CDFpay parent announcement

Good News: New CDFpay mobile app available to download

Columba will be using the new CDFpay mobile app for online canteen ordering, uniform shop, events, fundraising, and over-the-counter purchases at our school from the start of Term 1 2025. 

FLexiSchools is now on CDF Pay!

In 2025 you will no longer be able to use the Flexi Schools App.

To order lunches and any other items in the school, you will need to download the CDF PAY App! This will link the Flexischools Columba ordering site for canteen and lunch orders.

The great news is, anything you need to order or purchase is now in the one APP!

Register for the new CDFpay mobile app today!

The new CDFpay mobile app and website is now available for online canteen ordering, uniform shop, events, fundraising, and over-the-counter purchases at our school.

If you haven’t already, please register for a new CDFpay account today:

Download the CDFpay mobile app on

the Apple or Google store, then click ‘Sign up now’.
No app? Register here

Important:

• You will not be able to use your existing CDFpay credentials to log in to the new CDFpay mobile app. You will need to follow these steps to create a new CDFpay account (you can use the same email address if desired).
• Register for a new CDFpay account before the start of Term 1 2025 and we will transfer any remaining balance on your account before the end of March 2025.

2. Enter and confirm your email address, then click ‘Sign up’.
3. Check your email inbox and follow the prompts to complete your account registration (check junk/spam if lost).

After you have registered and entered

your child’s details, you can:

• Top up your parent wallet and set daily spend limits for your child.
• To avoid card surcharges, top up $50 or more using a debit card or bank transfer any value.
• Order and pay in seconds!

Have questions?

View CDFpay powered by Flexischools Help & Support for detailed FAQs or chat to the Flexischools Digital Assistant. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please complete the on-line Contact Form and Flexischools will get back to you directly.

NOT GETTING SZAPP ALERTS?

You might not be subscribed to your child's Grade level page.

Please see the instructions below on how you can ensure you are getting whole school notifications and grade specific notifications

https://www.schoolzine.com/installing-szapp/

SZAPP is the only form of communication Columba uses to contact parents regarding school events, whole school and class information. 

All newsletters are sent through the SZAPP also.

Please note that when SZAPP alerts are sent, it will send two messages at the same time,

- 1 message to the email you signed up with

- 1 message to your SZAPP which should be installed on your phone

SZAPP is essential if you want to keep up to date with what going on at Columba

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

As our student numbers have grown quickly and the physical a classroom spaces have stayed the same, we will now have assemblies in our senior and junior school teams.

The first Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 Assembly will be on Friday 7th February at 2:20pm in the Multi-purpose Room.

The first Grades 3, 4, 4/5 & Grades 5/6 Assembly will be on Friday 21st February at 2:20pm in the Multi-purpose Room.

We will also continue to hold a flag raising assembly each Monday morning. These assemblies will be held on the basketball courts. Our first Flag Raising Assembly will be on Monday 3rd February.

SCHOOL START TIMES

The school day will begin at 8:50. All gates will lock at 8:50 and learning will begin. If you happen to be at school after 8:50, parents will need to sign their child in at Administration.

 

PARENT TRAFFIC

We continue to work on creating more car park space for our families. I have attached a traffic map to this message to remind us all how to tackle the drop off and pick-ups in the morning. I am hopeful this will also help our new families.

After_School_Pickup_PARENT_MAP_2024.pdf

(I know it is last years but nothing has changed :)

Below are a set of guidelines that I know will help keep the car park safe.

COLUMBA CAR PARK GUIDELINES

• Any car leaving the car park MUST leave driving forward.
• After 3:20pm NO CAR IS TO REVERSE FOR ANY REASON
• Patience and courtesy are compulsory.
• Under no circumstances should anyone drive into the Car park Exit.
• As the weather dries the grass, staff will be encouraged to park on the grass areas marked on the map to allow more car parks for parents.

Below is a diagram/visual to help everyone understand the expectations.

As always I ask that all parents collecting their children are patient and courteous. If you feel someone needs help in following the guidelines, approach them calmly and let them know, often it just takes a friendly reminder.

Also if we do our best to set the standard for others through our actions, others will follow.

I also ask that parents consider an alternate option for pick-ups. It could be

- parking at the Koolangarra Park and walking up to collect your child

- parking along Webb St and walking up to school to collect your child

- parking along Princess st and walking up to school to collect your child

While I understand this is not possible for all families due to time pressures after school, if you are able to utilise the surrounding streets and are willing to walk, this would also take pressure off the main car park.

I hope these directions help and please be assured that we are always working to provided the best possible resources and facilities we are able to for our students and the Columba Community.

2025 Start of Year

Emergencies_and_Natural_Disasters.pdf

Emergencies_and_Natural_Disasters _pdf 126.51 KB

Every Day of School Counts

 

• Attendance patterns are established early
• Parents have a legal obligation to send their child to school
• Each missedday is associated with progressively lower achievement in numeracy, writing and reading

Advising of a Student Absence

If your child cannot attend school you must advise the school as soon as possible in one of the following ways giving a reason for the absence e.g appointment, unwell,

 

• Notification via the PAM (Parent Access Module) or the school SZapp  (preferred as this logs the absence directly into our system)
• Phone: 56295933 and leave a message
• Email: office@bunyip.catholic.edu.au
• Via Notified Absence on our website (Student Wellbeing tab-Attendance)

Principals have an obligation to determine if the excuse given is reasonable in terms of parents meeting their legal obligation.

Schools are required to contact parents (or emergency contacts where parents cannot be contacted) on the day of absence if there has been no advice from parents.  

This is done in two ways:

Text via SMS, and then (if no response)

A Phone call

 

If you have difficulty ensuring your child attends school, please reach out to your child’s teacher and/or our Mental Health in Primary School Leader,                    Lizzy Cunningham to develop a support plan to help ensure your child gets the full benefits of school.