Dear Community of St Columba’s,
Parent Teacher Interview Day
As we look ahead to Parent – Teacher Interview Day, I want to acknowledge the importance of this time in strengthening the partnership between home and school. These conversations are a valuable opportunity for teachers and families to connect meaningfully about each child’s progress, strengths, and areas for growth. By setting aside a dedicated interview day, we are able to meet with all families promptly and meaningfully, rather than spreading appointments across the last few weeks of term. This helps ensure everyone receives timely feedback and support.
Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you. They have spent considerable time preparing to share insights into your child’s learning, wellbeing, and engagement across the term. Your presence and involvement send a powerful message to your children that their education matters and that we are working together to support them.
Thank you in advance for making the time to attend your interview. Interviews can be in person or via phone call or TEAMS. The commitment you show to your child’s learning plays a significant role in their confidence and success.
Catholic School Advisory Council Update
We are pleased to announce that the CSAC positions for 2026 have now been finalised. We warmly welcome John Coniglio and Rebecca Laffrey, who have been coopted to the Council until the next Annual Community Meeting (ACM).
Our CSAC for 2026
Chairperson: Drew Carruthers
Secretary: Claire Sardelich
Treasurer: John Coniglio
General Members: Sascha Harris, Liz Cavalli, Rebecca Laffrey
P&F Representative to the CSAC: Bea Humphreys
We thank John and Rebecca for their willingness to serve our school community and contribute their time, expertise, and commitment to supporting the ongoing strategic direction of St Columba’s School.
We look forward to a productive and collaborative year ahead.
Upcoming Events
- 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)
- Thursday 19 March: Celebrating Harmony Day and Neurodiversity Week
- Friday 20 March: Ride to School Day
- Friday 20 March: NAPLAN Catch Up Test Day 1
- Monday 23 March: NAPLAN Catch up Final Test Day
In gratitude
Gina Burns
Principal
Assistant Principal's Updates
IEPS FOR SEMESTER ONE 2026
Thank you to those parents who have promptly signed and returned 2026 Semester One IEPs. As these make their way home over the next week, please sign and return to either the school office or classroom teacher.
Once these have been returned, they will be uploaded and a digital copy emailed home to families.
If you have any questions at all about IEPs, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Mrs Leesa Vinciullo
APRE and Inclusive Education Coordinator
P & F News
Year 4-6 Swimming Carnival – LUNCH orders
What: Lunch orders for swimming carnival at Beatty Park
When: Wednesday 18 March
Who: Year 4-6 students
How: Students can place a lunch order through the usual lunch order system via the school website / Lunch Box Hub (Locavora).
https://school-lunch.lunchboxhub.com.au/
These will be delivered direct to Beatty Park.
Please note:
The lunch break window on the day is quite tight so aim to order an ‘easy to eat’ option.
Get lunch orders in as soon as possible (avoid leaving it to the morning of) as late orders will not be accommodated.
It is impossible to ‘add’ late orders as it is an external service providing the food.
Helpers needed !!
Parent volunteers will be needed to help sort and distribute lunch orders on the day. If you think you can help, please get in touch with your class rep, P&F exec, school office. Many hands = light work.
Previous placed orders for the Terry Tyzack carnival were processed last week and will appear in your accounts soon.
WINE FUND RAISER | Support Our School with Hay Shed Hill Wines!
We’re thrilled to continue our ongoing partnership with Hay Shed Hill Wines, a 5-star winery from Margaret River! For every dozen bottles sold, they’ll donate $30 to our P&F, directly benefiting our school!
How You Can Help:
Purchase Wine: Enjoy delicious wines while supporting our school! Place your order by 18 March using the form attached to this newsletter.
Share the Love: Tell your family and friends – more sales = more funds raised!
Important Dates:
Orders Close: 18 March
Pick up: ~ 26 March TBC
Every bottle counts toward funding classroom resources, library books, playground equipment, and much more!
