“Lord, we ask you to open our eyes so that we may value and appreciate all people,

recognizing what we have in common rather

than focusing on what our differences might be. Amen.”

Dear St Columba’s School Community,

As we dive into the school term, we are thrilled to share the exciting events that will shape the experiences of our students in the coming weeks.

Cyber Safety Incursions:

Ensuring the safety of our students in the digital age is paramount. To equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the online world responsibly, St Columba’s is hosting Cyber Safety Incursions for Years 3-6 students this Friday, 9 February. Industry experts from eSafe will guide students through interactive sessions, covering topics such as online etiquette, privacy, and the importance of responsible technology use.

Year 6 Camp to Pinjarra:

Adventure awaits our Year 6 students as they embark on an unforgettable journey to Pinjarra for their annual camp next week from Wed 14 – Fri 16 February. Nestled amidst nature, this experience will not only strengthen friendships but also provide opportunities for personal growth and resilience. From team-building activities to outdoor challenges, the camp promises a week filled with laughter, learning, and lasting memories.

Swimming Trials (Years 4-6):

Swimming Trials took place today, and boy was the weather warm! Our talented students from Years 4 to 6 were able to showcase their aquatic prowess. The trials are not just about competition but also about fostering a love for physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. We encourage all students to participate, cheer for their peers, and celebrate the joy of swimming. Our St Columba’s Swimming Carnival will take place in Week 4 on Tuesday, 20 February.

Parent volunteer declaration:

We appreciate the tremendous support St Columba's receives from our parent community, with no shortage of volunteers to help run school events and carnivals. If you anticipate volunteering at St Columba's this year, please complete the short online form below. The declaration lasts for one year.

Please note I will attend the Year 6 Camp next week from Wednesday to Friday, leaving after the Ash Wednesday Mass. Mrs Vuckovic will be in charge in my absence.

Wishing you all green lights!

Jesse Yock

Acting Principal

Friday 9 February

• eSafe Kids Incursion - Y3-6

Tuesday 13 February

• Shrove Tuesday

Wednesday 14 February

• Ash Wednesday Mass - 9am
• Project Compassion begins
• Year 6 Camp begins

Ash Wednesday Mass will take place for Year 1 - 5 classes at 9am on Wednesday, 14 February in the St Columba’s Church.

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year.

We invite all parents to join us for Mass on this reverent occasion.

Our Year 6 students and their teachers will attend Fairbridge Pinjarra Camp School next week from Wednesday 14 – Friday 16 February. This is a great opportunity to extend and challenge our school leaders as they develop essential leadership skills and make memories that will stay with them long after they return. Thank you to the staff attending and to the parent helpers who will come along for the experience.

Lights, camera, action! Our fantastic Edu Dance program has officially kicked off for all students in Pre-Primary to Year 6, and the school is alive with energy. Get ready to groove, spin, and dance your way into a world of creativity. Plus, students can now rock their sports uniform not just on Phys Ed days but also on Edu Dance days!

Edu-Dance is a curriculum-based dance fitness program designed for primary school students. The focus is on physical fitness, dance confidence, developing self-esteem in students and teamwork. Lessons are fast paced and high-energy with age-appropriate choreography and music.

With the concert in Week 9, we are excited to get started!

Hold onto your hats because NAPLAN testing is taking the spotlight in Term 1 this year! It's a chance for our students to showcase their brilliance, and we're cheering them on every step of the way. Let's turn the challenge into a triumph! NAPLAN begins in Week 7 for Years 3 and 5 students.

We encourage parents to consider sending in non-food treats at birthday times such as stickers, bubbles, pencils, a stamp etc. in place of a sweet food treat. If food is chosen for a birthday celebration, please ensure healthy food choices are made which include attention to portion size, sugar content and consideration of our anaphylactic and allergy aware policy.

Any food brought in for birthday treats will be distributed at the end of the day, with the instruction to eat it at home.

Continuing this year, we're going eco-friendly and tech-savvy with our school notes. Say goodbye to paper and hello to Microsoft Forms. It's time to embrace the digital revolution. Let's save the trees and make a positive impact together!

Students are advised not to be on the school grounds before 8:35 am. Supervision is provided from 8:35 am until the bell rings at 8:50 am. This ensures a secure and organised start to the school day.

