“We thank you Lord, for the courage and sacrifice of the ANZACS almost 100 years ago.

As we remember those who have fallen in battle, we give thanks to you, gracious God, for their great sacrifices in conflict and in captivity. They gave their lives for peace and freedom. Amen”

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope everyone had a restful break and are feeling refreshed and ready for Term 2. The students have settled in well and are off to a flying start!

A big thank you to all the staff for their hard work in getting the classrooms ready for our students’ return on Monday.

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the students who will be receiving their Confirmation this term. I know their teachers will have them well prepared for this special celebration. Our Year 6 students will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, 7 June and Saturday, 14 June at 6:00pm at St Columba’s Church. It’s sure to be an exciting and meaningful time for them.

On Wednesday, 7 May, we will be holding our P&F Mother’s Day event from 7:30 to 8:50am. All mothers and mother figures are warmly invited — we look forward to celebrating Mother’s Day together as a community. Please note that food will be provided for attending adults only, and Kiss and Drive will be closed that morning.

A reminder that teacher/parent interviews will take place on Monday, 12 May.

Thank you to Mr Yock and the Year 4 students for organising our ANZAC Day celebration on Tuesday. It was a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by our soldiers in defence of our freedoms and way of life.

Please remember that students should not be on school grounds before 8:35am, as supervision is only provided from 8:35am until the bell at 8:50am. Playground areas are not supervised outside of these times. All visitors entering the school during the day must check in at the front office.

To support your child’s wellbeing, the school requires up-to-date medical information for any allergies or medical conditions. If your child is allergic to bee stings, nuts, shellfish, eggs, etc., and may experience an allergic reaction, it is essential that the school is informed. A doctor must provide an anaphylaxis action plan, which will be followed in case of an emergency. Similarly, if your child has asthma, an asthma management plan is required. These plans, along with any necessary medication, should be submitted to the office to ensure we can respond effectively in the event of a medical incident. Any other relevant medical information should also be provided in writing. This information will be kept confidential within the teaching staff.

As we approach flu season, please do not send your child to school if they are unwell. If students are coughing, have headaches, fevers, or other symptoms, families will be asked to collect them.

A reminder to all families to follow the school’s parking policy and street verge signage. Parking is not permitted in ‘No Standing’ or ‘No Parking’ zones. Please be aware that cars parked illegally may receive fines from the Ranger. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. The school does not have the authority to manage traffic or parking violations outside of school grounds. Any issues on public roads, verges, or footpaths should be reported directly to the Ranger or Police.

All Australian governments have agreed to implement an annual national data collection on school students with disability. This process is now in place, and St Columba’s will be collecting the required data and submitting it to the Federal Government. The data is handled confidentially, and no personal information is disclosed.

The next P&F meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20 May at 7:00pm in the school staffroom. All are welcome to attend.

Finally, a reminder that students will finish Term 2 on Friday, 4 July.

God Bless and keep safe.

Allen McMahon

Principal

Friday 2 May

• Pope Francis Remembrance Liturgy
• Jump Rope for Heart begins

• Extra curricular activities commence (see P&F section)

Tuesday 6 May

• Confirmation Parent Meeting - 6pm

Wednesday 7 May

• Mother's Day P&F Event - 7.30am
• Kiss and Drive Closed - AM only

Thursday 8 May

• Parent Teacher Interview Bookings Close

Sunday 11 May

• Mother's Day

Students from Year 1-6, will be participating in Jump Rope for Heart. This program will run for 5 weeks, from Week 2 - 6.

Jump Rope for Heart is a fantastic physical activity and fundraising program that has been run by the Heart Foundation for 40 years. It’s a great way for your child to keep fit and learn new skills, but it also helps raise funds for vital heart research and education programs.

Over the course of the program, students from Year 1-6, will be skipping as part of class daily fitness. Each week, your child will learn new skills, increase their physical activity, and learn about heart health.

You are welcome to register your child online. By doing this you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your family a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors. Register and create your own secure webpage at jumprope.org.au/parents

By signing up online, you and your child can:

• Easily raise funds online
• Track skipping skills progress and earn virtual badges along the way
• Post updates to your page so family and friends can follow their progress
• Access additional skipping resources

Visit jumprope.org.au/parents for all the information that you need.

In alignment with our Catholic school identity, we have decided that all donations and prizes will be collected as a whole school effort. Together we can make a big difference! All prizes earned will be donated to CARITAS and be shared with underprivileged children. All money raised will be given to the Heart Foundation.

Thank you for getting involved in Jump Rope for Heart!

Our Year 6 students are busy preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this term. Parents of those candidates receiving Confirmation in 2025 will meet for the Parent Information Evening on Tuesday, 6 May at 6pm in the Church. One parent from each family is asked to attend the session, which should take about 60 minutes.

Our Term 2 Parent-Teacher Interviews will take place on Monday, 12 May, providing an opportunity to discuss your child's progress and learning goals with their classroom teacher.

This year, we will once again use the Microsoft Bookings platform, which integrates seamlessly with your email calendars for a smooth and convenient booking process.

