Dear Community of St Columba’s,
Last week, I had the opportunity to join our Year 1, Year 5 and Year 6 students for the URSTRONG Day of Friendship Online Workshops. The sessions were engaging, interactive and filled with laughter, while also providing many thoughtful moments where students listened carefully and connected with the messages being shared.
Our Year 1 students explored ways to approach friendship disagreements with the goal of “putting the fire out, not making it bigger.” They learnt about the power of the phrase “next time…”. Often, when students are working through friendship challenges, the issue has not been caused by unkind intentions. More commonly, a child may not have realised the impact of their actions or simply thought it would be okay. By listening to an explanation and responding with a statement such as, “Next time please ask before using my pencil,” students not only resolve the issue but also teach others how they would like to be treated. It is a simple yet powerful strategy for building understanding and strengthening friendships.
Another key message was Friendship Fact Number Two – Every Friendship is Different. What one friend finds funny or acceptable may be very different for another friend. A memorable and entertaining moment occurred when presenter Tyson asked the Year 6 students to stand if they thought it was funny when a bird unexpectedly chose them as its target! Around half the students stood up, while the other half remained seated. Tyson used this light-hearted example to demonstrate an important lesson: joking and laughing about an event with a friend who too finds it funny is unlikely to cause a problem but making the same jokes with someone who does not find it amusing could easily create a friendship “fire.”
This activity highlighted the importance of recognising that friendships are not all the same. Developing strong friendships involves understanding the personalities, feelings and preferences of others, and adapting our behaviour accordingly. By learning these skills, our students are becoming more empathetic, respectful and thoughtful friends.
Pre Kindy and Kindy 2028 Enrolments
We are excited to announce that enrolments for Pre-Kindy and Kindy 2028 are now open.
If your child was born between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, they are eligible to commence Kindy in 2028. As places are in high demand, we encourage families to submit applications as early as possible.
Younger sibling details are not automatically transferred through our administration system. To ensure your child is considered for enrolment, please complete an application form and return it to the school office. We would hate for any current family to miss the opportunity to secure a place for their younger child, so please submit your application at your earliest convenience.
For further information or to obtain an application form, please contact the school office, 9208 2700
Are you leaving?
While we are always sad to farewell families from our St Columba’s community, we understand that circumstances and family plans can change.
To assist us with planning for the 2027 school year, we kindly ask that you notify the school by 4 September 2026 if your enrolment arrangements will be changing and your child will not be returning in 2027.
Please advise us by emailing admin@stcolsbays.wa.edu.au or contacting the office on 9208 2700.
Thank you for your assistance and support, which helps us plan effectively for the year ahead.
Upcoming Events:
- Thursday 6 August: Year 6 Confirmation Retreat to Schoenstatt Shrine
- Friday 7 August: Census Day – please ensure you always contact the school if your child will be absent on the day and all absences must be followed up in writing.
- Friday 14 August: 6W Confirmation Ceremony @ 6.30 pm
- Sunday 16 August: 6G Confirmation Ceremony @ 11.00 am
Kiss and Drive Thank You
Thank you to the many families who are choosing to arrive a little later for afternoon collection. The difference in the Kiss and Drive area after 3.10 pm is remarkable, creating a calmer, safer and more efficient experience for students, families and staff.
We are also hearing from more and more families who have made the change and are seeing the benefits for themselves. With less congestion and shorter waiting times, the collection process becomes much smoother for everyone.
As staff continue to supervise students until 3.20 pm, we encourage families, where possible, to consider collecting their children a little later. Spreading collections across this ten-minute period significantly reduces traffic congestion and helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our school community.
Please note that students in Years 3-6 are generally the last to arrive at Kiss and Drive. To avoid having to do an additional lap while waiting for your child, we recommend arriving closer to 3.10 pm rather than 2.50 pm.
Your support and cooperation are greatly appreciated and make a real difference each afternoon.
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Assistant Principal's Updates
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
SEMESTER TWO IEPs
Revised IEPs have now been sent home for families to read, sign and return to either the classroom teacher or reception. Your prompt response to this is very much appreciated. Please don’t hesitate to contact the classroom teacher, or myself, if you have not received your updated IEP, or have any questions or concerns about the IEP.
THE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY – please see eligibility criteria
The annual Perth Children’s Christmas Party will take place on Saturday 14 November at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.
To be eligible to attend this party, children must
- Be aged between 3 and 12 (inclusive)
- Be eligible for NDIS funding and / or
- Have additional needs
Vital information regarding this event is in the flyer attached to this newsletter – including how to register your interest in your child attending. If you have questions after having read the document, please email me directly.
UR STRONG
AFTER SCHOOL CONVO STARTERS
“How was school today?” Good. “What did you do?” Nothing. (Sound familiar? Let’s dig a little deeper with these questions!)
Sometimes it’s like talking to a brick wall after your kids come home from school. You want to connect with them, but they aren’t quite ready to open up and connect with you.
Just like we need to unwind after a big day at work, kids need this time and space as well to transition and come down from the intensity of school. Some children even experience what’s called, After-School Restraint Collapse, a term coined by Andrea Loewen Nair (Counsellor and Parenting Educator). ASRC is characterised by an emotional meltdown that results from a full day of self-regulating, following rules, and essentially being a “good student”. Not an ideal time to have a conversation!
After giving your child time to relax, here are a few creative questions to get a little more information about their day at school:
- Tell me about your day.
- What was the best thing that happened at school today?
- Tell me one thing you learned today.
- Did anything make you laugh today? Tell me about it.
- How did you help someone today?
- What was hard today?
- Describe what you did at recess.
