Dear Community of St Columba’s,
This week has been a vibrant celebration of both physical prowess and artistic expression at St Columba’s!
Our students enthusiastically participated in the Athletics Carnival field events, showcasing their energy, determination, and team spirit. It was wonderful to see so many students giving their best and cheering each other on.
In addition to the sporting excitement, we were treated to a spectacular array of individual and group performances in the Performing Arts. From toe-tapping and head bopping rhythms, our talented students lit up the stage and had their audience captivated. Many of us were left amazed by the talents that emerged. It was such a joy to witness!
A heartfelt thank you to Karen Gonsalves for her outstanding coordination of the performances, and to Kerry Smith, our wonderful accompanist, for her musical support. We also extend our gratitude to all the parents who helped transport and support students attending the individual interschool performance events. Your involvement makes all the difference.
We are already looking forward to doing it all again next year!
Another Performance Award has been received, this time for Jack M in Year 4. Jack achieved Outstanding in the Vocal Category.
Solo Performance Awards will be presented at our Assembly at the conclusion of the Festival.
Happy Father’s Day
As we approach Father’s Day, we take this opportunity to celebrate and honour the incredible fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who play such an important role in the lives of our students and families.
We warmly invite all dads and father figures to join us for our P&F Father’s Day Breakfast this Friday morning, commencing at 7:30am in the school grounds. It is a wonderful chance to enjoy a relaxed breakfast with your child/ren and connect with other families in our community.
Following breakfast, we invite you to stay and join us for Mass at 9:00am in the Church, where we will come together in prayer and gratitude for the gift of fatherhood.
We look forward to celebrating with you and making this a special morning for all.
Upcoming School Athletics Carnival
To help us carefully manage our bus bookings for the upcoming School Athletics Carnival, we kindly ask that you complete the short form shared via your child’s class Seesaw page or contact the office for the link.
While we will always provide transportation to and from the venue for all students, we are aiming to avoid overbooking, particularly for the return journey when many children are taken home directly from the carnival by parents. In previous years, we have had buses return nearly empty, and these unused seats represent funds we would much rather invest into future excursion opportunities for our children.
Thank you to those who have already completed the form. Your support in helping us plan efficiently is greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Events
- Thursday 4 September: Sacrament of Confirmation Reflection Day
- Friday 5 September: Father’s Day Breakfast commencing at 7.30 am followed by Father’s Day Mass in the Church at 9.00 am.
- Next Week: School Photographs will occur this week. Teachers will be sending timetable details to you via SEESAW.
- Tuesday 16 September: PP-Year 2 Liturgy
- Tuesday 16 September: Spelling Bee Interschool Competition
In Gratitude,
Gina Burns
Principal
Assistant Principal's Updates
SCHOOL PHOTO DAY IS COMING
Dear Parents,
Your school photo day is coming! Every student should have received a personalised flyer from Kapture Photography containing your child’s unique codes for ordering school photos online. Please ensure to check your child’s school bag.
Monday 8th September
Tuesday 9th September
Thursday 11th September
KEEP YOUR FLYER SECURE!
The unique codes contained on the flyer will be issued only once.
Order EARLY for sibling photography
Sibling photos can ONLY be ordered online. Once you receive the personalised flyers for your children, it is imperative that you order your sibling photo early to avoid missing out! There is a physical limit in the school schedule to how many sibling photos can be taken. Once the maximum capacity of sibling orders has been reached, no more sibling orders can be placed.
If maximum capacity is not reached, sibling orders close 12pm midday sharp, one business day prior to the first photo day.
The school or the photographers cannot accept late orders for sibling photography. Please do not ask as your request simply cannot be accommodated.
Monday 8th September 2025 – Sibling photos Kindy students ONLY
Tuesday 9th September 2025 – Sibling photos families with surname commences with A-H
Thursday 11th September 2025 – Sibling photos families with surname commences with I-Z
Order EARLY for discount photo day prices
Order your photos up to 10 calendar days after photo day to receive discount photo day prices. Late orders are handled separately to the school delivery and incur a $30 custom service charge.
