27 May 2024

Upcoming Events

Term 2 - Week 5

• Monday 27th May 2024
  • Assembly led by 4W
  • Year 3 Public Speaking

• Tuesday 28th May 2024
  • Year 4 Public Speaking

• Wednesday 29th May 2024
  
  • Year 5 Public Speaking

• Thursday 30th May 2024

  • Diocesan Spelling Bee in Wellington

  • Year 6 Public Speaking

  • Musica Vivia

  • Years 3 and 4 Mass @9:10am 

  • Alpha @12pm
    
    

• Friday 31st  May 2024

• • Reconciliation BBQ

  • Infants Gymnastics in hall

  • Year 5 Confirmation Retreat

• Sunday 2nd June 2024

  • Feast of Corpus Christi celebration (all welcome)

2024 Important Dates

• Tuesday 11th June 2024
  • School Photos
    

• Wednesday 12th June 2024
  • School Photos
    

• Friday 5th July 2024
  • Last day of Term 2

More important dates listed here Website Calendar Link

For those with a Google Account the calendar can be added to your Google calendars for
easy access on your phone or device Google School Calendar Link

From the Principal

This week, as we celebrate Reconciliation Week we are reminded of the important role of families and schools in promoting reconciliation. Over the past weeks we have welcomed Reece Ryan, our Aboriginal Education officer who has been a beautiful addition to Cathedral. Reece, along with Karen Brown (currently teaching Wiradjuri to all Stage 2 students) have provided wonderful examples to all students of Cathedral. Over the coming months we are excited to begin planning how we can continue to learn about our shared histories, culture and achievements and share this with our school community and beyond.

As we embrace this special week, we acknowledge all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. We pay respect to their living culture and continue to pray that all people of Australia will unite in true reconciliation, never forgetting our past so that we may learn from and plan for a better future.

Camille da Silva Tavares   | Principal

You Are Invited!

On Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (commonly referred to in Latin as 'Corpus Christi'). This feast is to solemnly commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist and was instituted in 1264.

The Eucharist is intimate and unique because earthly signs are transformed by God's love, and are consumed in faith. As we eat and drink these elements Christ becomes part of us, and we come alive in Christ. Richard Leonard SJ

The Church has a tradition of commemorating this feast day with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament outside of the church building, to give public witness to our faith in the Eucharist and our devotion to it. Robert Cabie

Eucharistic Processions are intimately linked to Mass and so directly after the Dismissal at 10am Mass on Sunday, everyone is invited to join in with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the grounds of the Cathedral ending with Benediction in the Cathedral.

Fr Thao   | Priest

Staffing

We are pleased to announce that Mr James Church will be joining Mrs Rice for Terms 3 and 4 in 4BR as Mrs Bowman begins her maternity leave. Mr Church brings with him a wealth of experience in a number of schools and a love of music which he is hoping to share with our school. Mr Church will meet his new class next Monday and spend time over the following weeks getting to know our school and the students of 4BR before the commencement of his appointment in Term 3. 

Student Representative Council (SRC)

We have received some wonderful entries.
These are displayed in Mrs Tavares’ window.

It is not too late to enter, entries close Friday of Week 5.

Enrolments

Teaching and Learning

Embracing Reconciliation Week: Learn, Reflect, and Celebrate!
This week, we are thrilled to celebrate Reconciliation Week, a time dedicated to learning about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and exploring how we can all contribute to reconciliation in Australia. Throughout the week, students will engage in a variety of enriching activities designed to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures. These activities may include playing traditional Indigenous games, reading and discussing stories written by First Nation authors, delving into Australia’s history through the eyes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and creating artworks inspired by Indigenous traditions.

Friday Festivities: Celebrate at Kings Parade!
The highlight of our week will be on Friday, when our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will join the wider community at Kings Parade to celebrate Reconciliation Week. This special event will feature a Welcome to Country ceremony and traditional dances performed by Dirraybang Footprint. To add to the festivities, all students will enjoy a delicious sausage sizzle for lunch. Information about this event will be forwarded to families today. Please complete all information on Compass by Thursday to support student attendance at this event.

