Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the beginning of Term 3.

We have enjoyed a sensational start to the term with the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC Week and Grandparents Day in our first week.

Last Tuesday, we celebrated NAIDOC Week. The theme ‘Voice Treaty Truth' was very much at the heart of our acknowledgement and Liturgy. In leading up to the celebration each grade was given a bollard to decorate.  These were used in the Liturgy and will be soon exhibited within our school.  Each student also made and wore a NAIDOC Week wristband on the day. Thank you to Mrs Herring, Mrs Orphin and Mrs Lace for their work in organising these symbols and the Liturgy.

Following our NAIDOC acknowledgement, we celebrated a very special event in our school calendar - Grandparents Day. We began with a beautiful and emotional Liturgy followed by classroom visits and morning tea. We had many, many grandparents both locally and outside the Illawarra region visit and a host of great grandparents as well.

Thank you to Maddison Beverley and her grandfather John and Billy and Matilda Collyer and their great grandmother Jean for their heart-felt words. Thank you to the parents, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Pascoe and Mrs Finney for supplying an outstanding morning tea. It  was a wonderful morning for students, parents, grandparents and great grandparents to come together and celebrate the invaluable support that our grandparents give to our students personally and to our school community. Thank you also to you as parents for giving up of your time to support your child/ren and your parents.

In the holidays we held 'The Patch' working bee to compete the establishment of garden beds, moving both soil and mulch. Thank you to the Mannion, Doherty, Logue, Welch and Munoz Letham families for giving up part of their holidays to complete the work. 'The Patch' is looking amazing! Thank you to all who have contributed.  

I am currently on Long Service Leave and returning on Friday, 9 August, if you have any concerns and/or celebrations during this time, please see Mrs Disibio.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your ongoing and continued support of St Columbkille’s.

Take care,

Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Parish Mass

This weekend we celebrate our monthly Parish Mass. It is a lovely celebration of the Eucharist where school members, parents and parishioners join together in prayer.  If you are able to celebrate with us please remember to bring a plate of food to share after Mass.

Year 6 Bishop Mass

On Tuesday, 6 August St Columbkille’s Year 6 students will celebrate the annual Mass with Bishop Brian. This year students will meet at St John Vianney’s Cathedral, Fairy Meadow. It is always a delightful Mass led by students and musicians from within our cluster of primary schools.

Feast of Mary MacKillop

Australia’s first saint, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, will be commemorated once again on Thursday, 8 August. A special Diocesan Mass will be held at 10am at St Columbkille’s Church and classes will once again reflect on the life and times of this phenomenal lady.

Feast of the Assumption

The annual solemnity of the Assumption of Mary is celebrated on Thursday, 15 August. We reflect on the life of Mary and acknowledge her faithfulness to God’s mission. Catholics worldwide continue to meditate on the Assumption of Mary when praying the glorious mysteries of the ‘Rosary.’ 

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

The United Nations' (UN) International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on Friday, 9 August each year to promote and protect the rights of the world's Indigenous population. This event also recognises the achievements and contributions that Indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. For further information, please see link below:

http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/background.shtml

Reconciliation

The enrolment forms for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will be available for collection after Masses on the weekends of the 4 and 11of August. On Wednesday, 14 August a liturgy will be held in the Church at 6.30pm for parents and carers only, to return your enrolment forms. Sessions will be held on Wednesday, 28 August and Wednesday, 18 September.

Becoming a Catholic 2019

If you or a friend have ever thought about becoming a Catholic, the parish team invites you to this gathering. The date is Wednesday, 21 August at 7.00pm to be held at Parish House (old Convent), Park Road, Bulli. All are welcome. 

Joanne Herring - Religious Education Coordinator 

Our condolences to the Da Silva and Ayers families who recently lost loved ones.   

We keep the Da Silva family in our thoughts and prayers with the passing of Elenora Punturiero. Mother and mother-in-law to Patricia and Carlos and grandmother to Michael and Christian Da Silva.

We also keep the Ayers family - Caroline, Paul, Xavier, Isaac and Juliette in our thoughts and prayers with the recent passing of Caroline's father, Thomas Maher, who passed away on Monda, ,22 July.

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

A big thank you to all the generous people who donated a book or two to our library on Grandparents Day. The book plates have been prepared and your grandchild will be the first person to borrow the book next week. This is a wonderful tradition that means a lot to the students of our school. They love to find their names in the books and share them with their friends. The gift of a book is a gift you can open again and again.

