Dear Parents and Carers.

Hope that you are enjoying a wonderful week.

On Tuesday, we celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. The Josephite Charism (or gift) is evident in our Vision, Mission and Core Values. St Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s example and ministry is often highlighted through the 6‘Ps’:  Passion, Possibilities, Practical Action, Partnership, Persevered and Prayer. All of these qualities and characteristics are evident in our work each day through both word and action.

Thank you to Mrs Herring, Ms Finlay Jospeh, Mrs Lattimore and Year 6 students for leading Tuesday’s Liturgy.

"May God bless you and keep you strong" - St Mary MacKillop of the Cross

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop / Year 5 visit to Mary MacKillop Place

St Columbkille’s reverently commemorated Mary MacKillop’s feast day on Tuesday, with prayers from our Year 6 Leaders of Faith and Year 4 leading the singing. It was a lovely celebration with the students receiving a prayer card to remember and live out Mary’s important sayings. Special thanks to Ms Finlay-Joseph for organising our beautiful liturgy.

Our Year 5 students are lucky enough to be visiting Mary MacKillop Place next Thursday 17th August.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On Tuesday 15th August Years 4, 5 & 6 will celebrate this feast day with our parishioners in St Columbkille’s Church. We remember Mary on this day, as she was taken up to heaven both body and soul. We continually pray to our mother Mary in heaven in times of need and for her guidance. You are very welcome to join us in the church on this day.

As we lead into the preparation for the feast day of St Mary MacKillop on the 8 August, it is important to reflect upon the strength and vitality she gained from prayer. ‘All depends on prayer’ she said. Her courageous spirit finding the wallaby track to get to the communities who needed support and help; the discernment she demonstrated as a leader; the modelling of love she showed and the inspiration as a teacher to empower others and give hope that became legendary, needed an enduring nourishment- her prayer life critical to her missionary zeal. 

Luigi Gioia, in ‘Touched by God’ writes ‘The role of preachers, teachers, doctors, ministers has been acknowledged since the beginning of Christianity. Without them, there would have been no Scripture and nobody would have known the Good News. Jesus did not write anything, but chose disciples instead, entrusted his message to them and sent them to proclaim it to the whole world. And yet the teaching imparted by those who claim to speak in God’s name is effective only insofar as it is echoed by the anointment within. Mary MacKillop’s interior life, fuelled by prayer, is an example for us in the Australian context of a missionary giant bringing life to those on the peripheries. 

The Sisters of St Joseph model her spirit in the significant work of care that shows the Catholic Church at its best. They invite us on the journey with MacKillop by setting aside a prayer practice…

Sit quietly, 
breathe in life. 
Breathe out peace. 
Breathe in life. Breathe out peace. Breathe in life.
Breathe out peace.                                 

St Columbkille's Parish - Refurbishing Pews

As you maybe aware, our Parish is refurbishing pews at a cost of $1500. The Parish is calling on volunteers to support this endeavour. The work includes removing the pews, sanding and coating with stain. The next working bee is on this Saturday 12 August. If you are able to assist, please contact Alice Weber on 0429 621 949. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

Sacramental Update

Our First Holy Communion students are continuing to attend weekend Masses and take part in our Children's Liturgy. The workbooks will be given out shortly.

Just a reminder the compulsory First Holy Communion Lessons will be held on Sunday October 22nd and Sunday October 29, with a Google form to choose a weekend for their ceremony: 11/12 November, 18/19 November, 25/26 November (at the 6pm and 9.30am Masses)

Year 2 Reconciliation enrolment dates will be advised shortly, with the actual sacrament being conferred on Thursday 30th November during school time.

Family / Parish Mass

Thank you to all those who were involved in, or attended, our Family/Parish Mass last weekend. It was a lovely celebration on the Sunday morning. Our next date will be Sunday 3rd September (Father’s Day). If you would like to read please let me know.

Friday Masses

Father Anthony is once again leading Mass with certain grades each Friday. Please know you are most welcome to join us in celebrating the Eucharist. This week is Year 6 followed by Year 4 on Friday 18th August, Year 5 on Friday 8th September, Year 4 on Friday 15th September and Year 6 (the final day of term) Friday 22nd September.

Father’s Day Celebrations

On Friday 1st September our school will pay tribute to all our father figures (dads, grandads, pops, uncles, brothers etc) with a lunch and liturgy celebration. RSVP’s need to be received by Monday 28th August at info.sccdow@catholic.edu.au. We look forward to acknowledging and celebrating with all our special father figures.

