Hope you are all travelling okay during these uncertain times. I have a video link you can click on for my Post this week. It is in two parts, as a previous School Board member walked by when I was filming. Had to stop and say hello. Anyway, they are one-take videos, so hopefully not too cringe worthy to watch. A bit of fun. I mean I really enjoyed doing this one. Feel free not to watch the video as I have put things in point form below for you to read. Video 2 is pretty lengthy, just saying.
Before this, please note the following. We will get teachers to post a message on Seesaw also.
Protocols for Social Distancing as advised by the Prime Minister this morning:
Please note the following directives regarding before school drop-off, but also the entering of classrooms in the morning. We know you adore your kids and love doing puzzles, reading stories, settling them into their classrooms before school. We understand this, but as these are unprecedented times we are putting the following in place. Please do not be offended as this is what I have decided we need to do as a school. I also know you trust that I always have the kids, our staff and our families, best interests at the centre of my decisions. You are quality parents, so I know you get it.
- The Kiss and Drive on Roberts Street will be supervised by staff in the morning between 8.15 and 8.40 am. Please do not drop PP children in Kiss and Drive before 8.15 am. To alleviate the congestion in our Pre-Primary and Year 1 areas, feel free to drop your little guys off at Kiss and Drive as we will take care of them until 8.30 am when we will then walk them down to their classrooms. Some of our PPs that have siblings can remain with their siblings if they wish. This is an option for Pre-Primary parents if this helps you with the morning routines. Two members of leadership will be coordinating this.
- Staying in classrooms to read or do puzzles with your children between 8.30 and 8.40 am will cease from tomorrow onwards. We need to ensure social distancing measures are in place. As you can appreciate, there can be up to 70 people in a classroom during this time. We would ask parents to drop their children off to their classrooms and then leave instead of mingling inside the room. Please do not be offended if staff ask that you leave the classroom. This is not how we would normally operate, as we are the exact opposite to this, but these are times of change. I know you understand this.
If you have any concerns with these protocols, then please do not lay concerns with the staff, please direct these to me.
A few things to mention quickly that I talk about on the video links below:
These are the video links if you feel the need to watch my conversation with myself from this morning. Sort of okay. I will ask my cousins for some honest feedback. The last one to give me feedback does not even have kids here.
In brief
- Our St Columba’s community and the coronavirus – we have our protocols in place.
- Keep up to date with correspondences through the website under the NEWS section – we continue to roll as usual with all the precautions.
- The cancellation of assemblies and events, larger group meetings are part of these times of change. Including the protocols as mentioned above.
- We do ask that if you are unwell, or if your child is unwell, please do not come into school, even if it is to pick up another one of your children. If you are sick, please self-isolate. This ensures our community remains a safe environment for all our families and staff. You know we are in this together.
- What will happen if there is a school closure – This is still an unknown. There are many rumours about what may happen, but we simply continue to follow what we are instructed from government. Staff are meeting this afternoon, contact via email and Seesaw, the website. There are options. We will have a curriculum continue on-line in some form.
- You know if you need any support we are here for you, you know that right…email through admin or directly to me and we will be in contact. It is what St Columba’s people do. Pretty natural to be honest for you all to be there for others.
- Our families, our kids, our staff are a resilient lot. We know we have each other’s back. We look out for each other. That is core to who we are.
- What we stand for in 2020, JUSTICE – which is how are we making the world better for other people.
- You know the word I am living by UBUNTU – seeing this all the time. A way of life.
- While life is a bit messy at the moment and there is much uncertainty, it is such a blessing to have each other and have a place to belong. St Columba’s is like being home, it is family. A beautiful thing has been happening over the last week, amid all of this worry, so many parents have asked me how I am going. Not what I am doing, not what are all the action plans, but how I am going, like me, the person. Seriously, this is UNBUNTU at work, this is the St Columba spirit and the truth about who we are. No wonder I am the most blessed principal in the world. You know it. I have it so good!
- A quick thank you for bringing calm to our school, especially for our kids. Hence the two quotes. Embrace this wisdom.
Take care, look after yourself and all those you love. Together we can make an uncertain time a place of calm and support for others.
Thanks again for all the support and understanding.
Art
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
Please refer to ‘Parent Information/News’ section of the website for regular updates.
PASTORAL CARE EASTER RAFFLE
Please attachment flyer regarding this year’s Easter Raffle
P & F News
Swimming Carnival sausage sizzle
The swimming carnival sausage sizzle was hugely successful with a profit of $775.65. A big thank you to Ingrid Iaschi who was a massive help in co-ordinating this event. Not only did she help with the sausage sizzle but she also co-ordinated volunteers for the time keeping on the day. We really appreciate your help.!
Thanks also goes to Brody O’Neil, Nic Lange, Leston DeMello, Annalisa Fonseca, Natalie Campbell, Ariane Mazurak, Kirsty and Aaron Byatt, Gina Falzon and Katrina Mackinnon who helped with the BBQ, assembling the hot dogs and running them out to the children and spectators. These fundraising drives cannot run successfully without the support of our parents.