Other information
Kapture offer a money back guarantee for any parent who is not fully satisfied with their photo package. Should you have any queries before or after photo day, please check the FAQ’s on the Kapture website.
We request that students who are displaying signs of respiratory and / or gastrointestinal illnesses do not attend school specifically to be included in their class photo. Having students with communicable illnesses attend the photography venues puts other students, school staff and Kapture staff at risk – especially those that are already immunocompromised. Students who are unable to attend school photo day can book a studio appointment at our Malaga office to be photographed during school holidays. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Your school will notify you in a few weeks when team and special group photos are available to view and purchase on the Kapture website. Please note; class, individual and sibling portraits are not available to view online prior to purchase.
All students will be photographed individually on photo day for school administration records AS WELL as included in their class group presentation available for purchase to all families. Should there be any reason why your child should NOT be included in the photo shoot –please contact the school office.
All students must be in full winter uniform. Shirts, ties and school jumpers compulsory with skirts, pinafores, shorts or long pants for students in Years 1-6.
Mrs Leesa Vinciullo
Assistant Principal
P & F News
HAPPENING NOW
FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST is this FRIDAY at 7:30AM!
We are looking forward to seeing your family at breakfast this Friday to celebrate! This time, all food orders are going to be available for collection via your SURNAME. We are trialling a new system to help ease lining up. If you didn’t get an order in, no stress — coffee is available and juice for all the kids! AND the big treat — some of the talented Irish dance students are taking to the court to energise the crowd, before the annual paper plane comp takes off! Remember, 1 x paper plane design per family — and no name, no prize! Anymore volunteers? We need a couple more special people to sign up for breakfast. If this sounds like something you are keen to be involved with, follow the link, find a role that suits you and sign up. HELP US HERE: https://volunteersignup.org/ELHY9 The P&F thank you for your time and service, you are a gem!
NOMINATE A DESERVING FAMILY!
Nominate a St Cols family to have access to a private car bay in Term 4, including Disco night and EduDance! Nominations close Week 9 Friday 19/9 and the winning family will be announced Week 10 Assembly Tuesday 23/9. Submit online or see the attached form if you wish to print and provide to Kylie/Lisa at front reception instead: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=gN4l4TrTnUS28DB_YDTqRy-hF2vT_ZBMqu88s8Qc6QZUOVJVT01CN0xaUk5WVEhUS1laMVNQSVpWVi4u&route=shorturl
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL IS AROUND THE CORNER…
The team needs you to help bring the School bake sale and sausage sizzle to life on carnival day at Noranda Sports Oval. Watch this space in the next newsletter to sign up and get involved.
REMINDERS
Help Our School Move Forward — Join ‘Your Move’!
We’re inviting all parents to sign up to the Your Move website and join our school group! Every registration earns points for our school — and the more points we accumulate, the more exciting opportunities we unlock. From Connecting Schools Grants to bike education, student leadership labs, and Safe Routes to School guides, Your Move helps us build a more active, connected school community. Whether your child walks, wheels, scoots, or rides, your support helps us inspire healthier habits and access valuable resources. Let’s get moving — sign up today and help our school thrive! https://yourmove.org.au/register
Containers for Change
Get involved with our School yard fundraising by joining the containers for change group. All you have to do is scan the barcode attached to the newsletter with your containers from home — all funds from your deposit goes directly back to fundraising for items that benefit the kids at St Cols.
School Rewards Program — THE ATHLETE’S FOOT Morley Galleria
With $5 from every pair of shoes purchased being donated back to our School, This applies to the whole family across their fantastic range of school, sports, work and casual shoes. Make sure you mention St Col’s.
KEY TERM 3/4 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Father’s Day Breakfast – Friday 5th September 7:30am
Term 4 Family Carpark nomination draw – Month of September
P&F Athletics Carnival bake sale/sausage sizzle fundraiser – Monday 22nd September
Whole School Disco – Friday 17th October
Library News
And that’s a wrap…
A big thank you to Parents, Staff and Students for your help promoting Book Week and the literacy experience for our students.
