Dear Parents and Carers, 

Despite it only being the end of Week 4, we as a school community have already celebrated so much together and there are more celebrations to come. I look forward to Book Week, Father's Day celebrations and of course the P&F Colour Explosion. 

Next week, Week 5, our staff acknowledge well-being week, along with having no formal meetings scheduled, it is a time for staff to check-in on their own health and the health of their colleagues and friends. I encourgae you to do the same. Take some time to do something for your body, your mind and your soul and remember to check in with your family and friends. Reach out to your trusted friend, your community, medical practitioner or one of the agencies below should you need assistance.  

Spending time with God, through prayer, faith practices, or spiritual reflection, can be a powerful tool for improving mental health. It can foster a sense of peace, purpose, and connection, offering comfort and strength during difficult times. Research suggests that spirituality, including faith and religious practices, can be a protective factor against mental health issues and even facilitate positive mental health outcomes. 

Spending quality time with family can significantly benefit mental health. Strong family connections provide emotional support, reduce stress, and foster a sense of belonging, all of which contribute to improved mental well-being. 

Go well.   

Warm regards, 

Mrs Maria Disibio 

Acting Principal

This weekend we mark the Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In the Gospel, we are  reminded to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus, even when life feels uncertain or challenging. Each week in the classroom, our students have been engaging in a Gospel Reflection based upon the upcoming Gospel for the coming Sunday. During this time students and teachers unpack the reading and make connections to its relevance today. 

Confirmation 

Last week, on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 August, we congratulated our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation, a joyful and faith-filled milestone in their spiritual journey. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they are now strengthened to live out their faith with courage, kindness, and service. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bishop Brian, Fr Patrick, Millie, Anna and our Year 6 teachers for leading the celebration, preparing and supporting our students. A big thank you to our families for walking alongside the candidates in this special time. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to guide and inspire our newly confirmed students.

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Last Friday the 8 August, our school community celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's First Saint, with a Whole School Mass in our Church. We gathered together, reflecting upon Mary's inspiring life of faith, courage, and service to others. 

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Today, our Year 4 and Year 6 students joined Catholics around the world in celebrating The Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This Holy Day of Obligation honours our belief that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven. We gathered along with members of our Parish for a beautiful Mass, giving thanks for Mary's "yes" to God and her example of faith, humility, and love. 

First Holy Communion

Students who wish to receive their First Holy Communion this year are invited to enrol through our Parish. This sacrament is a beautiful step in their faith journey, where they will receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time. Information about enrolment forms and key dates are available below. We look forward to supporting our students and families as they prepare for this special celebration.

Mrs Libbie Tyrrell 
Acting Religious Education Coordinator 

This is a friendly reminder that students are NOT permitted to bring toys from home to play with in the classroom and/or playground. This includes soft toys (e.g. Labubu), teddies, football cards etc. 

Exceptions include:

- When an item is being shown for news (in this case, it is to remain in the school bag for the duration of the day and only to be taken out for news)

- Those students who have been permitted to have a fidget toy. 

We have had 40 students enter the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee this year and the School Rounds are well underway!

By the end of August we should know if any of our students have made it through to the State Round.

Michelle Lace

Leader of Enrichment

Thursday 25th September is Footy Colours Day at St Columbkille's Primary School.

Students can wear their favourite footy or other sporting jersey for a GOLD COIN DONATION!

In response to parent feedback from the Listening Assemblies and more recently through our Tell Them From Me Survey Results regarding a need for more regular communication/updates about your child's learning, all classes K-6 are now utilising the Seesaw Platform. 

Each student will share a minimum of 1 piece of work with their family each week based on an agreed focus across both classes in the grade (e.g Maths, Spelling, Writing, Science).

An important component to ensure the success of this sharing, is that families take the time to discuss this piece of learning each week. This will help to build on the partnership between home and school.

If you haven't already, please link to your child's account by following the instructions given by your child's class teacher.

We welcome any feedback that you may have as we move through the term.

Transition to Summer Uniform: Monday 1st September (Week 7) - during the transition week, students may choose to wear either the Summer or Winter Uniform, but not a combination of both. 

Change Over to Summer Uniform: Monday 8th September (Week 8) - all students must wear the Summer Uniform.

As part of our School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP III), we are proud to be participating in the Officeworks Stationery Sharing & Recycling Program. This fantastic initiative encourages students and staff to give new life to old stationery items by responsibly recycling and repurposing them, helping us reduce classroom waste and support a more sustainable future.

