Dear Parents and Carers,

Hope that you are well and very warm welcome to SCC 2024.  

It has been brilliant to see the school come to life again with the enthusiasm, joy and energy that our students bring. Thank you to our parents, grandparents and staff for their support in making the start to 2024 such a successful and positive one.

On Wednesday, we welcomed Kindergarten 2024 to our school community. Thank you to our staff, parents and grandparents for their organisation, care and commitment in making this possible. To our new and Kindergarten families, thank you for making our school - St Columbkille's part of your families learning journey.

‘The start of something new brings the hope of something great - anything is possible’

We welcome many new families to our school community. Welcome to the Galvani, Bain, Barrett, Palbusco, Dunn, Gaday, Gilbert, Harvey, Gualtieri, Pemberton, Hughes, Jardine, Hooper-Mathias Jarquin, Squires, Lamerton, Lim, Longmire, Norton, Porzuczek, Van Luenen Allen,  Donovan Wade, Nebe Norton,  Michael Wilson and Giraldi families.

In relation to staffing, we welcome our new staff member Ms Lauren Ah Tong (4G) and welcome back Mrs Libbie Tyrrell (KG) and Mrs Kiara Lattimore (Dance/Drama). Lauren, Libbie and Kiara will be wonderful additions to our school community and we look forward to learning with and from them over the course of the year.

Last night we hosted with the support of the P&F Team the SCC Welcome BBQ. Over 140 members of our school community enjoyed the hospitality provided by the P&F and SCC Staff. We welcomed many new families to our wonderful school community on the night. Thank you to Sarah, Kellie, Rosie and the team for their continued support and work. It is always most welcome and greatly appreciated.

Yesterday afternoon our Students Leadership presentation was held in the MD Hall. This is one of the many highlights of the school year. Congratulations to our Year 6 students who formally committed to their respective leadership roles and received their leadership badges. Thank you to the many parents and family members who attend the presentation.  We look forward to working with and supporting Year 6 as student leaders within our community.

School Captains: Rosalie Larkin and Kynan Merola

Vice Captains:  Ciara Pons and Talon Mayo  

Student Council:

Jasmine Bertacco, Taavi Cooke, Dylan Fang, Marco Jurjevic,         Ari King, Sidney Landow, Isabella Masters, Jessica McKevith,  Darcy Shaw, Johnson Vu and Sophie Willoughby.   

House Captains:

Downey: Ethan Oliver and Scarlett Raschilla

Joseph: Felix Ibrahim and Abbie Stenos

McCabe: Adelaide Blacka and Sabina Santillan        

MacKillop: Harper Harrison and Andie Lucchitti

Leaders of Community: Kye Morris, Kade Bloom, Spencer Garde, Ruby Ukotic, Hudson Bennett, Nate Elliott, Madison Stone, Khloe Jorgenson, Mason Forrest

Leaders of Faith: Sophie Coughlan, Emma Lucchini, Ariah Blue Channer, Ben Franco, David Asher, Haize Humphries,

Leaders of Learning: Nixon Breakspear, Abby Mannion, Eoin Vaughan, Ivy Powell, Taj Cox, Oscar McKevith, Bryson Nutschnig, Harrison Esteves, Lachlan Miller, Toby Galvani

Leaders of Celebration: Eden Saweris, Tillee Harris, Georgia Allman, Milla Briscoe-Hough, Chloe Copson, Taylor Potter, Lachlan Armytage

Our Swimming Carnival was held at Corrimal Swimming Pool on Tuesday. Thank you Mrs Olima and her team of staff and parents for their support in preparing for and running a highly successful carnival. Congratulations to our students who competed on the day. There was a great sense of excitement and outstanding performances from many of our swimmers. We wish our SCC Swimming Team all the very best at the South Coast Swimming Carnival later in the term which will be held at Corrimal Pool.

As a school, we should be exceptionally proud of our support offered to the many disadvantaged people within the Corrimal community. Thank you for your donations and ongoing generosity shown throughout 2023. Mr Peter Riordan, President of Corrimal St Vincent dePaul sent through a lovely email of gratitude to the SCC community.

St Vincent de Paul – Corrimal Conference

Thank you very much to the Mini Vinnies team and the parents of St Columbkille’s for your generous support of our Christmas Appeal. As you might be already aware, a trailer load of non-perishable food was donated to help us assist those in need. This food will be given to the many people who request our help because they are struggling to feed their families.

Once again, thank you for your overwhelming generosity. - Peter Riordan, President.

Mrs Herring and I have been invited and sponsored by CEDoW to attend the USA LA RECongress from Monday 12 February to 21 Wednesday February. Both Mrs Herring and I are looking forward to the opportunity to experience and learn from the CEDoW contingent and the many international guest speakers and participants attending the congress. It will be wonderful to have Father Patrick  attending as our chaplain.

