St Colman's School - Home Hill eNewsletter

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

Dear parents and friends,

A huge thank you to all the parents and friends that assisted with our annual Swimming Carnival. It was a great day which showcased some of the improvements and growth that the children have made over the 6 week Water Awareness courses. We wish those students chosen to represent our school at the Webber Shield Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 22nd November all the best.

As I sit here writing the newsletter.....there is a lot ahead of us for the next two weeks. Please contact the front office if you have any questions about the weeks ahead.

The Summer Reading Club:

What is it?
The Summer Reading Club is a fun, free program delivered annually by the State Library of Queensland online and in public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres across Queensland to encourage children to keep reading through the summer!

Why is it important?
The summer school holidays are a time for kicking back, catching up with friends, playing outside, and enjoying the freedom that comes with being young, having no responsibilities, and no homework for the summer! All this free time can however result in a loss of learning gained during the school year, which is often referred to as the ‘Summer Slide.’ Children who fall victim to the Summer Slide usually return to school reading at lower levels than when they left the previous year.

The great news is basic skills are easy to maintain as kids enjoy their free time! The Summer Reading Club inspires opportunities to keep kids engaged all summer long by reading, playing, exploring and discovering which is what the research has identified as the antidote to this phenomenon.

How does it work?

To help keep children motivated there are 20 challenges online to complete each summer. In addition, children can also share book reviews, artwork and comment on other Club Member posts.

Challenge activities are suitable for all ages and can be completed multiple times!

To start earning fun rewards, including digital badges, children and young people will need to join the Club.

To do this, parents will need to:

Help their child join the club. It's free and easy to register. Adults can create multiple child/reader profiles.
Sign in as a child/reader.
Go to your profile and select an avatar. Complete challenges to unlock more!
Start completing challenges to earn badges, XP and unlock new avatars.

Once children have joined, they can start exploring and completing reading challenges and posting book reviews and artwork. As challenges are completed online, digital rewards unlock for collection!

The library will be offering school holiday programs that tie in with the challenge as well where kids can engage and complete challenges.

Connecting Prep Days 2022

Everyone welcome …Come to big school in Term 4 2022 …..Make new friends and get ready for school in 2023

These are sessions for the children to meet their class friends and teacher

Monday 21st November 9am – 3.00pm (Please pack Afternoon tea, fruit, lunch, drink and a hat)

Religious Education News

Throughout the month of November, we as Catholics, remember and reflect on the lives of those we have lost who are close to us. It also gives us a time to pray for these people- ones we know and those whom we don’t. This time of reflection and prayer is especially important in November as we draw to the end of our liturgical year and prepare for advent. It gives a chance to pray for and thank God for their time on Earth. As November 2^nd is All Souls Day, we are reminded of the importance and power of prayer for all souls- even those of us still alive. We are also encouraged to pray for those who have left our world so their souls will live with God in Heaven.

In many places, Catholics go to the resting places of their beloved ones during this month. I remember going to the gravesides of my family members and praying for them after mass and decorating their graves with flowers and candles. Most people offer special masses for their beloved departed souls, as the Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer in the church.

Prayer is a powerful tool. In my previous messages to you, I speak of how prayer can strengthen your life and those whom are close to you. Prayers are a two-way street. We can pray for souls who need to be made perfect to enter heaven and meet the Most Holy God, but those who are sharing in the presence of God already, in my daily prayers, ask them to pray for me.

Every time we say the Apostles Creed, we profess our faith as Catholics. It is such a powerful prayer, that often is overlooked or rushed. However, when said slowly and prayerfully, the words “I believe in the communion of saints”, reminds us of our faith. We believe that there is a union, a fellowship of all souls who are in heaven, on the way to heaven and those of us who are alive. We are all connected because Our God is God of the Living and not of the dead. In Gods eyes, we are still alive even after our death.

Leader: Eternal rest grant unto him (her), O Lord.
Response: And let perpetual light shine upon him (her).
Leader: May he (she) rest in peace.
Response: Amen.
Leader: May his (her) soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Response: Amen.

Even when people die, they are still with us- watching, guiding and protecting us as we journey through life. Death may end a life but does not end a relationship. They are never gone.

Fr. Manoj Mathew, C.Ss.R.

Administrator, Burdekin Catholic Parishes.

St Colman's School Mini Vinnies

Our Mini Vinnies group has once again taken up the challenge to help families in crisis and collect for the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Hamper. Families are welcome to drop off items of non-perishable food to the front office. We thank you for your generosity.

Suggested items to donate:

Christmas food and treats eg. Christmas puddings, chips, chocolates, biscuits

Non-perishable food items with greater than 6 month expiry dates
Christmas decorations/bon bons/supplies
Vouchers eg. Coles, butcher etc
Toys and gift items

Accepting all donations at the School office until Tuesday, 29th November in week 9.

All donations will be made to help local families this Christmas and will be distributed to the Home Hill Chapter of St Vincent de Paul.

Sports News

Congratulations to all our children who participated in the Annual Swimming Carnival last week. It was a great carnival and the pool was looking great. There were some very close races and everyone had lots of fun. Congratulations the the people in Yellow. Wickham came away with a very convincing win with 486 points. Leichhardt came in Runner Up with 276 points.

Congratulations to Archie Sgroi who broke the Boys 8yrs 100 metre Freestyle record. The old record was set by Ryan Totorica in 2016. The old record was 2:02:95 and Archie's new record is 2:02:64. Well Done Archie.