Dear Parent and Carers.

Hope that you are well and have enjoyed the commencement of the festive season.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming”. Advent is a time of preparation for the arrival of Jesus Christ. This most joyous season commenced on Sunday 29 November and will finish on Christmas Eve. It is a time for us to give thanks, reflect on and reaffirm our Faith and pray.

Over the last month, we as a school and Parish community have celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation - Holy Communion and Confirmation. Thank you for the work and support of our parents and grandparents, Father Patrick, Parish Advisors Anna and Mille, Religious Education Coordinator Mrs Herring, Year 3 and 6 teachers and staff for making these sacraments so memorable for our students and their families.  

Next Tuesday in the Casey Ryder Centre, Holy Spirit College Bellambi at 6pm, we will be celebrating our Year 6 students time at St Columbkille's Catholic Primary School, Corrimal. The Year 6 Graduation and Presentation will acknowledge both our Year 6 students and their families for their work, time, effort and support. On Wednesday 16 December at 2:15pm will be holding our Farewell Horseshoe for Year 6 - the last day of school.

The Semester 2 Reports were sent out via Compass on Wednesday. Congratulations to our students for their efforts throughout Terms Three and Four. There have been noticeable learning gains made across K-6 in all Key Learning Areas. Thank you for your work as parents and carers in supporting our staff in their efforts to improve our students academically, socially and emotionally.

We have successfully signed off on our 2020 School Review and Improvement (SRI) priorities via the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong. Our dedicated staff have worked exceptionally hard, through a highly collaborative model, to complete each goal. Below are the four key areas of focus for 2021

Key Area 1: Catholic Life and Religious Education 1.4 Parents, parishes and the broader Church

Goal: The school, parents and parish will work collaboratively so that they will continue to grow in faith and celebrate Catholic life.  

Key Area 2: Students and their Learning 2.5 Pastoral Care

Goal: Student Diverse learning - differentiation and adjustments of student behaviour and learning. Staff will become highly effective in drawing on appropriate services, resources and programs so that we are able to support students learning and behavioural needs

Key Area 3: Pedagogy 3.1 Curriculum provision

Goal: All staff will provide for flexible learning experiences so that all students to experience success in their learning.

Key Area 5: Resources, Finance and Facilities 5.2 Use of resources and space

Goal: The school will have contemporary classroom spaces and furniture to support the unique learning needs of students and enhance teacher practice.

In relation to Staffing for 2021, I would like to announce that after 6 years at our school, Mrs Molinaro is retiring. We thank her for the dedicated work in Italian and passion towards providing students with the opportunity to learn a second language. We wish Mrs Molinaro all the very best in her retirement and know she will enjoy spending time supporting and being with her family. Mrs Disibio will be taking on the role of Italian teacher for next year. 

Please find below a link re: Parent Survey, that will be included in our Annual School Report 2020. We would greatly appreciate your feedback on the year. Survey will close on Monday. Thank you

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-2Q8f0qpd_gdBG1Q9Fp16DkX2x67VuKb6uPo9xRwUJWpbFA/viewform

Have a wonderful next couple of weeks as our year quickly draws to a close. Look after yourselves during both in the business and joy of the festive season.

Take care

Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Advent

The Season of Advent began last Sunday 29 November and is the special time when we prepare for Christmas. Advent invites us to reflect upon time, the relationship between past, present and future. Advent is a Latin word that actually means “coming.” In the Christian church, Advent is time of preparation and waiting for the birth of Jesus. During this time, it is also an opportunity to remember our place in the global family and to think about how we can contribute to caring for our common home, both during Advent and in our Christmas celebrations.

The Advent Pause
Our habits to consume are very strong. They are reinforced by our culture that tells us that our happiness is dependent on owning the latest gadget, product, or experience.  To break this consumerist habit, we need to become aware of this internal energy to consume, so that we don’t blindly follow it. This is a contemplative practice–to begin to see how the market and cultural forces shape our interior world.

1. Notice your internal impulse to buy more, to eat more, to do more things that are not essential. This can be owning the latest electronic gadgets and buying the trendiest clothes. It can also be over-consuming more information or social media than is necessary, eating (and often wasting) too much food, or trying to pack in too many activities. It might feel like a subtle tug or pull in the body which we are conditioned to give into. This is normal and natural, but it doesn’t mean you have to follow the tug to consume more than you need.
2. Pause and take a breath. Then find a phrase to ground you such as “Less is more”, “Jesus is the reason” or even “Do I need to get/do this?” in order to remind you of your commitment to not over-consume and to keep your eyes on Jesus.
3. Make a choice based on your commitment to live simply, in order to create space and time to focus on what is essential: God, relationships, service, and caring for our earth community.

Attached below is a 2020 Advent Calendar focusing on caring for our world. Print it off and put it on your fridge.

In the busyness of the end of the school year may you be able to find some time this Advent to pause, be reflective and prepare for the miracle of the incarnation, the time when we celebrate Emmanuel - God with us! 

First Holy Communion

Last Saturday, 28 November, our second celebration of the sacrament of First Holy Communion occurred. Again, it was a lovely afternoon, led by Father Patrick, whereby our students received Jesus for the first time. Father Patrick reminded us to continue to pray to Jesus often and regularly attend Mass to receive the Eucharist. Congratulations to everyone involved in the preparation of these candidates and a huge thank you to those who were able to help in the organisation of the event. It really was a whole team effort in making this sacrament so memorable.

