COLUMBA CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

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1 COLUMBA CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Hope Street Phone Bunyip 3815 Fax Website 23 November Dear Columba Families, This week I really enjoyed reading Learning Matters because the entire edition was devoted to Student Leadership. Each article emphasized that all students are potential leaders and leadership involves initiating action as well as being a role model. At Columba we share student leadership opportunities regularly for these very reasons. I am always delighted to see students step-up and make the most of the leadership opportunities to grow in confidence and awareness of their responsibility towards others. Our Amnesty International Fundraiser is the perfect example of student leadership at Columba. An amazing team of Grade Five Girls Amelia, Holly, Chloe, Charlotte, Olivia and Emily, organized, publicized and coordinated the Fundraiser. We are exceptionally proud of their efforts and the great example that they set for everyone in our community, staff included!! I would particularly like to thank their own families for providing wonderful guidance and also all of you for generously supporting the girls. The team not only raised over $500, which is a fantastic achievement, but they also raised awareness of the plight of Refugees particularly through a beautiful presentation at Assembly. I am often in awe of the student leadership at Columba and I m sure you would agree that many students have blossomed this year as confident and assertive young people because they have had the opportunity and experience of being a school leader. If you want to be a leader you have to like to help out. You can t be voted or appointed and then just stand back and let everything happen. You have to be involved. You have to have responsibility to stand up for yourself and for your school. Learning Matters Vol. 13 p.5 Columba Family Christmas Carols Wednesday 6 December Venue Bunyip Stadium Beginning at 7:00 pm IONA-MARYKNOLL & KOO WEE RUP CATHOLIC PARISHES IN PARTNERSHIP Including the communities of St Joseph s, Iona; St James, Nar Nar Goon; Holy Family, Maryknoll; St John s, Koo Wee Rup and St Mary s, Lang Lang. Parish Priest Very Rev. Peter Kooloos EV Parish Deacon Rev. Tony Aspinall Parish office, St James 60 Nar Nar Goon Rd Nar Nar Goon 3812 Phone ionaparish@dcsi.net.au Sacramental Co-ordinators Maree Wright & Marlene Scanlon WEEKEND MASS TIMES: St Joseph s, Iona Sunday 11am Holy Family, Maryknoll 2nd Sunday 8am St James, Nar Nar Goon Saturday 6pm St John s, Koo Wee Rup Sunday 9.30am St Mary s, Lang Lang 3rd Sunday 8am Reconciliation: Refer to Parish Office

2 School Fees 2018 In consultation with Fr Peter and the Columba School Advisory Board the decision was taken at the October School Board Meeting to increase the School Levies by $10 to cover the increased cost associated with excursions and incursions. LEVIES PER CHILD IN 2018 Prep to Grade Three Four to Grade Six $150 per year $170 per year (The difference between Prep 3 and Grade 4-6 is the cost of sporting activities.) The Family Fee, Book Fee and Maintenance Fee have not been increased. These changes will be effective from the beginning of the 2018 school year. We would also be grateful if families could finalise their school fees for 2017 as soon as possible. Dancing with the Stars! Many of our students are feverously preparing for their end of year dance concerts and cheer leading competitions! We wish all our students the very best of luck. Enjoy your big night! School Emergency Mobile Phone The School has a Mobile Phone Number which is only used during an emergency. The number is: Parents will be notified via the Skoolbag App if the phone is in use: (For example when the power is out and the landline is down) Please note: The phone is not used or checked on a daily basis and is kept solely for emergencies. Lucky Bottles Day Summer Theme Friday 1 December Our final Lucky Bottles Day takes place next Friday and has a Summer Theme. Students can wear their favorite summer attire although this will need to be Sunsmart because of sun exposure at playtime and lunchtime. Please note: We cannot accept perishable items which may be past their used-by date by the Fete. Jars and bottles filled with novelties, hair accessories and arts & crafts are always very popular! No Soft Drink Please! Staffing 2018 At the end of 2017 we say au revoir to Daniel Howells who is leaving us to travel for a year. Daniel has been a tremendous asset to the school and we wish him many happy adventures next year and look forward to his return in In other staffing news, we welcome back Ellie Frindt to a full-time teaching position and also Kelly Lucas from Maternity Leave. Kelly returns as Religious Education Leader and Performing Arts teacher. Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting Friday 24 November 2:30 pm After the Annual General Meeting, Karen a representative from Farm Gate Online will be present at the Meeting to talk about the service they offer for families. All Welcome!!