All visitors entering the school grounds during the day are required to sign in at the front office. This practice is vital for maintaining a secure environment and enables us to monitor and account for individuals on our school site.

For students intending to engage in post-school playground activities, it is mandatory that a parent be present to supervise. Please be aware that school staff do not oversee the play equipment after school hours. Any unsupervised students will be kindly asked to leave the area.

Families are reminded to adhere to the school parking policy and take note of street verge signage. Parking is strictly prohibited in 'no standing or parking' zones, and non-compliance may result in fines from the Ranger. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

The Education Act mandates the teaching of a Protective Behaviours program in all schools. At St Columba’s we follow the Keeping Safe Program. The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) aims to help children learn to recognise abuse and develop ways of protecting themselves from abuse and, in wider terms, covers rights, relationships, responsibilities and ethical behaviour. Stay tuned for updates throughout the year.

This framework of nine elements combine supporting a child safe culture, healthy and respectful relationships and extended guardianship in school communities, based on the latest research and recognised best practices. Teachers are responsible for delivering this curriculum to students. Please view the video below for an introduction to the framework.

https://childsafe.cewa.edu.au/introduction-key-concepts/

The DOSC are planning a Term 1 get together. It will be a great opportunity to meet other dads and welcome any new families to the school.

Date: Friday 1st of March

Time: 6:30pm

Venue: The Station, 1 Mends St, South Perth

Please join us for a bite to eat and a drink. Dads, father figures, carers and mums welcome.

If you would like to be added to the DOSC WhatsApp chat group please fill details in the form above or message Alan on 0423 840 411 or Mel on 0419 924 216.

Please RSVP using the form below.

Happy Thursday everyone!

And just like that, we are straight into it. The holidays seem like a distant memory now. New parents are starting to meet each other, social events are kicking off, the children are finding their new routine and the Term 1 extra curricular has started off with a bang. WOW - what can I say, this school sure loves soccer!!!

I am pleased to announce your P&F crew for 2024:

Executive

President: Hayley Mitchell

Vice-President: Gemma Bristow

Treasurer: Mat Smith

Secretary: Renee Methorst

Year Group Representatives

Kindy: Renee Pachioli

PPG: Kylie Rogers

PPW: Tarren Grover

1G: Reagan Gruenthal

1W: Sam Desilva

2G: Sarah Karabatic

2W: Melissa Colli

3G: Clare Madehin

3W: Leah Chapman

4G: Felicity Dane-Stewart

4W: Bree Stevens

5G: TBC

5W: Ange Metschke

6G: Brooke Pink and Louise Van Maanen

6W: Stephanie Stephenson

We look forward to an amazing year building on our mission we set out in 2022; to "improve and sustain the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our children ''. Your year group representatives will keep you informed with all the wonderful things going on. In the meantime, I will do my best to update you through this newsletter.

If at any time you have any requests, questions or just want to find out more, please don't hesitate to contact myself or any of the executive team via our email address: pandf@stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au

Keep cool everyone.

Hayley Mitchell

P&F President

ISSUE 1 has been sent home today. Book orders are due on Wednesday, 14 February.

Did you know that every purchase you make on Book Club earns our school 15% of the order value in Scholastic Rewards? We use these to purchase more books and educational resources for the school. It all helps!

Cash payments are no longer accepted. Payments can be made by credit card - Visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app. Your order will be electronically linked to the rest of your school's order. You do not need to complete the order form.

Term 1: Wednesday 31 January - Thursday 28 March

Term 2: Tuesday 16 April - Friday 28 June

Term 3: Tuesday 16 July - Friday 20 September

Term 4: Tuesday 8 October - Friday 6 December

Term 1: Monday 29 January, Tuesday 30 January

Term 2: Monday 15 April, Friday 10 May, Friday 31 May

Term 3: Monday 15 July

Term 4: Monday 7 October

Sacramental Program Enrolment Mass: Saturday, 16 March at 6pm

Confirmation: Saturday, 18 May at 6pm

Eucharist: Sunday, 5 May at 9:30am

Reconciliation: Saturday, 9 November at 10am

Email: admin@stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au
Website: https://www.stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au/
Location: 30 York Street, South Perth WA 6151, Australia
Phone: (08) 6436 9500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/St-Columbas-Catholic-Primary-School-South-Perth-173160579973945/