Principal's Post

Dear Parents and Friends

So why are there moments in our day that stop us in our tracks? You know, the moments that give us goose bumps, or bring us such joy that it is hard to even speak. It is like the excitement I felt this week when working with some kids around some of their behaviours. I could not have been more proud of them as young people, good humans. If I could have bottled the 15 minutes and have them carry this throughout their next fifty years of life, they would be blessed.

It is what education is about. Creating excitement in learning and in life. Education is so broad. It is not just about the academic side of life, but also our spiritual, emotional and physical connections. Life is all about relationships. When I see kids at their best, they are in positive relationships with their peers. There are smiles and there is excitement. There is a joy about them. These can be moments of joy throughout the day. From working out a mathematical problem to saying letter sounds and reading their decodable books. This is why I love Steve Irwin’s quote above. He was one person that was excited about life. Yes, his life ended tragically early, probably due to his excitement for learning and life, but he is so right with what he says.

It is like our school Mercy Values. These have been developed over the year and are now being brought to life across our school. These values are the foundation on what we stand. These are the grounding principles on how we will grow as St Col’s people. It is what brings us our connection and creates a sense of belonging. The Mercy Values form part of our Code of Conduct, holds us accountable. When you find time, which I appreciate you have very little of after a busy day, pick one that you may focus on this week. At the moment, for me personally, I am focused on the ‘we seek wisdom as we strive for excellence’.

Why is this my focus? Well, at this time of year, we start to look at our planning. We are looking at our budgets, the funding we receive, and what is happening in our teaching and learning, while looking at data. As principal, my focus over the next two weeks is to keep our children the centre of all our decisions, but also work with staff in looking at our school improvement focus for 2022 and 2023. The practical side of these weeks includes finalising class lists for 2022, along with our staffing line-up. All of this happens with the value of seeking wisdom in our decision making to maintain and strive for excellence. Striving for excellence, something that we all want for our kids. Always a journey to keep working on ourselves as humans. This is what all five Mercy Values bring. They bring a challenging question to us as human beings.

It is like showing compassion for everyone. Just think about what the world would be like if this underpinned everything we do. It ties beautifully across all the values. In fact, it is a thread that could be brought to light in the other four. Compassion creates goodness. Below is something I found while looking for something inspiring on the web. It is a mouse pad you can buy for $2.99. I have not bought one, but it did make me think about buying 50 of them to have for all our staff. Not that many of us use the mouse anymore with all our tablets and the mouse pad being built in to laptops, but it would serve as a reminder about why we all turn up to school and why we work in education.

In life, and this is not just for schools, we are here to make good things happen for other people. If this is how we live our day, I don’t know, it just makes it better. I think about last Saturday night and how many conversations I was in with parents that made an immediate impact on me as a person. Not me as a principal, but as a human. So, it is something we get opportunities at doing throughout our day and week. My challenge for myself, and my challenge for you, is take a moment to think about our impact of making the world better for the people we will meet today, and every day. We need to ask ourselves, did we make good things happen for other people.

Wine and Cheese Night

I wish to thank all our members of the CSPWA [previously P and F] for their coordination and management of the Wine and Cheese Night last weekend. It takes a massive amount of work to organise such events from the lead-up to the clean-up. We appreciate the time committed to making this happen and for all the parents that were able to attend and be a part of the evening. It was an enjoyable evening in bringing people together.

The CSPWA have contributed tens of thousands of dollars this year towards reading books across the early years, resources for extending children in their learning across the middle and upper years, with a focus on reading comprehension, new benches for seating [ordered for later this year], faction coloured tents for the carnivals attended throughout the year and more. The P and F levy and monies raised throughout the year go directly back into classroom resources and other resources such as the outdoor seating. Without these levies and the support of parents, we would not be able to achieve these improvements for our kids. In gratitude!

Interschool Athletics Carnival

Our Year 3 to Year 6 Interschool Athletics Team will be participating in the Inters today. They are such a ripping group of kids. We cannot wait to have them represent our school. Quality kids, giving their best in sportsmanship and effort. One of my favourite days as a Principal is getting to be with our team and see how proud they are of being a St Col’s Kid. What more could we ask for. Thank you to Jo McCluskey and Mitch McGivern, staff and parents for the support of the kids.

Catholic Schools Advisory Council (CSAC) 2022 Nomination Forms

Attached to this week’s newsletter is the nomination form for the CSAC. Please complete this form if you wish to nominate. Once nominations are in, you will be contacted with details of the process. If there are more nominations than vacant positions, then an election will be held at the AGM. If you nominate, you will be required at the AGM on Wednesday 24 November at 6.00 pm.

Booklists 2022

The booklists will be rolled out as in previous years, with bulk orders being set by the teachers. Parents will receive details in the coming weeks regarding payment for student supplies for 2022.

Class Lists 2022

As with every year, teachers work together to organise class lists for 2022. Many variables are worked in to manage these class allocations of our students. Teachers are focused on what is best for their students. These will be out later in the term in time for our transition morning on Monday 6 December. Staffing allocations will also be released the week before our transition morning.

All Saints Day and All Souls Day

These are two significant days in our liturgical calendar. All Saints Day on Monday 1 November celebrates the lives of our saints. It is a day to remember the significance of their lives as examples of how we can take what they contributed to live parts of their life in our own.

All Soul’s Day, Tuesday 2 November. It is a time of contemplation and reflection, as we remember those close to us who have passed and are now resting peacefully with Jesus in Heaven. We really are blessed to know they are okay, and are forever in our hearts and minds. I also know, those we love are forever close and in our midst, being there when we need them. It is funny how life works, but I know my old man is close, especially when things are tough. Whenever I see a moth, I know he is about the place. Definitely brings me peace and comfort. Take a moment to remember and give thanks for what those we loved brought to us and our families. This is what All Souls Day is about. Take care as it is always a little tough when we do stop to think about such special people.

