Newsletter Week 10, Term 1 2025

Principal's Messages

Hi Everyone, 

         We have had a very busy and productive two weeks, and we are on the countdown until the end of term. We still have some important school events and activites to squeeze in before the holidays! 

Annual School Visit 

We had an incredibly successful annual school visit last week. While these visits typically occur each year for some schools, our last visit took place in late 2023. Our School visit is facilitated through the Diocesand and Catholic Schools Offices.

The purpose of the visit was to share developments at our school since the last review, reflect on enrolment patterns, evaluate our school improvement plan, and highlight student voice. Visitors had the opportunity to observe classrooms, where students proudly shared their learning, offered suggestions for school improvements, and spoke about what they love most about our school. 

Throughout the day, we discussed various data points, including NAPLAN results and insights from the Tell Them from Me surveys. We also engaged in discussions with several diocesan offices, including Finance, People and Culture, Governance and Legal, Property, and Communications. The visit was chaired by the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Catholic Schools. 

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Along with our executive team Michael Deed and Katie Castles, we had the opportunity to highlight the progress of our school improvement plan and acknowledge the dedication of our staff, students, and families in making our school a wonderful place to be. It was particularly exciting to celebrate that our school has led the Diocese in attendance for the past two years.

Stage 3 Camp 

Our Stage 3 students return from camp today after a fantastic few days—despite some cooler weather! It was wonderful to see our students stepping out of their comfort zones, trying new activities, and supporting one another through challenges. Experiences like this create lasting memories and mark an important milestone in their primary school years. 

I want to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Michael Deed (Co-Principal), Kieran Deveridge (Year 5), Maree Koen (Year 6), and Deanne March (Pastoral Care Worker) for their dedication and time away from their families. Their commitment ensures that our Stage 3 students have these wonderful experiences. 

Canteen 

We have recently re-advertised our canteen position and hope to have someone in place by May. A huge thank you to Camilia Batten for coordinating canteen ordering and rosters during this time, ensuring the canteen remains operational. We are also incredibly grateful to our dedicated volunteers, including parents and grandparents, whose support makes our canteen possible. 

Faith In Focus

This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of God’s boundless love through the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7). Jesus tells us that just as a shepherd searches for one lost sheep, God seeks out each of us when we feel lost or make mistakes. No one is forgotten, and every child is precious in His eyes.

To make this meaningful for children, we can remind them that no matter what happens—whether they make a wrong choice, feel left out, or struggle with something—they are always loved and welcomed by God. One of our favourite Lenten Hymns is 'Turn Back to God,' we talk with children about how sometimes we may not be at our best, and we can always turn back to God.

Let’s encourage our children to be shepherds too—looking out for others who may feel lost, lonely, or left out, and showing them kindness and love.

We will mark the end of our Lenten journey next week with our Holy Week Liturgies (a week early for the holiday break). We welcome our families to join us for our three Holy Week Liturgies.

Staff Development Days

A reminder about our upcoming staff development days at the beginning of next term, the school will be closed and our first day of school will be Wednesday 30 April. 

See below our Staff Development days for the remainder of the year.

Religious Education and Spirituality

IT'S ALMOST HOLY WEEK!

In the course of our busy week, we most likely have times set apart for certain things that are important to us—  a few social phone calls, some netflix, a quiet coffee break—so that we can renew ourselves, our energy, and our perspective. Holy Week is a time that is set apart in our Church’s liturgical year for our spiritual renewal.

Holy Week is holy precisely because it is time that is set apart for us to focus on how we are spiritually renewed through the suffering, death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Through the washing of feet on Holy Thursday to the veneration of the cross on Good Friday. Our faith community is reminded of the selfless and eternal love we share in, and our belief that light can overcome darkness- that new life and hope triumph over pain and suffering. 

                    For a quick 2 minute guide to 'what is Holy Week?' click on this youtube link below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HugMM_3FfnI

FAMILY PRAYER FOR HOLY WEEK

Gracious God, as we remember the events of Jesus’ last days, help us to be people of courage and people of hope who are willing to encourage and support others. May we remember Jesus’ example and live the Gospel message through our words and deeds. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Corpus Christi will take time to celebrate the Paschal Mystery during Week 11. We welcome parents and families to our  prayer services below to walk through Holy Week together. 

Project Compassion and Hot Cross Bun Day!

Raid your coin jar or check the car compartments for any spare coins for this years Project Compassion Lenten Fundraiser. On Tuesday 8th April, we invite students to bring in a GOLD COIN donation PLUS EXTRA COINS for our class coin lines. The class with the longest line wins a prize.

