Dear Community of St Columba’s,
I would like to sincerely thank you for your support, enthusiasm and involvement in celebrating our Anniversary year over the past week for St Columba’s and Mercy Mission Day. It has been a special time for our community, and your encouragement and partnership have played an important role in making these celebrations so meaningful for our students.
A very special thank you goes to Lisa Slocum, who capably stepped into the role to co-ordinate our events. Lisa’s calm leadership, attention to detail and ability to make sound decisions ensured a successful week.
I would also like to acknowledge Leesa Vinciullo, Niall Kehoe, Kylie Harbrow, Nathalie Dowling, Jennifer Scott and Breanna Filocamo, along with all staff who supported Lisa. Their teamwork, flexibility and willingness to step in wherever needed contributed greatly to the success of our celebrations.
A sincere thank you as well to the 2026 P&F for their generous support. Their contribution enabled each child to receive a commemorative 90th anniversary pin, which students are now able to wear daily with their school uniform. The P&F also helped bring our anniversary theme to life during Mercy Mission Day by providing St Columba’s cupcakes, handballs and a community sausage sizzle lunch. Thank you to the P&F Executive and subcommittee member, Marina and all parent helpers on this day.
It was a privilege to welcome many past Sisters of Mercy to the school on Wednesday as we celebrated Mass with our Years 3-6 students. Their continued connection and pride in our community were evident. The Sisters, along with our Executive Director Annette, were incredibly impressed with the behaviour of our students at the Mass celebrated on Wednesday.
On Thursday, as part of our Dressing through the Decades Day, I visited classrooms and spoke with students about the transition from religious to lay leadership in Catholic schools during the 1960s, and the importance of continuing to live out the Mercy values in today’s world.
Thank you to all parents for the effort you put into helping your children dress so wonderfully across the decades. It added to the spirit of the day. You may also be pleased to know that when music from different eras was played, many students were able to sing along or show off their dance moves, no doubt inspired by the music they hear at home!
The excitement across the school, especially in anticipation of the Mercy Mission Stalls, was wonderful to witness. The Pre-Primary students were eagerly anticipating the stalls, with a level of excitement comparable to the night before Christmas. These experiences are so valuable in building community spirit and helping students connect faith with action. We look forward to finalising the funds raised through the Mercy Mission Stalls.
We now look ahead to an important milestone for our Year 4 students as they prepare for First Holy Communion. We ask that you keep these students, their families, and their teachers in your thoughts and prayers during this special time.
NAIDOC Incursion
To celebrate NAIDOC Week, all students from Kindergarten to Year Six will be participating in an incursion delivered by Indigenous Tours WA, the original Aboriginal cultural tour and education organisation in Western Australia. The program was founded by Wadjuk Nyoongar man Greg Nannup, son of respected Elder and cultural pioneer Dr Noel Nannup OAM.
The Nannup family possess a connection to Wadjuk Country dating back thousands of years and has a passion for sharing and promoting Indigenous heritage and keeping our culture alive in the Perth Metropolitan area.
During the session, Greg will present:
- Local cultural history — an introduction to the traditional custodians, tribal boundaries, and significant aspects of the area’s history.
- Dreamtime or creation story — a culturally significant story passed down through generations.
- Artefacts presentation — showcasing items such as kangaroo skins, cloaks, bags, fire-lighting sticks, carrying dishes, boomerangs, and a selection of bush seeds or plant samples.
Bush string making — a demonstration of traditional string-making techniques using natural materials.
Upcoming events:
- Thursday 11 June: First Holy Communion Reflection Day
- Tuesday 16 June: P&F Meeting at 6.30 pm, School Library
- Thursday 18 June: NAIDOC Incursion Day One
- Friday 19 June: NAIDOC Incursion Day Two
- Friday 19 June: First Holy Communion 4G, 6.30 pm
- Saturday 20 June: First Holy Communion 4W, 3.30 pm
Thank you once again for your ongoing support of our school.
In gratitude
Gina Burns
Principal
Assistant Principal's Updates
UR STRONG – After School Convo Starters
“How was school today?” Good. “What did you do?” Nothing. (Sound familiar? Let’s dig a little deeper with these questions!)
Sometimes it’s like talking to a brick wall after your kids come home from school. You want to connect with them, but they aren’t quite ready to open up and connect with you.
Just like we need to unwind after a big day at work, kids need this time and space as well to transition and come down from the intensity of school. Some children even experience what’s called, After-School Restraint Collapse, a term coined by Andrea Loewen Nair (Counsellor and Parenting Educator). ASRC is characterised by an emotional meltdown that results from a full day of self-regulating, following rules, and essentially being a “good student”. Not an ideal time to have a conversation!
After giving your child time to relax, here are a few creative questions to get a little more information about their day at school:
- Tell me about your day.
- What was the best thing that happened at school today?
- Tell me one thing you learned today.
- Did anything make you laugh today? Tell me about it.
- How did you help someone today?
- What was hard today?
- Describe what you did at recess.
- Did you have any Friendship Fires today? Tell me about it.
- Where is your friendship on the Friend-o-meter with _____ today?
- Did you have a cool conversation with your teacher today? What did you discuss?
Choose one or two to ask, but be sure not to inundate your child with too many questions. Your goal is to connect with them, show them you care, and give them space to open up.
