support all of our students to achieve this. 

If your child’s attendance is below 90% you may receive a COMPASS communication in the coming weeks. We acknowledge that there may be many reasons for absences and you may have already provided information to the school about why your child has been away. However, this communication is to ensure all parents are aware that their child’s attendance is currently at or under 90%. 

We believe that by working together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. Please ensure you contact the school if you would like any support with your child’s attendance.

Build the Habit of Regular Attendance

Artist – Sophie 10 years old. 

Regular school attendance supports not just academic growth but also social and emotional development. It fosters meaningful peer relationships through shared experiences, consistent interactions, and building trust within the classroom. Attending daily helps students develop a sense of camaraderie, communication skills, and mutual reliability.

Sophie says, ‘For me, the best thing about coming to school is seeing my friends.’

Limit Device Use

It's pretty normal for kids and teens to be on their devices more during the holidays, but as school heads back, it's important to start the school year by setting some limits for device use. Here are our top tips for taking control of tech in your home. 

After-School Meltdowns

It's completely normal for children to have a meltdown or two when they start school. Here are some ideas to help. 

Mission News

The Last Supper

Our Kindergarten students have been learning about The Last Supper and today Mr Moloney and I were privileged to serve our students in a reenactment of the Last Supper. We are so proud of the learning happening in Kinder and the enthusiasm for the stories of Jesus' life. Thank you Mrs Bradfield for a wonderful learning experience for your students.

Upcoming Mission Events

YOU ARE INVITED TO...

Making Jesus Real Awards 

KP

Keanu C  -  For brightening our day with your warm smile, cheerful greeting, and wonderful sense of humor.  Your kindness and joy make our classroom a happier place!

Samuel F  -  For your enthusiasm and curiosity in Religion lessons.  You're letting your light shine by applying Jesus' teaching in your daily life.

1L 

Frankie S-A  -  For the considerate and gentle way she supports others with their learning.  Thank you for being a shining light in our classroom Frankie.

2P

3L

Alyssa J  -  For your kindness and thoughtfulness in both words and actions towards others.  Keep spreading your light!

Ethan R  -  For consistently being encouraging and inclusive towards others.  Keep being a beaming light!

4P

Jethro P  -  For reflecting Jesus" love through kindness and positivity in the classroom and playground.  Jethro is an inspiring example to others.

5L

Alby S  -  Consistently demonstrating thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion.  Alby you always go the extra mile to support others and make a positive impact on your peers.

5P

Heidi W  -  For the respect, kindness and understanding you show to all those around you.  You bring a beautiful light to our class Heidi, Keep shining bright.

6L

Oliver B  -  Your kindness and compassion shine in all that you do.  Your caring nature uplifts those around you - keep being a light to others!

6P

Learning & Teaching News

Year 2 Mathematics - students have been learning to estimate and measure a variety of attributes including length, area, volume, and mass using informal and formal units.

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OLHC Achievement Awards 

KP

Anthony P  -  For being positive, happy and demonstrating resilience to take on a new challenges.  Keep letting your light shine Tony.

Cody W  -  For always showing great learning behaviors, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.  You inspire others, Cody!  Keep up the great work!

Nate Q  -  The persistence you show when completing your learning is inspiring.  Keep it up Nate!

1L

Casper K  -  For consistent efforts during writing time to produce quality pieces that include detail through the use of a variety of prepositional phrases.

Katie F  -  For her enthusiasm and commitment to all learning tasks, always giving her best effort to achieve positive results.  Keep up the great work.

Ellie S  -  For her enthusiasm during class discussions and diligent application to all learning tasks.  You are a Super Learner Ellie,  Keep it up.

Bryce D  -  For the energy and focus to learning and his willingness to share his ideas during class discussions.  Keep up the great work Bryce.

2P

Archie B  -  Archie you approach every learning task with a positive, proactive attitude, showing enthusiasm and a willingness to embrace challenges with a growth mindset.

Asta B-A  -  Asta, you consistently demonstrate Christ-like values through your actions by showing love, kindness and compassion.  Keep showing your sparkle, Asta!

Milla D  -  Milla you consistently put in your best effort, showing determination, resilience and a growth mindset.  We are very proud of you Milla!

Sophia H  -  Sophia you consistently demonstrate engagement in your learning, actively participating in class and seeks out new knowledge.  Keep up the amazing work, Sophia!

3L

Elle W  -  For actively seeking feedback and help to improve and achieve your goals.  Well done on your dedication to learning!

Theo T  -  Thank you for your insightful input in our class discussion about connection to Country and History - Keep up the fantastic work!

4P

Charles D  - For consistently helping and supporting his peers in English groups,  Charles demonstrates exceptional teamwork and kindness.

Michael W  -  For his focused and determined attitude with new spelling rules!  It's wonderful to see how you've used them in your writing.  Keep up the awesome work, Michael!

5L

Ivy W  -  For always having a positive attitude towards learning and working hard on all set tasks.  Keep up the great work you are producing, Ivy!

Harriett J  -  For consistently putting 100% into all aspects of school life!  Thank you for enlightening 5L with your thoughtful insights during class discussions.

5P

Clancy-Floyd L-P    -  For your insightful contributions to class discussions, your own understanding add such vlaue to our class collaborations Clancy, thank you.

Paige W  -  For applying feedback to improve your writing to engage the reader - well done Paige!

6L

Oliver B  -  Your hard work and commitment to learning has been outstanding.  Keep striving for greatness - you're achieving amazing things!

Grace C  -  Your dedication and enthusiasm for Maths has been truly impressive. Keep up the great work - your hard work is paying off!

6P

Billy M  -  For the dedication and effort you have shown in your writing, You are a star, Billy!

Isaac S  -  For working hard on your writing and being proud of your work.  Keep up the amazing learning, Isaac!

Sports News

Cross Country:

After a very tightly contested Cross Country, Mackillop house emerged the winners. Congratulations to all our age champions and those who have progressed to the Richmond Zone Cross Country. 

Newcastle Permanent Gala Day: 

On Tuesday we took eighty five students to Rover’s Soccer Fields to participate in the Newcastle Permanent Gala Day. The weather presented its challenges, but students embraced the days challenges and managed to enjoy a great day of soccer and fun with friends. 

Diocesan Swimming: 

Earlier this month Milani and Grace travelled to Murwillumbah to compete in the Diocesan Swimming Championships. Both girls represented our schoool well, showing great sportsmanship and competitive drive. Grace placed first in her race and as a result will be now attending the Polding Swimming Championships at Homebush in early April. This is a fantastic achievement for both girls and we wish Grace all the best at the Polding Swimming Carnival. 

Community News