Grazie mille. Dank je. Hvala vam. Dankeschon. Gracias. Many, many thanks.

Paula Russo - Teacher Libraian 

Cross Country Championships
On Friday, 26 July, Hamish Dorney (4 Gold) competed at the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships at Eastern Creek. This event is a combination of both Catholic, State and Independent schools across NSW and Hamish finished a very credible 9th  place among an extremely talented field of athletes. Well done Hamish, you have done yourself and St Columbkilles very proud.

Soccer Gala Day
Good luck to all the students from Years 3, 4 and 6 who will be competing at the Soccer Gala Day at Ocean Park Wonoona and Unanderra today.  We hope they enjoy their day. 

Colleen Kipp - Leader of Sport

I’m so excited to congratulate another 30 super readers. Well done to these children who spent some time in the holidays enjoying some great Australian books.

Kinder: Brody Foster, Abigail England, Zara Erven, Daniel Fleury, Amity Fuller, Zali Mayo, Halle Petch, Sam Raschilla

Yr 1: Taavi Cooke, Harper Harrison,  Isabella Masters, Talon Mayo

Yr 2: Anastasia Auld, Alissa Bishop, Georgia Doherty, Matthew Munn, Leah Petch, Dominik Raschilla, Juliet Ritz

Yr 3: Christian Da Silva, Patrick Fahey, Chantelle Fleury, Lauren Foster, Levi Huggins

Yr 4: -

Yr 5: Cameron Munn, Liam Pleace, Evelyn Ritz

Yr 6: Michael Da Silva, Lacey Duvall, Charlotte Walton

Our grand total is now 68. Well done.

We are very proud of you.

There is now only 1 month to go. Online entries close on the 31 August.  Please ensure that you enter the books you have read this year. Just a reminder that K – 2 must read 30 books & Yrs 3 – 6 are to read 20 books. These books should be from the Premiers book list but you can read five (5) books of your own choice. You can only read two (2) books in each series. If you choose to read more books in the series, they will be considered choice books. You can read books in your own grade level or above. If you choose to read a PRC book of a lower grade level, it will also be considered a choice book.

Paula Russo - Teacher Librarian

Congratulations to the following students:

Awards

Principal’s Award

KB - Elodie McLuskey, Halle Petch, Milla Piacentin, Mackenzie Sims, Ollie Stewart

KG - Amity Fuller, Siena Giraldi, Cleo Mancini, Zali Mayo, Hunter Moskwa

1B - Chloe Copson, Nate Elliott, Haize Humphries, Rosalie Larkin, Ivy Powell

1G - Khloe Jorgenson

2G - Luca Calmasini, Hugo Immens, Brody Karhof, Indira Lozenkovski, Nathan Noonan, Dominik Raschilla

3B – Bronte Fursey, Willow Jenkins, Jack Lawford, Isabelle Stenos

3G – Sibella Bartzos, Patrick Fahey, Haydon Sharman, Lola Shaw, Emily Speirs

4B - Jensen Curbison, Jonothan Logue, Jakob Yarworth

5B - Lucas Cooper, Samuel Morrisey

6B - Chelsea Panagiotidis

6G - Tayte Catlin, Matilda Collyer, John Jones Murphy, Hamish Kelly, Charlotte Mamouris, Emy Ryan, Gabriella Tortorici, Emma Warmington

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Award

1B - Ciara Pons, Eden Seweris

2G - Mason Townsend

3B - Isabelle Stenos

4B - Jacob Esposito

6B - Michael Da Silva, Macie Simon

Medallion

5B - Sophia Kordalis

Each year across Australia, the Children’s Book Council of Australia brings children and books together by celebrating CBCA Book Week. During this time schools, libraries, booksellers, authors, illustrators and children celebrate the best of Australian children's literature.  In 1946, the CBCA established annual book awards to promote children's books of high literary and artistic quality. These awards are now the most influential and highly respected in Australia.  This year’s theme is Reading is my secret power.

On Friday, 23 August, we are inviting all students to come to school dressed as their favourite book character or in a costume that reflects this year’s theme.  Scholastic Book Club have created a page to take the stress out of costume planning with their super easy, time–saving dress up ideas at scholastic.com.au/dressuptime  Check out the cute Thelma & Pig the Pug hats in the latest Scholastic Book Club catalogue.

