Dear Parents and Carers,

Hope that you are well and have enjoyed the last couple of weeks.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Family Mass and welcomed many of our new Kindergarten students and their families to the St Columbkille's Parish. Thank you to Fr Anthony and members of our staff who joined our SCC families for both Mass and morning tea.

“The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope. Our hope is in the life and the promise of Jesus Christ, and this is what we invite our students to encounter” — Peter Hill, CEDoW Director of Schools

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) community gathered for our annual Education Mass at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow. It was wonderful to celebrate Mass with many of our friends and colleagues from across the Diocese. It also marked the official launch of the CEDoW new strategic plan - Lighting the Way 2023+.

Please refer to the following links for further information https://ltw.dow.catholic.edu.au

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/general-news/mass  

Harmony Week  - Everyone Belongs will be held from Monday 20 through to Friday 24 March.  As we are aware, our country is both vibrant and multicultural – from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from all over the world.

Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are and what we are about.

An integrated multicultural Australia is foundational our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation. As a school community, we are celebrating our diversity through a range of activities throughout Harmony Week

As we continue to manoeuvre through 2023, our Annual Improvement Plans (AIP), shape both our learning and focus. Below are our 3 goals that we will working to achieve throughout the year:

• By the end of 2023, K-6 staff  will engage in contemporary writing pedagogy through leadership led professional learning that improves student learning and growth.
• By the end of 2023 students are  engaged, safe and have the confidence in their ability  to navigate challenges  through the development and implementation  of a  Child Safe Plan.
• By the end of 2023, staff have a shared knowledge and understanding of the pedagogical practices within the K-2 NSW Curriculum in Literacy and Numeracy so that syllabus outcomes are taught effectively. 

Enjoy a sensational a weekend with family and friends.

Take care

Brad Colquhoun - Principal

Parish School Mass

We had a lovely celebration with Father Anthony last weekend and a number of families were able to join us. Thank you to those students and parents who came along, and to all those who helped with the readings and offertory. Morning tea was a nice chance to catch up and for the children to play. Our next Mass occurs on Sunday 2nd April. If you are able to help please contact the school or myself.

Lent

How is your LENTEN journey going? Have you taken some time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving? Our 40 days of Lent provides us with an opportunity to become closer to Christ and leaves us changed by this encounter with him. Our LENTEN prayer boxes have been making their way to many families thus far and will continue throughout this season. Thank you for the beautiful heartfelt prayers, kind words and pictures drawn in these class prayer books, and for sharing these thoughts within each class. Don't forget to bring in any spare change to fill our class Project Compassion boxes. Anything you can donate is certainly helpful.

Caritas

Week 3:

We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Priscilla, who lives in the Hwange district in Zimbabwe with her husband, Charles, and two of their grandchildren. Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in the most vulnerable and remote communities in Zimbabwe.

During times of intense drought and food shortages, Priscilla had to commute to the town centre and wait in long queues to collect food.  

With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops and started poultry farming to support her family during the current food crisis. Priscilla was able to produce a bumper harvest in her first year of practising in conservation farming. Priscilla also used the funds from her harvest to start poultry farming, which enabled her to sell eggs to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees, books and stationery. The poultry farming provides a safety net for Priscilla and her family during times of hardship, like the current drought.

While the situation in Zimbabwe and across eastern Africa remains dire, the work of Caritas Hwange means that Priscilla can learn the techniques, tools and resources she needs to build resilience and support her family during this current food crisis.  

Watch a short film about Priscilla’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Week 4:

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Thu, who lives in Vietnam. When Thu was 12 years old, he stepped on an unexploded land mine and lost his leg. ​

Living with a disability in rural Vietnam presented many challenges for Thu, who worked mainly as a rice farmer. Thu also took on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.​

Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD).    

For Thu, the greatest impact the program has had is enabling the change in Linh’s physical and mental wellbeing. With the support of a physiotherapist, Linh can now walk short distances with the aid of a walking stick. 

Watch a short film about Thu’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Clean Up Australia Day

Last Friday, the 4th of March, St Columbkille's students answered the call to environmental stewardship in Pope Francis' Encyclical Laudato Si by participating in Clean Up Australia Day. Students from K-6 did an incredible job of cleaning up the school grounds. In doing so, they contributed to the efforts of 943,443 volunteers across Australia, including 3,740 schools, who work towards removing waste from our beautiful nation's streets, parks, ecosystems and waterways. Thank you to the students as well as parents and carers for providing gloves for the day.

Feasts of St Patrick and St Joseph

Next Friday 17th March we acknowledge the feast of St Patrick. St Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century. On Monday 19th March is another saints feast day, St Joseph. Joseph was a carpenter, a good and honest man, who God called to care for Mary and her baby Jesus. Joseph was a faithful and trusting servant of God who wanted to do what was asked of him. We can learn from Joseph to listen to what God asks of us and become faith-filled servants caring for those in need. Let us pray to these saints as they help us draw closer to God.

