Dear St Columba’s Community,
On Wednesday 14 February our school marked the start of Lent with Ash Wednesday – a period for reflection, repentance, and renewal in the lead-up to Easter. The ashes remind us of our mortality, emphasising the spiritual journey ahead. They also symbolise our commitment to sacrifice during this Lenten season.
Students discussed ways they can make small sacrifices to grow closer to God. These may have included giving something up, making more time for prayer or helping others less fortunate. This time also marks the launch of our Project Compassion Appeal, urging us to embrace Christian service by truly considering the needs of others. Our staff will be wearing jeans each Friday during Lent to raise funds for Project Compassion.
Kiss N Drive
Many thanks to all our families for using the family names provided on your visor so we can prepare your child for your arrival. It really helps us a lot.
2024 Fees
Thank you to all families for arranging payment of fees or payment plans so promptly. If you are yet to do so, please do so by 21 February 2024.
Families experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to contact me.
School Attendance
School attendance matters as early as kindergarten. Children who regularly attend school have
opportunities to socialise, problem solve, and learn in an enriched environment. Studies show that children who miss too many days in Kindergarten and Pre-Primary, struggle academically in later years.
It only takes one absence every two weeks for attendance to be concerning as learning is missed. Attend today and achieve for a lifetime.
How can you help?
- Make sure your child attends school every day unless they are ill or enrolled with another educational provider e.g. Telethon Hearing and Speech.
- Have a regular morning routine that helps your child prepare for school
- Solve any problems your child is having at school with their teacher as early as possible
- Plan vacations during non-school days
- Schedule your child’s dental and medical appointments at the end of the school day
In order to access the full curriculum, and give your child the best chance of success, Catholic Education WA recommends the rate of 90% – 100% as ‘Regular Attendance’. When attendance falls below this level it indicates a student may be at risk of not reaching their full potential. The chart below gives a breakdown of the amount of time missed in a year, and if maintained, how it impacts on the future education of your child.
Parents/guardians must provide an email explanation via the school website for any absence their child has within three days.
Requests for absences due to holidays, therapy or tutoring must be made in writing to the School Principal.
We appreciate you supporting your child’s school attendance.
Extreme Weather
Thank you for ensuring your child always has a School Hat and Water Bottle. For weather 37 degrees and above, our students play indoors. When the weather is below that but still very hot, we strongly encourage students to choose to play in shaded areas, take regular breaks and drink water. We encourage parents to apply sunscreen before school and provide your child their own sunscreen to apply again during the day. Sunscreen is also available in the classroom.
Coming Up
As I look ahead to Week 4 there are more activities to anticipate such as the Year 4 Swimming Trials, Parents and Friends Information Session and an Evacuation Drill.
Year 4 Swimming Trials
In preparation for our School Swimming Carnival, Year 4 students and staff will be travelling to and from Bayswater Waves on Monday 19 February for a trial. As new students to the carnival, this will allow for both them and Mr Banks to place them into a race for the distance and stroke they are most comfortable completing.
Our Swimming Carnival will be held on Wednesday 27 March and is a compulsory event for all students in Years 4-6.
Parents and Friends Association (P&F)
Parents are welcome to join us for a Parents and Friends Information Evening on Tuesday 20 February, commencing at 7.00 pm in our School Library.
Nicole Beresford, P&F Liaison Officer, will join us to share some information regarding the role of the P&F and how you can become involved.
If you are attending, please let Lisa Slocum know – 9208 2700 or lisa.slocum@cewa.edu.au
Evacuation Drill
Next Wednesday 21 February, we will hold an Evacuation Drill. This is the emergency procedure we will follow if we need to leave the school e.g. a fire.
This is to ensure that in the unlikely event that an evacuation is required, all staff and students know the procedures we will take for everyone’s safety.
Parents, if you find yourselves on the premises during this time, please follow the directions of either the nearest staff member or one of the wardens, who will be wearing a red hard hat.
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Principal
Library News
The library is open every morning before school:
PreKindy & Kindy : 8:15am – 8:45am
(accompanied by Parent/Carers)
The library is open every morning before school:
PreKindy & Kindy : 8:15am – 8:45am
(accompanied by Parent/Carers)
The library is a calming and quiet place, making it the perfect spot for students to have a smooth and calming transition in the morning.
Students may also like to return and borrow books before school.
Looking forward to seeing you the library.
Homework/Library Bag
Just a reminder that students require the school green
‘Homework and Library Bag’ in order to borrow from the Library.
Many students will already have the green school
‘’Homework and Library Bag’ from previous years.
‘Homework and Library Bags’ can be purchased
from the Uniform Shop.
Rita Cuthbert – Library Officer – Library - the original search engine
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
To the following students who will be celebrating this coming week:
Matilda Arfuso KG
Greta Williams KW
Henry Whelan 2G
Ezekiel Byrde 2W
Alexi Brammer 6G
Pastoral Care is up and running again. As a group we support and assist families and individuals in our school community during both difficult times and more joyous occasions, such as the birth of a child.
The WEDNESDAY class raffles are starting up again in Week 4 this Term, Wednesday 21 February!
Tickets are 3 for $1 (maximum of 3 tickets per child).
