Newsletter 20 June 2025
Principal's Message
GREEN HOUSE claim the 3-6 Athletics Shield for 2025
'You won't believe your eyes' at Firefly - next Wed 25 June
Friday 20 June 2025 - Term 2 Week 8
Dear Parents and Carers,
As educators, we are often reminded of the incredible privilege it is to work with young people. Our students never fail to bring joy to our days — they’re funny, curious, insightful, and constantly keep us on our toes. While some days can be more challenging than others, last Friday’s Years 3–6 Athletics Carnival was truly a highlight.
Our students were nothing short of exceptional. Their behaviour, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm were a delight to witness. Congratulations to all students who competed and gave their best, and to our age champions and Green House for taking out first place. A heartfelt thank you to all staff who contributed to the success of the day. A special acknowledgment goes to Mrs Candy Butcher and Mrs Sione George for the enormous amount of work behind the scenes to ensure our sporting events run so smoothly.
This weekend we pray for the students who will be making their First Eucharist. The First Eucharist, also known as First Holy Communion, is a deeply significant step in a child’s faith journey. It is the first time they receive the Body of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist, marking a closer union with Jesus and full participation in the Mass. This sacred occasion celebrates a growing understanding of God’s love and the importance of belonging to the Catholic community. As a school and family community, it is a beautiful opportunity to reflect on and support the children’s spiritual growth, and to share in the joy and grace of this milestone together.
It’s also my great pleasure to invite you all to our Firefly Arts Festival, happening next Wednesday, 25 June. In the lead-up to this wonderful event, I’d love to give you a sneak peek into what you can expect on the night, as well as acknowledge the incredible effort our students and staff have put into preparing for it.
Firefly was inspired by a trip to Sydney during Vivid many years ago. Mr Watts, Mrs Scott and I were enjoying dinner after an educational conference when the first spark of the idea was lit. As she so often does, Mrs Scott embraced the concept with enthusiasm and brought in Mrs Leonie Hewitt and Mr Dustin Kerr as our Firefly team, along with many other passionate staff, to help bring the vision to life. Firefly was born — and it has been a highlight in 2017, 2019, 2022 and now 2025.
The Firefly Arts Festival is a celebration of creativity, light, and community — a chance to showcase the artistic talents of every student in our school in a vibrant, festival-style atmosphere. It’s a true family evening, and we warmly encourage all families to come along and enjoy the magic of the night together.
Look out for the following installations and events on the night:
- Static Art Display: Every student has contributed a piece of artwork that will be proudly displayed in the Wet Weather Area (undercover near the canteen)
- Cohort Installations:
- Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2 – Around the large pine tree on the hill
- Years 3–6 – In the top assembly area
- Light Projections: Artwork projected around the school
- Food Area: Come along hungry! Moreshish Pizza will be on site, and we’ll be running a BBQ sausage sizzle
- Performances: Dance performances throughout the night, culminating with choir performances on the field
Please note that regular Compass notifications will be sent throughout the night, including performance times and safety reminders.
We are very excited to welcome your family and friends to this amazing event.
Kind regards,
Naomi Loader
Acting Principal
Faith and Mission News
First Eucharist
It is very fitting that many of our students will be receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time this Sunday as it is the the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which celebrates the Eucharist. The Latin name for this feast day is "Corpus Christi", Latin for "Body of Christ". For some insights into the history and sacredness of this most holy sacrament, click HERE to hear from our Bishop, Gregory Homeming.
Please pray for our First Eucharist candidates and their families as they make the final preparations this week to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time this weekend at the Parish Masses (Saturday 5:30pm, Sunday 9am and Sunday 5:30pm). Candidates should arrive at the church 15 minutes before the start of Mass.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for the most precious gift of the Holy Eucharist. We ask You to bless all those who are preparing to receive Your Body and Blood for the first time.
You have provided for us richly through the gift of Your Body and Blood. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is a tremendous blessing, and we ask You to help all who are preparing to make their First Holy Communion. Help them to grow in love for You each day of our lives. Help them to always appreciate the great gifts You have given us for our salvation. Amen
Confirmation
The Confirmation Liturgies will be held at 5:30pm on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July.
Jubilee Art Prize
Attention all budding artists! Click on the link below if you are interested in participating in a Diocesan wide art competition to celebrate the Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’
https://www.lismorediocese.org/jubilee-art-prize/
‘Pilgrims of Hope’
Many classes have begun their ‘pilgrimage’, working through the activities on the poster below. This pilgrimage will take almost all year to complete and we look forward to sharing some of the experiences that bring us closer to God.
Naomi Loader - Assistant Principal Mission
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation
Pastoral Care
K-2 Parent Storytelling 2025
Mini Vinnies
A massive Mini Vinnies thank you to our school community for all of your donations for our Pete's Place collection. We are overwhelmed by the amount we have received and cannot wait to be able to deliver these much-needed goods to Pete's Place. Thank you, everyone. The smallest things can make the greatest difference in people's lives, and we are sure that this will certainly be the case. Keep an eye out for the photos of the delivery. Thanks again, from the Mini Vinnies team.
FIREFLY Arts Festival - Wed June 25
TICKETS ON SALE via STICKY TICKETS
Click on the link below to purchase your tickets:
https://www.stickytickets.com.
