Term 1, Week 10

Important Dates

Principal's Message: Mrs Angela Muller

A Message of Thanks and Appreciation

As we come to the end of Term 1 and prepare to celebrate Easter, I want to take a moment to reflect on this special season and share my gratitude for our beautiful school community.

Easter is a time of great hope and renewal. It is a reminder of God’s endless love for us and the joy of new beginnings through the resurrection of Jesus. It invites us all to pause and remember the blessings in our lives. We are called to open our hearts to peace, kindness and compassion.

Throughout this term, we have been so proud to see our students living out our Gospel values in their learning and in their relationships with one another. Whether through prayer, acts of service or simple everyday kindness, our children are growing not just in knowledge, but in faith and love. I thank out Junior Joeys, led by Mrs Lynch, for the contributions they have made to our school. They have united students, staff and parents together to see a need and do something about it.

Thank you for the many ways you support your children’s journey. Your partnership in their learning and formation is a true gift, and we are deeply grateful. This term has been full of learning, laughter and many memorable moments. From exciting excursions to BMEC, sporting events such as swimming, cross country, AFL, Winter Sports trials and class reward days, there has been no shortage of smiles and celebrations. A big highlight was our Family Fun Night led by our Family Connection Group, where our wonderful community truly shone and showed us how we live our values of building a stronger community. I thank our parent community for your ongoing support. 

As we enter this sacred time of Easter, may your hearts be filled with the joy and peace of the risen Christ. We pray that your family enjoys a restful and meaningful holiday, filled with laughter, love, and the light of God's grace.

Wishing you a blessed Easter.

Angela
Principal

REC News: Mrs Catherine Connor

Sunday, 13 April 2025: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord - Year C

Lk 22:14 - 23:56,  The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Gospel Reflection

As we listen this Sunday to the Gospel of Luke, we hear of Jesus' triumphant entrance into and his painful exit out of the city of Jerusalem. We journey along with him on this week's events. We share in his glory and in his pain.

Palm Sunday is one of those pivotal days. Lent is done and now Holy Week begins. This is an extraordinary week, in every sense of the word. It is a week of high drama, of courage, betrayal, tragedy, sorrow, grief, triumph and joy. So, take a deep breath (perhaps some meditation?) and ready yourself to commemorate the greatest story of all time.

This holiest of weeks is a journey for all of us, not just a journey that was only for Jesus. Jesus invites us all to join him this week.

Gospel Challenge

Palm Sunday starts the journey. This will be the first Sunday of the holidays. Try to continue this Holy week with your child. Please join with the parish community as they gather next week for the ceremonies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil (or Easter Sunday). Let the children hear and be a part of those last few days of Jesus' life on earth and then his triumphant resurrection.

Easter Prayer Room

The Easter Prayer Room Experience has been a wonderful chance for the students and parents to take part in a very special and reflective time of prayer. The events of Holy Week are very significant to us, as we continue to journey through Lent to the Easter Season.

Junior Joeys 2025

Thank you Mrs Lisa Lynch and the Junior Joeys for organising the ‘Walk for Water’ awareness activity on Monday. I am sure there is a school aware of the need to support the people in the world who have to carry their own clean water to carry out ordinary everyday activities. Thank you to all the people who ‘sponsored’ the children to raise money for this important cause.

To find out more about Project Compassion go to:  https://www.caritas.org.au/ 

Walk for Water

To keep connected to the Cathedral Parish please follow the link to the Cathedral Parish Bulletin.

ANZAC Day Prayer

Wednesday 30 April, 2:30 PM

All families are invited to an ANZAC prayer service at 2:30 pm in the Hall on Wednesday 30th April to commemorate the men and women who fought in wars so that we could live in a free country.  

Resurrection Liturgy

Tuesday 6 May, 10:30 AM

All families are invited to the Resurrection Liturgy at 10:30 am in the Hall on Tuesday 6th May to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.

Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist & Confirmation 2025

The children at the Assumption Catholic School have been preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation throughout Term 1 and are now ready to receive their Sacrament.

Now your child/children have completed the Preparation Program for their Sacrament the parents/carers can contact Cathy Brien at the Cathedral Parish Office on 6331 3066 or cathy.brien@cdob.org.au for coordination of dates and times.

