St. Columba's Primary School
NEWSLETTER | TERM 3, WEEK 3 | 8 AUGUST 2019
"Be a gift of love and compassion for one another."
St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
We have had a very busy start to the term. Our students have begun participating in the Catholic Education Performing Arts Festival. Feedback from staff and parents has been very positive on the student performances to date.
We had a great Mass today to celebrate the Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross. Many thanks to Monsignor for celebrating the Mass for us.
The School Board would like to advise that the new School Strategic Plan has almost been completed. At this stage the new Strategic Plan will be released to the school community and wider community at the start of Term 4. Thank you to everyone involved in putting together the new plan.
A huge thank you to Mrs Ogg for organising the naming ceremony for the undercover area last Friday. The ceremony was very Spiritual and moving. The name chosen by staff for the undercover area is an Indigenous name, for a meeting place. The name is ‘Kalyara Mia’.
Our Waste Wise group have well and truly got things moving in the school with being waste wise. There have been a number of incursions that have really heighten the students’ knowledge of being responsible stewards for our planet. A big thank you to Miss Bechelli and Ms Shaylor for taking this on. I would also like to thank Jamie Horner for donating two compost bins to the school. They will be of great use to providing compost for our class gardens when they are up and running.
God bless.
Allen McMahon
Principal
Important Dates
Friday 9 August
- Merit Award Assembly at 8:50am
- Waste Wise Incursion - Session 1
- Robo Cup - LEAP
- Year 3 - Bishops Religious and Literacy Assessment
- School Nurse Screening - Kindy
Monday 12 August
- Science Week Commences at St Columba's
Tuesday 13 August
- Waste Wise Incursion
Wednesday 14 August
- Waste Wise Incursion - Cleanaway
Thursday 15 August
- Whole School Mass at 9am - Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday 16 August
- Merit Award Assembly at 8:50am
- Waste Wise Incursion - Session 2
What a Week!
NAIDOC Special Assembly
At our special assembly to recognise NAIDOC Week, Ms Kerry-Ann Winmar, a Whadjuk woman and Traditional Nyungar Owner from the Perth region, commenced proceedings with an ‘Acknowledgment to Country’.
Naming Ceremony for Undercover Area
Kerry-Ann Winmar helped us translate the name of our undercover area into Noongar. ‘Kalyara Mia’ means ‘Meeting Place’ - a perfect fit for how the children feel about the space.
Connecting with Community
We presented our classwork linking to NAIDOC Week. Aboriginal material was draped at the ceremony from each classroom: this symbolises the connection of the wider community into our classrooms.
Merit Award
Congratulations to our Merit Award recipients at last week's assembly. Well done!
Year 1B: Roby and Taylor
Year 1O: Angus and Daniel
Year 2C: Milani and Duke
Year 2F: Ethan and Ruby
Year 3B: Sophie C and Cameron
Year 3P: Genevieve and India
Year 4: Holly B, Scarlett H and Christian
Year 5: Gemma, Gabriella and Connor
Year 6: Angelo and Layla
Years 1O and 3B Host NAIDOC Special Assembly
Our classes lead the school beautifully by performing a song named “Wanjoo” and then presented their adaption of an Aboriginal Dreamtime story titled “Waakarl”, which was written by Kerry Ann Winmar’s mother.
Year 1B Dreamtime Story Birds
In Year 1 we have been learning about Aboriginal Dreamtime stories. We read the Dreamtime story ‘How the birds got their colours’. We all drew our own picture of a bird and painted them with water colours.
St Columba's Field and Athletics Day - Volunteers Please
Later this term we have both the St Columba's Athletics Field Day, Friday 6 September, (Years 3 to 6), and the Sports Carnival, Friday 20 September, (Pre-Primary to Year 6). Parent volunteers are required for both carnivals. If you are available to help out one or both of these days please email me at leigh.chatt@cewa.edu.au.
Leigh Chatt
Physical Education Specialist
How ‘Waste Wise’ are we compared with other schools?
From the audit we learnt that we are sending a more waste to landfill, compared with other audited schools. We’re going to make a big effort to reduce our landfill waste in order to positively influence the local environment and the lives of community members.
Paper/Cardboard:
We’re good at recycling,
but more is going to landfill than other schools.
Whole fruits, plastic bottles/containers, plastic bags and whole packaged unopened food.
More going to landfill than other schools.
Fruit/veg scraps, food scraps and general rubbish.
More going to landfill than other schools.
Performing Arts Festival
Congratulations to our students who have participated in the festival over the last week. Our piano students and guitar ensemble had great performances last week.
This week our Year 2 classes joined the festival for the first time. They visited the Chapel at Mercy College to share their liturgical dances. They were magnificent. Thank you to Mrs Pink for helping with our costumes. Thank you to our Year 2 teachers for all of your assistance in the organisation and to our parent helpers.
It was great to see so many family members in the audience.
Louise McDonald
Music Specialist
Artist of the Week
Maya from Year 3 is the Artist of the Week. She was chosen for her 3D shapes optical illusion. Maya loves her collage background. Her favourite thing about Art is creating beautiful finished pieces.
Layla and Skyla
Year 6 Art Ministers
Library News
Book Week 2019 - "Reading is My Secret Power"
Follow the link below for all things Book Week 2019 at St Columba's!
All competition entries are due back next week! We are looking forward to receiving all the wonderful work from the children.
