Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that everyone had a restful break and ready for the school year. What a great start students and staff have had for the 2025 school year all be it extremely hot. Everyone has settled in well and are off to a flying start.
Congratulations to staff member Mrs Miller who has had her baby. Everything is going well and both parents are now experiencing the joys of parenthood.
Our prayers and thoughts are with several families at St Columba’s who have recently had family members pass away.
A big thank you must go to all the staff for working so hard in having the school ready for our students yesterday.
We wish our Year 6 students all the best as they head off to camp in Week 3 at Pinjarra. I am sure that they will have some wonderful stories to tell once they return.
Our school community would like to welcome all the new families that have started at St Columba’s this year. I am sure that it will not take long for them to settle in St Columba’s school life and be made most welcome by existing families.
We welcome to St Columba’s new staff, Miss Ashlee Timmermans, Mrs Spiewak and Mrs Cullen who have joined our staff for the 2025 school year.
Our opening school Mass was held today in the Church. Our staff received a blessing from Fr Nino in preparation for the school year.
We will be celebrating Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, 5 March.
A reminder to families that students should not be on the school grounds prior to 8:30am. St Columba’s provides supervision only from 8:35am until the bell goes at 8:50am. On entering the school grounds during the day all visitors will need to enter via the front office.
To ensure your child’s wellbeing, the school requires that parents provide up-to-date medical information in regard to any allergies or medical conditions.
If your child is allergic to bee stings, nuts, shellfish, eggs etc. and may suffer an allergic reaction, it is paramount that the school is informed. Your doctor will need to provide an anaphylaxis document with instructions that the school will follow. If your child suffers from asthma, a plan is also required for staff to follow in the event of an asthma attack. Anaphylaxis documents and asthma plans are to be presented to the office with medication to ensure that in an event of a medical incident, your child can be treated effectively. Any other medical information that may be relevant must also be presented in written form to the office. This information will remain confidential within the staff-teaching environment.
Teacher/parent evenings will be held on Wednesday, 12 February in the Green Classrooms. Classroom teachers will advise session times. The teachers will explain classroom procedures and expectations. It is a great opportunity for parents and carers to meet their child’s classroom teacher and have a clear understanding of what is happening in the classroom with their child/rens learning. Please note it is not a parent interview night and if you have any concerns about your child’s progress, you will need to make a separate interview time, to discuss your child classroom progress.
There will be a School Advisory Council meeting Monday, 17 March at 7:00pm in the school staffroom.
The P&F will hold their first meeting on Tuesday, 25 March at 7:00pm in the school staff room. All parents and carers are welcome to attend this meeting.
Edu-Dance begins next week and the students are able to wear sports uniform on their Phys Ed day and the Edu-Dance day.
Families please note that you will need to adhere to the school parking policy and the street verge signage. Parking is not permitted in ‘no standing or parking ‘zones and cars that do not follow the street and verge signage face a possible fine from the Ranger. Also, parking in the church car park is
not allowed as this is for staff and Kiss and Drive. Your help in this matter will be very much appreciated.
A reminder, students will finish this term on Friday, 11 April.
God bless.
Allen McMahon
Principal
