Dear Parents and Carers, 

This week Mrs Perre and myself had the final interviews for Kindergarten 2025. It is an important time to listen to families about why they want to be part of our community. The reasons vary but consistently responses include:

• Catholic values and our school Core Values
• High standards
• Opportunities offered
• Sense of community

For any family who has a sibling planning to attend St Columbkille's in 2025 and have not put in an application, I urge them to do so immediately so that they are not disappointed.

The Tell Them From Me Survey results have been received.  Responses from staff, parents and students (Year 4, 5 & 5) were quite positive and affirming.  I thank everyone who took the time to provide us with feedback, that will ultimately assist us in making our school even better.  

This week we celebrated La Festa Della Repubblica through dressing in green, white and red and through various activities and games organised by Signora Lattimore. Learning a language enhances cognitive skills, improves memory, boosts problem solving abilities, broadens cultural understanding and fosters connections between people of different backgrounds.  

Today we celebrated our school Feast Day - St Columbkille's, along with 120 year of Catholic Education here on our school site. Thank you to our special guests, Andrew Heffernan (former Principal), Mouna Rouche (CEO), Paul McCann (former Principal), Josie Cooks (CEO) and Brad Colquhoun for their attendance. A heartfelt thank you to Peter Riordan for generously sharing his family history and the remarkable long-standing connections with St. Columbkille's school and parish. Your stories remind us that history is a rich tapestry of lessons and legacies. A  special congratulations to those students who have been awarded St. Columbkille's Awards. Your achievements are a source of great pride for us all.

To Mrs. Herring, Mrs. Lattimore, Mrs. Perre, and Mrs. Andary, your dedication and meticulous planning for today's events, especially the various parts of the Mass, are deeply appreciated.

A special thank you to Father Anthony for celebrating Mass with us and for graciously accommodating us despite the cozy seating arrangements. It has been truly inspiring to commemorate 120 years of Catholic education and our school's Feast Day with a whole school Mass and a packed church.

I thank the P&F who treated all our students with Fairy Floss, a sweet way to celebrate. It was also wonderful to see so many parents return for open classrooms in the afternoon.  

I wish you a great long weekend.  May you get to spend it exactly how you planned (despite the wet grounds).  If you are going away for the weekend, travel safe.  We will see you Tuesday for our School Athletics Carnival.  

Maria Disibio

Acting Principal

Refugee Week

From Sunday 16 to Saturday 22 June 2024, we will celebrate Refugee Week with the theme of Finding Freedom: Family.

This theme invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their families.

Whether it’s the unwavering support of parents, the protective love between siblings, or the communal strength found in extended and chosen families, neighbours, support systems upon arrival in Australia or the financial and emotional backbones that make the journey to safety possible, these connections become a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty. (https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/theme/)

For more Stories of Freedom: Family click on the link https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/stories-of-freedom/

Mrs Joanne Herring

Religious Education Coordinator 

On Tuesday, Mr Archie Sartracom, father of Gweneth (Year 3) kindly offered to come and take a photo, using his drone, of our school community in the formation of '120'. Thank you so much to Archie for helping us document this milestone. Enjoy the photos!

Thank you to the 74 parents who completed the Tell Them From Me Parent Survey.  

Listed below are some of the items that were raised by parents who completed the survey. 

Liturgies & Special Events

Parents would enjoy the opportunity to be with their children following special liturgies like Mother's Father's and Grandparents Day. We will definitely take this into consideration when planning our next liturgy. 

Increasing Presence of Casual Staff

Our dedicated staff may take leave for a variety of reasons. With our new Curriculum, our staff are often released from class to build their teacher knowledge and capacity to ultimately improve learning outcomes for your children. Our staff also have family circumstances, experience sickness and have other commitments at various times. Please understand that our student's always remain our priority, and while teachers may be on leave, they prepare detailed day plans for the casual teaching staff, with the teaching and learning that would have taken place if the regular teacher was in class. Information regarding a teacher's leave is not communciated with families unless it is an extended leave period. If and when we are able to give notice to students regarding a teacher's absence, this may be shared prior to the day. We appreciate your understanding. 

What is my child learning about in each Key Learning Area?

Some parents want to know what their child is learning about in each subject area. Each term, class teachers write detailed 'Grade Newsletters' to communciate with families what their child will be learning in each Key Learning Area. This information is shared via Compass at the beginning of each term. They have been attached again below for your information. 

We are very fortunate to be able to offer a variety of Professional Learning opportunities to our staff, with the aim of improving student learning and wellbeing.

Professional Learning that our staff have or will engage with this term, either at school or through the Catholic Education Office, include:

* Collaborative Planning Sessions - teachers are released from class to work with their grade partner and myself to analyse Spelling Assessment Data and plan for teaching and learning

* New K-2 and 3-6 Curriculum - ongoing professional learning is provided to staff in order to unpack the new Mathematics and English syllabuses to ensure we are providing evidence based experiences for all of our students

* 3-6 Curriciulum Advisor Days

* Early Career Teacher Days - focusing on practice and pedagogy

* Early Career Teacher Mentor and Mentee days

* Instructional Coach Day - exploring coaching methods

* PB4L Network Meetings - behaviour management processes and procedures

* Lamplighters & Alight for the World - Staff Spiritual Formation

* High Potential Gifted Education 

* Kinder SPOT Training

Mrs Christine Perre

Acting Assistant Principal

Friday 14 June is a Staff Development Day (Pupil Free).  

Our staff will be continuing their learning in the areas of spelling, reading, tired tasks and bump it up walls.  

As we move into our new school uniform, I ask you to keep hold of the older uniform items, as we are currently attempting to source a school in need that would welcome and put to use our uniform pieces. 

If you are aware of a school that could use our uniform items, or know of an agency that would assist us in donating our old uniform, please make contact via the school office.  

We don't really want our unwanted uniform items to end up in land fill.  

We’re still looking at updating our equipment on the school playground. If you have any matchbox cars or miniature monster trucks that are in good condition, that you no longer use or need at home, we would appreciate the donation.

Other donation items could include:

• Board or Card Games for Wet Weather Breaks

• Buckets and spades for the sand pit 

• Tea sets

• Blocks or Lego

If you have an item and you aren't sure if it could be used, please email Mrs Stephenson.  

Thank you to the Wood’s family for donating equipment recently.

Mrs Melanie Stephenson - Acting Middle Leader

In March of this year, we shared our updated Homework Policy with the parent community via our school newsletters. All students, K-6, are expected to engage in Homework for a set time each day/week. Please read our Policy for further details. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's homework, please contact your child's class teacher.

Mrs Christine Perre- Acting Assistant Principal

Semester 2 Drama resumes on Wednesday 24th July and there are stiill some places available.

Please see the attached Flyer for further information.

Marianne Patton - Playspace Drama