Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope the school break was just what your family needed in order to rest, reflect and recharge and that Term 3 has started well.  

On Sunday 7 August at 9:30am, our parish and school community will be celebrating our monthly 'Family Mass' together.  All families are invited to attend Mass which will be followed by morning tea. The Infants playground will be opened for our students to utilise at this time.  If you are unable to attend Mass, you are most welcome to attend morning tea.

Due to a clash of dates out of our control, the day for school photographs has been changed to Thursday 20 October (Term 4).  We apologise for any inconvenience.  We look forward to having all our students able to attend on this day.  

It seems that although the sun is shining, the cooler weather has continued to make its presence known. I thank you for your effort in ensuring that the correct uniform is being worn, it can be a challenge at times, however, I am most grateful for your ongoing support with our uniform policy.

We look forward to the bike immersion days next week on Monday and Tuesday. All students from Year 1 to Year 6 will be participating in the day run by the UCI and Australian Cycling Team's Ride Nation.  Please see the Compass alert sent by Mrs Olima regarding further details and thank you to Mrs Olima for her organisation of the days.  

I take this opportunity to thank Mrs Lace for her organisation of the Year 5 excursion to Canberra and to Mrs Rathbone, Mr Lowrie, Mrs Tirchett and Mrs Finney for attending and supporting our students.  It has been wonderful to see a glimpse of the excursion via social media and to hear that all has been going well.  I'm sure all involved will require some recovery sleep over the weekend. 

Thank you for your continued energy and support for our school community.

Mrs Maria Disibio - Acting Principal

NAIDOC WEEK Celebrations

Thank you to Mrs O’Connor and Mrs Orphin for leading our school community in an educational and moving liturgy for NAIDOC Week. Several Indigenous role models were spoken about who live out this year’s theme of “Get up! Stand Up! Show Up!” The story of the creation of the Five Islands off Windang reminds us of the connection we all have to our land. If you would like to revisit this story, please click here.

Memorial of Sts Joachim and Anne

On the 26^th of July we celebrated the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. They were Jesus’ grandparents and the parents of Mary. They had a special role to play to raise Mary to know and love God and to be faithful to him and to help Mary and Joseph raise Jesus too. On this day we reflect on the great love and care our grandparents give us.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus, you were nurtured and cared for by your grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne. We ask you to help us value the wisdom and knowledge of those around us, especially our grandparents. May we love and cherish them, value and respect them, and always be grateful for all they share with us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

St Columbkille’s will acknowledge our Grandparents and Grandfriends at the end of October.

Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian

On Wednesday 3^rd August our Year 6 students will gather at St Joseph’s Church, Bulli for the annual mass with Bishop Brian. We haven’t had this opportunity for several years and are looking forward to catching up with our friends from other schools. Please remember to wear your full winter school uniform.

Religious Literacy Assessment Year 6

On Monday 1^st August our Year 4 students will sit the Religious Literacy Assessment. All schools in the diocese take part in this event which informs future planning and teaching in RE. Parents are also given a report of their child’s progress and achievements. We wish Year 4 the best of luck!

National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day

On Thursday 4^th August we celebrate this annual day for Aboriginal and Islander children. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are born into stories of their family, culture, and Country. They carry with them the songlines of their ancestors and culture, passed down by generations. Their Dreaming is part of our history, while their futures are their own to shape. Thank you to Mrs Griggs for sharing resources and ideas in helping to acknowledge this day.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

On Monday 8^th August we commemorate St Mary of the Cross Mackillop. Mary MacKillop is not only the first Australian to be recognised by the Church as a Saint, she is truly a very Australian saint. She characterises the spirit of the Australian mythology. She was a prodigious hard worker who put the needs of others before herself. She exhibited something of the larrikin spirit: constantly in dispute with authority but pressing on, regardless. She used the strengths of others but also didn’t tolerate those who were not genuine. Her commitment to the schooling of children from poor and rural communities established a model of Catholic education that continues to today. A Saint for and of Australia!

One of Mary’s sayings was “never see a need without doing something about it.” If you have a need or request at this present moment, take the time to say this prayer as often as is required…

Sacraments

Enrolments have been open for several weeks for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Enrolment forms and commitment cards were sent home for our Year 3 students. If you require either of these please contact me or the Corrimal Parish (this is where both forms can be downloaded).  Enrolment forms must be returned to NEXT Sunday Masses on the 31st July. Workbooks and Google classroom links will be given out shortly.

