Dear Parents and Carers,

We have enjoyed our first full week of the 2023 school year and the arrival of our Kinder students and their families. Once again, thank you for your support and that of our staff which has ensured a calm and enjoyable transition to back school.

This afternoon we presented our Welcome certificates to our Kinder students. It was a wonderful celebration and great to see so many of our parents and grandparents attending our Week 3 Assembly. Thank you to Kinder Team - Mrs Herring, Mrs Griggs, Mrs Bower, Mrs Tyrrell and Mrs MacMillan for all their work in making the start to school for our students such a success. Our Year 6 students and teachers - Mrs Tirchett and Mrs O'Connor have also been highly supportive in Kinder's successful transition to school.

On Monday 13 February, Kinder will be joining the rest of the school community for morning assembly at 8:50am on the Front Cement.

On Tuesday 14 February 2023 at Corrimal Pool, we will be holding our competitors only Swimming Carnival for 8 to 12 year old students from 9:00am-12pm. We are looking forward to seeing our students compete along with the attendance of our parents and grandparents. Thank you to Mrs Olima for all her work in organising the carnival - it is greatly appreciated.

We will be celebrating our Year 6 Student Leadership presentation on Friday 17 February 2023. This ceremony will begin with a parent luncheon from 1pm, student leadership presentation ceremony at 1:45pm in the MD Hall followed by our whole school assembly at 2:30pm. 

Thank you for a great week at SCC. Enjoy your weekend with family and friends.

Take care

Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Welcome back to another school year. I trust you and your family have enjoyed a restful school break and are ready for all that 2023 will bring. A special welcome to our Kindergarten students, our new students and staff and new families.

Our vision “Learning Together, Shaping Futures” and our Core Values of Faith, Responsibility, Respect, Learning, Community and Celebration are a focus in our Religious Education lessons over the next few weeks. Take some time to talk about these values at home.

Church Year- Ordinary Time

We are currently in what the Church refers to as "Ordinary Time." Ordinary Time is a time to learn and follow the teachings of Christ in our daily lives, to grow as his followers, and to become better able to give witness to his Good news in our everyday lives. At the conclusion of this time we then begin Lent, with a celebration called Ash Wednesday. Our St Columbkille's community will take part in church and liturgy events on this day. More information will be forthcoming.

Leaders Induction

On Friday 17th February our St Columbkille's community will celebrate our Year 6 Leaders Induction. In the afternoon our Year 6 leaders will be inducted into their respective leadership groups. We pray these students continue to guide and serve us throughout the year by being the best leader they can be.

National Apology Anniversary

On the 13^th February, Australia commemorates the 15^th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. In 2008, the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, presented this apology in the Australian parliament which was a momentous occasion of recognition and reconciliation in our nation’s history. It was a moment of solidarity and empathy that could be shared by everybody who heard it. National Apology Day is a day to remember and pray for the children who were taken away from their families and homes and commit to right the wrongs of past injustices and build a bridge of respect between all people.

Creator God, Creator Spirit, God of the Dreaming, empower us to honour the history of this Great South Land. Help us to remember the story of those who have gone before us and to ensure the future is one of peace, reconciliation and harmony for all who walk this land. AMEN

Project Compassion Launch

On Tuesday 21 Feb from 10am, St Columbkille's will be hosting the CEDoW Caritas Project Compassion Launch. This is an exciting and welcomed opportunity for our school community. Schools from within our Diocesan will take part in this celebration acknowledging the beginning of Lent. Our families can give generously during this time by bringing in any loose change from home to place in our class money boxes. We continue to pray for all people and nations to live in solidarity showing values of justice, love and compassion.

Family Parish Masses

In 2019 the parish and school implemented a combined Mass on the first weekend of each month. Students and their families are involved by way of reading and offertory. Not only do families enjoy celebrating the Eucharist with members of the community, you can also stay behind for a wonderful morning tea and chat. Each family brings a plate to share.

We have planned these gatherings again in 2023 so if your child/children and other members of the family are willing to be involved please let me know. Our next celebration will be held on Sunday 5th March.

Have a great fortnight, God bless!

Mrs Jo Herring - Religious Education Coordinator 

This week’s gospel focusing on salt and light further enhances the message of Jesus’ teaching of The Beatitudes. If we embrace the qualities that God desires for us in the Beatitudes and allow our hearts to be transformed, then we will be impelled to share these qualities in our relationship with others. This is our missionary response - to be Christ-like in the world.

