Dear Community of St Columba’s,
Stations of the Cross
A reminder that our Year 6 students will lead the Stations of the Cross along with our School Choir for the Parish of St Columba’s this Friday 22 March at 7.00 pm. Students have been eagerly preparing and we invite you all to join us in this reflection. Students in both junior & senior Choirs are expected to attend. Students must be in full summer academic uniform and be in the church by 6.45pm.
Catholic School Improvement Plan
At the conclusion of 2023, our Catholic School Improvement Plan for 2024 was reviewed and updated. Our priorities continue in the following areas:
Catholic Identity
- Engaging families in Church Life;
- School values to be linked to the Gospel;
- Building our staff capacity to lead in a Christ Centred way.
Education
- To keep students engaged, and to support them to have an improved capacity for school achievement;
- Provide students with strategies to maintain healthy and respectful relationships.
Community
- Increasing the understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and all cultures in our school;
- Supporting parents in their role as first educators of their child;
- Consistent approach to communication across the school.
Stewardship
- Ongoing support procedures for students and staff;
- Using technology to accelerate learning.
At this week’s Catholic School Advisory Council and Parents and Friends Meetings, I shared some of our progress over the term towards these goals and will provide an update in next week’s Donegal.
Children playing before and after school
It is great to see all our parents engaged in parent teacher meetings both before and after school. A reminder that our Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) need the oval and lower playground before and after school and basketball court after school for students enrolled in the OSHC. We can incur financial and other penalties should other students be found accessing these areas.
You can assist us by asking your children to wait for your meeting to finish outside the classroom you are in.
Therapy during school hours
Thank you to all parents who have followed new CEWA procedures to request therapy on site during school hours. We have been inundated with requests and we are not able to accept any further requests. This is due to restrictions we have on spaces for our existing classes to engage in small group work with either their teacher or education assistant. We thank you also for your understanding.
Coming up next week:
Friday 22 March : Harmony Day (information in last week’s Donegal)
Wednesday 27 March : Swimming Carnival for Years 4-6 and Free Dress Day for students in K – Year 3.
Thursday 28 March : Stations of the Cross for the school commencing at 1.45 pm.
Thursday 28 March : Last day for students and staff
Friday 29 March : Good Friday
Last Call for Sausage Sizzle
A friendly reminder our Parents and Friends Sausage Sizzle Sub Committee need to finalise Sausage Sizzle orders by tomorrow Friday 22 March. Don’t miss out.
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Principal
P & F News
SWIMMING CARNIVAL FUNDRAISER
Years 4 – 6 Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 27th March 2024
🌭 Ordered your snags? 🌭
‘A reminder to complete your orders before 5pm this Friday for catering purposes’.
Great, now that lunchbox duty is off the to do list…. 😝Why not spare a small amount of your time to help out poolside on the day…The bbq is right by the pool meaning you’re able to run off if need be to watch your child compete in their race!Many hands make light work after all – if you can assist in any way on the day please reach out. Any help is greatly appreciated 😊Volunteer sign up sheet here👇🏼
THANK YOU
Our School P&F wishes to thank the local Bayswater IGA X-press for their generosity towards the upcoming Swimming Carnival sausage sizzle fundraiser. Their support has been a key part of fundraising at the event that we are truly grateful for to kick off 2024! We encourage families within the community to shop locally at the fresh, friendly and fabulous Bayswater IGA X-press!
FUNDRAISERS AHEAD
FREE DRESS DAY FUNDRAISER
Wednesday 27th March | Gold Coin donation
Running alongside the upper school Swimming Carnival day, the lower school is ruling the school in free dress to raise funds for School community events!
CALL FOR AGENDA ITEMS
We encourage all parents within our community to be actively involved in the St Columba’s P&F. Our team is looking forward to hearing your new ideas or feedback on present and future events that support our School. Please communicate with your Class Representatives if you wish for these to be discussed at a P&F meeting.
NEXT MEETING
The next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 May at 7.00pm in the School Library. We hope to see as many new faces as possible.
Library News
The library is open every morning before school:
PreKindy & Kindy : 8:15am – 8:45am
(accompanied by Parent/Carers)
The library is open every morning before school:
PreKindy & Kindy : 8:15am – 8:45am
(accompanied by Parent/Carers)
The library is a calming and quiet place, making it the perfect spot for students to have a smooth and calming transition in the morning.
Students may also like to return and borrow books before school.
Looking forward to seeing you the library.
Homework/Library Bag
Just a reminder that students require the school green
‘Homework and Library Bag’ in order to borrow from the Library.
