Dear Parents and Carers

It’s been a privilege this week to travel to Canberra with Year 6. They immersed themselves in the rich learning opportunities offered at Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Film and Sound Archives, Questacon, and more — all while strengthening friendships and building independence. It was also a joy to see students supporting one another, navigating time away from home, and stepping up to new responsibilities. These are the kinds of experiences that shape character and leave lasting memories.

I would like to sincerely thank Ella Pappalardo and Scott Rynberg, from SFX, for giving up so much of their own time to accompany and support the children on this trip. I’m also grateful to our students, who were outstanding ambassadors for our school.

I’m currently attending a leadership retreat and this, on top of being off sick last week and then being in Canberra until yesterday, gives me reason to reflect on the wonderful team I have at St Columba’s.  Many thanks to my exec and to the rest of my staff for holding the fort in my absence.

Jenny Howard

Kindergarten enrolment offers for 2026 were sent out on Friday.  We’ve loved the playgroup opportunities for many of our future enrolments to spend time in our school.  We look forward to our Term 3 playgroups and our Orientation process.

Week 10 Term 2 Monday 30^th June - Formation

As the end of the term draws closer, the staff are busy completing assessments and writing Semester 1 reports. The reports will be made accessible to parents on your child’s Compass profile on Friday 4^th July.  While, we don’t offer formal interview sessions at this point, please get in touch to make an appointment with your child’s teacher if you wish to discuss his/her report.  You are welcome to do this at any time.

Celebrating Our Year 6 Sporting Committee - Jersey Day Success!

A huge thank you to our incredible Year 6 Sporting Committee for their outstanding efforts in organising and running Jersey Day! Their enthusiasm and leadership helped make the day a great success, and they raised $269.40 to go towards purchasing new soccer goals for our school.

It’s inspiring to see our students take initiative and work together towards a shared goal that will benefit the whole school community. Keep an eye out for their next fundraising event as they continue to work on this exciting project.

Learning Committee

The latest interview conducted by the Learning Committee was with Neve Austin from Year 3. Neve would like the school community to know that it’s important to:

“Try hard in everything you do and listen to your teachers.”

See Neve’s full interview on our school Facebook page.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Our PB4L focus continues to be ‘following instructions from adults in our school community.’ We’re putting the spotlight on one of our most important values - respect. Following instructions from adults helps keep our school safe, supportive, and fun for everyone!

Teachers and staff will be recognising students who show respectful listening and prompt responses throughout the week. These moments often lead to great learning and stronger relationships. Together, let’s continue to support our students in becoming thoughtful, respectful members of our school community.

Taylor Stokes

Acting Assistant Principal

In our Church tradition.... Sacramental Program Information / Parish Mass / Pathways for Families to becoming Catholic

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM FOR THOSE INVOLVED: As your children prepare to receive Confirmation and Eucharist next term, we invite them to attend at least three weekend Masses between May 17/18 and July 26 to prepare for the Sacramental Program, which will start this weekend. It provides an opportunity for children to prepare and learn about Liturgical Solemnity.

Father Joseph would be pleased to greet your child. Please greet Father Joseph as you arrive for Mass or after Mass. He also would like to introduce you to the congregation. Please be informed that he may do so following the final prayer.

Dates for the Sacrament of Confirmation:

• Commitment Mass: Saturday 26 July, St Philip’s Kotara @ 5:00PM (Winter)
• Mass attendance: at least 3 weekends before 26^th July (see above)
• Online lessons: complete at home during 28 July – 4 August
• Face to face lessons: take place at schools
  • St Columba’s Adamstown: Monday 4 August @ 3:30PM
• Retreat Day: Friday 15^th August at Kotara (during the school day)
• Ceremony: Thursday 21^st August @ 6:30pm, St Philip’s Kotara

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.

PATHWAY FOR FAMILIES: BECOMING CATHOLIC 

Resources for Evangelisation and Guidance in a Sacramental Journey for Families 

We are pleased to offer valuable resources to support families (adults and children) in their evangelisation and sacramental journey: 

• Hearing God’s Call – An audio introduction to the Catholic faith: https://www.evangeliseplus.com.au/hearing-gods-call 

• Becoming Catholic – A website with explanatory articles on Christian faith, prayer, and what it means to be Catholic: https://www.becoming.catholic.au/s/ 

For more information on adults engaged or interested in RCIA - Pathway to becoming Catholic, please contact Amie Harry (Religious Education Coordinator) or our Parish All Saint's Blackbutt South.  

The RCIA Program (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the Catholic Church’s process for welcoming adults into the faith through learning, spiritual formation, and receiving the sacraments. It typically culminates at Easter, when participants are baptised (if needed), confirmed, and receive the Eucharist. 

Contact Information: 

• Phone: (02) 4954 0977 

• Email: asbsparish@mn.catholic.org.au 

In our Community.... SVDP Winter Appeal – PJ and Hot Chocolate Day!

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 on Friday 4^th July to raise extra money for this worthy cause. Details to come!

