Term 2, Week 10

What's On This Fortnight

Principal's Message: Mrs Angela Muller

As Term 2 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a wonderfully busy and fulfilling term at our school. From learning achievements in the classroom to joyful celebrations, excursions, sporting events and beautiful community gatherings, it has been a term full of growth, connection and faith.

I am so proud of our students for their hard work and positive attitudes, and I thank our dedicated staff and supportive families for the role you play in nurturing the spirit and learning of every child.

As we now head into the school holidays, I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy some quality time with loved ones. May the break be a chance to pause and reflect and may it bring peace and renewal to your homes.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 3, refreshed and ready for another exciting chapter of learning and faith-filled experiences.

Wishing you all a safe and restful holiday.

Yours in education
Angela Muller

Message from The Assistant Principal: Mr Matthew Gibson

School Reports 

School reports will be sent out today via the Compass portal. Over the past semester, our staff have been busy with classroom instruction and assessments to build an understanding of where your child’s progress currently sits. These reports are a snapshot of your child’s current level of achievement at school. Within each report, there are specific goals for English, Mathematics and Religious Education for students, parents and staff to work towards over the next semester. 

Please take time to share these reports with your child and speak with them about the goals for their next semester of learning. As your child’s first educator, it is important that we work in partnership to ensure that each child is able to make high levels of progress each year.

Pupil Free Days Term 2

Please note that there are two pupil free days in Term 3. During these days, our staff will be engaging in Professional Development in line with our annual improvement strategy. 

• Monday 21st July - English Professional Development - K/1 phonics program and teaching strategies.  
• Monday 4th August - Staff Reflection Day - Religious Education Professional Development with Dr Dan White

Canberra Excursion 

Last week, our Year 5 students went on an educational tour of the National Capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy in line with their History Unit from Semester One. 

Students were accompanied by Mrs Ellis, Ms Kelley, Mrs Barrett and Mr Gibson. We had a fantastic trip with some cold mornings but beautiful weather during the days for our visit. Our students represented our school brilliantly and demonstrated a high level of knowledge of the Canberra at all of our activities.

We would like to say a big thank you to the Australian Government as they continue to support schools by helping cover the cost of educational trips to Canberra. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education.

REC News: Mrs Catherine Connor

Sunday, 6 July 2025 - Fourteenth Sunday Ordinary Time - Year C

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20  Your Peace will rest upon him.

Gospel Reflection

This Sunday the first reading and the Gospel both tell of the call to follow God. The call is not easy, nor is it something that can be done on an occasional basis. God is asking for a full commitment. We have a loving and forgiving God, so even if we fall by the wayside, we can always start afresh and know that we are still loved. In the gospel story, Jesus has sent the disciples out to tell the good news. Jesus knew that not everyone would want to listen, and so he gave instructions to his disciples about how they should act.

Prayer

Jesus who lives within each one of us and we are baptised into His Body help us to proclaim that you, the Lord, continue to come into the world, through us. We carry you into the real world. Help me to live my life for God and others.

Parish Mass on Sunday, 22 June at 6 PM at The Assumption Church

Thank you to the children from the Voices of Hope choir with Mrs Kathy Powell and Mr Matthew Gibson for creating the Music at the Parish Mass last Sunday.

Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass - Friday, 27 June, 2025 

Thank you to Year 4 for helping to make the Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass last Friday, such a heartwarming experience for all. Thank you to Fr Karl Sinclair for celebrating the Mass with us. 

It was the last Mass we will celebrate with Fr Karl as he is moving to Coonabrabran to become the Associate Priest for their Parish. We sincerely thank Fr Karl for sharing his love of God with the students, involving and wowing them with his musical talents, celebrating Mass and the Sacrament of Penance with us. We wish him all the best in his new Parish. We will miss him.

To keep connected to the Cathedral Parish please follow the link to the Cathedral Parish Bulletin.

Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist & Confirmation 2025

Congratulations to Eva-Rose, Charlie, Nixon, Taylor and Sophia for making their Confirmation recently.

Students in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 6 are prepared and ready to receive the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist (First Communion) and Confirmation.

Now your child/children have completed the Preparation Program for their Sacrament the parents/carers can contact Cathy Brien at the Parish Office on 6331 3066 or cathy.brien@cdob.org.au for coordination of dates and times to make the Sacraments..

