Dear Parents and Carers

Next week marks Catholic Schools Week, a time that recognises and celebrates the distinctive qualities of Catholic education. We celebrate and give thanks for our Catholic schools which strive to foster communities of faith, respect, inclusivity, love and a commitment to excellence in education. We look forward to our school celebration with a liturgy on Monday morning.

This year’s theme is Pilgrims of Hope to coincide with the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025. The goal of a Jubilee year is to inspire and encourage holiness of life among the faithful and therefore to strengthen the Church’s witness to God’s loving mercy in and for the world.   

Next week we also have our school athletics carnival. Many thanks to all those who have volunteered to assist but especially to Therese Bryant for her organisation of the day. Carnivals are a big task to organise on top of classroom teaching responsibilities and we couldn’t have them without the dedication of teachers like Therese.

We’ve had such a run of rainy weather! Thank you for your understanding with the closure of the Field Dismissal Gate. We’ve also had to postpone a number of events.  Hopefully we’re in for a run of sunshine so that we can get back to normal operations.

Jenny Howard

Congratulations to the children who competed at the Regional finals of the Maths and Spelling Bees last week.  Well done to George Slack, who won the Stage 2 Maths Bee.  Best of luck at the Diocesan Finals!

Week 6 Term 2 Friday 6^th June – Grow Your Mind

Week 10 Term 2 Monday 30^th June - Formation

Lunch orders are available at the Athletics Carnival on Friday 30th May, but they must be pre-ordered and the cut off for ordering is the Tuesday night prior (27/5/25).

To be ordered by Tuesday 27/5/25 (no late orders)
Cost is a $9.00 fixed total
When you place order via QKR you will select 1 x hot item, 1 x snack ad 1 x drink

You can find this under the QKR menu: School Payments (not canteen)

Please make sure your child is in the correct grade prior to ordering so that your child receives their lunch in a timely and efficient manner. Class is updated under Profiles in QKR. 

Please see details on how to order photos for our school photo day on June 10th.

A reminder that the enrolment period for kinder closes May 23rd. Enrolment can be submitted online via the following link.

https://www.adamstownsc.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/enrolment-information/

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week Liturgy

Please join us on Tuesday 27^th May at 9am for a very special Liturgy of remembrance and healing to recognise National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week.

Please see below for more information about these very important events in our cultural calendar.

Significant Cultural Events

Monday 26^th May: National Sorry Day

Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.

Click HERE for more information about National Sorry Day

Tuesday 27^th May – Tuesday 3^rd June: Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The 2025 Reconciliation theme-  ‘Bridging Now to Next’, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.

Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

Click HERE for more information about Reconciliation Week

Danielle Shaw

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Education Teacher

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)

Thank you to all families who have been so supportive as we navigate this wet weather. Our staff truly appreciate your flexibility and patience with changes to afternoon dismissal routines.

This week, our PB4L focus remains: “We use the right manners and language in all settings.” It has been wonderful to see so many students using respectful words with their peers and greeting teachers with a warm and genuine “good morning.”

Parents can support this focus at home by asking questions such as, “Why do you think using the right language is important?” or “How do you show respect when you're speaking to a teacher or a friend?”

At St Columba’s, we are respectful, we are compassionate, and we are hospitable.

Hunter Innovation Festival

Hunter Innovation Festival is inviting the students of St Columba’s to design the official Hunter Innovation Festival T-shirt. There are multiple cash prizes and art supplies to be won!

Designs should reflect the theme "Energy of the Future" - think about sustainable energy sources, innovative technologies, and a greener future for our planet. This might include solar power, wind energy, hydrogen, energy efficiency, and the role they could play in our region.

Entries close 30 June.
Email art@hunterIF.com.au to register your intent and receive more information.

Mystery Learning Challenge!

Our new weekly Mystery Learning Challenge has begun! Each week, students can tackle a fun thinking question, one for Infants and one for Primary. Questions are posted near the front office, and answers go in the Mystery Learning Box. Winners are drawn at Friday assembly from correct entries. No tech needed, just great thinking!

Infants challenge: I walk on 4 legs in the beginning of my life, 2 legs in the middle of my life and 3 legs at the end of my life. What am I?

Primary challenge: There are 2 mothers and 2 daughters in a car, but only 3 people. How?

Learning News Broadcast 

We’re excited to launch our fortnightly Learning News Broadcast! Each edition, Learning Committee members will interview one staff member and one student about what they’ve been learning. These short spotlights will be shared in our newsletter and on Facebook, celebrating the great thinking, creativity and growth happening across our school!

From the Year 6 Learning Committee: Rafferty, Veronica, Imogen, Orson, Polly, Ceridwen, Annabelle, Harrison, and Charlie T.

Jersey Day is Coming!

The Sporting Committee would like to announce Jersey Day on Friday of Week 7 (Wellbeing Week)! Students can wear their favourite sports jersey, soccer, rugby, basketball, or any sport they love, for a gold coin donation to help raise funds for new soccer goals on the bottom field.

On the day, there’ll also be a soccer shoot-out and a basketball shoot-out, entry is another gold coin. It’s a fun way to celebrate wellbeing, enjoy some friendly competition, and support our school!

From the Year 6 Sporting Committee: Bodie, Leo, Charlie B, Jess, James, Chloe, Edie, Max and Iris.

Taylor Stokes

Assistant Principal (Acting)

In our Church tradition.... Introducing Pope Leo / Parish Mass

We are excited to share with you the news that the Catholic Church has a new Pope! His name is Pope Leo, and he was chosen as the leader of the Church to guide us in faith, love, and prayer.

