18 November 2024

Term 4-Week 6

• Monday 18th November 2024
  
  • Cuppa before Assembly from 8:30am in the Hall
  •  Assembly led by 3B @ 9:00am 
  • 5th Kindergarten Orientation 9.15am -10.45am -Library
  • Mini Vinnies with Mrs Avinash @ Recess
• Tuesday 19th November 2024
  
  • SRC Committee Meeting @ Recess
  • Choir with Mrs Sadler @8.35am
• Wednesday 20th November 2024
  
  • Guitar Group @11.00am
• Thursday 21st November 2024

  • Senior Band @7.50am

  • Junior Band @11.00am
  • Yr 4 & Yr 6 Grade Reconciliation Service @ 9.10am
    
  • School Chaplain Visit-Year 3 & Yr 2 @9.10am
• Friday 22nd November 2024
  
  • Agriculture Club with Mrs Angelucci @ Recess

Term 4-Week 7

• Monday 25th November 2024
  
  • Cuppa before Assembly from 8:30am in the Hall
  •  Assembly led by KM @ 9:00am 
    
  • Mini Vinnies with Mrs Avinash @ Recess
• Tuesday 26th November 2024
  
  • PR Committee Meeting @ Recess
  • Choir with Mrs Sadler @8.35am
• Wednesday 27th November 2024
  
  • Guitar Group @11.00am
  • School Captain Candidate Speeches @ 9am (Parents /Friends welcome to join)
• Thursday 28th November 2024

  • Senior Band @7.50am

  • Junior Band @11.00am
  • Yr 3 Grade Reconciliation @ 9.10am
    
• Friday 29 November 2024
  
  • Class Representative Voting Yr 2, 3, & 4
  • Yr 5 Bible Activity Day Incursion
  • Year 5 Mass in the Cathedral @11.30am (Parents /Friends wlecome)

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

As we prepare to celebrate 2024 in the coming weeks we also look to where we are heading in 2025. Over the past term we have been reviewing our school data (student achievement data, parent evaluation data, Cathedral focus group data) to develop our 2025 Annual School Improvement Plan. 

During this time we have identified many reasons to celebrate and so we thought it fitting to share these. They are listed below in the three domains of our Quality Catholic Education framework:

Faith - Building Community 

• Development of the Cathedral Breakfast Club for all students
• Implementation of the Resilience Project
• Parent engagement in weekly assemblies
• Alpha program launch for Cathedral families

Learning 

• Implementation of new English and Mathematics Syllabus K-6
• Implementation of Three Way Student Conferences
• Exceptional NAPLAN Growth in our top band (exceeding) in Reading and Grammar & Punctuation for Years 3 & 5,  along with Numeracy for Year 3

Stewardship

• Establishment of the Hub space for students requiring additional social and emotional support
• Implementation of the OSHC transition space (for students requiring reduced sensory starts

In 2025 we have teamed with Tess Barnes from SCHMIC Consulting along with Dr Sarah McDonagh to support the refinement of our English Syllabus implementation along with the development of instructional rounds to support the use of high impact teaching strategies in English. Our aim is to further develop our ability to leverage optimal academic growth for all students. Our Leadership team has already begun planning for our 2025 work with Tess and we welcome Sarah at the end of the term.

There is so much to be celebrated within the Cathedral walls and so last Thursday we welcomed Matt from Social Media Focus to support us in creating a virtual tour of the school. We hope to create a snapshot for both our families and the community so that all can experience in some way the Cathedral difference, even before they step foot inside. We thank Stacey Burke from Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst and Matt for their support with this project and a huge shout out to Matt for joyfully sharing his knowledge and his gadgets (including a drone) with our excited students!

Camille da Silva Tavares   | Principal

Welcome Sr Maria

Sister Maria Sullivan is a Sister of St Joseph (Perthville) who has recently returned to Bathurst after 40 years working in Inner West and Western Sydney with people who are refugees. Sr Maria has previously taught at MacKillop College and is excited to be back in Bathurst supporting our community. Sr Maria has offered her support of our diocesan schools in Bathurst and we welcome her to Cathedral as a support for those families joining us with language backgrounds other than English in 2025.