3 Christmas in a Shoebox Religious Education News As you are aware our annual Social Justice initiative, Christmas in a Shoebox, has begun this week. We are inviting all Columba families to participate by selecting a tag from our Christmas tree, purchasing a suitable gift, placing it in a decorative box and putting it under the tree in the office foyer. If your family is unable to do this, you might like to send along some festive food for a hamper to share with a local needy family...every little bit helps! This is a very practical way to show our children that we are called by Jesus to care for others in need. Upcoming Masses/celebrations at Columba: Weds Nov 29th: Buddy Mass for all Preps and Grade 6 students at 9.15am followed by morning tea in the MPR Reconciliation for grade 3-4WP and 3-4H Weds Dec 6th: Columba Christmas Carols at Bunyip Stadium at 7pm Sun Dec 10th: Grade 6 Graduation Mass at St Joseph's Iona at 11.00am Weds Dec 13th: Whole School End of Year Mass at St. Joseph's Iona at 9.30am

4 Fete Meeting Congratulations to Hayden, Olivia, Macey & Brodie who have been selected as school leaders for the next fortnight. I am sure they will set a great example for all our School Leaders to follow. Thank you to Hayley, Belle, Ethan, Logan & Dennis for an amazing effort in the last fortnight. Our final Fete Meeting for 2017 will be held on Wednesday 6 December at 9:15 am. Please come along with your great ideas! Job Well Done!! Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers! Swimming 2018 At the end of the Swimming Program this year a review was conducted by staff and in consultation with the School Advisory Board the following recommendations were made for 2018: Continue a compulsory school based swimming program (This is mandated within Victorian Curriculum) Maintain as a once a week program for one term Continue with Cardinia Life, Pakenham (the program in 2017 was highly rated by staff and students alike) Try for a Term Four booking instead of Term Three and continue with an afternoon program Extend program to include Grade 3, 4 & 5 Parents from these grades will receive a letter next year with further details regarding this program. The cost of the swimming lessons will be included on the School Fee Invoice. Assembly The next Assembly is scheduled for Friday 1 December at 2:30 pm. The Prayer will be lead by the students in Prep. Please come along and help celebrate the achievements of the students. All families are welcome to attend each Assembly. Many thanks to the Millis Family, for their generosity in donating and selling tomato plants earlier in the term. The Millis Family raised over $800 which was gratefully received by Parents & Friends on behalf of the school.

5 FROM THE ART ROOM

6 November Friday 24 December Friday 1 Friday 1 Wednesday 6 Thursday 7 Friday 8 Sunday 10 Monday 11 Tuesday 12 Wednesday 13 Thursday 14 Friday 15 Monday 18 Monday 18 Tuesday 19 Wednesday 20 Wednesday 20 Term Four Parents & Friends AGM Lucky Bottle Day (Summer Theme) Assembly Prayer: Prep Columba Christmas Carols Newsletter Class in focus: Prep Grade 6 Excursion Grade 6 Graduation Mass (Iona 11 am) Final Day for Canteen Swimming Sports End of Year Mass (Iona 9:30 am) Transition Day One 2018 classes Final Assembly Prayer: Grade 6 Students Reports go home Transition Day Two Final Newsletter Guard of Honour for Grade 6 Students 12:45 pm Final day for Students 1:00 pm finish. Tan Bark Roster GOAL: To ensure there is plenty of bark placed under any drop areas (i.e. beneath the monkey bars). You will need to bring a rake with you. This task can be completed anytime between 3:30pm Friday and 8:00am Monday. 25th/26th November Jenkins Family 2nd/3rd December R & M Miller Family 9th/10th December Thomas Family Uniform Shop Uniform Shop is open Monday afternoons from 3:30 pm 4:00 pm. Lots of summer stock available order now to avoid disappointment in Everything is available and orders are filled each Monday after school. Text a screen shot of your order to SCHOOL BLOG Username: Columbaparents Password: iona

7 Thank You Bendigo Bank! Last night Columba received a grant of $5,500 which will be used to install a split system in the Multipurpose Room. The Bendigo Bank have been great supporters of our Community.