Term 3, Week 4

What's On This Fortnight

Principal's Message: Mrs Angela Muller

Celebrating the Feast of the Assumption: A Tribute to Mary, Mother of Jesus

This week, we also celebrate a very special occasion, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, which holds deep meaning for our school. As a community named in honour of this sacred event, we take this time to reflect on Mary's faith, strength and devotion to God. Her Assumption into heaven reminds us of the hope and love at the heart of our Catholic identity. It is a time for prayer, celebration and unity as we come together to honour our school's spiritual foundation and the values we strive to live every day.

From Mary, our children can learn the courage to say “yes” to what is right, the humility to serve others without seeking praise, the patience to trust God’s timing and the compassion to notice and care for those in need. Her life shows us how faith, kindness and resilience can bring hope to the world. May her example inspire our students, and all of us, to live with open hearts, generous hands, and a deep trust in God’s love.

The Importance of Reading: Lifelong Learners

One of the most powerful gifts we can give our children is a love of reading. Reading not only builds vocabulary and strengthens academic skills, it opens doors to new worlds, sparks imagination and helps children make sense of the world around them. Whether it's reading together at bedtime, exploring books from the school library or chatting about a favourite story, every page turned is a step toward lifelong learning.

Your support is essential to reading growth. How you can help: 

1. Read together every day – share books, articles or stories and talk about what you  have read.
2. Celebrate curiosity – explore your child’s questions together through books, experiments or real-world experiences.
3. Praise effort, not just results – recognise persistence, problem-solving and creativity as much as grades.
4. Take 15 minutes a day to read – daily practice and enjoyment of reading builds compounds. Get into the habit of 15 minutes a day so that your child is reading 105 minutes per week.

Yours in Education,
Angela Muller

Message From The Assistant Principal

Welcome to new staff

Mrs Melissa Vickers has joined our staff in the role of Learning Support Teacher. Mrs Vickers has previously worked at Cathedral School here in Bathurst in the same role and as an experienced classroom teacher. This role will currently be shared with Mrs Anna English who will take on intervention groups as Mrs Vickers is returning progressively from Maternity Leave.

Mrs Vanessa Cain will be joining us permanently on Wednesday and Thursday as part of our Front Office Team. Mrs Cain currently works across Holy Family School and Assumption in the front office at both schools and brings a wealth of experience in supporting our staff, students and community along with Mrs Fulthorpe and Mrs Tomlinson.

Mrs Rachelle Kane has joined us in a permanent capacity as Literacy and Numeracy Support. Mrs Kane joins us after having worked at Carenne School in Bathurst where she worked as a Student Learning Support Officer. She will be working with Mrs Vickers and our entire staff to support students across our school with their literacy and numeracy development. 

Compass Event Permissions

As was communicated earlier this week, our processes for school excursions has changed slightly. We no longer have our Local Area Permission Form and require permission for each activity that is external to our school grounds. Please ensure that as each Compass event is released, you are providing permission for your child. There are reminders that are sent but individual phone calls will not be standard practice for those students who do not have permission on the day.

Attendance

Please remember that our class times officially begin each morning at 9am. It is important that students are in attendance for the entire day to maximise their learning opportunities. Often our days begin with a review of prior learning and students who arrive late miss these activities. 

Where possible, we ask that appointments for students be made outside of school hours. There are a large number of students who are regularly attending appointments during the school day. This can become challenging for these students as they miss crucial information that is necessary for a consistent flow of learning to occur. 

REC News: Mrs Catherine Connor

Sunday, 17 August 2025: Twentieth Sunday Ordinary Time - Year C

Luke 12:49-53 - I have come not to give peace, but discord.

Gospel Reflection

In this week’s gospel Jesus is telling us that he wants to stir things up, to really turn things upside down. What God asks of us (to love God and to love one another) will be difficult for some people who are only interested in themselves. We know that God loves us very much and wants us to live our lives as children of God. But we also know that sometimes it will be hard to live like that. Sometimes we will have to take a stand which will make us unpopular. We must never lose heart.

Prayer

Lord, we pray that you give us strength to stand up for what is right even though we may find it hard.

St Mary of the Cross – Mary MacKillop Feast Day

Thank you Mrs Lisa Lynch and the Junior Joeys from Years 3 to Year 6 for helping us to reflect on the life and mission of Mary MacKillop, now known as St Mary of the Cross, who celebrated her Feast Day on Friday 8th August. Her life was one filled with the love of God and others and the desire for a better world for all. Help us to be more like Mary MacKillop.