- Did you have any Friendship Fires today? Tell me about it.
- Where is your friendship on the Friend-o-meter with _____ today?
- Did you have a cool conversation with your teacher today? What did you discuss?
Choose one or two to ask, but be sure not to inundate your child with too many questions. Your goal is to connect with them, show them you care, and give them space to open up.
Happy chatting! 🙂
Written by Dana Kerford
Friendship Expert and Founder, URSTRONG
https://urstrong.com/resource/after-school-convo-starters/
Mrs Leesa Vinciullo
APRE and Inclusive Education Coordinator
P & F News
Mid-Year Raffle:
Congratulations to all of our raffle winners! Thank you to everyone who supported the raffle, and a huge thank you to Bec V and Maree for all their hard work organising everything.
Father’s Day – Save the Date:
Donut with Dad Father’s Day celebration on Friday, 4 September.
Join us for a special morning celebrating all the amazing dads, grandads and father-figures in our community.
Please click on the link below to register the number of people in your family attending, so we can make sure there are plenty of donuts to go around!
A coffee van will also be on site for coffee purchases.
RSVPs close 10pm Wednesday 26 August.
We are also looking for volunteers for the day – if you’re able to lend a helping hand.
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 8 September, at 6:30 pm in the school library. Everyone is welcome!
BOOK WEEK
This year for Book Week we have entered a competition for Nathan, Nat & Shaun from Nova 93.7 to attend the school on Friday 28th August for our Book week parade. Here is the link to register our school. The more people that register the more chance we have to win. The winning school will receive a $5,000 donation.
Nova – Nathan, Nat & Shaun Could Be Coming To Your School For Book Week!
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.
LIBRARY BOOK COVERING
The library has lots of new and exciting books needing covering so that our students can read them before the end of the year. If you can help by taking a small number of books home to cover, please call into the library Monday, Tuesday,Thursday or Friday. Precut covering for books is supplied. Your help is greatly appreciated by students and staff.
Rita Cuthbert – Library
(Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday)
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week.
Ambrose Beros KG
Florence Beros KG
Sylvia Giolitto KG
Shane O’Callaghan KW
Ellie Raven KW
Blake Cruthers PPW
Grace Minchin 2W
Tessa Cavalli 5W
Patrick McGlue 5W
Leo Cameron 6G
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 3
Week 4 – 12 August
Week 5 – 19 August
| Kindy Green | Week 4 – Bela Kunte Week 5 – Sophia Lobana |
| Kindy White | Week 4 – Asher Linke Week 5 – Arie Loong |
| PP Green | Week 4 – Hendricks Kaler Week 5 – Poppy Kay |
| PP White | Week 4 – Joe McIntyre Week 5 – Chloe Metherell |
| Year 1 Green | Week 4 – Eliyah Kaler Week 5 – Gursher Lobana |
| Year 1 White | Week 4 – Hamish Linke Week 5 – Hannah Linke |
| Year 2 Green | Week 4 – Arden O’Reilly Week 5 – Peyton Palmer |
| Year 2 White | Week 4 – Luke Molony Week 5 – Kai Loong |
| Year 3 Green | Week 4 – Scarlett Little week 5 – Sophie McDonald |
| Year 3 White | Week 4 – Francis Masek week 5 – Holly Magee |
| Year 4 Green | Week 4 – Annabel Harper Week 5 – Noah Palmer |
| Year 4 White | Week 4 – Pearse McIntyre Week 5 – Adam Nguyen |
| Year 5 Green | Week 4 – Olivia Molony Week 5 – Owen Metherell |
| Year 5 White | Week 4 – Amelia Pierre Week 5 – Asher Shrivastava |
| Year 6 Green | Week 4 – Tom Ross Week 5 – Shaan Tah |
| Year 6 White | Week 4 – Vaughan O’Reilly Week 5 – Luke Magee |
Award Winners
MERIT AWARDS – Term 3, Week 3
Congratulations to all the recipients of this week’s Merit Awards:
PP Green – Jordan Coniglio, Samuel Hofmann, Halle Smith
PP White – Riley Bowker, Charlotte Hawke, Stella Pavlovich
1 Green – Luke Coniglio, Ivy Funston, Auston Hohnen-MacDonald, Everett Khoo, Zara Parker
1 White – Clara Charles, Hugo Di Giallonardo, Ariela Hoek, Ishant Setty, Greta Williams
2 Green – Grace Aldworth, Loki Imbert, Hugh Murphy Grace, Spencer Verma
2 White – Leonardo Milhinch, Lynnette Toh, Adam Tuma, Laila Vu
3 Green – Oliver Howard, Scarlett Little, Ruby Palmer, Luke Poletti, Heidi Zekas-Crooks
3 White – Darcy Blake, Holly McMenamin, Samuel Young
4 Green – Ava-Marie Bova, Annabelle Cornish, Samuel Kootje, Oscar Walker
4 White – Charlie Bateman, Amelia Gibson, Ivy Quach, Ross Smith
5 Green – Savannah Aung Than, Tristan Goh
5 White – Patrick McGlue, Arthur Oliveira, Lachlan Stewart, Maria Wai
6 Green – Jude Allison, Poppy Lillico, Shaan Tah
6 White – Alessandro Balla, Mia Fernandez, Anh Hoang, Aleksander Tuma
Class News
From our Year 3 Classes:
In Year 3 Art, students were inspired by the work of Danny Eastwood as they created vibrant dot paintings of Uluru.
Using warm desert colours and detailed dot painting techniques, students produced eye-catching artworks that reflected the beauty of the Australian landscape. They thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with colour, and pattern and were proud of their creative masterpieces.
Community Notices
