Week 8 Newsletter, Term 3 2025

Principal's Messages

Last week we started welcoming our new Kindergarten students for 2026 through our Play and Stay sessions. It’s always such a joy to see the excitement (and sometimes a little trepidation!) of our youngest learners as they begin their journey with us.

The beginning of Spring brings some times of change in our school, even though we’re only in Term 3, we can already see signs of growth and transition. Our current Kindergarten students have come so far since this time last year, and soon our Year 5 students will begin their preparation for leadership and service. One of the highlights for them will be stepping into the important role of Year 6 buddy for our Kindergarten students, starting in November at Kindergarten Orientation. Meanwhile, our Year 6 students are looking ahead with anticipation as high school draws nearer.

It’s lovely to pause and notice just how much can happen in a short time – and to look forward to the new challenges and adventures that lie ahead for the rest of the year. It won't be long until we are in the 'busyness' of the end of the year - for now it's a great time for us to stop and see how far we've come.

Faith in Focus

At our Father's Day Liturgy we shared the Gospel story of Jesus in the Temple. 

This scripture from Luke 2:41–49 is a powerful moment in Jesus’ early life. At just twelve years old, Jesus stays behind in the temple, speaking with teachers and showing remarkable wisdom. When his parents find him, he says, “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”—a clear sign of his divine identity and mission.

We share this story with our students and with our community because it:

• Shows that even young people can have a deep connection with God.
• Reminds us that faith begins in the family, but grows through community and reflection.
• Assures us that even moments of worry, God is present and guiding us.

Trivia Night Thank You

Our recent Parent Trivia Night was a fantastic evening and such a wonderful way to bring our Corpus Christi Primary School community together.

My sincere thanks to Rebecca Jeffrey and Kate Miller for their incredible time, commitment and coordination in creating such a great evening. Their energy, creativity and attention to detail made the night fun from start to finish. 

Thank you also to the many families who generously donated raffle prizes. Your support added an extra sparkle to the evening.

Looking forward to a great two weeks and seeing our students shine on stage!

Katie

Prayer Life: Student Reflections on Prayer at CCW

Prayer may seem complicated or mysterious, but anyone can pray! Prayer can be thought of as the raising of one's heart and mind to God. It is not just an intellectual exercise, but something one does with their heart. It can be thought of as a relationship or conversation with God, a sharing between friends.

At CCW we aim to provide our community with invitations to prayer that are welcoming, inclusive and developmentally appropriate. We aim to offer students, staff and families a variety of ways to pray. We aim to connect our prayer life with the real world, keeping God at the centre of our prayer life.

Students have recently participated in a prayer survey for staff to gauge how effectively we are providing prayer opportunities across a range of school settings. Here are some of the responses from our students.

Question 1: What ways of Praying do you know?

Infants Responses:

Holding hands, hands together, reading scripture, prayer, Hands, quiet building, listening to music, closing eyes, prayers before meals and when leaving school.

Stage 2 Responses:

Hands together, traditional Prayers, Meditation, classroom prayers, singing, kneeling, closing eyes, mass, afternoon prayers, spoken prayers, reaching out, whispering, silence, drawing.

Stage 3:

Mass, vocal prayers, the rosary, meditation, silence, prayers of gratitude, before meals, prayers of intercession, holding a special object, and school prayers.

Question 2: What Helps You to Pray?

Infants:

Closing Eyes, silence, keeping hands together, nothing distracting, waterfall and bird sounds, being outside in fresh air, peace, reading the Bible, Sign of the Cross, quiet music, following the teacher.

Stage 2:

Being calm, knowing that it’s prayer time, quiet, paying attention, praying with others, silence, good thoughts, thinking about God, reading the bible, closing eyes, having words to read, music, candles.

Stage 3:

Beads, everybody praying at once,  silence, when there is something to pray about, closing your eyes, having a quiet space, being alone, after a good day, remembering people who have helped me, when I’m worried, praying for someone sick.

Question 3: What Parts Of Prayer Do You Enjoy the Most?

