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- Principals Message
- Religious Education News
- Spiritual Reflection
- Library News
- Book Week
- Book Week Story Writing Competition
- SCC Sport
- eSafety Information
- Morning Arrival and Afternoon Dismissal - Safety
- Year 5 Canberra Excursion - Parliament & Civics Education Rebate (PACER)
- Swan Lake Ballet - Bronte Ireland
- St Columbkille's and St Joseph Parish Bulletin
- Illawarra South Coast Hockey
- Northern Parishes Youth Social Event
- The Kids Cancer Project
- Bicycle Safety
- Latest School Canteen Menu
Dear Parents and Carers,
Hope that you are well and are enjoying your week.
The Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian took place last Wednesday, with several schools across the Diocese of Wollongong celebrating this event at St Therese, West Wollongong. Thank you to Ms Patton and to Claude Vincent, Georgia Doherty and Indira Lozenkovski, for their preparation, beautiful singing and participation in the Mass. Our Year 6 students answered many of Bishop Brian's questions, participated actively in the Mass and enjoyed interacting with Year 6 students from the other schools.
The annual Year 5 overnight excursion to Canberra was held last Thursday and Friday. We enjoyed a sensational time together. The early 6am start on Thursday morning was followed by the frost and cold of Goulburn. Once arrived in Canberra we were able to visit and explore the AIS, Parliamnt House, Questacon, War Memorial and Old Parliament House Electrocal Office throughout the 2 days. We greatly appreciate the time away from home, organisation and sense of adventure from the Mrs Lace, Mr Lowrie, Mrs Sumner and Mrs Finney. Thank You!
This Monday, our Year 4 students will be participating in the annual Religious Literacy Assessment. Thank you to Ms Finlay-Joseph and Mrs Kipp for their work in preparing Year 4 for this assessemnt and wish them all the very best.
NAPLAN results were releaased this week. The St Columbkille's results show Year 3 and 5 Above National Average in each Domain - Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar/Punctuation and Numeracy - a wonderful result! We will further explore students and school data re: NAPLAN results from NESA and CEDoW once this inofrmation is released.
Welcome back to Term 3, I trust you enjoyed the school break!
Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian
It was a wonderful day last Wednesday 19th July, when a number of schools, including ours, attended the annual Year 6 Mass with the Bishop. A huge thank you to Ms Patton and our psalmists, Claude Vincent, Georgia Doherty and Indira Lozenkovski, in representing our school. Well done to all students for the reverence shown during mass, and their friendliness in interacting with other students.
Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne
On Wednesday 26th July our school acknowledged the feast day of Sts Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. They had a special role to play to raise Mary to know and love God and be faithful to him and to help Mary and Joseph raise Jesus too. We give thanks to God for the gift of grandparents, and the important role they play within families and society today. St Columbkille's will celebrate our annual Grandparents/GrandFriends Day at the end of October.
Religious Literacy Assessment
On Monday 31st July our Year 4 students will sit for the Religious Literacy Assessment. Thank you to Ms Finlay-Joseph and Mrs Kipp for ensuring a smooth transition from the practice test to the actual assessment. This data is used by the CEO to guide future planning within the diocese and individual schools.
National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
St Columbkille's will acknowledge this day on Friday 4th August. Thank you to Mrs Lattimore in helping to organise resources and activities in recognising this day. This year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme is ‘Little Voices, Loud Futures’. We are raising awareness for the bright futures of our children and the potential for their voices to pave a new path for our nation. As always, we support the voices of our children in calling for a future where they are proud and empowered by their culture to speak their truth and be listened to by all Australians. https://www.aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/
Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
On 8 August Catholics celebrate the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. She was a wonderful woman who gave her life to God and to people in need and was declared Australia’s first Saint on the 17th of October 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Students will focus on St Mary and her life within Religious Education lessons close to this date as well as take part in a liturgy in the hall on Tuesday morning at 9am, which you are welcome to attend. Thank you to Ms Finlay-Joseph for organising this celebration and the lovely prayer cards in commemoration of this day. If you would like more information about her life, as well as relevant youtube clips, click on this link from the Sydney Catholic Schools
https://reonline.sydcatholicschools.nsw.edu.au/2016/06/17/feast-of-st-mary-of-the-cross-mackillop/
Parish / Family Mass
Our next Parish/Family Mass is being held on Sunday 6th August at 9.30am. If you and your child would like to read or take up the offertory please let us know. Also remember to bring along some morning tea to share.
Children's Liturgy
With the return of Children's Liturgy to St Columbkille's Church, it would be lovely to see as many children as possible attend this Sunday morning at 9.30am. Sarah and Corey Boater, parents of Noah in Year 1, will be leading the session, so come along and learn more about the message of Jesus, and help lead the offertory procession.
Have a wonderful fortnight!