The Parish is calling on volunteers to support the refurbishing the pews. The work includes their removal, sanding, coating with stain and installation. The next working bee is on this Saturday 12 August.

If you are able to assist, please contact Alice Weber on 0429 621 949.

Any support would be greatly appreciated.

Diocesan Athletics Carnival 

On Tuesday 8th August 2023, we had 32 students represent our school at the Diocese Athletics Trials at Beaton Park, Gwynneville.

We were very proud for the efforts of all our students who competed and they represented SCC exceptionally well. There were some outstanding individual results  including Sonny O'Brien winning the Senior Boys Age Champion, Randy O'Brien placing 2nd overall and SCC equal 1st overall in the  Male Points Score.

Congratulations to the following students who will now complete for a place in the Diocese of Wollongong Athletics Team on Tuesday 15th August 2023 at Beaton Park, Gwynneville.

• Sonny O'Brien, Randy O'Brien, Taj Bloom & Claude Vincent  - 1st in Senior Boys Relay
• Kynan Merola - 3rd 11yrs Shot Put
• Mia McCormack - 4th Junior Girls High Jump
• Haize Humphries - 3rd 11 yr Long jump and 4th 200m
• Hugo Immens - 4th 800m
• Harry Esteves - 3rd 800m and 1500m
• Randy O’Brien - 2nd Senior Boys Age Champion, 1st Shot Put, 1st 100m Relay, 1st Long Jump, 2nd Discus, 2nd 200m, 4th High Jump
• Sonny O’Brien - Senior Boys Age Champion 1st Discus, 1st 100m, 1st 100m Relay, 2nd Long Jump, 2nd High Jump and 3rd Shot Put

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge closes next week on Friday 18th August. I have finalised student records for those that have already completed the challenge which means they won’t be able to add any more books to their reading log (make a note of any they read from now for next year’s challenge). 

There is still time for students to login and add all the books they’ve read this year to their PRC Reading Log. There are currently 58 incomplete reading records so please remind your child the challenge ends in a week’s time.

If any student has forgotten their login details they can come and see me in the library or you can email me at CarrollK03@dow.catholic.edu.au

I am very happy to assist with any queries regarding this challenge.

Scholastic Book Club 

The last day for ordering from the Book Club Magazine Issue #5 was Monday, 7th August. The orders will hopefully be sent to us within the next few days. I will distribute these to students as soon as they arrive. Issue #6 of the Book Club magazine will be sent to us soon after. 

We really appreciate every purchase made to the club as we earn reward points for these. This allows us to buy resources for the library and classrooms.

MS Readathon

We have signed up our school for the MS Readathon fundraiser which began on the 1st August - https://www.msreadathon.org.au

 This fundraiser is in its 44th year and is one our school has previously taken part in. 

By participating, we are encouraging our students to read as many books (any books) throughout the month of August and collect as many sponsors as possible in order to support people living with multiple sclerosis.

 Click this link - Register Here  - to go to the organisation website where you can follow the steps to register your child/ren - https://www.msreadathon.org.au/register/2023

In following the registration process you'll be asked to enter:

• your child's name
• your name and contact details 
• quickly create a fundraising page so the URL can be shared with friends and family in order to gain sponsors.
• select our school by typing St Columbkille's into the drop down school list and selecting our school from the list you will be given. 
• specify the number of books your child/ren is/are aiming to read for the month 
• set a fundraising goal.

 We hope your child/ren will be able to join in this event with the focus being on reading for fun while following our Catholic ethos of raising money for a charitable cause. 

Thank you to those people who have already signed up and have sponsors for this event. We have received donations totaling $163 and hope to reach our target of $1000.

If you have any questions please contact Mrs Carroll - CarrollK03@dow.catholic.edu.au

Craft Club

Craft club has been a great success. We have a lot of students bringing french knitting in to do while enjoying chatting and listening to music.

Craft Club is open to all students.

Years K - 3 during Monday lunch 1pm - 1:30pm

Years 4 - 6 during Monday lunch 1:30pm - 2pm

During the next few weeks we are focusing on colouring-in, doodling, french knitting and we have some materials available for students to use. If anyone does have some spare wool or french knitting dolls they would like to donate, all would be greatly appreciated.

