Dear St Columba’s Community,
The final M.E.R.C.Y Value I will explore with you this week is Peace. In our Catholic tradition, this value is about how we create harmony within ourselves, with others and the environment. When we are in harmony with all three, we are also in harmony with God.
Last Friday, students from Years 3-6 had the privilege of attending Mass with our parishioners to celebrate the important feast day of All Saints Day. The Mass provided a meaningful opportunity for students to reflect on the lives of the saints, those who have lived out their faith with exceptional courage, love, and devotion.
The Mass also reminded us of our own call to holiness and how each of us, in our unique ways, can strive to live lives of compassion, kindness, and faith, following in the footsteps of the saints. As the choir sang so beautifully, “Christ has no body now but yours.”
Important Dates for 2025
Our 2025 Calendar is close to finalising. For your information and planning, please see dates for School Terms and Pupil Free Days in 2025.
Term One
Staff commence: Monday 3 February 2025 (Pupil Free Days for students Monday 3 February and Tuesday 4 February)
Students commence: Wednesday 5 February 2025
Pupil Free Day: Friday 28 March
Term concludes: Friday 11 April
Term Two
Staff commence: Monday 28 April (Pupil Free Day for students)
Students commence: Tuesday 29 April
Pupil Free Day: Friday 30 May
Term concludes: Friday 4 July 2025
Term Three
Term commences: Monday 21 July
Catholic Day for Staff – School and OSHC is closed: Friday 22 August
Pupil Free Day: Monday 25 August:
Term concludes: Friday 26 September
Term Four
Term Four commences: Monday 13 October
Term concludes for students: Friday 12 December
Term concludes for staff: Friday 19 December
All other dates available will be uploaded to the School Calendar on the School Website before the conclusion of this year.
Upcoming Events
- Friday 8 November: Assembly
- Wednesday 13 November – P&F Meeting
- Wednesday 13 November – Year 5 Excursion
In gratitude,
Gina Burns
Principal
Congratulations
On the 19th and 26th of October Henry (5G) competed in the State Competition for Inline Speed Skating. He competed on three different locations for banks track, flat track and outdoor track in three events for all. These events are 100m sprints, 1500m and 3000m. He competed in the Junior division and in total won 6 silver medals, 3 in bank track and 3 in outdoor track.”
Congratulations Henry.
Uniform Shop
Please note the following dates for Term 4 opening:
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.
FINAL EVENT
- 29 November – EDU Dance concert
LAST MEETING
If you have any items for the last agenda of 2024, please communicate these to your Class Rep by Thursday 7th November. The final P&F meeting for the year is WEDNESDAY 13th November at 6.00-7.00pm 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:
Banksia Graham PKW
Therese Leong PKW
Ada Marie 1G
Hudson Fernandez 2G
Marcus Tang 2W
Monica Jaramillo Restrepo 3G
Jaike Evangelista 5W
Phoenix Stanmore 6G
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 6 – 13 November
Week 7 – 20 November
| Kindy Green | Week 6 – Margaret Lee Week 7 – Lowan Snodgrass |
| Kindy White | Week 6 – Olivia Smith Week 7 – Lucas Young |
| PP Green | Week 6 – Samuel Smith Week 7 – Leo Milhinch |
| PP White | Week 6 – Mason McMurtrie Week 7 – Lynette Toh |
| Year 1 Green | Week 6 – Sophie MacDonald Week 7 – Holly McMenamin |
| Year 1 White | Week 6 – Indi Gray Week 7 – Samuel Young |
| Year 2 Green | Week 6 – Ross Smith Week 7 – Mia Yanez Del Gesso |
| Year 2 White | Week 6 – Marcus Tang Week 7 – Orlando Smith |
| Year 3 Green | Week 6 – Lucas Scali Week 7 – Juliana Versaico |
| Year 3 White | Week 6 – Owen Metherell Week 7 – Spencer Landis |
| Year 4 Green | Week 6 – Luke Magee Week 7 – Bianca Milhinch |
| Year 4 White | Week 6 – Mia Fernandez Week 7 – Luca Marrapodi |
| Year 5 Green | Week 6 – Ava Scali Week 7 – Emmanuel Wai |
| Year 5 White | Week 6 -Olivia McShanag Week 7 – Luca Maio |
| Year 6 Green | Week 6 – Ty Fernandez Week 7 – Moihi Moses – Taratu |
| Year 6 White | Week 6 – Natalia Milhinch Week 7 – Alexis Stewart |
Religious Education and Curriculum News
From our Year 3 Classes :
This term, the Year Threes have been learning about prayer. We have learnt that prayer takes many forms and is the most important way to express believing in and loving God. The important thing about prayer is that it should become a habit, and people should do it without thinking and at different times during the day.
People can pray to God for different intentions, which are:
· praise
· thanks
· petition
· sorrow
School Counsellor News
Information for FIFO families:
The FIFO Family Project
Nicole Leach
School Counsellor