Disco
The school disco is currently scheduled for the 1st May, however given the current Covid-19 protocol it is likely to be cancelled or postponed.
Spring Twilight Fair
Save the date: Saturday 24th of October 2pm – 7pm.
More information coming soon!
Entertainment book
The Entertainment book is now available.
Please note that the Entertainment book will no longer be printing hardcopies and will only supply digital versions.
Please use the following link to make a purchase http://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/83589g
777 Pharmacy
Don’t forget to mention that you are from St Columba’s if you make a purchase at the 777 Pharmacies at Bayswater or Maylands. For every retail purchase made 777 Pharmacy will donate 10% back to our school!
Rachel Lange
P&F President
rachel@galleriapodiatry.com.au
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
To all students and staff who will be celebrating their birthday over the coming week and:
Poppy Lillico PPG
Anh Hoang PPG
Talisa Martino Da Fonseca KG
Brooklyn Hamilton KW
Estelle Pirone 1W
Esther Coates 4W
Joshua Castellano 5G
Maia Dean 6G
Class rosters will be posted outside classrooms this week as well as in the weekly Newsletter.
Raffle tickets are 20 cents each with a maximum of 3 tickets per child.
Each child will be rostered once a year to bring a prize to the value of $5.
Your continued support is greatly appreciated by our school community.
Pastoral Care Team.
Week 7 – 18 March
Week 8 – 25 March
Kindy Green | Week 7 Lachlan Stewart Week 8 Talisa Martino Da Fonseca |
Kindy White | Week 7 Megan Hutton Week 8 Harrison MacPherson |
PP Green | Week 7 Jonathon Truong Week 8 Mila Fernandez |
PP White | Week 7 Alexis Del Borrello Week 8 Alessandro Balla |
Year 1 Green | Week 7 Alfie Allison Week 8 Havarna Bova |
Year 1 White | Week 7 Estelle Pirone Week 8 Alessia Marrapodi |
Year 2 Green | Week 7 James Hodson Week 8 Grace Hartus |
Year 2 White | Week 7 Neve Gerick Week 8 Ty Fernandez |
Year 3 Green | Week 7 Eva Magill Week 8 Harvey Lindsay |
Year 3 White | Week 7 William North Week 8 Isla Felton |
Year 4 Green | Week 7 Jack Katich Week 8 Ava Fragomeni |
Year 4 White | Week 7 Max Kryachok Week 8 Zara Callo |
Year 5 Green | Week 7 Mikaela Bentley Week 8 Danny Duong |
Year 5 White | Week 7 Milan Dimitrijevic Week 8 Keira Nguyen |
Year 6 Green | Week 7 Lachlan Harris Week 8 Claudia Coates |
Year 6 White | Week 7 Tyson Lee Week 8 Annabelle Buckley |
Community Notices
Early in 2020, Mercedes College will commence interviewing Year 4 & Year 5 students who are due to start Year 7 in 2022 & 2023 respectively. If you are considering enrolling your daughter and have not yet requested a Prospectus, please contact Mrs Julie Lamb on 9323 1340 as soon as possible.
Enquiries are also welcome for places in Year 7 for 2020 and 2021. For more information please refer to the College website, www.mercedes.wa.edu.au.
TRINITY COLLEGE MUSICAL: THE MIKADO
Trinity College is proud to present ‘The Mikado’, a musical comedy written by Gilbert and Sullivan (arranged by David Spicer Productions, Essgee Entertainment) and is set in the fictitious town of Titipu, Japan. Nanki-Poo, the son of the Mikado (the Japanese emperor), has fled in disguise to avoid his arranged marriage to Katisha, to find his beloved, Yum-Yum. He soon discovers that Yum-Yum is already engaged to Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner and thus, a love triangle begins. As usual in Gilbert’s imaginative plots, the tangled web unravels, nothing is as it seems and everyone lives happily ever after! This musical is characterised by the clever wordplay, memorable tunes, and unforgettable characters. Tickets for the performances on the 7,8 and 9 of May are now on sale and can be purchased via this link: http://www.trybooking.com/BGSTC
TRINITY COLLEGE OPEN DAY – WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2020
Discover Trinity College at our Open Day on Wednesday, 13 May 2020 to learn more about the unique TC Spirit and the vast curricular and co-curricular opportunities that the College has to offer. Each of our College Open Day sessions will include an address from the Principal and Junior/Senior Head Prefects, student-led tours, light refreshments and a Q&A with key staff, teachers and the admissions team. We look forward to meeting you! Please note that your son is welcome to attend the Open Day. Further details can be found via www.trinity.wa.edu.au or you can register directly through https://www.trybooking.com/BILZB. You can also email registrar@trinity.wa.edu.au or call 9223 8120.
Classifieds