As I write these words, I am watching the fence around the Wollemi Shrine come down. I am so glad this is happening this early in our 25th Anniversary year! I hope to see many of you here on Sunday for our Family Pilgrimage Day to pray to Our Lady together as a community in the finished shrine. I am also remembering the many generous donors who have made this beautiful structure possible, and those parents who have been actively involved in so many shapes and forms. Specifically, I would like to thank Tony Elias, Danny Morched, Thomas Horsfall, Nathan Dodd and Michael Sultana for their hard work and dedication to this project. Well done guys!

On the topic of the 25th Anniversary, I would like to encourage all of you once more to purchase a ticket for our Gala Dinner. It is a beautiful opportunity for our current parents to come together as a community to celebrate those parents and staff who put so much time and effort into making what we enjoy today a reality - yesterday, today and into the future.

I joked with the staff that this term seemed relatively less busy, but I would only say so softly in case I was proven wrong. Well, things are certainly  ‘happening’ now, especially in the co-curricular space. We have had two basketball and one football tournament in short succession. The chess competitions for Primary and Secondary are now in full swing. Debating has made a comeback to Wollemi after a short absence and our Secondary boys are making up for lost time at a great rate. Yesterday, our Cross Country representatives ran at the Hills Zone Cross Country and an unprecedented number of our boys made it to the state level (CIS). 

Last week our leaders joined Redfield and Montgrove student leaders for our first even Pared Leaders Summit. They listened to a number of inspiring speakers, including Wollemi graduates Joseph Hoffmann and Michael Kerbage. They also had an opportunity to share experiences and workshop ideas for the improvement of their respective school communities. This has been the initiative of our own Mr Johnson and Mr James. We thank them for their hard work and hope for many future Pared Leaders Summits in the years to come.

A big thank you also to the staff and parents involved in our Mother’s Day stall and Morning Tea. I have received some wonderful feedback from Wollemi mums who really appreciated the various gestures. Thank you also to all the mums who were able to attend the special Mass and Morning Tea. As for ourselves, nothing will ever be sufficient to thank all our mothers for their wonderful dedication and enduring influence. One day a year seems grossly insufficient to celebrate mothers.

Finally, please note on your calendars the evening of 4 June for our Term 2 Key Parent Function. Unlike most KPFs, this term we will be breaking up into year groups and tailoring the input and discussion to the various specific age groups. We hope this will make the content especially relevant. It does involve quite a few speakers preparing each separate talk, and a wonderful way to show our appreciation for their dedication is by the effort we make with our attendance and participation in the various discussions. I look forward to seeing you there.

James Ramos, Headmaster

On Friday, the solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, we are going to open the Shrine of Our Lady of Wollemi. It is the day of the pilgrimage of the High School boys: we are going to put in her hands so many intentions!!

And on Sunday we will have a Family Rosary with Mass and Picnic, to celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. What a good occasion to meet and be all together around Our Mother in her new Shrine!

Next week, on Wednesday 29, Our Lord is going to walk with us around the school! Bishop Vincent will be with us. It will be a time of prayer and adoration, very united with Pope Francis. He wants us to be ready for the Holy Year 2025 with this kind of celebration, in this case, because of the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ.

Fr Felix, Chaplain

The things that matter to us, shape our lives and the lives of those around us.  “Friends are worth way more than money! Friends are not something you can just buy!” - Michael T

“Multiculturalism - Through our efforts, Australia looks like it is going to be having a bright and hopeful future.” - Joseph L

“Your family loves you, and don't ever deny it. Even if you have some fights, they will still love you. A family's bond will go on forever.” - Ethan J

“Without education, the world we know will be over” - Abel N

“…when you get home thank your parents for everything and if you have a brother or sister, thank them for being with you every single day.” - Lucas P

“Multiculturalism will play a critical role in shaping the future of Australia, and we must embrace and celebrate the diversity that it brings.” - Xavier X

Throughout Term 1, we asked all Primary boys the question - what matters? From this question, each student completed a writing task on a topic they value. I am happy to share that from the many quality pieces of writing completed, we have chosen 11 compositions to submit to the Year 5 and 6 What Matters writing competition for 2024.  