Paula Russo - Teacher Libraian 

Reminder:  Rosalia Lane is strictly a no stopping zone. Therefore, it is recommended that parents and carers should not park in the laneways and/or driveways (Coxs and Rosalia) prior to afternoon dismissal. 

In respect to our neighbouring houses, it is recommended that parents/carers do not arrive before 3pm and wait in the laneways. Arriving after 3pm greatly reduces the congestion and inconvenience caused to our local residents and neighbours. 

Please ensure that the following guidelines are adhered to for the safety of all. 

• Children must only be dropped off or picked up in the clearly mark designated area
• Children must only enter and exit from the driver side of the car
• Family names are to be clearly displayed on the sunviser of all cars. Please contact the office if you need a new one
• Overtaking a stationary vehicle is not permitted - it is a dangerous practice and unsafe for students exiting vehicles.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Start collecting 5c pieces as the P&F are once again running the 5c Challenge.  Students are asked to collect as many 5cent pieces as they can and to bring them into school between Monday 5 to Friday 9 August.  Each class will have a 5c Challenge jar which students will fill with their 5cent pieces.  The class that collect the most 5c pieces, will be rewarded with a class food party.  

The P&F thank you in advance for your support of this fundraising challenge.  

On Thursday, 1 August our Year 4 students were treated to the sneak preview of Beauty and the Beast presented by Holy Spirit College.  Our students thoroughly enjoyed the musical.  It was also great to see so many Ex-St Columbkille's students within the performance.  We thank Holy Spirit College for their hospitality and for allowing us to experience their talent.  

Tickets for public performances are avaiable via Try Booking or at the door - $10. 

Our next Parents and Friends Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 13 August in the School Library.

All Parents and Friends are welocme to attend.  

The Illawarra and South Coast Lids4Kids is an initiative proposed by Chloe Nightingale in 4 Gold to collect lids from milk, water, juice and soft drink bottles to be made into prosthetic hands for children. 

There will be a collection here at school which will be sent to the Nowra for regional collection and one at Four Aces Cafe and Takeaway, in Shop 5, 65-67 Burelli St Wollongong.  Start collecting now! 

Well done to Chloe and we look forward to supporting Lids4Kids.

Footy Colours Day - Friday 20 September, is a national fundraising campaign held during the month of September to support kids living with cancer. Schools, workplaces, groups and clubs across Australia are encouraged to wear their favourite footy team’s colours and host an event to raise much-needed funds. Every dollar raised supports Fight Cancer Foundation’s education programs to help kids with cancer continue with their education during treatment and recovery.

As a school community, we will be celebrating Footy Colours Day on Friday 20 September. Students and staff are encouraged to wear a jersey from their favourite sports team and provide a gold coin donation.

If you would like more information about Footy Colours Day, please visit their website https://www.fightcancer.org.au/footy-colours-day-homepage 

Christine Perre - Leader of Literacy

On Friday, 16 August students and staff are asked to wear their flanno, for Flanno Friday and to bring in a gold coin donation which will go to assisiting our local famers.  

This fundraising event has been organised by Harper, Emma and Mira. (Year 5)

Canteen Roster

Term 3 - Week 3

Monday, 5 August

Janine Baumeister, Kristy Collyer, Lynn Harrison, Marguerite Zind (9.00-11.30) 

Tuesday, 6 August – SUSHI TUESDAY

(Canteen is closed – Sushi Available via Online Order Only)

Wednesday, 7 August

Donna Kelly, Yvette Vincent, Sally Ritz

Thursday, 8 August

Jennie Fitzpatrick, Lyndell Warmington

Friday, 9 August

Nicky Bishop, Mary Munn, Clare Duggan, Valentina Vega (11.30-2.30)

Term 3 - Week 4

Monday, 12 August

Lucy Fielding, Lynda Cross, Joy Drady (9.30-11.30), Olivia Hira (11.30-2.30)

Tuesday, 13 August – SUSHI TUESDAY

(Canteen is closed – Sushi Available via Online Order Only)

Wednesday, 14 August

Mary Munn, Penelope Geraldi (11.30-2.30), Natalie Piacentin (11.30-2.30)

Thursday, 15 August

Michelle Donachy (9.00-11.30), Lisa McCormack (11.30-2.30), Fiona Humphries (11.30-2.30)

Friday, 16 August

Jessica England (9.00-11.30), Tania Erven, Aimee Mancin, Kylie Walsh