Library Roster
Monday 12 August - Jamie Horner
Wednesday 14 August - Catherine Reutens
Sandra Malarkey and Alice Shaw
St Columba's Library
Health Breathing for Healthy Children Workshop
Dear Parents and Carers
You are invited to join this workshop at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, 40 Mary Street, Highgate. Learning how to breath properly is essential to the well being of our children and ourselves. It is a vital skill. Come and learn all about breathing and the impact upon body and mind. This is a free workshop. An informative and interesting evening.
If you would like to know more about this workshop please contact Hilary Campos via e mail hilary.campos@cewa.edu.au or in person when she will be at St Columba's on a Monday.
Hilary Campos
School Social Worker
Limited Places in Year Groups for 2020 – Apply Now
We have a few places available next year in classes other than Kindy – if you know of families moving to the area or looking for a change, please encourage them to contact us as soon as possible: call (08) 6436 9500 or email admin@stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au
Parish News
This morning, at Mass, we celebrated the Solemnity of Australia’s patron, Saint Mary of the Cross. We focus on the gifts of a young Mary MacKillop, daughter of Scottish parents, who went as governess or au pair to her Uncle and Aunt’s children in rural South Australia. The Parish Priest was an English priest-scientist, Fr Julian Tennyson Woods. He had a vision of a group of women who would devote themselves to God, by bring education to the poor and needy. Soon, other young women shared the vision and so in 1866, the Sisters of St Joseph came to be. We are privileged to have the Sisters in our school since 1915, when they replace the Sisters of Mercy.
Next Thursday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Mass at 9am.
Thanks to those children who attended the Altar Servers training on Saturday and to Jenny Collins the coordinator. I hope there will be another in-take soon.
Sunday Mass Times: Saturday Vigil, 6pm. Sunday 7:30am and 9:30am which will be followed by a cuppa in the Parish Centre. All welcome.
May God bless you all.
Monsignor Brian O’Loughlin
Parish Priest
PARENTS AND FRIENDS
Student Disco - Friday 23 August
Save the date. "Winter Wonderland Disco" at St Columba's. Come dressed in your winter woolies!
For making of props for the evening, any donations of big boxes (TV and fridge size) will be greatly appreciated. Please leave in the school undercover area.
Please complete the RSVP attached below. The RSVP and payment is to be returned to the school office no later than Thursday 22 August.
Fran Palermo
Disco Coordinator
Fathers' Day Breakfast - Thursday 29 August - 7:45am to 8:30am
On Thursday morning, 29 August, the P&F are sponsoring a Fathers' Day Breakfast. All fathers and important male figures are invited to attend with their St Columba's children (even if it is a non-school day) to enjoy the annual Fathers' Day Breakfast in the undercover area. More details to follow.
Please note: Kiss and Drive will not be operating on this day.
For catering purposes, please RSVP via the following link indicating how many adults and children will be attending by Friday 23rd August.
Year 3 Class Reps
P&F Retro Music Bingo is Coming! Friday 13 September!
Bingo Prizes
Fabulous prizes for our Retro Music Bingo are rolling in. Preston Street IGA has made some very generous donations – come along and support their Customer Celebration Day this Sunday 11 August from 10am to 1pm: they have been awarded Best IGA in Australia!
DOSC's 2019 Footy Tipping Competition
Six was the magic number of correct tips across the majority of the competition last week, with one exception being Scarymans, Mark S, currently in second place tipping seven to take out honours this week and in doing so gets within two of our ladder leader MC The Best, Matthew C.
Round 20 Results
Scarymans – Mark S with 7 correct tips and margin of 11 points.
Top 10:
1. MC The Best - Matthew C - 115
2. Scarymans - Mark S - 113
3. Wolf Pack – Clint P - 112
4. Iuliano Family - Paul I - 111
5. Ruparob - Rupa P - 110
6. O’Eagle - Oliver P - 110
7. Eagle Duke - Duke D - 110
8. Oggace – Brendon O - 109
9. Binns Clan - David B - 109
10. R-K-S - Rob B - 108
Todd Dawson
Footy Tipping Coordinator
VACSWIM October 2019
You can now enrol your children in VacSwim swimming lessons for the October 2019 school holidays. With swimming pools and beaches a big part of the Western Australian lifestyle, it’s important your children are safe in the water.
Programs are available for children from 5 to 17 years and cater to all skill levels – from beginners to those doing their Bronze Medallion. They are being offered at pool venues across the State.
Enrol your children in VacSwim now at
Camp Australia at St Columba's
National Science Week is happening next week at our service between 12 August and 16 August. Our program has been tailored around various science and technology activities. Check out the flyer below for all the details.
Pupil Free Day: Come and join the fun for the Camp Australia at the upcoming Pupil Free Day on Friday 30 August 2019. to book visit www.campaustralia.com.au or call the Customer Care Team on 1300105343.
Community Notices
Telethon Speech & Hearing - Cyber Safety Seminar
Next Wednesday 14 August from 6.30pm to 8.30pm Telethon Speech & Hearing will be hosting a Cyber Safety Seminar for all parents and educators. Three leading experts will present the most up to date information on managing risks for children in the current digital environment. All attendees will receive a free Family Zone service for their school or home for 12 months. Please follow this link for details and tickets.
Champion Lakes Regatta Centre - Elite Kayak Squad Selection Day
8 September 9.00am to 10.30am for youth aged 10 to 15 years. No previous paddling needed. Physical Assessment exercises. Awards and prizes on the day. For further information email the coach - pajorag@gmail.com. Limited places. Book on Eventbrite.
St Columba's Catholic Primary School
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/