For any questions, contact Nikki at nikki@audience360.com.au or 0450 678 650.
St Columba’s Wine Fundraiser form attached to this newsletter.
Ride To School Day
When: Friday 20th March
8:10 – 8:40am (See flyer attached to this newsletter)
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 – https://forms.office.com/r/BjGHNdE7xc
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 – https://forms.office.com/r/N62gQFLgDh
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week.
Fiadh Jennings PPG
Meabh Stafford PPG
Charles Warren PPG
Edward Zachar PPW
Kailesh Jeganathan 1W
Olive Richards 2W
Juliette Cahill 3G
Florence Crookes 4W
Brooklyn Hamilton 5G
Talisa Martino Da Fonseca 5G
Poppy Lillico 6G
Anh Hoang 6W
EASTER RAFFLE COMING SOON!
With Easter around the corner, the Pastoral Care team will be holding their annual Easter Raffle. Tickets will go on sale from Week 8, Thursday 26 March until Week 9, Wednesday 1 April, before school outside the library. Winners will be drawn and prizes delivered to winning families on Week 9, Wednesday 1 April. Tickets are 50c each. Cash only please.
Donations towards prizes are greatly appreciated and can be dropped to the front office from today or to the Raffle table from Thursday 26 March.
As always thank you for your support of the Pastoral Care Team!
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 1
Week 7 – 18 March
Week 8 – 25 March
| Kindy Green | Week 7 – Odette Bennett Week 8 – Florence & Ambrose Beros |
| Kindy White | Week 7 – Tom Burton Week 8 – Veronica Cortes Dopierala |
| PP Green | Week 7 – Chase Dawson Week 8 – Izak De Vries |
| PP White | Week 7 – Allegra Cameron Week 8 – Levon Caruana |
| Year 1 Green | Week 7 – Xavier Bosley Week 8 – George Capellini |
| Year 1 White | Week 7 – Matilda Arfuso Week 8 – Madsion Aung Than |
| Year 2 Green | Week 7 – Theodore Billington Week 8 – Beatrix Beros |
| Year 2 White | Week 7 – Remington Bennett Week 8 – Esme Crookes |
| Year 3 Green | Week 7 – Jake Bouteloup Week 8 – Juliette Cahill |
| Year 3 White | Week 7 – Asher Borich Week 8 – Flynn Hartus |
| Year 4 Green | Week 7 – Ava-Marie Bova Week 8 – Olive Caruana |
| Year 4 White | Week 7 – Aurora Cameron Week 8 – Florence Crookes |
| Year 5 Green | Week 7 – Mila Fernandez Week 8 – Savannah Aung Than |
| Year 5 White | Week 7 – Ethan Borich Week 8 – Alessandra Cahill |
| Year 6 Green | Week 7 – Leo Cameron Week 8 – Savannah Ceric |
| Year 6 White | Week 7 – Teodor Dimitrijevic Week 8 – Mia Fernandez |
Class News
From our Year 3 Classes
Peninsula Farm Excursion
On a hot Thursday in March the Year Three classes went on an excursion to Peninsula Farm to learn about the past as part of our history unit in HASS.
We went on a bus to the farm and the first thing we did was play Yay WA! (a version of bingo). Then we went on a tour of the Hardy family house where we learned a lot. We saw some pots and pans in the fireplace that was in the kitchen. There was no bathroom, just a pot in the bedroom and it was the kids’ job every morning to clean it. They also used a feather and ink to write instead of a pencil.
After our tour of the house we played some old-fashioned games. We played hopscotch and over and under with a jellyfish (not a real one). We also played the sponge game where you had to throw sponges into hoops.
After lunch we did some sewing. We could choose a turtle, swan or poppy. First, we drew around the outline and then we sewed over this. Some people finished their sewing and they drew a coat of arms.
At 2.00 we got back on the bus and went back to school. We had a fun day and learnt a lot.
Community Notices
