ST. COLUMBA’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
Committed to the total development of the whole child in a nurturing family community, revealing Jesus Christ.
Newsletter #3: 12 March 2015
Saint Patrick's Day celebrates Saint Patrick, a fifth century Christian Bishop and missionary who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.
Much of St. Patrick’s life is shrouded in mystery. Historians disagree on many dates and places in his life story. Patrick was
born sometime around 380ad in Scotland or Wales. Despite constant threats to his life, Patrick travelled widely through Ireland, baptizing, confirming and preaching. Through the power of Patrick’s message, Kings, their families and entire kingdoms
converted to Christianity. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17 , 461.
Christ be with me
Christ within me
Christ behind me
Christ before me
Christ beside me
Christ to win me
Christ to comfort and restore me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ in quiet and
Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger
Dear Parents and Carers,
Next Thursday we will be celebrating 100 years of the sisters of St Joseph being involved or working at St. Columba’s School.
There will be Mass in the morning followed by a morning tea. The Sisters have been formally invited and past students are
welcome to attend and then walk around the school and look in classrooms.
Good luck to all the students involved in our swimming carnival next Tuesday. Thanks must go to Mr Chatt for organising the
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 those cars that do not follow the street and verge signage face a possible fine
from the Ranger. Your help in this matter will be very much appreciated.
On Wednesday 25 March the P&F will meet in the school staffroom at 7pm. All families are invited to attend.
There has been a significant increase in families who wish to access a Catholic Education at St Columba’s Catholic Primary
School. As St Columba’s is a single stream, this has meant that there have been a large number of Catholic families who have
not been able to have their children educated at their preferred school, St Columba’s. Early in 2014 the Catholic
Education Office Planning and resources Team organised a meeting between the Catholic Schools from Victoria Park,
Manning, Applecoss and South Perth to address the issue of Catholic families in these areas missing out on a
Catholic education. After much discussion and deliberation the conclusion was that St. Columba’s South Perth was
the only school in the area that could accommodate some of the extra students.
In an endeavour to provide these families a Catholic education at St. Columba’s, the Catholic Education Office and
Commission has requested then approved St. Columba’s School, to take on an extra class of Kindy students in 2015
and 2016. We are able to accommodate these students without any additional building. However, there will be some
reshuffling of classrooms. There should be very little if any disruption to the school community. It will also provide us
with a buffer with funding as in 2016 there will be a move by the Catholic Education Office to fund schools as to the
number of students enrolled at the school, similar to the move by State Government schools. In the past funding has
been based around the schools staffing and class ratio.
St Columba’s appreciates the School Community’s understanding in this matter. If you have any questions please
contact myself.
St Columba’s has places available with Camp Australia for Before and After School Care. The reports from families
utilising the programme have been extremely positive and affirming. The advantage is that the students remain on the
school grounds outside of school hours.
A reminder, students will finish this term on Thursday 2 April. Easter will also be celebrated on the first weekend of the
school holidays.
God Bless
Allen McMahon (Principal)
Thursday March 12
Saturday March 14
Monday March 16
Tuesday March 17
Thursday March 19
First Holy Communion—7pm Parent Meeting
Campout
Board Meeting
St Patrick’s Day
School Swimming Carnival—9am—1pm (Students in Years 3—6 must be at
school by 8:15am to catch the bus)
St Joseph’s Feast Day
Mass @ 9am to celebrate 100 years involvement of the Sisters of St. Joseph
at St. Columba’s
First Holy Communion will be celebrated in the Parish on Sunday, 17 May @ 9:30am. There will be a parent meeting
tonight commencing @ 7pm in the library. It is compulsory for at least one parent to attend. The retreat (compulsory
also) will be on 6 May, 2015
The Sacrament of Confirmation for Year 6 students will be celebrated in the Parish on Thursday 21 May @ 7pm in the
evening. All Confirmation registrations should have been received by the school. The Commitment Mass at the Parish
will be held on March 21 @ 6pm and attendance of all candidates is compulsory. The Parent meeting for Confirmation
will be held on Wednesday 22 April @7pm. It is essential that at least one parent for each Confirmation Candidate
attends this meeting. The retreat (also compulsory) is on 29 April, and the rehearsal will be on 19 May @7pm.
Mother-of-three Sarita attended school until the eighth grade, making her one of the most educated women in her
village. Yet, like the majority of people in rural Nepal, her family was very poor.
