Dear Parents and Carers,

The Season of Lent brings with it the oppportunity to pray, sacrifice and serve others as Jesus did. On April 21, Easter Sunday presents us with a  enlightened sense of hope, a strengthening of our faith and our ability to serve and ‘Love One Another’. 

'We ask the risen Jesus who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace' Pope Francis.

As this is the last newsletter for the term, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in the life of our school. We look forward to a sensational week together before the start of the Term 1 holidays.

Have a very happy, Holy and safe Easter holiday break with your family and friends.

Take care.

Mr Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Lent / Project Compassion

This weekend is the fifth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading from John (12:1-8) is the anointing of Jesus with oil by Mary. This narrative shows the contrast between the loving nature of Mary and the resentment shown by Judas. How has your behaviour continued throughout this Lenten period? Are you continuing to show love to everyone or have you become jealous and bitter towards others? There is still time to change your actions and 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.”

Continue to sell your Easter raffle tickets to support Project Compassion this Lent and Easter. A huge thank you to the staff who have sent in numerous Easter eggs and items which have made up into wonderful baskets that will be the prizes to the raffle draw on Friday, 12 April.

Confirmation

Our first Confirmation classes held on 27March were a lovely evening for all involved. A reminder that the next evening is scheduled for Wednesday 8May from 6.30-7.30 pm. (After the school holidays!)

Parish Weekend Masses and Celebration

This weekend the parish celebrates its monthly gathering. Thank you to those students and families who have offered to help in some way. There are still weekends available if you would like to read or take up the offertory. Don’t forget a plate of food to share and enjoy after Mass.

Easter Pageant

The students of St Columbkille's will present a Holy Week/Easter performance on the final day of the school term. Classes have been busily preparing their scene and are looking forward to many families joining us on this day. The date is Friday 12April and the pageant will commence at 12 noon. We hope to see many of you there to celebrate with us, at this important time in the Church’s year.

Anzac Day

As this day is commemorated in the school holidays, St Columbkille’s Anzac Liturgy will take place on Tuesday, 30April from 9.15-10.15am. Another day to pop in your calendar and attend our special morning. I am sure there will be some uplifting performances from Ms Patton and our wonderful choir.

Have a safe and joyful Easter break with families and friends!

Joanne Herring - Religious Education Co-ordinator

Swimming

On Wednesday 27^th March, Amelia Rutledge (Year 3)  and Maddison Wood (Year 5) represented the Mackillop Team at the NSWCPS Swimming at Homebush. Both girls swam extremely well against some outstanding competition. Well done to both girls, fine representatives for our school.

Mrs Colleen Kipp - Leader of Sport

Rugby League

Yesterday, Thursday, 4 April, selected students from Year 3 to Year 6 participated in the Rod Wishart and Paul McGregor Shield at Dapto.  In spite of the wet weather, lots of fun was had by the student's and they played enthusiastically and valiantly.  We would like to thank all the fantastic parent's who were able to help out on the day;  Nathan Cooper, Tony Galaxidis, Andrew Rosengren,  Michael Coughlan, Michael Costin, Rod Sweeney, Wayne Rohoseink, Nathan Heaton, Daniel Muller and everyone else who supported our students. Your assistance is greatly appreciate.

On behalf of the President and members of the Corrimal RSL Sub-Branch, we have once again been invited to participate in the 2019 ANZAC Commemorative Services. The services will be held on Sunday 14 April, commencing at 1:20pm and on Thursday 25 April, commencing at 5:30am (both within the school holidays). Students from our school have been invited to attend these significant local events in honouring those men and women who have served, and indeed continue to serve, our nation so proudly.  More information and permission slips regarding the services will be sent home in the coming days. 

If you are able to join us in the march it would be a wonderful show of school and community spirit and support.   

Maria Disbio - Assistant Principal 

Our Year 3 and 5 students have completed the NAPLAN Practice Test.  The test was one 45-minute omnibus test for each year level (Years 3 and 5), which allowed our students to become familiar with the type and style of questions and also for a device check to be completed.  