Term rosters are placed on the classroom door and printed in the weekly newsletter for you to check when your child/children are due to donate the prize (one prize donated per child a year) for their class. The idea is to provide a small gift (eg book, puzzle, pencils etc) to the approx. value of $5 to $10.
The child rostered to donate a prize is kindly asked to hand the prize to the class teacher before the morning of their roster.
We are always looking for Volunteers to join the Pastoral Care Team. If you can spare a little time on a Wednesday morning after drop off, you can find us in the Church meeting room just as you enter from the basketball court. Come and say Hi on the 21st and see what we are all about.
We cannot do what we do for the community without your generosity and participation.
Thank you greatly from the Pastoral Care Team!
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 1
Week 2 – No Raffle
Week 3 – No Raffle
Week 4 – 21 February
Week 5 – 28 February
| Kindy Green | Week 4 – Matilda Arfuso Week 5 – James Blake |
| Kindy White | Week 4 – Logan Albouni Week 5 – Mercy Alugbin |
| PP Green | Week 4 – Maxwell Bateman Week 5 – Harper Bradley |
| PP White | Week 4 – Grace Aldworth Week 5 – Remington Bennett |
| Year 1 Green | Week 4 – Alessia Cullura Week 5 – Darcy Blake |
| Year 1 White | Week 4 – Hugo Allison Week 5 – Paige Booth |
| Year 2 Green | Week 4 – Ella Aldworth Week 5 – Ciara Carruthers |
| Year 2 White | Week 4 – Charlie Bateman Week 5 – Ava-Marie Bova |
| Year 3 Green | Week 4 – Mila Fernandez Week 5 – Mathea Co |
| Year 3 White | Week 4 – Arden Bezich Week 5 – Amelia Booth |
| Year 4 Green | Week 4 – Jude Allison Week 5 – Simeon Alugbin |
| Year 4 White | Week 4 – Xavier Balm Week 5 – Raghav Bhutani |
| Year 5 Green | Week 4 – Alfie Allison Week 5 – Isla Bentley |
| Year 5 White | Week 4 – Christian Cullura Week 5 – Zoe Algubin |
| Year 6 Green | Week 4 – Sana Bezich Week 5 – Harry Blake |
| Year 6 White | Week 4 – Scarlett Fernandez Week 5 – Braelyn Carruthers |
Award Winners
MERIT AWARDS – Term 1, Week 2
PP Green – Loki Imbert, Samuel Smith
PP White – Zahlia Phillips, Kieran Vernon
1 Green – Ayla Bennett, Oliver Hawke, Jude Hoogland
1 White – Hugo Allison, Zoe Chin, Ezra Ta
2 Green – Jasper Fry, Smith Robertson, Mia Yanez Del Gesso
2 White – Riley Goulding, Pearse McIntyre, Matilda Stahl
3 Green – Patrick McGlue, Mia Paulus, Reuben Williams
3 White – Talisa Martino Da Fonseca, Arthur Oliveira, Lachlan Stewart
4 Green – Jude Allison, Simeon Alugbin, Alessandro Balla
4 White – Xavier Balm, Millie Charlett, Amelia Wilkey
5 Green – Mason Campbell, James Mason, Kirana Stahl
5 White – Zoe Alugbin, Havarna Bova, Luca Maio
6 Green – Jaydyn Duong, Maya Thompson Mewburn
6 White – Tony Masek, Emme Moretta
Religious Education and Curriculum News
FROM OUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSES:
In Kindy we celebrated Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent. Mr Kehoe came to our classrooms and made the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads with ashes. We have also enjoyed making heart biscuits and heart cards to celebrate the gift of our families on Saint Valentine’s Day.
FROM OUR PRE-PRIMARY CLASSES:
In Maths this week we are learning to connect number names, numerals and quantities, including zero, initially up to 10.
Community Notices
2024 SACRAMENTS
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
In 2024, Father Andrew and I are keen to assist those families wanting to receive Sacraments here at St Columba’s. For any of the examples below, or if you would just like to ask a question about the Sacraments, please contact me at Leesa.Vinciullo@cewa.edu.au
BAPTISM – In 2023, we were thrilled to facilitate over 20 Baptisms of St Columba’s students and their siblings at the St Columba’s Parish. During Term 1, 2024, there will be another opportunity for those families wishing to have a child, or children, Baptised into the Catholic faith to do so. We have set a tentative date of Sunday 17 March, but will confirm this based on the expressions of interest we receive.
RECONCILIATION / FIRST COMMUNION – If for some reason your child, or children, did not make their Reconciliation or First Communion with the rest of their class, and now wishes to do so, can you please make us aware of this as soon as possible so that we can include them in our preparations for this year.
ADULT SACRAMENTS – If you have teenage children who have not made their Sacraments, or if parents and other family members are interested in becoming members of the Catholic family, we are also keen to hear from you. With some preparation, adults can undertake a special service where they receive all three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation) at once.
Father Andrew and I are looking forward to hearing from you and assisting you and your family on your faith journey.
Leesa Vinciullo
Assistant Principal
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Classifieds
School Counsellor News
Nicole Leach
School Counsellor