COLUMBA CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

COLUMBA CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL 28-38 Hope Street Phone 5629 5933 Bunyip 3815 Fax 5629 5851 Email principal@bunyip.catholic.edu.au Website www.bunyip.catholic.edu.au 18 August 2016 Dear Columba Families, I know the students are having a busy and exciting term and are really enjoying their Inquiry Units based on the Olympics. I am particularly proud of the senior students who have used their gifts and talents to such great effect in the first half of this term. The Grade Five students were exceptionally good leaders during the Prep 2017 School Tour, and displayed all the qualities we have come to admire in Columba students. There have also been numerous sports successes from our senior students and we have also had representatives in VicSpell and the Rotary Debating Competition and there s still more to come! In the next fortnight we will have the Columba Writing Competition. I have had a sneak preview of some of the entries and the standard and quality of writing is outstanding. I can assure you that it will be very difficult to pick a winner from each grade level. Just a thought... Whilst we delight in all our successes throughout the year it is also important for children to have the experience of failure and disappointment. To know that it is ok to make mistakes and to learn from these mistakes is an essential life lesson for children. It helps children to develop resilience and perseverance to continue to strive and face challenges in life with determination and hopefulness. Children need to understand that whilst we cannot always be successful, we won t always be wrong either and that whatever happens, we are still loved and respected for who we are! Thank you God, for the gift of ourselves. When we want to be different: better, smarter, stronger, remind us that we are very, very good just as we are. Remind us, too, that those around us were created by you and are loved by you just the way they are. Thank you for your gifts to others. Thank you for your gifts to us. Amen 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 5942 5293 Email:ionaparish@dcsi.net.au Sacramental Co-ordinator Sr Cathy Dean 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 Reminder BookWeek begins Monday 29 August

Agenda: Parents & Friends Friday 19th 2.30pm All Welcome School Board Rep Child Safe protocols Swimming Program School Disco Fete Financial protocols Child Safety The School Board, Parents & Friends Association and school staff continue to review safety policies and procedures in line with the State Government Child Safe Standards which aim to create child safe cultures and environments in organisations that work with children. At present our Child Safe Policies have been reviewed and these will be uploaded onto the Columba Website. These documents will replace those contained in the link to the Diocese of Sale under the Student Wellbeing Tab. The next policy for review will be the Student Management Policy which comprises the Discipline and Anti-Bullying Policies and contains the Columba Social Skills Framework. ipads for 2017 Just a reminder to parents of 2017 Grade 3 students that they will require an ipad. Previously, the school has purchased all ipads, covers and vouchers on your behalf. Next year we won t be purchasing on your behalf, as many of you may be able to purchase an ipad more cheaply through rewards systems, vouchers, store sales, etc. In order for our ipad program to run as smoothly as previous years we ask you to purchase a new, unused, ipad for your child. We ask that it is at least a 32GB ipad Air with Wi-Fi. You may choose the model which will suit your child. Please remember we wish your child to use their ipad for the next four school years. Unfortunately Androids are not compatible with our needs, so cannot be used. We highly recommend Gumdrop covers, as we have had great success with these and they protect the ipads from everyday wear. We have a gumdrop cover available in the Office if you wish to look at one. However, the cover is your choice also. (Please remember the ipad will be travelling in school bags with drinks, lunches, etc, so the more protection for your investment, the better) Each child will also require a $30 itunes voucher. All ipads will need to be delivered to school to Belinda in the Office between 6 th -10 th February, 2017. She will add the school security settings. It is important that your child s Apple account is through the school. A note was sent out to families two weeks ago. This is just a reminder in case any notes got lost between school and home. Thank you Janine Kilmartin Technology Learning Leader Assembly The next Assembly is scheduled for Friday 26 August at 2:30 pm. The Prayer will be led by students from Grade 1/2 F. Please come along and help celebrate the achievements of the students. All families are welcome to attend each Assembly. School Emergency Mobile Phone The School has a Mobile Phone Number which is only used during an emergency. The number is: 0457 411 546. 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. The phone will not be used or checked on a daily basis.

