Dear Families

MELBOURNE CUP EVE HOLIDAY

An important reminder to all families that we will have a school closure day on Monday 31^st and Tuesday 1^st of November for the running of the Melbourne Cup. There will be no school for students on these days.

The long weekend is here! While the rain continues to fall, I ask we all take time to pray for those affected most by the extreme weather conditions and floods. Communities continue to be displaced and how hard it must be for families facing the long weekend with no home or town.

The Catholic Church has a history of social teaching that goes back centuries and provides a compelling challenge for living responsibly and building a just society. It is this Catholic Social Teaching which guides us in all spheres of life – the economic, political, personal and spiritual. Two aspects of Catholic Social teaching which ring true when thinking of those affected by the floods are,

The Common Good

We can only live life in all its fullness when we are in relationship with others – through community.

Solidarity

We should commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the good of all, to stand in solidarity with our one human family.

MORE INFORMATION ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING HERE

CLASS STRUCTURES FOR 2023

The class structure for the 2023 school year will be as follows:

2 x Prep Classes
3 x Grade 1/2 Classes
3 x Grade 3/4 Classes
2 x Grade 5/6 Classes

All classes will be staying in their current buildings. We will advertise the teachers teaching these classes on Monday 12th December.

REMINDER

Thank you everyone for the care you all take in the mornings with drop off. I ask that parents do not get out of their car in the drop off lines. If it is you need to leave your car, please park in the designated parking area to ensure traffic keeps flowing, much like home pick-up. I also ask that in the morning when your drop your child at school using the drop of car lines, that you do not pause too long in the line. Please keep drop your child safely and keep moving.

Take care everyone and have a safe and restful long weekend.

Andrew Greco

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NEXT Assembly

Friday 4th November

2:20 pm

1/2 Learning Centre

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Grade Five - Six Learning

At the moment in grade 5/6, our literacy block consists of writing stations, vocabulary and spelling, and reading comprehension. One of the activities in the writing stations starts with a weekly prompt that is designed and chosen by the students and begins with "What if..." The students have been focussing on using vivid language with the inclusion of devices they have been learning, such as similes and metaphors, power of three, sizzling starts, and show don't tell. We are proud of the enthusiasm and effort displayed during these 20 minute sessions and hope you enjoy some of the products! Can YOU work out the topic from these "What ifs..."?

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NEXT SCHOOL CLOSURES

Monday 31st October

Wednesday 9th November

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COMEDY NIGHT

Comedy Night in Bunyip BUY TICKETS HERE

https://comedyforacause.net/tc-events/ccps/

Saturday 19th NOVEMBER BUNYIP HALL

I thought you might be interested in supporting this GoFundMe, https://gofund.me/5dc1a0f4

Hayley is a past Columba student and her current story is below.

This is Hayley. One of the loveliest, happiest, caring and gorgeous teenagers you’ll ever meet. She’s also a great road trip buddy and I need her back on her feet ASAP! Sadly, Hayley has a tumor in her hip called Ewing Sarcoma.

This beautiful soul, Hayley, at 14 years old has already undergone numerous invasive procedures, that no 14-year-old should ever have to go through. The tough decisions no 14-year-old girl should have to make on top of many rounds of chemo already. But that’s not it, she will soon have to undergo a 10 hour long surgery to remove part of her pelvis that contains the tumor and it will be replaced with a new prosthetic one. Hayley will then be in a plaster cast for a minimum of 6 weeks covering both legs and it will come up to her waist. She’ll also continue with her chemo, and probably radiation therapy, all whilst being immobile from the plaster cast.

Throughout all of this, Hayley has been nothing short of amazing. She’s just so bright and positive and tackles every hurdle that comes her way. She is the same Hayley as before, she just now has cancer. In fact you wouldn’t even know she has cancer apart from her hair loss!

Financially the family are taking a big hit. Her mum Sally has had to stop full-time work to care for Hayley and her dad Brad also has to take time off on a regular basis.

This doesn’t look like ending anytime soon either, as recovery from this major operation is likely to last for months and months.

Sally and Brad have not asked for this fundraiser or for financial support.

But I know personally how hard they are copping it. We all want to help them somehow but we can’t magically fix Hayley. We can however, make a donation (big or small) to take the pressure off the family and they can just concentrate on the most important thing of all, and that’s Hayley and her recovery.