‘We must teach more by example than by word’
Mary MacKillop, 1867

Rosaries leading to the Feast of The Assumption

Thank you Years 4 and 5 for leading the school in the Rosary on the 1st , 5th, 8th and 11th of August. They have been contemplative and thoughtful helping us to focus on the special woman Mary was leading us into our special Feast of The Assumption Day.

Feast of the Assumption Mass: Friday 15 August at The Assumption Church

The Assumption School will celebrate its special day, the Feast of the Assumption, with a Mass on Friday 15th August at 12 noon. The Assumption Mass is a highlight of our year in honour of Mary, Assumed into Heaven. The Bishop will be celebrating this Mass so please join us in this special Celebration. Everyone is welcome.

Year 5 Students: Emmanuel Worship Workshop: Thursday 21 August

Our Year 5 students will take part in an Emmanuel Worship Workshop with the other Catholic schools in Blayney on Thursday 21st August at the Blayney Community Centre. This day is led and run by the Emmanuel Worship Group. This is a fabulous faith experience for our young people and filled with fun and great learning experiences for our Year 5 students. An Events item will be put out in Compass to get permission from all parents for their child to attend this event. Please look for this and send the positive reply so your Year 5 child can attend.

Year 3 Students: Pre-Eucharist Retreat: Friday 29 August

Our Year 3 students will take part in a pre-Eucharist retreat with the other Catholic schools in Bathurst on Friday 29th August at MacKillop College. This day is led and run by the MacKillop and St Stanislaus Year 9 and 10 students. This is a fabulous faith experience for our young people and filled with fun and great learning experiences as the Year 3 students prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. An Events item will be put out in Compass to get permission from all parents for their child to attend this event. Please look for this and send the positive reply so your Year 3 child can attend.

Grandparents Liturgy and Shared Morning Tea: Friday 12 September

On Friday, September 12th at 10:15am the Assumption School will be holding a special Grandparents Liturgy in the Hall for all those special people in our children’s lives. Please email photos of your children with their grandparents to the school to be added to a powerpoint for the liturgy. After the liturgy Grandparents will be invited to a morning tea with their grandchild and then a visit to their grandchild’s classroom until 12:15pm.

Christmas Art Exhibition: Friday 12 September at the Cathedral School Hall

Christmas Art final submissions will be handed in to the CEDB marking the culmination of many hours of work from some of our Year 6 students. All successful exhibitors awarded prizes will be notified through the school. The official opening of the Exhibition is Friday, 12th of September 2025 at 11:00am. Congratulations to Claudia, Rebecca, Mina, Amelia, Ollie, Anees , Harper and Jensen for their dedication, commitment and hard work over the past few months. Thank you, Mrs Nadine Richards for all the wonderful work you have done supporting these students.

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

Sacraments of Penance & Eucharist 2025

Congratulations to Chloe who made her Sacrament of Penance.

Students in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 6 are prepared and ready to receive the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist (First Communion) and Confirmation.

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

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 to be at the Church at least 20 minutes before the Mass and let the priest know you are there. 

The place 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 and Eucharist 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.
   

The Sports Arena: Mrs Alison Hanley

Eastern Region Athletics 

The Eastern Region Athletics Carnival was held at MacKillop College last Thursday August 7th, (Week 3). It was a wonderful day and our athletes competed well against the teams from Holy Family, Cathedral, St Philomenas, St Pat’s Lithgow, St Joseph’s Oberon and St Joseph’s Portland. We had many personal bests on the day and all athletes should be congratulated on their excellent efforts. Well done to Archie in Yr 4 who was equal Junior Boys Age Champion on the day and Maycee who was runner up for the Junior Girls Champion. Competitors who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd at the Eastern Region Carnival will now compete at the Diocesan Carnival in Dubbo on Friday 22nd August.

Assumption School has 19 representatives at the Diocesan Carnival. The permission note has been sent out via Compass. Please note that this is a two step process. Permission must be granted on the Compass Event and then athletes must be registered on the CSNSW Website. Athletes who are successful at the Diocesan Carnival will represent the Bathurst team at the Polding Athletics Selection Trials which will be held on Friday 12th September at Hunter Sports Centre, Glendale.

“Come and Try” NRL Day for Under 12 Girls

The “Come and Try” NRL Day for Under 12 Girls is a day designed to introduce young players to tackle rugby league in a fun, safe and supportive environment. This session will include Tackle Ready activities and some modified small-sided games helping new players build confidence and skills while having a great time. There is no cost for the “Come and Try” day! The dates for this event are Thursday 7th and 14th August at Cubis Park, Eglinton. The activities will run from 4:00 to 5:30pm.