Many students will already have the green school
‘’Homework and Library Bag’ from previous years.
‘Homework and Library Bags’ can be purchased
from the Uniform Shop.
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:
Ivaan Kaushal KG
Norah Cregan 1G
Zoe Chin 1W
Harvey Kemmy 2G
Annabelle Cornish 2G
Luciana Pulido Vargas 2W
Alessia Scagnetti 2W
Henry Garrett 5G
Jack Wilson 5G
Aaliyah Brandis 5W
Zoe Alugbin 5W
Edmond Cavalli 6G
Zoe Juszkiewicz 6G
Grayson Harris 6W
EASTER RAFFLE
With Easter around the corner, the Pastoral Care team will be holding their annual Easter Raffle. Tickets will go on sale from Monday 19 March before school outside the library. Winners will be drawn and prizes delivered to winning families on Wednesday 27 March. Tickets are 50c each or three for $1. Cash only please.
Donations towards prizes are greatly appreciated and can be dropped to the basket in the library or to the front office from today.
As always thank you for your support of the Pastoral Care Team!
PASTORAL CARE WEEKLY RAFFLE
Tickets are 3 for $1 (maximum of 3 tickets per child).
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.
Thank you greatly from the Pastoral Care Team!
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 1
Week 9 – NO RAFFLE
Religious Education and Curriculum News
FROM OUR YEAR 4 CLASSES:
In Religion we are learning about the season of Lent. The students have been reflecting on their Lenten promises. We have discussed that Lent is about showing love to others and how sometimes those who are responsible for caring for people have to show their love by saying ‘no’. People who love others say ‘no’ whenever they believe what others want would not be good for them. We have brainstormed some things that parents or carers say ‘no’ to in order to keep them safe, healthy and happy.
FROM OUR YEAR 3 CLASSES:
Year 3G and 3W are learning about 2D shapes and we are doing cool drawings and activities.
We know a lot about 2D shapes. Regular shapes are shapes with all sides the same length. Irregular shapes are shapes where not all of the sides are the same length and the angles are different sizes. Parallel lines are straight lines that are the same distance apart and will never cross. A pentagon is a shape with five edges and can be regular or irregular. Other 2D shapes are hexagons, heptagons, octagons, nonagons, decagons and dodecagons. What other shapes do you know?
By: Jack and Patrick
Artwork by: Parker, Marcus, Juliana and Mila
Community Notices
2024 SACRAMENTS
Thank you to those who have expressed interest in joining us for our first Community Baptism this year. With it being a short term, and Easter fast approaching, Father has requested we postpone it until after Easter.
We will hold a Baptism Information Night on Thursday 18 April, for parents and the child/ren to be Baptised. This will be held in the Church at 6pm and go for approximately half an hour.
Then we will hold our Community Baptism on Sunday 5 May at 10.45am, immediately following the 9.30am Mass.
I hope that these new dates still work for everyone – and perhaps mean others will have a chance to join us! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Leesa Vinciullo
Assistant Principal
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COLUMBA RUNNERS 2024
Registrations now open!
Calling all returning and new members, even if you can only make one of the sessions a week. Sessions are held at Frank Drago oval 3.15-4.15pm on Mondays and Wednesdays for terms 2 and 3. Our first session will be Monday 15th of April.
Cost is $30 per child, parents can join free! Prizes awarded based on total kilometers achieved over both terms, including those brave enough parents! Please complete the online registration.
This club is run by volunteers. Any parents who are able to attend and assist with marking laps and encouraging everyone, we would love to have you. Those attending OSHC are also considered, please chat to the lovely Jess.
If your child is in Yr 2 and below, they must be accompanied by a parent or older sibling. It is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver to ensure the safety of the students between school and Frank Drago.
If your child is Year 1 and under, please indicate on the registration form who is going to be the supervising sibling or adult.
Please use the link below to register online.
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Aranmore Catholic College is pleased to announce applications for 2025 scholarships are now open.
Our scholarships are designed to recognise and support students who exhibit dedication to academic excellence, excellence in sports or music, leadership potential, and a commitment to serving their community. Whether you excel in academics, STEM, Rugby, Netball, music, or community service, there is a scholarship opportunity available for you.
Scholarships at Aranmore not only provide financial assistance but also offer unique opportunities for personal and academic growth under the guidance and care of highly qualified specialist teachers. Don’t miss this chance to pursue your educational dreams and make a positive impact on our community.
For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit our website www.aranmore.wa.edu.au
Classifieds
School Counsellor News
Nicole Leach
School Counsellor