12 February 2024

Upcoming Events - Week 3

• Tuesday 13th February
  
  • Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day (Gold Coin Donation)
  • St Stanislaus College Scholarship Testing Morning
    

• Wednesday 14th February
  
  • 12:00pm Ash Wednesday Mass in the St Michael’s and St John’s Cathedral Church

• Thursday 15th February
  • Concert Band (7:50am) & Junior Band (11am) Commence
    

• Friday 16th February
  • P & F Welcome Picnic (all families invited)

Upcoming Events - Week 4

• Monday 19th February
  • First Week of Lent & Assembly (9:00am - Hall)
  • Assembly hosted by Mrs O'Neill and the Social Welfare Committee

2024 Important Dates

• Thursday 22nd February
  • Pupil Free Day
    
    
• Monday 26th February
  • Parent Information Session (and volunteers induction)
    
• Thursday 11th April 
  • Last day of Term 1

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

Servant Leaders
It was with great joy that we joined together for our opening Mass as we celebrated the start of the school year and commissioned our leaders for 2024. Fr Karl reminded us that through His teaching, Jesus taught us to serve others. As we journey towards Lent, this is a fitting time to remember the example that Jesus gave to us. We pray that as our young people journey through life that they may know the importance of service to others and that we may model this through our example. 

P&F Welcome Picnic
We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of parents to lead our Parents and Friends (P&F). Our P&F have organised a welcome picnic for this Friday on the school grounds. We encourage you to join us for this event as an informal way to come together as the Cathedral community.

Pedestrian Safety
Students are reminded of how to be safe when entering and exiting the school grounds. We ask that all families use the closest pedestrian crossing when crossing the road to enter or exit the school grounds.
Of great importance is to model this behaviour to our children, so we ask that you pay particular attention to crossing in a safe manner and not crossing the road on George St where the buses enter.
We also ask that you leave all driveway access clear when parking.
This includes the driveway to the Parish Office on George St and the Emergency gate exit on William St.

Camille da Silva Tavares   | Principal

Cuppa After Assembly

You are invited to join us for a cuppa after assembly each Monday morning.
Bring your coffee from Cafe Viva or make yourself a cuppa in the hall kitchen.
All are very welcome.

Parent Information Evening

We invite all parents and carers to join us on Monday 26th February at 5:30pm in the school hall for our Parent Information Evening. This year we welcome a guest speaker to share information about online safety, we will outline our focus areas for the year and then you will have time to meet our teachers and have a look around your child’s classroom. This evening is for parents only. Limited supervision will be provided in the Library for families unable to find care for their school aged children.

Before the session begins, we invite any parents wishing to volunteer throughout the school year to join us for a brief volunteer induction. This induction takes place annually and to support our efforts to promote a safe environment for our children, we ask that anyone wishing to volunteer throughout the year attends this session (canteen, sporting, P&F etc). 

Monday 26th February - Session Outline
5:00pm Volunteer Induction (Mother Ignatius Croke Hall)
5:30pm Parent Information Session (Mother Ignatius Croke Hall) 
6:30pm Meet the teacher (Classrooms)
7:00pm Finish

Year 6 Farewell Committee Meeting

We invite all parents of Year 6 students to a brief meeting on Wednesday 20th March @ 3:30pm in the Library. At this meeting we will begin planning fundraising events for Year 6 Farewell Dinner along with the event.

Teaching and Learning

Setting Up for Success
During the first week of the term, teachers have been creating a positive class culture and engaging students in a love of learning to prepare for the year ahead. "Setting up for Success" in Mathematics has been significant, given the implementation of the new syllabus for K-2 in 2023 and for Years 3-6 in 2024 and the changing teaching focus that has accompanied it. At the core of this approach is a structured and engaging learning experience that promotes active participation and critical thinking, allowing students to take ownership of their learning and develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

In Week 2 teachers re-introduced the problem solving approach to Mathematics, engaging our students in a range of cooperative, creative, enjoyable, and mathematically rich tasks. In doing so, teachers have been creating the best classroom environment for learning, developing a  classroom culture that will help students to thrive.

Gathering information about student knowledge and understanding has been an important part of this process and will continue across the first weeks of the term. This will allow teachers to scaffold student learning and address particular learning needs across the term. 

Check out the Cathedral School Facebook page for more examples of student engagement in Mathematics. 

This week teachers will commence work in the following areas.