Mini Vinnies

St Columbkille's is pleased to announce our Year 5 Mini Vinnies team for 2023. These students will lead the school in supporting various agencies and organisations. Their induction took place today at the afternoon asembly. Congratulations to - Kade Bloom, Darcy Shaw, Kynan Merola, Harper Harrison, Abbie Stenos, Sophie Willougby, Oscar McKevith, Ethan Oliver, Ruby Ukotic and Jasmine Bertacco.

Joanne Herring - Religious Education Coordinator

Merit Awards 

Merit awards are given by all teaching staff and are presented at the Award Assembly each Friday.  Awards are given for: 

▪ “Core Value” - Fortnightly focus (one per class per week) 

▪ Academic/behaviour/sport/social achievements (two per class per week)  

▪ Specialist Lesson (three per week across K-6) 

When children have received five (5) merit awards they will be presented with a Mary MacKillop Award.  The children will be required to bring their five merit awards to school and send them to the office, via the  office bag. When (3) Mary MacKillop Awards have been received a special school medallion will be presented. 

Sticker Books 

▪ All students at St Columbkille’s are issued with a sticker book. Stickers can be given for  academic/behaviour/sport/social/achievements.  

▪ Principal awards are presented at the Award Assembly. 

▪ The reward steps for all stages is as follows: 

Only 5% of NSW children eat enough vegetables. We’re on a mission to change that stat, by increasing children’s knowledge, exposure and positive attitudes towards vegetables.

Vegetable Week Competition

In 2022 our school entered one of the competitions and won a $400 Vegepod voucher which was used to purchase a Vegepod. This will be set up and planted during Vegetable week. Look out for it in our playground.

So… you’ve got to be in it to win it……….

In this year’s school competition, Vegetable Week needs a mascot! Healthy Kids will be looking for the most fun, cool and creative design. The winning mascot will be featured in promotional material and resources for Vegetable Week 2024.

Prizes: The winning school receives a $400 Vegie Voucher, the winning student will win their mascot printed on totebags for their whole class! The two runner-up schools will each receive a $250 Vegie Voucher.

How to enter? Download and print the Entry Sheets: School Competition entry sheet. Completed entries should be returned to your child’s class teacher. The entry deadline for our school is Tuesday 28th March 12pm.

5 of our school’s best designs will be chosen as the school finalists and sent to NSW Healthy kids for judging in the Statewide competition. All entries will be displayed in the basement.

What is The Big Vegie Crunch?

The Big Vegie Crunch is a fun health promotion event to help our community UP THE VEG. Our school will be dressed in casual clothes and taking part in The Big Vegie Crunch (part of Vegetable Week) at 10am on Thursday 30 March. Students who participate will receive a participation sticker for their sticker book.

Primary schools across NSW will be joining together to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables:

• 50,260 students crunching simultaneously (2018 record)
• 14,991 students crunching at other times over Vegetable Week (2019 record)

What can you do to help?

• Pack a container of vegetables (not fruit this time) for your child to eat on Thursday 30 March.
• Send your child to school dressed in clothes the same colour as their favourite VEGETABLE.
• Remember to keep serving up the vegetables at home and in your children’s lunchboxes. Check out the UP THE VEG at Home resource for ideas

If you require more information on what activities our school is doing over Vegetable Week, please contact the school or your child’s teacher.

Sue Smyth - Vegetable Week School Coordinator

Fruit and vegetables are very important for children. They are an excellent source of vitamins and many contain important minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron. They also contain fibre to keep the digestive system healthy.  This one reason why we strongly encourage students to pack and then make time for the students to consume their Crunch & Sip.  

The Crunch component of Crunch and Sip should be fresh fruit or vegetables and the sip component should be water.  

Only water should fill students drink bottles, as being well hydrated improves mood, memory and attention in children and is good for the body, keeping - joints, bones and teeth healthy, helping blood to circulate, and can help children maintain a healthy weight into adulthood. And it's economical – tap water is much less expensive than sports drinks, sodas and juice.

For the health and safety of our students and staff, nuts and nut products should not be consumed at school.  

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.

As you would be aware a number of our students have food allergies to nuts, eggs, fish and shellfish.  In keeping these students safe from food reactions including anaphylaxis, we ask that you take great care when packing lunch boxes for your child/ren school each day. 

We ask that you pack:

No raw nuts (nut muesli bars)

No nut products (peanut butter, Nutella, coconut water)

No nuts in cooked items

No raw eggs

No cooked eggs (egg sandwich, egg in a salad, egg based mayonnaise)

No meringue 

No raw fish

No raw shellfish

No cooked white fish, salmon or shellfish 

Items that are OK to include in lunchboxes are:

* tinned tuna

* egg within cooked foods (cakes, biscuits, quiche or zucchini slice) 

We ask all who consume these foods to wash hands thoroughly after consumption and to ensure that they do not share their food with others.

The following website, ‘Kids with Food Allergies’ contains a number of recipes that are as free of many different food allergens as possible.  If you struggle with what to pack your child, this site is worth a browse.

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/page/recipes-diet.aspx#res

Also, just a reminder that NO dogs are permitted on school grounds as we have a student very allergic to dogs. 

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