Year 5 -

Michael T,  Jayson D,  Lucas P,  Lucas M,  Ram E 

Year 6 -

Ethan J,  Abel N,  Joseph La,  Josef M,  Joseph Le,  Xavier X

The quotes above are excerpts from the writing samples from some of our exceptional writers. They should be very proud of their efforts. 

Primary Pilgrimage 2024

The Junior Primary (Year 2-4) and Senior Primary (Year 5-6) Pilgrimage will be held on the 31st of May. 

Junior Primary (Yr 2-4) will pray the Rosary at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Ryde followed by a fun afternoon of swimming at the Ryde Aquatic Centre. 

Senior Primary (Yr 5-6) will pray the Rosary at the Wollemi Shrine followed by the PARED Cup sporting events with students from Redfield College. 

Information and permission forms for the Pilgrimage have been sent out this week.

Luke Baxter, Head of Primary 

Last week was bookended by two very important events - Mother’s Day and Pentecost. To me, both days speak of building. Not building something in the physical sense, but rather something far more valuable and enduring.

Every day we pick up our “shovels” and build something. Some build structures with a bedrock of faith, hope and love, while others build sandcastle kingdoms with cornerstones of “pride”, “prestige” and “pleasing man”. Sandcastle kingdoms do not welcome the hungry, the hurting, and the hopeless. No. They simply sit there, looking good on the outside, without any treasure to offer on the inside. When the waves of life come up to the shoreline, they will wash away.

The structures built on firm bedrock, however, will endure forever and are oftentimes built with a great degree of invisibility to the builder. Motherhood is all about this, building when no one sees. I once read about a rich man who came to visit a cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.”

And the workman replied, “Because God sees.” Let us therefore build, not drawn by the allure of the seas of recognition, success, approval and honour. Instead let us build with structural integrity, attached to the cross of Christ, our lives built on the Rock; on Christ the solid rock we stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Noah P., Vice Captain

Happy reading,

Justin Lockley

The school motto, 'Duc in altum' meaning 'into the deep', encourages exploring the depths of yourself, including hidden wounds, to understand what shapes your thoughts and behaviour.

To go into the deep means to look into yourself and honestly consider thoughts like, “Maybe I have some narcissistic traits,” or “Perhaps my pride levels are a bit high,” or even “Maybe I fear rejection more than I realised”.

To go into the deep means to reflect on why we think and act the way we do in our daily interactions. This concept is central to mental health, which emphasises deep self-reflection.

The Young Healthy Minds Forum is an annual event which this year was held at the Dural Sports Centre. Our students had the opportunity to develop their own opinions and ideas in incorporating mental well-being at our school.

The Forum included ice-breaking activities with other schools from the Hills district, offering opportunities to socialise and connect with students from various backgrounds. We listened to testimonies from individuals who shared their experiences with deep personal wounds and how they managed them. The students began working together in sharing their own ideas on how to bring different activities and workshops to the yearly ‘R U OK’ event, held in September. Our aim is to incorporate self-reflection into the school environment through different workshops and activities. Let's see how we go.  

John Khoury, School Counsellor

Wow! What a day. I was so impressed by the Year 4 boys. They listened and watched Mr. Spanga make pizza dough. Then after recess, they had to remember the steps and attempt to make one themselves. Some were right into it and others took their time but in the end, with some perseverance and hard work in kneading their dough, they all got to enjoy a pizza at home. Well done boys! I think we have a few chefs in the cohort, watch out Mr Spagna.

Special thanks to our Year 10 helpers, Jacob J, Thomas G. and Joseph W. and  Year 4 parent helpers, Mrs Morched, Mr Zahra and Mrs Hakim who took photos of the day!

Tamara Zahra,  Year 4 Classparent

The Year 8 camp last term provided our boys with an exhilarating and unifying experience. From the heart-pounding excitement of bungee jumping at the power fan to the nerve-wracking heights of the advanced high ropes course, every moment was filled with adventure and profound experiences. One of the most impactful experiences was undoubtedly the 'survivor challenge,' where the boys had to navigate treacherous, muddy waters together. Witnessing their teamwork, communication, and mutual support during this challenge was truly inspiring. It was evident that they were not just conquering obstacles, but also building essential life skills that will serve them well in the future.

Wollemi Families are warmly invited to the Wollemi Family Pilgrimage Day on Sunday 26 May here on Wollemi College grounds, beginning with 11 am Sunday Mass, Rosary and family picnic lunch to follow. 

