Principal's Post

Dear Community of St Columba’s,

Welcome back to the second half of the school year. I trust all families enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing break, and that our students have returned refreshed and ready for an exciting term ahead. 

It is remarkable how much difference just one extra week in a term can make! The holiday break certainly seemed to arrive at the perfect time, providing everyone with an opportunity to recharge. 

At the end of last term, I had the pleasure of spending time with our Year 6 students and staff at camp. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this experience with such a fantastic group of young people. Our Year 6 students represented the school exceptionally well, embracing every activity with enthusiasm, resilience and a positive attitude. What impressed me most was the way they encouraged one another to step outside their comfort zones and try their very best. 

The students also demonstrated responsibility and teamwork when it came to tidying up, packing away and looking after their camp environment. I am sure they returned home feeling both tired and accomplished after a busy and rewarding few days. 

Thank you to our parents and families for their support in preparing students for camp and helping to make the experience such a success. 

A special thank you to all staff who attended camp and generously gave their time to ensure the students had a memorable experience – Jenny McLeod, Jennifer Scott, Jacob O’Reilly, Niall Kehoe, Nicole Leach, Ellie Panebianco, Adriana Xavier and Mikayla Giglia. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Leesa Vinciullo for looking after the school during my absence. 

Maya’s Bake Sale for Telethon 

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Year 6 student, Maya and her family for organising and running a Telethon Bake Sale in support of the many children and families assisted through Telethon. Their initiative, generosity and commitment to helping others are to be commended. Thank you also to our wonderful school community for supporting the bake sale so enthusiastically and contributing to the funds that Maya will proudly donate to Telethon. Together, these funds help answer the call of the Premier’s Telethon Challenge and will make a positive difference in the lives of children across Western Australia. We are incredibly proud of Maya for demonstrating such outstanding leadership, compassion and community spirit. 

Parent and Carer Code of Conduct 

We are committed to building a school community where every child can flourish.  The new Parent and Carer Code of Conduct articulates our shared expectations for respectful engagement, safety and support.  By working together in partnership, families and staff help create a welcoming environment where all students are valued and empowered to succeed. Please refer to SEESAW for more information. 

International Day of Friendship 

We are excited to be hosting our first annual International Day of Friendship with Friendology on Thursday 30th July! 

This year’s theme is Friendships are the heart of wellbeing! 

In the morning, Tyson Greenwood (Director of URSTRONG Schools) is looking forward to empowering your students with friendship skills + teaching them our unique “language of friendship” in a fun, online session. Classes will be scheduled throughout the morning to join this online session and class activities will follow on in the day. Special thanks to Kiera More for co-ordinating this experience for our students.   

Congratulations 

Congratulations to our Physical Education Specialist, Dylan Banks, who made the most of the school holidays by taking an important step in his personal journey. Following recent knee surgery, he managed to get down on one knee to ask the big question, and we are delighted to hear that his partner said yes! We extend our congratulations to Dylan and his fiancée on their engagement and wish them both every happiness as they begin this exciting new chapter together.  

Upcoming events:

• Monday 27 July : Evacuation Practice 

• Tuesday 28 July: Interschool Cross Country 

• Tuesday 28 July: PP Incursion: Play in the Past and Connecting to Country 

• Tuesday 28 July: P&F Meeting at 6.30 pm in the Library 

• Wednesday 29 July: OSHC Educator’s Day 

• Wednesday 29 July: Religious Education Assessment (REA) practice for Year 3 & Year 5 students only. 

• Thursday 30 July: Religious Education Assessment (REA) practice for Year 3 & Year 5 students only. 

• Thursday 30 July: URSTRONG International Day of Friendship

I look forward to another productive and rewarding semester as we continue to work together to support the learning and wellbeing of all our students. 

In gratitude, 
Gina Burns

UNIFORM SHOP MOVING TO INGLEWOOD

Assistant Principal's Updates

Evacuation Drill Week 2

During week 2 the school will be completing an evacuation drill. We regularly practise evacuation procedures to ensure all students know how to respond safely and calmly in the event of an emergency. Parents can play an important role in helping children feel confident and prepared.

You can support your child by:

• Talking positively about evacuation drills. Explain that these practices are designed to keep everyone safe, just like practising fire drills at home or wearing a seatbelt in the car.
• Encouraging them to listen carefully to their teachers. Remind your child that teachers and staff are trained to guide students during an emergency.
• Discussing the importance of staying calm. Let your child know that taking deep breaths, walking quietly, and following instructions helps everyone stay safe.
• Answering questions honestly and simply. If your child has concerns, reassure them that evacuation procedures are practised so that everyone knows what to do if an emergency ever occurs.

Our goal is for every child to feel safe, informed, and confident. By working together, families and schools can help students understand that evacuation procedures are a normal and important part of keeping our community safe.

IEPS FOR SEMESTER TWO 2026

IEPS will be going home in the next week.  Please ensure to check them then sign them and return either to the classroom teacher or to the front office.

If you have any questions at all about IEPs, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Mrs Leesa Vinciullo

APRE and Inclusive Education Coordinator

Leesa.Vinciullo@cewa.edu.au

P & F News

Welcome Back!

Welcoming everyone back for Term 3. Lovely seeing lots of excitement among the children on their return from the holidays. We look forward to a busy term!

Mid Year Raffle
Tickets for our Mid-Year Raffle go on sale this Monday, 27th July, and will be available until Tuesday, 4th August. Please see the attached poster in this newsletter for prize details, and keep an eye out for volunteers selling tickets before school next week!

Next P&F Meeting

Our next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday, 28 July at 6:30pm in the Library. We would love to see both familiar and new faces there as we continue planning upcoming activities and fundraising initiatives for our school community.

Just One Thing

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:

Interest Survey

Thanks,

The P&F team

Library News

2026 CBCA        

Book Week   

Symphony of Stories 

Dates: 22 – 28 August 2026

Dress Up Day (Kindy-Year 6)   

Friday 28 August 2026

All students Kindy to Year 6 are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite book character.  The purpose of this event is to celebrate Book Week; therefore the focus is on participation rather than the costume. 

Why not recycle a costume or put together something from home!

Please keep it simple and stress free.

Please note: Costumes are not restricted to the theme.   

Rita Cuthbert – Library

(Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday)

Pastoral Care

Community Notices