Congratulations to Ally S, Artur, Shelby and Ben B. who have been selected as school leaders for the next fortnight. I am sure they will set a great example for all our senior students to follow. Many thanks to Ronan, Taleah, Ashlyn and Tyson for an excellent effort as School Leaders. Well done to you all, a very efficient and reliable team. COLUMBA WRITING COMPETITION All the students are busy writing on the theme, Australia, Story Country. The Writing Competition entries are due in on Friday 19th August. Winners from each level (Junior, Middle and Senior school) will receive a certificate and prizes, and the overall winner will have their name inscribed on the perpetual Writer s Award trophy. Upcoming : EXcursion Friday 19 August Interschool Sport St Ita s Drouin (Grade 5 & 6) Incursion Tuesday 30 August Meerkat Productions Performance Mr Huff (Whole School) Happy Writing!! Reminder Father s Day Breakfast Please keep the morning of Thursday 1 September free for our Annual Father s Day Breakfast which commences at 7:45 am. The Breakfast is followed by a classroom visit and games. Dads or other significant males can then take their child s Learning Journal home for further discussion of all the wonderful learning taking place at Columba.

Grade 5/6K Motivated, Active and Creative Learners! The Road To Rio Let Your Light Shine!

Rotary Debating Competition. We love to argue! Vicspell Competiton at St. Francis Xavier College, Berwick. Savvy users of technology Excellent team work

Book Week Columba Book Week begins on Monday 29 th August! This year s theme is Australia! Story Country. Book Week Events Monday 29 th August Assembly in the Learning Centre at 9am. Special presentation Columba Annual Writing Competition Winners announced. Tuesday 30 th August Book Week Dress Up Day: Come as your favourite Australian book character, animal or personality. Be creative and have fun! Grade 6 Book Week lessons. Meerkat Productions Mr Huff in the Learning Centre. Looking forward to a fantastic Book Week. Janine Kilmartin Teacher / Librarian FRIDAY NIGHT DANCING There will be NO classes on Friday 19 th August and Friday 26 th August. I am very sorry, I have Debutant Balls that I train on these nights. However, so you don t miss out, there will be dancing on Monday 22nd August. Classes will resume as normal on September 2 nd. Our last class for the term will be September 9 th. Thank you everyone and again, I m sorry for the inconvenience. Ms Lucas

IONA-MARYKNOLL PARISH 60 Nar Nar Goon Road, Nar Nar Goon 3812, Vic., Australia, 3815 Or PO BOX 1, Koo Wee Rup, 3981 Telephone: (03) 5942 5293 E-mail: ionaparish@dcsi.net.au 2016 Parish Sacramental Program The Sacrament of Eucharist Please continue to keep the following students in your prayers during their First Communion preparation; Chloe A Herne, Abbey Ashe, Hayden Callinan, Trent Capizzi, Holly Carlsen, Brodie Collins, Isabella Doherty, Hayley Eeltink, Taylah Grundy, Ethan Marson, Amelia Millis, Lincoln Morehu, Brianna O Connor, Damon Osborne, Phoebe Pepping, Korey Puncheon, Max Spry, Olivia Tynan and Jesse Wouters. All families are more than welcome to attend First Communion Masses in support of our students and their families. Invitation to prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism As we have families who have expressed interest in having their children baptised into the Catholic faith, I am inviting other school families to contact myself or Sr. Cathy if they wish their children to also prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Baptism in our Parish. I propose that interested families would meet with myself and Sr. Cathy to attend a Baptism information session here at Columba at a time convenient to all, in the near future. Please feel free to pass this information onto others who may be interested. Sacrament of Eucharist Share Sheets: Sun 21 Aug: Week 5 Sun 28 Aug: Week 6 If possible could all Share Sheets be completed by First Communion Masses. All Share Sheets will be presented at Mass as a sign of the children s completion of their sacramental preparation. First Communion Masses Sat 27th-St James, Nar Nar Goon at 6:00pm Sun 28th-St John s, Koo Wee Rup at 9:30am Sun 28th-St Joseph s, Iona at 11:00 am If you have any queries re the Parish Sacramental Program please contact Sr.Cathy. She can be contacted on: MOB: 0459 427 062 or by email: cathy.dean@sosj.org.au Generosity changes everything Winter Appeal for St Vincent de Paul Support St Vincent de Paul-Social Justice in Action! Our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active. 1 John 3 The Columba Community once again rose to the challenge of demonstrating its generosity and compassion to those less fortunate with items collected for our annual Winter Appeal. It was once again my pleasure to deliver items that had been collected over the past month. Mr. Hank Dortmans, our local representative for St Vincent de Paul was extremely grateful for the donation of canned and packaged goods and personal care products. At our assembly last week we presented to him, at least eight baskets and four boxes of items. Two cars were required to transport donated items! Hank explained how some of these items would be given to assist families in need and migrants, who have no way of providing for themselves. He also spoke a little about the practical work, he and his wife do to help these people in need. Thank you to all the families who contributed so much in four weeks. Your generosity is outstanding. Leonie Hester Religious Education Leader MASSES AT COLUMBA Tuesday 23rd Aug at 9:30am Mass prepared by Prep, Grade 1/2 CH & 1/2 F Wednesday 24th Aug at 9:30am Mass prepared by Grade 3/4 B, 3/4 H & 3/4 WP (St Joseph s, Iona )