Key Dates & Booking Details:
📅 Bookings Open: Monday, 28 April (First Day of Term 2)
📅 Bookings Close: COB Thursday, 8 May
📅 Interview Date: Monday, 12 May
📞 Parents can choose a 10-minute phone call or in-person meeting with their child's teacher.

An email with booking instructions and links will be sent to all Kindy to Year 6 parents on Monday, 28 April.

We encourage all families to take part in these valuable discussions. Please ensure you secure your preferred time before the booking deadline. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

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 second round of the WA Student Assistance Payment will be available for every eligible student in Western Australia from 28 April 2025 - 4 July 2025.

Please click on the link below for more information.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so generously to Project Compassion. We raised $2,678.30!

Our generous support has helped to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Together we have raised much-needed funds for people living in poverty.

As a school community we have made a difference now, and For All Future Generations.

Well done!

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has developed two Federal Election Scorecards – please find the PDFs below.

Round 7 is in the books, and it delivered some nail-biters, solid upsets, and another week of pure tipping chaos.

Round 7’s Top Tippers 🏆

Shoutout to the weekly legends who cracked 7:

🥇 Mark S – 7 tips, perfect 0-point margin
🥈 Cameron W – 7 tips, 2-point margin
🥈 Noah K – 7 tips, 2-point margin
🥈 Nick W – 7 tips, 2-point margin
🥈 Brendon O – 7 tips, 2-point margin

Overall Leaderboard – Top 5 (ish...)

It’s getting tight at the top as we approach the business end of the first half:

1️Brendon O – 38 tips, 135-point margin
2️Craig P – 37 tips, 102-point margin
3️Stef F – 37 tips, 106-point margin
4️⃣Tristan K – 37 tips, 144-point margin
5️Noah K – 37 tips, 145-point margin
6️Pat D – 37 tips, 160-point margin

Round 8 Kicks Off This Thursday at 5:30 PM. It’s Bombers vs North to get us started—don’t forget to get those tips in!

👉 Join Here
Comp Code: 5WHXJC5U

For any questions, reach out at doscafootytipping6151@gmail.com or give me a buzz on 0411253951.

Good luck, and may your team not ruin your weekend (again)!

Cheers, Santhosh

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to Term 2.

We have a busy term ahead and I cant wait to share all the wonderful things that are happening in the P&F space.

Mothers Day - Wednesday 7th May
Our wonderful Year 4 reps and families have been busy putting together our Mothers Day event for 2025. Please see the flyer for information. Light refreshments will be provided for the mums/mother figures as well as activities to do with the children. We are looking forward to seeing you all there.

Extra-Curricular
Our extra curricular offerings commence next week. We still have some spots available so please enrol via the email that was sent out last term.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Hayley Mitchell

P&F President

Rugby - Years 1 to 6

- 6 sessions

- 08/05/2025 - 12/06/2025

- Thursdays 3:20pm - 4:20pm

- Cost to Parents: $49 (P&F subsidising the remainder)

- League Stars Pack Included

- Location: Bottom Oval

Volleyball - Years 1 to 6

- 8 sessions

- Commence Week 2, Term 2 (Tuesday, 6 May).

- Time: 3:20pm - 4:20pm

- Includes a Reds Shirt and their annual VWA Membership

- Cost $70

- Location: Bottom Oval

Soccer - Years 1 to 6

- Wednesday and Fridays (one of these sessions will be dedicated to advanced students)

- Commence Week 2, Term 2

- Time: 7:30am - 8:30am

- Cost: $149

- Location: bottom oval

Registration information was email to families in the last week of Term 1.

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.

St. Columba’s Parish will be hosting a fundraising stall at the upcoming Angelo Street Party on Saturday, 3 May and are looking for donations of baked goods, preserves and crafts.

If you would like to assist at the market stall or donate any homemade goods, please email Isabella: admin.south.perth@perthcatholic.org.au

Perth Goju Karate teaches karate classes in your local area.

A special offer for the school’s students - 4 WEEKS FREE beginners karate lessons!

Classes are held after school and are a great way for children of all ages to learn self-defense in a fun and safe environment.

We also teach classes for teens and adults and they are fantastic for fitness, wellbeing and of course, self-defense.

Classes continue throughout the school term and the school holidays.

Karate has many benefits which include confidence, respect, discipline, fun and fitness.

Call now to take advantage of this 4 week trial. Sensei Johnny Moran - 0402 830 402

www.perthgojukarate.wordpress.com

Term 2: Monday 28 April - Friday 4 July

Term 3: Tuesday 22 July - Thursday 25 September

Term 4: Monday 13 October - Friday 12 December

Term 2: Monday 12 May, Friday 30 May

Term 3: Monday 21 July, Friday 26 September

Term 4: Monday 27 October

Confirmation: Saturday, 7 June at 6pm, Saturday, 14 June at 6pm

Eucharist: Sunday, 17 August, Sunday, 24 August, Sunday, 31 August at 9.30am

Reconciliation: Saturday, 15 November at 10am