Please inform the school office, class teacher or myself when your child is making a Sacrament. It is also very important to have the student who is receiving a Sacrament in the Parish Mass to be at the Church at least 20 minutes before the Mass and let the priest know you are there. 

The place for children to receive the Sacrament of Penance will be organised by Cathy O’Brien.

Both the school and the Parish office can supply you with the robes for Communion and Confirmation and medal and sash for Penance. We would also love to receive photos so we can publish them in the newsletter.

Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation and The Confirmation Process 2025

The process of booking in for the Sacraments.

1. Completed Sacraments preparation course. 
2. Obtain a Request form from Cathy Brien at the Cathedral Parish Office cathy.brien@cdob.org.au or phone 6331 3066.
3. Return the completed Request form to Cathy Brien, ensuring that all the relevant supporting documents have been attached. 
4. Cathy will then coordinate the requests with the available dates - remembering that the Bishop will only be available for Confirmation on the following dates:
   
   This weekend is an important one for our students choosing to be Confirmed as Bishop Michael McKenna will be Confirming students from across our four Catholic Schools.
   
   9th and 10th August

If none of the above dates suit a family for Confirmation, contact the Cathedral Parish Office on 6331 3066 and alternative arrangements will be organised for the child's reception of the Sacrament.

Learning with Mel Kelley

Why Maths Mindset Matters

I was recently lucky enough to work with the Year 3 students on Maths Mindset.

Studies have shown that a child’s attitude towards Maths significantly impacts their success. If a student believes they are ‘bad at maths,’ they may avoid challenges and become disengaged. Instead, we want students to see Maths as a subject of creativity, problem-solving and exploration - where mistakes are valuable learning opportunities.

Some key ideas we explored included: 

✅ Mistakes help us grow – Brain research shows that struggling through a problem strengthens learning.

✅ Speed isn’t a measure of intelligence – Deep thinking and understanding matter more than fast recall.

✅ Believe in yourself –  How to respond in a positive way when things become difficult.

✅ Everyone can learn Maths –  There is no such thing as a ‘Maths Person’.

How You Can Help at Home

Many parents worry they can’t support their child’s Maths learning if they don’t feel confident in Maths themselves. The good news is, you don’t need to have all the answers- your role is to encourage a positive mindset.

✔ Avoid saying, ‘I was never good at Maths.’ This reinforces a fixed mindset. Instead, model a growth mindset by saying, ‘Let’s figure it out together.’
✔ Praise effort, not just correctness. Ask, ‘How did you solve that?’ or ‘What strategy did you try?’
✔ Make Maths part of everyday life. Cooking, shopping and budgeting all provide meaningful Maths experiences.

We are committed to helping every student develop a love for Mathematics and the confidence to succeed. Thank you for supporting our efforts to make Maths an engaging and empowering experience for all learners!

The Sports Arena: Mrs Alison Hanley

Soccer Gala Day 

Our Soccer Gala Day was held on Friday 20th June at Proctor Park and Police Paddock. A report of the day from the convener Mr David Maher is included. The Assumption School is thankful to committed educators like Mr Maher who generously give their time and effort to ensure that the students in our Diocese have opportunities to meet in friendship and  participate in the sport of soccer.

It was a pleasure to organise the Bathurst Soccer Gala on behalf of The Assumption School. This year eighty-one teams from nine schools participated. Schools involved were the four local schools, Catherine McAuley, Orange, Blayney, Oberon, Portland and Lithgow. 

Since 2017, The Assumption School has offered the opportunity for nearby Catholic schools to participate in a day of playing soccer against each other. Soccer is an excellent sport for both girls and boys, and this day allows the students to represent their schools under the diocesan motto of ‘Meet in Friendship’.

On the day a positive atmosphere pervaded the venue as students from all the schools demonstrated an enjoyment of playing soccer. They shared this joy with their school friends, children from other schools, parents, grandparents and school staff. Thankfully, the most perfect winter day was offered. After a frosty start, the sun shone and the still day was most appreciated.