Please inform the school office, class teacher or myself when your child is making a Sacrament. It is also very important to have the student who is receiving a Sacrament in the Parish Mass arrive at the Church at least 20 minutes before the Mass and let the Priest know you are there. 

The location for children to receive the Sacrament of Penance will be organised by Cathy O’Brien.

Both the school and the Parish office can supply you with the robes for Communion and Confirmation and medal and sash for Penance. We would also love to receive photos so we can publish them in the newsletter.

Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation and Confirmation Process 2025

The process of booking in for the Sacraments.

1. Completed Sacraments preparation course. 
2. Obtain a Request form from Cathy Brien at the Cathedral Parish Office cathy.brien@cdob.org.au or phone 6331 3066.
3. Return the completed Request form to Cathy Brien, ensuring that all the relevant supporting documents have been attached. 
4. Cathy will then coordinate the requests with the available dates - remembering that the Bishop will only be available for Confirmation on the following dates:
   • 7th and 8th June
   • 29th June
   • 9th and 10th August
     

If none of the above dates suit a family for Confirmation, contact the Cathedral Parish Office on 6331 3066 and alternative arrangements will be organised for the child's reception of the Sacrament.

Learning: Ms Melanie Kelley

Why Maths Mindset Matters

I was recently lucky enough to work with the Year 3 students on Maths Mindset.

Studies have shown that a child’s attitude towards Maths significantly impacts their success. If a student believes they are ‘bad at maths,’ they may avoid challenges and become disengaged. Instead, we want students to see Maths as a subject of creativity, problem-solving and exploration - where mistakes are valuable learning opportunities.

Some key ideas we explored included: 

✅ Mistakes help us grow – Brain research shows that struggling through a problem strengthens learning.

✅ Speed isn’t a measure of intelligence – Deep thinking and understanding matter more than fast recall.

✅ Believe in yourself –  How to respond in a positive way when things become difficult.

✅ Everyone can learn Maths –  There is no such thing as a ‘Maths Person’.

How You Can Help at Home

Many parents worry they can’t support their child’s Maths learning if they don’t feel confident in Maths themselves. The good news is, you don’t need to have all the answers- your role is to encourage a positive mindset.

✔ Avoid saying, ‘I was never good at Maths.’ This reinforces a fixed mindset. Instead, model a growth mindset by saying, ‘Let’s figure it out together.’
✔ Praise effort, not just correctness. Ask, ‘How did you solve that?’ or ‘What strategy did you try?’
✔ Make Maths part of everyday life. Cooking, shopping and budgeting all provide meaningful Maths experiences.

We are committed to helping every student develop a love for Mathematics and the confidence to succeed. Thank you for supporting our efforts to make Maths an engaging and empowering experience for all learners!

The Sports Arena: Mrs Alison Hanley

Diocesan Country Carnival 

The Diocesan Cross Country Carnival in Coolah which will be held on Tuesday May 6th. Please do not forget the two step process to register your child. Our Compass School permission needs to be completed and then you must complete your child’s registration on the CSNSW Website. The closing date for registration is Tuesday 29th April. If your child will not be attending the Cross Country Carnival could you please let the school know as soon as possible by declining the event on Compass and contacting the school.

Diocesan Winter Sports Trials

The Winter Sports Trials were held on Friday March 28th at various venues around Bathurst. Our school is proud to announce the successful athletes at these trials;

• George, Theo and Nate at Hockey. 
• Harper at Girls Football and Anees at Boys Football. 

These students will be participating in the Polding trials which will be held in Bathurst on May 2nd. Well done to all our students who participated and to many who made it to the possible/probable games at the end of the individual trial. 

Paul Kelly Cup

The Paul Kelly Cup was held on Thursday April 3rd at Learmonth Park. 43 students from Years 5 and 6 attended the competition. The day was very successful with all teams having a wonderful day showcasing their AFL skills. The girls team came second overall on the day and will compete in the Central West finals to be held in Orange on Monday May 26th. Please note that this date has changed from the original date that was given on the day due to clashes with other sporting events.

