Week 1 Term 3 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land the Birri-Gubba Juru people and pay our respects to the elders past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Indigenous Australia. 

Principal & Teaching and Learning Update

Welcome to Term 3,

Hoping everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday and you are ready for a very busy Term 3. 

In our first week we will be participating in a NAIDOC celebration at Bowen. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students. Please remember everyone needs to be at school by 8.30am. 

Unfortunately I will be unable to attend on Thursday as I will be attending a Stronger Smarter Leadership course. This is a four day (Thursday to Sunday) course that equips leaders to challenge mindsets within your school to actively engage the school community and staff to enact high expectation relationships promote positive identities and excellence in schools. 

There are many events occurring this term so please read the newsletter carefully and ensure that your Compass app is working. Regular updates and permission forms are sent through Compass. If you are having any problems with Compass please drop in and see Mrs Shalon Gibson at the front office. 

Wishing everyone a great term !

Religious Education News

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK IN QUEENSLAND

Catholic Education Week is an annual state-wide event that promotes the distinctive mission of Catholic schools throughout Queensland. 

The week 25th - 31st July is celebrated by all schools through a range of liturgies, events and activities. 

The Catholic Education Week 2022 theme is " Communities of Faith, Hope and Love". 

A Mass to mark the official launch of Queensland Catholic Education Week 2022 will be held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Townsville on 25th July 2022 and in the Archdiocese of Brisbane on Tuesday 26 July 2022, both are live-streamed and links available on social media pages.

Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. 

We invite all members of the school and parish community to the school's Catholic Education Week liturgy on Monday 25th July at 2.30pm   to celebrate together this significant event as a Community of Faith, Hope and Love.

Happy World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly.

As I visit your school, I often see Grandparents dropping you off. Some of them carry your school bag. Sometimes they hold your hands to help you cross the road safely. I wonder if you or your Grandparents are coming to school to learn!

They take so much interest in your life, wanting it to be easier than they had as a child. Grandparents look out for you because seeing you happy is the best feeling in the world for them. They often support you at assemblies and school events because they want you to be the best you can be at school. They want to feed you well. For some Grandparents, food was scarce, but they don’t want that for you. Grandparents never seem to say no, so sometimes it is easier to get things from your Grandparents than from your parents. Ultimately, they love you.

Our elderly are the best teachers. They have seen much more of the world than we have. Their lived experiences are incomparable. I take pride in saying that my Grandparents have greatly influenced me as a priest. I will never forget the days they would wake me up as early as 5 am to go to church for mass with them. They taught me to pray. They helped me with my homework and taught me to read and write. They supported me. I feel privileged growing up with my Grandparents. I miss them dearly but take comfort knowing they are proud of me.

Pope Francis declared the fourth Sunday of July to be celebrated as a Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. It is on Sunday, 24^th July this year. It is a day to express our gratitude to them. We live in a time where everyone is so busy that we tend to forget to spend time with our Elderly. They have so much excitement when young children find some quality time to sit with them. If you love stories, the Elderly are great storytellers. Grandparents can provide advice if you have worries. They are caring and understanding people. Suppose you seek wisdom, approach older people. Their knowledge and experiences make them walking encyclopaedias.

Sometimes they feel lonely and ignored. Sometimes they are unloved and uncared for. Some of them are bedridden or in nursing homes; however, it is beautiful when I see you care for your Grandparents and the Elderly in our families. I have seen children in our schools visiting them and spending time with them whenever possible, and when I talk to the Elderly, they feel overjoyed and loved. So, if your Grandparents and Elderly family live away from you, don’t forget them- call them. Tell them you love them. Remind them of how special they are to you. Not only will you feel wonderful after making the call, but it will be the highlight of their day.

Let us continue to love them and care for them. Their role in our lives is irreplaceable. May God bless our Grandparents. May Jesus bless them in their old age.

Fr. Manoj Mathew, C.Ss.R.

Administrator, Burdekin group of parishes.

School Choir at Confirmation Mass at St Colman’s Church  

We are seeking volunteers to come to the Confirmation Mass and sing as a choir. 

Practices of the hymns will be held at lunch time during the school week. 

If your child is interested in singing at the confirmation mass please contact the front office. 

Date of Confirmation : Sunday 31st July 2022 at 9am 

Please be at the church by 8.45am 

Morning tea will be served after the mass. 

Where : St Colman’s Church Home Hill

What to wear: neat casual clothes

Founders Day

Founders Day  will be celebrated on Tuesday the 26th of July.  St Francis, BCHS and St Colman’s will celebrate Founders Day at Burdekin Catholic High School. It is a chance for each of our schools to share the story of the founders of the religious orders that established each school and take part in activities to celebrate our unique communities.  More details to follow. 

Saint Colman’s School Mission Statement

In the next few weeks parents will be sent a survey or comment form to express their views on our current Mission statement which was written a while ago.  A mission statement is defined as an action-based statement that declares the purpose of the organisation/school and how they serve their students and families.

Doea our mission statement reflect what St Colman's School aims to do ?

Mission Statement

Saint Colman’s School embraces the Gospel of John 10:10 – “come so that you may have life and have life to the full…”

At Saint Colman’s School we value our Catholic Story embracing our traditions with ‘Strength in Faith’.

We are a Catholic School community that strives to develop respect for ourselves and others.  Through a holistic approach to education, we aim to provide opportunities for all to reach their full potential:   spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally and physically.

Strong family, parish and community relationships cultivate a sense of belonging within a dynamic environment.

The Mighty Burdekin River, flowing through our abundant land,sustaining, ever changing, a constant source of life renewing!

Student of the Week

Sport Update

High Jump 

The High Jump event will be run on Thursday 28th of July at St Colman's School. Students aged 9 years and above will participate. 

Please note that for the Burdekin Athletics Carnival on Friday 12th August 2022

High Jump –

Competitors are ONLY permitted to use the Scissors Style of jump unless they produce a Certificate of competency for the Fosbury Flop technique to the high jump official before the Event starts.  The high jump official can refuse a certificate if they think the jump is done dangerously. See attached High Jump Certificate. Management (11/7/2012) states only students aged 10 and over may be engaged in Fosbury Flop high jump.   No 9 year olds.

Starting heights to be eligible to particapte in the Burdekin District Carnival are as required:

Festival of Sport - Thursday 1st September Townsville

Netball

Murray Netball Courts   (7 + 3 subs)     Mixed   (max 3 boys/ team)

Soccer

Townsville Soccer Fields (9 + 3 subs)

St Colman’s School has been invited to participate in the Festival of Sport in Townsville on Thursday 1st September 2022. This is when Catholic schools in the region come together and participate in a carnival of different sports. This event is only for Year 5/6 students. This term after the Athletics carnival all students at St Colman's will be participating in a Netball Clinic (4 weeks) organised by Netball Australia. 

If we have enough interest we will hire a bus and visit Townsville for the day. The two sports we wish to form teams for are :

Netball - mixed Soccer - boys

If your child is interested in participating in this event and is in Year 5/6 could you please complete the form shared with you in Compass by Thursday 21st July 2022. 

Tuckshop News

Upcoming events

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Birthdays

Community News