The P&F Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday February 15 at 7pm in the Library. All are most welcome to attend.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks. Go well and enjoy.

Take care

Brad Colquhoun

Principal

Welcome back to a new year of learning and celebration. I trust you enjoyed the holiday break with family and friends.  As we begin this new year as a school community, we welcome new students, families and staff. We especially welcome our Kindergarten students who begin their journey at St Columbkilles. 

Our vision “Learning Together, Shaping Futures” and our Core Values of Faith, Responsibility, Respect, Learning, Community and Celebration are a focus in our Religious Education lessons over the next few weeks. Take some time to discuss, and reflect on, these values at home.

ORDINARY TIME

In the Liturgical Year of the Church we are in a period called ‘Ordinary Time’. Some people think it is a time when nothing much happens.  Yet it is important because we are growing to be more like Jesus in our everyday lives by listening to the words of scripture each week. Life is not only about the special events and celebrations, it is about who we are in our day to day interactions. At St Columbkille's we live this through our motto: "Christ is the Way."

LENT / PROJECT COMPASSION

On Tuesday 13th February our school captains, Rosalie and Kynan, along with Mrs Disibio, will attend the diocesan CARITAS launch. Each year all of the schools in the diocese come together to acknowledge the beginning of Lent by celebrating a special liturgy. This year John Therry Catholic College at Rosemeadow is hosting. Our staff and students will be introduced to the organisation "Project Compassion", in the coming days, and will be learning about how we can help others who are part of God's family. 

This years theme for Project Compassion is, For All Future Generations. It is inspired by the story of the burning bush in the book of Exodus (Exodus 3:1–20).God said, 'This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.' Exodus 3:15

Our St Columbkille's support helps vulnerable communities around the world to tackle poverty, food security, education, water and sanitation and disaster risk reduction to build a better future for all. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations.

Families can donate through monetary donations to their class Project Compassion donation boxes, envelopes available from St Columbkille's Church, by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413. There will also be other fundraising events within our community. Remember, whatever you can give,  large or small you can give, goes a long way to helping others.

ASH WEDNESDAY

All parents and carers are invited to attend either our Ash Wednesday Mass or Liturgy on Wednesday 14th February. Years 5 & 6 will be part of the Mass in St Columbkille's church at 12 noon, whilst Kinder-Year 4 will celebrate with a liturgy in the Monsignor Downey Hall at 12 noon. It is a lovely way to begin the season of Lent, where we are asked to devote ourselves in 3 main ways:

1.seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture,

2.to service by giving alms, and to

3.practice self-control through fasting

LENTEN PRAYER FOLDERS

Family Prayer boxes will be sent home during the Season of Lent. The box contains all that you will need for your family to pray together. Please remember if your child doesn’t bring the prayer box home during the season of Lent they will have a chance to bring it home during October – the month of the Rosary, or in the season of Advent.

NATIONAL APOLOGY TO THE STOLEN GENERATIONS

On Tuesday 13th February 2024, Australia commemorates the 16th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations which was presented to Parliament by the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd in 2008. National Apology Day is a day to remember and pray for the children who were taken away from their families and homes and commit to right the wrongs of past injustices and build a bridge of respect between all people.

Loving God, Creator Spirit, God of the Dreaming,
You who created all people in your image and likeness,
May we listen with care to all people of this land and treat all with
respect.
Source of all creation and unity, bless us in our endeavours to live as
one in Christ.

All: Amen.

Spiritual Reflection - Breathing

The beginning of the new school year brings with it a range of possibilities and emotions. In our need to be organised, we prepare for what we know and what we anticipate. It is good to recognise that we do not, however, work in isolation as we have an education and Catholic community that supports us in many varied ways. It is also timely to remember that God is with us every step of the way, loving us unconditionally and inviting us to share this same love in all our relationships. For it is the quality of relationships that underpins all that we do, bringing fullness of life for ourselves and all those we encounter.

Richard Rohr OFM reminds us that “we do not have to figure it all out, straighten it all out, or even do it perfectly by ourselves. We do not have to be God. It is an enormous weight off our backs. All we have to do is participate! After this epiphany, things like praise, gratitude, and compassion come naturally—like breath.”

This is where we call on our spirituality (based on the word spirare which means ‘to breathe’). Each day it is worthwhile to reflect on how well you are breathing - allowing the Spirit to work in and through you. We can call on a number of practices that assist us to live life fully, such as meditation, immersing ourselves in nature, taking time for stillness and silence in the busyness of each day, and praying that is both conversational and listening to the God within. Practices like these allow us to be attentive and to live in the present moment.

As the journey of this year unfolds -
What grounds and centres you?
What practices resonate for you to assist your ‘spiritual’ breathing?

Commit to ensuring these are given priority - the quality of your life and relationships depend on them.