For this day to happen the support and cooperation of many people and organisations are necessary. Bathurst Regional Council and Bathurst District Soccer ensure that the venue is well prepared and resourced. Stannies and MacKillop students are outstanding, communicating with and refereeing the younger students very well. Parents, grandparents and family friends attend and share positive feelings with the children, with many assisting with organising teams for games. Central West First Aid were there to care for the occasional significant injury. Thank you to Steve Maguire, the Diocesan Sports Facilitator, who is always available to assist, always providing the playing bibs.

The day cannot happen without the staff from the various schools who take on the role of getting notes to parents, having teams ready, structuring the day at school and getting transport organised. At Assumption, Mrs Hanley started the process of getting the teams organised. Mr Gibson continued the process by finalising the teams, organising parents and staff to look after teams on the day. Also, he ensured that parents, students and staff were communicated with thoroughly. The students benefit enormously from the care and commitment shown to assist them.

David Maher

Eastern Region Athletics

The Eastern Region Athletics Carnival will be held at MacKillop College on Thursday August 7th, (Week 3), of Term 3. All of the students who have made it to the next level have received their events and a permission event has been sent out on Compass. The event list is also in the Resource file on the Compass Event.

Please ensure that all permissions are completed and the $10 levy is paid as soon as possible so we can finalise our team. If your child is not going to attend, please decline in the event so that staff are aware. More information regarding the running of the day will be sent out in Week 1 of Term 3. Students who place 1st, 2nd or 3rd at the Eastern Region Carnival will compete at the Diocesan Carnival in Dubbo on Friday 22nd August.

Polding Rugby Trials

Congratulations to Ben from Year 6 who competed in the Polding Rugby Trials in the Bathurst Diocesan Team. The trials were held in Forbes on Monday 30th June. Well done Ben! The Assumption School is proud of your achievements.

Stage 2 Sport - Gymnastics

Stage 2 Students have been participating in workshops run by Aspire Gymnastics during our sport sessions for the last month. Our students have loved the experience and expert instructions and have greatly benefited from the direction of these professional coaches.

Student Wellbeing: Mrs Sonia Peck

We Work in Partnership: A Day in the Life of Our K–6 Students

We know that the most common response many parents hear when asking their child, “What did you do at school today?” is often a simple, “Nothing.” In reality, each school day is filled with rich, purposeful learning experiences that support your child’s growth academically, socially, and emotionally.

At our school, we value our partnership with you and want to share a general snapshot of what a typical day looks like for our K–6 students:

Morning Sessions: A Strong Start

English
Our mornings begin with focused literacy learning. Students engage in activities such as spelling, handwriting, reading fluency, comprehension, and writing. They apply grammar and punctuation to a range of text types, building confident and capable communication skills.

Mathematics

Students explore key number concepts and develop problem-solving strategies. Learning is hands-on, meaningful, and encourages students to think critically and apply their understanding to real-world scenarios.

Religious Education - Faith and Values
Each day includes time for students to explore scripture, learn about the life and teachings of Jesus, and reflect on Christian values. Students also engage with themes of social justice and are encouraged to think about how they can make a positive difference in the world around them—locally and globally.

Afternoon Learning: Discovery and Creativity

In the afternoons, students take part in subjects such as:

• History and Geography
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
• Science and Technology
• Creative Arts

These learning areas help students build essential life skills, explore new ideas, and express themselves creatively.

Specialist Programs

We are proud to offer specialist instruction in Performing Arts, where students enjoy rich experiences in Music, Dance, and Drama. These sessions allow students to explore their creativity and develop confidence in performance.

Working Together: School and Home

At the heart of everything we do is the belief that we are not raising children in isolation. A child’s learning and growth is most successful when families and schools work together in partnership.

We see ourselves as a team—nurturing your child’s unique talents, guiding their development, and supporting them as they grow in confidence, resilience, and capability. Your involvement, encouragement, and daily routines at home help reinforce what we’re building at school each day. When parents and teachers communicate and collaborate, children receive a strong, united message of care and support that helps them flourish.

How You Can Help at Home

We deeply value the role you play in supporting your child’s learning beyond the classroom. Here are a few simple, yet powerful ways you can help at home:

• Read Together Daily
  Just like practising a sport, regular reading builds fluency, strengthens comprehension, and cultivates a love of literature. Reading aloud to your child—even after they can read independently—continues to model expressive language and deepens their understanding of text.
  
