Term 4, Week 5, Issue #25 2024

Term 4: A Time of Excitement and Growth

Dear Families,

As we head into the final term of the school year, there is a palpable sense of excitement and energy around the school. We have a number of key events and activities planned that are sure to make this a memorable term for all students. From end-of-year performances and celebrations to year group excursions and projects, the coming weeks will offer plenty of opportunities for our students to shine and showcase the skills they've developed throughout the year.

At the same time, we acknowledge that Term 4 can bring a range of emotions, especially for those students who are preparing to move on to a new school or next stage of their educational journey. For many, this transition can feel both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. If your child is feeling uncertain or anxious about these changes, please remember that you are not alone. Our dedicated staff and support team are here to help, and we encourage you to reach out to your child’s class teacher or any member of the school staff for support. We are committed to ensuring that every student feels confident and ready for whatever lies ahead.

In addition, we’d like to update our community on the class placement and teacher allocation process, which is currently underway for next year. We greatly appreciate the way in which families have been in partnership with us throughout this process. When making decisions about class placements, we consider a variety of factors, with a strong focus on student wellbeing and learning outcomes. We strive to create balanced class groups where each child is supported to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We are grateful for the trust you place in us at this time.

We would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all our staff and volunteers, who continue to go above and beyond to make this term a success. Whether it's preparing students for performances, supporting them with their studies, or organising events, the teamwork and passion displayed by everyone in our school community is truly inspiring.

Together, we will make Term 4 a positive and fulfilling conclusion to the school year.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We look forward to an exciting and successful term ahead.

Yours in Faith, Growth & Unity

The Leadership Team
Marc, Krystina, Maria and Rebecca

Blessings All

How quick is this term passing, we are already at the end of week five, with only four weeks left. What an amazing week we have had, celebrating Catherine McAuley Feast Day on Monday as well as acknowledging and honouring the many men and women who served for our country in the combined Playford and Catherine McAuley Remembrance Day Service. This is also a time to recognise the many men and women, especially the members of the Catherine McAuley School Community, who at this very moment are serving for us.

Of course, we end our week with the spectacular Carols Night at Starplex Theatre. We are looking forward to a wonderful show with all the children singing and dancing.

Catherine McAuley Feast Day
Our day commenced with a sacred Liturgy celebrating our Catherine McAuley, a woman who dedicated her life to helping others, especially training poor girls and women to give them a future. Catherine also distributed food and clothing to the needy and performing other works of Mercy. She is the founder of the Sisters of Mercy and in 1990 she was declared “Venerable,” which is the first stage in being made a Saint.

Our children learnt a bit more about who Catherine McAuley was through lessons and activities planned to strengthen their knowledge on who this wonderful person was. Catherine McAuley died on the 11^th of November and ironically her Feast Day is shared with Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day
A day when we acknowledge those who died or suffered while serving in wars. The day marks the anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 that ended fighting in World War 1. So many lives lost so others can live in peace. Acts of heroism, we are forever extremely grateful.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Catherine McAuley School Year 6 Mercy Awards
Term four is a significant term for our Year 6s. So much is happening as they prepare for their Graduation and transition into Highschool. As part of celebrating their schooling life at Catherine McAuley, our year 6s can nominate members of their cohort for the Mercy Awards. To be nominated for a Mercy Award, you must display Mercy values, Respect, Compassion, Justice, Service, Hospitality and Courage, throughout your schooling life at Catherine McAuley. So much thought went into the nominations, year 6s had to write what Mercy Values has the nominated child displayed and examples on how the values were demonstrated. Staff then have a chance to nominate on the students who were short listed by their cohorts, a long and efficient process.

Australian Mercy Education Award
Catherine McAuley School is just one Mercy school in South Australia, Australia, and the World. We share the common Mercy Values and are forever grateful to Catherine McAuley the founder of the Mercy Sisters. As an associated school with Mercy Education, we have the opportunity to nominate one of our current students to receive the ‘Mercy Education Award.’ This is different from our Mercy Awards, because this award is across Australian Mercy Schools and as a school, we nominate only one worthy recipient who has demonstrated the core values of Mercy Education. This award is in recognition of significant contribution to leadership and demonstrated values of compassion, Justice, Respect, Hospitality, Courage and Service. One of our Year 6 students was nominated and was successfully selected as the recipient of the Mercy Education Award. The Year 6 winner will be presented at the Year 6 Graduation Night.

