Dear Community of St Columba’s,
Congratulations to all our Columba Runners on the fantastic kilometres achieved throughout the 2025 season. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by our students have been truly inspiring, and the results speak for themselves.
A special congratulations to Year 6 Student, Isla Bentley, who has made history as the first student to receive both the John Murphy and Tammi Doyle Awards, an outstanding achievement that reflects her commitment and perseverance.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful Committee Members Jaimie, Melissa and Sascha for their tireless organisation and passion. Thank you to Tanya, previous Committee Member, who has worked behind the scenes to support the new committee in their first year. Their commitment has ensured continuation in this highly valued tradition.
We also deeply appreciate the many parents who generously give their time each week to support this extracurricular event. We hope more parents may be able to assist in 2026. Your involvement is what makes Columba Runners such a meaningful experience for our students.
2026 Bell Times
Since 2024, we have trialled staggered start and finish times to ease traffic congestion. While this has helped in some areas, it has also created challenges for families with children across multiple year levels and also impacted staff scheduling. After careful consideration and ongoing feedback from our community and neighbours, we recognise that the current arrangement is no longer serving its intended purpose.
Therefore, beginning in 2026, all students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 will return to a unified start and finish time. We believe this change will simplify routines for families, support staff planning, and improve overall school operations.
Looking ahead to 2027, please note a minor timetable adjustment will be introduced to accommodate an additional two minutes per day, allowing for a three-week mid-year break.
Gate opening and closing times will remain unchanged. Please see below for further information.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we ensure St Columba’s remains a place where students thrive and community spirit shines.
2026
| PP to Year 6 | Kindy | Pre Kindy |
| 8.00 Before School Duty 8.15 – 8.30 PP to Year 6 Doors Open 8.30 Start 10.20 – 10.40 Recess 10.40 – 12.30 pm Instruction 12.30 – 1.10 pm Lunch 1.10 – 2.50 Instruction 2.50 pm Finish | 8.30 Doors Open 8.40 Start 10 – 10.30 Recess 10.30 – 12 Classes 12.00 – 12.30 Lunch 12.30 – 2.50 Classes 2.50 Finish | 8.45 Doors Open 8.55 Start 10-10.30 Recess 10.30 – 12 Classes 12-12.30 Lunch 12.30 – 2.50 Classes 2.50 Finish |
2027
(Changes are in red to show the incorporated extra 2 minutes of instruction.)
| PP to Year 6 | Kindy | Pre Kindy |
| 8.00 Before School Duty 8.15 – 8.30 PP to Year 6 Doors Open 8.28 Start 10.20 – 10.40 Recess 10.40 – 12.30 pm Instruction 12.30 – 1.10 pm Lunch 1.10 – 2.50 Instruction 2.50 pm Finish | 8.30 Doors Open 8.38 Start 10 – 10.30 Recess 10.30 – 12 Classes 12.00 – 12.30 Lunch 12.30 – 2.50 Classes 2.50 Finish | 8.45 Doors Open 8.53 Start 10-10.30 Recess 10.30 – 12 Classes 12-12.30 Lunch 12.30 – 2.50 Classes 2.50 Finish |
Upcoming Events
- Wednesday 29 October: Year 5 & 6 St John First Aid Course
- Wednesday 29 October: Year One Excursion to Browne’s Dairy Factory
- Wednesday 29 October: Interschool Athletics Team Breakfast
- Thursday 30 October: Interschool Athletics Carnival
- Friday 31 October: Teacher Appreciation Day
- Wednesday 5 November: Science Fair
In Gratitude,
Gina Burns
Principal
Assistant Principal's Updates
P & F News
DON’T FORGET
Byrde Family Carpark – Term 4 reserved car bay
A gentle reminder to please keep the Principal’s car bay free this term when parking at School. This bay has been reserved for use in Term 4 by the Byrde Family who were nominated in the Family Carpark draw.
REMINDERS
SECOND HAND UNIFORMS FACEBOOK GROUP
A new private facebook group has been setup exclusively to buying, selling and swapping second-hand school uniforms online. Please note, this group is separate from the main school community group and is purely for uniform-related posts. Search ‘St Columba’s Bayswater | Second Hand Uniforms’ and join now heading into Term 4 uniform-selling-season!
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 (such as grant funding for bike infrastructure). 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.
SAVE THE DATE
Welcome Back School family event / St Col’s 90th Birthday Party — Friday 6th February 5-7pm
Library News
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, Thursday or Friday. Precut covering for books is supplied. Your help is greatly appreciated by students and staff.
Many thanks.
Rita Cuthbert – Library
(Monday, Thursday & Friday)
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week:
Madison Hayward KG
Zoie Quispe PKG
Vera Pirone PPG
Hunter Kemmy PPW
Noah Bowker Y1W
Harriet Webb Y6G
Theo Smart 6W
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 4
Week 3 – 29 October
Week 4 – 5 November No Raffle – Science Week
Week 5 – 12 November
| Kindy Green | Week 3 – Edward Kourtesis Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Chloe Metherell |
| Kindy White | Week 3 – Poppy Kay Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Elise Lee |
| PP Green | Week 3 – Kailesh Jeganathan Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – August Knox |
| PP White | Week 3 – Hunter Kemmy Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Gursher Lobana |
| Year 1 Green | Week 3 – Arden O’Reilly Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Francesco Pizzata |
| Year 1 White | Week 3 – Luke Molony Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Akira Romeo |
| Year 2 Green | Week 3 – Ada Marie Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Digby Weaire |
| Year 2 White | Week 3 – Francis Masek Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Harper Raven |
| Year 3 Green | Week 3 – Harvey Kemmy Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Aiden Harris |
| Year 3 White | Week 3 – Thea O’Reilly Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Otis Knox |
| Year 4 Green | Week 3 – Olivia Molony Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Maximo Pizzata |
| Year 4 White | Week 3 – Harrison MacPherson Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Owen Metherell |
| Year 5 Green | Week 3 – Stefano Mustica Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Harriet Weaire |
| Year 5 White | Week 3 – Vaughan O’Reilly Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Sera McDougall |
| Year 6 Green | Week 3 – Ella MacPherson Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Alessandro Pizzata |
| Year 6 White | Week 3 – Sasha Mazurak Week 4 – No Raffle – Science Week Week 5 – Peyton Shute |
Class News
From our GATE Classes
This term in GATE, our Year 4 and Year 5 students have successfully completed their digital bridge designs using Maker’s Empire. Building on last term’s popstick bridge constructions, students applied their understanding of structure, strength, and design principles to create precise 3D models. Excitingly, some of these bridges have now started to be brought to life on our 3D printer, allowing students to see their engineering ideas transformed from screen to reality. It’s been a wonderful process of creativity, perseverance, and innovation! truly showcasing the power of STEM learning in action!
Our Year 6 students are continuing to work on their miniature room projects. They have moved from planning and designing to building and decorating their rooms using a range of materials. Students are carefully applying their maths skills by using scale and proportion to make sure everything fits just right. It’s been great to see their creativity and problem-solving skills as their ideas come to life!
From our Italian Classes
This term in Italian we have been learning through memory games. We’ve also been putting our information technology skills to use by creating PowerPoints on sentences we have learnt.
Bravissimi 👏🏼 🇮🇹
Community Notices
