12 August 2024

Upcoming Events

Term 3 - Week 4

• Monday 12th August 2024
  
  • Cuppa before Assembly from 8:30am in the Hall
  • Choir with Mrs Sadler @ 8:35am
  • Assembly led by 4BR @ 9:00am 
  • Stage 2 Gymnastics
    
  • Kindergarten Bathurst Library Excursion

• Tuesday 13th August 2024
  
  • Jordan Boney cultural sessions
  • DeoQuest session with Year 5
  • Out of Class Lockdown Drill
    

• Wednesday 14th August 2024
  
  • Year 4 Waste Management Excursion
  • Guitar Group @ 11:00am - 11:40am
  • Didgeridoo Group @ 1:40pm

• Thursday 15th August 2024
  • No band this week
  • Feast of the Assumption Mass @11:45am for 12:00pm start - all welcome!

• Friday 16th August 2024

  • Book Week Dress Up Day.Preloved book sale@8.30am. Book week assembly and parade @ 9am. All Welcome. 

  • Agriculture Club with Mrs Angelucci @ Recess

Term 3 - Week 5

• Monday 19th August 2024
  
  • Cuppa before Assembly from 8:30am in the Hall
  • Assembly led by 5C @ 9:00am 
  • Mini Vinnies with Mrs Avinash @ Recess
  • SRC Meeting @ Recess
    

• Tuesday 20th August 2024
  
  • Choir with Mrs Sadler @ 8:35am
  • PR Committee meeting @ Recess

• Wednesday 21st August 2024
  
  • Guitar Group @ 11:00am - 11:40am
  • Didgeridoo Group @ 1:40pm

• Thursday 22nd August 2024

  • Senior Band @ 7:50am - 8:50am

  • Junior Band @ 11:00am - 11:40am
    
    

• Friday 23rd August 2024

  • Agriculture Club with Mrs Angelucci @ Recess

2024 Important Dates

More important dates listed here 

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

From the Principal

Congratulations to our athletes, our musicians, our Year 1 students and our MacKillop House Captains on a week that showcased the dedication and talent of our students. Behind every talented young person is a committed family and we thank you for supporting your children in pursuing these interests and passions. We also thank the many adults in our Cathedral community, our teachers and coordinators who give so much time to bringing these opportunities to life.

On Friday night at the Bathurst eisteddfod, the adjudicator, whilst delivering his adjudication for the Battle of Bands made the comment that he had never been to such a musical town! As a principal and parent I often reflect on what Bathurst has to offer our young people. So we take this time to thank the Bathurst Eisteddfod Committee, Chris Dove Music, Bathurst Academy of Music and the Mitchell conservatorium for the opportunities that they provide for our young musicians. In the same way we thank the Bathurst Little Athletics for their commitment to building and promoting athletics in Bathurst along with supporting our carnivals.

Both the arts and sport are alive and well in Bathurst and there is no doubt that they are alive and well at Cathedral.

It was wonderful to hear the school abuzz with conversations about learning last week for our three way conferences. Over the coming weeks we will seek feedback so that we can refine this practice as we look to better place students at the heart of their learning conversations and engage families in celebrating learning and planning future learning in our classrooms.

Camille da Silva Tavares   | Principal

Eisteddfod Results

A huge congratulations to all of our competitors in the Bathurst Eisteddfod. All students did Cathedral proud with their efforts and behaviour last week. We also thank all those who prepared them and the families who were able to join us in the audience. Our participation in the eisteddfod continues next week. Please see the Compass event details for further information around session times and locations. 

Junior Band  2nd place

Concert Band  Highly Commended

Year 1 Percussion  2nd Place

Guitar Group  Highly Commended

Staffing

Mrs Alice Gallagher will be finishing up at the end of this week as she prepares to welcome her new baby into the world. We wish Alice and her family all the very best during this special time of preparation and we look forward to sharing in the good news once baby Gallagher arrives. 

Over the coming weeks we will welcome Mrs Charlotte Whitmore and Mrs Sonika Lata onto our teaching staff. Mrs Whitmore is an experienced teacher and leader who joins us from St Matthews in Mudgee and Mrs Lata joins us after many years experience teaching in both New Zealand and Fiji. Both ladies exude an obvious love for teaching and learning. Mrs Lata will join 6BG next week and Mrs Whitmore will also join 6BG later in the term when Mr Boylan steps up to Assistant Principal while Mrs O’Neill takes a period of leave. 

Mrs Merryn Sadler will take on the role of Wellbeing teacher while Mrs Gallagher is on maternity leave. 

This week we welcome Miss Emily Caulfield who will work on a casual basis as a teacher assistant. Emily is currently studying a Bachelor of Education at Charles Sturt University.