Mrs Carroll’s Muse-ing

I was watching TV the other night but rather than listening to it I was reading the subtitles we had turned on. I was feeling quite tired and found it more relaxing to have subtitles to read while listening with the sound on low, as I become sensitive to noise when fatigued.

In our family we have subtitles turned on for most things we watch, not just for me. One of our children is bilaterally profoundly deaf. He hears with cochlear implants and whilst his hearing is pretty good when he wears his cochlear's, he still doesn’t have the same quality hearing as someone with ‘typical hearing’. When watching something on TV he needs subtitles to assist him with the general audibility so he doesn’t have to work too hard to listen. Before I had my son, I never thought about how much effort it can take for a person to listen or how tired listening can make us. My son is a twin; his twin isn’t deaf. When they were babies my hearing son would regularly sleep throughout the day and night but my son who’s deaf didn’t need nearly as much sleep. It wasn’t until an ENT professor explained that listening tires you; my son wasn’t getting the same sensory stimulation as his brother so he wasn’t as tired. 

There is another reason we have subtitles turned on. I have 4 boys in total and two of them have dyslexia (not my son who’s deaf) and we are constantly seeking ways to provide them with reading opportunities that don't feel like arduous tasks but are supporting their learning. Subtitles on the TV have been a great way of providing this and they can add an aspect of humour when there are mistakes or funny sound descriptive text.

Reading subtitles is similar to ‘incidental reading’ which is the reading we do through the course of our general day-to-day life. As adults we do a lot of incidental reading e.g. reading the news, social media, the weather report, environmental signs, food packaging, food menus, work related text, etc. We’re constantly learning from incidental reading.

My boys with dyslexia face distinct challenges in reading, yet I've observed that both of them have benefited greatly from incidental/casual reading. During numerous car rides, we've engaged in observing our surroundings, deciphering signs, examining shop fronts, and identifying road and place names. Additionally, I’ve encouraged them to read the labels on the food items we’ve packed for their lunches. Together, we’ve enjoyed humorous memes we’ve discovered online, and in their earlier years I would read stories aloud while they followed along. We did lots of reading together BUT please don’t think I did this all the time or even every day! I did it when I could, when they were open to it and sometimes it was tricky to catch those opportunities. That’s why I always rely on having the TV subtitles turned on…that’s something we can do all of the time.

Book Recommendation - Billy and the Giant Adventure by Jamie Oliver

My Book Week book choice to support this year’s theme of ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’

Jamie Oliver, renowned for his culinary expertise, has ventured into a new realm with his children's book "Billy and the Giant Adventure." This enchanting tale takes you on a delightful journey filled with imagination, friendship, and a sprinkle of culinary inspiration. Oliver's storytelling prowess, combined with Mónica Armiño's wonderful illustrations, makes this book a delightful book aimed at readers aged 7 - 11 years.

Twins August and Jesse ask their dad to make up a story one night, instead of them reading from a book. August struggles with reading so she’d much prefer to be read to (there is an inference of August having dyslexia). Dad thinks about it for a bit then decides to tell them a true story, from when he was their age. But they must keep everything he tells them a secret…

The story their dad tells revolves around young Billy, a curious and spirited character who embarks on an extraordinary adventure when he stumbles upon a hidden garden. Here, he discovers a world of fairy-like creatures, befriends a giant, learns valuable life lessons and discovers the magic that can unfold when one is open to new experiences.

One of the standout features of "Billy and the Giant Adventure" is how it seamlessly weaves in Oliver's love for food and cooking. The story incorporates the joy of growing and preparing fresh ingredients, as Billy and his newfound friends celebrate the magic of food. This subtle nod to Oliver's culinary background adds a layer of depth to the narrative, encouraging young readers to appreciate the process of growing and sharing food.

At its core, "Billy and the Giant Adventure" imparts valuable lessons about friendship, empathy, and embracing new experiences. Oliver skillfully tackles these themes in a way that is relatable to young readers, making the book an excellent tool for parents and educators to initiate important conversations about these topics.

While the story is primarily aimed at children, there are moments of humour and wisdom that adults will appreciate as well. The book encourages readers of all ages to embrace curiosity, connect with others, and find joy in the simple things.

Jamie Oliver's "Billy and the Giant Adventure" is a heartwarming and imaginative tale. It took Oliver 4 years to write: he is open about his own difficulties with dyslexia and he says he found it an exhausting but satisfying project. 

For me, Jamie Oliver is the epitome of this year’s Book Week theme - Read, Grow, Inspire. Difficulty with reading hasn’t held him back. His dyslexia, rather than hindering his success, seems to have fueled his creativity and determination.

