Dear St Columba’s Community,
We had some very excited Year 6 students last week when they received their Leaver’s Polo Shirts. The students designed these shirts late last year, under the guidance of their Year 5 Teachers, Matthew Hubbard and Amanda Xavier. All designs were presented to the Year 5 Teachers and myself. We had a very tough decision and chose aspects from almost 5 group designs to be put together in the final product.
A very common feature of all the designs was the inclusion of the Mercy Cross, ensuring the charism of our Mercy Heritage, inspired by their founder Catherine McCauley remains strong in our school. The principle of Catherine McCauley inspires us to be shining lamps, giving light to all around us and I am sure our entire group of Year 6 Leavers will continue to use their gifts and talents to nurture each other and all students in the school.
Congratulations to all students and their previous teachers for the collaborative effort to bring this to fruition.
2024 Tuition Statements
All families should have received their 2024 Tuition Fee Statement.
Every family is required to complete and submit a new Payment Option form each year. Please complete this and return via email to finance@stcolsbays.wa.edu.au or via the School Office.
Please note, without a payment plan in place, fees are due on 21 February 2024.
Families with existing direct debits, please email finance@stcolsbays.wa.edu.au to amend your direct debit payment amount to ensure that your tuition fees are paid in full by 21 November 2024.
If you have any queries regarding your fees or the payment schedule, please contact our Finance Officer, Janine on 9208 2712.
School Uniform (Pinafores)
I thank all our Junior year families who completed a survey last year regarding the School Pinafore. The results showed strong support for the original School Pinafore to return for the Winter School Uniform for girls in Years One to Three.
The pinafore will be available for purchase through JFE. To assist JFE with stock requirements, please complete the expression of interest form found HERE. Please note it is not an order but assisting JFE with sizes and quantities to make available.
In 2024 the Winter Skirt and Pinafore are both optional for girls in Years One to Three. Please note the below changes for the coming years.
2025: Pinafore compulsory for Year One Girls / optional for Years Two and Three
2026: Pinafore compulsory for Year One and Two Girls / optional for Year Three
2027: Pinafore compulsory for Years One to Three Girls
The grey pants continue to remain optional for girls to wear in winter.
The Pinafore will be available for purchase before Term 2 2024.
Before School Supervision
Only students enrolled in the Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) for Before School Care are permitted downstairs prior to 8.15 am.
If students need to be here before our supervision starts at 8.15 am, they are required to sit with their bags upstairs, outside of the library. Once the duty teacher arrives, they are able to move around freely.
Unauthorised students or adults downstairs could result in our Outside of School Hours Care being in breach of their licence and result in a fine. We really appreciate your co-operation on this.
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.
Please register your interest in attending by call the office on 9208 2707 or email admin@stcolsbays.wa.edu.au
Parent Teacher Information Evening
We look forward to seeing all families this evening for our Annual Parent Teacher Information Evening, commencing this evening at 6.00 pm in your child’s classroom. The second session commences at 6.35 pm.
Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten 2025
If you have a child who is eligible for enrolment into Pre-Kindy or Kindy in 2025 please complete and application form and submit as soon as possible. Enrolment interviews will commence in Week 4, Term 1. We wouldn’t want any of our younger siblings to miss out on a place for next year.
Ash Wednesday Mass
A Reminder that next week’s mass will begin promptly at 2.00pm to enable students to be finished at the normal time.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Library News
We have lots of books needing covering. If you can help by taking a small number of books home to cover, please advise the library. Your help is greatly appreciated by staff and students.
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:
James Blake KG
Brigid Murphy Grace KW
Margot Juniper PPW
Nicholas Hofmann 1G
Matilda Stahl 2W
Harry Fry 4G
Shaan Tah 4G
Alexander Koh 4W
Indi Whitbread 5G
Kathleen Vaccari 5W
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 |
Religious Education and Curriculum News
Welcome Back:
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