Pupil Free Day

Friday 23rd February 2024

Our staff will be working on Continuous Catholic School Improvement - School Cyclic Inquiry

Award Assemblies will be held on a fortnightly basis from 2:30pm 

Merit and Core Value awards are given by all staff and are presented at the Award Assembly fortnightly.
Awards are given for:

• Core Value
• Academic, behaviour, social and positive affirmations and/or achievements 
• Specialist Lesson 

When children have received four (4) merit awards they will be presented with a Mary MacKillop Award.
The children will be required to bring their four merit awards to school and send them to the office, via the
office bag. When (3) Mary MacKillop Awards have been received a  school medallion will be presented.

All parents and carers are warmly invited to join us for two parent workshops this term.
Reading: Thursday 7th March: 2-3pm in MD Hall. We will be discussing the syllabus expectations in relation to the teaching of Reading and what this looks like in the classroom. Practical examples for what you can do at home will also be shared.

Maths: Friday 8th March 2-3pm in MD Hall. We will be discussing fundamental knowledge all students need to have and give practical examples of what you can do at home to support your child. 

Please come and join us for an afternoon of learning and games!

See you there.

Mrs Christine Perre and Mrs Maria Disibio

Swimming Trials - 6th February 2024

The St Columbkille’s swimming trials were held on Tuesday at Corrimal Pool. It was a wet start to the day however the sun shone through at the end to top off a great morning. There was a great display of school spirit, with thanks to our House captains for leading our house cries. 

The students tried their best across all of the swimming events and enjoyed a great morning. Thank you very much to our parent volunteers. Your help is greatly appreciated! Results will be published shortly and ribbons will be handed out at a morning assembly. Date to be confirmed. 

Mrs Carla Olima - PDHPE Teacher

After consultation with students, staff, members of the parents community, CEDoW and Uncle Kev, we renamed our playgrounds to reflect our connection with and to Dharawal land.  Thank you for your work and support in this process.

The Dharawal names are displayed below. 

If your child has a health related concern, that the class teacher needs to be aware of, please email the office staff or call the office staff and give them this information. These concerns may include:

• an extra dose of Ventolin on a given day or medication details. The office staff will inform the class teacher.
• If your child breaks/sprains/fractures a bone/muscle/tendon please make certain you ask the Doctor/hospital staff for a medical clearance for your child to attend school. Please make certain this has information in regards to any activities your child may or may not participate in.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Mrs Pauline Leonard - Teacher/Middle Leader

Dear Parents and Carers,

School Fees will be due for payment in full by Wednesday 28th February 2024.

This is also when first instalments will be due. 

Statements should now have been sent to all parents/guardians. If you have not recieved your 2024 statement, please contact the SSSO Belinda Howard as soon as possible via email - howardb03@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

What is applied within the school fees?

Payment Plans

Parents have the option of going on a payment plan if they are unable to pay school fees in full at the start of each year. If parents are already currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year.

In order to go on a payment plan, a Request to pay by Instalment Form must be filled out by the parent and emailed to the Senior School Support Officer - howardb03@dow.catholic.edu.au. Alternatively you can also drop the form off to the school office. Parents have the option to pay either on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

IMPORTANT: Please note, if you currently have a child at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment. EG: Weekly, fortnightly, etc.

Please contact Belinda Howard via email - howardb03@dow.catholic.edu.au or please call 4284 7987 to discuss this in further detail.

Financial Hardship

It is an important part of the Senior School Support Officer’s duty to implement strategies for families who may be experiencing financial hardship and may be finding it difficult to pay their school fees. If you are experiencing financial hardship, it is important to advise the Senior School Support Officer as soon as possible. A special form called a Diocesan Application for Fee Concession will need to be completed by the parent/carer.

Please contact Belinda Howard directly via howardb03@dow.catholic.edu.au or please call 4284 7987 to discuss this in further detail.

Kind regards,

Belinda Howard

Senior School Support Officer

Starting from the beginning of Term 1 2024, our school will be transitioning to a new online enrolment platform called Funnel.

This will remove the use of all paper forms.

Please take note of this particularly for sibling applications.

This new program will be effective for both parties to communicate effectively throughout the enrolment process.

The online application form will be accessible from the home page of our school website - https://www.sccdow.catholic.edu.au. 

Daughters and Dads Football is back in 2024 with a program located at Illawarra Sports High School. We are searching for fathers/father-figures who want to strengthen the relationship they share with their primary aged daughters through the uniting power of football. Get ready for fun and engaging sessions over 8 weeks! Term 1 sessions run weekly for 90 minutes, covering skill development and interactive activities while spending quality 1:1 time together. The program kicks off from  from Friday 2nd February.

We hope to see you there! 

Kirsten Smith - Program Coordinator

02 4941 7242 - ksmith@northernnswfooball.com.au