“With the produce from [our] land we did not meet our food security and basic needs,” Sarita explains. In 2007,
Sarita’s life changed. Caritas Nepal, supported by Caritas Australia, initiated the Kolkatla Fish Raising Group, an
innovative, collaborative program that works for the common good of the wider community. Sarita and 11 other
villagers were provided with the funding and training they needed to establish and run a business raising and selling
fish.
“This program embraced the poorest of the poor like us, gave us skills and supported us with
funds to invest and make something of ourselves,” says Sarita.
Through hard work and dedication, the group has flourished. The farm produces around 8,000 kg
of fish each year, which the group sells for a good price through local markets.
With steady income from the Fish Raising Group, Sarita’s family has been able to feel secure. They’ve bought
additional farming land, diversified their crops and now share a secure, sustainable source of healthy food for life.
“The program has provided our family with good health and hope,” says Sarita. “And it has become a platform for the
unity and growth of the community.”
This is just one example of the way your donations to Project Compassion help those in the world that need it the
most. Please return your boxes to school before the end of Term 1. Thank you.
God Bless,
Ondine Komnick, Assistant Principal.
On Tuesday we had the 50th anniversary of the commemoration of the bell. About a year ago, I found in a cupboard, a
frame with some very faded photos of Mgr. Mc Mahon blessing the bell in front of all the St. Columba School children.
We had a similar photo taken after Mass on Tuesday. It is published later in the newsletter. Just before Mass, Chase
Ridley, assisted by his father Paul, rang the bell. This was in contrast to the event 50 years ago, for then the bell was
not yet in the tower.
In the Mass, I prayed:
All praise and glory are yours, loving Father, maker and ruler of the universe: we praise you for calling us to be your
people, your beloved sons and daughters.
Guide our community as we try to follow Jesus. Fill us with love for those in need of our help, and open our hearts to
all. Let your Spirit teach us to serve in love and to praise you by our work and worship. Father of all, we praise you
through Jesus Christ our brother, in the love of your Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
I thank Natalie Celedin who was assisted by parishioners to offer a cuppa afterwards in the parish centre. One of the
parishioners was at blessing of the bell fifty years ago. Now we are looking to the feast day of St. Patrick on Tuesday,
with Mass at 10am. Then on Thursday, we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph with Mass at 9am with the School
children. It also marks the Centenary of the arrival of the Sisters of St. Joseph in South Perth. After Mass, the children
will celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph with a complementary ice cream from Tino, a friend of Fr. Manoel. We will
also pray to St. Joseph for all fathers in our community.
The Year Five students came to the Sacrament of Reconciliation today. I thank Fr. Casey for assisting. An ideal
Lenten opportunity for all of us is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially the communal or second Rite. I look
forward to welcoming the children and fathers to the campout this Saturday. I will give them a blessing at 5pm and
hope they will come to Mass at 6pm or be quiet for those who do.
May God bless you all.
Rev. Monsignor Brian O’Loughlin,
Parish Priest.
Thank you to everyone who made the running of the swimming trials so successful last Monday. We
are now ready for the excitement of our Years 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival Day next Tuesday 17 March
commencing at 9am. As we have to travel to the Bayswater Waves Complex, we will need to leave school no
later than 8:20am in the morning. Therefore, it is really important to have students at school by 8:15 in the
morning to catch the bus. Should you miss the bus, you will need to transport your child/ren to the centre
yourself. I have attached a note with some further information for the day. Thank you to the parents who have
volunteered to assist on the day. Without you, we could not run the carnival. Please report to the scorers desk
at 8:45am on the day.
We look forward to a fun and exciting day!
Leigh Chatt
Sport Teacher
Thank you to the choir for leading the singing so amazingly at Mass this week. You made it a very special
occasion for all. The choir will be leading the singing at next weeks Mass celebrating 100 years of St. Joseph's
Sisters. Please come along to hear us.
We have started to learn the music for next term's Singfest. Last year our choir visited Holy Spirit Primary, City
Beach and we loved it. This year we can't wait because we love the music and we are hosting at St Columba's.
Dates and information about our Singfest concert will be announced very soon.
Happy Singing
Sarah van Straalen (Arts Ministry)
Louise McDonald (Music Teacher)
LIBRARY ROSTER:
Monday March 16
Wednesday March 18
Deanna Power
Caroline Delic
Mrs Malarkey and Mrs Shaw
A reminder that orders are due back to school next Monday March 16. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any late
orders.