Meet Our New Aboriginal Education Officer: PLP Meetings
On Wednesday to Friday this week, we will be holding Personal Learning Plan (PLP) meetings. These meetings provide a wonderful opportunity to meet our new Aboriginal Education Officer, Miss Reece Ryan. During these sessions, students along with their teachers and parents will set goals and strategies to support the growth and success of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for the remainder of the year.

Other Exciting Events This Week
CWA Public Speaking Competition: Best of Luck!

From Monday to Thursday this week, Nitesh, Benji, Lily, and Stella will be representing our school at the CWA Public Speaking Competition in Orange. We wish them every success as they showcase their speaking skills and compete against students from the local area.

Diocesan Spelling Bee: Go Team!
On Thursday, our Stage Two and Three Finalists, Laurence, Jacob, Lily N and Christian will travel to Wellington to compete in the Diocesan Spelling Bee. These students will go head-to-head with students from Catholic schools across the Diocese. We wish our finalists the best of luck in this exciting competition.

Musica Viva Presents Eastwinds: A Musical Treat!
On Thursday, we are excited to host the visiting ensemble Eastwinds through the Musica Viva program. Eastwinds is an internationally acclaimed ensemble known for their unique fusion of sounds from around the world, blending instruments such as the Persian ney, Indian bansuri, and didgeridoo with contemporary music styles. This will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to experience a vibrant and dynamic musical performance.

We look forward to a week filled with learning, reflection, celebration, through a variety of exciting activities and events.

Catherine O’Neill   | Assistant Principal

Religious Education & Catholic Life

Our Lady, Help of Christians
Thank you to the families and staff who joined other members of our parish as our whole school celebrated ‘Our Lady, Help of Christians’ with Mass in the Cathedral Church on Friday 24th May. Thank you once again to Mr Hughes for supporting us with the music ministry.

I was also lucky enough to attend the MacKillop College Mass earlier in the day where a group of Cathedral School members were warmly invited to be part of the choir.  Thank you to Mrs Amber Calleja and all involved in such a lovely Mass.

Stage Masses
We are excited to be recommencing these celebrations this term. Last Thursday Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) came together to celebrate Mass together. These smaller gatherings allow us to focus more closely on the meanings and significance behind many of the special rituals and actions of the Mass.

This Thursday, Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) will come together in the Cathedral. Please feel very welcome to join us in the Cathedral Church where Mass will commence shortly after their arrival at 9:10am.

Pre-Confirmation Day
This Friday Year 5 will attend Mackillop College and participate in a special day led by staff and youth ministers as they begin to commence the school components of their preparations for Confirmation next semester.

We thank Mrs Amber Calleja and her student ministry team for supporting our students in the development of their faith.

Alpha Sessions
The Cathedral Parish invites families to another series of Alpha. We are excited to host these upcoming sessions in our school hall. Sessions commence on Thursday 12th May at 12pm with a provided lunch. Entrance is via the church car park entry.

Sacramental Program
It has been wonderful to hear about many of our students receiving sacraments through Parish Masses recently. Please email a photo through to me if you wish to have this celebrated in the school newsletter. We kindly request that names are not visible in the provided photograph

Information on First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation and how the parish based, but school supported, Sacramental Program will function  this year was provided last term via grade overviews, school and the parish information session.   Please speak to your child’s teacher or myself if you require further information about registrations.

Monday Liturgy & Assembly
Please join us each week between 9:00 and 9:30 am as we pray together and acknowledge the achievements of those in our school community. Classes, Grades and Committees each take responsibility for leading these celebrations.

Coming up:

Ashley Boylan   | Religious Education Coordinator

RISE 2024 Years 6-9! Its time to Register!

Dear Friends,

Are you ready to embark on an inspiring journey filled with faith, friendship, and fun? If so, we invite you to join us for RISE, our Diocesan Catholic youth event tailored specifically for Youth in the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst.

RISE isn't just another event; it's an opportunity to connect with peers, deepen your relationship with God, and discover the joy of being part of a vibrant Catholic community. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Mt Panorama, RISE promises two days packed with engaging activities, thought-provoking discussions, and moments of spiritual growth.

Here's what you can look forward to during RISE:

1. Inspiring Talks and Workshops: Our lineup of speakers and facilitators are committed to empowering you with insights that resonate with your journey as a young person.

