Dear Community of St Columba’s,
As a school community grounded in hope, compassion, and faith, we continue to hold the peoples of the Middle East in our prayers. The ongoing conflict has brought immense suffering to families, children, and communities, and our hearts remain with all who long for safety, dignity, and peace.
In moments such as these, we are reminded of Pope Leo’s call to prayer, an invitation to lift our voices together, entrusting the world to God’s mercy and seeking unity where there is division. Inspired by this call, we pray for wisdom for leaders, protection for the vulnerable, and healing for those carrying loss and fear.
May our collective prayers strengthen our resolve to be peacemakers in our own relationships, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. Let us continue to model for our children what it means to be people of hope, grounded in compassion, guided by justice, and committed to peace.
We invite all families to join us in keeping the Middle East in your thoughts and prayers this week, with a simple prayer you can use at home:
Loving God,
We pray for peace in the Middle East.
Protect all families who are frightened or in danger.
Comfort those who are grieving, and guide leaders to choose the path of peace.
Fill our hearts with compassion, and help us to be instruments of your love.
Amen.
NAPLAN 2026
Over the coming weeks, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will participate in the annual NAPLAN assessments. NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is Australia’s nationwide measure of key literacy and numeracy skills, completed by students each year in March. It assesses four areas: Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation), and Numeracy.
Our testing schedule has been sent to parents and is included in the upcoming events below. Most tests are completed online using an adaptive format, which adjusts question difficulty based on student responses to provide a more precise picture of their learning. Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing component on paper, whilst Year 5 students complete this component online.
NAPLAN does not replace the valuable ongoing assessments teachers conduct in classrooms. Instead, it provides:
- A snapshot of your child’s progress against national proficiency standards.
- Insight into strengths and areas where more support or consolidation may be helpful.
- Information that schools use to review the effectiveness of their teaching programs and target support where needed.
When viewed as one piece of a larger learning picture, NAPLAN can help families and schools work together to ensure every child is progressing with confidence.
How you can support your child:
The most helpful approach for families is to keep NAPLAN low stress and supportive. Research and expert guides suggest the following:
Before Test Week
- Maintain regular routines, particularly sleep and healthy meals.
- Encourage gentle practice through everyday skills – reading together, discussing stories, practising mental maths, and writing for fun.
- Remind your child that NAPLAN is simply a way to show what they know, not something to worry about.
During the Assessment Period
- Ensure your child arrives at school on time and feels calm and settled.
- Offer reassurance. The test adapts to their level, and it is normal and okay for some questions to feel challenging.
After Results Are Released
- Celebrate effort and progress.
- Use the results as a conversation starter – What are they proud of? What goals might they set next?
- Speak with your child’s teacher if you would like help interpreting the report or identifying next steps in learning.
Upcoming Events
- Thursday 5 March: Year 3 Excursion to Peninsula Farm
- Friday 6 March: Individual Education Plans (IEPs), please return your signed copy to the school (if applicable to your child).
- Wednesday 11 March: NAPLAN Writing (Years 3 & 5)
- Thursday 12 March: NAPLAN Reading Assessment (Years 3 & 5)
- Friday 13 March: NAPLAN Conventions of Language Assessment (Years 3 & 5)
- Monday 16 March: PUPIL FREE DAY – Parent Teacher Interview Day
- Tuesday 17 March: NAPLAN Numeracy Assessment (Years 3 & 5)
- Wednesday 18 March: Swimming Carnival (Years 4-6)
Wishing you every blessing for the week ahead.
In gratitude
Gina Burns
Principal
Assistant Principal's Updates
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE, IT’S TIME TO ENROL!
Every year Dental Health Services (DHS) offers parents and carers the chance to register their kids for free dental care at the School Dental Service (SDS). The offer is open to every student from the year they turn 5 until their 17th birthday and includes check-ups, fillings, and simple extractions.
Your child’s form was sent home last week. Frequently Asked Questions, and reply-paid envelope from DHS. Just fill in the enrolment form, pop it in the reply-paid envelope, and put it in your nearest post box.
Once we receive your form at DHS our team will register your child and arrange for you to receive an appointment in the mail.
If you would like further information on DHS services and the SDS please visit our website: www.dental.wa.gov.au
P & F News
It was amazing to see such a great turnout at last night’s P&F meeting. Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed. We’re looking forward to collaborating throughout the year to bring these ideas to life and make 2026 another great year for our students.
Have an idea to enhance learning or wellbeing at St Columba’s? We’d love to hear it! Share your suggestion via our Community Wish List Request Form by 20 March to help shape our 2026 P&F fundraising priorities.