End of Year Celebrations

Each year we gather to celebrate and give thanks for the year that was. Below is a brief outline of our end of year events.

Family Night 2024

As listed above, all students are involved in grade performances on Family Night to celebrate the end of our wonderful year and the Advent/Christmas season. 

All students and families are asked to be at school by 5.50pm on Thursday 12th December as the performances will be commencing at 6pm. The night is expected to conclude by approximately 8.30pm. Families are most welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the school grounds **Note: Students will need their dinner before the 5.50pm start time. 

This year the staff have asked all students to wear the following items for their performance: 

🎄Kindergarten - Christmas themed t-shirt and red Santa hat

🎄Year 1 - Year 6 - Christmas themed t-shirt

It is always a joyful night to see the huge smiles, bop along to the songs and celebrate the students’ achievements from across the year, particularly with our special End of Year Awards.

School Representative Uniform Items

We ask that all school representative items be returned to school this week. Items such as football, soccer, netball, band uniforms and any other items that may have been loaned out throughout the year. These can be returned to the front office so that they can be used by students in 2025. 

Teaching and Learning

Student Leadership | 2025

As we prepare for next year, our Year 5 students are embarking on an exciting journey into student leadership. This initiative aligns with our SPB4L (School-Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning) framework and our school universals of Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and Kind behaviour.

At Assembly this morning, we emphasised that all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are leaders in our community. Leadership is not just about titles; it’s about how we conduct ourselves, support one another, and contribute positively to our environment. Every student has the potential to lead by example, fostering respect and collaboration. Please see the SPB4L section in the newsletter where we have outlined key characteristics of effective leaders that our students are encouraged to embody:

Year 5 Student Leadership | Roadmap

• Current Student Leaders Presentation: 

Existing leaders have led discussions with Year 5 about roles and responsibilities.

• Leadership Camp at Lake Burrendong (Term 3): 

An immersive experience to build teamwork and leadership skills.

• Leadership Workshop Facilitated by MacKillop College: 

Developing essential leadership qualities and strategies.

• Class Presentations: 

Year 5 students presented why they would be successful leaders to their classmates.

• Nomination Process: 

Students nominated to present to the grade about why they would make a positive School Captain last week and Year 5 students voted  based on agreed criteria, ensuring a fair selection.Shortlisted candidates will be announced to the grade this week and published in next week’s newsletter.

• Shortlisted Candidates Present to the School Community: 

Candidates for School Captain will present their visions to students in Years 2-6, staff and the wider community next Wednesday (Week 7) in the school hall from 9:10am

• House Captain Nominations:

All Year 5 students can nominate and present reasons for being House Captains at House Meetings next Thursday (Week 7).

• Year 6 Committee Expressions of Interest:

All Year 5 students will be asked to nominate their preferences for important leadership responsibilities based on their areas of interest and knowledge as part of their important work in Year 6 next year..

• Instrumental Music Program Captains: 

Nominations and presentations for captains will also take place involving members from our various ensembles next Thursday morning.

• Class Representative Nominations: 

Next Friday, I will visit Years 2, 3, and 4 to help students nominate and vote for their Class Representatives for 2025.

• Voting and Announcement:

Final results will be announced during our Family Night, celebrating our new elected student leadership representatives.

As we move forward with this exciting process, we encourage all students to reflect on the qualities of effective leadership. Being a leader is about embodying our school universals of Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and Kind behaviours in our daily actions

Thank You for Your Feedback

We would like to extend our gratitude to parents who have recently provided valuable feedback on resourcing, including student workbooks and stationery. Your insights are instrumental in informing our practices as we begin planning for 2025. Your support helps us enhance the educational experience for all our students.

Navigating Friendship Dynamics

It's important to take a balanced and objective view when discussing your child's recollections of friendship dynamics. While these interactions are a vital part of their social development, they can sometimes be challenging.