Have a wonderful fortnight!

Mrs Joanne Herring - Religious Education Coordinator

A Deeper Look At The Lord’s Prayer

Luke 11: 1-13 NRSV

We are so very fortunate to live in a time where prayer can be experienced in many different and varied ways. In last Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 11:1-13) the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. And whilst Jesus also prayed in many ways, he decided on this occasion to teach them to pray the “Our Father”.

In our current world the “Our Father” or “Lord’s Prayer” is a valuable and powerful prayer to pray, yet at times we can fall into the trap of reciting it without much thought. It rolls off the tongue like a well-known song. But as we delve a little more deeply into it and slow down our reading, there is a deep treasure within.

Fr Anthony Crook, a priest within our diocese, provided some powerful insights on Sunday which opened my mind and heart to these deeper dimensions. He explained that in the time that Jesus lived, in the Hebrew tradition, the community were not allowed to say the word “God” as it was regarded as too sacred. They would use consonants, but not say the full name.

For Jesus to suggest that they begin this prayer with the words “Our Father” was almost unfathomable. He was suggesting that God is someone close to us, someone, with whom we can have a relationship. This was a very progressive idea and would have stretched the community in a significant way.

Today we use many different words when we speak to God or about God – Loving God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father, Mother, Compassionate One, to name a few. However, each reference reflects a relationship with God and it was this very thing that Jesus was encouraging his disciples to recognize and experience.

So today you are invited to look a little more deeply at the Our Father reflecting on its relevance to each of our lives.

Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.

God wants to be connected to us, to have a relationship with us. God loves us all deeply, sees our goodness and wants the best for us.

When have you felt a moment of closeness to God this past week? This may have been during a time of prayer, during a conversation with a friend, or a moment in nature.

Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.

Jesus was suggesting that the kingdom is not something out there, but something that we contribute to today. And if we truly believe this, we are invited to consider ways we are contributing towards this.

Where are you feeling called to bring greater justice in our world today? Where are you feeling called to be a voice or reason or a measured presence?

Give us this day our daily bread.

In asking for daily bread we are not asking for food, sustenance or even possessions. Such things as a new iPhone, car, or holiday would certainly be enjoyed, however, Jesus is speaking about those deeper needs and deeper heart desires.

In the busyness of life, we can sometimes lose touch with those things that we most need. Jesus invites his disciples and us to get back in touch with those needs, trusting that God will both hear these and will provide for them. This provision may not always be in the exact form or time frame we would envisage or hope, however, there is a commitment from God to lovingly respond to this need.

Take a moment now to consider what it is that you really need in your life today? Share these words with God trusting that each one is heard and held.

And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

In a recent book by Hugh Mackay entitled “The Kindness Revolution” Hugh commented that “Forgiveness calls on deep reserves of moral courage: the courage to break out of the spiral of self-pity; the courage to set aside resentment; the courage to rise above bitterness; the courage to act well when all our instincts call on us to act badly.”

These authentic words remind us that forgiveness involves a conscious choice and can be incredibly challenging to do. Some things are incredibly hard to let go of and forgiveness does involve a great deal of moral courage.

Where are you feeling called to forgive?
Where in your life do you need the strength to forgive?

And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.

We can easily get distracted by the weight of these words. And yet Jesus was providing some insight into the fact that in life we will be exposed to things which are both life-giving and not life-giving. There are also times when it is not always clear. Prayer and conversations with God offer us a pathway to discern whether a path or choice is the best one for us.

Is there an aspect of your life which is not life-giving? You may like to invite God to help discern this and if necessary to let it go.

Amen

This final statement “Amen” clearly marks the end of the prayer but also affirms the content of the prayer. Amen acknowledges that what has been shared is held true by the faith community.

The Our Father is a prayer deeply infused with invitations to live life more fully. Just as Jesus would have ruffled some edges in teaching this prayer, we may also be called to ruffle some edges to do those very things that the Our Father invites us to take on. It is a challenge worth facing!

As outlined in the Compass communication last week, CEDoW has provided schools with an update re: COVID-19. Please refer to the information and recommendations below.

• Staff and students are regularly reminded and supported to practise good personal hygiene throughout the school day, particularly in relation to shielding   coughs and sneezes, and hand washing.
• Continued enhanced cleaning throughout the school, with a particular focus on high touch surfaces.
• Strongly encourage testing even very mild flu-like symptoms.
• Natural ventilation is maximised in all indoor spaces.
• All students and staff are supported to wear masks if they choose to do so.