Religious Education & Catholic Life

Solemnity of Mary of the Cross MacKillop

MacKillop Day at Cathedral School was celebrated last Thursday, with students and staff participating in various activities led by our MacKillop House Captains. Students wore red for a gold coin donation supporting the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart through ‘Mary MacKillop Today’. Classes explored the life and impact of Mary MacKillop on the school and Diocese, and ‘Buddy’ classes joined together for activities like art, colouring, and quizzes.

Looking ahead, our MacKillop Captains, Willow and Tom, will also lead this week’s Assumption Feast celebrations. They will share that the Assumption was Mary MacKillop’s favourite Christian feast, deeply anchored in her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary MacKillop admired Mary, the Mother of God, as a source of inspiration and strength, particularly in her work with the Sisters of St Joseph. She saw the Assumption as a powerful reminder of hope and eternal reward for a life lived in faith.

Our Captains will also reflect on Mary MacKillop’s desire to deepen her relationship with the Blessed Virgin and how she adopted the Rosary as a favourite prayer, encouraging the Sisters to do the same. Thank you to Willow and Tom for their leadership in making both MacKillop Day and the upcoming Assumption Feast truly special.

Feast of the Assumption
Families are warmly invited to join us next Thursday at the Cathedral Church for the Feast of the Assumption, a significant Feast Day and Holy Day of Obligation recalling the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ, when both her soul and body were taken into the presence of God.

Our celebration will include a combined liturgical ensemble from MacKillop College and Cathedral School, led by Mr. Paul Hughes (CEDB). We are also excited to welcome students and staff from Years 3-6 of St. Philomena's and other members of our parish.

We will gather at the Cathedral Church from 11:45 am for a 12:00 pm start. Your presence is greatly appreciated, and it means so much to our students and staff when you can join us at Mass. We sincerely hope to see you there. 

Monday Liturgy & Assembly:
Please join us each week between 9:00 and 9:30am 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 and it is a wonderful way to find out all of the special things happening inside and outside of our learning spaces. Families are invited to enjoy a cuppa from 8:30am in the hall before the commencement of the assembly.

Sacramental Programme
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 in Term 1. Please speak to your child’s teacher or myself if you require further information about registrations.

In Our Parish
We are proud to be an important part of the Cathedral Parish of Ss Michael & John.  
For information about our parish please click here. This includes Mass Times, Ministries, Sacraments and current edition and archived stories from the Catholic Observer and Parish Bulletin. 

Coming up:

Ashley Boylan   | Religious Education Coordinator

Awards

Library

Book Week is on Friday this week! 

Reminders:

1. Wear a costume or casual clothes.

1. The Preloved book sale starts at 8.30am. Books are priced between $1-2.

1. Book Week Assembly and Parade on the pavers at 9am.

Here are some of the amazing competition entries for the Create a magical character competition.

Competition winners will be announced at the Book Week Assembly and Parade.

Merryn Sadler   | Teacher Librarian

SPB4L

‘We Are Responsible During Break Times’

This week, our school is focusing on helping students become more responsible during break times, specifically at Recess and Lunch. We are teaching students the importance of following our school’s universal expectations  of being Responsible, Safe, Kind, and Respectful.

Throughout the week, shared expectations will be reinforced through a series of interactive activities, explicit instructions and discussions around the following:

• Being in the correct location for eating time.
• Staying seated while eating and respecting the safety of others by eating their own food.
• Not playing movement based games during Protected Eating Time.
• Utilising the time to focus on nutrition, hydration, socialising and interacting in positive conversations.
• Follow teacher instructions, clean up their areas, and the importance of keeping the playground tidy.
• Considering ways that we can minimise packing, waste and efficiency with time management.

By reinforcing these shared expectations and habits, we aim to create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone during break times. We encourage you to support these efforts at home by discussing the importance of being responsible, especially during meals and play.

As part of our focus on responsibility during break times, we're emphasising the importance of sticking to our set routines, including protected eating times. Just as students are encouraged to use this time effectively, we aim to ensure that teachers and students work together to follow these routines to create a supportive and consistent environment for all.

Here are some discussion prompts for home, including their understanding of protected eating time:

1. Why do you think it's important to have a protected eating time at school? (Discuss how it helps students focus on eating and prepares them for play.)
2. What do you do during the protected eating time (RECESS  11:00-11:10 and LUNCH  1:00-1:10/1:30-1:40)? (Explore how they make sure they’re ready to eat and how they use this time.)
3. How do you show responsibility during recess and lunch eating times? (Encourage sharing about how they clean up after themselves and listen to teacher instructions.)
4. What are some ways you and your friends help keep the eating area tidy? (Discuss the importance of tidiness and responsibility during break times.)
5. How do you feel after you've eaten during protected eating time? (Talk about how eating first helps them enjoy their playtime more.)

