26 August 2024

Upcoming Events

Term 3 - Week 6

• Monday 26th August 2024
  
  • Cuppa before Assembly from 8:30am in the Hall
  • Assembly led by 3B @ 9:00am 
  • Mini Vinnies with Mrs Avinash @ Recess
    
  • Stage 2 Gymnastics
    
    
• Tuesday 27th August 2024
  • Choir with Mrs Sadler @ 8:35am - 8:55am (Library)
    
  • Special Event: 2025 Kindergarten visit for a Teddy Bears' Picnic with Year 4 @ 9:45am - 10:45am
  • SRC Committee Meeting @ Recess
    
    
• Wednesday 28th August 2024
  • Lockdown Procedure practice
  • Guitar Group @ 11:00am - 11:40am (Recess in Classrooms at 10:50am)
  • Didgeridoo Group @ 1:40pm
    
    
• Thursday 29th August 2024

  • Senior Band @ 7:50am - 8:50am

  • Stage Mass (Years 5 & 6) @ 9:10am - Cathedral Church

  • Year 3 Excursion to Bathurst Library @ 10:00am -12:00pm

  • Junior Band @ 11:00am - 11:40am (Recess in Classrooms at 10:50am)
    
    
• Friday 30th August 2024
  • Father's Day Celebrations - Breakfast from 7:30am in the school grounds
  • Father's Day Liturgy led by Year 1 @ 9:00am in Hall
  • Father's Day gift stall throughout the day - hosted by the P & F
  • Agriculture Club with Mrs Angelucci @ Recess

Term 3 - Week 7

• Monday 2nd September 2024
  
  • Cuppa before Assembly from 8:30am in the Hall
  • Assembly led by 2M @ 9:00am
  • Mini Vinnies with Mrs Avinash @ Recess
    

• Tuesday 3rd September 2024
  
  • Choir with Mrs Sadler @ 8:35am
    
  • PR Committee meeting @ Recess

• Wednesday 4th September 2024
  
  • Guitar Group @ 11:00am - 11:40am (Recess in Classrooms at 10:50am)
  • Didgeridoo Group @ 1:40pm
  • Year 6 Farewell Fundraising Committee meeting @ 5:00pm
  • P&F Meeting @ 5:30pm

• Thursday 5th September 2024

  • Senior Band @ 7:50am - 8:50am

  • Junior Band @ 11:00am - 11:40am (Recess in Classrooms at 10:50am)
    
    

• Friday 6th September 2024

  • Christmas Art Exhibition

  • 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

Yesterday, we celebrated Social Justice Sunday in our Church. This year our Catholic Bishops released the statement: Truth & Peace; A Gospel World in a Violent World. This statement addresses the need for peace in our world and invites us to take steps to bring about peace; to be truth speakers, co-constructors of peace in our world and seekers of fraternal love.

 At a time when we are overwhelmed by misinformation and fake news, we are urged to lovingly question what we hear and to seek out the reality of truth instead of being lured into the deception of that which does not align with the Gospel message of love.

Peace is a concept that often seems as though it is intended for others and not for us. I’m sure we can all recall a time/times when we have reacted in anger; we have added one too many exclamation marks in an email or typed out our frustration in bold capitals. The quiet and stillness in life is rarely afforded to a busy family with primary school aged children and this often makes peace difficult to contemplate. How then can we as families with young children promote peace in our homes? In this statement, it is suggested that we can begin with prayer.

Start with yourself. Invite God to nurture peace in your heart. Examining the things that happened over the course of your day when you pray before bedtime is a good practice. Ask yourself how you responded to conflicts. Did you reach out in friendship and love to others, show kindness or offer or receive forgiveness? Ask God for the grace to make peace in your life. 

This week, we invite you to join us, as we pray for peace in our world, to be peace seekers and peace speakers.

Day by day, the Holy Spirit prompts in us ways of thinking and speaking that can make us artisans of justice and peace.
May the God of peace bless us and come to our aid.

May Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace and Mother of all the peoples of the earth, accompany and sustain us at every step of our journey of reconciliation.

And may all men and women who come into this world experience a life of peace and develop fully the promise of life and love dwelling in their heart.

From the Vatican, 8 December 2019

Camille da Silva Tavares   | Principal

Staffing

Next week we welcome Sharnie Willis as our new school counsellor. Many of you may remember Sharnie through her work at Catholic Care and we welcome Sharnie now through the Centacare School Counselling Program.

We congratulate Mrs Julia Baird who will be acting in the position of Religious Education Coordinator from Week 8. Mrs Charlotte Whitmore will be teaching with Julia during this time as she takes on this leadership role in the school.

Religious Education & Catholic Life

Christmas Art Storytelling Competition
As part of integrated studies in Religious Education and Creative Arts, all Stage 3 students have submitted an entry for this annual competition coordinated by the CEDB. This morning at our assembly the shortlisted finalists at a school level were announced. We congratulate these students for their success in reaching this level.
These artworks and their associated synopsis will now be shortlisted further to determine the small number of Cathedral School Representatives for the next stage of the competition. These artworks will form part of the Diocesan Exhibition that will be launched next Friday with Cathedral School proudly hosting this event in our hall.
Emails to successful representatives will be sent to parents this week advising on further details and an invitation to the Launch and Exhibition. Thank you to the staff involved at both a school and CEDB level and parents for fostering the creativity and spirituality of our students.

Stage Mass
We are excited to recommence our Stage / Combined Grade Masses for this term. Please join us this Thursday from 9:10am in the Cathedral Church where Years 5 & 6 will come together to celebrate Mass together.

 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 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:

Teaching and Learning

Conclusion of the Bathurst Eisteddfod
As the Bathurst Eisteddfod comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all students who have participated over the past few weeks. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for performance were inspirational. Whether singing, playing an instrument, or reciting a poem, students demonstrated the immense value of teamwork, discipline, and creativity. Performing as part of a group not only enhances these individual skills but also fosters a strong sense of community and mutual support. These experiences contribute significantly to student growth, both academically and personally, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of you.

Year 2 Choir - Congratulations to Year 2 on their preparation and involvement in the Eisteddfod
Kindergarten Verse Speaking - 2nd Place
Year 3 Verse Speaking - 2nd Place
Year 4 Verse Speaking - 3rd Place
Year 5 Verse Speaking - 2nd Place
Year 6 Verse Speaking - Highly Commended

Professional Learning for Staff
This week marks an important period of professional learning for our staff, as they engage in a series of webinars designed to enhance their teaching practice. As educators, our journey of professional development is never complete. We are committed to continuously improving our skills and knowledge to better support student engagement, learning, and well-being. These workshops are an invaluable opportunity for our teachers to refine their approaches, learn new strategies, and collaborate with peers. By investing in their own growth, our teachers ensure that they are equipped to provide the best possible education for our students.

Seminars include:

• Power of Number Talks in Mathematics
• Speech Pathology Strategies for Classrooms
• Effectively Managing Classrooms
• Essential Assessment in Primary Mathematics
• Co-regulation Methods for Managing Anxiety
• Road Safety - Why do we need it?
• Analysing Reading data for Impact
• Diving into Digital Technologies

Practising Safe Behaviours: Lockdown Drill
This week, our students will participate in a Lockdown drill, an important exercise to ensure that everyone is prepared to respond to potentially unsafe situations. This week’s exercise will extend beyond previous drills that occurred during lesson time with students remaining in their classrooms. The drill, scheduled to take place during morning tea, will help students practice responding when they are not in their usual classroom environment. Teachers have been preparing students for this drill across the last few weeks. This is a crucial step in helping them understand the importance of staying safe in various situations. Feedback will be gathered after the drill to improve our school’s procedures and refine our practices. This lockdown drill is part of an ongoing series of safety drills planned for the next two terms. Your cooperation and understanding are greatly appreciated as we work together to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for all.