Each grade has been provided with a shared Stationery Recycling Box. Once full, boxes are collected and taken to Officeworks for recycling. As an added bonus, for every full box we return, our school is entered into a draw to win an Officeworks gift card!

✅ Accepted Items:

Pens, pencils, dried-out markers, glue sticks, rulers, calculators, exercise books, whiteboard markers, sharpeners, and more.

❌ Not Accepted:

Paint, scissors, fabric scraps, ring binders, craft paper, musical instruments, and other non-stationery items.

♻️ You Can Recycle at Home Too!

Families are also encouraged to get involved at home! Officeworks offers a Bring it Back and Trade-In Program, allowing you to drop off your old stationery, batteries, electronics, and more for recycling.

Click here for more information.

Thank you for supporting this important initiative and helping to make our planet a greener place!

Miss Lauren Ah Tong - WEN Leader 

On Tuesday 12th August 36 children represented St Columbkille’s at the South Coast Diocesan Athletics Carnival. Well done to all our competitors for their great sportsmanship!    

Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the Diocesan Athletics Selection Trials on Tuesday 19th August at Kerryn McCann Athletics Track.

Amelie A 3rd Female Junior Long Jump

Mia M 3rd Female Senior Discus

Harper W 4th Female 8 Years 100m

Jarli W 4th Male 9 Years 100m

James A 4th Male Senior Long Jump

Jarli W, Maxwell H, Max S and Cooper M 4th Male Junior Relay

Service Amendment Notification (PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT)

We are writing to advise that from Monday 15 September 2025, the following services will be amended:

• S408 – service will no longer operate

• Route 90 – timetable updated

• Route 92 – timetable updated

The changes follow a review by Transport for NSW to ensure that school travel services continue to meet current student demand and that resources are directed where they are most needed. As part of this review, services with consistently low student usage were re-evaluated.

We understand some changes may affect students who previously used a service that will no longer operate. Please be advised students have access to regular route services in the area that accommodate travel to school. Please see details below.

We ask that you please share this information with your school community to ensure a smooth transition.

Please feel free to contact us if you require further information or assistance.

02 4243 8888

PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT

Community Advisory Group.

We are inviting people with disability, carers of a child / children with disability and carers of someone with complex support needs to express their interest to be part of this Group. The group will meet a few times between October 2025 and June 2026 to work with Council staff as we develop the Plan. The people who are part of the Group will be paid for their contribution. More information about this can be found on the website linked above.

We're asking the community to help shape our next Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026–2030.

This Plan will guide our work over the next four years to remove barriers, improve access, and make our city more inclusive for everyone.

We want to hear from people with disability, their families, carers, support workers, service providers, and organisations about:

• What helps – and what gets in the way – of participation in everyday life.
• Experiences with accessing events, public spaces, transport, employment and services.
• Ideas to make Wollongong a more inclusive and accessible city.

There are lots of ways to share your ideas with us:

Community workshops (limit of 10 people per session)

• Family, carer and support worker session – Tuesday 22 July, 12–2pm, Dapto Ribbonwood Centre
• Autism or neurodivergence – Thursday 31 July, 11am–1pm, Corrimal Community Centre (quiet space available)
• Non-visible disability, or cognitive or intellectual disability – Thurs 7 Aug, 12–2pm, Wollongong Library
• Blind or low vision – Tuesday 12 Aug, 12–2pm, Wollongong Library
• d/Deaf or hard of hearing – Wednesday 20 Aug, 12–2pm, Wollongong Library (AUSLAN interpreted)
• Physical disability – Wednesday 27 Aug, 3:30–5:30pm, Dapto Ribbonwood Centre
• Online workshop (with transcription & optional live captions) – Wednesday 30 July, 5–6:30pm, on Teams

Fill in the online form or phone 4227 7111 to let us know you want to come.

Pop-up events

You can talk to us at one of these events:

• Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre – Fri 4 July, 10am–2pm
• Warrawong NAIDOC Family Fun Day – Tues 8 July, 10am–1pm
• Near North Beach Kiosk – Fri 11 July, 8–10am

Other ways to get involved:

• Complete the online survey or pick up a paper copy from your local library (reply-paid envelope included).
• Share stories, ideas or feedback via the online stories tool.
• Email us at engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au, phone (02) 4227 7111 or write to us.
• Use our Community Circle Kit to host your own conversation – available at libraries, online, or on request via phone or email.

Please share this with your friends, family, and groups you're involved with. Your help means we can hear from more people and make a Plan that reflects what matters to our community. 

The final date to submit your feedback is Monday 15 September 2025. We’re here if you have any questions or need help to take part.

Warm regards,

The Engagement Team