2024-06 Newsletter - Term 2 Week 1

From the Principal

I hope this message finds you well and ready for another exciting term ahead. As we embark on the journey of Term Two, I wanted to take a moment to extend a warm welcome back to each and every one of you.

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff and parents for their unwavering support and commitment to our school community. Your tireless efforts truly make a difference in the lives of our students, and I am continually inspired by your passion and dedication. Thank you for the contributions made during our School Review last term that will help us to plan for school improvement into the future. 

To our students, welcome back! I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating break and are feeling recharged and ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that await you in the coming weeks. 

As we eagerly anticipate the start of Catholic Schools Week this Sunday, I am filled with enthusiasm about the wonderful activities and opportunities that lie ahead for our school community. This annual celebration not only highlights the unique mission and values of Catholic education but also serves as a reminder of the strength and unity that bind us together as a faith-filled community.

Throughout Catholic Schools Week, we will have the chance to come together as a community to celebrate our Catholic identity, reflect on our shared values, and express gratitude for the blessings that abound in our lives.

I encourage each of you to take full advantage of this special week and participate wholeheartedly in the various activities and events that are planned. Let us embrace the opportunity to deepen our sense of belonging and strengthen our bonds of friendship and fellowship as we come together in prayer, service, celebrating our community

In addition to the festivities of Catholic Schools Week, I am also excited to share that later in the term, our students will have the privilege of preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. This sacred milestone marks a significant step in their faith journey and is a cause for great joy and celebration for our entire community.

As our students embark on this important preparation, let us surround them with love, support, and encouragement, guiding them as they grow in their understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Catholic faith. May this time of preparation be a time of grace and blessing for our students and their families, deepening their relationship with Christ and strengthening their commitment to living out their faith each day.

In Faith & Truth
Simone Taylor
Principal

Reflection

As we gather once again in this school community after a time of rest and rejuvenation, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude and anticipation for the days ahead. We thank you for the gift of learning, for the opportunity to grow, and for the privilege of coming together in this sacred space.

Bless each student as they return to their studies, eager to expand their minds and discover new horizons. Grant them wisdom to comprehend, diligence to persevere, and curiosity to explore.

Bless our teachers and staff with patience and understanding, as they guide and nurture the minds entrusted to their care. May they find fulfillment and joy in their vocation, knowing that they are shaping the future with every lesson taught and every word spoken.

Bless our parents and guardians, who support and encourage their children on this educational journey. Give them strength and wisdom as they partner with us in the pursuit of knowledge and growth.

And finally, bless our entire school community with unity and harmony. Help us to embrace diversity, to celebrate each other's gifts, and to foster an environment of respect and kindness.

As we embark on this new term together, may your presence be felt in every classroom, hallway, and gathering place. Guide us, protect us, and inspire us to strive for excellence in all that we do.

Calendar

Catholic School Week - Executive Director's Address

Catholic Schools Week is being celebrated across the Diocese of Bathurst between 5-11 May. The theme for 2024 is Experience the Spirit of Community.

Across Australia 805,000 students attend Catholic schools (this equates to 1 in 5 Australian students) where they are educated and looked after by over 109,000 dedicated teachers and support staff. 

The Catholic Diocese of Bathurst provides a diverse range of educational opportunities to approximately 10,000 students in 33 schools, from primary schools in small rural communities to large secondary schools in the regional towns. 

Our Catholic schools are welcoming communities which support parents as the first educators of their children. Parents look to our schools as nurturing communities where they understand their children will be safe and cared for, in an inclusive environment.

Our schools are communities of faith, part of the local parish community and working closely with that community to form the children in their care. This makes every school unique. 

At the heart of Catholic education lies a commitment to nurturing the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Bathurst nurture the potential of each child in a holistic, student-centred learning environment. 

Our schools are led by teachers who are expert educators and who are passionately committed to the learning and wellbeing of each student in their care. These teachers challenge our young people to live out the message of Jesus and help them to develop the knowledge and skills which will enable them to reach their full potential as compassionate and contributing members of society.

Our Catholic schools are affordable, inclusive, and quality learning communities.

We warmly invite you to Experience the Spirit of Community in your local Catholic school.

Check your local Catholic school website and Facebook page for the dates of open days and meetings with the principal, or visit our website www.bth.catholic.edu.au, to make an enrolment enquiry.

Mrs Christina Trimble
Executive Director of Schools
Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst

Catholic School Week Program of Events

School Improvement Survey

A reminder that the School Improvement Surveys were distributed to all staff, parents and Yr 5-12 students this week.

Parent and Student Thurs - 8.30am May 2nd

A key point to remind all recipients is that these surveys enable all members of the school community to have a voice. Secondly, the data collected from the surveys provide highly valuable information that directs the school's future planning for continual improvement. Lastly, the surveys will be live for 2 weeks - so as to capture as many respondents as possible.

Mother's Day Stall

The P&F will be holding a Mother's Day Stall next Friday 10th May.

Gifts for Mother's and Grandfather's will be available with prices starting from $3.

Anzac Day 2024

Thank you to our students for their participation in this year's ANZAC Day commemorations. Your involvement not only honored the memory of those who have served and sacrificed for our country but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembrance and gratitude.

As we gathered together to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served in defence of our nation.

We were especially proud of our School Captains - Sophie and Parker who lead us with official roles in the service in 2024. Their willingness to engage with this important part of our history and heritage not only honors the sacrifices of the past but also ensures that the ANZAC spirit lives on in future generations.