He has grown by rising to fame at an early age and expanding his influence to launch initiatives such as the Food Foundation aimed at promoting cooking skills and healthier eating habits. He is inspiring in his global impact and philanthropy, tackling issues in the food industry, from promoting sustainable fishing practices to raising awareness about the impact of processed foods on health. 

Oliver's foray into children's literature may just prove to be as successful as his culinary endeavours. I am certainly looking forward to his next book!

Best wishes to you all - 

Katrina (Carroll)

Library Administrator

There is a Teacher Professional Planning Day Friday 25th August 2023.

Students will not attend school this day.

Transition to the Summer Uniform will commence on Monday 21 August 2023.

Students are expected to be wearing their Full Summer Uniform by Monday 28 August 2023.

Thank you for your support and below is our SCC Uniform Link:

https://www.sccdow.catholic.edu.au/parents/uniform/

Footy Colours Day - Friday 1 September, is a national fundraising campaign held during the month of September to support kids living with cancer. Schools, workplaces, groups and clubs across Australia are encouraged to wear their favourite footy team’s colours and host an event to raise much-needed funds. Every dollar raised supports Fight Cancer Foundation’s education programs to help kids with cancer continue with their education during treatment and recovery.

As a school community, we will be celebrating Footy Colours Day on Friday 1 September. Students and staff are encouraged to wear a jersey from their favourite sports team or colours of their favorite sport and provide a gold coin donation.

You may wish to donate directly online on our Fundraising Page. 

Thank you in advance for your support of the day.  

Mrs Maria Disibio - Assistant Principal

An important message for Parents:

As parents are aware the school office operates between 8.30pm to 3.30pm Monday to Friday.

There are (2) office staff employed who are very busy looking after our students in sick bay, answering phone calls and assisting staff and students throughout the day. 

We kindly ask for parents to please be mindful of this and if you may provide the office staff with NOTICE should you require to take your child/ren out of school early.

Please call the office on 4284 7987 or email us at info@sccdow.catholic.edu.au to advise us of an early sign out. Please provide your full name, your students name and their Class group.

Please give us a reason as to why you are signing your child out early (medical appointment/sporting event, approved travel, personal reasons, etc).

Example:

Mr and Mrs Darren and Rachel Smith -

Jessica Smith - Year 5 Blue - Medical Appointment. Please sign out at 2.15pm.

Parents who turn up without notice may have to wait whilst we liase with other important tasks such as sick bay injuries and other urgent requests.

We thank you kindly for your cooperation.

The Office Team

You are invited to a special evening event on 28 August 2023 in Campbelltown with Robert Falzon from menALIVE, as he unpacks practical advice and shares stories that are powerfully important, informative, and instructional for fathering in today’s world.

In an age where there is training to do almost everything, there are so many fathers who are in desperate need of tips and tools to do one of the most important and impactful tasks on earth – Fathering! – and this evening will be a source of great formation and encouragement for dads.

Details:

Speaker: Robert Falzon: Fathering from the Front Line
Topic: Fathering from the Front Line
Date: Monday 28 August 2023
Time: 7 - 8.30 pm
Location: Level 1, Micah House Resource Centre, 35A Cordeaux Street, Campbelltown 
Cost: Free 

Savvy Kids Run Program - With Coach James

For Primary kids of all ages who are interested in an enjoyable and inclusive running program.

Why: 

- To learn the foundations of running.

- Improve for Cross Country and Athletics events.

- Improve their fitness for other sports.

- Have fun!

When: 

Tuesday mornings from 7:05 - 7:50am at Bulli Soccer Fields (Bulli Junior Football Club), and

Thursday afternoons from 4:15  - 5:00pm at Stuart Park

Price: 

All kids are welcome to a free first session to trial it. If they would like to keep participating, the cost is $15 a session. 

Duration: 

The program will run up until the end of Term 3, with the last sessions for this program on Tuesday the 19th & Thursday the 21st of September.

For more information about the program, please email james.tunbridge@savvyco.com.au

To sign up and register for the program, please email iman.desantis@savvyco.com.au

Wollongong Cardinals Baseball Club is running a “Come and Try” Baseball and T-ball day for kids aged 3 to 15 on Sunday August 27^th at Figtree High school from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. 

Regards

Lachlan Stormon

Vice-President - Juniors - Wollongong Cardinals Baseball Club