Dear Parents and Carers,

Term 2 will certainly be one to remember for a host of reasons. For many of us, the impact of COVID-19 has significantly changed our landscape, socially, emotionally and relationally. Whilst COVD-19 procedures and protocols have supported us in remaining safe and healthy, it has been our spirit of generosity, compassion and selfless nature that has ensured our ongoing and overall well-being. We are often at our best when things are at their worst, and for many of us we have been at our best and/or had to be at our best for both our families and school community. For that, I say thank! I consider myself extremely fortunate to be serving the community of St Columbkille's Catholic Primary School, Corrimal.

'Thank you' are the important words that express your gratitude, humility and understanding.

Kindergarten 2021, Letters of Offer have been sent to prospective families both current and new. We look forward to welcoming these families into our school community with our first of eight Transition to School Program sessions commencing on Tuesday 27 October at 2pm in the Monsignor Downey Hall.

Thank you to the parents, carers and grandparent who were able to complete the Principal Appraisal Parent survey and volunteer their time to be interviewed by the panel on Wednesday 22 July. The process will provide me with invaluable feedback on my role within our school community.

On Wednesday we celebrated the retirement of Mrs Sue Samways with a special luncheon and presentation of gifts. Mrs Samways served St Columbkille's for 32 years with great dedication and purpose, along with 'doing the little thing's' extremely well. She will volunteer her time in coordinating our school second hand uniform shop in the office.

Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable holiday break with family and friends. It will be wonderful to be able to slow down for a while in preparation for school resuming on Monday 20 July for the commencement of Term 3.

Thank you again.

Take care
Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Ordinary Time in the Church Year

For a number of weeks now we are in a period called “Ordinary Time” in the Church’s Liturgical Year. Some people think it is a time when nothing much happens.  Yet it is important because we are growing to be more like Jesus in our everyday lives by listening to the words of scripture each week. Life is not only about the special events and celebrations; it is about who we are in our day to day interactions. Let us continue to live as a disciple of Jesus in everything we think, say and do!

Sunday Mass

In these restrictive times, we can still attend our regular Mass. The Parish Mass (with Fr Patrick inside St Joseph’s parish church) will be uploaded to the website at 5pm each Saturday. Gather the family and go to www.saintjosephsbulli.com and set your own time to view the weekend Mass. The Mass will stay on the website for the whole week.

Don’t forget Sunday Masses with Bishop Brian and priests from around the diocese are available online at dow.org.au or diocese’s Facebook page.

UPDATES:

• St Columbkille's Church can only take 40 registered worshippers
• It is essential that you register for each Mass you would like to attend (weekday and weekend Masses) through the office on 42843000 Mondays to Thursdays 9:30am to 3pm.  Don't leave a message.  Call back and speak to the office ladies.
• No bookings will be taken after Thursday at 3 pm. Please ring if you cannot attend to cancel your booking.  
• All registers will be cleared and you will have to rebook each week. This is to be fair and equitable to all who wish to attend Masses.

Monitors will be in attendance at church to check names of those registered

Confirmation Update

Last week a letter was received from Bishop Brian regarding the changes to Confirmation for 2020.

He has proposed that the Sacrament of Confirmation is to take place between the 1-8 November. Delegation has been given to the Priests to confer the Sacrament. Fr Patrick has chosen the following dates of Thursday the 5 and Friday 6 November for St Columbkille’s Candidates.

Details of how the Sacramental preparation classes will be convened and what the liturgy will entail are still being discussed. Parents will be notified of the particulars of this sacrament as further information comes to hand. Thank you for your patience.

NAIDOC Week

The annual recognition of NAIDOC Week, which is usually celebrated in the July school holidays, has been postponed until 8-15 November. However Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday will still be celebrated this Sunday 5 July. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced NATSICC to rethink the ways in how to empower Catholics to celebrate this special day. This year, they have modified their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday resources to work in a digital setting. They are also holding the first-ever live-streamed, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday Mass from the St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Adelaide from 11.30am EST. The livestream will be available from the NATSICC homepage. For more information log on to this website https://www.natsicc.org.au/2020-atsi-sunday.html 

Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong Live Online!

This is a creative, powerful show about faith in the life of young people. It is a new initiative featuring talks, worship music, fun games, guest speakers and testimonies. This is a great way for young people to not only build on their faith but also build friendships. To be involved simply follow the “CYMW” Facebook page or Instagram at “wollongongnetteam”.

Pray school

A group of Kinder to Year 2 students from St Columbkille’s School star in the latest episode of Pray school, an initiative from the CEO to support learning in Religious Education. During the holidays your children can log onto the website to watch how these students explain our environmental stewardship actions. It is Season 2 Episode 4 titled ‘Sent Forth to Love and Serve’.

https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/pray-school/episodes

Ripples Meditation

Robyn Gallagher, a member of the Staff Spiritual Formation Team from the CEO, has created another episode for her podcast and meditation site titled ‘Ripples’. This week her guest is Katy Gilles who shares her experience of creating different spaces for connection.  "In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, really seen." Brene Brown

The Meditation this week is a Meditation on Vulnerability and has an Ignatian influence. The key questions are: What are you feeling? What are you desiring at this point in your life? 

PODCAST LINKS:

LINK TO PODBEAN: https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au

APPLE PODCAST LINK:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ripples/id1511337808 

LINK via CEDoW Learning Continuity Site: 

PARENTS: https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/clem-spiritual-formation/spiritual-formation/parents 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: 

Here are the social links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CathEd.DoW/videos/919494818524675

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/CCFyMMMAHeh/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CathEd_DoW/status/1278219797516349440

Term 3 begins on Monday 20 July for staff and students K-6.

Congratulations to the following students:

Principal's Awards

KG - Ella Hartup, Sebastian McIndoe, Imiah Nguyen, Samuel Porter

1B - Jed Bell, Abigail England, Giorgia Marcelli

2B - Andie Lucchitti, Lachlan Miller

2G - David Asher, Hudson Bennett, Adelaide Blacka,  Blake Lumsden, Kye Morris, Taylor Potter, Bede Risorto, Abbie Stenos, Johnson Vu, Sophie Willoughby

3B - Ashton Cooper, Georgia Doherty, Bronte Ireland, Nathan Noonan, Randy O'Brien, Joshua Potter, Christina Vu

4B - Kiah Hukins-Ellis

4G - Niamh Conway, Zaria Nguyen

Mary MacKillop Awards

2G - Darcy Shaw

3B - Takoda Dorrington, Bronte Ireland

3G - Anastasia Auld

4B - Jackson Logue, Amelia Rutledge, Mason Stone

5B - Maddison Beverley

5G - Allegra Calmasini

6B - Riley Holl, Steven Porter, Jasmine Whiddon

6G - Taje Dorrington

School Medallion

2B - Isabella Masters

3G - Alyssa Bishop

4B - Tobias Fielding

Congratulations to Tom and Aimee on the birth of their son, Arthur. For mum and dad, sister Sophia, this is a brilliantly exciting and most precious time in their lives.

Our blessings and well wishes go out to the Martinus Family.

We are inviting students from Year 3 to join The Patch Garden Club for Term 3.  

Please find attached note re: The Patch Garden Club.

A Staff Development Day will be held on Friday 28 August, with the focus on writing and spelling.

This will be a Pupil Free Day.