Dear Parents of St Columba’s,
Our best wishes to Mr Banks and the team of students who will be representing St. Columba’s at the Interschool Athletics Carnival tomorrow. Students, you have worked hard to get there, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for you to demonstrate our M.E.R.C.Y values as you showcase your talents to students and families from other communities. I’m sure you will do your best to make us proud. Thank you to the P&F and parent helpers who held a breakfast for the team this morning. It was a great moment to celebrate the team’s dedication and sportsmanship.
I have been away from the school this week as a panel member for a School Review. This is known as the Quality Catholic Education School Review (QCESR). This process focuses on the effectiveness of a school’s engagement with self-review, the impact they are having on school improvement, and the future direction for the improvement of student outcomes that the school has identified. As part of this review, I will also assist on the panel for the Principal’s Review as a Peer Principal. Thank you to Mr Kehoe and Mrs Vinciullo for looking after the school in my absence. I will return to the school on Friday 27 October, just in time to celebrate World Teacher’s Day.
World Teacher’s Day
World Teacher’s Day is a great time to honour and acknowledge the contribution made to the lives of thousands of children and young people by those who are called to teach in our schools. I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher this Friday to acknowledge the critical role they play in society and in your child’s education.
Gates and Supervision Times
The below is part of an amended message sent via email last week to confirm our gates will continue to open at 8.00am and extra supervision has been arranged.
Our gates will continue to open at 8.00am. For those who need to drop their children between 8.00am and 8.15am, a member of the leadership team will supervise students sitting outside the library. At 8.15am our normal supervision arrangements will commence and students are then able to move around the school as per current supervision.
In 2023, we have experienced many children arriving at school before 8.00am. Should you require supervision before 8.00am, please see Jess at OSHC.
I thank you for your understanding in assisting the school with child safety and other requirements related to teacher workloads and OSHC regulations.
Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) and Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee
As per last week, I will continue to encourage and promote nominations to the CSAC and P&F. Details are included below.
In gratitude
Gina Burns
Nominations for Catholic School Advisory Council
I invite you all to consider nomination to the Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC). Involvement with the CSAC is very rewarding and gives you the opportunity to be closely associated with the school.
A CSAC provides parents and community members with structured ways to provide support and expertise to the Principal and School Leadership Team.
The CSAC operates in accordance with the CSAC Terms of Reference, Quality Catholic Education, Policies, Executive Directives, and the Delegations of Authority. The CSAC is accountable to the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA).
The CSAC must carry out the following functions:
- Support planning for the present and future operation of the Catholic school;
- Provide membership, at the principal’s request, on selection panels for the employment of staff to the Catholic school in accordance with the relevant CECEWA Policies and Executive Directives;
- Provide membership on the panel that recommends the appointment of a principal in accordance with the relevant CECWA Policy and Executive Directives;
- In consultation with the principal, communicate about the Catholic School and about Catholic education to persons and organisations in the School Community;
- Endorse the catholic school’s annual budget before submission to CECWA for approval; and
- Advise the Principal on school financial matters such as performance against budget, sustainability, and capital and recurrent planning.
There are two elected positions and two co-opted positions available on the CSAC for 2024.
Nominees to the CSAC should possess:
- A commitment and desire to promote Catholic education and give service to the Catholic School Community;
- A commitment to the safety, well-being, and pastoral care of all students and staff;
- An ability to work co-operatively and constructively with the principal, school leadership team, and all other members of the Advisory Council;
- The possession of skills, competencies, and experience that are reflective of, relevant, and beneficial to the Catholic School Community; and
- A sufficiency of time to devote to Advisory Council duties.
The CSAC meets once a term on a Tuesday evening.
If you would like further information about the role of the CSAC, please contact me at the school or via email – gina.burns@cewa.edu.au
Nomination forms for the CSAC should be returned to the School by Tuesday 14 November 2023.
Catholic School Advisory Council Nomination Form 2024
Nominations for Parents and Friends Committee
The Parents and Friends Committee (P&F) directs its energies to friendship, fundraising, and other community activities to support the operation of the school.
All parents of enrolled students at the school are considered general members of the P&F.
The P&F is led by a volunteer group of parents, each of whom is elected to office bearer positions. These people are identified as P&F Committee members.
The P&F Committee membership conditions are:
(a) a commitment and desire to promote Catholic education;
(b) a commitment and desire to give service to the school;
(c) a commitment to the safety, wellbeing and pastoral care of all students and staff;
(d) an ability to work cooperatively and constructively with the principal, school leadership team, the School Advisory Council and other members of the P&F; and
(e) a sufficiency of time to devote to P&F duties.