August Friday 19 Parents and Friends Meeting (Staffroom 2:30 pm) Friday 19 Interschool Sports Drouin V Bunyip (Away) Tuesday 23 Mass MPR (Prep, Gr 1/2CH, & 1/2F 9.30am) Wednesday 24 Mass Iona ( Grade 3/4 B, 3/4 H & 3/4 WP ) Friday 26 Assembly Prayer: Grade 1/2 F Sunday 28 Sacrament of First Eucharist (Iona 11:00 am) Monday 29 Bookweek Begins Theme: Australia-Story Country The secret in Education lies in respecting the student! September Thursday 1 Thursday 1 Tuesday 6 Wednesday 7 Friday 9 Monday 12 Thursday 15 Friday 16 Father s Day Breakfast Learning Journals sent home. Family Conferences (By Request) School Board meeting Grade Three Sleepover Columba Arts Festival begins School Disco End of Term New-First Communion Dress A Columba family has kindly donated a First Communion dress. This easy to care for dress, has never been worn and has its original tag attached. It is a size 11-12 and would fit a girl of 152 cm height. If you are interested or require further details, please don t hesitate to contact the Office staff or Leonie Hester. PLAY GROUP 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. THURSDAY MORNINGS 9.00am - 11.00am ALL WELCOME! 6th/7th August 13th/14th August 20th/21st August Carlsen Family Lee Family Anderson Family Want to know more about the Catholic Religion to support your child? Thinking about becoming a Catholic? A special meeting is being held in the Parish Office at Nar Nar Goon on Thursday 25 August at 7.00 PM to explore this further. If you would like to come to a program like this but cannot come on 25 August then please contact either Fr. Peter Kooloos (0438 622 766) or Sr. Cathy on (0459 427 062) or Deacon Tony Aspinall (0414 468 692)

A network of coding clubs for Aussie kids Saturday: 30 th July, 13 th August, 27 th August, 10 th September Columba will be hosting a computer Code Club once a fortnight on Saturday afternoons from 2 til 4pm, attendance is free, and access to a Lap top will be provided by the school Code club Australia is part of Code Club world, with the aim of providing opportunities for kids to have free access to Computer coding opportunities in Scratch, HTML and Python. The club is to be facilitated by Simone Waterman, and will take place in the Learning centre at Columba. To ensure each child receives appropriate learning opportunities, numbers will be limited. If you know anyone who would be willing to assist with teaching at Code Club, please email Simone (Working with Children check is required) To book, either complete the form below and return to school, or email this information to: exceptionalkids@bigpond.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Code Club with Simone Waterman Child s name.. Level of computer skill: beginning or intermediate Contact name/parent:. Email:... Phone:...