Term 1 - Week 3

Prayer

Year of Jubilee Prayer
We thank You, O God, for every blessing and for all the gifts we have received.
Open our eyes to the beauty of Your creation so that our hearts
may rejoice in the wonder and greatness of Your works.
In this Jubilee year, teach us to recognise Your hand in every moment of our lives
and to welcome each day as a gift of Your mercy and love. 
Amen

Opening School Mass

Last Thursday, we celebrated our Opening School Mass at Our Lady Catholic Church.

We joined together as a school community in worship and prayer for the year ahead. Our readings were chosen to reflect the theme of this year’s Catholic Jubilee, 'Pilgrims of Hope’ and remind us to be the flame of hope in our faith, with our friends and community and to the future with an open spirit.

In tradition the Year 6 leaders were commissioned into their roles. The School Captain and student prefixes were presented their new school badges and made their pledge of leadership.

We also welcomed our new families into the St Columba’s Catholic School Community. We are blessed to have you! May we journey together, guided by faith, living in friendship and committed to our future.

Thank you to Father Carl Mackander and Seminarian Dai for presiding over our beautiful Mass.

After Mass, we had a special morning tea together. It was lovely to see so many parents, friends and families on this special occasion celebrating with us. Thank you.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is a cherished tradition in the Catholic faith that marks the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Historically, it was a time for families to use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the fasting season of Lent began. The name 'Shrove' comes from the old English word 'shriven,' meaning to confess sins and seek absolution in preparation for Lent.

Today, many Catholic communities celebrate Shrove Tuesday by gathering for pancake breakfasts, reflecting on the meaning of Lent, and preparing spiritually for the journey toward Easter. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, deepen their faith, and teach children about the importance of repentance, self-discipline, and renewal.

In tradition, St Columba's will celebrate
'Shrove Tuesday' 4th March by having a pancake breakfast.
Teachers will begin at 8:30 am cooking up pancakes for all the children.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. Ashes are placed
on our heads in the form of a cross. This is a reminder that we have turned away from sin and are being faithful to Jesus. 

St Columba's will celebrate with an
Ash Wednesday Liturgy on the 5th March at 9:30 am
at the Our Lady Catholic Church.
We invite our community to celebrate with the school.

Meet the St Columba's Staff

School Counsellor

The School Wellbeing Program is part of the Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst (CEDB) commitment to the pastoral care and welfare of the school communities in the Bathurst area.

Our Counsellor Kate Dawson is employed by Centacare and is available at
St Columba’s every second Thursday. Kate has been working at St Columba’s since 2022 and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Referrals can be made for many reasons for example anxiety, grief and loss, emotional regulation and peer relationships. If you would like to access this service for your child or have any questions please contact your class teacher or Mr Corben. 

Sport - Swimming

In Term 1 we will continue with our swimming program. 

Week 3 – Friday, 21st February – 3-Way Swimming Carnival

Week 4 – Friday, 28th February (11:30 am - 1:00 pm)

Week5 – Friday, 7th March (11:30 am - 1:00 pm)

Students to bring:
Swimmers and rash shirt, goggles (if required), sunscreen, floatation device (if required) and towel.

NAPLAN 2025

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is a nationwide assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 that measures essential literacy and numeracy skills. For Year 3 and Year 5 students, it assesses their reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy to help track their progress and support their learning development.

 The NAPLAN test window starts in Week 6, Wednesday, 12th March 2025 and finishes on Monday, 24th March 2025. 

School Hats

A reminder for children to wear hats at school to stay protected from the summer heat. We do have a very limited supply of spare hats for children who may accidentally forget. Students who do not have a have are expected to remain in shaded areas. The beginning of the year is a timely reminder to ensure your child's name is clearly on the hat.

3-Way Swimming Carnival

The annual 3-Way Swimming carnival will be held on Friday 21st February at the Yeoval Pool Complex.
St Columba’s will be the hosts for this year. It will be a great opportunity for Primary aged students to participate in the 25m,50m and the 100m races. Year 2 students who are turning 8 this year and can confidently swim a 25m lap are invited to participate.

Students are to come to school as normal and all students who are participating will walk down to the Yeoval Pool Complex for a 9:30 am start. Infants will remain at school and will walk down later in the day to cheer on their fellow peers.

The following is the program for event:

School Lunch Orders

Week 4
Sauasge Sizzle

Week 5
Hot Dogs

Week 6
Taco Bowel

Week 7
Chicken Wraps

Week 8
Pin Wheel

Week 9
Spaghetti Bolognese

Week 10
Chicken Burger

Volunteer Helpers

Annually, volunteers who help at St Columba’s must complete a ‘declaration for volunteers, child-related workers & exempt persons’ form.

All those who volunteer to help at school are asked to complete an exemption form and return it to school. Alternatively, if you hold a volunteer WWCC, could you send a copy to the school.

Important Dates

Please note: There was a mistake in the previous Newsletter. 
The Pupil Free in Term 1 - The correct date is Monday, 24th March

IMPORTANT - Newsletter Information

We're thrilled to announce, our school newsletter will be transitioning to a fortnightly publication schedule. This change comes with several exciting benefits that we believe will enhance your experience and keep you better informed about all the happenings at St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, Yeoval.

Why the Change?

1. Improved Content Quality: By spacing out our newsletters, we can dedicate more time and resources to curating meaningful content that matters most to you, ensuring each edition is packed with valuable insights and stories.
2. Reduced Information Fatigue: Moving to a fortnightly schedule allows us to strike the right balance between keeping you informed and respecting your time.

What to Expect:

• Our first fortnightly newsletter will be released Thursday’s on every odd week throughout the term, containing highlights from recent weeks and a preview of upcoming events.
• We welcome your feedback and suggestions on how we can continue to improve our newsletters to better serve you.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in making our school community vibrant and connected. We look forward to sharing our enhanced newsletter with you every two weeks.