The P&F Committee should be comprised of four to six plus the Principal or their delegate.
The P&F Committee must consist of the following office bearers:
(a) Chair;
(b) Deputy Chair;
(c) Secretary; and
(d) Treasurer.
All P&F positions will become vacant at the conclusion of 2023.
The P&F meet approximately once a month on a Tuesday evening.
If you would like any further information on the role of the P&F Committee or office bearer positions, please contact me at the school or via email – gina.burns@cewa.edu.au
Nomination forms for the P&F Committee should be returned to the School by Tuesday 14 November 2023.
P & F News
TERM 4 Events
- End of Year Concert – We will be holding a sausage sizzle at the end of the concert for those that don’t want to go home and cook dinner.
- Christmas Raffle – We would like to do a Christmas Raffle that is more activity based for school holidays rather than toy based. If anyone has any contacts or ideas for prizes, please contact your class rep.
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
Chair P&F
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
To the following students who will be celebrating this coming week:
Addison Forte PKG
Lynette Toh KG
Noah Bowker KG
Hazel Scarvaci 1G
Grace Howard 3G
Theo Smart 4G
Harriet Webb 4W
Lila Harris 6W
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 4
Week 4 – NO RAFFLE
Week 5 – 8 November
Week 6 – 15 November
| Kindy Green | Week 5 – Jayden Win Week 6 – Abigail Lumsden |
| Kindy White | Week 5 – Florence Stazzonelli Week 6 – Adam Tuma |
| PP Green | Week 5 – Annabel Paulus Week 6 – Molly Veale |
| PP White | Week 5 – Olivia Smits Week 6 – Ezra Ta |
| Year 1 Green | Week 5 – Harriet Stazzonelli Week 6 – Mia Yanez Del Gesso |
| Year 1 White | Week 5 – Jesse Smith Week 6 – Alessia Scagnetti |
| Year 2 Green | Week 5 – Nate Hoogland Week 6 – Rosie Veale |
| Year 2 White | Week 5 – Mia Paulus Week 6 – Oaklyn Payne |
| Year 3 Green | Week 5 – Harriet Weaire Week 6 – Henry Webb |
| Year 3 White | Week 5 – Jonathan Truong Week 6 – Aleksander Tuma |
| Year 4 Green | Week 5 – Indi Whitbread Week 6 – Jack Wilson |
| Year 4 White | Week 5 – Amelia Yee Week 6 – Harriet Webb |
| Year 5 Green | Week 5 – Charlie Weaire Week 6 – Alberto Yanez Del Gesso |
| Year 5 White | Week 5 – Chloe Smith Week 6 – Phoenix Stanmore |
| Year 6 Green | Week 5 – Quinn Wolters Week 6 – Elizabeth Wright |
| Year 6 White | Week 5 – Sebby Pizzata Week 6 – NO RAFFLE |
Religious Education and Curriculum News
From our Year 5 Classes:
In Religion, the Year 5s are learning about how stories are handed on through generations. Stories provide a timeless link to ancient traditions, legends and myths. They also connect people to the universal truths about themselves and the world. In class we read an array of Dreamtime stories. Dreaming for Aboriginal people represents the time when the Ancestral Spirits passed over the land and created life and important physical, geographic formations and sites.
From our Year 4 Classes
This week in Year Four Mathematics, we are focusing on the Division Written Strategy. The students have been applying their knowledge of multiplication, the inverse operation, to solve equations that involve trading without remainders. The students have been dividing one-digit numbers into two-digit numbers and beyond. They have been using their problem-solving skills to answer worded problems using this strategy.
Community Notices
Dear Parents & Guardians,
We have been advised by Kapture Photography that all Portraits, Class and Special Groups taken this year are still available for purchase.
Please visit www.kapture.com.au using our school code 98KBCR
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La Salle College Carols by Candlelight
Bring your best singing voice and join us for a Christmas sing-along with our College Concert Band, Show Band and Choirs on Friday 1 December.
La Salle College Carols by Candlelight is a special opportunity for us to connect with our community in song as we bask in the Christmas spirit.
Bring your picnic rug or chairs and enjoy the sound of many beautiful voices harmonising together to celebrate this wonderful time of year – Christmas!
Gates to the front College oval will open at 5pm with the concert starting at 6.30pm. Entry is a gold coin donation per person and goes towards supporting the 2023 Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
Classifieds