What can we do at home to support your eating habits at school? (Discuss packing balanced meals and minimising packaging.)

 SPB4L Committee

Wellbeing

As a Staff we were able to gather together to participate in a Zoom Meeting with Hugh van Cuylenburg. We were reminded of the important and integral work we do as teachers and the impact that we can have on all of our students. Hugh discussed the importance of taking care of ourselves in order to nurture and guide our children around us. 

This is a reminder to all of us to take time for ourselves in order to be the best we can be for our children. Here are some ways that each of us can take a couple of minutes a day to become more mindful. 

Did you know …

We spend 49% of our waking hours thinking about something other than what we’re doing!

Regular mindfulness practice can improve our:

• Immune system.
• Energy levels.
• Sleep quality.
• Awareness.
• Memory.
• Productivity.

Why don’t you give it a go? Find a mindfulness activity that suits you and that you enjoy, everyone is different. Below are some suggestions:

• Listening to music.
• Exercise (eg: walking).
• Colouring.
• Puzzles.
• Meditation.
• Yoga.

Breakfast Club
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.

Alice Gallagher   | Wellbeing Coordinator

Sports

Eastern Region Athletics Carnival

A  crisp foggy morning saw 58 students attend the Bathurst Eastern Region Athletics Carnival at MacKillop College last Wednesday. When the fog cleared, it was a glorious day to enjoy the fine athletics skills on display by the Cathedral students. Congratulations to all competitors for showing not only great skills in your chosen events but also excellent sportsmanship and behaviour.

Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and carers, for your ongoing support, transporting your child to and from the event, as well as those who were able to attend and watch for the day.

A special thank you to our parents and teachers - Angela Richens, Mitch Meredith and Cassie Toole who acted as officials for the day.

We also thank Meghan Beale (Convenor) and the staff at St Joseph's School  Oberon for organising and coordinating an excellent carnival.

Students representing Cathedral School as part of the Eastern Region team, at the Bathurst Diocesan  Athletics Carnival in Dubbo on Friday 23rd August 2024 are Porsha, Flynn, Max, Liam, Audrey, Molly, Grace,  Zara, Liam, Emelia, Geowin and Georgie.

A CSNSW registration sheet will be forwarded to parents. All students (even those only competing in the relay will need to register). 

The Order of Events for the Day is available on:

Community Website for parents:

https://sites.google.com/d/1IRtJI0yq8QJ_KYxau-08G-treRWVNc6c/p/1HKxS3knlB-Ae-xFIHt6shizGFuqUB2oQ/edit

Congratulations once again to all competitors!  Cathedral School wishes you all,  every success at this carnival and we look forward to hearing all about your sporting endeavours.

Special commendation goes to Max and Liam who were awarded joint Senior Boy Champion along with 2 other deserving winners, making this an historic 4 way split!

Congratulations to the Senior Boys Relay Team on their triumphant victory!

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:

 Louise Condon   | Sports Coordinator

Cathedral School Fleecy Sports Tops

Marietta’s now stock the new Cathedral School fleecy sports top. 
Price is $40.

Parents and Friends

Next P&F Meeting: Wednesday 4th September 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

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

DATES FOR THE DIARY
Father’s Day Breakfast and Stall - 30th August
School Disco- 13th September

Melissa Bray   | P & F Publicity

Music

Congratulations to all band, guitar, choir and other ensembles for their amazing performances at the eisteddfod! 

Well Done!

There will be no band rehearsals this week 15/08. You've earnt the week off!

Cathedral School Ensemble Times & Days:

• School Choir Tuesdays at 8:35am
• 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

Absences

Full Day Absence
Full Day absences (the Compass default time is 8:00am-5:00pm, please do not change this) are entered via the Compass App and Compass allows 7 days to add this.

Part Day Absences - Arriving Late or Early Departures
Complete this absence via the Compass Portal located in the School Office, when you bring your child to school late or collect your child early.
This information is recorded against your child’s attendance records and sent to your child’s teacher.

So that we can have your child ready for an early departure from school, please email your child’s teacher (via Compass) the departure details.

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 Special Lunch

Don't Forget to order your Book Week Lunch

Order on flexischools 

by Wednesday 14th August 5pm

Gluten free, Dairy Free and Vegetarian options available.

All Children will receive a free treat for morning tea, please contact the canteen if you have any questions.

   Canteen Roster Term 3 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.

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