2. Prayer: Experience the power of collective and personal prayer as we come together to praise and honor our faith through music, prayer, and reflection.

3. Meaningful Connections: Forge lasting friendships with fellow participants who share your values, beliefs, and aspirations.

4. Outdoor Activities: Enjoy the beauty of nature as we incorporate outdoor adventures and recreational activities into our program.

5. Encounter: Deepen your spiritual journey through moments of Encounter with God and the Church.

RISE will take place on the 11th and 12th of July, offering you two days filled with inspiration, growth, and joy. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to rejuvenate your faith and connect with like-minded peers from across our diocese.

To register for RISE and secure your spot, simply visit and complete the online registration form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHNv-42N5f75quNrpzZ7pjDYfCK_jhkWaiAQB2uYKinXix3g/viewform

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on this transformative experience.

If you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email or 0458261513

Let's come together to rise in faith, hope, and fun at RISE!

More details below: https://youtu.be/8ySg1sS27e8

RISE Thursday 11th and Friday 12th July 2024 (School Holidays) (RISEN team arrive on Wednesday)10am Drop off at St Philomena's Bathurst and Pick Up 2pm @ Cathedral School BathurstRegister here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHNv-42N5f75quNrpzZ7pjDYfCK_jhkWaiAQB2uYKinXix3g/viewform
 For payment please list the name of the person you are registering and paying for.

God Bless.
Josh
Deacon Josh Clayton
Mission and Renewal Director Catholic Diocese of Bathurst
118 Keppel St (PO Box 246) BATHURST  NSW  2795
P:    02 6334 6414
M: 0458 261 513
E: mrd@bathurst.catholic.org.au
To make Jesus known, to help people meet him, to grow in knowledge and love of him together as a community of Word, Sacrament and Service.

Awards

Library

Students in every class enjoyed listening to the story Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker for National Simultaneous Storytime last week. We have been learning more about the Bowerbird in Library classes. Did you know that Bowerbirds are excellent mimics and can even copy mechanical noises?

Merryn Sadler   | Teacher Librarian

Class in Focus | 1JV

Loving Learning
Over the past weeks, 1JV have been learning about patterns in Mathematics through engaging hands-on activities. In our Resilience Project lessons, we have focused on empathy and how we can be helpful heroes. We used our Visual Arts lesson to create our own superhero and mask.
We have loved our gymnastics lessons for Sport and have been working on our balancing skills.
The highlight of our learning has been our excursion to Miss Traill’s House as part of our History unit this term. 

Mrs Jenkins and Mrs Vickers

Wellbeing

Empathy
Working on empathy helps us to identify, understand and feel what another person is feeling. When we show empathy or we do something kind for someone else our brain releases oxytocin. This leads to increasing our self-esteem/confidence, energy levels, positivity and overall happiness.

Whole Family Activity:
Neighbourhood Kindness Challenge
As a family, choose an act of kindness from the list below that you would like to do for a neighbour or family friend.
Each family member can select one to commit to, or you can choose to do one together.

• Cook them something delicious like a cake, hot bread, or cookies.
• Write a note to put in their letterbox thanking them for being a great neighbour or friend.
• Design them a Thank You card.
• Pick or buy some flowers to deliver to them.
• Choose a little plant from your garden to give them.
• Make them a gift from things around your house.
• Offer to do a job for them, like wash their car or water their garden.
• Offer to take their pets for a walk.
• Invite them over for afternoon tea.
• Invite them on a walk.
• Recommend one of your favourite books to borrow and read.
• Ask them if they need anything from the shops next time you buy groceries.
• Say hello next time you see them, and ask them how their day is going.

Feel free to do more than one and spread the kindness even further!

Report back to each other in one week and share how your acts of kindness were received, and how doing them made you feel.

Family Habit Builder:
Every night at dinner, have each person thank another family member for something they’ve done or said today, or give another family member a compliment.

Breakfast Club
Our Cathedral Breakfast club has continued to be positively received by our students. It is really pleasing to see our students enjoying something warm on these colder mornings, and being able to fuel their bodies for their day of learning and playing ahead.

We would like to thank Coles, Woolworths, Q Office Furniture, Mount Panorama Lions Club and the McMahon family for further sponsoring this project with their generous donations. Our hope is to continue this project into the future and would welcome any further donations of food or money to support the project.

