Dear Parents and Carers, 

I thank you for your care and patience in the increased traffic due to the works to upgrade our water hydrant.   

We have again shared in two eventful weeks with Lenten Liturgies, Cross Country Carnival, Award Assemblies, Year 3 Excursion and practices and preparation for our Easter Liturgy to be celebrated on Wednesday 9 April.  

As the weather slowly changes, students will be able to transition into the winter uniform from Mon 5 May, with full Winter uniform being worn by all students from Monday 12 May.  I thank you in advance for your ongoing support of the uniform policy.  

Next week we look forward to both the Easter Liturgy and Easter Hat Parade. Familes and friends are most welcome to join us.  Thanks in advance to Mrs Lattimore, Ms Patton, Mrs Herring and Mrs Perre for their planing and organisation of these events. 

As this will be the final newsletter for Term 1, I take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing partnership in educating our students and wish you, your family and friends a Happy Easter filled with moments of love, laugher and reflection with God.  

Travel and be safe during the schol break, see you upon the students return on Tuesday 29 April.  

Warm regards, 

Mrs Maria Disibio 

Acting Principal

LENT

Thi weekend  we begin the fifth and final week of Lent. Following this week we commemorate Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Easter Saturday, followed by the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. As a school we remember this special time with our whole school Easter liturgy next Wednesday 9th April at 11.30am.

In our final week of Lent we remember our three tasks of fasting, praying and almsgiving.

In the gospel reading for this week, a woman who has committed a terrible sin is brought to Jesus. Those who bring her to Jesus expect him to think that this sin is so big that it cannot be forgiven. They believe that this woman should be punished with death. 

Sometimes when we look at other people, and sometimes even when we look at ourselves, we notice every fault, seeing ourselves as if through a magnifying glass.

We know that God really knows us. He knows everything about us. Yet Jesus shows us that God doesn't look at us with a magnifying glass; he doesn't highlight our faults and our sins. God sees each of us completely and really, as we might see ourselves in a mirror. God forgives our sins so that we can become the people he wants us to be.

This week we are reminded to be like Jesus and have sympathy and compassion towards others who are suffering or need assistance. Practising compassion in our daily lives helps us to respect the dignity of others and draw closer to Jesus' heart.

EASTER LITURGY

Mrs Lattimore and Ms Patton have been putting the finishing touches to our special Easter celebrations. We warmly invite family and friends to join us next Wednesday 9th April at 11.30am. 

Have a wonderful fortnight and Easter break,

Mrs Joanne Herring

Religious Education Coordinator 

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

Transition Week: From Monday 5th May - students may choose to wear Winter Uniform, depending on the weather, but are not to wear a combination of both. 

Changeover to Winter Uniform for all students K-6: Monday 12th May.

Poppets in Fairy Meadow are fully stocked with all Winter Uniform items- including the new jacket. 

Thank you for ensuring your child attends school each day wearing the correct school uniform.

At St Columbkille’s the wearing of a school uniform:
● provides an opportunity to build school pride, inclusiveness and defines our school identity within the community
● increases the personal safety of students and staff by allowing easier recognition of visitors and potential intruders in the school
● promotes the health and safety of students by identifying items necessary for particular activities
● includes items that are functional, affordable, comfortable and appropriate for wide ranging activities.

With the upcoming change to the Winter Uniform in Week 3 of Term 2, please familairise yourself with the expectations for Winter. 

Please find attached the school uniform policy for more information.

Mrs Christine Perre - Acting Assistant Principal

We are excited to inform you about a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their creativity while promoting environmental sustainability. Our school is participating in the Paint Australia Beautiful Schools Mural Competition, a national event inviting schools to design nature-inspired murals that reflect their local environment and sustainability initiatives.

The competition aims to raise awareness about protecting and improving local biodiversity through anti-litter and waste reduction initiatives. Winning schools will receive paint and supplies from Haymes Paint to bring their mural designs to life, showcasing eco-consciousness to the community.

How can students get involved?

We invite students K to 6 with a passion for art and creativity to participate. If your child is interested, please encourage them to brainstorm ideas related to nature, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. Teachers will be reaching out to identify students who may have a talent or interest in contributing to this exciting project.

