Newsletter 2nd April Term 1, Week 10

Principal's Message

Catholic Identity: In 2025, we will establish pedagogical practices that improve student religious literacy and provide opportunities for encounter with Christ.

Learning: In 2025 we will establish effective and consistent pedagogical practices for all students by all teachers.

Wellbeing: In 2025 we will establish a school-wide common language in Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L) incorporating our Mercy pillars.

Dear Parent/Carer

Welcome to our last newsletter for Term 1! Where has that time gone?! Thank you for the very warm welcome St Therese’s families have shown me in my first term here. It has been a joy getting to know our St Therese’s children and to see their happy faces and work each day in the classroom and being so well supported by the dedication of our staff.

In his Lenten message for 2025, Pope Francis encourages Christians to reflect on their spiritual journey by identifying with the struggles faced by migrants, fostering compassion, and embracing hope in God's promise of eternal life.

“It would be a good Lenten exercise for us to compare our daily life with that of some migrant or foreigner, to learn how to sympathise with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father,” the Pope wrote and signed on 6 February before he was hospitalized.

 Pope Francis likens the Lenten journey to the Israelites’ flight from slavery in Egypt. “Our brothers and sisters who in our own day are fleeing situations of misery and violence in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones,” he added. “A first call to conversion thus comes from the realisation that all of us are pilgrims in this life… Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilised by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone?”

 The Pope also underscored the importance of journeying together, saying Christians are called to walk “side by side, without shoving or stepping on others, without envy or hypocrisy, without letting anyone be left behind or excluded.”

School Visit
On Wednesday 9^th April various teams from the Catholic Schools (lead by COO Lisa Tierney and Director of Schools Jacqui Wilkinson) will spend the day with us at St Therese’s. I look forward to sharing the many wonderful things happening in our school and they will see this firsthand when visiting our classrooms and speaking with our children.

Uniform Survey Results
Our recent parent survey results regarding the wearing of our uniform are as follows:
From term 2:
- 56% said ties for boys will remain and must be worn at St Therese’s as part of the boys Winter uniform.
-Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays sport uniform option: 57% of respondents said children should not be permitted to wear their sports uniform on these extra days as an option. The established practice of the uniform only being worn on sport day remains.
-Children are permitted to wear short sleeves, shorts and socks (not stockings) in Winter. 55% of respondents are in favour of this option in Winter.

Please be aware that the uniform must be worn correctly and, in its entirety.
NO branded socks, NO nail polish or make up. Sleeper or stud earrings only, one chain only, one ring only.
Winter uniform MUST be worn from Monday 2 June. Before that, children can wear the uniform dependent on the weather.

Family And Community Engagement - FACE- meetings
Our Term 2 meeting, as previously communicated, is Tuesday 3 June at 8:30am before open classrooms for Catholic Schools Week. Zoom will also be offered if you cannot meet in person.
Our Term 3 meeting is Monday 18 August at 6pm.  The topic is ‘The new NSW Syllabus (English and Maths 2024) - what my child learns in various stages of their learning.
Parents are invited to our Term 3 FACE meeting on the above topic. Zoom will also be available, and children are welcome to attend.

Consideration for our neighbours
Recently some of our Victoria & Burke Street neighbours have contacted us to request that our parents/carers are mindful of where they are parking for long periods or waiting (with cars running) for pick up. Some are blocking driveways and roadways which has resulted in recent fines for some.
Please remember that we remain on duty until after 3:30pm so there is no expectation that you arrive right on the afternoon bell. If you delay your trip by 10 minutes this will significantly reduce the traffic around our school and your wait time.

Complaints and Concerns - A Positive Approach
Concerns arise at schools for a variety of reasons, sometimes due to the very busy nature of the school environment.
In addition to solid teaching & learning, there are many extra curricula activities to enhance school life and a great deal of coordination is required. Accordingly, many considered decisions are made every day by our professional team to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and the wider community, and promote learning for all. At the same time, the school community is quite diverse, with many individuals or groups having vastly different opinions on how things should be done.
It is inevitable therefore, that times will arise when some parents agree with the school’s actions while others disagree and wish to discuss the matter and seek clarification with the school. We welcome such discussions and encourage parents to raise issues so that they can be dealt with speedily and resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Raising concerns or seeking clarification is not a negative experience if everyone focuses on it being a solution-focused experience by valuing everyone’s opinions. The following process for presenting and managing parental concerns works well and is the way we manage all concerns at our school.
The diocese now has a comprehensive complaints and feedback process. The CSO website outlines the Complaints Resolution Framework. Please see Complaints Resolution and Feedback at https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/about/complaints-resolution-and-feedback/

Social Media - Tik Tok
“Respect and empathy for others is far more important than getting laughs, likes or followers”- eSafety Commissioner.

