Principal's Post

Regional Spelling Bee

This year the Regional Spelling Bee, for students in Years 3-6, will take place on Thursday 14th November at St Peter’s Primary School in Inglewood.

Prior to the regional competition, a year level Spelling Bee will be held to determine the participants in the Regional Spelling Bee. The champion and runner-up from each year level will progress to the regional competition.

This week the students will be given the list of words that will be used in the competition. They may hone their spelling skills by practising spelling these words ready for the classroom competition, which will take place early in Term 4.

 

Website Notifications

As we continue to develop our website, we have set up notifications to parents that will come through SMS. The two key notifications will be when The Donegal [newsletter] goes live and for Merit Award winners. Merit Award notifications will go out to parents by Tuesday morning on the week of the Assembly. Thank you again for your feedback on the website. Our team continues to work on managing the website to ensure it meets the needs of our parents.

 

Father’s Day Breakfast

The Pastoral Care team are busy organising breakfast for all the dad’s/grandad’s/Uncles.  The breakfast is on Friday 30th August at 7.30am.  Cost is $2.50 per child and $2.50 per adult.  Further information and RSVP slips are attached to this newsletter.

Kindy dads are also invited to visit the classroom for a ‘Stay and Play’ from 8.20am to 8.45am on the morning of the Father’s Day breakfast.

 

 

Morning Tea Get Together

A couple of months back, Trish and Faye, icons of St Columba’s School, held an afternoon tea for any parents who wished to meet for a cuppa. The dynamic duo would like to hold a couple of morning teas in the next few weeks. A cuppa and a chat. The dates are Tuesday 3 September and Thursday 5 September both at 9.00 am. The reason for the two morning teas in the one week is to allow our Pre-Kindy parents the opportunity to attend after dropping their little ones off at school. All parents are welcome to attend. Special thanks to Trish and Faye for continuing to add to our community spirit and the connection of our families to St Columba’s. It is always about the people.

 

School Banking

School banking continues on a Tuesday morning, however we will need a parent to volunteer to take on the role as banking coordinator in the near future. Jennifer Benfell has been volunteering her time over the last couple of years, but will not be continuing into the future. Jen will keep the banking going for the remainder of the term as we seek another parent to take the role on. If you have any interest in finding out more about what is required, please check in with Lisa at the office and we will put you in contact with Jen. We thank Jen for her time and commitment to school banking. We sincerely appreciate the time committed and the passion with which Jen has taken this on.

 

Athletics Carnival 2019

As we build up to the 2019 Athletics Carnival on Friday 20 September, Jo McCluskey is organising all events over the coming weeks. Some students have been mentioning to Jo that they will not be here on the day. If you know your child will be away on the day due to other commitments, please send through an absentee note via the school website so as Jo can plan more accurately for the individual and team game events. We appreciate your effort sis assisting with this matter.

 

Mercy Mission Day

The Year Three classes are holding a Second Hand Stall on Mercy Mission Day, Tuesday 24th September.
They would love any donations of toys, jewellery, games or knick knacks.  Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!!
All donations to the Year 3 classrooms please.

Mrs Vinciullo’s class are holding a Second Hand Book Stall. They would really appreciate any donations of books. Please deliver to their classroom.

Thanks for your assistance!!!

 

Uniform Shop

Uniform orders placed, via quickcliq.com.au, after this weekend (ie the week beginning 2nd September) will not be filled until Monday 16th September.  We apologise for any inconvenience.

 

School Counsellor News

How to Get Your Child to Talk About School

By Andrew M.I. Lee, JD

At a Glance

  • Some kids don’t like to share information about their school day.
  • The way you ask kids questions can encourage them to talk more.
  • Ask specific, open-ended questions instead of questions that can be answered with yesor no.

Some kids love talking about school. With others, it’s like pulling teeth to get them to share even a few details about their day—especially if there are things going on that are upsetting them, like bullying or struggling in school.