Please contact Alana in the canteen on 0417 044 116 if you would like to be included in the morning breakfast roster. Food is served from 8:30-9:00am. If you could spare some time at drop off it would be greatly appreciated.

This program is voluntary and only students presenting to the canteen will be given breakfast. Please contact the school if you would like to opt your child out of this program as all students who present to the canteen will be given breakfast unless instructed otherwise.

Lunchbox Snack Options that aren't just Chips!
Chips and processed foods are fine as a ‘sometimes’ food, not everyday. Research tells us that children’s tastebuds will develop based on the food they are regularly exposed to. Encouraging children to make some small changes in their lunchbox snacks can make a difference to their concentration and energy levels. 

Alice Gallagher and Abbie Bowman   | Wellbeing Teacher/Primary Coordinator 

School Photos

Family Photo Ordering
Family photos are treasured memories that are extremely important to parents just as much as individual and class photos. To be more efficient we are making a slight change to the ordering process.

Currently we offer online preordering for family photos 3-4 weeks before photo day and ordering ends 4pm the business day before school photos, this will not change.

 If parents miss that cutoff (having had 3-4 weeks prior to place an order) then we have to say no.    

Sports

Infants Athletics Carnival 2024
The K-2 students enjoyed a lovely sunny morning for their Athletics events at Mackillop College last Tuesday. First up all students participated in 80m sprint heats followed by the finals for each age group, many of which were so close that they came down to a photo finish. The older Year 2, 8 year old students ran on the main race track for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After recess, all children enjoyed a variety of tabloid sports activities before catching the bus back to school for lunch. Congratulations to all students on their excellent participation and team spirit.

Results for 80m Sprint
5 Years Boys: 1st Dimitri, 2nd Viraj (Joy)
5 Year Girls: 1st Hazel, 2nd Ileana
6 Years Boys: 1st Alfred, 2nd Tahkye, 3rd Archer, 4th Molemo
6 Years Girls: 1st Georgia, 2nd Juliana, 3rd Harkhush, 4th McKenzie
7 Years Boys: 1st Mason D, 2nd Vinnie, 3rd Gilbert, 4th Archie
7 Years Girls: 1st Piper, Equal 2nd Willow and Imogen, 3rd Millie, 4th Esmeralda

Results for 100m Sprint
8 Years Boys: 1st Travis, 2nd Noah, 3rd Hugh, 4th Jacob
8 Years Girls: 1st Perrie, 2nd Angela, 3rd Evelyn, 4th Elsie

Primary Athletics Carnival
Cathedral’s Athletics Carnival was a huge success with the sun shining and our excellent sportsmanship on full display! A big thank you to our dedicated staff, enthusiastic volunteers, and supportive parents for making this day run so smoothly. Another big thank you to Mackillop College for hosting us on their beautiful grounds. Congratulations to all students for their talents, participation and outstanding performances.

Congratulations to Delany who were the winning house on the day and to McAuley who won the Spirit Cup. Congratulations to Edwina and Hamish who were awarded the Involvement and Effort awards for their excellent participation on the day.

Netball Gala Day
We have the Netball Gala Day coming up next week on Wednesday 5th June at the Bathurst Netball Courts for students from Year 3-6. Due to our high number of students wanting to participate in this day, we are calling for any parents that are able to assist on the day to let us know via the note on Compass. If you haven’t completed this note, please do so ASAP so we can confirm teams and coaches for the day.

Infants Gymnastics Sessions
We are very excited to have Aspire Gymnastics come to school this term to teach our infants classes. These sessions will be taking place in Week 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this term on a Friday. This will mean that infants sports day will change from Thursday to Friday for these weeks only. Students are asked to wear their sports uniform on Friday’s for these weeks. They may still wear their sports uniform on their regular sports day if they wish.

VOLUNTEER INDUCTION
This term is filled with lots of fun sporting events for our students to be a part of! For these events to be as successful as possible and include all the students that want to participate, we are asking for parent volunteers to assist in managing these teams on the gala days. We are particularly calling for any parents who have experience or a child participating in the netball gala day in week 6 or the soccer gala day in week 8 to reach out via email to the school office or Mrs Bowman.

