Term 1 Week 8 Newsletter 2025
Principal's Messages
CELEBRATING HARMONY DAY: A COMMUNITY UNITED IN BELONGING
Harmony Day at St Laurence’s was a vibrant celebration of inclusiveness, respect, and belonging, reflecting the Harmony Week message that Everyone Belongs. It was a time for our school community to come together, embracing the richness of our diverse cultural backgrounds while being united by shared Australian values.
Although the rain required some last-minute changes to the schedule, the children still had a wonderful time, and the overarching theme of the day shone through.
Our celebrations included a beautiful Mass, centred on our core value of hope. This special gathering also marked the beginning of the Parish Prayer Vigil, with many parishioners joining us in prayer - a meaningful way to start this sacred time.
Throughout the day, students immersed themselves in cultural activities that highlighted the beauty of diversity. Laughter and excitement filled the air as we played Gorri, danced to Punjabi, Irish and Greek music, painted intricate henna designs, and created stunning rangoli patterns. We also expanded our language skills by learning German words and gathered in a joyful sea of orange.
It was a day of learning, connection, and celebration - an opportunity to reflect on the importance of respect, understanding, and the simple yet powerful truth that everyone belongs.
See our FaceBook page for many more photos of this event.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: PARTNERING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held this week, providing a valuable opportunity for parents and teachers to connect, discuss student progress, and set goals for future learning. These conversations play a crucial role in supporting each child’s learning journey, ensuring that their individual strengths are celebrated and areas for growth are identified. Our dedicated teachers are committed to high-quality teaching and personalised learning, and these conferences allow for meaningful collaboration between home and school. By working together, we can continue to foster each student’s academic success and overall wellbeing.
NAPLAN TESTING COMPLETED FOR YEARS 3 AND 5
NAPLAN testing has now been completed for our Year 3 and 5 students, who were well-prepared by their teachers to confidently navigate the assessment platform and its various tools. As a standardised test, NAPLAN measures the extent of learning in the years leading up to the current one, providing valuable insights for school strategic planning and identifying areas of growth. The expertise of our skilled teachers is evident in the strong foundation they build, ensuring students are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for each stage of their learning journey. Parents will receive their child’s NAPLAN report in Term 2, offering further insight into their progress.
A ‘VERY HUNGRY’ AUDIENCE FOR THEATRE MAGIC!
Our Kindergarten and Year One students recently had the joy of watching The Very Hungry Caterpillar come to life on stage. This beloved story by renowned author and illustrator Eric Carle was brought to life with stunning puppetry and vibrant performances, capturing the imagination of our young learners.
For our Kindergarten students, the day was particularly special - it marked their very first school excursion and even their first ride on a double-decker bus! The excitement was high as they embarked on this new experience, guided by our dedicated teachers who foster a love of learning both inside and outside the classroom.
The production was a wonderful extension of classroom learning, reinforcing storytelling, creativity, and engagement with literature. Our teachers continually seek opportunities like these to enrich students' learning experiences, ensuring that stories leap off the page in exciting and memorable ways.
See our FaceBook page for more photos.
CLASS PARENTS NEEDED FOR YEARS 2, 3 AND 5
We are seeking Class Parents for Years 2, 3, and 5 to help strengthen the connection between families and our school community. Class Parents play a valuable role in coordinating occasional class events, and fostering a sense of involvement among families. If you are interested in taking on this role, please contact your child’s class teacher. Your support would be greatly appreciated!
Religious Education
Alicia O'Connor - RE Coordinator
Gospel Focus
Embracing God’s Love
This week we are reminded of God’s boundless love and mercy, beautifully expressed in Luke 15:1-3, 11-32—the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Just as the father in the parable embraces his lost son with open arms, so too does God welcome each of us, pouring out His grace and calling us to grow in faith. Confirmation strengthens this relationship, sealing us with the Holy Spirit and empowering us to live as disciples of Christ. May our children step forward with open hearts, ready to embrace the gifts of wisdom, courage, and faith as they continue their journey with God.
Parish Mass
This week Year 3 and Year 4 will attend Parish Mass. All are welcome to join us if you are able.
(Friday 28th March starting at 12 pm in St Laurence’s Church).
Term 1 Events
| Week 9 | Whole School Meet 4 Mass (Sunday 6th April starting at 9 am at St Brigid’s) |
| Week 10 | Holy Week Liturgy (Thursday 10th of April starting at 12 pm at St Laurence’s Church) |
MASS TIMES: St. Brigid’s: Saturday - 6:00pm, Sunday - 9:00am and Sunday - 6:00pm.
St. Laurence’s Church: Monday- 9:30am, Wednesday - 9:30am, Friday -12 noon and Sunday - 7:30am
PROJECT COMPASSION: Third Week of Lent
Lam is 27 years old from a small village in rural Vietnam who faced significant challenges due to his short stature. Growing up, Lam often felt isolated due to limited job opportunities and difficulty moving around his community. While his friends started jobs after high school, Lam stayed home with his parents, unsure if he could ever achieve his dream of becoming a graphic designer.
Everything changed when Lam joined the I-SHINE program, supported by Caritas Australia. Through this initiative, Lam completed a six-month course developing his graphic design skills. Along the way, he built confidence, made friends and gained a sense of connection.
Today, Lam runs a successful freelance graphic design business from home, serving clients worldwide and earning a steady income. Lam hopes his story will encourage other young people with disabilities to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.
Lam’s journey shows how your support of Project Compassion empowers individuals to break barriers and transform their lives.
Will you walk alongside people like Lam this Lent?
You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes, envelopes or by clicking on the link below the video.
Or online at: caritas.org.au/project-compassion
Or by calling: 1800 024 413
Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.
Year 7 SJC Enrolments 2026
Sports
Bathurst Dio Winter Sports Trials
Best of luck to all the students who are representing St Laurence's at the Bathurst Diocese Winter sports trials on Friday.
Selected students will be trialing for a position in the Bathurst Diocese Team in their chosen sports; Soccer, Rugby League and Netball.
Good Luck!
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
As part of our ongoing commitment to Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) each class spends time reviewing and learning about the expectations in specific areas. The focus can be developed from feedback and data. This week our focus is the creative play area
Being safe in the creative play area means:
- We keep the equipment in the spaces provided
- We are sensible and use the equipment for building in a safe way
- We tell the teacher if things are not safe
Being responsible in the creative play area means:
- We pack up when the music plays
- We share the equipment with others
- We work together as a team
- We dismantle our structures at the end of the week
Being respectful in the creative play area means:
- We include others in our play
- We play fairly and take turns
- We solve problems calmly together
- We ask if we want to share items
- We use items from the area provided for unused items
ICAS 2025
Canteen
Thank you to our wonderful parent helpers who have heard our call for help and put their hands up to volunteer on Friday's in our school canteen.
A note will be sent home with students this week for Term 2 volunteers.
The roster for the remainder of Term 1 is below.
Dates to remember
Birthdays
Curriculum Corner
Cool and Creative Kinders!
Kindergarten has had a fantastic start to 2025! They have been settling into their routines with enthusiasm and curiosity, embracing every new challenge with eager minds.
Our young learners have been busy producing clever and imaginative art pieces, drawing inspiration from the rich texts they have been exploring in class. Their creativity shines through in every brushstroke, collage, and design, making for a colorful and expressive display of their learning.
It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they share their ideas and bring stories to life through their artwork. We can’t wait to see what else they create throughout the year!
Awards
Happy Families
Community News