  
• Use Everyday Maths
  Involve your child in simple daily tasks that use mathematical thinking, such as telling the time, measuring ingredients while cooking, estimating costs while shopping, or calculating distances. These real-life applications reinforce classroom learning in meaningful and practical ways.
  
  
• Have Rich Conversations
  Engaging your child in thoughtful, meaningful conversations supports their oral language development and critical thinking skills. When you model clear, structured sentences and introduce new vocabulary in context, you help enrich their vocabulary and grammar.
  Encourage your child to respond to questions using full sentences, rather than one-word answers. For example, instead of “Good” in response to “How was your day?”, prompt them with “Tell me what made your day good today.” This habit builds language confidence and expressive skills.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we create a learning environment where every child can thrive, explore, and succeed.

Sonia Peck
Leader of Student Wellbeing

Checkmate Champions!

Our Year 6 Chess Masters

Take Silver by a Pawn’s Whisker! 

In Week 9, four sharp-minded Year 6 students, Joe, Mina, Parker and Charlie stepped onto the chessboard battlefield, representing our school at the regional Chess Competition. With pawns marching, rooks rolling and queens dominating diagonals, our team took on nine intense rounds of strategic play over the course of the day.

The competition was fierce, but our players kept their cool under pressure and their pieces protected!

Mina delivered an absolute masterclass in tactics and concentration, winning all 9 of her games. That’s right - not a single piece out of place, not a single check left unanswered. What a flawless performance!

Joe held strong with 5 solid wins, outwitting opponents with clever forks and dazzling knight moves. Parker stormed through with 7 impressive victories, playing each match with calm determination and tactical precision. Charlie started with two tense stalemates, refusing to be beaten, then surged ahead with 6 triumphant wins to finish the day on a high!

When the final scores were tallied, the result had us all sitting on the edge of our seats - we finished second overall with 28 points, just one point behind the winning team who scored 29. That’s as close as a knight's leap from the crown!

Whether opening with a classic King's Pawn or executing the perfect endgame, our students played with integrity, resilience and an admirable spirit of sportsmanship. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the way they represented our school.

Congratulations to Joe, Mina, Parker, and Charlie - true chess champions in every sense. The future of our chess club looks brighter than ever!

Well played, team!

First Nations Education: Dhurany (News): Mrs Kylie Booth-Martinez

Yiradhu Marang – Good Day

As the holidays approach, so does NAIDOC Week, which is celebrated nationally from Sunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July 2025. This year’s theme is:
“The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”  a powerful reminder of the resilience, wisdom and cultural pride carried forward by young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

While The Assumption Catholic Primary School will officially celebrate NAIDOC Week in Term 4, in line with other schools in the Bathurst Diocese, we have already had the honour of contributing to a special local initiative.

Thanks to Hailee Taylor, Aboriginal Community Development Officer at Bathurst Regional Council, some of our First Nations students were invited to participate in an exciting NAIDOC project titled:
“Our Faces, Our Future, Our Mob: Portraits of Strength, Vision and Legacy.”

Hailee visited our school to talk with students about the importance of portraits in storytelling—how they not only capture someone’s likeness but also tell stories of identity, family, connection to Country, and cultural heritage. In Aboriginal art, portraiture goes far beyond appearance—it weaves together dreaming stories, kinship ties, traditional symbols like meeting places and animal tracks, and deep spiritual connection to land.

Our students thoughtfully created their own portraits during lunchtime sessions, and their artworks will now be exhibited alongside works from other local schools.

We are incredibly proud of our students’ creativity and cultural pride. We warmly invite our school community to visit the NAIDOC Week Portrait Exhibition at BMEC during the school holidays to see these remarkable pieces.

Exhibition Details:
📅 8 – 15 July 2025
📍 Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC)
🎉 Official Launch: Tuesday 8 July, 5:00pm – 7:00pm

We look forward to sharing more about our school’s own NAIDOC Week celebrations next term.

With yindyamarra and mandaang (respect and thanks in Wiradyuri),

Mrs Kylie Martinez & Mr Max Martinez
Aboriginal Education Officers

Student Spotlight

Ryder has secured a place to compete in this years “Penrite Hattah Desert Race 2025”
Travelling to Mildura he will line up with the best Enduro riders in the country for a shot at the title. Live streamed, the race will take place on Saturday 12th July, we wish Ryder the best of luck!!!

Term 2 & 3: Important Dates

Community Notices