Mrs Jo Herring - Religious Education Coordinator
Lessons from Trees
There’s a famous poem called Trees by Joyce Kilmer that has the opening lines:
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
Joyce Kilmer wrote these inspiring words back in 1913 from his bedroom window as he looked out upon a splash of autumnal colours in rural New Jersey USA. In the poem, Joyce admits that he will never have the ability to live up to the splendour and majesty of creation and the power to make something as beautiful and wonderful as a tree is reserved for God. The poem finishes with the lines:
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Thank goodness for the “Poetry Fools” who open our eyes and enlarge our hearts to see and feel more deeply. They are the ones who summon our spirits to soar and sing. Another poet, Jane Hirshfield wrote in her stunning poem about the death of a tree, “Today, for some, a universe will vanish,” whilst William Blake observed in his writings that how we see a tree is how we see the world, and in the act of seeing we reveal what we are. “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is, in the eyes of others, only a green thing which stands in the way,” he wrote. “As a person is, so he or she sees.”
All of these words and reflections are helpful as we mark National Tree Day, an annual celebration which is held in the last week of July. It is a time to stop, celebrate and consider that if a single tree is home to a miniature universe of life, and is a thing of beauty that is integral to Earth’s survival, what does it reveal about our character, as a planetary people and as a civilization — to watch the world’s forests vanish in flames before our eyes, in wildfires so ferocious as to be visible from space and for millions and millions of bushlands and trees to be cut down daily? How does all of this careless and wanton destruction harm our relationship with our neighbour and our Creator God? And how might we respond?
Maybe we can go back to the “Poetry Fools” for inspiration… The wonderful Mary Oliver speaks of “walking slowly and bowing often” when she is among trees. She describes a stance of humility and gratitude. One such place that evokes this stance is Muir Woods California (see the photo above) where one is compelled to “walk slowly and bow often” amidst the majesty and grandeur of God’s creativity displayed in the Redwood trees. Here in Australia, we are surrounded by exquisite beauty in our National Parks and bush trails all inviting us to pause in awe and wonder. Perhaps this might be a good starting point for us all.
In my life, how can I “walk slowly” with humility and gratitude, “bowing often” being attentive to the wonder and miracle of trees?
- 11th in Alpine
- 7th in Moguls
The eSafety Commission website has resources to help parents and carers be positive role models and online safety advocates.
For online safety information for parents and carers, visit eSafety.gov.au/parents.
For advice on how to set parental controls across home Wi-Fi, devices, software, and more, visit: eSafety.gov.au/parental-controls.
For online safety webinars for parents and carers, visit eSafety.gov.au/parents/webinars.
For advice on the latest games, apps and social media, visit eSafety.gov.au/esafety-guide.
Mrs Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal
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.
Year 5 students from St Columbkille’s have recently undertaken an education tour of our national capital on 20th and 21st July 2023.
Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributes funding of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Mrs Lace, Mrs Stephenson & Mr Lowrie - Year 5 Teachers
The girls from Year 5 who had a cupcake stall last term collected 91 bears and raised $268.70 to go towards 'The Kids Cancer Project'.
Congratulations girls for "...seeing a need and doingh something about it."
Bicycle Helmets
When riding, you're required by law to wear an approved bicycle helmet securely fitted and fastened on your head.
Look for the sticker certifying the helmet meets Australian and New Zealand standards (AS/NZS2063), displayed on the helmet to ensure it has passed stringent safety tests.
Protect your head – it's the law.
Choosing the best helmet
There are three types of helmets:
- Soft shell – a foam shell with a fabric cover
- Micro shell – a foam shell with a thin plastic cover
- Hard shell – a foam shell with a thicker plastic cover.
It is recommended that you choose a brightly coloured helmet to heighten your visibility.
Your helmet must:
- be approved and conform to Australian and New Zealand standards
- be a good fit
- have a number of ventilation holes or openings
- be layered with thick, energy-absorbing hard foam
- not hinder vision
- be lightweight for comfort
- have adjustable straps
- not have been damaged or involved in a crash.
Correctly Fitting Your Helmet
A helmet must be correctly fitted to maximise its effectiveness in the event of a crash.
- Position the helmet on your head and tilt it forward until the front of the helmet is two fingers above the bridge of your nose.
- Fasten and straighten the helmet buckles and straps, and adjust for a snug fit.
- One finger should be able to fit between the buckle and your chin while the helmet is firmly in place on your head.
- Avoid wearing anything under the helmet such as a hat or beanie as this may affect the correct fitting of the helmet on your head. It may also hinder ventilation causing you to become dehydrated.
Replace your helmet
Damaged helmets can be dangerous. Replace your helmet if:
- the helmet has been damaged or involved in a crash
- the helmet polystyrene is cracked
- the straps are worn or frayed
- the helmet does not properly fit your head.