St Therese’s is committed to student safety and wellbeing. We want our students to be responsible online citizens and to be able to navigate this space in a safe and respectful manner. The eSafety Commissioner has put out some information recently regarding concerns with Tik Tok and a worrying trend amongst its younger users. This can be found here: https://bit.ly/2HQwQzA

Tik Tok is a video-sharing app, where its users film themselves in a 10-15 second clip. These clips are usually set to music, uploaded, and are viewed by followers and strangers alike. Tik Tok is a rebranded version of the previous app Musically.
Tik Tok is intended for users 13 years and over (https://support.tiktok.com/en/privacy-safety/for-parents-default). Please consider restricting your child’s access, if you become aware of them using this form of social media.

iParent on the eSafety website
The website for the eSafety Commissioner has an information section for parents. It contains some useful tips to assist parents at home to protect their digital lifestyle. This space is referred to on the site as iParent and can be found at https://esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent.
I would encourage you to access this resource especially as we are now accessing technology more often at home. Please ensure that you have clear guidelines in place to monitor your child’s technology use, especially online.

Anzac Day
We hope to see as many of our children as possible at the Anzac Day march on 25 April starting at 10am at Club Lambton.
I wish you and your family a happy and holy Easter season. Enjoy a restful Easter break.

I look forward to the many positive aspects that Term 2 will bring us in working together.

Kind regards,  

Sallyanne Stanbridge
Principal

Assistant Principal's Message

Dear Parent/Carer,

As we drawn to the end of Term 1, I wanted to thank all the students and staff for all their hard work throughout the term.  I hope you all have a restful holiday, as well as a safe and Holy Easter.

Easter Collection
Thank you to all the families that have sent in Easter donations for Ronald McDonald House and St John’s Aged Care Villa.  There is still time to send in your donations if you have not already done so.

• Kindergarten & Year 1 – packs of medium sized, hollow eggs
• Year 2 – packets of sweet biscuits
• Year 3 – tea or coffee e.g. 10 packs of Twinings Tea, Herbal Teas, coffee sachets etc
• Year 4 & 5 - small hollow Easter bunnies
• Year 6 – packs of small solid Easter eggs

Easter Hat Parade
Next Thursday 10 April, is our Easter Hat Parade, starting at 2:30pm in the school hall.  We invite parents/carers and family to join us for a bit of fun as we celebrate the end of the term.  Please be seated by 2:20pm, so the hat parade can commence at 2:30pm.  Children will create their hats in class, and all decorations have been supplied.  While we enjoy the fun of the Hat Parade, our focus as a Catholic community, is on the Easter Story and the message of faith, hope and love that was taught to us by Jesus Christ.

ANZAC Day
We invite all St Therese’s children to join us for the Lambton ANZAC March on Friday 25 April.  The March will start at 10am at Club Lambton and we will March to Lambton Pool.  Our school captain will lay a wreath during the ANZAC Service, and all families are welcome to stay for the Service after the March.  The current information, for this event, is that we will meet at Club Lambton at 10am.  Updated information will be sent via Facebook during the holidays.  Children are asked to wear full formal uniform.

Kaylene Maretich
Assistant Principal

Catholic Identity & Curriculum

Faith Formation: Francis' Focus – Who better to help guide us in the true depth and meaning of our Catholic faith than the charismatic and authentic leader of our Church, Pope Francis. Below, Pope Francis reflects upon Sunday’s Gospel and the challenge to truly live out the message and meaning of the Prodigal Son in our own lives. May we also keep Pope Francis in our prayers as he continues to recover from his recent health issues:
Pope Francis says that today’s Gospel parable ‘leads us to the heart of God’.
On the one hand, it shows us that ‘God always forgives. We are the ones who tire of asking for forgiveness.’ What the prodigal son’s Father shows us is God’s boundless mercy. But on the other hand, the parable also shows how easily we humans can slip into what the Pope calls ‘the indignation of the elder son’. If we do not see God as our merciful Father, then we can easily fall into ‘living a distant religion, made of prohibitions and duties.’ When we judge and exclude, we try to limit God’s mercy.
Falling into that mindset, we lose sight of our relatedness. We can become like the resentful elder son who calls his own brother ‘this son of yours’. To combat this mindset of ‘rigidity towards our neighbour’ the Pope suggests that, like the Father, we ‘make merry and rejoice’. We should try to ‘demonstrate our closeness to those who repent or who are on the way, to those who are in crisis or who are far away … we have to offer them a warm welcome that encourages them to go ahead.’
In our lives, we should always treat others without judgment. And in our churches, we should always warmly welcome them home.

