Dear Parents and Carers,

On Saturday 16 November we celebrate our Family Fun Day which will be an amazing school and community event. Countless hours, donations, time and support have gone into this major P&F school event. The Family Fun Day Team, Stall Holders, major and minor sponsors will ensure that our students, staff, parents, grandparents, carers and wider community will enjoy all that will be on offer.  Thank you for your spirit, generosity and overwhelming enthusiasm. I know our staff are looking forward to both the ‘Dunk Tank’ and working in the 'Hair N Nails', 'Doughnuts' and Pizza stalls.  

To our majors sponsors Access Law Group and Uni Civil, along with Foster's Carnival Amusements, Rebecca Bailey & Associates and Wollongong Printing, we greatly appreciate your support of our Family Fun Day and the St Columbkille's School community here in Corrimal.

Wishing you and your family a wondeful next couple of weeks and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday 16 November.

Take care

Mr Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Remembrance Day

On Monday 11 November our school community will gather on the front cement at 10.55am, to acknowledge and commemorate Remembrance Day. We will pause to remember those who have died in war, and to pray for attacks and cruelty throughout the world. We will continue to pray for peace and to think about what we are doing as individuals, as a community and as a country to bring God’s peace into the world.

First Holy Communion

Our final class will be held next Wednesday 13 November from 6.30-7.30pm. The retreat day is held the following Wednesday in the Parish Centre. Children will come to school and leave school as normal. They will wear their school uniform and will need their crunch & sip, recess, drink bottle and pencil case (pencils, glue, scissors). A sausage sizzle for lunch will be provided. (However, your child is welcome to bring something else if required). The students have just recently celebrated their First Reconciliation and have prepared thoughtfully and reverently for their First Holy Communion. May God and all of the St Columbkille’s community keep you in their prayers.

First Holy Communion Helpers

On Saturday 23 November and Sunday 24 November our First Holy Communion Masses will occur. To help with this event I ask all parents and carers of students in Year 2 who are able to help at either Mass to contact myself or the school office. Parents assist with the serving of food and tea/coffee, etc. and the setting up and packing away. Approximately 4 parents are needed at each event. If you are able to assist on one of these days, or the Friday afternoon beforehand, it would be greatly appreciated. I know you will also value the assistance when your child is in Year 3 next year.

Mission Month

Remember to send in any loose change you have for our class Mission boxes. On Friday 22 November our Mini Vinnies have organised a mufti-day to raise money for the people of Ghana, our focus country, as well as run sports activities for Years 2 & 3.

Joanne Herring - Religious Education Co-ordinator  

The resources purchased with our Earn and Learn stickers has arrived.  We still have a few items on back order, but are very excited and are looking forward to using these resources in our learning and teaching.  The resurces include; moving models of the sun, moon and earth, dice, playing cards, spring scales, balance arm scales, elapsed time cards, white board markers, thermometres, compases, protractors, electricity kits, ping pong balls, 3D shapes, water timers, sensory cushion, geo strips, magnify glasses, lap tables and much more.  

Thank you to our school comunity for collecting, sticking and returning the Earn and Learn stickers, all of your efforts are very much appreciated.  

Mrs Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the following students:

Awards

Principal’s Award

KB - Lachlan Donachy, Brody Foster

KG - Isabella Darling

1G - Aidan Conway

2G - Alexander Welch

3B – Bronte Fursey

3G – Sibella Bartzos, Lauren Foster, Lola Shaw, Emily Spiers

5G - Alessandra Ezquerro, Levi Hart, Emma Lumsden

6G - Lachlan Sharman

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Award

KB - Brody Foster

KG - Poppy Galaxidis, Sam Raschilla

1B - Abbie Stenos

1G - Alyssa Nowak

2B - Lorella-Marie Tadros

2G - Hugo Immens

3B - Christian Da Silva

4G - Hamish Dorney

5G - Saxon Cappellin, Isabella Oliver, Jake Walsh

6G - Elijah Lim-Corby, Charlotte Mamouris

Spelling Bee

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the UNSW Global Spelling Bee ICAS Assessment for 2019. A special mention to the following students for their outstanding results: 

