Welcome back to week 6

I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you all for your support over the past few weeks, as we prepared for the Parish and School 100-year celebration. It was wonderful to see so many families attend Saturday’s programme and take the opportunity to look around the school. Your presence helped make the event truly special.

On Wednesday 19th March, the Parish is generously providing a sausage sizzle at lunchtime for all SCCS students. Each child will receive a sausage on bread. Please still send your child to school with their regular lunch items to ensure they have a full meal.

We are collecting memories from the past century at St Columba's School and Parish. Are you a former student or parishioner? Contribute to the centenary with your special memory of life at St Columba's. Click on the link, fill out the form and help us to collate a montage of memories. School Memories

Additionally, if you attended the Centennial celebration and had photos taken, we kindly ask that you let the school know if you do not want your name or your child’s photo published. If this applies to you, please email admin@sccs.school.nz to inform us.

School Policies and Procedures
At this time of the year, I’d like to remind our school community of our policies and procedures, including our Concerns and Complaints Policy. If you need to access this, you can find it on our website under Policies and Procedures.

As always, I am available for any questions or concerns. Feel free to stop by and have a chat at the school gate in the afternoons or email me at gareth@sccs.school.nz.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to seeing you around school next week.

Take care and God bless,

Gareth Duncan
Principal

We have a number of exciting events coming up that we invite families to participate in:

On Ash Wednesday we marked the beginning of Lent, a significant season in the Christian calendar. Our junior students participated in a liturgy in the afternoon, while seniors attended a Mass in the morning. Students and staff received ashes on their foreheads, symbolising repentance and humility. 

As part of the ‘giving’ aspect of Lent, we have set up a Caritas donation box in the school office. While there is no obligation to contribute, any spare change you wish to donate during Lent would be greatly appreciated. Caritas supports emergency relief and development projects overseas and advocates against poverty and injustice both globally and here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Here is a simple Lenten reflection which takes fasting from a different perspective:

In the Heart of Euphrasie Barbier
Jolan Search
Deputy Principal / Director of Religious Studies

If your child is interested in becoming an altar server at both school and parish Masses, please come along to the practice I will be having will all altar serves at the church on Friday 14th March from 4pm to 5pm.  All children must have received the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation.  For more details please call Heidi 021 686 959.

Term 1 - Monday 3rd February to Friday 11th April  - Easter falls during the school holiday period this year
Term 2 - Monday 28th April to Friday 27th June 
Term 3 - Monday 14th July to Friday 19th September
Term 4 - Monday 6th October to Tuesday 16th December