Coin games to play on the day, run by our Year 5 Mini Vinnies team members.

We recommend coins be put in small container or sandwich bag on the day for safe keeping.

A free Hot Cross Bun for every student on the day.

All donations go to CARITAS Australia to make a difference in some of the poorest communities around the globe. 

Curriuclum

High Potential and Gifted Education Update Term 1

Term 1 has been students settling into their new classes and routines. As part of our High Potential and Gifted Education focus in the school Mrs Conserdyne has been working across classes each Wednesday to support extension and challenging tasks. Each term the GEM timetable changes to allow for different priority areas and topics.

This term:

• A group of Year 2 and Year 3 students have been working on problem solving and recording their strategies in Mathematics, plus some fun games and challenges.
• Year 4 students have had Mrs C pop in during Literacy time and connect with their literacy themes and encourage personal bests.
• Year 6 students have been seeing Mrs C on Wednesdays, and Mrs Kingsford Tuesday and Thursday for Extension Writing and Spelling groups. They have produced some informative writing and are now focusing on Poetry!
• Year 6 Maths groups of Wednesday have also allowed a group of students to work with Mrs C on extension tasks related to their class Mathematics topics.

Virtual Academy Update:

Our Year 6 Virtual Academy students have chosen the topic of Enterprise and have been exploring ethics, entrepreneurship and community relationships. Students are now working on a problem they have identified that will contribute to the focus question: How do Individuals and organisations identify and respond to opportunities in a changing environment?

These students have been working with the Virtual Academy teacher, Mrs Bufi through TEAMS and One Note, and are to be congratulation on their time management, independent learning skills and motivation. 

Da Vinci Decathlon 2025- Bishop Tyrrell 3^rd April

The Da Vinci Decathlon brings together High Performing and Gifted students from all schools in the Hunter region to compete in 10 challenging events. Teamwork, creativity and problem solving is key on this fun day. Unfortunately, due to the high level of interest from schools across the Hunter region, Corpus Christi was unable to secure a school entry for this year’s DaVinci Decathlon.

We would like to wish Indiana from Year 6 all the best as she competes as part of the Catholic Schools Office Team, which has been made up from students across our Diocese. The Da Vinci Decathlon will be held on Thursday 3^rd April. Good luck Indi!

Easter Raffle

Corpus Christi Easter Raffle 

The beloved annual  Fundraiser is back for 2025!  

• Easter is fast approaching. The Corpus Christi will be conducting our annual fundraising Easter Raffle. 

How it works… 

• Corpus Christi Families donate Easter Eggs/Chocolates to be turned into Easter Hampers and Raffle Prizes. A small donation from each family is all that we need. Please place Easter Egg donations into the black plastic crate at the office by Friday 4 April. 

• Families are encouraged to buy raffle tickets, as well as sell raffle tickets to friends, neighbours and family members. 

• The Easter Raffle is drawn at school, on Wednesday 9 April and prizes sent home with the winning families that day. 

Tickets will be $2 each or 3 for $5 and can be purchased on Qkr! Or by using the physical raffle tickets sent home. 

To purchase using the physical raffle tickets, please make sure that you have a name, contactable phone number and child’s class written on the back of each ticket stub (the other half goes to the person purchasing the ticket) and return to school by Friday 4 April in an envelope labelled with “EASTER RAFFLE” and a student name and class. If the ticket has been sold to a person outside of school, please have a reference to the family who sold the ticket on each ticket stub. 

Donations are open now at the school office 

Friday 4 April - Last day to return raffle tickets, money and donations and purchase on Qkr!. 

Wednesday 9 April - Raffle drawn - 2:15pm 

This is an opportunity for you to ask a neighbour, family or friends to purchase tickets. If you have sold your tickets and wish to have some more, please advise the office who can arrange to have more tickets sent home. 
 
If you have any unwanted clean baskets, or Easter gift bags that you would like to donate for wrapping purposes, please put these in the crates as well. 

Participation is optional - if you do not wish to participate, kindly return the raffle tickets to the school office.  

Fund raised will go to the following categories 

• Enriching Student Learning (curriculum support and educational resources) 

• Enhancing Student Wellbeing & Play (playground toys and equipment) 

• Expanding Student Opportunities (special programs, and events) 

Money raised will be reported in the school newsletter. 

Highway Heroes - Dealing with Frienship Flare Ups.

Friendships - like most things - are not perfect. Like experiencing disappointment, this fact is a Fact of Playground Life - and although friendships bring happiness, BUMPS also occur. The key is to learn the skills to deal with these BUMPS early in life, in an emotionally healthy way - because that means a good chance of a smoother Relationship Journey all along the Highway.

