Principal's Post

Dear St Columba’s Community,

A warm welcome to you all. It’s been wonderful to continue to hear positive reports from the staff about how students are settling so well into their new classes for this year. Of course, the first week of school can be a nervous time. There are new routines to settle into, new people to work with, particularly with some people new to our community. It has been wonderful to witness the generosity of spirit and hospitality exhibited by students and staff with everyone being helpful, caring and patient. I extend these thanks for the support you also have provided to me.

Conveying compassion and respect whilst holding ourselves to high standards of excellence is a strong feature of our culture. These are three of my favourite MERCY Values. As we embark on a new year, it is important to reflect on some expectations again to make St Columba’s Primary School a happy and safe place for all to learn, work, play and grow. I ask all families to take the time to access the Community Code of Conduct by clicking the link below:

Community Code of Conduct

We are excited to be able to hold our Parent Information Evening on site once again and look forward to seeing you Wednesday 8 February commencing at 6.00 pm with the Principal Welcome followed by classroom sessions at 6.15 pm and 6.50 pm.

Thank you for taking the time to read our weekly Donegal and keep up with what’s happening. I know how busy life can get.

I look forward to working collaboratively with you to encourage and support your child/ren to be the best person they can be.

TUITION FEES 2023

The 2023 tuition fees were emailed last night along with your Payment Option form.

Please ensure your form is completed and returned by Friday 3 March 2023.

If full payment has already been made please disregard the above.

Should you have any questions please contact our Finance Manager, Janine Witherow on 9208 2712 or email finance@stcolsbays.wa.edu.au.

We appreciate your co-operation in this matter.

ENROLMENTS 2024

• Enrolments for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten 2024 are filling quickly. Please note interviews take place later this term for 2024.
• Pre-Kindy 2024 – children born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.
• Kindergarten 2024 – children born between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.
• If you have younger children in these age brackets and have not submitted an application, please ensure this is completed at your earliest convenience.

In gratitude,

Gina Burns

Principal

School Counsellor News

School Counsellor days for 2023 are every Monday and Tuesday and every second Wednesday commencing week 2.

Nicole Leach
School Counsellor

P & F News

Welcome to all the new families and the existing ones, we hope you have settled into the new school year. Our first meeting will be Tuesday 21^st of February at 7pm in the Library. We are still looking for class reps so if you would like to be involved, please get in contact. Everyone is welcome to come along to any P&F meeting to listen to what is happening and share their views.

Our fundraising efforts this year are focused on the new playground that will be replacing the old equipment outside the year 4 classrooms. This is on track to be installed in the July school holidays.

Our first event for the year will be a ‘Welcome to the New School Year and Italian night’ on Friday 10^th of March. Italian night last year was a great success and this year we are going to have woodfired pizzas cooked on site as well as pasta, gelato and cannoli. More information will follow after our first meeting.

We will also be running a sausage sizzle at the swimming carnival for the students in Years 4-6 attending.

Entertainment Memberships

Online memberships are available again this year. Memberships can be purchased online.

https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/83589g

The next meeting is on Tuesday 21^st February at 7pm.

Any questions or queries, I can be contacted via email gtarmstrong@iinet.net.au

Tanya Armstrong

President P&F

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Together we’re making a difference

At Pharmacy 777, your support makes a difference to your school.
We understand how much your school means to you, that’s why at Pharmacy 777, we’re passionate about making a difference. Our Community Spirit Program makes giving back to your school easier. As a Community Spirit member, for every transaction you make at Pharmacy 777 Bayswater and Maylands, they will give part proceeds back to the school. This contribution accumulates over time and funds raised support causes at the heart of your school. We would encourage all school community members to visit Pharmacy 777 Bayswater and Maylands and join up.

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

Pastoral Care

Religious Education and Curriculum News

From our Year 6’s

We have learnt which ministry group we are in! In these groups, we had a lot of fun trying to put toothpaste back in a tube using toothpicks and learnt a valuable lesson: just as the toothpaste couldn’t all be placed back in the tube, our hurtful words and actions cannot be taken back. A friend may forgive, but they will seldom forget. We must be kind always. We also worked in our Ministry groups to discuss how we can lead by example and live by the Mercy Values.

From our Year 6’s

Identity Shields:

In Health, we have been designing shields that reflect our uniqueness and make us the special people that we are.  We incorporated Art and used line, shape and colour to create these magnigicent shields.

Community Notices

St Columba’s Dolphins (Years 4 -6 only)

With Ingrid Iaschi leaving St Cols last year we need some new parents to step up so that this group can keep running. This is a group that does some swimming training at Bayswater Waves Friday mornings before school to prepare for the swimming carnival. Swimmers must have passed at least stage 6 and be able to swim 25m of each stroke to participate. It is NOT swimming lessons.

Basically we need 4 coaches to run lanes, using the training plans provided, someone to purchase and deliver the breakfast items, someone to prepare a booking sheet and book the lanes at Bayswater Waves and then parent volunteers to prepare, serve and clean up after breakfast. Many hands make light work, so please volunteer if you are able to. Carpooling from Bayswater Waves can be organised so parents can come to school to help with breakfast.

We need enough parent to come forward by Monday 13^th February to get the group running for Friday 17^th. Please get in contact with our wonderful PE teacher Mr Banks if you are able to help.

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The Bayswater City Saints Netball Club is getting ready for Winter Season 2023, and we are currently accepting registrations for Net Set Go until Sunday 12 February.  This program is structured as follows:

• Net Set Go – SET Division: Players turning 7 & 8 in 2023
• Net Set Go – GO Division: Players turning 9 & 10 in 2023

Players in older age groups are also welcome to complete an EOI on our website (www.bayswatercitysaintsnetball.club) and we will do our best to place you in a team.

We would love to have students from Saint Columbas come and join us. If you wish to register for NSG, please use this link (https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/register/a4610e) or if you have questions you can send us an email through our website.

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Classifieds