The benifits for schools to complete the Practice Test inlcude:
* become familiar with the functionality of the online assessment platform
* establish if Wi-Fi access points provide sufficient coverage for the number of devices in a test session
* trial test room set up with actual class groups
* check correct version of browser has been installed

The benifits for students to complete the Practice Test inlcude:
* develop better understanding of assessment tools (e.g. online calculator) as they may be different from what students are used to
* become familiar with the types of questions
* check personal devices have the correct version of browser installed

More information about NAPLAN can be located via https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support 

Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal

An international poll involving 6,017 parents, found two-thirds of Australian kids aged three to five years knew how to navigate a smartphone or iPad, 28% could operate a web browser, 70% could play a basic computer game, 58% could ride a bike, but only 8% could tie their shoe laces.

With this in mind, on Monday 1 April our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students participated in the Athletes Foot Shoe Tying Workshops.  Each class spent 30 minutes learning how to tie their shoe laces. This was a free workshop to help children learn an important life skill to build independence and assist in developing fine motor skills. Each student was also given an Athlete’s Foot sample bag, containing a certificate, instructions and more. 

The Year 5 and 6 students also participated in a Heathly Foot Workshop, created to inform students on how best to keep their feet healthy.  

We thank Paul and Cameron, representatives from Athletes Foot for running the workshops. 

Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal 

Canteen Roster

Term 1 - Week 11

Monday, 8 April

Kirsten Stone, Diana Tasca , Olivia Saweris (9.00-12.00)

Tuesday, 9 April - CLOSED

Wednesday, 10 April

Avril Imber, Lesley Elms, Helen Pittman (9.00-11.30), Ashley Potts (11.30-2.30)

Thursday, 11 April - CLOSED – CROSS COUNTRY

Friday, 12 April - CLOSED – LAST DAY OF TERM

Term 2 - Week 1

Monday, 29 April

Janine Baumeister, Marc Fursey, Kerry Fabon, Trudie Bell  (11.30-2.30)

Tuesday, 30 April – SUSHI TUESDAY

(Canteen is closed – Sushi Available via Online Order Only)

Wednesday, 1 May

Linda Logue, Gisella Villella, Tracy Disibio, Caroline Ayres

Thursday, 2 May

Pamela O’Brien, Ashley Cooper, Anita Zubovic (9.00-11.30), Lana Bloom (11.30-2.30)

Friday, 3 May

Kirsten Immens, Tanya Coughlan, Elizabeth Coll

Term 2 - Week 2

Monday, 6 May

Kirsten Stone, Diana Tasca, Olivia Seweris (9.00-12.00)

Tuesday, 7 May – SUSHI TUESDAY

(Canteen is closed – Sushi Available via Online Order Only)

Wednesday, 8 May

Avril Imber, Lesley Elms, Helen Pittman (9.00-11.30), Ashley Potts (11.30-2.30)

Thursday, 9 May

Amber Morrisey, Tienelle Anderson-Ireland, Dianne Hukins

Friday, 10 May

Naomi Cram, Lisa Bates, Carmen Petch, Lisa Esposito (11.30-2.00), Chelsea Bennett (9.00-11.30)

Thank you so much to all our wonderful families who have supported this years Easter Raffle.  All money raised will be donated to Project Compassion, Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising.  "Give Lent 100%" - Lives change when we all give 100%.  Children are asked to return the raffle tickets and monies before Monday, 8 April. The raffle will be drawn on Friday 12 April.  

We thank you sincerely for your time and support.

On the last day of Term 1, Friday, 12 April, the P & F are holding a Mufti Day.  Students are asked to donate a gold coin.

Orders for Hot Cross Buns finished today. Thank you so very much for supporting this event and our P & F.

The buns will be delivered and ready for pickup on the last day of Term 1, Friday, 12 April.  If you haven't made prior arrangements, or are unable to pick up your Hot Cross Buns, they will be sent home with your child/children.

Ben Tornati a scuola!      Welcome back!

This term has gone past so quickly and there has been lots of learning in Italian.  All the Gold classes have been working well through the various topics including the favourite for this time of year, Carnevale. The students have enjoyed learning about the significance of Carnevale together with making their maschere and learning about the favourite characters of Carnevale. The students’ work is displayed in the classrooms.

I am very pleased that I am able to share the work the students are doing through the school’s Instagram and Facebook page.

Looking forward to Term 2 and the various planned activities!

Buon lavoro ragazzi e Buona Pasqua a tutti!

Signora Molinaro - Teacher of Italian