This year’s Book Week winners have been announced and can be viewed at:
https://cbca.org.au/2025-winners/
Our students enjoyed a fun filled week of Book Week activities, and finished off with the infamous Book Week Parade.
Winners of the Colouring Competition were announced and are off to Crow Books to spend their $20.00 Gift Vouchers. Congratulations to the following:
Kindy Green : Isla
Kindy White : Zariah
Preprimary Green : Gus
Preprimary White : William
Year 1 G : Gracie
Year 1 W : Jayden
Year 2 G : Alfred
Year 2 W : Oliver
Year 3 G : Aiden
Year 3 W : Heaven
Year 4 G : Olivia
Year 4 W : Monica
Year 5 G : Matilda
Year 5 W : Davern
Year 6 G : Alana
Year 6 W : Miranda
Guess the number of jelly beans in the jar:
Lilah : 6G
Book in a jar :
Tom A. 5W
Thank you everyone!
Mrs. Cuthbert
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week:
Eva Batra – PKW
Logan Salt – KW
Hannah Linke – PPG
Hamish Linke – PPG
Luke Coniglio – PPG
Harper Bradley – Y1W
Lyla Bradley – Y1W
Isabella Will – Y2W
Violet Zachar – Y2W
Riley Goulding – Y3W
Mia Paulus – Y4G
Nate Hoogland – Y4G
Would you like to Volunteer with us?
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 entrance. Come say Hi and see what we are all about or please feel free to reach out to us by leaving a message with Lisa or Kylie in Administration and one of our amazing volunteers will talk you through volunteering with us.
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 3
Week 8 – 10 September
Week 9 – 17 September
| Kindy Green | Week 8 – Giorgia Holmes Week 9 – Laila Ikin |
| Kindy White | Week 8 – Aurora Hodgetts Week 9 – Fiadh Jennings |
| PP Green | Week 8 – Angus Fort Week 9 – Ivy Funston |
| PP White | Week 8 – Addison Kain Week 9 – Ivaan Kaushal |
| Year 1 Green | Week 8 – Abigail Lumsden Week 9 – Nathaniel McShanag |
| Year 1 White | Week 8 – Kai Loong Week 9 – Declan McGowan |
| Year 2 Green | Week 8 – Oscar Harstrom Week 9 – Flynn Hartus |
| Year 2 White | Week 8 – Sophie Macdonald Week 9 – Andrea Gunawan |
| Year 3 Green | Week 8 – Samuel Kootje Week 9 – Lorraine McGowan |
| Year 3 White | Week 8 – Rose Pearson Week 9 – Samiya McShanag |
| Year 4 Green | Week 8 – Elliot Lumsden Week 9 – Joana Gunawan |
| Year 4 White | Week 8 – Jenson Kootje Week 9 – Arthur Oliveira |
| Year 5 Green | Week 8 – Mia Harstrom Week 9 – Cohen Lee |
| Year 5 White | Week 8 – Alexander Lillyman Week 9 – Poppy Lillico |
| Year 6 Green | Week 8 – Lilah Jagger Week 9 – Sandra Mandujano Liu |
| Year 6 White | Week 8 – Luca Maio Week 9 – Olivia McShanag |
Class News
From our Year 1 classes:
This week in Year 1, we explored 3D shapes in a hands-on way! Students went on a scavenger hunt around the school, discovering how everyday objects are made up of different 3D shapes.
From our Year 6 classes:
This term in HASS, the Year 6 students have been exploring how Australia’s democratic system works. They’ve learned about the roles and responsibilities of government, why laws are important, and how bills are passed. They have discovered what Parliament does, the role of the Governor-General, and the structure of government—including the Parliament, Executive, and Judiciary.
Students also explored the two houses of Parliament: the House of Representatives and the Senate, and discussed the responsibilities at each level of government.
Community Notices