If your child is on the quieter side or is very private, there are ways to ask questions that will open up a conversation instead of shutting one down. Here are some key concepts for starting a dialogue.

1. Ask open-ended questions.
If you ask a question that can be answered with one word—yes or no—that’s what you’ll get. A one-word answer.

Example: “What was the best thing you did at school today?”

2. Start with a factual observation.
Kids often have a hard time answering questions that seem to come out of the blue. Making an observation gives your child something to relate to.

Example: “I know you have a lot more kids in your class this year. What’s that like?”

3. Share something about yourself.
When someone tells you about themselves, it’s natural to want to do that in return. Share something with your child and see what you get back.

Example: “We always played dodgeball at recess. What do you and your friends like to do?”

4. Avoid negative questions.
If you think something isn’t going well, your questions may come out in a negative way, with emotion-packed words like sador mean. Asking in a positive way lets your child express concerns.

Example: “I heard that you sat with new people at lunch today. What did you talk about?”

Here are other examples of how to say things differently to get your child to open up.

Afterschool Conversation Starters

Instead of thisTry this
Was school fun today?What was the best thing you did at school?
How was lunch?Which kids were sitting near you at lunch?
Was your teacher nice?What was the most interesting thing your teacher said today?
Did you get your locker today?How was it getting to your locker between classes?
Were the kids in your class friendly?Who did you like talking to the most?
Did you get your schedule?You got your schedule today, right? Which days look busiest?
Do you have friends in your classes?Who are the kids you talk to most in your classes?
Did your presentation go well?What part of the presentation do you think was best?

Phrasing your questions this way invites your child to talk. But don’t expect for every question to result in a long, detailed answer. The goal is to have many small conversations over time. It helps to find natural moments to talk—like at dinner or riding in the car—when you’re not in a rush.

Sometimes kids, like adults, just don’t feel like talking. It’s important to know when to stop asking questions and leave it for another time. But if there’s something urgent or serious going on, you’ll have to ask direct, specific questions and push for an answer.

Looking for more conversation starters and responses to use with your child? Find out what to say when your child:

Find out how to give praise that builds self-esteem. You may also want to read why one mom stopped saying “have a good day” to her son.

Key Takeaways

  • Sharing something about yourself can get your child to open up.
  • Positive questions (“What’s your favorite class?”) let your child express concerns.
  • Find natural moments to talk—like at dinner or riding in the car—when you’re not in a rush.

About the Author

Andrew M.I. Lee, JD, is an editor and former attorney who strives to help people understand complex legal, education, and parenting issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Maughan
Social Worker
Tuesday & Wednesday
9208 2703
jenny.maughan@cewa.edu.au

 

 

P & F News

The next P&F meeting is Tuesday the 17th of September at 7.30pm

All are welcome to attend

 

Wine Drive

A reminder that wine orders are due in by this Friday 3.00pm. If you are unable to get to school you can scan and email me the form. If you require additional forms you can find the form attached to this week’s newsletter. The wines from Hayshed Hill have been generously discounted and for every case sold, Hayshed Hill give the school $40 to go towards buying maths and literacy resources. Thank you for your support.

 

777 Pharmacy

Don’t forget to support the Bayswater and Maylands 777 Pharmacy, just mention that you are from St Columba’s and 10% of all retail products purchased will go to the P&F.

 

 

Rachel Lange
P&F President
rachel@galleriapodiatry.com.au

Library News

2019 CBCA Book Week 
Reading is my SECRET POWER

Dress Up Parade (Kindy-Year 6)

 BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE

INVOLVED

 

 

 

 

 

During Book Week, students were very excited during their sessions with our visiting Author/Illustrator Kylie Howarth.

St Columba’s have so many budding illustrators and writers in the making. Kylie is an award-winning, internationally published children’s author and illustrator from Western Australia. She not only draws inspiration from her underwater travels but also her own two fish-kids who are ocean explorers too.

