Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the start of Term 2.

Hope that you and your family are well and have enjoyed a wonderful start to the term.

Congratulations to Mrs Loretta Gallina on announcing her retirement from teaching after 40 years of service to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wollongong, with 31 years spent here at St Columbkille's. Mrs Gallina's professionalism, dedication, personable manner, kindness and devotion to her students, along with her love of teaching, will be greatly missed by students, colleagues and parents. We wish Mrs Gallina, her husband Morrie and their family, every success and happiness moving into the future. On behalf of our school community, I would like to say, "Thank you Loretta for your care and support of our students at St Columbkille's, Corrimal".

We look forward Mr Nicholas Cervonaro working with the Year 3 team on a Monday and Tuesday for the reminder of the term.

Our well-wishes go out to all our mothers who will be celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday. Whilst celebrating it differently this year without our annual Mother's Day Liturgy and morning tea, we wish all of our mums and grandmothers a sensational day with their families. Celebrate your special and most deserved day well.

AN INSPIRATIONAL PRAYER FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Dear Lord,

I may not pray often, and I may not pray enough, but when I do, this is all I ask of you…..

God, please give me a heart just like hers

She loves unconditionally, no matter what, no matter who…

God, give me courage to be like her

She is very brave, she makes me unafraid…

God, give me wisdom just like hers

She knows everything, big and small, she is there to help me through it all…

God, give me strength just like hers

She has been knocked down, yet she stands strong for another round…

God, give me beauty just like hers

When she smiles it gives me that feeling that everything will be okay

and my problems disappear for a while…

God, give me generosity just like hers

She helps the helpless, she never thinks of herself and she is so unselfish…

God, some day, if I am at least half the mum she was to me,

I will know that you were listening

On the day 

That I prayed.

Amen.

Thank you to Caroline and Paul Ayers, Linda Logue, Sarah Foster and Nicky Bishop for their work in ensuring our students have had the opportunity to purchase (albeit differently) a gift for Mother's Day and in doing so supporting the many communities that were affected by the bush-fires earlier this year. Sixty-three families placed an order and we raised over $1500 in sales. Thank also to Claire Stenos and Linda Logue for donating items for the hampers. Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated.

Winners of the Mother's Day hampers are: 

1st Prize Body Shop Gift Hamper (donated by Claire Stenos) - Jacobson Family

2nd Prize Body Shop Gift Hamper (donated by Claire Stenos) - Logue Family

3rd Prize Mum's Mega Gift Hamper (donated by Linda Logue) - Petch Family

4th Prize Mum's Amazing Gift Hamper - Jorgenson Family

5th Prize Mum's Super Gift Hamper - Potter Family

Based on continued government and Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong health advice, our SCC COVID-19 Student Transition Plan from Week 3 sent via Compass on Friday 1 May begins on Monday. Please refer to the attached articles -REMINDER: SCC COVID-19 Student Transition from Week 3 (Friday 1 May) and Learning Continuity Transition Plan Phase 1 -  Week 3 Practical Application

Made Fresh, our school canteen provider, has been forced close due to financial difficulty. They have closed our canteen, along with several other primary school canteens within the Diocese of Wollongong. We thank the Made Fresh for their time at our school and wish their employees, along with their families, all the very best moving into the future. With our canteen currently closed, we will begin, with the support of the Catholic Education Office, Wollongong, the process of employing a new provider for our school.

Wishing you an enjoyable and safe next couple of weeks. It will be wonderful to have many of our families returning to school next week. Happy Mother's Day for Sunday. Enjoy the time with your families.

Take care 

Brad Colquhoun - Principal

5th Sunday of Easter / Good Shepherd Sunday

This weekend the church observes the 5^th Sunday of Easter. It reminds us that we have faith in Jesus and will follow Him, as he is the “way, the truth, and the life.” You can log on to Bishop Brian’s Mass at https://www.dow.org.au/covid-19/sunday-mass-online-with-bishop-brian/ to be a part of this celebration. It is also acknowledged as Good Shepherd Sunday and a reflection by Fr Duane Fernandez can be viewed at the same website above. Fr Duane is such a passionate priest and always speak from his heart. The Diocesan website has the latest information regarding school and parish directives, opportunities for faith and spiritual development and other initiatives. Take a look at https://www.dow.org.au/news-and-events/ and click on the link to COVID-19 directives.