As we continue to move through the term, cannot believe we are heading into November, be gentle on self and others. Maybe we find five minutes to read the five Mercy Values and think about what it is we can bring to life in our day. We will all find these are qualities that bring with them a change in the world. That we know.

Enjoy your week and the upcoming weekend.

With good things your way and in gratitude for what you all bring to our world.

Art

Library News

The library has lots of books needing covering.  If you can help out by taking a small number of books home to cover over the holidays, please call into the library. Your help is greatly appreciated by staff and students.

There are still more second hand books for sale. Gold coin donation. The table will be outside the library every day (before school, recess, lunch & after school), come and have a browse and grab yourself a bargain.

School Banking

A reminder that school banking is on every Friday morning 8.15am to 8.30am in the OSHC kitchen. Thank you to Mike Mazurak & Ariane Cummins who has been co-ordinating throughout 2021.

P & F News

An evening of art with wine and cheese

Thank you to all those that attended our main event on Saturday night. It was an amazing night and great time was had by all that attended. All the art work sold at auction and over $3,000 was raised by the artwork alone. A massive thanks to all the parents and teachers that helped with the art work. A special thanks to Jen Scott who had a hand in several of the pieces and Michael Gardiner for building the pallet stands for our gallery.

Thanks to the amazing class reps who took on the task of organising everything needed to make sure the night was a success, buying and hiring everything and for the vision to put together the event. A special thanks to Aaron Slocum for being our bar manager and helping all night together with Lisa Slocum. Thanks to those who washed glasses through the night and made the morning clean up so much easier. Thanks to Art and Niall for being our security for the evening and making sure everyone behaved themselves.

The amazing grazing table could not have been done without the help of the very talented Ashleigh Howard, it was a piece of art as well! Thanks to Dan Bull for being our MC and impromptu auctioneer and Billy Felton for the music

It was a huge effort to set up and then pack down again so thanks to Rob Jagger, Dave Hoogland, Dave Cahill and Ryan Fernandez. As always, Mr Lombardi was in the thick of the action and even bought in Uncle Joe to help with the morning clean up.

My apologies if I have forgotten to mention anyone, but please know that we appreciate everyone who put in their time to help with the event.

There is some alcohol remaining that we will be selling for the same price as the wine fundraiser, further details to follow, I have dibs on the pink gin!

We are also looking at producing blank cards with all the artwork that can be purchased. Great idea just in time for sending Christmas cards! We will let you know what they will look like and how to order in the next week.

Tanya Amrstrong
CSPWA Chairperson

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Together we’re making a difference

At Pharmacy 777, your support makes a difference to your school.
We understand how much your school means to you, that’s why at Pharmacy 777, we’re passionate about making a difference. Our Community Spirit Program makes giving back to your school easier. As a Community Spirit member, for every transaction you make at Pharmacy 777 Bayswater and Maylands, they will give part proceeds back to the school. This contribution accumulates over time and funds raised support causes at the heart of your school. We would encourage all school community members to visit Pharmacy 777 Bayswater and Maylands and join up.

Pastoral Care

Award Winners

Term 4, Week 2

PP Green – Tessa Cavalli, Nate Hoogland, Thomas Pinnington
PP White – Xander De Souza, Mia Paulus, Katelyn Westley

1 Green – Raghav Bhutani, Evie Hamilton, Alexander Khoo
1 White – Chanella Halmich, Bianca Milhinch

2 Green – Isla Bentley, Mia Moore, Milana Zachar
2 White – Zozie Higgs, Amelia Yee

3 Green – Grace Hartus, Chloe Hayward
3 White – Alyssa Clark, Jaydyn Duong

4 Green – Rafael Martino Da Fonseca, Evan Nguyen
4 White – Grace Hamilton, Blake Poletti

5 Green – Girishma Berigai, Liam Jarvis
5 White – Chloe Byatt, Isaac Iaschi

6 Green – Oliver Cornish, Taj Debono
6 White – Heidi Meyers, Vy Huynh

Community Notices

We have been advised by Kapture Photography that all portraits and class groups, sports and/or special team photos taken this year are still available for purchase.  Sports and or special group photos will not be available for viewing and purchase after this school year.  

Please visit www.kapture.com.au using our school code; QH3THZ

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Mercedes College | A College for every girl in the heart of your city!

We have limited places available in all year groups for 2022.  If you are considering enrolling your daughter at Mercedes College, please visit the Mercedes website at www.mercedes.wa.edu.au to request a prospectus, to enrol online or book a tour of our campus. Please contact our Enrolments Officer, Mrs Nicole Kirk on 9323 1323 if you require further information.

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THURSDAY 18 November 5.30-8.30pm – Continuing the Dialogue: Observations and reflections on the First Plenary Council Assembly

The opening session of the Plenary Council concluded on October 10 after an intense week of prayer, discussion and discernment. 

The Council for Catholic Women Perth warmly invites you to hear Perth’s women members share their experience of the first assembly of the Plenary Council.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and to contribute to this dialogue. Men and women are all welcome.

Venue : James Nestor Hall ,Catholic Education Office 50 Ruislip St West Leederville

When: Thursday 18 November, 5.30pm – 8.30pm (Light refreshments served 5.30pm – 6pm)

RSVP: Tuesday 16 November by email kerrymacfarlane2@gmail.com or mobile 0400 886 835

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Kora Centre

Childcare in Bayswater – Refer to flyer attached to this newsletter.

Kora Centre Inc. – Licensed childcare service at Bayswater

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Enrolments are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays. VacSwim offers fun lessons at beach or pool locations. They are a great school holiday activity and they teach valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.

Enrol at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim

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Classifieds