Click here to register!

AFL- All Girls Program

An after school program is on offer to all girls in our school aged 8 years to 12 years. Beginning on the 29th August and running until 19th September, this program will be held for 4 sessions at George Park, Bathurst. It will offer skills training in AFL and lots of fun and games. The cost is only $15 and each participant will receive a pack with goodies and an opportunity to have a half time experience at an AFLW game (Round 5 - September 13th GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs in Canberra).

See the flyer below and use the QR Code to register for the program or contact Will Flynn on 0419 809 569 for more information.

Flames Basketball Visit for Year 6 Students!

The Assumption School is very excited to announce that we are hosting a visit from the WNBL team, the Sydney Flames on the afternoon of Friday, 19th September. Members of the team will be running a 30 minute session on court running drills and taking part in skill challenges with the Year 6 students followed by a 30 minute signing session. We are extremely fortunate to be able to have the Flames visit our school and promote the sport of basketball.

Student Wellbeing: Mrs Sonia Peck

Positive Body Talk: Helping Our Children Feel Good in Their Own Skin

Supporting healthy self-esteem in primary school children

At our school, we believe that every child is wonderfully made and deserves to grow up with confidence, kindness, and a healthy relationship with their body. As parents and carers, the words we use around our children matter – especially when it comes to how we speak about ourselves and others.

Many of us are familiar with phrases like “I feel fat in this” or “I’ve put on too much weight.” These types of comments, often made casually, can unintentionally send messages to our children that how we look is the most important thing about us.

Even positive comments like “You look great – have you lost weight?” can reinforce the idea that being thinner is better. Over time, this kind of body talk can affect how children view themselves and others and can shape how they believe they are valued in the world.

The good news is that we can change the conversation.

Here are some simple ways you can promote positive body image and self-worth at home:

✅ Use your words to build up

Let your child hear you speak kindly about your own body and theirs. Celebrate what bodies can do – like running, dancing, creating, and hugging – not just how they look.

✅ Try a ‘no body talk’ week

Challenge yourself and your family to avoid negative comments about appearance for a week. Instead, talk about hobbies, feelings, or achievements. You’ll be surprised how refreshing it is!

✅ Encourage body kindness in others

If a friend or relative puts themselves down in front of your child, gently encourage them to see the impact. A simple, “I don’t like hearing you talk about yourself like that – you’re amazing,” can go a long way.

✅ Talk about being healthy – not thin

When chatting about fitness or food, focus on how it makes us feel. For example: “I love how going for a walk clears my head,” or “Eating well gives me more energy to play with you.”

✅ Turn negatives into positives

If your child says something like “I don’t like my nose,” help them reframe it: “Your nose is unique, just like you. It helps you smell cookies baking!”

✅ Celebrate all bodies

Model respect for all body types by avoiding comments about other people’s appearances – especially in public or on social media. Children are always listening and learning.

By making small shifts in the way we speak, we can help our children grow up knowing that they are loved, valued and beautiful – just as they are.

Let’s work together to create a school and home environment where our students can thrive with strong self-worth, resilience and joy.

Sonia Peck
Leader of Student Wellbeing

Book Week: Wednesday 20 August 2025

BOOK WEEK is next week!

Our Celebration Dress up day with Book Fair is on Wednesday 20 August 2025

The theme for Book Week this year is “Book an Adventure!”. 

As usual we invite our students to dress up, (a favourite dress up, a fabulous hat to go adventuring in, or as a favourite character from a book, TV show or movie.) Please DO NOT bring the book to carry.

We are also hosting a Scholastic Book Fair in the library. 

Prices range from $5 to $30 with many texts between $10 and $16. The Book fair is a major fundraiser for our school library.

Your child may bring home a wishlist in the next week with no obligation to buy. Students are encouraged to do some chores about the home, and not simply ask for a handout. 

Plenty of staff will be on hand to assist with selection and sales.

Please note that the Book Fair will be a cash preferred. If using a card, even for EFT, please be prepared for a 1% surcharge and to be patient on the line.

Book Fair is open in the Library from 8.30am - 4pm. Except between 9am and 9.30am for gathering on the basketball court for prayer and the parade.

Throughout the day there will be a lucky draw across the classes with prizes presented at 1.40pm.

Yours in Reading,
Mrs. Arrow (Teacher-Librarian)

Term 3: Important Dates