Dealing appropriately with Friendship Flare Ups in childhood will help to create healthy boundaries in adult relationships.

Corpus Christi students have been unpacking the HIGHWAY BUMP of Friendship Flare Ups, categorised into three types: ‘Spark’, ‘Flame’ and ‘Fire.’ Each reflects the size of the BUMP - or Flare Up intensity. Children who can de-catastrophise friendship issues will be better able to deal with the conflict in an emotionally healthy way.

Responses to Friendship Flare Ups are always individual. What hurts your feelings might not be important to someone else. There is an emphasis on these being a personal reflection - that is, there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers.

The reason for helping children to differentiate the intensity of Friendship Flare Ups is that the emphasis of Highway Heroes is on helping children to perceive any HIGHWAY BUMP in a rational, balanced way for which solutions can be found. This is in direct contrast to seeing difficulties in a catastrophic and highly emotionally-charged way, where Sparks are perceived and dealt with, like Fires. The alternative is to perceive Friendship Flare Ups in an underwhelming way – and deal with serious issues as Sparks. Both of these can over, or under-play the child’s true emotional responses.

You may have time this week to find an opportunity to ask your child about how they deal with Friendship Flare Ups.

USING STRAIGHT TALK FOR FRIENDSHIP FLARE UPS

Straight Talk is a HIGHWAY TOOL that gives your child a strategy to skillfully and successfully step up to Friendship Flare Ups. Learning to use Assert with Straight Talk takes courage and practise. How often have you
found yourself in a situation where speaking up for yourself felt confrontational and a little uncomfortable, but helped you to walk away from that situation feeling heard, respected and valued?

Learning to Assert can often be confused with being angry, demanding, blaming or overly dramatic in order to make a point. Assertiveness is about the body language, tone of voice and words of calmness and confidence. 

Straight Talk is a difficult skill to establish, and requires a child understanding the difference that children's body language, choice of words and tone can make.

Take some time at home to practice how you would use a calm and confident voice to get your point across. Try using the statement "Tidy your bedroom". Model how using an angry tone or overly dramatic voice and body language is different to a direct but calm voice.

You may find the flow chart below helpful as you practice with your child at home.

Sports Update

Congraultions to our Year 4 boys who took part in the Diocesan Winter Sport Trials for Hockey. Well done to Elijah, Harvey, Alfie and Isaac who were selected to represent at Polding in Bathurst during Week 1 of Term 2.The Pathway to Polding begins with school selection, followed by Diocesan trials and the top athletes then progress to the Polding trials, where they compete against the best from other regions. - Well Done!

School Uniform - Term 2

Winter Uniform – Official Change over Monday 26 May 

Our official transition to Winter Uniform is Monday 26 May (Week 5) 

Please note that our School Photo Day is Tuesday 27 May 

 For Weeks 1-4 (30 April-23 May) we will still operate on summer uniform with school jacket with the flexible option to move to full winter uniform on cooler days.  

Please note in choosing to wear summer or winter uniform, we ask there is no mixing of uniforms (eg Stockings should only be worn with winter uniform, long sleeve shirts are to be worn with long pants and the tunic). 

As a result of last year’s uniform consultation, the school tie is now optional. Ties are for sale through the uniform shop with an updated zipper design. Going forward all long sleeve shirts sold by the uniform shop will have the school emblem with the preference that if students are not wearing the school tie they will have the school emblem on their shirt. 

During term 1, we have noticed a few issues with uniform that do not meet school expectations. I realise this does not apply to all students. However, we advocate that all students wear school uniform with pride at all times. Students have been reminded of uniform expectations and we look forward to acknowledging appropriate uniform choices in Term 2.

• Earrings – Studs or sleepers only (no dangling earrings)
• Hair - Students with long hair should have their hair tied back. (Hair falling below the collar

  is deemed long.)

• Hair Accessories – Must be in the school colours of green, white or black.
• Shoes  (Academic Uniform) Black leather (or leather-like) shoes—must be able to be able to be polished.
  • Not permitted: boots, canvas shoes (including sports joggers).
    

Uniform Shop

Open Fridays  8:30am to 9:00am (Walk-in shopping)

Online orders via Qkr! close at 8:00am each Friday and will be sent home with your child.

To keep costs low and provide this service to Corpus Christi families, all items are sold close to cost price. If you are available to volunteer on a casual or regular basis, please reach out to admin@waratah.catholic.edu.au.

Dates and Reminders