This month of May gives us a wonderful opportunity to teach our boys how to show our love for our Lady and to finally open the Wollemi Shrine in prayer together as a School community.

To assist us with the logistics for the day,  could you please complete the Google form below if you would be attending   Sunday Mass on 26 May and staying for the Rosary and Picnic lunch at Wollemi grounds. There will also be Paella courtesy of Mr Spagna on Sunday, which will be available for lunch if you would like to purchase, it for $10 per plate. (Unfortunately, it will be a cash payment option only.)

RSVP Here

You are cordially invited to our 2024 Wollemi Eucharistic Procession that will take place on Wednesday 29th May 2024, from 2:00 until 3:00 pm. This year the procession will be led by Bishop Vincent Long, of the dioceses of Parramatta.

The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which falls this year on Sunday 1st of June, celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist. St John Paul II in Ecclesia de Eucharistia wrote that “the worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church.” For this reason, at Wollemi, we would like to teach all our students the immense value of Eucharistic Adoration by having a short procession around the school grounds. 

The Corpus Christi procession is an old tradition of the Catholic faith to confess the Real Presence of Jesus — the Eucharist — in public. It is a special occasion to pray together parents, staff and students before the Blessed Sacrament. Our Year 12 students and many other boys will be helping out and contributing to this special occasion in some way. 

We would like to invite students who have just made (in 2024) or will make their First Holy Communion in 2024 to join us at Wollemi for our Eucharistic Procession on Wednesday 29th May.  The first communicants will wear a white sash provided by the school to wear on top of their full winter school uniform.  Students participating will join the rehearsal on Thursday 23 May before and on the morning of the procession in the afternoon. If your son would like to participate in the Procession, kindly complete this form.

Jack Johnson, Director of Personalised Education

As you know, 2024 marks 25 years since the original group of students began their journey at Orchard Hills Preparatory School in 1999. That small group of kindergarten students, with some exceptions, carried on under a different name some years later at Werrington, and eventually became the first graduating class of Wollemi College.

Wollemi has been incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support of our families who recognise the value of a PARED education and upbringing. Some of the original families are still with us. Others now have grandchildren attending our schools. They have all witnessed the enduring benefits for their children and future generations.

As part of this year’s celebrations of this significant milestone, Wollemi will host a Gala Dinner on Friday, 2 August at Novella on the Park, inviting  Wollemi past and current parents and staff, alumni and friends of Wollemi.

Given the importance of the 25th anniversary, we anticipate that this celebration will draw a large number of people from our school community, past and present. To ensure you do not miss out, secure your spot by booking early using this link.

Please contact  Camille Wiggins (or any one of the committee members; Kristine Zamora, Tamara Zahra, Josephine Khairy, Joseph Chaghouri, Anne Bernacer and Rebecca Aoun) should you require assistance in finding or filling a table.

Wollemi 25th Anniversary Committee

Our Mother’s Day stall was a happy and successful event. Thanks to all those who participated in this event. Special gratitude to mums who came on the day and made it happen, your time and help were very much appreciated!

Hope all the mums had a wonderful Mother’s Day and enjoyed their gifts. Total fund raised was $1322.60 that will go towards  Year 6's gift to the School.

Year 6  Parents

To celebrate Mother's Day,  Wollemi Mums were invited to attend a special Mass for Wollemi Mums on Monday  13 May, at 10.30 am and straight after a Mother's Day Morning Tea.

To say "Thanks for all that you do"  students brought something they baked or made with their dad on the Mother's Day weekend for the Mother's Morning Tea.

Thank you to our Wollemi mums and grandmothers who joined us to celebrate Mother's Day at Wollemi. Thank you for all that you do!

^{Photo credits: Lucas Ison and Wollemi Mums Music  by Trio Creative rendition of Mamma by Anne Wilson}

Wollemi College will be hosting Japanese students from  30th July – 3rd August 2024. 

Share your lifestyle & home whilst experiencing another culture.

• Students attend school on weekdays and enjoy family life with you on the weekend

• Japanese language is not necessary.

• Students just fit in with your family routines – eat your food, they need their own bed but can share a room.

• Families are paid $50 per night per student.