Religious Education
This week’s focus in RE is on Year 2:
Module 1 is ‘Belonging to Community’ - This module introduces students to ideas about community and what it means to belong to a community of faith. Students will begin to appreciate the significance of community for Christians: of living in loving relationship with God, others, and all of creation. Students will focus on the Church as the community of God’s people. They will explore some of the ways in which faith is expressed, shared, and strengthened in a community of believers and about ways that God’s is present in these communities. They will also develop their understanding of the many ways in which faith is lived out and celebrated in community. They will identify and explore how the Church community lives as friends of Jesus, sharing God’s love. Students also examine the season of Lent, exploring how our repentance, forgiveness and healing allow an experience of change and growth to benefit the Church community. This module concludes with Jesus’ journey through the Stations of the Cross and how the Catholic faith community come together to remember his death and resurrection during the time of Easter.

Prayer, Celebration & Mission

Holy Week Liturgies – As per the recent information on Compass, the following details outline our Holy Week celebrations at St Therese’s. The three Year 6 classes will each present a small prayer liturgy and dramatization of one of the major events from Holy Week. On each of the days listed below, our whole school will gather in the Main Hall to start the liturgies on time, at 9:30am (these will be brief 15-20 minute liturgies):
Monday 7^th April – Palm Sunday Liturgy (6L)
Tuesday 8^th April – Holy Thursday Liturgy (6N)
Wednesday 9^th April – Good Friday Liturgy (6W)
We will celebrate the Easter Resurrection with another brief liturgy on the first day back for Term 2 (Monday 28^th April at 2:30pm).

Mission Day & Project Compassion
On the last day of term, Friday 11^th April, we will hold an out-of-uniform day along with a gold-coin donation to contribute towards Project Compassion. In an act of solidarity with those people around the world who do not have easy access to clean drinking water, children will also participate in The Big Water Walk throughout the day – doing laps of the back field carrying a bucket of water – please also send in a bucket with your child for this day.
Finally, remember to send in your Project Compassion boxes from home (no donation is too small) by the end of term – well done to those students and grades who have already accumulated lots of change for those less fortunate.

In this modern and largely cashless society, some of you may want to donate online via our school’s Project Compassion fundraising page. We aim to reach our school goal of $1000 for Caritas this Lent:

Luke Smith
Religious Education Coordinator

School Community News

Principal Awards
Congratulations and thank you, children, for upholding the values and principles of St Therese’s. The following students received a Principal's Award at our whole school assembly this week:
Hunter B (6N) Noah B (6W) and Samuel W (KL) 

Melissa Pyers
Primary Coordinator 

Cyber Safety
Last Thursday, Senior Constable Johnston came to talk to us about being cybersafe, the laws around social media and online bullying. We learnt how young people often contacted people they didn’t know online and how this could put them in a dangerous position. She advised us to check with our trusted adult before we posted anything, tell them about all our online accounts and check with them before we post anything.
We thank Newcastle Police and Senior Constable Johnston for coming to talk to us about being cybersafe.

Violette S-G (6N)

Attention: Writers, Poets and those that love books!
Don't miss the Newcastle Writer's Festival - Family Fun Day this Sunday April 6th.
For those that love reading books, meeting authors and writing- don't miss this fantastic family event this Sunday 6^th April at the Newcastle Museum from 9:30am till 1:15pm.
There is no need to book, entry is by gold coin donation and the line up of children's authors is superb. See the following link below for all information:
Newcastle Writers Festival: Family Fun Day - Newcastle Museum

Homework Club 
We've recently launched our Year 6 Homework Club. Each week, Year 6 students get an hour to work with a teacher on completing, editing, or revising their homework and assignments.
By encouraging students to take charge of their own learning and recognise their needs, we help them develop into lifelong learners. As our Year 6 students prepare to graduate to high school next year, initiatives like this ensure they become skilled, independent learners ready to face the world.