In conclusion, we end with a prayer, honouring our Catherine McAuley, and so we pray.

Loving God,

You chose Catherine McAuley for the service of your people

who are Poor, Sick and Uneducated.

You inspired her to found the Sisters of Mercy

so that these good works might endure.

May we be inspired by her compassionate spirit

to serve those in need.

Amen.

Blessings

Maria Girolamo-Corbo
Assistant Principal in Religious Identity and Mission

On Monday 11th November,  Catherine McAuley held our combined Remembrance Day Assembly with Playford Primary. We were very lucky to have past and present members of the Australian Defence Force, Parents and Grandparents in attendance.

Our assembly was run by our campus defence students who all did a wonderful job, as did our campus choir lead by Ms Strauss.

In Week 3, our Year 2 students had an exciting and educational excursion to IWS. They enjoyed a fascinating bus tour of the Jeffries green waste and composting site, where they got a close-up view of the process that turns organic waste into compost. The abundance of birds at the site caught the students' attention, drawn by the food scraps in the waste.

The tour also included the area where red or blue-lidded rubbish bins are emptied and sorted before the waste heads to a landfill in Dublin. Here, too, students noticed many birds—reminding them of the impact food waste has when it ends up in landfills. They learned a memorable rule to help reduce waste: “If it grows, in the green bin it goes!”

While at the KESAB Education Centre, students engaged in hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of waste management and sustainability. They sorted household rubbish, practiced recycling, explored the composting cycle, and even calculated emissions from garbage truck collections in a digital activity. A highlight was the “nude food” lunch box activity, where students sorted items into two lunchboxes—one filled with wasteful packaging destined for the landfill, and another with reusable containers that help minimise waste.

The excursion was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about the importance of proper waste sorting and sustainability practices in a fun, interactive way!

A huge congratulations to all our students who completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year! Over the past three terms, our students have read their way through the challenge, reaching the goal of 12 books and showcasing their commitment to literacy and learning.

Well done to everyone who took part – your love of reading is truly inspiring! 

Boys - Section 4 Champions
Three Individual Age Champion Awards
Year 4 Boys Age Champions

On Monday 4^th November Catherine McAuley School participated in the Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival at Santos Stadium, Mile End. Thirty-four Year 3-6 students represented the school extremely well and produced some amazing results. Currently, we are competing against similar sized schools in section four. Congratulations to the boy’s team who finished 1^st, over 50 points clear of their neareast rivals and the girl’s team which finished sixth.

Congratulations to Indiahna Coplestone, Ryder McConnell-Cotton and Riley Clayson on winning individual age champion awards. The athletes achieved many 1^st places and were announced as the best athlete in their section. Also, well done to the Year four boys on winning an age champion award. As a group, they scored the most points in their age group in our section at the carnival. Super effort!!

Throughout the day there were many outstanding individual performances, and the students should feel proud of their efforts against quality opposition.

Thank you to all of the students for their efforts throughout the day and during training leading up to the carnival. I would also like to thank Katrina Timmins, Leanne Crompton,  Mitchell Wood, Alexis Duncan and Rutendo Maringa and the many parents that attended for their help and support during the day.

Fantastic effort team!

PE Co-ordinator
Fabian Chevalier

We’re excited to share that several of our students have recently graduated from the Children's University program! This program is designed to inspire curiosity and foster a love of learning in children, encouraging them to become lifelong learners and achievers. Through curated educational experiences, we help students gain a global perspective and recognize the value of hard work.

Participation in the Children’s University is voluntary and led by the student, which encourages self-motivation and engagement. Each child has the freedom to explore their personal interests and passions! At the end of the program, all participants are celebrated for their achievements in a special graduation ceremony, receiving certificates that reflect their hard work and inspire them to continue reaching for their dreams.

The latest edition of The Southern Cross can be found here.