Dear Parents and Carers,

Yesterday our students had the opportunity to celebrate Harmony Day. It is a day that highlights our multiculturalism which is an integral part of our national identity. It is about inclusiveness, respect, dignity, belonging for all Australians regardless of cultural background. These key characteristics of Harmony Day support and promote our own school vision ’Learning together, Shaping futures’ and our Core Values of Community, Celebration, Respect, Responsibility, Learning and Faith.

Outlined below are some some interesting facts about Australia’s diversity:

• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia 

• Apart from English, the most common languages are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

We continue to thank God for the amazing variety of races and cultures within Australia and are reminded to live in peace and harmony with everyone in our country.

God our Father, give all of us hearts like your Son’s, open to the experiences, hopes, troubles and goodness of everyone we meet. Help us to be compassionate towards all, sharing the load of each other and all those in need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Enjoy a sensational weekend with family and friends.

Take care.

Mr Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Lent / Project Compassion

This Sunday is the third Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading from Luke is Jesus’ parable of The Barren Fig Tree.” (Lk 13:6-9). This parable reminds us how God is patient with us and hopeful we will turn back to Him. During Lent think about how patient you have been with others and the ways you have tried to turn back to God.

During Lent we continue to think about the projects of Caritas and Project Compassion. Our weekly stories from the Caritas website provide students with an understanding of how their money helps people in countries world-wide. If you would like to view or revisit these stories log on to https://lent.caritas.org.au/# and follow the link to ‘Stories'.

First Confirmation Evening

A reminder that our first Confirmation evening will take place next Wednesday 27 March from 6:30-7:30 pm. Students will meet in the Monsignor Downey Hall for their class, whilst parents will take part in small group conversations with teachers/leaders in classrooms.

Pastoral letter from Bishop Brian Mascord on the sentencing of Cardinal Pell

The recent events involving the conviction and sentencing of Cardinal George Pell will be a traumatic time for both victims and survivors. I share with you below a copy of a letter from the Bishop of Wollongong, Rev. Brian Mascord in relation to this matter, for your information.

My Sisters and Brothers

Conscious of the decision given today in Melbourne, I write to you amid the hurt, confusion, anger and other emotions that we may all feel at this time. As you would be aware, Cardinal George Pell was given a six-year custodial sentence relating to five charges of child sexual abuse.

Uppermost in my mind is the concern for those who have been abused. Recovery from such trauma can take a lifetime, if at all. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to give support to those who have been abused and ensure, in very practical ways, that our children and vulnerable people are safe in our communities.

At this time, I recognise the pain this whole matter has caused you as fellow members of the Catholic community. The abuse of minors by those ordained to represent the love and mercy of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is a profound betrayal of people entrusted to their pastoral care.

I am also aware that Cardinal Pell has lodged an appeal against his conviction, as he has every right to do under Australian law. Therefore, it is not appropriate for me to make any further comment that could be seen to prejudice the outcome of the appeals process.

This is a difficult time for everyone as the pain of today is being felt by so many—it is a shared pain. Let us reaffirm our desire, broken as we are, to become the Church that Jesus calls us to be.

I offer my continued support, and if you desire any assistance, please contact the Diocesan Director of Professional Standards and Safeguarding, Ms. Asante Viswasam, on (02) 4222 2405. If you would prefer to speak to an external organisation for support, LifeLine is available on 13 11 14.

Yours in Christ Bishop Brian Mascord

Thank you for joining our Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools across the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands, and Catholic school communities across NSW, in celebrating Catholic Schools Week for 2019. It's been a wonderful week of open days, activities, masses, liturgies and other special events - including the Diocesan Education Mass, which was a significant highlight of CSW. Read more about the Mass and listen to Director of Schools, Peter Turner's speech here.

Catholic Schools Week has showcased some of the fantastic things happening in our schools every day, and has very much highlighted our local Catholic schools - including yours! - as vibrant places of learning, faith, hope and opportunity. Thank you for your involvement.

We'd like to share with you our small Catholic Schools Week video that has been promoted throughout last week. Can you spot the students from your school in this video?

Congratulations to the following students:

Congratulations to the following students who recently participated in the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials and have been selected in the following Diocesan teams to compete in the upcoming MacKillop Trials.

AFL - Billy Collyer

Basketball - Kye Mitchell

Tennis - Daniel Zielinski

Soccer - Noah Smart

Rugby League - Robert Banfield, Thomas Rohoseink, Taje Dorrington

Football - Lucy Baggio, Harper Fursey, Emily Sharman 

Swimming - Maddison Wood, Amelia Rutledge

Our Cross Country will now be held on Thursday 11 April at Ziem's Park, Corrimal due to the closure of Council Grounds today.

We still have a number of SCC Sport uniforms - Rugby League jumpers, shorts and socks and athletics singlets still missing. Could you please check your homes if you have any of these items. Thank you for your support.

Leaders of Sport - Mrs Colleen Kipp and Mrs Jennifer Gaffney

Enrolments for Kindergartern 2021 are now open.  Come into the Office to pick up an enrolement form or simply download a copy. Remind your family and tell your friends. 

Enrolment Packages 

In 2019 Holy Spirit College is accepting enrolments from both Year 6 and Year 5 students for Year 7 2020 and Year 7 2021, respectively.

Enrolment Application Packages are available online or at the College Administration Office.

Applications close at the end of Term 1. Letters of offer are posted in the second last week of Term 2 with acceptance due to the school by the end of that Term.

Incoming Year 7 students will have an Orientation Day in Term 4.

Yesterday our school community celebrated Harmony Day through a number of classroom activities.  Harmony Day is an Australian Government program that centers on the message that “Everyone belongs”, reinforcing the importance of inclusiveness to all Australians. Since 1999, thousands of Harmony Day events have been held in childcare centers, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia.

The students and staff of St Columbkille's sang songs, created artworks, wrote reflections and celebrated living in harmony throughout the day. 

General Reminder:

Please ensure that the following guidelines are adhered to for the safety of all.

• Children must only be dropped off or picked up in the clearly mark designated area.
• Overtaking a stationary vehicle is not permitted
• Children must only enter and exit from the driver side of the car.
• Pedestrians crossing the laneway must only cross at the designated area. PLEASE do not walk with your children down the laneway. There is no pedestrian access and doing so places all at risk of a serious accident.
• Family names are to be clearly displayed in the front of all cars, to be easily seen by our staff members, on the sunvisor or the windscreen. (Please see the office if you require a new name plate)
• Parking is not permitted in the teachers’ parking area.
• Cars should not line up in the lane way prior to afternoon car lines.  

Parents are requested not to park in the Anglican Church grounds during morning drop off or afternoon pick up. This is private property used only for the parishioners of the Anglican Church.

Thank you for your anticipated understanding and support in keeping a safe school environment for all children.

The P&F have established a Facebook group to enable families to buy, sell, swap St Columbkilles school uniforms. Search for 'St Columbkilles Primary school 2nd hand uniforms' to join the group. Or click here.

Commencing Term 2 each Tuesday, students will be able to purchase Sushi for their lunch. The change in days in due to both availability of canteen volunteers and the high demand of lunch orders on a Friday. The ordering of Sushi for lunch on a Tuesday will remain the same.

Canteen Coordinator - Mrs Lyndall Warmington