To our families, thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement in instilling in our students the values of remembrance, gratitude, and service. Your involvement in our ANZAC Day commemorations is a powerful demonstration of your commitment to preserving the memory of those who have gone before us and ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

As we reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day and the lessons it teaches us about courage, resilience, and mateship, let us recommit ourselves to upholding the values for which our ANZACs fought and died. May we always remember their sacrifices with gratitude and honor their memory with pride. We Congratulate and thank Robert Houlison - Portland Sub Branch for his guidance and organisation prior to and throughout the day.

Lest we forget.

Coolah Cross Country

Congratulations to Amitty, Grace, Blair and Lori on their school representation at the Diocesan Cross Country next week.

As you lace up your running shoes and prepare to embark on the exhilarating journey of the cross-country race in Coolah, know that you carry the hopes and cheers of our entire school community with you.

May the wind be at your back, the terrain beneath your feet be kind, and the spirit of determination burn brightly within you as you race toward the finish line. Remember, it's not just about winning, but about pushing your limits, embracing the challenge, and discovering the strength within you.

With every step you take, may you feel the support of your teammates, the encouragement of your coaches, and the pride of your school cheering you on. You are not alone in this race; you are part of a team, a family, united in pursuit of excellence.

So go forth with courage, go forth with passion, and go forth knowing that no matter the outcome, you have already achieved greatness by daring to step onto the course.

Wishing you all the best at the cross-country event in Coolah. Run strong, run free, and run with heart.

Jump Into Joeys - Kinder 2025

We will soon be running our Jump Into Joey's Sessions for students beginning Kinder in 2025.  Please share with anyone who you think may be interested.

Ironfest - Stayin Alive 2024

Thank you to everyone who supported our BBQ at Ironfest. We were very grateful for the support of everyone who purchased from our SJS BBQ and enjoyed meeting the many visitors to our town.

Thank you to Rich and Kellie Evans and the Ironfest Committee for allowing us the opportunity to raise some funds for our school by hosting the BBQ.

Congratulations to the Ironfest Committee and all the volunteers involved in making this weekend amazing.

Finally, thank you to the parents, grandparents, students and staff who helped to feed the huge crowd over the past two days. Thank you to our amazing team of workers -  Brooke, Ben, Kristy, Grace, Sophie, Michelle, Courtney, Brendan, Jamie, Matt, Annika, Shane, Janette, Nikki, Robyn, Judi, Dianne, Dan, Sue and Jess and to our Parents and Friends Association for supporting this wonderful festival in 2024. Our students will benefit from the profits made over the two days. 

IRONFEST DAILY WRITING

“I went to Ironfest with Myah, Dad, Mum, Pop and I saw John and James. I liked the
wrestling.” – Noah

“I went to Ironfest on the weekend and I liked it because there was lots of people.
Mum was going to buy a thing for me and my brother’s room but she changed her
mind.” – John

“On Saturday at 1 o’clock, me, Sophie and Mum went to Portland for Ironfest. As we
were driving through I expected to see it not too busy, but as we drove further the
park and streets were chocker block full. I have never seen Portland that busy. Next,
we found the sausage sizzle stand. It was really busy. What we were doing was
helping the school raise money at Ironfest. We started buttering bread. Then we
wiped down the tables, got orders, gave change and made orders. Then me and
Sophie walked around the whole thing. We saw food stalls, games and
entertainment. They had wrestling (which was really loud), axe throwing, sword
fighting and an army tent. Me and Sophie saw a huge horse with army gear on it. On
Sunday me and Sophie came back to the seem to be never ending line at the
sausage sizzle. We worked a little bit longer before having a break. We got Mrs
Taylor some fudge from the fudge stall. For afternoon tea we had some really fresh,
unbelievably yummy lemonade and hot chips. We were tired out by the end of the
day. I loved Ironfest and think that we had more space in Portland than Lithgow. I
thought it was really good and should do it again. Also people had a drone checking
the cars and people and have estimated that 12,000 people came!” – Grace

“At the Ironfest I walked in with my friends and we went to the army tent straight up.
They asked if I wanted to have a taste of what it was like when you got shot in the
army. They layed me down, put fake blood on me, wrapped my arm up in a bandage
and pretended to ship me off to hospital. We went to check out the wrestling and in
my opinion it was brutal!! We then went to look at the markets on the inside. After a
bit of that we went and watched a magician from Darwin that was REALLY funny.
Then after a bit of that we went and got some doughnuts, a drink and a sausage
sizzle. After a long day we went up to the other end of the Ironfest, had a look then it
all came to an end. Overall, I want to go again next year.” – Amitty

Milk Shake Fundraiser for Caritas Project Compassion

Congratulations and thank you to Year Five and Six on their very successful Milk Shake Fundraiser last term to raise money for Project Compassion. Everyone loved their milk shakes and look forward to your next fundraising treat. Thanks you to Mrs Nicholson for organising this initiative to support a worthwhile social justice appeal. 

Picture by Oliver B - Yr 5

WOW Day

Wear orange in appreciation of NSW SES Volunteers

Residents of NSW are encouraged to wear something orange on Wednesday, 22nd of May to show their support and appreciation for their local NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) volunteers.

Wednesday 22 of May, 2024 is Wear Orange Wednesday or 'WOW Day'. On this day we encourage communities across Australia to wear orange and thank all SES volunteers across Australia who generously give their time to help communities during flood and storm emergencies.

Thank you to the dedicated volunteers throughout Australia who tirelessly dedicate themselves year-round to safeguard us during our most vulnerable moments. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your efforts in saving lives and protecting communities.