If you can assist in hosting a student or would like more information, please contact VS Oceania Pty    Ph: 02 9889 4366  Email: admin@vsoceania.com

Please pray for our sick Wollemi family and friends:

 Charles Rafanan, father to Kristofer in 4G; Amelia Acasio, grandmother to Peyton Bernacer (8B) and Angelo Bernacer (6B); Louise Cotter, Grandmother to Chase Kerin (9B);  Joseph Valladores, father to Jose  (8G); Vince Sammut, grandfather to  Lucas in 10G; Igor Mileusnic, uncle to Hugo Giles (5B); Alex Borg, grandfather to Nicholas Cassar (6B).  Joanne Pang, mother to Ian Chia in 4G;  Benjie Santiago, father to Aryel (Class of 2020); Emmanuel Hanna, brother to George (7G); Victor Sciberras, father to Marianne and Carmel Spiteri, grandfather to Justin in Year 8B;   Mariano Valladores, father to Ela and Will O'Neill,  grandfather to Michael in 9B and John-Paul in 4B; Nikita D'Souza, Michael Carrington (PARED Maintenance)'s girlfriend.

Please pray for the soul of the recently deceased and the family left behind:

Dorothy James, grandmother to Harry in 4G; Antonio Singson, father to Ruth and Pierre Fakhry, grandfather to Elias in 10G,  Francis in 5G and Markus in 3B; Peter Ruhl,  father to Eric and Teresa, grandfather to Dominic in 5B and Joseph in 2B; Victor Tuballa, father to Victor and Sarah, grandfather to Alexander in 6B; Pricilla Yabut, grandmother to Achilles in 10B and Alexander in 9G. 

_{If you would like to add any intentions to the Prayer Board, please send them to newsletter@wollemi.nsw.edu.au.  Kindly notify newsletter@wollemi.nsw.edu.au when your intentions can be removed.} 

It has been great to see an increased number of students coming to daily Mass at School, so that our chapel is almost full everyday.  Parents are welcome to attend Mass with their sons, either on the set day in Primary or on any day their Secondary sons choose to attend. Unfortunately, as the space in the chapel is very limited, we are unable to offer daily Mass to parents as a regular alternative to their local parishes. We also ask that any parents attending Holy Mass please sign in at the Front Office.

Start of School Day 

Classes commence at 8:40 am each day. All boys are expected to be at school before this time.

Supervision for students will be provided at the school from 8:15 am each day. Students will not be admitted to the school until this time. 

End of the School Day

The school will conclude for ALL students at 3:25 pm. 

Late to School

If your son is late to school, he is required to sign in at the Front Office BEFORE moving to class. 

Early Leave

If your son needs to leave school early due to an appointment, parents/guardians must notify the College either by submitting an Early Departure Student Daybook in the Parent Portal.  Before leaving campus, your son must report to the Front Office to sign out. If you are collecting your son from the College, he is to be collected from the Front Office and not the classroom or other school areas.

Absence from School 

If your son is absent from school, we ask you to complete the form “Wollemi Absentee Form” from the Parental Portal on Engage PRIOR to the commencement of the school day. 

Please be mindful of the carline procedures listed below:

• Morning drop off - Morning supervision before class begins at 8.15 am. Students are not permitted on school grounds before this time, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• Students arriving after 8.40 am are to stop via the front office to have their names marked off the roll.

• Afternoon pick up - if you arrive early and park in the carline, please do not disembark your car. Your son/s will walk to your car.

• For efficiency and flow of the carline, please remind your son to be ‘on the look out’ for your car. 

• Please ensure your son is aware of any changes to your afternoon pick up routine.

Adjusted Pick-up Times for Primary and Student Collection points.

• New Wollemi Primary finish time will be 3:10 pm
• Primary students with no Secondary brothers will be available at this time to be collected by parents at the regular pick-up zone in front of the administration building.
• Primary parents should have their family name clearly printed on a sign on their dashboard.
• Any Primary Student with Secondary brothers will be supervised away from the pick-up area until 3:25 pm. 
• For safety reasons Primary students who travel by public transport or walk to other pick-up points will be asked to remain at school until 3:25 pm.

Secondary

To ensure car line pick-up continuity, we ask that parents picking up secondary students who arrive before 3.25 pm, please park in the surplus car park before joining the car line. Please do not wait in the 3.10 pm car line in the main car park.