We encourage parents to listen and offer support, while gently guiding children to resolve issues independently when appropriate. Positive reinforcement and open communication can help children build resilience and empathy. By maintaining a supportive environment, we can prevent small issues from escalating and empower students to navigate their friendships confidently. Thank you for your partnership in fostering a positive school community.

Ashley Boylan   | Acting Assistant Principal

Religious Education & Catholic Life

QUINN DAY 

Oh what a glorious day!

We had the most wonderful day on Friday as we celebrated and acknowledged Quinn Day. Our students engaged so beautifully in the various events and activities of the day. It made me feel so proud when many of the staff approached me to give positive feedback of the day, especially in relation to the behaviour and engagement of our students. Bravo Cathedral! Special thanks also go to Fr Karl for our beautiful Mass and to Oscar and Caitlyn in their role of House Captains. 

END of YEAR

There are so many special events coming up over the next few weeks. I urge all parents to make sure that they take note of the various days and dates and add these to their calendars. There are many opportunities for our parents and friends to engage and share in these events with us, and our celebrations are made even more meaningful when we do have our parent community with us. 

SACRAMENT PROGRAM 

This week marks the end of our Sacramental program for 2024. Congratulations to all students who received a sacrament throughout the year. I hope you always feel as special and loved as you did during that Mass/service. 

If your child did not complete their sacraments throughout the year, you will be invited to again enrol in the Parish Sacramental Program after Easter is celebrated next year.

Coming Up: School Events

Please make sure that you are also aware of all the events listed on the School Calendar. 

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. 

Julia Baird  | Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Awards

Library

Celebrating Super Borrowers!

Last week I tallied up the borrowing stamps for each student to find out the Super Borrowers for each class in Terms 3 and 4 (15 Library visits). Some of the students mentioned below borrowed an impressive 14 times! 

Congratulations to:

KA: Harper

KM: Izzi, Gracie, Stevie

1JV: Riley

1M: Momyna

2M: Jannick, Janielle

2I: Maelie

3B: Jazaliah, Leo

3G: Laurence

4W: Joanna

4BR: Savannah, Benjamin

5A: Lucas

5C: Kea

6T: Jacky

6BG: Harrison

These children have all earned a free book and the knowledge that they are expanding their minds - today a reader, tomorrow a leader!

Merryn Sadler   | Teacher Librarian

SPB4L - School Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning

‘We show leadership in our thoughts and actions’

Cathedral Staff believe that all our students, especially our 6 students, are leaders. Each and every day there opportunities for all students to be a leader - a leader in their own life and learning, in their classroom, in the playground, or in our community. 

Developing leadership skills in primary school students is crucial because it fosters confidence, responsibility, and teamwork, enabling them to make positive contributions to their community. These skills prepare students to handle challenges, take initiative, and inspire others, which are essential for future academic and personal success. Early leadership opportunities also nurture empathy and effective communication, helping students grow into well-rounded individuals.

Week 6 Lessons will include: 

Lesson 1: “Defining Leadership” - Students will begin to understand what leadership means.

Lesson 2: “Leaders in Our Lives” - Students will identify leaders they know personally and understand that leaders come in many forms.

Lesson 3: “Leadership in the Classroom” - Students will learn that they can show leadership qualities within the classroom.

Next week staff and students will be voting for the specific leadership roles for 2025. You can support and enrich this special democratic opportunity for our students, by discussing our new SPB4L focus with your child, what it means to be a leader, and your child/ren’s responsibility to make a fair and accurate vote for School Captains, House Captains, Music Captains and Class Representatives by reflecting on the leadership qualities they have observed and noted in our nominated students.

Julia Baird  | SPB4L Committee

Mini Vinnies

Thank you for the donations we have had so far. The Cathedral Mini Vinnies Club met twice last week and began making the snack packs. Please keep the donations coming in if  you are in a position to help out.