Volunteering
Throughout the year, we welcome all parents/carers to volunteer at the school. To volunteer, you must complete the volunteer's induction. This process can take up to 6 weeks, so you are encouraged to complete this early.

2025 School Fees
The 2025 fee statements have now been issued. Our preferred method of payment is BPay, direct debit or credit card. A direct debit request form is below.
If you have nominated to pay your fees by regular instalments, these payments should have commenced by the end of March and have the account cleared by 30 November.
If you have nominated to pay your fees in a lump sum, this needs to be done by 30 June.
If you have any questions or require any assistance, please contact Belinda on 4957 4922 or email admin@newlambton.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

What have children been learning about in their Resilience Project lessons over the past few weeks?

Digital Wellbeing - Sleep and Device Use 
As part of our implementation of 'The Resilience Project', students in Years 3-6 took part in The Resilience Youth Survey in Week 4 of Term 1. This survey is an excellent opportunity to collect key information to support the wellbeing and mental health of our students at St Therese's. Our staff have had the opportunity this term as part of their professional learning to analyse this data to inform our practices. Below is a snapshot of one piece of data we would like to share with you and some helpful research and tips to support you at home.

Snapshot 1

Green= Females
Purple= Males
Dotted line= National Average 

Snapshot 2

Green= Females
Purple= Males
Dotted line= National Average 

NB: Only students in Years 5-6 were asked the question about using a device between 10pm/midnight till 6am

“Parents commonly express concerns about the amount of screen time their children are getting. Excessive time spent on phones, tablets, and computers can have a significant impact on children’s development and overall well-being. Research shows that too much screen time can affect a child's social, emotional, physical, and mental health. Experts recommend setting limits on screen time and encouraging more balanced activities, such as outdoor play, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.
In the later years, an unhealthy balance of screen time, lack of physical activity, and poor sleep can contribute to issues such as anxiety, hyperactivity, trouble focusing, and low self-esteem. This is why it’s important to monitor and adjust screen habits to support their growth in these key areas. Another critical piece of the puzzle is sleep. Studies suggest that both children and adults should aim for at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Lack of sleep can affect concentration, mood regulation, and decision-making, and may increase the risk of mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression. By working together to set healthy screen time limits and prioritise restful sleep, we can help our children thrive both now and in the years ahead”
For further research and support, please have a look at the Australian Institute of Family Studies article here.

Melissa Pyers
Primary Coordinator 

Sport

Diocesan Winter Sports Trials & Rugby League Trials
Last week, we had students represent our school at the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials and the Diocesan Rugby League and Hockey Trials. These students represented our school with pride and displayed tremendous sportsmanship throughout the day. I would like to congratulate the following students on their success at these trials.
Football – Chase P
Netball – Grace O
Hockey – Andrea P, Benjamin C, Jacob E, Ace C
Rugby League – Patrick H
We wish all of these students the best of luck as they progress to the Polding Trials, well done to all!

Cross Country
Reminder that our school Cross Country event will be held on Friday the 4^th April at Regent Park.

Athletics Carnival
Reminder that our school Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday the 7^th May. This is a whole school event. Students from Year 2 - Year 6 will compete in the events on the day. Students in Kindergarten and Year 1 will attend the day to participate in a variety of tabloid games. They will then return to school prior to the conclusion of the carnival. More information will be made available in the coming weeks.
 If you would like to volunteer on the day and your have your clearance through the CSO, please email Mr. Ireson at liam.ireson@mn.catholic.edu.au

Liam Ireson
Infants Coordinator & Sports Coordinator

Playgroup
Here are some happy snaps from our recent playgroup mornings.

Canteen

Important Dates

01 Apr - Year 6 ANZAC Civic Theatre
04 Apr - Cross Country
11 Apr - Last Day Term 1
28 Apr - First Day Term 2
07 May - WHOLE school Athletics Carnival, Fearnley Dawes Athletic Centre, Newcastle
*Howard Ward is on leave Friday 9/5/25 (Week 2 Term 2) to Monday 2/6/25 (Week 6 Term 2). No Band.*
03 Jun  -  FACE Meeting 8.30am
           -  Liturgy 9.15am followed by Open Classrooms
13 Jun - Pupil Free Day