The school gates will be opened at 8:15 am and students are not allowed onto the school premises before this time unless there are co-curricular commitments. If you are dropping your child/ren off before 8.15 am, please remind them that they are to stay outside the gates until it is opened. 

A reminder that when collecting your child/ren parents can either:

• Park their car in the outside car park and walk into the school/pedestrian gate to pick up their child
• Use the car line process where your child will come to the car. 

To help with the flow of the carline and traffic in the area we kindly ask that: 

• If you are using the car line, we ask parents to not exit the car.
• Please collect your child/children from 3.25 pm and 3.45 pm when Teacher supervision ends.
•  Reminder parents NOT to park along Gipps Rd in the afternoon as it causes congestion and risks the safety of our students.

Information for parents and students

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

New Student Opal cards (including new Term Bus Passes) will be sent to the student’s nominated postal address within two weeks of their application being approved.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their child/youth Opal for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

Our U15s soccer team  (Jacob Jordan, Raffaele Corvetti, Vraj Bhatia, Ram Hariprasaad, Moses Justin, Roman Gil, Kristof Trinajstic, Mateo Devine, Brett Sequeira, Davor Lalic, Tanaka Nyasha, Michael Gaid, Augustine Phua, Roko Bastac, John-Paul Blazic) triumphed against St. Clair in Round 2 of the tournament on Wednesday, May 15th. The match showcased teamwork and skill from both sides, but it was Wollemi College that emerged victorious with a 5-1 win.

Brett led the charge with two brilliant goals, showcasing his prowess on the field. Davor and Roman each added one goal to the scoreboard, displaying their precision and determination. John-Paul also contributed with a well-taken goal, rounding off a stellar performance by our team.

With another win under our belts, our U15s are gearing up for Round 3, where they'll face off against either Bede Polding or Santa Sophia. 

Luke Dominici

The Year 3 mums recently had a 'Mums Painting Night', with the wonderful Irina from Irina Iris Art Studio sharing her expertise. Thanks to those who came, we had an enjoyable night.

Geraldine Ortega and Bianca  Yee Year 3 Classparents

The uniform shop is open on Fridays 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm 

Online Store 

Enjoy the convenience of online shopping.  Orders will be filled when the store is next open. www.Midford.com.au passphrase: Wollemi1999

Fitting Appointment 

Full uniform fittings are strictly by appointment only. Please use the links to book an appointment https://Midford.as.me/Wollemicollege

Wollemi College Fitting Range on Fridays from 1.30 pm - 4.00 pm Appointments Only 

 All ordering and sales of Wollemi uniforms are online Orders can be collected from the College or delivered to your home address ( free delivery for orders over $50). To place an order online, go to www.Midford.com.au and enter the school passphrase: Wollemi1999 when you log in.

Wollemi Uniform requirements

Children’s Sacraments 2024 

First Communion: Sunday 2nd June (Feast of Corpus Christi) 10 am 

Sessions: 7th April (Registration & 1st Session) 14th, 21st, 28th April; 5th, 12th, 19th,  26th May, (26th being for Rehearsal) 

Reconciliation: TBA 

Confirmation: Sunday 3rd November 10:00am (Or Sunday 10th November) 

Sessions: 21st July (Registration & 1st Session), 28th July; 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th August;  1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th September; (6th October – mid holidays), 13th, 20th, 27th  October (27th being for Rehearsal) 

Eligibility: 

For the Sacrament of Reconciliation, children should be 8 years old and above and have received the Sacrament of Baptism. 

For the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, children should be 8 years old and above and should have received the Sacrament of Baptism & Reconciliation. 

For Sacrament of Confirmation children should be in Year 6 and above and have received the Sacrament of Baptism, Reconciliation & First Holy Communion. 

Please provide a copy of your relevant certificates at registration or email a copy to the parish. 

Further details will be provided at registration. Registration is after the Sunday 10 am Mass (Around 11:15 am) in the Parish Hall. You can call the Parish office on 4721 4080  or email parish@stjosephskingswood.org for further information. 

Office hours: Tues & Thurs 9am to 2pm & Fri 9am to 1pm.

Join the Zumba dance workout for Mums every Wednesday, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Multi-Purpose Hall!  

See the flyer or visit https://www.zumba.com/p/Mildred-Yap/2105634 to know more details.