Thank you to Liz Flores, Sarah Fiel, Val McGann for helping out in the canteen last week. A special thank you
also to Rose Pezzano and Kelly Millen for helping out on a regular basis.
We always need volunteers in the canteen, so please make sure your name is on the roster. The children love to
see you behind the counter, plus it is a great way to get to know other parents and children in the school.
ROSTER for Friday March 13
9:00am to 11:45
11:30am to 1:30
Trish Chapman
Astrid Roberts
ROSTER for Friday March 20
9:00am to 11:45 Lisa La Rosa
11:30am to 1:30 Vanessa Wainwright
Emma McGann, Canteen Manager
SLIP ON SUN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING:
Sun protective clothing is just one of five ways to protect skin, when the UV Index is above 3. Remember: SLIP
on clothing, SLOP on sunscreen, SLAP on a hat, SEEK shade and SLIDE on sunnies - never rely on just one
measure.
Tips for choosing and using clothing:
One of the best barriers between your skin and the sun is clothing, so try to cover as much skin as possible. Not
all clothing fabric is equal: look for a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating to be sure.
When choosing clothing for sun protection, remember:
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long pants/skirts, shirts with a collar and long sleeves are best
light weight, closely woven material with a UPF of 50+ provides good protection
dark colours of the same material absorb more UV (are more protective)
loose fitting clothing is cooler in the heat
fabric offers less protection when wet – eg. swimming attire
National Ride2School Day is TOMORROW Friday13 March 2015. Look right, look left, look bike!
A recent survey has found only 25% of children aged 5-15 years had 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical
activity every day. By taking part in the celebration, you’re taking the lead in reversing this trend.
There is a sticker for every student who chooses active travel (cycles, scoots, skates, walks, parks n walks or
buses) to school on the day.
Wishing you all a fun & safe Ride to School Day.
Amanda Johnson
(Rita – Year 5, Clara – Year 4, Edith – Year 1)
Elisa Brown has volunteered to be the Class Rep for year 5P for the year – we thank her for taking on this role. We
are still looking for a volunteer from Pre-Kindy and year 6.
If you would like to order Hot Cross Buns to enjoy over the Easter weekend – please fill out the order form attached
and return in an envelope with the correct money no later than Friday 27 th March to the front office.
Orders will be delivered the oldest child in each family on the last day of term one (Easter Thursday). Hot Cross buns
are being supplied by Brumby’s South Perth and are $6 for ½ a dozen. Flavours this year include; Traditional,
Choc chip, Nutella, Fruitless and Salted Caramel.
Natalie Celedin, P&F President
SCHOOL BANKING REWARDS TERM 1 – PLEASE PLACE ORDERS BY THURSDAY 19 MARCH.
These new rewards have just been released for Term 1, and are available while stocks last:
ET DVD
Planet Handball
And if these don’t appeal to the kids there are still some items from previous reward seasons available in limited
supply including from 2014 – Scented Pencils, Shark Key Ring, Sea Streamers, Projector Cup and Swim Bags or from
2013 – Blue Wallets, Knuckles Game, Headphones, Pru Moneybox or Spen Moneybox! If you would like to redeem
your 10 tokens for any of these please write your choice along with your name and class on an envelope containing
your 10 silver or 1 gold token and I will endeavour to secure one for you! Otherwise use this years redemption
coupons to order Term One items.
Remember our school earns 5% commission on every deposit made (to a maximum of $10 per individual deposit) so
every cent your child saves helps! In 2014 our students made 2226 deposits totalling almost $25,000 resulting in a
commission paid to our school P&F of nearly $1,400!! This money then goes toward many of the P&F’s valuable
projects around the school.
If your children are not currently involved in the School Banking program and you would like to know more, please ask
for a 2015 School Banking program Information Pack that can be collected at school banking in the library on a
Thursday morning before school or from Lorraine in the office. I also have reply paid account opening forms for those
of you who would love your kids to join the school banking program but may not have the time to get down to the
bank. Accounts can also be opened through your existing CommBank Netbank service if you have one.
Thank you for supporting the School Banking program and don’t forget that THURSDAY IN THE LIBRARY BEFORE
SCHOOL is School Banking day!