Please find attached a letter re: Updated CEDoW SCC COVID-19 information

Grandparents Day will be held on Friday 28 October in the MD Hall. It’s a special occasion that celebrates Grandparents, relatives, and those who take on the role of a Grandparent within our families. It’s a beautiful time to celebrate those older members of the family for all that they do. Further information will be made available as we get closer to the day.

Pupil Free Day - Monday 29 August

Our Teacher Professional Planning Day will focus on Writing Pedagogy. Writing is one of our School Improvement area for 2022.  Mrs Perre and Vanessa Taylor (CEDoW) will be leading and supporting our staff throughout the day.

State Futsal Championship

The St Columbkille’s boys Futsal team, having won their region competition, progressed to the State Championships at the PCYC in Windsor on Wednesday. They competed against the best sides across NSW and played in extremely close and tough matches. With 2 wins, 1 loss and a draw, the team progressed to the Quarter Finals. In a hard-fought match, they drew at full time and in sudden death extra time, ultimately lost. All boys can be extremely proud of the efforts in getting to this level. They demonstrated superb skill and a determined attitude. Many thanks go to Mr Srbinoski for his time and commitment in coaching the team and to the parents who made the long trip.

Interschools Snow Competition

Aiden Heaton and Preston Park competed recently in the Interschools Snow Competition in Perisher. Aiden (snowboarding) and Preston (skiing) competed individually and as a team in a few events.

In fabulous news, the boys made it through as a team for Moguls and individually - Preston for ski Alpine, Moguls and Cross and Aiden for snowboard GS & Cross. They will now compete in the NSW State Championships at the end of August. Congratulations boys! We will look forward to hearing how you go.

 Boys Rugby League

The Stage 3 boys Rugby League team is progressing to the NSW Semi Finals for the Independent & Catholic Primary Schools Challenge. This is being held in Albion Park next Thursday 4^th August. The boys will verse Riverina/ACT and Dubbo before playing the Sydney winner. The team who wins this day will advance to the State Finals later in the month. Thank you to Mr Galaxidis who has been training the team in preparation. Best of luck boys!

Girls Rugby League

A group of Year 6 girls are excited to have the opportunity to represent St Columbkille’s in the Sam Bremner Shield tackle rugby league competition, on Tuesday 2^nd August. The NRL conducted a safe landing and tackle ready clinic, with Mr Cooper leading some training sessions to prepare the girls. This is also a progressive competition, with the winner advancing to the Katrina Fanning State Cup. Good luck and have fun girls!

We are very lucky to have such wonderful support from parents. Without this support, the students would not have the opportunities in sport that they have. Thank you!

Mrs Jennifer Gaffney - Leader of Sport

NSW PSSA Cross Country

Congratulations to Harrison Esteves and Bailey Mitchell on their wonderful effort at the NSW PSSA Cross Country. Harrison placed 29th out of 78 and Bailey placed 41st out of 69. Well done to both boys!

Colleen Kipp- Year 4 Classroom Teacher

Book Week commences Saturday 20th August and this year's theme is Dreaming with eyes open.

Looking forward to seeing your wonderful creative costumes!

Ms Helen Moon - Library SSO

Congratulations to Natalie Harris for winning a category in the 2022 ANZAC School Initiative Competition.  Natalie's entry was a watercolour poster representation of ANZAC Day.  The Koori Kids and Department of Veterans Affairs competition received over 64 007 entries. The ultimate aim of the ANZAC School Initiative is to give an added tool for teachers, providing a greater understanding and awareness on the importance and respect of ANZAC Day.  The initiatives were open to all primary school students (K-6).  

Well Done Natalie.  

The day for school photographs has been changed due to a clash of dates out of our control.  The school photos will now be in Term 4 on Thursday 20 October.  We apologise for any inconvenience.  

On Saturday 2 July, I cut my hair and donated it to make a wig. Thank you to all the people who supported or donated to my Cancer Council fundraiser. I raised $2355. This money will go towards cancer research.

Thank you to St Columbkille's for supporting me.

Ciara Pons (4 Blue)

In meeting with members of Wollongong City Council, we have devised a course of action to support the ongoing safety of our school and wider community. This is inclusive of walkers, bike riders and car lines. We look forward to our continued work with Wollongong City Council in actioning these short and long term plans.

Please find attached minutes from the meeting.