Dear Parents / Carers, 

I hope you have enjoyed your week.  

The P&F Welcome BBQ was a resounding success, filled with laughter, smiles, and a strong sense of community.  Many thanks to the P&F for organising this wonderful event.  I encourage all parents and families to consider joining this fantastic team and contributing to our school's vibrant community.

I extend my gratitude to our teaching staff for leading the Grade Orientation Meetings outside their work hours this and last week. By sharing information about our school, informing parents about grade routines and expectations, and being available for initial connection, our teachers have facilitated a positive start to the new school year. I trust that parents found these meetings beneficial and informative, as I have recieved positive verbal and written feedback.  

The school Swimming Trials held on Monday afternoon were a great success, thanks to the participation of our swimmers, the support of parent helpers, and the organisation of staff and teachers. Students selected for the South Coast Swim Trials have been notified via Compass. We wish them all the best in the upcoming competition.  

The whole-school beginning-of-year Mass was a wonderful way to end Week 4 and commence the school year together. Students, staff, and parents received special blessings and had the opportunity to reflect and pray. I thank Fr Anthony for his spiritual leadership.  

I encourage all families to make time for spiritual reflection by attending Mass at St Columbkille's on a Saturday evening from 6pm or a Sunday from 9:30am.  

Wshing you a wonderful fortnight.  

Warm regards,

Mrs Maria Disibio

Acting Principal 

Beginning of the Year Mass

Today we celebrated a wonderful whole school Mass as part of the Parish Mass in our St Columbkille's Church. Thank you to everyone who helped with our special Mass for this our Jubilee Year of Hope.

Project Compassion- Lenten Launch

The Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion will take place on Tuesday 4 March 2025 at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish Primary School, 95 Flagstaff Road, Warrawong. Mrs Disibio and our school captains, Keira and Ollie,will be attending on our schools behalf.

Jubilee Year 2025 Information

In the 2025 Jubilee Year, the Church celebrates the theme Pilgrims of Hope, encouraging us all to live with hope in God and to share that hope with others.

Pilgrimage is not a new concept nor is the expectation of being pilgrims of hope. As pilgrims of hope our commitment  is to look outward and go out into the world to be good news, as people of hope who encourage hope in others.  Hope is grounded in love and so we are called to walk through this world with the eyes of love, recognising and appreciating the sacred in all of God’s creation. This is  our job as pilgrims of hope.

Jubilee years are like moments of profound grace - calling for growth, reflection and conversion. This process leads us towards making a positive difference as we consider how we can be agents of hope and renewal in the world.

The CEDoW Guidebook for the Celebration for the Year of Jubilee is now available for members of the school community. If you are interested in this document please let me know so the link may be forwarded.

During the first few weeks of school, there have been many exciting events like the Year 6 Badging Ceremony, Kindergarten’s first full week of school, the swimming carnival and NRL clinics.

Year 6 have also met their Kindy Buddies and have been guiding and settling them into ‘big school’.

We also congratulate all students that have received an award at the 1st Assembly of 2025.

This year there have been many new changes, like the joint K to 6 recess and lunch, new equipment like the volleyball net and new soccer goals.

We hope that 2025 will be a great year! 

By Keira Fabon and Oscar Haafkens (SRC)

Each fortnight, our SRC would like to interview a different member of staff to find out a little more about them. This week, Keira had the opportunity to interview Mrs Lattimore. 

To assist with your planning, these are the Pupil Free Days that will occur this year:

Term 3: Monday 21st July and Friday 26th September 

Term 4: Thursday 18th December and Friday 19th December

On these dates, staff will engage in Professional Learning and/or Spirituality Days. 

There are times when changes need to be made that are beyond our control. If there are any changes to these dates, they will be communicated with you as early as possible.

Mrs Christine Perre
Acting Assistant Principal

Our Parents and Friends Association (P&F) will hold the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 26 February from 6pm in the school Library.

All parents and carers are most welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Morning supervision at school begins at 8:20am. Students are not to arrive before this time as the school is closed and no supervision is provided. 

We have an increasing number of students arriving anywhere from 7:40am. Often when staff begin arriving there are students who have been dropped off, or have ridden their bike, and are waiting outside the gates.

This is a significant safety concern as we do not provide supervision before 8:20am. 

If you require before school care, there are options available including: 

• Bungalow

• Big Fat Smile

The NSW Government recommends that up until 10 years old, children are supervised very closely when near roads. 

In order to help our families with this in the morning, we now have supervised morning car lines from 8:20am, instead of 8:30am. 

Application for Extended Absence - Greater than five school days

Complete this form for an absence of greater than five school days that is due to one of the following reasons: misadventure or unforeseen event; participation in special events not related to the school; domestic necessity such as serious illness of an immediate family member; attendance at funerals; travel in Australia and overseas; recognised religious festivals or ceremonial occasions.

Previously when families took leave within the school term, schools issued a certificate of extended leave, approving leave for holidays and other personal matters. As of 2025 the CEDoW Attendance Policy has been updated to reflect the importance of school attendance for all students. This means that schools now issue an Acknowledgment of Extended Absence. This acknowledgement indicates whether the explanation for the absence has been accepted by the Principal or not. An explanation that is not accepted is recorded as an unjustified absence. Generally, an explanation for extended absence for the purpose of travel outside the school holiday period can not be accepted by a Principal, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as urgent family situations, illness, funerals or special religious ceremonies.  

Please email the completed form and supporting documents to info@sccdow.catholic.edu.au
If you have any questions please contact the school office.

If you are in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 or Year 6 and play an instrument, we would love for you to join our school band, The Cobras. Please see Mrs Perre or Mrs Disibio if you are interested.

As part of our Annual Improvement Plan, staff will be released from class to engage in Collaborative Planning Sessions with their Stage Leader and our Instructional Coach, Mrs Melanie Stephenson. 

The focus of these sessions will include:

* Analysis of student data

* Identification of greatest need in Literacy in each grade

* Unpacking the relevant syllabus outcomes

* Unpacking High Impact Teaching Strategies

* Designing of assessments

* Planning of Teaching and Learning.

All class teachers will engage in Co-Teaching with their Stage Leader and/or Instructional Coach to further expand on their knowledge and skills.

Do you know what’s influencing your kids? With young people spending so much time online, what they see and do can impact their behaviours and beliefs. Online disrespect is one of the ways violence-supportive attitudes can start to develop. 

Stop it at the Start has partnered with Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman to help parents, carers, and other significant adults of young people aged 10-17 understand how the online world influences views on respect and gender. The workshop also shares practical ways to build relationships and start important conversations.

Join facilitators Ryder Jack and Kasey Miles for a free, interactive, evidence-based 90-minute session focused on connecting with young people, fostering healthier masculinity, and providing families with practical tools for everyday use.

Click here to register.

Go4Fun is currently running a free children’s program at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre this term.

We still have available spots for this term, a healthy lifestyle program offered by the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.