Sally, Brad, Hayden and Hayley are nothing short of amazing and if this was happening to another child they would not hesitate to lend any assistance. Let’s give em our support x

If you can’t support financially please share instead xx

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COLUMBA COLOUR RUN

We will be holding the School Fun Run’s Crazy Colour Day as a major fundraising event this year on FRIDAY 25th November! We’re doing it to raise much-needed money for our classrooms and outside play areas, due to the absence of our School Fete.

About the Day

The Crazy Colour Day is all about Fun! It will be a huge colourful mess and is undoubtedly one of the most exciting days on our school’s calendar, with everyone’s participation the aim, so please make sure students attend on the day and cheer the other kids on!

How Does My Child Fundraise?

Firstly, go to schoolfunrun.com.au and create a student profile page. Everything to do with your fundraising revolves around this page.

Students who raise just $10 will be able to choose a prize! The more they raise, the better their reward – don’t forget to check these out in the sponsorship form! We have educated students on the dangers of doorknocking without supervision, and we encourage you to reiterate this at home. The great thing about online fundraising is that you can share the link to your child’s profile with friends and family via email, SMS and Social Media.

Online Fundraising

The easiest way to help your child raise money is through online fundraising, where students raise an average of $120. On top of raising more money, it’s also safer and easier than doorknocking and you don’t have to worry about handling money! To start fundraising online, go to your student profile page at schoolfunrun.com.au and share your online fundraising link.

Getting Involved

Not only can you support the school and students with your sponsorship – but you can join in on the fun! We would love to welcome parents and family members to attend Crazy Colour Day. If you would like to volunteer on the day, please contact the school via email to express your interest, at office@bunyip.catholic.edu.au.

I can’t wait to see you at our event!

Ordering Prizes – ALL PRIZES MUST BE ORDERED ONLINE

Please contact your school’s coordinator if this isn’t possible.

Prizes MUST be ordered between the 7th and 14th NOVEMBER* Simply visit schoolfunrun.com.au to create/log into your Profile Page between these dates. Then click on the ‘CLAIM YOUR PRIZE’ button and follow the prompts. If you have any questions, please contact the School Fun Run team on 1800 FUN RUN and they will gladly assist!

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Morning Drop Offs

A reminder to all families that our school day begins at 8:50 am.

If you drop your child at school after 9:00 am, we ask you to come into the office to sign them in on the iPad. This ensures we are able to track the movements of every child at Columba and know which students have arrived late.

Please do not drop your child at admin and let them walk in after 9am, as the office does not know how they arrived at school and the child has no authority to articulate to whom and why they have been dropped off late.

Please know that we understand mornings can be tricky and do not always go to plan, but we ask everyone to make their best effort to arrive before 9am and before the gates get locked. If the gates are locked please walk your child into admin and sign them in (after 9am).

Thank you all for your support and understanding.

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Tomatoes Fundraiser

1 week left

Order your tomatoes now for planting in November. Plants will be available for pick-up on Monday 7th November from the Columba Multi-Purpose Room.

They will be the best plants you will buy!

Plenty of purchasing options and plant bundles

Log into CDF pay HERE or use the link below to purchase your tomato plants.

https://bunyip.cdfpay.org.au/monitoronline/Account/AddToMyCart/9?itemType=3

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Whole

School Athletics Day

We are so excited that we are able to finally have our school sports day this term!

Please mark Tuesday 15th of November in your diaries!

We will require some parent helpers for the day. If you are able to help please email Kara Dedigama ASAP.

kdedigama@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

All students will be encouraged to wear a tshirt in their house colour for the day, if you are not sure of your child's house colour please check with your teacher or with Kara.

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FOUND
Two size 8 and one size six unnamed Columba jackets.

If you have lost a jacket please email

office@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

Wednesday 23rd November

Senior and Prep Mass - Columba MPR 9:15am

Wednesday 14th December

END OF YEAR MASS - Iona Church 9:40am

All parents and friends are welcome to attend all scheduled masses above.

Confirmation Saturday 29th October, 6pm at St James Nar Nar Goon.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 29th October at the St James Nar Nar Goon Church 6pm.

We are very much looking forward to sharing this next special step in your child’s faith journey.

We ask our school communities to please keep these children and families in your prayers as they continue their faith journey together.

What is Confirmation?

MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

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SCHOOL FEES & CONCESSIONS

A reminder to all families that all outstanding fees must be finalised by the end of Term 4. All school fees should be finalised in the year they are billed. If you are experiencing difficulty, or feel you will not be able to finalise payment please make contact with Jan at the Admin Office as soon as possible either by

phone (03) 56295933 or via email finance@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

If any families would like to set up a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit schedules for school fees, please complete the Direct Debit Form below and return to the school office.