Calling All Poets: Enter the 2024 Bathurst School’s Poetry Anthology and Competition!
I invite students to submit an original piece of poetry for the 2024 Bathurst School’s Poetry Anthology and Competition! Sponsored by Bathurst Poets in partnership with Charles Sturt University, this wonderful initiative offers a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their literary talents.

Details for submission are recorded below:
Poem Requirements: Must be the student’s own work, be written in English, no longer than 40 lines, and can be either free verse or follow a standard rhyme and meter.

Theme and Content: The poem can explore any theme or subject but should not include anything offensive to an individual or group.

Submission Information: Include the author's name and age with the poem and email your entry to cathedral@bth.catholic.edu.au.

Deadline: Submit by September 13 for inclusion in the anthology

Publication: The anthology of published poems will likely be available in late November and usually includes a Book Launch at Charles Sturt University including prize giving. The anthology, featuring the published works, is expected to be available in late November.

This is a great chance for students to develop reading and writing skills, so I encourage as many students as possible to participate.

Catherine O'Neill   | Assistant Principal

Awards

Library

In the Library this term we have been looking at some of the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards shortlisted books. This is a great opportunity to examine the work of Australian authors and illustrators. We discuss the books and learn about things like how the visual elements contribute and enhance the message of the text, inferring the author’s purpose through the actions and emotions of characters and how authors use literary devices like metaphors, alliteration and personification in their stories.

Merryn Sadler   | Teacher Librarian

Class In Focus - KM

Kindergarten students have been working very hard in KM!
We have been preparing for the Bathurst Eisteddfod. We were all very proud of how they spoke in their verse speaking!
KM has been making wonderful progress in their daily phonics lesson - we are working on our beautiful handwriting and are getting more confident when writing their own sentences. We have really enjoyed our Fun Fabulous Fridays when we get to use the iPads! We have been practising our technology skills and enjoy exploring the literacy and the mathematics activities.

Aimee Morris   | KM

Class In Focus - 2I

Wiradjuri Lessons in 2I. 
Year 2 have been enjoying learning the Wiradjuri language and cultural practises with Aunty Karen this term. This week Aunty Karen shared some amazing artefacts with the class including an emu egg and ochre.
We thank Aunty Karen for visiting our class each week and sharing the teaching of local culture and heritage. 

Esther Inwood   | 2I

Class In Focus - 4BR

Over the past two weeks, 4BR has been buzzing with excitement as we’ve embraced the spirit of the Olympics in our learning. The Olympic Games provided an excellent opportunity for us to delve into the lives of Australian athletes competing in Paris. We explored the dedication, hard work, and perseverance these athletes embody. We have researched Athlete’s backgrounds, achievements, and the sports they represent. These projects have not only deepened our understanding of the Olympics but also inspired our students to dream big and set their own goals, aligning perfectly with our 3-Way Conferences!

Danielle Rice and James Church   | 4BR

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.

 SPB4L Committee

Wellbeing

Breakfast Club - Can you help?

Contact Alana Watson (Canteen Manager) on 0417 044 116 if you could help one morning a week from
8.30-9.00am. Thank you to all our current volunteers!

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.

Merryn Sadler   | Wellbeing Coordinator

Sports

Diocesan Athletics Carnival
A successful day was had by all at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival last Friday. All participating students are to be congratulated on their excellent skills and display of sportsmanship. Further congratulations are extended to those students who will now journey to the Catholic Primary Schools Polding Carnival to be held at Sydney Olympic Park (SOPAC), Homebush on Friday 13th September 2024.

Thank you to all the parents who accompanied the students and to Miss Toole who was our Cathedral School official.

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.

FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST and STALL - FRIDAY 30th August
Father’s Day Gift Stall orders are available under “Events” section on FlexiSchools
Please come and enjoy Fathers Day breakfast with your children from 7.30am.
If you can spare some time to help at the breakfast please use the sign up link below:
https://signup.com/go/HuTWAPT

DATES FOR THE DIARY
School Disco - 13th September

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

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 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.

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