Dear Community of St Columba’s,
Staff Professional Development Day
Last Friday our staff came together for a Staff Development Day centred on Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ inspiring encyclical on caring for our common home.
As a Catholic school, we are called not only to educate the minds of our students but also to nurture their hearts and sense of responsibility for God’s creation. Throughout the day, staff engaged in prayer, reflection and professional learning, exploring how the messages of Laudato Si’ can continue to shape our school culture, curriculum and daily practices.
Pope Francis reminds us that everything is interconnected and that we all have a role to play in caring for the environment, supporting those most vulnerable in our world, and living with gratitude and stewardship. Our discussions focused on how we can inspire students to be thoughtful caretakers of creation, make sustainable choices, and recognise their capacity to contribute positively to the world around them.
We look forward to continuing this important work with our students and sharing ways in which our school community can further embrace the call of Laudato Si’.
Consent and Respectful Relationships
As part of Catholic Education Western Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting schools in the delivery of Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE), CEWA is seeking feedback from parents and carers about their information and support needs in this area.
Grounded in the Catholic understanding of the dignity of every person and the call to support the integral human development of each child and young person, this work affirms the importance of forming students to recognise, respect and uphold the dignity, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others. Parents and carers, as the primary educators of their children, play a critical role in shaping children’s understanding of relationships, respect, safety and wellbeing.
To ensure future parent resources and engagement opportunities are relevant and responsive, CEWA has developed a short survey to gather parent perspectives, questions and areas of interest relating to consent and respectful relationships education. We invite you to complete a short survey to:
- Gather information about parents’ current understanding of consent and respectful relationships education.
- Identify topics parents would value further information or support with.
- Inform the development of future parent-facing resources and engagement opportunities.
- Support CEWA and schools to strengthen partnerships with families around student wellbeing and healthy relationships.
The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous.
Survey link: https://forms.office.com/r/TV8EfHb55U
Thank you for supporting this important initiative and helping ensure that future parent resources reflect the needs and priorities of our school communities.
Catholic Performing Arts Festival
A special congratulations to Karen Gonsalves and our wonderful choir on their performance at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival, in the choral section last Wednesday. You would have been incredibly proud of our students. Their angelic voices captivated the audience of students, parents and teachers and they represented St Columba’s beautifully.
We look forward to celebrating the achievements of all our Performing Arts Festival entrants at a special showcase on Friday 11 September. This event will provide an opportunity for students who participated in individual categories to share their talents with our school community. Our choir will also perform at the final assembly of the term, allowing us all to once again enjoy and acknowledge their remarkable achievement. We are incredibly proud of every student who has had the courage to share their gifts and talents through the Festival.
Education Assistant Appreciation Day
Next Wednesday we will celebrate Education Assistant Appreciation Day, an opportunity to recognise and thank the dedicated Education Assistants who make such a significant contribution to life at St Columba’s.
Our Education Assistants play a vital role in supporting the learning, wellbeing and development of every child. Their work often happens quietly behind the scenes, yet its impact is felt every day. Through their care, encouragement and expertise, our Education Assistants help create a positive learning environment where students feel supported, valued and able to thrive.
On behalf of our school community, I extend my sincere gratitude to our wonderful Education Assistants for the difference they make in the lives of our students, staff and families. We are truly blessed to have such dedicated professionals as part of the St Columba’s community.
I invite you to join me in thanking our Education Assistants for the care, kindness and dedication they bring to our school every day.
Consent for Excursions
There has been an update recently to CEWA School Excursions Procedures and Guidelines. Schools must ensure that parental consent is obtained for offsite activities (excursion). Please note for our upcoming Faction Carnival and further excursions, parents will be notified via SEESAW of details and within this will be a link for you to provide consent. Thank you for your support as we navigate these changes.
Upcoming Events:
- Friday 28 August: Book Week Parade commencing at 8.45 am
- Tuesday 1 September: Assembly (Year 6) commencing at 2.00 pm
- Wednesday 2 September: EA Appreciation Day
- Friday 4 September: Father’s Day Breakfast and Mass
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Assistant Principal's Updates
Dear Parents,
The best gift any parent can give a child is the love of books and the joy and benefits of independent reading for fun. Children who read at home, or are read to, have a head start on reading success in school.
A reminder our School participates in Scholastic Book Club this year. Up to twice a term, during the school year, we will send home a Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages.
You’ll find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites. I recommend them because the books span a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests and because they are inexpensive (some books cost as little as $3).
