Carmel's News
School Closure Day - Friday 7th March
MACSEYE providing care onsite at St Catherine’s
The school will be closed on Friday 7th March. Staff will be involved in Professional Learning in the areas of Spelling, Religious Education and Student Wellbeing.
MACSEYE will be providing care onsite at St Catherine’s for families from 7.00am to 6.00pm. Communication and information will be sent to families that are currently enrolled through the Xplor app and Email. All before school care and after school care bookings have been removed for Friday 7th March. Families will be able to book via the app or call 1300 501 029 or speak to the team (Jaimee & Laura) within the service. The CCS (Child Care Subsidy) has now been approved for the St Catherine’s MACSEYE Service.
Parent/Teacher/Student Meetings 5th & 6th March (3.45-7.00pm)
These meetings will be held in your child’s classroom. Please be on time and note that times will be strictly adhered to. Meetings are for 15 minutes. Parents are welcome to book another time to see the class teacher if more time is needed.
The purpose of Parent/Teacher/Student meetings is to foster a collaborative dialogue about your child's overall development, both academically and socially. These meetings provide an opportunity for parents to gain valuable insights into their child's progress and to address any questions or concerns they may have. It is a chance to explore how your child is progressing in various areas, including English, Mathematics, social skills, emotional growth, and behavioural development.
Students also play an active role in these discussions, sharing their achievements, reflecting on what they have learned, and setting personal goals for their continued growth.
Before School Supervision 8.40-9.00am
A reminder that students are not supervised until 8.40am before school. If you need to drop your child/children beforehand, please book them into before school care. I will be reaching out to families who do not follow this requirement, as it is important for the safety of everyone involved. Thanks for your cooperation.
After School Playground Supervision
Students will be supervised from 3.20-3.30pm. Children may only play on the adventure playground if ACTIVELY supervised by their parents.
Year 6 Leadership Presentations
On Monday 24th February, the Year 6 Leaders were presented with their Leadership Badges and Certificates. Families were invited to a morning tea in the Learning Hub to celebrate this important milestone for our Year 6 students.
New Homework Policy
The staff and the SAC (School Advisory Council) have worked in collaboration to update the St Catherine’s Homework Policy. Parents were also surveyed last year. Please see the attached and contact myself or Megan Moore if you have any questions.
Pancake Tuesday (4th March)
On Tuesday morning, staff volunteers will cook pancakes for students. These will be available from 8.30am. The pancake mix was purchased from Aldi (Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, wheat starch, whey powder, maltodextrin, thickener 1422 or 1442, raising agents 450 & 500, anti caking agent 341, salt).
Why do we celebrate Shrove Tuesday? The name Shrove comes from 'shrive', meaning absolution for sins by doing penance. The day gets its name from the tradition of Christians trying to be 'shriven' before Lent. Pancake Day itself came much later as a way of using up rich foods, like eggs, milk and sugar before the 40 days of fasting - Lent.
Ash Wednesday Parish Mass 10.00am 5th March
F-6 Students will attend Parish Mass this week. Lent begins on Wednesday with the marking of ashes, a sign to remind us to live the way Jesus wants. It is the beginning of our preparation for Easter when Jesus rises from the dead. Lent is a special time when we stop and think about how we can play our part in God’s hope for a world that is fair, just and peaceful. We think about our relationship with God, and how through serving others we can grow closer to him. We also think about the changes we can make in our lives, to be God’s love and mercy in our world, ensuring all people have a just future.
Lenten Prayer
God of Justice,
We come to you today as members of one family.
Teach us how to be your loving presence to others.
Help us understand the challenges others face.
Be with us as we try to change, to be people who take action for others.
Help us seek a world where everyone has a just future.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
This week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.
We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family (eldest child in the family) will receive a Project Compassion box for your donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au The donation boxes will be sent home with your child on Ash Wednesday. If you choose to collect during Lent, please return the boxes to school by Monday 31st March, so donations can be sent to Caritas Australia by the end of term.
Tha Earth & Spirit Year 6 Leaders will organise a fundraiser in the last week of term with money raised going towards Caritas.
In alignment with the Lenten call to almsgiving, Caritas Australia launches Project Compassion 2025 with the theme “Unite Against Poverty.” This annual fundraiser supports vulnerable communities globally, empowering them to overcome poverty through sustainable development programs. It is also a call for all of us to play our part in making the world a better place by working together in finding long term solutions to global issues.
2025 Sacramental Program - Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reconciliation Family Workshop
On Wednesday 19th February, the Reconciliation candidates and their families participated in a family workshop.
The families:
- Learnt about the 7 Sacraments focusing on the Healing Sacrament of Reconciliation;
- Decorated their Reconciliation candle;
- Learnt about the Rite of Reconciliation (Process/Steps).
Presentation of Reconciliation Candidates at St Catherine’s Parish Mass
On Sunday 23rd February, the Parish Community welcomed the Reconciliation Candidates and their families. Father presented the children with a candle which they will use for their First Reconciliation at 10.30am on Saturday 22nd March.
2025 Student Shout Outs!
Please email me if your child has achieved an amazing milestone either individually or with their team. We will showcase them in our newsletter. Please include a photo of your child showing off their award/trophy/certificate etc. Please note we cannot add team photos to the newsletter as we don't have photo permission for the team members.
Term 1 2025 dates
Week 6
Tuesday 4th March 8:30am - Pancake breakfast (Shrove Tuesday)
Wednesday 5th March 10-11:00am - Ash Wednesday whole school mass
Wednesday 5th March 3:45-7:00pm - Parent/Student/Teacher conference
Thursday 6th March 3:45-7:00pm - Parent/Student/Teacher conference
Friday 7th March - School Closure Day
Week 7
Monday 10th March - Labour Day public holiday
Wednesday 12th March - 24th March - NAPLAN Years 3 & 5
Week 8
Wednesday 12th March - 24th March - NAPLAN Years 3 & 5
Monday 17th March - Dental visit (classes TBC)
Tuesday 18th March 10-10.45am - F/1/2 Fire Incursion
Wednesday 19th March all day - Year 3 Reconciliation students Reflection Day
Wednesday 19th March 10-11:00am - 3/4 class mass
Thursday 20th March - Open Day for 2026 families
Friday 21st March - Harmony Day
Saturday 22nd March 10:30-11:30am - Year 3 Reconciliation students Reconciliation day
Week 9
Wednesday 26th March 10-11:00am - Year 5/ 6 and Foundation class mass
Week 10
Wednesday 2nd April 9-9:30am - Easter Hat Parade, raffle & Caritas Fundraiser
Friday 4th April 3:20pm - End of Term 1 (school resumes Tuesday 22nd April)