Principal's Post

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome to this week’s Donegal. Notices for this week are below:

ST PATRICK’S DAY

St Patrick’s Day always has special significance at St Columba’s School. The reason is St Columba is an Irish Saint. St Columba was born in Donegal, the name of our newsletter. For our staff prayer this morning, we reflected on St Columba and the place of Donegal. Here is a link to a song we listened to that brought a gentleness to the day and realising the importance of a sense of home. We all feel a sense of home here at St Columba’s School.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z9WM0WwDt4

HARMONY DAY

This week we celebrate Harmony Week. It is something our St Columba kids do every day, but as with everything, we are not perfect at it, so a week like this serves as a reminder about being good to others and caring for them. Harmony Week also coincides with National Day Against Bullying this Friday 19 March. We are always working with our kids to help them through times that are a little tough in relationships. It is through conversations and actions that rebuild these relationships. With everything it is about how we take small actions for being better people that makes a lasting difference in our lives.

On Friday 19 March, students are invited to wear their sports uniform and add something orange to their uniform. For example, children can wear orange socks, an orange t-shirt or an orange scrunchie.

Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Wearing orange during Harmony Week allows people to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia.

Please note that it is free for children to participate in the day, and that the sport uniform should still be worn. It is not a free dress day.

ASSEMBLIES

• This Friday 19 March.
• Year 5 Assembly to be presented.
• Parents and grandparents of Year 5 students and Merit Award winners may attend the assembly.
• 8.45am start.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Congratulations to all our students for their efforts during the Year 4 to Year 6 carnival. Just outstanding kids who show bravery in their way of going about things. They support and encourage each other at the highest of levels. It is just how our St Col’s Kids are wired. They just get it. They lead us in so many ways by their actions. Special thanks to Jo McCluskey for organising the carnival, to all our parent helpers and staff for their support, and to our remarkable students.

Congratulations to McAuley, our 2021 Faction Swimming Champions, and to Russell Faction, who won the Spirit of Columba Award for their efficiency and team spirit on the day. Listed further on in the newsletter are our Champion Girls and Boys and Runner-Ups in each year level. Such quality kids who show such humility.

Our Pre-Primary to Year 6 end of Term 1 Parent Teacher Interviews will commence from Monday 22 March through to the end of Term 1. Meetings at the end of this term are before and after school or during selected times during the day. Please remember teachers continue to have full teaching days during these weeks of interviews. Time allocations must be kept to these times and interviews are for 10-15 minutes in duration. Please do not be offended if teachers have to end meetings to remain on schedule. This is then fair to all parents. Teachers will provide parents with a link to book meeting times. This on-line booking link will be out early next week. At these meetings, teachers will discuss the Interim Report. Many teachers and parents have already met to discuss students, therefore, some teachers and parents will not be required to meet again for the Interim Report. Your child’s teacher will manage this with you in the coming weeks. Kindergarten do not hold interim interviews. We appreciate there is already much communication happening between teachers and parents regarding our students in our Kindergarten.

AFTER SCHOOL GROUPS – Music Rocks and Redhage Basketball:

When collecting your children from these two after school programs, please use the gate near the church on Roberts Street. Please refrain from buzzing at the main administration gate. Your support is appreciated.

Please note, we have advertised another after school program called Brikz4Kids robotics and engineering in this week’s newsletter. Flyer is attached with the more details.

Here is the Enrolment Page for BRICKS 4 KIDZ Term 2 After School Classes:

https://www.bricks4kidz.com.au/perth-midland/program-events/after-school-programs-lego-bricks/

The program will run at St Columba’s School, here in Bayswater every MONDAY starting 3 May 2021 to 28 Jun 2021 (except 7 Jun 2021) from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Children can come in to the after school class from 3:15 pm. These sessions will be held in the church hall. Entrance to the hall is via the staff car park.

P & F News

Wine Drive

The P&F are running a wine drive as part of our fundraising initiative.

Order forms are attached to this newsletter

If this is something that interests you, please email order forms to gtarmstrong@iinet.net.au by 28 March at the latest. Please feel free to share the order form with friends and family.

The wines on offer are current release, premium Margaret River Wines by Hay Shed Hill and are offered at a discounted rate, plus a donation of $40 per dozen sold will be given to our school.

Wines will be delivered to the school  by the  31 March for distribution. 🍷🥂

Pharmacy 777 Community Spirit Program

When making purchases at Pharmacy 777 in Bayswater and Maylands not only are you supporting local business, but you are also helping the school. Pharmacy 777 donates a portion of the profits from items sold in store for the next 6 months as part of the Community Spirit Program.

We look forward to working with the School community over the coming year.

P&F Executive.

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.

Pastoral Care

Swimming Carnival Results

1st Place – McAuley 1088pts

2nd Place – Russell 766pts

3rd Place – Pascal 707pts

4th Place – Columbanus 604pts

Community Notices

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These April school holidays METRONET will have a full-scale model on display at Yagan Square, giving people an early opportunity to see inside Perth’s new C-Series trains.

METRONET would like to invite families to attend the free family-friendly event from Saturday 3 April to Sunday 18 April between 9am and 5pm.

Visitors can walk through the carriage and along the railcar, there is a 1:50 scale model on display, and kids can get involved with a scavenger hunt.

Thursday mornings between 9am-10am are reserved for Quiet Hour, where the display will be low sensory to cater for those who prefer to experience the train in this environment.

Walk-ins will be welcome and families wanting to skip the queue will be able to register for free VIP tickets at www.metronet.wa.gov.au/all-aboard.

As the biggest railcar order in the state’s history, the METRONET Railcar Program will deliver 246 new C-series railcars to Perth’s rail network.

The trains will service an increased demand from METRONET projects and replace the A-series trains that currently operate on the Armadale/Thornlie, Fremantle and Midland lines.

Find out more about the Railcar Program and METRONET at www.metronet.wa.gov.au.

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Classifieds