Dear Families of St Columba’s,
Such a great start to my day today visiting classrooms during the Pastoral Care Raffle. From the older students modelling this initiative to the younger students to the generosity of everyone purchasing tickets and donating the prize for the raffle. I have not known such an initiative in any other school. We are so blessed to have this initiate supporting our MERCY Values in the school.
Leesa, Niall and I were at the Leaders’ Forum last Monday with all other CEWA Principals from across the state. A large portion of this day was reflecting on the message of Pope Francis in his latest work “Go Forth: Toward a Community of Missionary Disciples.” In several workshops, I found myself telling others of the Community Baptism Ceremony and the work of the Pastoral Care Committee in our community. They are two standouts for me that make our community unique to others.
Project Compassion
Classes are collecting funds to support Caritas. Caritas supports those around the world less fortunate than us during this Lenten Season. The money students save from foregoing their ice cream or another treat can be sent to the classroom prayer table.
Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to McAuley who won this year’s swimming carnival and Russell who were the recipients of the Spirit Shield. All results published further in down in the Principal’s post.
Throughout the day there were great examples of students showing Christ’s message of love for each other by encouraging their efforts and supporting them when things were tough. All students exhibited great effort to achieve their personal best.
The school has been approached to reconsider the current stance of no in term swimming lessons being offered here at St Columba’s. Whilst I am an advocate that every child should learn to swim, I am supportive of the school’s current stance of swimming not being held during the school day. I assure you the matter has been well considered by past Principals. Reasons extend from child safety, financial, time out of the curriculum and workloads.
I am willing to develop a procedure for first time swimmers to the carnival to have a trial prior to the event and this information will be provided in 2024.
Protective Behaviours Program
All schools are mandated to provide a Protective Behaviours Program. The Program provided to all students across Catholic Education is known as “Keeping Safe.” The program provides age and developmentally appropriate strategies to help children and young people keep themselves safe. There are four components:
- Right to be safe
- Relationships
- Recognising and Reporting Abuse
- Protective Strategies
As part of Recognising and Reporting Abuse the concept of private parts and touching is covered. Private parts is referred to anything normally covered by swimwear. We also teach and encourage students to use official names for their private parts. The more we can normalise the official terms the more comfortable students will feel to report concerns about their safety. The official terms also avoid any ambiguity.
We love that we can provide our students so many opportunities to play and do not want to restrict this, but it is important for our girls to recognise that handstands and some other activities during play, could compromise their privacy so we do recommend that bloomers or other short like undergarments be worn for their protection. Grey shorts are also available for girls to wear as the school uniform.
Students also understand they have rights regarding their bodies and that no one, not even their friends have the right to touch them without their consent. Sports played during recess and lunch are all non-contact sports, so anything beyond an accidental bump or collision is against what our school rules promote for a safe environment.
Your teacher can provide you further information on the Keeping Safe Program.
Principal Absence
I will be absent from the school on Thursday 16 March and Friday 17 March, completing training for Suicide Prevention. This training is compulsory for all Principals. In my absence, Niall Kehoe will be Acting Principal. Please direct any urgent matters to Niall at the office. Alternatively, I will return any queries as soon as possible upon my return on Monday 20 March.
For all our Footy Fans, enjoy the first weekend of the season. A shame both WA Teams will need to play away this weekend but I’m sure everyone who was at Ed Sheeran last Sunday would agree with me, totally worth it!
In gratitude,
Gina Burns.
Principal
SWIMMING CARNIVAL RESULTS
McAuley – 1244 pts
Pascal – 1144 pts
Columbanus – 1062
Russell – 800
Champion Swimmers
| Year 4 Girls Champion | Harriet Webb |
| Runner-Up | Ella MacPherson |
| Year 4 Boys Champion | Alex Pizzata |
| Runner-Up | Theo Smart |
| Year 5 Girls Champion | Phoenix Stanmore |
| Runner-Up | Olivia Harris |
| Year 5 Boys Champion | Tony Masek |
| Reunner-Up | Filip Kryachok |
| Year 6 Girls Champion | Abbie Hartus |
| Runner-Up | Isla Felton |
| Year 6 Boys Champion | Oliver May |
| Runner-Up | Jack Gilbert |
P & F News
Our next P&F meeting is Tuesday 16 May at 7.00pm in the library.
Items for the agenda must be submitted by 5.00pm Friday 12 May. Any items after this time will be tabled for the next meeting.
Entertainment Memberships
Online memberships are available again this year. Memberships can be purchased online.
https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/83589g
Any questions or queries, I can be contacted via email gtarmstrong@iinet.net.au
Tanya Armstrong
President P&F
Library News
Library 2023
Dear Parent, Carers and Students
The library is open every morning before school:
PP – Year 6 : 8:15am – 8:30 am
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 transitions in the morning.
Students may also like to return and borrow books before school.
Looking forward to seeing you the library.
Reading and activities in the LIBRARY
LUNCHTIMES
Students may also use this time to exchange their library book.
