Principal's Update - 18th July

Welcome

Dear Families,

Welcome back to Term 3! We hope you all enjoyed your winter break and are gearing up for an exciting new term ahead. We wanted to extend a warm welcome back to every one of you. We are excited to have our students and their families return to St Columba’s for Term 3 and are looking forward to some exciting developments with our building and landscape projects.

Term 3 promises to be filled with new opportunities, growth, and success. Our dedicated team of educators has been working diligently over the break to prepare an engaging and enriching curriculum and new and inviting learning spaces that will inspire and challenge our students. We have planned a range of exciting activities, projects, and events that will not only foster academic excellence but also encourage creativity, critical thinking, and character development.

During this term, we will continue to prioritise the well-being and safety of our students. Rest assured that we are committed to providing the best possible educational experience for your child while maintaining a nurturing and supportive atmosphere. Your child's safety is our top priority, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards in this regard.

To maximise your child's progress and ensure effective communication, we encourage you to maintain an open line of dialogue with your child's teachers and our administrative team. Strong partnerships between home and school are crucial for your child's success, and we value your insights and involvement in their educational journey.

As we embark on Term 3, let us embrace the renewed energy and optimism that the winter break has provided. Let us continue to foster an inclusive and supportive community where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Parent Code of Conduct Reminders

We ask that Parents please ensure they raise any issues with the appropriate person or persons and approach any issue in a constructive and respectful manner. One effective way to do this is by adhering to the parent code of conduct which is established to support schools and families in their communication. Following these guidelines can support interactions to be respectful and appropriate in manner.

It is also important for parents to avoid using social media as a platform for complaints, as this can often lead to defamatory comments and can negatively impact the school’s reputation. By communicating with school administrators and following proper procedures, parents can work collaboratively with the school to address their concerns and find solutions that benefit everyone involved.

We ask that parents refrain from contacting each other regarding incidents that occur within the school setting. These will be handled within the school setting.

If your concern is related to issues of school policy, these should be raised more formally (in writing) with the principal.

Parent Helper Induction

Our parent/classroom helper’s induction course is for anyone interested in volunteering within the school. This is a great opportunity if you have the capacity to support student learning and see the day to day running of the school. For anyone interested please complete the documents in the links below . Helper's must hold a valid Working with Childrens Check and present it on signing in when onsite.

The Code of Conduct and the Application will need to be printed, signed and returned to the office.

Building Works Update

We are delighted to inform you that the building works has continued to progress to time, with an anticipated completion of the the Columba space in August. 

We understand that this construction process has caused some inconveniences along the way, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time. Rest assured that we have been doing our best to minimise disruptions to the students' daily routines and prioritise their safety throughout the project.

We are grateful for your ongoing support and patience as we work together to create an even better learning environment for our students.

Book Fair

This year our Book Fair will be held in the Mercy Wing, Art / Maker Space. The children will have the opportunity to peruse the selection in classgroups tomorrow, Friday 19th July. Parents will have the opportunity to attend with their children on the following dates.

Monday 22nd July 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm - Students will have the option to purchase at recess times on this day.

Wednesday 24th July 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Thursday 25th July  3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Friday 26th July - Book Fair will be packed away and collected.

School Disco

It is with great excitement that we announce our upcoming School Disco on Friday 9th August, orgnaised by our amazing St Columba’s Social Committee. This event will once again be held at the Russell Square Hall, with our Prep to Year 2 Session kicking off at 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm and our Senior Disco commencing at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. 

Entry tickets are available on QuickCliq at $10 each. Our theme this year is the Olympics. Students are encouraged to bring along a named water bottle please.

If you are available to assist at the Disco please complete the attached form or via the SZApp.

Book Week 2024

With our 2024 Children's Book Week theme; ‘Reading is Magic’, we're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building.

To celebrate Book Week, we encourage all of our young readers to participate in our annual Book Week Dress Up Parade on Friday 23rd of August at 9:00 am. The venue for this event is weather permitting.

Australian Mathematics Competition 2024

Each year we have offered the students the opportunity to participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition. Many of our students, who are capable mathematicians, and want a challenge, enjoy this experience. Please note that entering the competition is completely voluntary. “The AMC is an engaging and challenging 30-problem competition that demonstrates the importance and relevance of mathematics in students’ everyday lives; it is open to students in years 3 to 12. The AMC has five divisions: Middle Primary (years 3–4), Upper Primary (years 5–6), Junior (years 7–8), Intermediate (years 9–10) and Senior (years 11–12). “

The AMC will be conducted on Thursday 8th August 2024. It will be run by the community teachers and will be fully online. 

If you wish your child/children to participate, please send the entry fee in an envelope to the office with your Childs name and LG no later than Friday 26th July. The entry fees cost $8.50 AUD per student including GST. 

Traffic

Some reminders from our Crossing Supervisor 

Please ensure that no child or parent steps onto the crossing until directed to by the Crossing Supervisor at the Lydiard Street crossing. This is for your safety, as traffic can be quite heavy and, at times, unpredictable. Please also use the school crossing on Armstrong Street to ensure personal safety for everyone. Whilst this crossing is not manned, we ask for your patience and vigilance here. Please also be mindful of reversing safely. 

Please also ensure that you walk your child across roads rather than calling them across. Thank you for your support in keeping your child safe.

School Entry & Exit Points Term 3

Please note that the Armstrong & Gregory Street Gates will remain closed this term while the area is refurbished. The Gregory Street entrance will reopen at the start and end of each day, while the Armstrong Street Gate will open at the end of each day to ease traffic congestion.

Both Howard Street gates will open each morning at 8:20 am. 

Important Dates