Genevieve Avinash | Mini Vinnies Coordinator

Wellbeing

One of the key pillars of well-being is belonging/connectedness. 

At Cathedral School we hold several group activities for children to participate in during break times such as Agriculture Club, Mini Vinnies, Bands, Guitar group, Bionicles lego group and Choir. These activities help boost children’s social skills and feelings of inclusion in a structured and evidence-based way. 

Choir is held every Tuesday morning at 8.35am in the Library and all are welcome. It is such a pleasure to explore the joys of singing with this group of talented choir members each week!

Merryn Sadler   | Wellbeing Coordinator

Sports

Diocesan Summer Sport Trials

Congratulations to the following students who were successful at the Summer Sports Trials for 2024/2025 in Dubbo on Thursday and Friday of last week.                             

These students have been selected to attend the Polding Trials:

Carter - Softball - April 2025 in Sydney

Zara , Harrison G - Tennis - February 2025 in Tamworth

Parents would have received the relevant information following the selection trials in Dubbo. 

We wish all the students the very best as they continue their representative journey and experience.

Bathurst City Carillion Tennis Club Championships 

On Saturday, Harrison Gilbert and Jacky Chan played doubles in the Bathurst City Carillion Tennis Club Championships and were runners up in their division. Great work, boys.                         

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 book mark this site for reference:

https://sites.google.com/bth.catholic.edu.au/cedbsportcommunity/home

Louise Condon   | Sports Coordinator

School Student Travel

School student travel information for parents and students

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

Further information can be found at transportnsw.info/school-travel
Enquiries can be submitted at transportnsw.info/passes-concessions-feedback

Uniform

We ask that families support the school in presenting a positive image to our community by encouraging the wearing of the correct school uniform. 

Shoes

This week we ask families to ensure that their children are wearing the correct shoes. 

• Joggers may be worn on your child’s sport day only. 
• On all other days, we ask that students wear covered in black leather shoes. Black joggers are not suitable on these days nor are other joggers.
• If students are wearing boots, we ask that they do not wear boots with a reinforced toe. If students wear boots with a reinforced toe, we will need to request that they sit out of games throughout the day as these pose a safety risk to other students. 

If at any time you are experiencing financial difficulty and this is a barrier to providing your child with the correct uniform we ask that you contact the office so that we can assist you with this. Our school uniform expectations are clearly set out upon enrolment and so we ask that you please adhere to these.

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 December 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

SCHOOL BACKPACKS have arrived!

The school backpacks can be ordered on FlexiSchools for $65 – click on shop, then your child’s name, then uniform shop. The back pack will be delivered to your child’s classroom along with the lunch orders so you can select a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday for delivery, then select school back pack and finalise your order.  We have attached the flyer about the back pack here for your reference.

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

Year 2 Instrument Testing- Please feel free to contact Mr Dove if you have any further questions regarding your child participating in the Music Enrichment program in 2025.  All information has now been sent home with your children.

Choir with Mrs Sadler Tuesday @ 8.45am

Guitar Group with BAM Wednesday @ 11am

Senior Band with Mr Dove Thursday @ 7.50am

Junior Band with Mr Dove Thursday @ 11am

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

OSHC

Cathedral OSHC is looking forward to a busy term with several community projects. This term, the children will be organising our annual Christmas Food Drive for The Little Pantry Bathurst. Please support their efforts with non-perishable, and/or long dated food item donations to assist families in need this Christmas season. Cathedral OSHC will be accepting donations in the OSHC room all December until 19/12/24 (and we won't turn away early birds!). Our children are also holding a design competition to decorate a giant "gingerbread" house as part of O'Connell Public's Competition. You'll be able to view their work, and hopefully hundreds of others, lining the streets of O'Connell Avenue with Christmas cheer later this year. 
If you'd like to express your interest for a 2025 enrolment, or have a sibling to enrol, please contact our Coordinator at cathedraloshc@centacarebathurst.com.au. 

Canteen

   Canteen Roster Term 4 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