Kylie’s picture book Chip won the 2018 WAYRBA Hoffman Award, was CBCA shortlisted, YABBA Awards shortlisted and won a KOALA Honour Award. She recently released its sequel, Chip The Lifeguard, listed as a CBCA Notable, as well as Fish Kid and the Lizard Ninja, the first book in her new chapter book series. Other books Kylie has written are Fish Jam and 1, 2, Pirate Stew.

Kylie has kindly arranged for any of her books purchased through the school to be personally signed for your child, and delivered to their classroom.

Please ask your child to collect an order form from the library asap, so that the books can be ordered through Crow Books.

WINNERS OF THE BOOK WEEK COLOURING IN

Year 1 – Maggie Ma

Year 2 – William North

Year 3 – Leon Migliore

Year 4 – Rory Shanahan

Year 5 – Nick Kryachok

Year 6 – Brianna Kealley

Guess the number of chips in the parcel

Ella Wiinschl Year 5

Congratulations, each winner received a gift voucher to Crow Books.

 

 

A warm invitation is extended to all families to visit the library from 8:15am most mornings. (Please note, when Mrs. Cuthbert is unavailable, the library is closed.)

Kindy & Pre-Kindy families take advantage to come and read all our fabulous picture books with your little ones till 8:45am.

YES! Library open most lunch times 1:15 – 1:35 daily.

 

 

 

Class of the Week

No winner this week. 

This is due to Book Week and all classes not being able to access the library during their normal session.

Class of the Week will resume next week.

 

 

 

If any families have childrens magazines that they no longer need, the students at lunch time would enjoy reading them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 at a cost of $10.

Parents please order via the QuickCliq website

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rita Cuthbert
Library Officer

Pastoral Care

Happy Birthday to:

Ethan Borich PKG
Alessia Marrapodi PPG
Sasha Barker 5W
Norah Hammond 5G
Arden Bezich PKG
Libby Byrne 5G
Mia Paulua PKG
Olivia Bekker 1G
Kaitlyn Bidwell 1G
Neve Gerick 1G
Lucia Dawes 4W

Families rostered to bring in the raffle prize will be notified through the newsletter and on lists outside the classrooms. New families to St Columba’s will be rostered later in the year. Pastoral Care Team

Week 7 (4/9/19)
Week 8 (11/9/19)

Kindy Green

Week 7 Elizabeth Kennewell
Week 8 William Parks

Kindy White

Week 7 Eve Hamilton
Week 8 Thomas Gibson

PP Green

Week 7 Emma Silverman
Week 8 Thomas Marine

PP White

Week 7 Sofia Jaramillo Restrepo
Week 8 Ivy Hoogland

Year 1 Green

Week 7 Arthur Pitter
Week 8 Seraphim Vu

Year 1 White

Week 7 Lucas Giuffre
Week 8 Annabelle Ong

Year 2 Green

Week 7 Evan Nguyen
Week 8 Zara Bell

Year 2 White

Week 7 Elizabeth Wright
Week 8 Tyson Hayward

Year 3 Green

Week 7 Ava Moretta
Week 8 Chernet Desalegn

Year 3 White

Week 7 Dante Felt
Week 8 Stella D’Esposito

Year 4 Green

Week 7 Taj Debono
Week 8 Hannah Kemp

Year 4 White

Week 7 Rory Shanahan
Week 8 Sophia O’Toole

Year 5 Green

Week 7 Ruby Dodd
Week 8 Libby Byrne

Year 5 White

Week 7 Mathilda Meyers
Week 8 Saskia O’Neil

Year 6 Green

Week 7 Eva Ierace
Week 8 Isaac Bristow-Baohm

Year 6 White

Week 7 Roman Kaless
Week 8 Demi Robbins

Community Notices

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classifieds

 

 

 

St Columba’s School Bayswater

32 Roberts Street, Bayswater WA 6053
PO Box 61, Bayswater WA 6933
Phone: (08) 9208 2700
Email: admin@stcolsbays.wa.edu.au