St Columba’s Primary School – Community Wish List 2026 – Fill out form
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 – Fill out form
Introducing our Exec team and class reps:
P&F Exec:
Chair: Annie Johnson (children in K & y2)
Deputy Chair: Bridie Stazzonelli (children in y2 & y4)
Treasurer: Justine Raynor (children in y3 & y5)
Secretary: Steph Smith (child in PP) & Kally Rintoul (child in PP)
Class reps:
PKW – Pamela Verity & Patrick ; PKG – Taryn & Jessica
KW – Pamela ; KG – Sasha & Britt
PPW – Jess ; PPG – Marina
1W – Emma ; 1G – Bea
2W – Nikki (Annie) ; 2G – Annalise and Noelia
3W – Amieka & Renee ; 3G – Skyle & Kimberley
4W – Renee ; 4G – Loraine (Bridie)
5W – Nikki & Justine ; 5G – Maree & Zera
6W – Tammy; 6G – Bec & Bec
Swimming Carnival:
Refunds for the Terry Tyzack orders have now been processed. Thank you very much for your patience while this was being finalised.
Dates for your diary
We’d love to see you at our next meeting:
Term 2, Week 2 – Tuesday 28 April
Second Hand Uniforms Facebook Group
A new private facebook group has been setup exclusively to buying, selling and swapping second-hand school uniforms online. Please note, this group is separate from the main school community group and is purely for uniform-related posts. Search ‘St Columba’s Bayswater | Second Hand Uniforms’ and join now heading into uniform-selling-season!
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week.
William Giblett 1W
Theodore Billington 2G
Kieran Vernon 2G
Oscar Harstrom 3G
Holly McMenamin 3W
Ezra Ta 3W
Monica Forster 4G
Amelia Booth 5W
Oaklyn Payne 5W
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 1
Week 6 – 11 March
Week 7 – 18 March
| Kindy Green | Week 6 – Eva Batra Week 7 – Odette Bennett |
| Kindy White | Week 6 – Henry Brennan Week 7 – Tom Burton |
| PP Green | Week 6 – Jordan Coniglio Week 7 – Chase Dawson |
| PP White | Week 6 – Elias Byrde & Zariah Byrde Week 7 – Allegra Cameron |
| Year 1 Green | Week 6 – Luke Coniglio Week 7 – Xavier Bosley |
| Year 1 White | Week 6 – Mercy Alugbin Week 7 – Matilda Arfuso |
| Year 2 Green | Week 6 – Maxwell Bateman Week 7 – Theodore Billington |
| Year 2 White | Week 6 – Harper & Lyla Bradley Week 7 – Remington Bennett |
| Year 3 Green | Week 6 – Paige Booth Week 7 – Jake Bouteloup |
| Year 3 White | Week 6 – Darcy Blake Week 7 – Asher Borich |
| Year 4 Green | Week 6 – Elliott Bonnett Week 7 – Ava-Marie Bova |
| Year 4 White | Week 6 – Chance Bateman Week 7 – Aurora Cameron |
| Year 5 Green | Week 6 – Arden Bezich Week 7 – Mila Fernandez |
| Year 5 White | Week 6 – Amelia Booth Week 7 – Ethan Borich |
| Year 6 Green | Week 6 – Thomas Armstrong Week 7 – Leo Cameron |
| Year 6 White | Week 6 – Simeon Alugbin Week 7 – Teodor Dimitrijevic |
Award Winners
MERIT CERTIFICATES – Term 1, Week 5
Congratulations to all the recipients of this week’s Merit Certificates:
PP Green – Izak De Vries, Leroy Etheridge, Elise Lee, Isla Quispe,
PP White – Levon Caruana, Blake Cruthers, Ella Rich, Orla Tierney
1 Green – George Capellini, Lewis Christie, Margaret Lee, Sylvie Hurley Swiderski
1 White – Madison Aung Than, Luca Lo Surdo, Violet Mulherin, Lucas Young
2 Green – Alexander de Courcier, Arden O’Reilly, Lily Sinfield, Kieran Vernon
2 White – Mia Etheridge, Austin Hoek, Nathaniel McShanag, Luke Molony
3 Green – Odin Dupont, Mason Meenan, Frankie Wilson, Violet Zachar
3 White – Bodhi Chipperfield, Molly Veale
4 Green – Olive Caruana, Max Dessauvagie, Harvey Kemmy, Samiya McShanag
4 White – Faye Gallagher, Felix Halls, Luca Isautier, Luciana Pulido Vargas
5 Green – Michael Congdon, Jenson Kootje, Alec Mather, Thea Setzinger
5 White – Ethan Borich, Charlotte de Courcier,
6 Green – Thomas Armstrong, Leo Cameron, Harriet Weaire
6 White – Rosie Juma, Henry Webb,
Class News
From our Year 4 Classes
Year 4 students are learning how to write clear and engaging book reviews using picture books. They will summarise the story, describe key characters, and share their own opinions about the text.
Community Notices