We’ve all experienced a time when the lights went out and we were in darkness. In this case, if you were to light a candle and place it in the centre of the room, its light would make quite a difference. One candle in a darkened room transforms that room, making it a more comfortable dwelling place.Using that image, consider Jesus’ metaphor: “You are the light of the world.” Imagine yourself as that single candle in the darkness. Just as a single candle can give light to an entire room, so you are capable of being a source of light for many others.

Teresa of Avila expresses why this is so important in her writing:Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Imagine then, if there is more than one light in the darkness. This is the value of community,  the support and inspiration to allow God’s grace to shine through each one of us. Reflect upon those whom you have been called to shine God’s light. Who in your life needs an act of love, mercy, forgiveness or compassion? Who has shone the Light of Christ upon you? Hold that person in your prayer of gratitude.

To assist with the leading of inivatives and the general running of school activities each stage is allocated a leader.  For 2023 the following staff have been allocated to the four stages:

Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Mrs Joanne Herring

Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) Mrs Libbie Tyrrell

Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) Mrs Chrsitine Perre

Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) Mrs Maria Disibio 

Should you have any questions or concerns, your first port of call should always be your child's teacher.  Should you require further clarification you can make contact with the Stage Leader.  

The St Columbkille's Instagram and Facebook accounts have been posting photos of our students and staff enjoying their learning experiences. The accounts will continue to feature photos of our celebrations, news and events. I encourage you to follow our account - @stcolumbkilles.corrimal to view our posts thus far and so you can look out for future posts.  Our Instagram posts are also reflected in our Facebook page, so if you prefer, follow us on Facebook. Our Facebook page is also accessable via the link on the left hand side of this Newsletter.  

If you haven't already done so, I strongly encourage you to download the Compass App. Within the Compass App you will find the St Columbkille's Parent Calendar which can be viewed from the homepage or by selecting the calendar icon in the menu. The Parent Calendar can also be viewed in our Schoolzine newsletters. It is located on the lefthand side of the page.  

Links to both the latest version of our newsletter and social media posts can also be located via our school website. 

The SZapp (Schoolzine) App linked to our Schoolzine Newsletter is available to download from the App and Play Store. Downloading the App will provide you with another form of communication. In addition to the latest and archieved newsletters, the App includes links to our school website, our social media pages, school calendar and more, plus it also contains contact us facitlities.   

Simply download the App from the App or Play Store to your device, select the region, enter and select our school name and login using an exisitng email address.  

The newsletter and alerts will continue to be sent via Compass. The SZapp will just provide information via a different forum, which you may find easier to use.    

Thank you to the families who have chosen to use morning drop off and afternoon carline pick up.  

Just a reminder that the laneway is STRICTLY A NO STOPPING ZONE therefore parents and carers should not park in the laneway prior to afternoon dismissal.

Parents/carers are not to arrive before 3pm.

All children are supervised and safe. Arriving at this time greatly reduces the congestion and inconvenience caused to our local residents and neighbours.

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 only.
• Children must enter and exit from the driver side of the car only where possible
• Please be aware and mindful of students being picked-up by their parents outside of carlines
• Family names are to be clearly displayed in the front of all cars. The sunvisor is the best place.
• Overtaking a stationary vehicle is not permitted

Should you require a name plate, please contact the School Office and one will be made for you. Thank you for your onging support and patience in ensuring the safety of our school community.

If your child has a health related concern that the class teacher needs to be aware of, please email the office staff or call the office staff and give them the information on 4284 7987.

These concerns may include:

* An extra dose of Ventolin on a given day or medication details. The office staff will inform the class teacher.

* If your child breaks/sprains/fractures a bone/muscle/tendon please make certain you ask the Doctor/hospital staff for a medical clearance for your child to attend school. Please make certain this has information in regards to any activities your child may or may not participate in.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Mrs Pauline Leonard - Leader of Diverse Learning

The Dental van is visiting our school to actively find and prevent dental decay early.
Students can receive a full check-up, preventative and general dental care at school. If your child needs further treatment, the dental team will call for consent. 
The ADH Dental Initiative is funded by Australian Dental Heath and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. 

If your child is not Medicare eligible, ADHNSW will provide a FREE Dental Health Screening and tooth strengthening fluoride remineralistaion.