If you have any queries or would be interested in volunteering some time to help run this valuable program please do
not hesitate to contact Vanessa on 0417 994 625.
NEWS FLASH – Please check your childs deposit book as a voucher for $20 was not removed from someone's book this morning
and $5 from three weeks ago. Please call or text me on 0417 994 625 if it is your child and I will arrange to pick it up and have it
credited to your childs account.
Vanessa Wainwright
The school has kindly offered the Visitor Bay near the main office as a prize for the P & F to raffle. The winner of the
raffle is able to park for all of Term Two, as long as it is not being used by an external visitor.
The tickets cost 1 for $1.00 or 6 for $5.00 and are available from your Class Rep until Wednesday 25 March.
With parking at a premium, what a great prize this would be to win! Make sure you get your tickets.
THE FAMOUS DAD’S LADS AND LASSIES ST. COLUMBA’S CAMP OUT IS
ON THIS WEEKEND!
WHEN: Saturday March 14 2015
WHERE: Lower Oval
WHAT TIME: 3pm Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning
COST: $15 per family
In case of wet weather, families will be able to sleep in the undercover area.
We are looking for volunteers to take photos at the camp out. If you have any questions please contact Jared Graves
(Heidi Year 4) on 0466672176 or Dave Palermo (Oscar Year 4, Layla Year 2, Molly PP) 0412249002.
Looking forward to a great weekend! See you there.
Notice of change to PFFWA Constitution
The Parents and Friends Federation of Western Australia is proposing a minor change to their
Constitution to alter the number of required general meetings each year from eight (8) to 4
(four). This change will be voted on at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 27th May.
Rationale for change:
1.
The ability to communicate with Councillors between face-to-face meetings has
become increasingly easier and more convenient
2. Councillors tend to be active on other committees within their school and community
and one less meeting per term makes it easier for them to contribute to their other
commitments
3. It assists both in time away from home and meeting the cost of travel for country
based Councillors
4. It still provides the ability to have more meetings should they be required
A detailed notice of the change can be accessed on our website, www.pff.wa.edu.au. Should
you have any queries, please contact Shelley Hill, PFFWA Executive Officer on 9271 5909 or
[email protected]
The Year 3 class have been enjoying their shared novel this term, The Phantom Tollbooth – Written by Norton
Juster; The Phantom Tollbooth is a story about a boy called Milo. For Milo, everything is a bore. When a tollbooth
mysteriously appears in his room he drives through, only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other
side, things seem different.
On Tuesday the Year 3’s entertained the school and many parents by acting out some of the scenes from this book.
The adventure begins in Expectations where Milo meets the Whether Man (who believes it’s more important to know
“whether there will be weather than what the weather will be”).
In scene two, Milo finds himself in the Doldrums because he wasn’t thinking. He soon meets some sleepy creatures
called, Lethargians. The Lethargians have a very busy schedule... They spend all day trying to get nothing done!
Luckily, Milo is soon rescued from the Doldrums by a watchdog, called Tock.
The last scene takes place in Dictionopolis (the city of words). Milo and Tock enter Dictionopolis on a market day.
The Merchants are busy selling the fresh picked words from the orchard. The five King’s advisors have to teach Milo
that words are grown on trees (since money clearly doesn’t). In Dictionopolis, Milo also meets the Letter Man,
Spelling Bee, the Humbug and Officer Shrift (who also happens to be the Judge and the Jailor).
The Year 3’s are to be commended on the projection of their voices and their great expression.
A big thank you must go to Mrs. McDonald for helping with the Music and the Year 3 Parents for organising the
costumes.
The teachers in Kindy and Pre-Primary thought they
had new sand delivered this week—but the children
informed them that is was actually snow. It was so
beautiful and white!!
Thanks to Mr Rankin, our maintenance man, for
clearing out the old sand and topping it up with new!
See main noticeboard for more information
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Art at Perth College—20th Annual Art Exhibition March 28-29 2015
Soccer For Juniors
Andrew Fuller—author
Submissions for Journal of Western Australia
Dads Raising Teenage Boys—Relationships Australia
Fitness Training—Open Day—Saturday 21 March 2015 8am to 11am
Mary MacKillop Online Newsletter:
This E-News is published on the 8th day of each month and distributed via
email.
http://www.marymackillopplace.org.au/
Life is too important to be taken seriously.
Oscar Wilde