Term 1 week 4 (28/2/2025)

What is On?

Monday 3rd March - Welcome BBQ  5:30pm - See details below

Tuesday 4th March - DIO Swimming Carnival- Murwillumbah

Tuesday 4th March - Shrove Tuesday - see Details below

Wednesday 5th March - Ash Wednesday Mass at St James Church Yamba, 10:00 – 11:00am

Thursday 6th March - School Awards Assembly 9:00 – 10:00am

Tuesday 11th March - Reading Parent Afternoon 2:30pm - see details below

Monday 24th March - School Photos

Friday 4th April - School Cross Country

Tuesday 8th April - McAuley Catholic College Open Night - See flyer below

Thursday 10th April - School Awards Assembly 9:00 – 10:00am

Thursday 10th April - Last Day Term 1 for students

Friday 11th April - Staff Professional Learning Day - On Country - Pupil Free Day

Term 2 2025

Monday 28th April - Staff Professional Learning Day - Learning Collaborative - Pupil Free Day

Tuesday 29th April - First Day Term 2 for Students

Wednesday 14th May - Close the Gap

May 2025 - Confirmation-  (Date TBC) 

Friday 20th June - School Athletics Carnival

Thursday 3rd July - Last Day Term 2 for Students

Friday 4th July - Staff Professional Learning Day - Foundation Day- Pupil Free Day

Term 3 2025

Monday 21st July - First Day Term 3 for Students and Staff

Friday 25th July- Foundation Day - Feast of Saint James

Tuesday 29th July  - Reconciliation -  St James Church, Yamba

 Saturday 30th August - First Holy Communion-St James Church, Yamba

Thursday 25th September - Last Day Term 3 for Students

Friday 26th September - Staff Professional Learning Day - Curriculum - Pupil Free Day

Term 4 2025

Monday 13th October - First Day Term 4 for Students and Staff

Monday 3rd – Friday 7th November - Stage 3 Camp- Canberra

End of Year Final Awards Assembly - Thursday 11th December - Yamba Bowling Club 10:00 – 11:00am

Wednesday 17th December - Last Day Term 4 for Students and Staff

Dear Parents and Carers

I have been away a bit for the last 2 weeks with work and family matters but I felt that I left the school in good hands from every space. 

Classrooms continued to learn and work together, the administration rolled along. Families continued to send me messages about learning and the community and the leadership continued to support it all.  What a nice thing to say "I left the place in good hands"

I was a little excited about the swimming on Monday (from afar) such a good thing to see so many engaged and encouraging one another. Today I asked a stage 1 student how he went at the carnival and he told me 5th BUT his friend was off to dio.  Such a nice conversation.

This week we have sent the Assembly texts home. What you may notice if you are joining us for Mass is that we have changed our awards. Now a student may receive a VALUES award at the assembly. The focus is on LOVE. But love is seen as how we interact with others to see the best in them and in making sure that our interactions are generous and supportive. 

More information to come.

See you all for BBQ on Monday evening.

Ann

RE News

Shrove Tuesday 

Next Tuesday 4th March is Shrove Tuesday. The day before Lent begins is called ‘Shrove Tuesday’. Shrove Tuesday is forty-seven days before Easter Sunday. Long ago, Shrove Tuesday was a day of preparing for Lent and feasting. People went to church to confess their sins and then went home and feasted on foods that were forbidden to eat during Lent, such as eggs and fats. One way of eating all the forbidden food was to make pancakes.

We are asking all students and staff to wear mufti (casual clothes) next Tuesday 4th March. A gold coin donation will be collected and money raised will go to the Project Compassion appeal. Breakfast Club will be providing a pancake to everyone for breakfast.

Next Wednesday 5th March we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the first day of the season of Lent. We know that Lent is a special time to prepare ourselves for Easter. By thinking about our lives and making changes with God’s help, we can become better people.

On Ash Wednesday Christians receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads.  God’s people have used this powerful sign for hundreds of years. The cross of ashes tells friends and neighbours that we know we are not perfect. We sometimes break the law of God.  We hurt other people.  We act selfishly. On Ash Wednesday we tell God and each other that we are sorry and we want to be more like Jesus. 

Stages 1, 2 and 3 will be travelling by bus to St James Church, Yamba for 10am Parish Mass on Ash Wednesday. Students and staff will receive ashes on their forehead, as part of this Mass. You are more than welcome to join us at the Church.

ES1 will be staying at school and celebrating with a liturgy in their classroom.

Please ensure you give permission for your child to attend Mass (Stages 1, 2 & 3) via Compass Events. 

Sacrament Dates

Confirmation- May 2025 (Date TBC) 

Reconciliation- Tuesday 29th July, St James Church, Yamba

First Holy Communion- Saturday 30th August, St James Church, Yamba

The order of Sacraments in the Lismore Diocese is:

Baptism, Confirmation (Year 3), Reconciliation (Year 4), First Eucharist (Year 4)

If you need more information about Baptism for your child, please contact the Parish Office in Maclean at 6645 1188 (open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm).

For any other Sacraments, please reach out to Mrs Howland at school. Please note that your child must be Baptised before receiving any other Sacraments.

If your child was Confirmed last year, they will be invited to receive Reconciliation and First Communion this year. To arrange this, please email yamp@lism.catholic.edu.au. We will be holding a meeting for parents regarding Sacraments, as part of the preparation. Parish Priest, Fr Roland will be facilitating this meeting at school. The date will be advised. All other preparation will be completed at school during Religion lessons.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at school.

Renee Howland

Assistant Principal - Mission

Sport News

AFL

Congratulations to Ashton and Jake who attended the Diocesan AFL trials last week in Grafton and have been selected in the Lismore Diocesan AFL team to compete at the Polding AFL carnival in Newcastle later in the year. A great effort boys, well done.

Swimming

On Monday we sent a team of 30 students to the Clarence Zone Swimming Carnival in Maclean. There were some fantastic individual and relay results, listed below, but also a huge congratulations to the whole team who managed to produce our best ever result in finishing second overall in the pointscore. We had 15 students qualify for the Diocesan carnival which is next Tuesday in Murwillumbah. Good luck to all those competing.

Zone Results

Welcome BBQ - Monday 3rd March

Please RSVP using the link below.

https://compasstix.com/e/jjz2glyuef

SHROVE Tuesday

SHROVE TUESDAY

Tuesday 4th March is Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally during Lent, Christians would give up rich, tasty foods such as butter, eggs, sugar and fat (some Christians continue to do so, in fact). Shrove Tuesday was the last chance to eat them – and what better way to do so than with a delicious pancake! 

All students are invited to come to school dressed in mufti casual clothing and bring a gold coin donation to raise awareness for those living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the country. 

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, marks the day before Lent begins. Breakfast Club will be serving pancakes from the canteen before school (8:30am- 9am). So come along, dressed in mufti, and enjoy a delicious pancake for breakfast!

YUM!

ES1 Parent Information Afternoon - Reading and Spelling

ES1 Parent Information Afternoon - Reading and Spelling

ES1 is a fantastic year to witness your child's growth and learning. We understand that parents often want to know how they can be more involved in their child’s educational journey. To support you in helping your child learn to read, I will be hosting a parent information session on Tuesday, March 11th, at 2:30pm in the school hall. If you are unable to attend but would like more information, please contact the school office, and I will ensure you receive the necessary details.

Kind Regards

Alanna Cason

Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

McAuley Catholic College - Save the Dates

Attendance

Birthdays

Ivy 2/3, Jack 7/3, Lily 11/3, Charles 12/3, Sol 13/3, Aria 14/3