Kindergarten - Understanding and representing beginning numbers
Year One - Reading, writing, counting  and ordering two digit numbers -
Year Two - Using place value and the role of zero to form, regroup, and rename numbers up to 100 and beyond
Year Three - Reading, representing and ordering numbers up to thousands
Year Four - Applying place value to partition, regroup and rename numbers beyond 4 digits
Year Five - Recognising, representing and ordering numbers up to millions
Year Six - Locating and representing integers (positive and negative numbers) on a number line

Catherine O’Neill   | Assistant Principal

Religious Education & Catholic Life

Opening School Mass: Last week students, staff and families came together with our school chaplain,
Fr Karl, as he gave blessings for 2024. Our Student Leaders were also inducted into their new roles.

Thank you to everyone for your involvement in such a lovely celebration as we embark on another year of spiritual and academic growth.  Our School Choir and Mrs Sadler were joined by a number of former Cathedral students from our Catholic Colleges and Mr Paul Hughes from the CEDB in the music ministry. Thank you for making our Mass even more special!

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 this important event weekly.

Shrove Tuesday: Thank you to our generous P&F Volunteers for preparing pancakes on Tuesday. Students are asked to bring in a gold coin donation to go towards Project Compassion and our focus on giving to others during Lent.

Ash Wednesday: Please join us this Wednesday in the Cathedral Church at 12:00pm as we commence the Season of Lent.  

Sacramental Program: Please join us in the Assumption Church on Thursday 7th March at 6:00pm for information on First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation and how the parish based but school supported Sacramental Program will function  this year.

Community Google Calendar:  Check for any updates for our various liturgical events.

This Year at a Glance:

Coming up Next Week:

Ashley Boylan   | Religious Education Coordinator

Awards

Library

Reminder - Please help your child remember to bring in a library bag and their books on their library class day.

Tuesday  - 4BR, 6T, 6BG, KM and KA

Wednesday - 4W, 3G, 3B, 2I and 2M

Thursday - 5A, 5C, 1JV and 1M

Did you know our school has a subscription to World book online?
World Book Online is an interactive online encyclopaedia that also has games.
Our username and password are cathedralcps.

 Merryn Sadler   | Teacher Librarian

SPB4L

At Cathedral School we strive to provide an inclusive, supportive and safe learning environment by encouraging all students to care for themselves, others, their learning and their school.

Through our School-Wide Positive Behaviour for Learning framework (SPB4L) we aim to create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment that enhances our school culture where we maximise individual academic and social growth.

This framework teaches and reinforces positive behaviours in our school community and brings together the whole-school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture. Teaching focuses on four universal behaviours:

To assist students to learn these universal behaviours, the school:

• identifies SPB4L focusses and teaches behaviour expectations.
• provides ongoing positive reinforcement to students who display these behaviour expectations.
• follows a cycle of presenting clear behaviours, explicitly teaching behaviour expectations, re-teaching, supporting and rewarding students demonstrating behaviour expectations.

Across the next four weeks, we will review and reteach expectations in relation to each of our universal behaviours.

This week our focus will be on being respectful. We define respect as:

Showing consideration, understanding and regard for people, places and things. 

 Catherine O'Neill   | SPB4L Committee

Wellbeing

The Resilience Project and Resilience Survey
Resilience and wellbeing are key factors to ensure a happy and fulfilling future for our young people. We are proud to partner with The Resilience Project to assist our students in their wellbeing journey. In order to gain an accurate understanding of our students’ strengths and challenges, we will be conducting a resilience survey developed by Resilient Youth Australia and the University of South Australia. In recent years, they have surveyed more than 500,000 Australian school students. 

We will administer the Resilience Survey this year online in class time. Students typically take 30-50 minutes to complete the survey. The data from the survey will be reported in aggregate descriptive form only, by year level and gender, and no individual student responses can be identified. 

The Resilience Survey is completely voluntary and anonymous. The survey will provide valuable information to assist us to create and maintain the best culture of wellbeing and resilience that we can. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s participation in this survey project, please contact Abbie Bowman through the school office.

We thank you for your support. 

Alice Gallagher and Abbie Bowman   | Wellbeing Teacher/Primary Coordinator

Counsellor

Connect With The Counsellor 
Welcome back to Cathedral and a warm welcome to all new parents and carers! My name is Jordana (Jordy) and I’m the school counsellor at Cathedral School two days per week (Tuesday’s and Thursday’s). My role is to be a support for teachers, students as well as parents and carers. Some of the services I will be offering the school include: 

• Providing school staff, parents, carers and students with information regarding mental health and well-being. 
• Communicating with school staff, parents and carers regarding specific needs of particular students. 
• Face to face counselling (short term). 
• Facilitating group programs. 