Project Compassion

On behalf of Caritas and St Columbkille’s school we would like to congratulate all the students, families and staff for supporting our Project Compassion money raising boxes. Our combined total raised was $230, a tremendous effort given the circumstances. It will certainly help all those in need. Thank you all!

Mother's Day

Don’t forget this Sunday, 10 May we celebrate all the mums, nans, grandma’s, nonna’s and those who nurture us with a mothers love. Even though you may not be able to give them a kiss or hug at the moment, your words and prayers via face-time or other platforms will ensure they know they are appreciated. We hope you enjoy being spoilt this Sunday! 

Update on Sacramental Programs for St Columbkille’s

Earlier this year we scheduled and sent out enrolment forms for the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation and Holy Communion. 

Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances, the directives from the Government and Diocese of Wollongong have meant that these have been postponed until restrictions have been lifted.

If you have filled out the enrolment forms, please send them into the parish office either by mail or email. That way we can create a data base, so as to contact parents and carers as soon as we are advised to go ahead with the Sacramental preparation classes and new dates are set. Parish details are:

St Columbkille’s Church Corrimal: PO Box 32, Corrimal. NSW. 2518 or email corrimal@dow.org.au

St Joseph’s Church Bulli: PO Box 304, Woonona. NSW. 2517 or email bulli@dow.org.au

Mrs Jo Herring - Religious Education Coordinator

Our condolences to the Harris family.  

We keep the Harris family in our continued thoughts and prayers with the passing of Mark Harris - father to Jamie and grandfather to Jonathon, Ben and Natalie.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) has strated.  Challenge entries are now open.  The PRC student site is available again this year! Students can search for books to read, add books to their reading logs, and track their progress throughout the challenge. You can find the site at https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/studentExperience.html#/. The final day for student entries is Friday 28 August.  Start reading and start recording! 

Wollongong City Council  supports a safe transition back into classroom learning for the school community.

As outlined in the Department of Education’s managed  phased approach return to school guidelines, parents and carers are encouraged to stay in their car when dropping off and picking up, if safe to do so. I have also  attached the Transport for NSW  “Drop Off Tips” which may assist parents and students with the new arrangements you have organised for your school.

If you feel you want to upskill in using Google Classroom, the following websites may assist. 

Google Classroom Tutorial Video

Submitting an Assessment in Google Classroom Video 

Google for Education Online Modules - you may receive certifacation for some of these modules. 

The SZapp App linked to our Schoolzine Newsletter is available to download from the App and Play Store.  Downloading the App will provide you with another form of communication.  In addition to the latest and archieved newsletters, the App includes links to our school website, our social media pages, school calendar and more, plus it also contains contact us facitlities.   

Simply download the App from the App or Play Store to your device, select the region, enter and select our school name and login using an exisitng email address.  

The newsletter and alerts will continue to be sent via Compass.  The SZapp will just provide information via a different forum, which you may find easier to use.  

Please contact the School Office, if you have any questions. 

Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal

How quickly our world has changed. Over the past weeks we have been faced with challenges and blessings as we live with the current pandemic.
 
In response to this, a significant initiative has been developed for staff and parents to support their ongoing personal spiritual formation. It is a new podcast series entitled ‘Ripples: Inspired Voices, Treasured Stillness’.
 
Ripples seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. On Tuesday of each week a new Episode and Meditation will be offered. Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to others in our world, to creation and to our loving God.
 
The Ripples Podcast is now available on the Continuity of Faith and Learning website, on Podbean. and Apple Podcast.
 
We hope that you enjoy the program and that it provides a formative experience for you.