In our Curriculum.... Module in Focus: Year 3

This term in Religious Education, students in Year 3 have been exploring the idea of story — their own, others’, and the great Christian story found in the Bible. They have been learning about the Bible as a sacred text that reveals who God is and how He relates to people, with a special focus on stories from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Students have also been introduced to praying with Scripture, particularly through the practice of Lectio Divina, as a way to reflect on God’s Word and deepen their relationship with Him.

In this lesson, Year 3 identified and reflected on the different ways we show our faith in God.

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.

• Question: What’s one story from the Bible you enjoyed learning about recently?
  Possible Prompt: Ask your child why that story stood out to them and what they learned about God through it. 

• Question: Have you tried Lectio Divina at school? What was it like?
  Possible Prompt: Lectio Divina is a quiet, prayerful way of reading the Bible. It involves slowly reading a short passage, thinking about what it means, talking to God about it, and sitting quietly to listen. Ask your child what passage they read and how it made them feel. You might even try it together as a family.

Year 2 Students Shine in Liturgical Movement Video for Butterfly Music 

We are thrilled to share that our Year 2 students were recently filmed by the Communications Team from the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, performing a beautiful liturgical movement to the song “My Blessing Falls On You” by Drew Lane and Andrew Chinn. This video will be featured on the Butterfly Music website as a resource for schools, and it was a true privilege to be part of this inspiring project. Our students should feel incredibly proud of their reverent and joyful participation. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Diocese’s Comms Team, Andrew Chinn, and Drew Lane for providing this wonderful opportunity. 

“My Blessing Falls On You” by Drew Lane and Andrew Chinn © 2021, Butterfly Music. 

Video Link: My Blessing Falls on You: Year 2 

Have a lovely week and may God bless you always,

Amie Harry and Emma McCulloch

Religious Education Coordinators

SAVE THE DATE!!   

St Columba’s NAIDOC Day

Wednesday 23^rd July

Families are warmly invited and encouraged to join us for our NAIDOC Morning Ceremony (9am-9:30am) and our NAIDOC Closing Ceremony (2:30pm-3pm)

Our NAIDOC Day celebrations will honour the local Awabakal Country, aligning with the 2025 NAIDOC theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. Students will participate in a variety of workshops designed by Mrs Shaw and Stephanie Phoenix, of the Gringai clan, Wonnaruah nation.

The day will begin with a meaningful Morning Ceremony, led by Stephanie Phoenix and Worimi man, Mauri Perry, featuring a traditional smoking and dance display. We are also hoping to have a performance by students from Belmont High School’s Didge Group. 

Students will then participate in numerous hands-on workshops led by local Aboriginal presenters which celebrate Aboriginal cultures and the 2025 NAIDOC theme.

Our celebration will conclude with a Closing Ceremony, bringing together the experiences of the day, led by a selection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presenters.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Education Teacher

Thank you to the St Columba’s school community for another successful Book Week celebration last week.  The day was blessed with winter sunshine and certainly added warmth and light to the Book an Adventure theme.  Many thanks to the parents and carers who helped create and dress their children in outstanding and adventurous costumes.  I know from experience of parenting three children and many, many Book Week celebrations, this is not always easy when our lives are FULL with other commitments.  

My favourite part of Book Week celebrations is the Tabloid Literacy activities led by our Year 6 leaders and the teachers. I love seeing our young leaders rise to the occasion and this year was no exception.  Every teacher commented on the terrific leadership shown by Year 6 as they worked with their multiage grade group on various craft or literacy response activities.  The PB4L values were clearly evident in their leadership. 

The Scholastic Book Fair was a huge success again and I thank you for supporting this fundraiser for our library. In just a few hours, we raised over $600 in sale commissions! This money will be used to buy more resources – books for our little library.  It is always a highlight have so many parents and grandparents visit the Fair after the Parade of Characters.  It was so lovely to meet so many of you.

Thank you to the other bowerbird, Mrs Newcombe (Library Assistant) for all the behind-the-scenes work in organizing this special day.  Thank you to Shannon  Bromilow and her helpers who organized a special lunch order for the day as well.  We are so fortunate to be part of this community.

Two students in Year 1 have recently completed their PRC for 2025.  Well done to Georgie White and Arthur Bradstreet. Keep reading and recording your titles until the end of August!

My thanks,

Janet Carmichael (Teacher Librarian)

NAIDOC Raffle

Our NAIDOC raffle will be drawn on Tuesday morning next week- 24^th June. Parents and families are encouraged to support this fundraiser and purchase tickets via Qkr. Heaps of awesome prizes up for grabs which have been generously donated by local businesses.

Entertainment Book

Go somewhere warm this fun this Winter School Holidays! 

Support St Columba's Primary School - Adamstown by becoming an Entertainment Member today and start saving on day-to-day essentials, new experiences and enjoy exclusive deals when you book your next holiday adventure! 

The best part is that 20% of your membership goes to St Columba's Primary School - Adamstownto support the vital work we do! 

Get your membership here: https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/340e84

Book Purchase - Extended until 22nd!