Dear Parents, Grandparents and Carers.

Hope that you are well and have enjoyed the last couple of weeks.

Over the last 3 weeks our staff have been finalising comparative learning data (Term 1 through to Term 3) in the areas of Whole, Spelling, Writing and Reading across K-6. At our Staff Meeting yesterday, we discussed our successes and why, along with areas of improvement and how we plan for this moving into the future. During this meeting, we were able to celebrate the learning successes of our students,  with vast majority making significant gains in many of our focus areas. The work of the staff over the last two terms, inclusive of remote learning and your support as parents, has ensured that our students have continued to learn and grow. Well done and congratulations.

August 15 marks to the Assumption of Mary - mother of Jesus Christ. Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her son, Jesus Christ. This date signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and her entering heaven. 

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mt 15:21-28

A Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter.

I wonder if Jesus responded to the woman in a particular way because she was not Jewish. After all, Jesus, because he was a Jew, was raised to believe they were God's chosen ones. It is interesting to think that this woman, in a sense, taught Jesus something by the strength of her faith. I wonder if he saw, through the strength of the woman's faith, that it was not only the Jewish people who could believe in God. I imagine that after this meeting Jesus looked at foreigners in a different way, that this woman helped him to see that God loves all people.

Because we are followers of Jesus, we need to remember to treat others that way too. There is no religion or race or nationality that is better than another. Having lots of money or being attractive does not make a person any better than the poorest, most unattractive person. It is not fair to judge people on that basis. We need to give everyone a chance. We need to realise that people are surprising; sometimes the most unlikely person can teach us a lot about faith. We have to remember to look for the good in every person, and to treat everyone with respect.

Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time

Mt 16:13-20

Jesus asks, "Who do people say I am?"

The wisdom of God is beyond our understanding. Yet it is through human beings that God works, and God has entrusted the mission of the church to those who believe in him and answer his call. The foundation for everything is a personal faith in Jesus. We are challenged to reflect on how we would respond to the question Jesus asked the disciples in today's gospel: ‘But who do you say I am?' 

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Although Catholics are not obligated to attend Mass for this feast day, we recognise the assumption of Mary into heaven on Saturday 15 August. The Church teaches that Mary was without sin. She accepted God's will for her life and freely and perfectly obeyed. She served God, and followed her son, Jesus Christ. She was present at his death and resurrection. As a just reward for her goodness and devotion, she was assumed into heaven where she resides today in the company of God, and all the saints. Mary, like the saints, can hear our prayers. She has a special connection to Jesus Christ as His mother, and therefore we believe she can intercede for us. 

Sacrament of Confirmation

Forms regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation for 2020 have been sent out this week to Year 6 parents via Compass.  These forms, if they haven’t already been received by the parish, must be received by Monday 24 August as no forms will be taken after this date. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Sacramental Coordinator Kelly Glen - kglen@tpg.com.au

Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

Our online learning has commenced this week in regard to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Students have to use a regular gmail.com account to log on and the correct code for Google classrooms is i5xdxuj. Workbooks will be collected and marked by the 26^th of August. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Sacramental Coordinator Kelly Glen - kglen@tpg.com.au

Ripples Podcast

This week's Episode features Beth Riolo and is entitled "The Musical Thread." She explores the relationship between music and spirituality and the capacity for music to inform our minds, touch our hearts and speak to our souls. The Meditation this week is a guided meditation which incorporates music and questions of the heart. It is entitled "Your Heart Song" and includes accompaniment by Gary Quinn and Tim Hart's beautiful composition "Receive Your Grace." 

The links to the Podcast are provided below. 

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:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CathEd.DoW/videos/628159871160452

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/CDx_2aGAmFR/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CathEd_DoW/status/1293449497108856833

Congratulations to the following students:

Principal's Awards

KG - Alexander Barclay, Ryan Brescianini, William Bui, Maxwell Hammet, Luca Karakolevski, Ayla King, Charlotte Marmont, Cooper Masters, Austin Merola, Jordyn Nightingale, Samuel Porter.

2G - Milla Briscoe-Hough, Taavi Cooke, Harper Harrison, Abby Mannion

3B - Taj Bloom, Sam Dorney, Takoda Dorrington, Ruby Franco, Hugo Immens, Benjamin Niew, Willow Russell 

3G - Kaitlin Cram, Clover Duggan

4B - Abbie Dyer

6G - Evelyn Ritz

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Award

1B - Wilfrid Welch

1G - James Andary, Mia McCormack

2B - Kade Bloom

2G - Taavi Cooke

3B - Juliet Ritz

4B - Isabelle Stenos

5B - Jensen Curbison

6B - Harper Fursey, Luca Tortorici

6G - Mia Akhurst

School Medallion

3B - Natalie Harris

5G - Athanael Disibio, Zahli O'Hara

6B - Jay Giblett, Jasmine Whiddon

Due to current COVID19 restrictions we are unable to hold our Class Assemblies in the usual manner.  So that each class can still have an opportunity to share their learning successes, we have commenced virtual class assemblies via our social media platforms. This includes posts on Instagram and Facebook.  

Thank you to 3 Gold 2 Gold, 1 Gold for showcasing their learning over the past few weeks and we look forward to Kinder Gold's virtual assembly next week.  

If you aren't already following us on Instagram and/or Facebook, connect now @stcolumbkilles.corrimal (Facebook) and @stcolumbkilles.corrimal (Instagram) so you don't miss out on celebrating learning with us. 

Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal

Our next P&F Meeting will be held on Tuesday 25 August at 7:00pm via Zoom. 

Please use this link to join the meeting:

https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/98391339043?pwd=a0NJa204TW9NZDJ3Rkg3cFUwbFBOZz09

All are most welcome to attend.

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.