CPS Swimming Carnival - Homebush

Congratulations to Amelia, Leo, Isabella, Lexie, Willow and Addison on their fantastic effort at last week’s CPS Swimming Carnival in Sydney. A special mention to the Junior Girls Relay team who improved on their school carnival time quite significantly. 

Student Wellbeing: Mrs Sonia Peck

Understanding Bullying: Overt and Covert Behaviours

What is Bullying?

Bullying is intentional, repeated behaviour that causes physical, social or emotional harm to another person. It involves a power imbalance, where one individual or group seeks to dominate or control another. Bullying can take many forms, and it is important for parents, students, and teachers to recognise the different ways it can occur.

Overt vs. Covert Bullying

Bullying can be overt (visible and obvious) or covert (hidden and subtle). Understanding these differences can help us better support our children in recognising and responding to bullying behaviour.

Overt Bullying
This type of bullying is easy to identify because it happens openly and can often be seen or heard by others. It includes:

• Physical bullying – hitting, kicking, pushing or damaging belongings.
• Verbal bullying – name-calling, insults or offensive remarks.
• Threats and intimidation – openly making someone feel unsafe or fearful.

Covert Bullying
Covert bullying is more subtle and can be harder to detect. It often happens behind someone’s back and can cause deep emotional distress. It includes:

• Social exclusion – deliberately leaving someone out of activities or groups.
• Spreading rumours – sharing false or hurtful information to damage a person’s reputation.
• Cyberbullying – using digital platforms to harass, shame, or isolate someone.

How Can Parents Help?

• Encourage open conversations – Talk to your child about their friendships and experiences at school.
• Teach assertiveness – Help your child develop confidence to speak up if they feel unsafe.
• Model kindness and respect – Children learn from the behaviour they see at home.
• Stay informed – Be aware of signs of bullying and let the school know if you have concerns.

Together, we can create a school environment where all students feel safe, supported, and included. If you have any concerns about bullying, please reach out to your child’s teacher or the school leadership team.

Let’s work together to stop bullying before it starts!

Sonia Peck
Leader of Student Wellbeing

First Nations Education: Dhurany (News): Mrs Kylie Booth-Martinez

Learning and Sharing at
Our Yarning Circle

Throughout Term 1, our Year 3, Kindergarten and Year 1 students have engaged in meaningful cultural learning experiences at our school's Yarning Circle. These sessions have provided valuable opportunities for our young learners to connect with Indigenous perspectives and cultural practices.

The Yarning Circle has served as a special gathering place where students learn the importance of listening, sharing and respecting different voices. Our teachers have guided students in understanding the traditional significance of these circles as spaces for communication, storytelling and building relationships.

A key focus of these sessions has been exploring the concept of Yindymarra and its five core values:

1. Be Polite: Students have practiced using kind words and considerate language when speaking with peers and teachers.
2. Respect: Children have learned to value the thoughts and feelings of others, waiting their turn to speak and acknowledging different perspectives.
3. Do Slowly: Our students are developing patience and mindfulness, understanding that careful, thoughtful actions lead to better outcomes.
4. Honour: We've discussed the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of others and our shared cultural heritage.
5. Be Gentle: Students have practiced approaching interactions with kindness and care, both in words and actions.

These cultural learning experiences have enriched our classroom communities, fostering a greater sense of understanding and connection among our youngest students. As we continue through the school year, we look forward to building upon these valuable lessons and further embedding these important values across our learning programs. 

Mandaang Guwu (Thank You)

Kylie Booth-Martinez
Aboriginal Education Officer

Family Connections

Thank You for a Fantastic Family Fun Day!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Family Fun Day! We hope you all had a wonderful time—it was fantastic to see so many families out enjoying the evening together.

A special thank you to our amazing Kindy, Year 1, and Year 2 Year Champions, along with the organising committee, for putting together such a fantastic event. Your hard work and dedication made the night truly special.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers—parents, carers, students, and returning students—who gave their time to help make the event a success. These events wouldn’t be possible without your support!

A big shout-out to the fire brigade for their exciting demonstration and to Creative Community Concepts for bringing the fun with laser tag.

Thank you all for being part of such a memorable night!

Community Notices