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 at a cost of $12.
Parents please order via the school Uniform Shop.
Rita Cuthbert – Library Officer – Library - the original search engine
The WINNER of the Library Lucky Dip competition …
” What is the closed edge of a book called? “
Is : AMELIA
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
To the following students who will be celebrating this coming week:
Norah Cregan PPW
Florence Crookes 1W
Talisa Martino Da Fonseca 2W
Tom Ross 3G
Hunter Sardelich 4G
With Easter just around the corner, the Pastoral Care team will be holding their annual Easter Raffle. Tickets will go on sale from Monday 27 March before school outside the library. Winners will be drawn and prizes delivered to winning families on Wednesday 5 April. Tickets are 50c each or three for $1. Cash only please.
Donations towards prizes are greatly appreciated and can be dropped to the basket in the library from Monday 13 March.
As always thank you for your support of the Pastoral Care Team!
RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 1
Week 8 – 22 March
Week 9 – 29 March
| Kindy Green | Week 8 – Beatrix Beros Week 9 – Noah Bowker |
| Kindy White | Week 8 – Amelia Congdon Week 9 – Esme Crookes |
| PP Green | Week 8 – Holly McMenamin Week 9 – Alfred Eden |
| PP White | Week 8 – Vy Hoang Week 9 – Sophie MacDonald |
| Year 1 Green | Week 8 – Olive Caruana Week 9 – Jax Fermanis |
| Year 1 White | Week 8 – Annabelle Cornish Week 9 – Alex Khoo |
| Year 2 Green | Week 8 – Thomas Pinnington Week 9 – Caleb Brennan |
| Year 2 White | Week 8 – Xander De Souza Week 9 – Alessandra Cahill |
| Year 3 Green | Week 8 – Quill O’Brien Week 9 – Alexander Lilleyman |
| Year 3 White | Week 8 – Xavier Balm Week 9 – Henry Crookes |
| Year 4 Green | Week 8 – Lana Ly Week 9 – Alana Raj |
| Year 4 White | Week 8 – Agnes Preedy Week 9 – Richie De Mello |
| Year 5 Green | Week 8 – Sana Bezich Week 9 – Irissa Duong |
| Year 5 White | Week 8 – Chloe Bouteloup Week 9 – Jaydyn Duong |
| Year 6 Green | Week 8 – Olivia Cullura Week 9 – Xavier Brandis |
| Year 6 White | Week 8 – Lily Katich Week 9 – Kai Fermanis |
Award Winners
MERIT AWARDS – Term 1, Week 6
PP Green – Rico McCort, Archie Raynor, Frankie Wilson
PP White – Zara Campbell, Isla Elliott, Francis Masek
1 Green – Ivan Masnyk, Harriet Stazzonelli
1 White – Charlie Bateman, Annabel Harper, Oscar Harris
2 Green – Parker Connell, Max Pizzata, Maria Wai
2 White – Jenson Kootje, Elliot Lumsden, Madelyn Markowski
3 Green – Grace Howard, Alexander Lilleyman, William Parks, Harriet Weaire
3 White – Connor Campbell, Evie Hamilton, Kelvin Quach
4 Green – Ivy Hooglan, Grace Masnyk
4 White – Elliot Dorozenko, Charlotte Eaglesham
5 Green – Scarlett Dudley, Alexis Stewart, Charlie Weaire
5 White – Isla Markowski, Tony Masek, Harry Mawer
6 Green – Jack Gilbert, Eliza Joewono, Khrish Tah, Paris Whitbread
6 White – Charlotte Armstrong, Madden Dean, Sebby Pizzata, Zander Smith
Religious Education and Curriculum News
From our Pre-Primary’s
This week the children made pizza butterflies replicating patterns on one side to the other. We learnt about the term symmetry and that our own Monarch butterflies had a line of symmetry. This ties into our Religion Unit as we have discussed that new life is precious and wonderful and that there a signs of new life that people can see around them, such as in the butterfly cycle. We celebrate new life when Jesus resurrected on Easter Sunday.
From our Year 1’s
Students in year 1 are very enthusiastic about exploring colour in Art lessons. We got to combine primary and secondary colours and investigate how water paint makes the colours stand out. In our classrooms is a display of our lovely raindrop colour wheel.
Community Notices
COMMUNITY BAPTISM EVENT
We have had a wonderful response to this initiative and Father Andrew and I are extremely excited and super keen to make it a memorable occasion for all involved. Please note the following –
CHANGE OF DATE :Please note there has been a change of date for our Community Baptism. The ceremony will now take place on Sunday 26 March at 10.45 – following the 9.30 mass.
YOU ARE INVITED : The St Columba’s Community are invited to share with and support our Baptism candidates on their special day. There will be light refreshments in the hall following the ceremony.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE : If you were unable to make our information evening last week, it is not too late! Please contact either Father Andrew or myself and we will be happy to assist you in joining in our celebration and answering any questions you may have.
Leesa Vinciullo
Religious Education and Events Coordinator
Classifieds