Merit: Lauren Foster, Kayle Galaxidis, Zaria Nguyen, Harper Fursey

Credit: Xavier Palermo 

Distinction: Isaac Ayers 

Science

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the UNSW Global Science ICAS Assessment for 2019. A special mention to the following students for their outstanding results: 

Credit: Cameron Ritz, Xavier Palermo, Michael Da Silva, Gabriella Tortorici

On Friday the 15^th November the Catholic Education Office annual CDF Sports Awards are being held at St Marys College to recognize the wonderful sporting achievements of both Primary and Secondary students in the Wollongong Diocese. Maddison Wood (Year 5) and Amelia Rutledge (Year 3) are being awarded the Primary Blue Medallion as a result of selection in two Wollongong Diocesan teams this year. Hamish Dorney (Year 4) is being awarded the Primary Red Medallion. Hamish has not only been selected in Two Wollongong Diocesan Teams, but has gained selection in the Mackillop team for both Athletics and Cross Country. He has further represented Mackillop at the NSWPSSA carnivals this year. A great achievement from our award winners. St Columbkilles is very proud of you all.

On Wednesday Hamish Dorney represented MacKillop (Southern NSW Catholic  Schools) at NSWPSSA Athletics Championships held in Homebush. Hamish finished 14th overall in the state, competing Boys 8-10years 1500m. Outstanding work Hamish, we are all very proud of you.

Mrs Colleen Kipp - Leader of Sport 

Indigenous children and Mrs Orphin painting on the Spiral Pole near our spiritual garden.

On Thursday November 7, Year 5 students from St Columbkille’s attended the Illawarra Sports High School Sydney FC Soccer Gala Day. Our students were lucky enough to meet and interact with many of the coaching and management staff for the school’s Sydney FC development program. Students and players from the development program guided us through the day by both coaching and refereeing every game. St Columbkille’s students played fairly and with enthusiasm and fantastic sportsmanship on the day. Students played many games over the course of the day, some back to back and are to be commended on their efforts, especially with the warm weather. Thanks to parents for your attendance on the day and for supporting Year 5.  

Please find information about the refreshed esafety.gov.au website, a comprehensive, dynamic and interactive national online safety hub for Australians.

‘We’ve spent the last 18 months working alongside various experts to create, refresh and streamline eSafety’s content. Every page on our site has been updated with tailored advice, resources and support to ensure we help Australians have empowering and positive experiences online.

Almost a third of the website features exciting new material, including our section for young people, guided by young people. Not only is this a great resource for students, but the topics can help with online safety conversations in Australian classrooms. 

Over 300 of our resources, including our popular education resources, have been refreshed and rebranded and are easier to find using our new filter feature. Now, you can search by education level and topic to ensure you find what best resonates with your specific school context and classroom needs. We have also retired some of our older resources — with new research and technology, they have become outdated and are no longer relevant. 

 Our new online safety hub presents an incredible opportunity to reach a broader range of Australians and make them aware of eSafety’s resources and services.’

Canteen Roster

Term 4 - Week 5

Monday, 11 November - 

Janine Baumeister, Marc Fursey, Trudie Bell (11.30-2.30)

Tuesday, 12 November – SUSHI TUESDAY

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

Wednesday, 13 November

Linda Logue, Gisella Villella, Tracey Disibio, Caroline Ayres

Thursday, 14 November

Ashley Cooper, Anita Zubovic (9.00-11.30), Lana Bloom (11.30-2.30) - Helpers Needed

Friday, 15 November

Kirsten Immens, Tanya Coughlan, Elizabeth Coll

Term 4 - Week 6

Monday, 18 November

Diana Tasca, Olivia Seweris (9.00-12.00)

Tuesday, 19 November – SUSHI TUESDAY

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

Wednesday, 20 November

Avril Imber, Lesley Elms, Helen Pittman (9.00-11.30), Ashley Potts (11.30-2.30)

Thursday, 21 November

Tienelle Anderson-Ireland, Dianne Hukins - Helpers Needed

Friday, 22 November - Natasha Fuller, Lisa Bates - Helpers Needed