Infants:

Feeling the Holy Spirit, listening to the Gospels, having Jesus in our hearts, singing songs.

Stage 2:

Saying Amen, Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, stories from the bible, singing, seeing images, putting hands together, I don’t like to pray, talking to God, asking for things, sending a message, praying for other people, being grateful, the hopeful parts.

Stage 3:

Sign of the cross, singing parts, being grateful, closing eyes, saying prayers out loud with the class, reflections after prayers, asking God to take care of people in heaven, thanking God, stories, the happiness, the end of day prayer, the connection that everyone has when everyone is praying, sometimes it doesn't work.

Katie Castles

Religious Education Coordinator

First Holy Communion

Congratulations to these Year 4 and 5 students for receiving their First Communion at our parish mass. Thank you to the parents and teachers of these children for supporting them throughout the Sacramental program. Congratulations to Neve, Harvey, Mia, Cara, Tua, Deacon, Kynley and Samuel.

Sacramental Program Update

Our 2025/26 sacramental program will commence next term. Families who wish to enroll their child in the program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will have the opportunity to do so at the Parent Information Session on WEDNESDAY 15th OCTOBER at Corpus Christi school Library. This program is for children who are baptised Catholic and in Year 3 or above.

Staffing

We’d like to inform you of a few upcoming staffing changes: 

Office Administration – Mrs Vanessa Bamford will be taking Long Service Leave from  Monday 15 September for most of the remainder of the year. Vanessa will return for a short period in November. We are currently seeking a temporary replacement for Term 4. Please note that from Monday the admin@waratah.catholic.edu.au address is the best contact for the remainder of 2025. 

Creative Arts – Our Creative Arts positive has been advertised for extension through to the end of Term 2, 2026, covering Mrs Tantos’ parental leave. 

PE – Mr Surridge will be taking leave in Term 4. We will update you once a replacement has been confirmed. 

We appreciate your understanding and support as we manage these transitions to ensure continuity and care for our students. 

School Musical

We’ve been busy preparing for our upcoming musical in Week 10, and excitement is building! Tickets are now on sale via Qkr!.

Our Through the Decades theme celebrates both our not only music throughout time, but also during out 90 years of Corpus Christi.

A big thank you to Ms Emma Davies for her work with students during Creative Arts lessons and the extra rehearsals throughout the week, Ms Davies has been supported by Mrs Bone (LSA_ and classroom teachers. It is wonderful to see students having the opportunity to perform on stage at such a young age, even if there are a few nerves and jitters along the way.

Thank you to parents for your support so far. A reminder that costumes are due at school on Thursday 18 September, with full details available on Compass.

ASPIRE Young Actors Program

Congratulations to Sophie in Year 6, who recently participated in the ASPIRE Young Actors Program, presented by Catholic Schools Newcastle.

The original play, The Missing Diary, explored themes of friendship, imagination and acceptance as it followed Darren’s journey to find his lost diary and his voice.

This is Sophie's second year in the Young Actors Program - well done on this wonderful achievement, Sophie!

Sport Update

Congratulations to MJ in Year 5 who will proudly represent the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese at the Polding Athletics Carnival tomorrow. MJ will compete in the Long Jump event, following outstanding results at our school, regional, and diocesan carnivals. What a wonderful achievement – well done, MJ!

Kindergarten 2026 Play and Stay Sessions

We had another wonderful Play and Stay session with our Corpus Christi Primary School Kindergarten 2026 cohort this morning.

Today’s theme was Where is the Green Sheep? and we had some curious new learners keen to explore our Kindergarten room in search of the green sheep.

Thank you to Mrs Ayres, our Kindergarten 2025 teacher, and Mrs March, our Pastoral Care Worker, for their work and support in this space.

Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop is open every Friday from 8:30am-9am.

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.

Event Dates Term 3

Staff Development Days for Term 3 and 4

2026 School Start Dates

2026 Start Dates

• Years 1–6: Monday 2 February - School Summer Uniform

• Kindergarten: Wednesday 4 February - Sport Uniform