It is easy to order. We encourage parents to please order online via the Book Club LOOP platform which allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school safe and sound and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Owning your own books is something special! I hope that you will encourage your child to order books this year. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our classroom, however there is never any obligation to order. I know of no better way to encourage reading than to allow children to choose the books they want to read.
Please see Book Club Flyer attached to this newsletter for how to order and create an account.
UR STRONG FRIENDOLOGY NEWSLETTER ITEM
MUST-HAVES, DEAL-BREAKERS, & ICE-CREAM:
What’s most important in a friendship? Where do you draw the line? What’s your favourite ice-cream? #Priorities
It’s important that children really understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships. Through the URSTRONG program, we use a visual tool called The Friend-o-meter. Here’s an activity to do with your child to explore these important social boundaries.
https://urstrong.com/resource/must-haves-deal-breakers-ice-cream/
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School Photos are scheduled for Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th September.
Flyers with details about online orders were sent home earlier this week. Please ask your child for the flyer so that you don’t miss out on placing your order.
Sibling photo orders must be placed before Midday, FRIDAY 4th SEPTEMBER.
Further information is attached to this newsletter.
Please contact the school office if you have any queries.
Mrs Leesa Vinciullo
APRE and Inclusive Education Coordinator
P & F News
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.
St Col’s Athletics Carnival – P&F Cake Stall
The Great St Cols Bake off!
That’s right the hugely popular Athletics Carnival cake stall is returning on Tuesday 15th September and we need your help!
Choose your own adventure – there are 3 easy ways to get involved!
- Bake or buy something delicious
- Donate cash and we’ll purchase something on your behalf
- Volunteer to man the stalls and sell those cakes!
Donate: Pop your cash in the donation box at reception
Prefer to bake or buy? Just a reminder items need to be free from nuts, meat and fresh dairy (so no buttercream unfortunately) not require refrigeration and all containers need to be clearly labeled with your name, phone number, ingredients and item name.
Keep an eye out for further information on the St Col’s Community FB page
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 – Commencing at 8.45am
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.
Noni Berson KW
Esther Hart PPG
Xavier Bosley 1G
Jack Franich 1G
Mia Etheridge 2W
Alessia Cullura 3G
Ethan Borich 5W
The Pastoral Care Team will be holding the much-anticipated Father’s Day Raffle. Tickets are 50c each and will go on sale every morning outside the Library starting Monday 31 August at 8am.
Prizes will be drawn the morning of the Father’s Day Breakfast and either delivered to your child’s classroom or will be available for collection from the Administration.
All funds raised will go directly to our school community for use in times of need and in times of celebration.
We cannot do what we do without you!
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 3
Week 7 – 2 September
Week 8 – 9 September
| Kindy Green | Week 7 – Blair Massam Week 8 – Ari McGrath |
| Kindy White | Week 7 – Shane O’Callaghan Week 8 – Jack Pinnington |
| PP Green | Week 7 – Elise Lee Week 8 – Rosie Moore |
| PP White | Week 7 – Jack Payne Week 8 – Evelyn Pearson |
| Year 1 Green | Week 7 – Sylvie Hurley Swiderski Week 8 – Ivaan Kaushal |
| Year 1 White | Week 7 – Tommy O’Donohoe Week 8 – Noah O’Hart |
| Year 2 Green | Week 7 – Marie O’Callaghan Week 8 – Clara Pearson |
| Year 2 White | Week 7 – Pastoral care Week 8 – Ned Moore |
| Year 3 Green | Week 7 – Luke Poletti Week 8 – Eliza McGlue |
| Year 3 White | Week 7 – Annabel Paulus Week 8 – Isabella Will |
| Year 4 Green | Week 7 – Rohan Hurley Swiderski Week 8 – Aiden Harris |
| Year 4 White | Week 7 – Luciana Pulido Vargas Week 8 – Ivy Quach |
| Year 5 Green | Week 7 – Mia Paulus Week 8 – Thomas Pinnington |
| Year 5 White | Week 7 – Oaklyn Payne Week 8 – Patrick McGlue |
| Year 6 Green | Week 7 – Cherubim Vu Week 8 – Oscar Hamilton |
| Year 6 White | Week 7 – Sera McDougall Week 8 – Kelvin Quach |
Class News
From our Music Classes:
Community Notices
Parents, please note that enrolment forms will only come home to all kindy students and those students new to St Columba’s in 2026.