Children can be self-referred for counselling by speaking to their parents/carers or classroom teachers about difficulties they may be experiencing. Parents and carers can then execute this by discussing this with the teacher or Principal. School staff may also contact parents/carers and discuss the option of counselling if they feel your child might benefit from it. 

It is Centacare’s Family Inclusive Practice policy that prior to engaging with children:

• Consent for counselling is obtained by both parents (regardless of relationship status);
• That parents or carers make themselves available to meet with the school counsellor for an initial session. 
• Involvement of family members/carers within the counselling process recognises that children are a part of many systems which need to be supported and encouraged. 

BACK TO SCHOOL: Some things to consider for a happier goodbye at drop off. 
After spending summer with family, the transition back to school can feel like you’re starting all over, even if your child isn’t new to the back to school routine. 

Take care of your own feelings. If you’re feeling really nervous, anxious, or scared to drop your child off at school, your child may start to feel this too. During these early days, find time to express your feelings separately or think about ways you can ease your own worries about school drop off i.e. Talk with friends and other parents of young children, or go for a walk.

Acknowledge their feelings. Children often show emotion through crying, and it’s normal for them to do so. Acknowledging their emotions is an important part of helping them cope with morning transitions. You might say: I see that you’re sad and upset. It is normal to feel this way. You will be ok. You will learn and have lots of fun at school.

Create a morning and drop off routine. Routine is important for children. They find a sense of security in the predictability. This gives them a sense of control as they know what to expect and find it easier to make transitions.

Talk through the drop off routine throughout your morning and on the way to school. Talking through the routine helps reinforce the predictability. Use little pauses to help your child visualise what will happen when they arrive at school. This is what it may sound like: “When we get to school, we are going to get your bag and hop out of the car… Together, we will walk to the school gate. You will put on your bag and I’m going to give you a big kiss and cuddle, and tell you that I love you. You will give me a big kiss and cuddle and say “I love you too”. Then I am going to say goodbye. You will walk into school and I will leave”. 

Make your goodbyes quick. Long and repeated goodbye rituals can prolong your child’s fear about you leaving them at school. 

Be careful about saying “I’ll miss you.” While this sounds loving, it may cause your child to feel worried about you, instead of focusing on their school day. You might say “I can’t wait to hear about your day later” or “I’ll see you at dinner time” instead. 

Credits/Resources:
Raising Children Network
Care for Kids

Jordana Kissell   | School Counsellor

Parents and Friends

 Cathedral School Parents & Friends 

Shrove Tuesday: Tuesday 14th February 
Shrove Tuesday is part of our fundraising efforts for project compassion.
Gluten Free pancakes will be available.
Pancakes will be available in exchange for a gold coin donation on the day.

Welcome Picnic: Friday 16th February
We’re excited to invite our existing and new families to our Welcome Picnic to celebrate
the beginning of the school year.
This will be held from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the school, it’s a BYO picnic (no alcohol please!) 
Entry is through the George Street gate.
The Welcome picnic is a wonderful opportunity to meet other families,
and members of the school community in a relaxed setting.

Next P&F Meeting: Wednesday 6th March 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.

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

How exciting it was to hear all of the wonderful sounds coming from the music studios this week! 

We are so excited to welcome back in 2024 the school choir.
The choir is open to years 3-6 students.
If your child is interested in joining the school choir, please meet Mrs Sadler at recess on Tuesdays in the school hall.

School Choir- Tuesday at recess in the school hall
Guitar Group- returns this Wednesday at recess in the school hall
Concert Band- returns this Thursday morning at 7:50am 
Junior Band- Commences this Thursday at recess 

If your child is interested in learning music at Cathedral it's not too late to enrol!

Please contact myself chris_dove_trumpet@hotmail.com

Chris Dove   | Band Director

Sports

Tennis Polding Trials
Congratulations to Zara for competing at the Tennis Polding Trials in Sawtell last Friday. We are very proud of you! 

Eastern Region Swimming 
Congratulations to all the below students for showing excellent skill and talent in the pool at our Swimming Carnival in Week 1. The students in the below image have made it onto the next level and will be competing at the Eastern Region Swimming Carnival in Bathurst on Monday 26th February. These students will receive a note via Compass early this week with the details and permission. Please complete this note ASAP, thank you. We wish these students all the best. 

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

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

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