How you can help:

We would also love to involve our parent community in this project! If you are an artist or have experience in planning, sketching, or painting murals, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please contact Miss Ah Tong (ahtongl03@dow.catholic.edu.au) if you're interested in volunteering during any part of the process.

Miss Ah Tong 

Teacher and Leader of Enviro Ninjas

Our core work of teaching is around motivating, engaging and challenging all students so that they can grow in faith, learning and wellbeing. Please join us for one of our Parent Listening Assemblies in Term 2.

We are seeking help from any parent or carer who has a special skill set that would enable them to build a picnic style table and bench seats (see attached picture) for our playground. We would pay for all materials needed.

If you are able to help us, please email Mrs Perre perrec01@dow.catholic.edu.au 

Fresh Start Canteen will cease operations at St Columbkille's at the end Term 1.  We thank Karen for her work and support of our school. As a result, the menu will be limited in Week 11. 

Starting Term 2, The Lunch Lab Illawarra will take on operation of our school canteen.  We will be able to share the new menu and additional information in coming weeks.  

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.

Save the date - Wednesday 30 April 2025 11:30am.

Join us for an
Anxiety Workshop
Wednesday 30 April 2025 11:30am, Term 2, Week 1 in the library.

We’ll be discussing childhood anxiety, resources and strategies families can utilise for their children.

Mrs. Pauline Leonard along with Ima, our school counsellor, will be there to lead the session.

Please email Mrs Pauline Leonard if you have any questions.
leonardp01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Please also email/RSVP Mrs Pauline Leonard if you can attend.

Our students love helping out at The Patch and they find it really hard to stop for the bell. 

Cross Country Carnival

What an incredible day we had at this year’s Cross Country Carnival! The sun was shining, the enthusiasm was high, and the energy from students, staff, and spectators made the event truly special.

From the moment the first race began, it was clear that our students were ready to give it their all. Whether they were racing for a top place or simply running for fun and personal achievement, everyone showed great determination and sportsmanship. The cheers from friends, family, and classmates created an encouraging atmosphere that kept everyone motivated right to the finish line.

A huge thank you to our wonderful parent helpers! Your support is invaluable. Events like these simply wouldn’t be possible without your generosity and time.

Congratulations to all our runners, especially those who will now go on to represent our school at the next level of competition. We are so proud of your efforts and can’t wait to see you shine in the next round!

Thank you to everyone who made this day such a success. We look forward to another fantastic Cross Country Carnival next year!

Cross Country age champion medals and ribbons will be handed out immediately following the Lentern liturgy on Monday morning in MD Hall.

Representative Sport

Hockey - A huge congratulations to Alyssa T for being selected in the MacKillop hockey team! This is a fantastic achievement and we are incredibly proud of your efforts and wish you the very best as you represent our school at the next level of competition. Well done!

AFL - We are also incredibly proud of Maxwell H for trialling for the AFL MacKillop team alongside a large group of students. Maxwell gave it his all, demonstrating great effort and determination. Well done, Maxwell!

NSWCPS - GIRLS RUGBY SELECTIONS (MACKILLOP) 

Friday 16 May (Term 2 - Week 3)

Nomination process: Students nominate individually through the CSNSW Sport website/portal - register for a sport (https://csnsw.sport/)

Venue: Santa Sabina College

Eligibility: students must be turning 11 or 12 in the year of competition

Nominations close: 7 May

Please see the flyer for the 2025 NSW Netball Primary Boys Selection Trials.

There are 6 locations across NSW for intersectorial trails.

Registrations are through DASH.

Registrations close - Monday 12 May 2025.

Starring our very own talented Cobie from 2G!

Journey to Neverland in this Peter Pan inspired orchestral ballet!

IDO Expo: A Networking Opportunity for NDIS Participants 

The Illawarra Disability Options (IDO) Expo provides an opportunity for families of NDIS participants to familiarise themselves with local disability service providers and registered training organisations. This annual event is of particular relevance to students with disability planning post school pathways.

When: Thursday 3 April 2025 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

Where: The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke Street, Fairy Meadow