Year 6 Graduation

This special evening takes place next Tuesday 8 December at the Casey Ryder Hall at Holy Spirit College. Thank you to all those students, staff and parents who have helped to organise this momentous occasion. We are especially grateful to the Holy Spirit College for allowing us the opportunity to present our Year 6 awards to the cohort as a whole.

St Vincent de Paul 2020 Christmas Appeal

Christmas items and edible treats (especially pasta sauces and biscuits) can be sent in over the next couple of weeks to add to our St Vincent de Paul Christmas hampers. Please give generously so that others in our community may experience some joy this Christmas. Thanks for your continued support, which is also greatly appreciated by the Corrimal St Vincent de Paul group. If you are interested in making a monetary donation, please log on to the website https://donate.vinnies.org.au/christmas-appeal

Congratulations to the following students:

Principal's Awards

KB - Claire Potter, Hunter Worthington

KG - Noah Martelozzo, Oliver Park

1B - Jed Bell, Abigail England, Keira Fabon, Oscar Haafkens, Eamon Higgins, Lachlan Walsh

1G - Noah Akhurst, Zara Erven, Darcy Fursey, Maxx Hancock, Reece King, Mia McCormack, Elodie McLuskey, Bianca Pires, Sam Raschilla, Sophie Windisch

2G - Milla Briscoe-Hough, Chloe Copson, Kye Morris

3B - Sam Dorney, Nikhita Hira, Benjamin Niew, Randy O'Brien, Willow Russell, Alexander Welch, Indianna Whitton

3G - Anastasia Auld, Mae Cameron, Massimo Cassarotto, Vogue Catlin

4B - Tobias Fielding, Aiden Heaton, Willow Jenkins, Jackson Logue

4G - Chantelle Fleury, Bronte Fursey, Arav Gaday, Levi Huggins, Lola Shaw

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Award 

KG - Amelie Andary, Charlotte Marmont, Imiah Nguyen

1G - Juliette Ayres, Zara Erven, Bronte Jansen, Sam Raschilla

2B - Kade Bloom, Rebecca Cowell, Andie Lucchitti, Eden Saweris

2G - Felix Ibrahim, Kynan Merola, Sophie Willoughby

3B - Noah Bell, Indigo Marmont, Leah Petch

3G - Mae Cameron, Sonny O'Brien, Lorella Tadros

4B - Wintah Breakspear, Abbie Dyer,

5B - Matilda Noonan

5G - Harry Costin, Jack Kanati

6B - Matilda Bailey

6G - Oliver Ibrahim x 2, Will Malcolm x 2

School Medallion

2B - Dylan Fang, 

2G - Felix Ibrahim

3G - Lorella Tadros

4B - Abbie Dyer

4G - Payten Sims

5B - Molly Stephen

6B - Robert Banfield, Tyler Karhoff

Mrs Orphin, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Teacher received a 'Deadly Award' along with her husband, Ray for their work within our school community. It is an outstanding achievement and we are extremely proud of her work and support of our students.

Mrs Orphin's achievements included:

• Supporting students in developing a great understanding of their Indigenous culture
• Maintaining support link with Indigenous students and their family during COVID-19 remote learning
• Developing of resources, symbols and items that support student learning
• Highly passionate and motivated in her work in promoting 

• Work with the school community
• Making Indigenous connections for the younger students
• Demonstrating great pride in her Indigenous heritage.

Stage 1 2020 Spelling Bee Champion and Runner Up! After a gruelling 5 week challenge, the girls rehearsed words from the Yr 3-6 NSW Premiers Spelling List and had everyone on the edge of their seats! Well done Abbie and Jasmine! A huge effort! Thanks to everyone who made it to each round and tried their best!

Mrs Thatcher.

Semester Two Reports were published via Compass on Wednesday.  These reports are different to the Interim Reports distributed in Semester 1 and slightly different again to the regular Semester Reports.  Below is a rationale for these changes presented by the Wollongong Catholic Education Office. 

If your child is in Year 6 and not moving to a school within the Wollongong Diocese of schools, it is suggested that you download all reports, before the end of the year.  When your child is unenrolled from the system, you will no longer have access to Compass and the information contained within it.  

If you are still having issues downloading the Semester Two Reports, please contact the school.  

Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal 

Congratulations to Daisy Ann Smith who participated in the UNSW Global Science ICAS Assessment for 2020. Daisy received a Credit for her efforts. 

Congratulations to Maricar Santillan who participated in the UNSW Global Spelling Bee ICAS Assessment for 2020. Maricar received a Merit for her efforts. 

Outstanding work Daisy and Maricar.

In relation to Staffing 2021, I would like to congratulate the following staff on their new appointments for next year.

• Mrs Calvert (St Therese, West Wollongong – Religious Education Coordinator)
• Mrs Thatcher (St Brigid’s, Gwynneville)
• Mr Cervonaro (St Brigid’s, (Gwynneville)
• Mrs Hennock (Holy Cross, Helensburgh)

Mrs Molinaro and Mrs Gallina have announced their retirement. We wish them both all the very best moving forward.

We welcome to the St Columbkille’s community for 2021; Mrs Gilmore (St Therese, West Wollongong) and Mrs Runko (St Paul’s, Campbelltown).

Please find attached Staffing 2021.

Christmas At St Col’s

Thank you for Indy.