Pope Leo comes with a heart full of compassion and a strong desire to help others. He has already shown us that he cares deeply about spreading peace, helping those in need, and bringing people together. Just like the popes before him, he will work to guide our Church and help us grow closer to God.

As we welcome Pope Leo, let us keep him in our prayers, asking God to give him wisdom, strength, and love as he leads us in our faith journey. We can also pray for our Church, that it may continue to be a place of love and hope for all.

Thank you for being a part of our community as we pray for our new Pope and continue to grow together in faith.

CLASS MASS: Please see dates below for Class Mass for Term 2. Parents are very welcome to attend. Children will be participating in readings and the offertory during these Masses. 

WEEKEND MASS TIMES FOR ST COLUMBA’S: It is always lovely for children and their families to attend Mass in our Parish. Currently Mass is celebrated each Sunday at 8:00am.

In our Community.... Catholic School’s Week and the SVDP Winter Appeal

CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S WEEK LITURGY AND OPEN CLASSROOMS: Our Catholic School’s Liturgy will be held at St Columba’s on Monday 2^nd June from 9:15am in the Church, followed by open classrooms and a picnic morning tea on the playground (please bring something to share with your child(ren). All families are invited to celebrate on this morning.  

ST VINCENT DE PAUL WINTER APPEAL: To help those who are disadvantaged and in need of extra assistance this winter, we are asking for donations to the St Columba’s Primary School Winter Appeal throughout Term 2. Again, this year we are asking for warm winter blankets in new condition and warm beanies, suitable for babies, children and adults.  All donations will be distributed in June by our St Columba’s Adamstown conference of the St Vincent de Paul to support local families, couples and singles this winter. The Student Mercy Group will also be working on a special PJ and hot chocolate day to be held in Week 10 to raise extra money for this worthy cause. Details to come!

In our Curriculum.... Unit in Focus: Year 2 – The Story of the Catholic Community

In Year 2 Religious Education, students are learning about the story of the Catholic community. They will explore important events, people, and groups that have helped shape the Catholic Church, both in the past and today. This topic will help students understand what it means to belong to the Catholic community as God's people. They will also learn about key figures and events that have helped the Catholic Church grow in Australia, including the early Church communities and the Catholic communities we have today. See some of their fabulous work below. Well done Year 2!

Building Faith Together: Conversations for Parents and Kids

A new addition to RE News, this section provides conversation starters to help parents engage with their child’s Religious Education and deepen their understanding together.

1. What does it mean to belong to a community, like the Catholic Church?
   Prompt for Parents:

• Talk about how being part of a community means we care for and help each other.
• You could share a story about how your family has been part of the Church or another group.
• Ask your child how they feel when they go to Mass or take part in school or parish events.

2. Who is someone in the Church (past or present) that you’ve learned about and admire? Why?
   Prompt for Parents:

• Encourage your child to share about a saint, priest, nun, or community helper they’ve learned about.
• Talk together about what makes that person special - maybe their kindness, bravery, or faith.
• You can also share someone who has inspired you in your own faith journey.

CONGRATULATIONS YEAR 2: Year 2 recently had their beautiful Liturgical movement professionally recorded by our Catholic Schools Communications team for Butterfly Online – Andrew Chinn, who records liturgical songs for Parishes and Schools. We are so proud of the children’s reverence and effort—stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing the video with families once it’s released!

Have a lovely week and may God bless you always,

Amie Harry and Emma McCulloch

Religious Education Coordinators

Congratulations to Charlie Roberston (Yr 2), Olivia Moylan (Yr 3) and Finn Robertson (Kindergarten) who recently completed the Premiers Reading Challenge for 2025.  The challenge is open until the end of August so there is plenty of time to read and record those titles. 

A friendly reminder that Book Week will be celebrated on Wednesday, 11 June (Week 7). The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) theme for 2025 is Book an Adventure!  I will be discussing costume ideas with the students for this special day but please, keep it simple and reuse some of the dress-ups you already have in your home.    We will host a Scholastic Book Fair on the day along with some fun, interactive activities for the children. 

This week in library lessons, we celebrated the 25^th year of National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) with the most wonderful picture book, The Truck Cat written by Deborah Frenkel.

This book was read in bookshops, schools, preschools and libraries around the same day/week/time, always in May.  You might have seen me dressed as a truck driver wearing my flannel shirt and ball cap like the main character, Yacoub driving his B-Double tri-axle truck.  This book is not simply about a cat who travels around the country with a truck driver but about relationships, immigration, connection, belonging and home.  With the students, we explored, what makes a house a home…family, Sunday barbeques, books, warm blankets, chocolate, pets…were just some of the children’s responses.  Though I am not a big cat lover (sorry!) this book tugged at all my heartstrings…perhaps because I too migrated to Australia from Canada.

Open this link NSS 2025 - The Truck Cat on Vimeo if you would like to listen to the story being read.

Truck drivers like Yacoub would make a great Book Week costume idea.  It is so easy with a flannel shirt and a ball cap!

Thank you,

Janet Carmichael, Teacher Librarian

Under 10's Knights 9's Challenge

Well done to the boys who participated in this gala day at the end of last term.

Well done to Phoebe who has made the Polding Soccer team!

Well done to Nash who has made the Polding Rugby League team!

They will now compete at the NSWPSSA State Championships.

Please remember the wonderful resource of School TV that is available to you with a wide range of topics.  This link will take you to the part of School TV with ways to support children with Friendship and Belonging.

Friendship & Belonging | St Columba's Primary School - Adamstown

“The ability to obtain, maintain and retain friendships is, according to all the childhood psychologists in the whole wide world, the greatest predictor of wellbeing. Having a rich repertoire of friends is a true indicator of whether your child is travelling ok.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg