Dear St Columba’s Community,
Following on from previous Donegal’s, the third M.E.R.C.Y Value I will explore with you this week is Compassion.
The word “compassion” comes from the Latin “compasio,” which means to suffer with others. It’s a time when we share in the struggles of those around us, feeling their pain as our own. Mercy and compassion are closely intertwined. When we act based on our compassion, we transition from merely feeling empathy to actively showing mercy. While you can express compassion without necessarily showing mercy, true mercy cannot exist without the foundation of compassion.
Celebrating Achievements
Last week, our St Columba’s Interschool Athletics Team claimed victory at the Catholic School Sports Association A Division Athletics Carnival. This achievement is particularly special for our school, as it marks our third consecutive win.
All participating students deserve high praise for their skill and sportsmanship. You have made both your school and parents incredibly proud. A special thank you goes to Mr Banks for his excellent preparation during before-school training, as well as to the parents and staff who supported at the event.
After such a remarkable day, several students went on to compete in the UWA Primary School Championships, achieving even more impressive results. Congratulations to this awesome foursome – Henry, Harriet, Hunter and Huw! Their individual results are outlined further below.
Annual Community Meeting
All parents are invited to the Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday, November 20, at 6:00 PM in the Sr Irena Library. We encourage you to join us to hear the Annual Reports from the School, the Catholic School Advisory Council, and the Parents and Friends Association.
Nominations for Catholic School Advisory Council
I invite you all to consider nomination to the Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC). Involvement with the CSAC is very rewarding and gives you the opportunity to be closely associated with the school.
A CSAC provides parents and community members with structured ways to provide support and expertise to the Principal and School Leadership Team.
The CSAC operates in accordance with the CSAC Terms of Reference, Quality Catholic Education, Policies, Executive Directives, and the Delegations of Authority. The CSAC is accountable to the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA).
The CSAC must carry out the following functions:
(a) Support planning for the present and future operation of the Catholic school.
(b) Provide membership, at the principal’s request, on selection panels for the employment of staff to the Catholic school in accordance with the relevant CECWA Policies and Executive Directives.
(c) Provide membership on the panel that recommends the appointment of a principal in accordance with the relevant CECWA Policy and Executive Directives.
(d) In consultation with the principal, communicate about the Catholic School and about Catholic education to persons and organisations in the School Community.
(e) Endorse the catholic school’s annual budget before submission to CECWA for approval; and
(f) Advise the Principal on school financial matters such as performance against budget, sustainability, and capital and recurrent planning.
There are two elected positions and two co-opted positions available on the CSAC for 2025.
Nominees to the CSAC should possess:
- A commitment and desire to promote Catholic education and give service to the Catholic School Community.
- A commitment to the safety, well-being, and pastoral care of all students and staff.
- An ability to work co-operatively and constructively with the principal, school leadership team, and all other members of the Advisory Council.
- The possession of skills, competencies, and experience that are reflective of, relevant, and beneficial to the Catholic School Community; and
- A sufficiency of time to devote to Advisory Council duties.
The CSAC meets once-twice a term on a Tuesday evening.
For further information, please refer to the Terms of Reference – Catholic School Advisory Committee
Nomination forms for the CSAC should be returned to the School by Monday 11 November 2024.
Catholic School Advisory Council Nomination Form 2025
Nominations for Parents and Friends Committee
The Parents and Friends Committee (P&F) directs its energies to friendship, fundraising, and other community activities to support the operation of the school.
All parents of enrolled students at the school are considered general members of the P&F.
The P&F is led by a volunteer group of parents, each of whom is elected to office bearer positions. These people are identified as P&F Committee members.
The P&F Committee membership conditions are:
(a) a commitment and desire to promote Catholic education.
(b) a commitment and desire to give service to the school.
(c) a commitment to the safety, wellbeing and pastoral care of all students and staff.
(d) an ability to work cooperatively and constructively with the principal, school leadership team, the Catholic School Advisory Council and other members of the P&F; and
(e) a sufficiency of time to devote to P&F duties.
The P&F Committee should be comprised of four to six plus the Principal or their delegate.
The P&F Committee must consist of the following office bearers:
(a) Chair
(b) Deputy Chair.
(c) Secretary.
(d) Treasurer; and
(e) P&F Representative to the Catholic School Advisory Council
All P&F positions will become vacant at the conclusion of 2024.
The P&F meet approximately once a month on Tuesday evening.
For further information, please refer to the Terms of Reference – Catholic School Parents and Friends Group
Nomination forms for the P&F Committee should be returned to the School by Monday 11 November 2024.
Upcoming Events
- Friday 1 November : All Saints Day Mass
- Tuesday 5 November – Kindy 2025 Orientation 9.00am
- Tuesday 5 November – Pre Kindy 2025 Orientation 10.30 am.
- Friday 8 November – Assembly
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Principal
Congratulations
A few students from St Columba’s participated in the “Champion of Champions” track and field carnival on Friday at UWA Sports Park. Our athletes competed their best against champions from other schools. We had some outstanding achievements, including;
Henry Webb:
2nd 1500m 5.47
3rd 400m 1.13Harriet Webb:
3rd 1500m 6.14Hunter Sardelich:
4th 1500m 5.45Huw Humphreys:
1st Javelin 27.89m
3rd Long Jump 3.79m
2nd 1500m 5.47
3rd 400m 1.13Harriet Webb:
3rd 1500m 6.14Hunter Sardelich:
4th 1500m 5.45Huw Humphreys:
1st Javelin 27.89m
3rd Long Jump 3.79m
Uniform Shop
Please note the following dates for Term 4 opening:
Wed 6 November (first Wed of month)
Then each week until end of term:
Wed 20 November
Wed 27 November
Wed 4 December
Orders can still be placed online for delivery to your child’s class each Friday.
P & F News
FUNDRAISING FOCUS
Gingerberry Offer – Rob and Jayne Jagger have been a part of the St Columba’s community since 2015 and want to give back. Rob designs baby & children’s feeding products and has been in the industry for 20+ years. His brand Gingerberry, affectionately named after his girls Sophie and Lilah with their ginger & strawberry hair, focuses on ergonomics and provides young families with all they need when introducing a sippy cup, starting solids for the first time & teaching their little ones how to hold cutlery correctly. Rob is offering 20% off with part proceeds going to the School. Simply head to the website www.gingerberry.com.au and enter these two discount codes at the checkout (STCOLS20 + FREE) – all orders can either be collected from their home in Bayswater or the school and this offer will be on for the remainder of 2024. We understand you may be past this point or there may be another little bundle on the way, however they make great gifts and this offer can be passed onto friends. See flyer attached to this newsletter.
Containers for Change Update – Love to contribute to our schools fundraising efforts? Consider the St Columba’s P&F at your next Containers for Change deposit. Simply scan the QR code, download the app and add the member number to your profile. The P&F fund would be so grateful for your contribution to further aid in the students’ resources and equipment.
FINAL EVENT
- 29 November – EDU Dance concert
REMINDER – LAST MEETING & 2025 CLASS REPS
Our final P&F meeting for the year is WEDNESDAY 13th November at 6.00pm to 7.00pm in the Sr Irena Library. Please feel welcome to join the conversations and get involved by volunteering. We will be looking for parent volunteers soon to fill the Class Rep roles ahead of 2025.
Pastoral Care
Happy Birthday to:
The following students who will celebrate birthday’s in the coming week:
Vera Pirone KG
Hunter Kemmy KW
Milana Zachar 5G
PASTORAL CARE WEEKLY RAFFLE
Tickets are 3 for $1 (maximum of 3 tickets per child).
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.
WEEKLY RAFFLE ROSTER
TERM 4
Week 5 – 6 November
Week 6 – 13 November
| Kindy Green | Week 5 – Noah O’Hart Week 6 – Margaret Lee |
| Kindy White | Week 5 – Ruairi Meenan Week 6 – Olivia Smith |
| PP Green | Week 5 – Harley Johnson Week 6 – Samuel Smith |
| PP White | Week 5 – Olive Richards Week 6 – Mason McMurtrie |
| Year 1 Green | Week 5 – Leo Sharrinvoski Week 6 – Sophie MacDonald |
| Year 1 White | Week 5 – Isabella Will Week 6 – Indi Gray |
| Year 2 Green | Week 5 – Smith Robertson Week 6 – Ross Smith |
| Year 2 White | Week 5 – Luciana Pulido Vargas Week 6 – Marcus Tang |
| Year 3 Green | Week 5 – Mackenzie Strachan Week 6 – Lucas Scali |
| Year 3 White | Week 5 – Oaklyn Payne Week 6 – Owen Metherell |
| Year 4 Green | Week 5 – Quill O’Brien Week 6 – Luke Magee |
| Year 4 White | Week 5 – Matilda Meenan Week 6 – Mia Fernandez |
| Year 5 Green | Week 5 – Mariana Pulido Vargas Week 6 – Ava Scali |
| Year 5 White | Week 5 – Sebastian Strachan Week 6 -Olivia McShanag |
| Year 6 Green | Week 5 – Isla Markowski Week 6 – Ty Fernandez |
| Year 6 White | Week 5 – Emme Moretta Week 6 – Natalia Milhinch |
Award Winners
MERIT AWARDS – Term 4, Week 3
PP Green – Aletheia Charles, Leonardo Milhinch
PP White – Maxime Isautier, Margot Juniper
1 Green – Sophie MacDonald
1 White – Francis Masek
2 Green – Faye Gallagher, Harriet Stazzonelli
2 White – Ross Smith, Marcus Tang
3 Green – Jacob Mak
3 White – Darcey Poulsen, Thea Setzinger
4 Green – Sajad Aljabry, Max Nguyen
4 White – Mia Harstrom, Davern Laffrey
5 White – Shishir Berigai, Kathleen Vaccari
6 Green – Rose Badamsuren, Zoe Juszkiewicz, Giorgia Trevenen
6 White – Abraham Lawes
Religious Education and Curriculum News
From our Senior Music Classes :
The Years 3 to 6 classes have been exploring rhythm and beat and time signatures whilst playing on different instruments. They are learning how to play their instruments as part as of an ensemble which involves active listening to your part as well as the other parts.
The students are being taken right out of their comfort zone by performing for their class. They are exploring what it takes to be a performer and how to overcome their nerves as well as what audience etiquette is expected of them.
The Year 5 and 6 classes have started learning the ukulele this term too.
From our Year 2 classes :
In Year 2 we have been leaning about the Sacrament of Baptism. We learnt that Jesus began a special family, the ‘family of God’, called the Church, to teach his followers about God and God’s love for all people. Jesus invites all people to be part of God’s family, and they do this when they: believe in God, live as Jesus taught – love and honour God, show love to others and join the community of his Church.
Through Baptism Jesus commanded his followers to baptise people and to follow his teachings. He told them that he would always be with them.