Happy chatting! 🙂
Mrs Leesa Vinciullo
APRE and Inclusive Education Coordinator
P & F News
Thank you!
A heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers and participants who helped make the P&F stall at Mercy Mission Day such a success, as well as everyone involved in the recent sausage sizzle. Your time, enthusiasm and support are greatly appreciated and help make these events possible.
A special shoutout goes to Eleanor Nebel for her incredible cupcakes, which were a huge hit on the day and added a very sweet touch to the event!
P&F Community Wishlist Letter of Thanks
Tea Towels
Thank you to everyone who ordered a 90th anniversary tea towel. They have been sent off to print, and are on track to be with the students by the end of the term.
Just One Thing
Our P&F is built on sharing the load. If everyone does Just One Thing, it makes a big difference to our school community. Whether it’s helping at an event, lending a skill, or supporting behind the scenes, every contribution counts.
Please take a minute to complete our short Volunteer Interest Survey and let us know how you’d feel most comfortable helping this year.
St Columba’s Primary School P&F – Volunteer Interest Survey:
https://forms.office.com/r/N62gQFLgDh
Next P&F Meeting
Our next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday, 16 June at 6:30pm in the Library. We would love to see both familiar and new faces there as we continue planning upcoming activities and fundraising initiatives for our school community.
Thanks,
The P&F team x
Library News
CONGRATULATIONS
On behalf of the Premier’s Reading Challenge we have some great news. I am pleased to announce that Indiana (3G) is one of the Weekly Prize Winners for the Premier’s Reading Challenge, 2026. Congratulations to Indiana for his outstanding efforts. We hope he enjoys his prize and keeps up the amazing reading!
Thank you for your support in the Premier’s Reading Challenge, you are creating a love for reading and improving literacy skills within Western Australian school students.
The challenge runs from 23 March to 12 June 2026
Join the reading challenge for your chance to win!
Each week, students who log their reading will automatically go in the draw to win a prize. We have more than 200 weekly prizes, which include tech gadgets, book vouchers and e-gift cards.
The weekly prizes celebrate students’ efforts in the challenge and encourage them to continue to improve their literacy skills and enjoyment of reading. The weekly prizes are drawn at random from students who have logged their books.
Some of the 2026 weekly prizes include:
Book vouchers
Kmart vouchers
Cotton On vouchers
Yeti water bottles
Kobos
Australian Geographic vouchers
Rebel Sports vouchers
Ultimate Teen and Kid vouchers
To be in the draw to win weekly prizes:
1. read a book
2. log a book each week
3. go in the draw to win!
It is that easy, and with 12 weeks of the challenge there are plenty of chances to win.
Click the link below to register:
https://www.premiersreadingchallenge.wa.edu.au/
Book Covering – Help Required
The library has lots of new and exciting books needing covering so that our students can read them before the end of the year. If you can help by taking a small number of books home to cover, please call into the library Monday, Tuesday,Thursday or Friday. Precut covering for books is supplied. Your help is greatly appreciated by students and staff.
Rita Cuthbert – Library
(Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday)
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week.
Patrick Olds KG
Piper Folini KW
Everett Khoo 1G
Amelia Easton 1G
Finn Patten 1G
Logan Albouni 1W
Julia Fantoni 3W
Ffion Humphreys 3W
Wyatt Palmer 6G
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 2
Week 9 – 17 June
Week 10 – 24 June
| Kindy Green | Week 9 – Harrison Garrett Week 10 – Sylvia Giolitto |
| Kindy White | Week 9 – Piper Folini Week 10 – Taj Hoogland |
| PP Green | Week 9 – Madison Hayward Week 10 – Aurora Hodgetts |
| PP White | Week 9 – Ariela Hoek week 10 – Laila Ikin |
| Year 1 Green | Week 9 – Orlando Folini Week 10 – Ivy Funston |
| Year 1 White | Week 9 – Hunter Kemmy Week 10 – August Knox |
| Year 2 Green | Week 9 – Clarisse Hong Week 10 – Loki Imbert |
| Year 2 White | Week 9 – Austin Hoek Week 10 – Leonardo Milhinch |
| Year 3 Green | Week 9 – Oscar Harstrom Week 10 – Le Hoang |
| Year 3 White | Week 9 – Julia Fantoni Week 10 – Andrea Gunawan |
| Year 4 Green | Week 9 – Harvey Kemmy Week 10 – Supatchaya Forster |
| Year 4 White | Week 9 – Hugo Garrett Week 10 – Otis Knox |
| Year 5 Green | Week 9 – Madelyn Markowski Week 10 – Talisa Martino Da Foneseca |
| Year 5 White | Week 9 – Zara Fantoni Week 10 – Nate Hoogland |
| Year 6 Green | Week 9 – Mia Harstrom Week 10 – Bianca Milhinch |
| Year 6 White | Week 9 – Gianna Krishnan Week 10 – Anh Hoang |
Class News
From our Gate classes
Our GATE students have been busy this term! The Year 5 students have been working on the Cluedunnit Brief of Evidence competition, using their problem-solving skills to solve a mystery. Some groups showed great creativity by using Minecraft to present their findings.
Students in Years 3, 4, and 6 have been researching a notable person. They have been learning about the achievements and contributions of people who have made a difference in the world while developing their research and presentation skills.
We are very proud of the effort and enthusiasm shown by all our GATE students
Photos from our Chess club
Community Notices