We will be holding a parent volunteer session (20 minutes) on Thursday 30th May at 5:30pm in the library for any parents that have put their name down to assist and haven’t completed their induction yet. If you are wishing to volunteer but can’t make this date, please reach out to Mrs Bowman to organise another time to complete the induction.

Community Sport Site
Our Diocesan sports coordinator Mr Steve Maguire has created a Community Sport Site (has reports from events) for parents, families & teachers which can be accessed to assist with Diocesan Sports pathways. You may like to bookmark this site for reference: https://sites.google.com/bth.catholic.edu.au/cedbsportcommunity/home

Abbie Bowman   | Primary Coordinator

Mini Vinnies Club

Lost and Found

Please claim at the School Office.

Parents and Friends

Next P&F Meeting: Wednesday 6th June 5:30pm - School Library
Everyone is invited to attend our monthly P&F meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of each school month at 5:30pm in the Library.

There is NO PRESSURE to attend every meeting or volunteer bucketloads of time - the P&F is a great resource to keep track of what’s happening at school and connect with other parents,
caregivers and school staff.   

For those who cannot attend in person, we have a zoom link, if you would like to join from home!
https://bthcatholic.zoom.us/j62675200979?pwd=duYyV3M2MvdoTVVjclRKZE5jdnlMdzo9
ID:62675200979@zmau.us 
Password: 106688

Friday 21st June- Trivia Night
Put your thinking caps on, plan a babysitter and get ready for a fun child-free night
 Start organising your table of up to 10 adults, If you need help finding a table, please contact us.

OPTIONAL School Jackets
The Cathedral School logo is embroidered on the chest, the jackets are lightweight,
windproof and water-resistant perfect for the cold weather.
These optional school jackets are available to try on at the school office and
ready to order via Flexischools under shop.

Please note: The optional jacket is NOT compulsory -
All maroon/navy/black school jackets are also acceptable.

If you have any enquiries about our projects or would like to get involved, please email us at cathedralpandf@gmail.com

Melissa Bray   | P & F Publicity

Music

It’s that time of year again! The annual Bathurst Eisteddfod is on again from 8th August- 2nd September.

Entries close on the 31st May so don’t delay.

If your child would like to enter in the Bathurst Eisteddfod as a solo or duet please click the link below https://www.bathursteisteddfod.org/syllabus

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me

Cathedral School Ensemble Times & Days:

• School Choir Tuesdays at Recess
• Guitar Group Wednesdays at Recess
• Concert Band Thursdays at 7:50am
• Junior Band Thursdays at Recess

If your child is interested in participating in any of these groups please feel free to contact me chris_dove_trumpet@hotmail.com 

Chris Dove   | Band Director

School Calendar Handy Hints

For those who are not familiar with Google Calendar an easy way to keep up to date with the school calendar is to check the school website. Here is the link that will take you straight to the Calendar section of the site where the calendar can be displayed by month. If you click on the event more details (if confirmed) will be available for the event. 

Most end of year events and special celebrations have already been added to the calendar and all
other events appear as soon as we can confirm the details.  Website Calendar Link

For those with a Google Account the calendar can be added to your Google calendars for easy access
on your phone or device. Google School Calendar Link

Update your Details

Update your email, phone number, address, your child’s medical details or emergency contacts by emailing the information to cathedral@bth.catholic.edu.au

Canteen

   Canteen Roster Term 2 2024

The Canteen is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

We are in need of helpers in the Canteen on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. 
For the canteen to run smoothly 3 volunteers are essential.

Please contact Alana Watson on 0417 044 116 if you would like to be included in the canteen roster,
any time offered is welcomed.

Thank you to all our friends and family for all your ongoing support of the Cathedral Canteen.

Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)

Community Notices

Bathurst Bus Lines - School Bus Tracking App
The school bus tracking app is available for parents to download on their phone and track their child's bus in real time.  This might alleviate some of the anxiety related to putting students on the bus. Please see instructions below.

Parents requiring any bus pass or general bus travel information are welcome to contact our office and we will be able to discuss their needs accordingly.

If you have any queries please contact us on 6331 2744

Kind regards,

Carolyn
Bathurst Bus Lines