PRE-PAY TODAY for FASTER ENTRY on the night!
CANTEEN HOT DOG DAY
News from the LARC
Students in Years 3-6 have until Friday 19 September (Week 9, Term 3) to finish the Premier’s Reading Challenge. All students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 have completed this challenge in LARC time.
Overdue notices were handed out last week. These are a friendly reminder to return books so other students can also enjoy them. Please do not pay for a book unless you have lost it and can’t return it.
Happy Families
3-6 Athletics Carnival Gallery
Sport News
Week 10 | ||
Mon 30 Jun | Polding Rugby Union | Forbes |
Tue 1 Jul | AFL Paul Kelly Cup Regional Final | Coffs Harbour |
Wed 2 Jul | Clarence Zone Athletics | Coffs Harbour |
Thu 3 Jul | Polding Touch Football | Port Macquarie |
NSW Catholic Primary Schools Cross Country
Congratulations to our students who competed at the NSW Catholic Primary Schools Cross Country last week and came home with some fantastic results.
2nd - Hugh Morgan (12 Year Boys)
3rd - Angus Morgan (12 Year Boys)
25th - Emma Sandes (11 Year Girls)
We wish Hugh and Angus all the best when they compete at the NSW PSSA Cross Country Championships next month.
Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union Trials
Well done to our students who trialled at the Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union Trials last week: Nate Butcher, Louis Harrigan, Kobe Lindsay, Hugh Morgan, Parker Murphy-Moore, Riley O’Brien, Lachlan Speirs, Jack Tyler.
Congratulations to Nate, Louis, Riley and Lachlan who were selected to represent the Lismore Diocese at the NSW Catholic Primary Schools Rugby Union Championships in Forbes. Well done boys!
Lismore Diocese Rugby 10’s Tournament
A big congratulations to our senior rugby team for coming away with the win at the Lismore Diocese Rugby 10’s Tournament. The team will now battle it out at Hunter’s Hill in August with the best team in NSW. Go SAPS Rugby!
Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival
What a wonderful day of athletics in the sunshine! Well done to our students who ran, jumped, threw and cheered at our Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival today.
Congratulations to Green House being awarded the winning house shield!
Congratulations to our age champions:
Junior Girl Champion - Tuscany McCarthy
Junior Girl Runner Up - Frankie Zuvela
Junior Boy Champion - Beau McMillan
Junior Boy Runner Up - Hudson Cochran
11 Year Girl Champion - Pippa Rowbotham
11 Year Girl Runner Up - Emma Sandes
11 Year Boy Champion - Blake Galvin
11 Year Boy Runner Up - Cannon Glover
Senior Girl Champion - Poppy Warren
Senior Girl Runner Up - Lola Bjorksten
Senior Boy Champion - Hugh Morgan
Senior Boy Runner Up - Riley O’Brien
We also had some records broken! Well done to the following students:
Frankie Zuvela - Junior Girls 800m (3.17.22)
Hugh Morgan - Senior Boys 800m (2.35.87)
Aria Grebert - 8 Year Girls 100m ( 17.76)
Lily Orton - 9 Year Girls 100m (16.70)
Riley O’Brien - Senior Boy Shot Put 3kg (7.68)
Senior Boys 4 x 100m Relay - Red House (Hugh Morgan, Rocco Galvin, Blake Galvin, Paddy Hammond) (1.03.36)
A special mention to Josie Nealand who has set records in Multi Class events:
10 Year Girl MC 100m (60.43)
Junior Girl MC Shot Put (2.58m)
Junior Girl MC Long Jump (0.712m)
Congratulations to the following students who have qualified to compete at the Clarence Zone Athletics Carnival
Aria Grebert, Autumn Chapman, Lily Orton, Islah Gill, Isabella Guthrie, Tuscany McCarthy, Olive Tyacke, Lacie Warren, Frankie Zuvela, Halle Timms, Chloe Blackett, Liliana Miazio, Josephine Nealand, Pippa Rowtbotham, Emma Sandes, Stella Dobson, Alba-May Rink-Pilley, Lily-Rose Gillespie, Poppy Warren, Lola Bjorksten, Rylee Cutler, Layal Cole, Ariana Yaya, Sophie Beckhouse, Archie Lynd, Arley Lassau, Lucas De Jong, Arlo Tuala, Beau McMillan, Hudson Cochran, Leo Tait, Hamish Loy, Mason Kidd, Enzo Bormann, Eduard Radulescu, Taj Schuhmann, Blake Galvin, Vinnie Fensom, Ollie Chiswell, Max Davis, Kobe Lindsay, Cannon Glover, Tre Grant, Hugh Morgan, Jack Tyler, Angus Morgan, Riley O’Brien, Nate Butcher, Edision Hay.
CANTEEN NEWS
Canteen Roster
Week beginning 23 June
- Monday - C Williams
- Tuesday - M & M Black, K Hunn
- Wednesday - S Rowan
- Thursday - V Paul
- Friday - W McLean, C Rose, B Symons
Week beginning 30 June
- Monday - M Mainey
- Tuesday - M & M Black
- Wednesday - S Rowan, Amy
- Thursday - B Symons
- Friday - W McLean, C Williams, R Felton
Notices
