St. Columba's Primary School
NEWSLETTER | TERM 1 | WEEK 4 | 27 FEBRUARY 2020
“ … love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father ... ” Matthew 5: 38-48

We made pancakes for Shrove Tuesday.
Message from the Principal
Christians around the world mark the beginning of Lent yesterday with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. This ancient day and season has a surprising modern appeal. Priests and pastors often tell you that outside of Christmas, more people show up to church on Ash Wednesday than any other day of the year—including Easter. But this mystique isn’t reserved for Christians alone. The customs that surround the season have a quality to them that transcend religion. Perhaps most notable is the act of fasting. While Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays during the Lenten season, many people—religious or not—take up this increasingly popular discipline during the year.
Our students have continued to work well and have a busy schedule over the next few weeks. We celebrated Ash Wednesday yesterday, have the swimming trials tomorrow, the Campout, and the school swimming carnival are also coming up very soon. Many thanks must go to Lara and the P&F, for the wonderful family picnic they organised last Friday evening. It was great to see so many families attending and enjoying themselves.
Just a reminder to families to make sure that bikes ridden to school are locked to bike racks as we
have a bike stolen in the last week.
A reminder to families that students should not be on the school grounds prior to 8:30am. St Columba’s provides supervision from 8:30am until the bell goes at 8:50am. If families want students to utilise the play equipment with their children before or after school they are responsible for supervising them. The school staff do not provide supervision during this time.
The students involved in the Sacraments have the Enrolment Mass on Saturday March 14 at 6:00pm in St Columba’s Church. This Mass is compulsory for all Sacramental candidates.
Have a great long weekend.
God Bless
Allen
Important dates for next week
28 February - Swimming Trials Aqualife, Vic Park
2 March - Public Holiday
Merit award winners - next Friday 6 March
Year 1W - Samuel, Olivia
Year 2G - Dinuli, Aiden W
Year 2W - Audrey, Lennox
Year 3G - Annabelle F, Charlotte
Year 3W - Allegra, Chelsea, Rachel
Year 4G - Joel, Maggie
Year 4W - Maclaren, Giselle
Year 5 - Holly, Teresa
Year 6 - Celeste, Gemma

FINAL REMINDER: Enrolment for Kindy 2022 closing Fri 28 Feb
Download application forms: https://www.stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au/enrolment/

Swimming trials Years 4 to 6 - Fri 28 Feb
- Friday 28th February at Aqualife Vic Park. (Tomorrow)
- Bus is departing school @ 8:30am promptly.
- Students should arrive at school ready to depart immediately with their swimming attire on and sports uniform over the top.
- Bag, recess and lunch should also be taken.
- Students will be timed on various strokes in order to gauge their race division for the carnival.
Dress orange for Harmony Day - Mon 16 March
On Monday 16 March the children will be celebrating Harmony Day. There will be an Assembly at 9 am to acknowledge the many nationalities that make Australia a great Nation. Children are asked to come dressed in traditional costume or to wear their sports uniform with something orange e. g. orange socks, ribbon, shirt, shoe laces etc. A gold coin donation per family will be given to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation who distribute new books to remote indigenous communities in Australia.
Artist of the month
By Cerise and Sarina - Year 6 Visual Arts Ministers

Dads of St Columba's camp out 2020
Where: Lower Oval, St. Columba Primary School
Cost: The cost will $20 per family Bring: Camping gear, torches, drinks, nibbles, etc. *Please note this is a smoke free and nut-free event as per school policy.
Food: BBQ sausage sizzle will be provided for dinner. Brekkie [bacon & eggs rolls, tea & juice] will be provided on Sunday morning.
For further details contact: Dave Palermo 0412 249 002 davep@theagency.com.au
P&F Picnic
Class Reps - we still need you!
Class Reps play a vital role in our school community - supporting the teachers and bringing people together. Please consider volunteering for this important role and speak with your child’s teacher if you are interested.
We are still seeking volunteers for:
Pre-Primary G -
Year 3G -
Year 3W -
Donations for Project Compassion
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
Each child has received a donation box. These are due back to classroom teachers by the 30th March. For further information on how you can help https://lent.caritas.org.au/# Thank you for your generosity!
Library volunteers
Volunteers
2 March - Lara Tulett
4 March - Nicole Baroni, Ratchanee Kingsbury
If you would like to volunteer your services to the library, please email: Sandra.malarkey@cewa.edu.au
Name
Best Day/Time:
Monday - 8.45am
Monday - 2.30pm
Wednesday - 8.45am
Wednesday - 2.30pm
Year 6 Handbook
'Circle of Security' workshop - let us know your preferred date
Proposed Monday dates:
16 March
23 March
30 March
6 April
6PM - 9PM at FATHER BRENNAN CENTRE
If you would like to attend, please indicate your preference and register via email admin@stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au BY FRIDAY 6TH MARCH
Lots on offer to St Columba's School families
Free workshops at Brady St Music (South Perth)
Brady St Music Inc, supported by the City of South Perth, is able to offer FREE WORKSHOPS for families interested in music and educational activities run by our professional team.
Curtin Uni Football Club - Juniors Registration
OPENING ROUND
Juniors round 1 is expected to be Sunday 5 APR 2020 (tentative).
This date will be confirmed via our app and web as soon as FootballWest publishes the fixtures.
NEXT STEPS - Register online
Join student banking on Thursday mornings
In the library every Thursday morning from 8:15 am until 8:50 am.
For details of the program and to open an account see www.commbank.com.au/schoolbanking.
Volunteers - if you would like to join the team please contact our School Banking Coordinator, Lisa Peterson on 0402 319 827 or feel free to call into the Library.
Secondary School Information
Mercedes College
Early in 2020, Mercedes College will commence interviewing Year 4 & Year 5 students who are due to start Year 7 in 2022 & 2023 respectively. If you are considering enrolling your daughter and have not yet requested a Prospectus, please contact Mrs Julie Lamb on 9323 1340 as soon as possible.
Enquiries are also welcome for places in Year 7 for 2020 and 2021. For more information please refer to the College website, www.mercedes.wa.edu.au.
Important Dates 2020
School Photos - Wed March 25
Mother’s Day Breakfast - Fri May 8
St Mary of The Cross - Fri Aug 7
Father’s Day Breakfast - Fri Sept 4
School Open Night - Thur Sept 17
School Athletics’ Carnival - Fri Sept 18
Grandparents and Friends Celebration - Fri Oct 23
School Board and P&F AGMs - Tue Nov 10
School Term Dates 2020
Term 2: Wednesday 29 April to Thursday 2 July
Term 3: Tuesday 21 July to Thursday 24 September
Term 4: Tuesday 13 October to Friday 11 December
Pupil Free Days 2020
Term 2: Tuesday 28 April
Term 3: Friday 3 July, Monday 20 July and Friday 25 September
Term 4: Monday 12 October
Sacrament Dates 2020
Sacramental Program Enrolment Mass: Saturday 14 March at 6pm
Confirmation: Saturday 30 May at 6pmEucharist: Sunday 14 June at 9:30am
Reconciliation: Saturday 14 November at 10am to 11:30am