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Columba Catholic Primary School Acknowledges the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians, and pays respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Columba acknowledges the Bunurong’s continuing relationship to the land and waterways and respects that their connection and spiritual identify is maintained through ancient ceremonies, songlines, dance, art and living culture.
We pay tribute to the invaluable contributions of the Bunurong and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Elders who have guided and continue to guide the work we do.
Helping Hands
Columba Community
Take Care
Andrew Greco
Principal
Congratulations to all our students who celebrated their first Reconcilation on Wednesday night at Iona.
What is Reconciliation?
In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and the Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better in the future.
NEXT Assembly
There will not be another Assembly in Term 1.
We will celebrate as a whole school on
Thursday 6th April at our Easter Liturgy.
EASTER LITURGY DETAILS
Date - Thursday 6th April
Location - Columba Basketball Courts
All Welcome to Attend
Starting Time - 12pm
We will draw our Easter Raffle after the Easter Liturgy
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Grade 5/6 Camp
FOREST EDGE 2023
This week our 5/6 students went on 5/6 Camp to Forest Edge.
During the camp the students experienced many challenges through the numerous activities they were given the opportunity to participate in.
These included the crate climb, flying fox, puzzle challenge, initiative games, low ropes, Frisbee golf, water slide, rock climbing, camp fire cooking as well as many more.
We know the students continue to get a lot out of their camp experience and know they will have made many memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Thank you to all teachers who sacrificed their time away from family and friends to support our students on camp. The teachers at Columba are amazing!
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TARAGO SPORTS
On Tuesday 28th March Columba had nearly 20 students represent our school at the Tarago Sports Day.
Well done to all students who participated and represented Columba in such an amazing way. The sportsmanship, effort and fun had by all that went really was an example of how to let your light shine!
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Class Awards
Congratulations to our latest award recipients on Friday 24th March!
Columba is supporting the Bunyip CFA in coordinating the Good Friday Appeal fundraiser for Bunyip/Garfield area. We need help from anyone in the community who is willing to help raise money for the GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL
Please register your intent to help HERE
DETAILS
Good Friday, April 7th
Meet at Bunyip CFA station, Pearson St, from 9am
Register as volunteers, pick up badges & collection resources
Nominate, or be allocated to, a route on Bunyip and Garfield town maps
Children need to be accompanied by an adult
To make it easier for the CFA on the day we ask volunteers to pre-register their help on the shared document.
There are currently two openings in our school advisory group.
If you would like to have a voice in an official capacity as a parent in the school, you are welcome to nominate yourself for a position. Please contact Andrew with your interest at princial@bunyip.catholic.edu.au
Currently, our School Advisory Team is
Andrew Greco
Father Avinash
Julia Johnson - Secretary
Shara Mcauley - Chair
Yvette Goulette
Erin Howlett
We will meet only 4 times a year between 7-8pm on Thursdays.
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P & F meeting next Monday 3rd April7pm in the staff room. All welcome.Agenda:
- Finalising the Easter raffle.
- P & F contribution to the proposed Columba Expo on Wednesday May 3rd.
- Begin preparing for the Mother's Day stall (week 3 of Term 2).
Will be drawn on Thursday 6th April at school after the Easter Liturgy.
We would appreciate any helpers who could join us at 10 am on Thurs 6th to cut/butter hot cross buns for the students as a "Happy Easter Gift" from the P&F.
We also need a few helpers to hand out Easter raffle baskets as they are drawn from 1pm approx.
Pupil Free Days - NO STUDENTS 2023
Monday - 24th April
Wednesday - 17th May
Monday - 10th July
Wednesday - 16th August
Thursday - 19th October
Monday - 6th November
2023 Dates
Thursday 6th April - Hot Cross Buns to all kids and Easter Raffle Drawn
Thursday 6th April - Holy Week & Easter Liturgy lead by grade 5-6
Thursday 6th April - End of Term 1 (Early finish 2:15pm)
Friday 7th April - Good Friday
Saturday 8th April - Easter Saturday
Sunday 9th April - Easter Sunday
Monday 10th April - Easter Monday
Monday 24th April - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 25th April - ANZAC Day Holiday
Wednesday 26th April - First Day Back Term 2
Wednesday 3rd May - Columba Learning Expo
Thursday 11th May - Mother's Day Event
Wednesday 17th May - Pupil Free Day
Monday 12th June - King's Birthday Holiday
Sunday 18th June - First Communion Sacrament
Friday 23rd June - End of Term 2 (Early finish 2:15pm)
Monday 10th July - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 11th July - First Day Back Term 3
Thursday 10th August - Book Week Dress Up Day
Wednesday 16th August - Pupil Free Day
Friday 1st September - Round Robin Sports Day 5/6
Saturday 9th September - Confirmation Sacrament
Thursday 31st August - Father's Day Event
Friday 15th September - End of Term 3 (Early finish 2:15pm)
Monday 2nd October - First Day Back Term 4 - Monday 2nd October
Tuesday 10th October - Athletics Day
Thursday 19th October - Pupil Free Day
Friday 27th October - Grandparents Day
Monday 6th November - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 7th November - Cup Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 12th December - Grade 6 Big Day Out Gumbya World
Tuesday 12th December - Grade 6 Graduation
Monday 11th December - Whole School Transition Day (find out grades for 2024)
Wednesday 13th December - Whole School End of year Mass at Iona Church
Friday 15th December - Last Day Students 2023
All welcome. There will be something for everyone. Bring your friends for a fun day out.
Skill sessions for all age groups and all skill levels. Umpire Introductory Course.
Just Hockey will be bringing their mobile shop
Big Raffle prizes, Fun Competitions.
Contact Natalie for more info 0499601411
Tune into socials for more updates
School Fees and Concessions 2023
Please contact the school office if you need to discuss your 2023 school fee payment.
DO YOU QUALIFY FOR A SCHOOL FEE DISCOUNT?
For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested health care concession card, please forward a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply.
If you qualify for this, please contact the school as school fees will be considerably less for your family.
If any families would like to set up a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly direct debit schedule for school fees, please complete the Direct Debit Form below and return it to the school office. For any assistance regarding calculations of payments, please contact us via email at: finance@bunyip.catholic.edu.au
If your current Health Care card is due to expire this year and your card is re-issued, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied for next year's fees, if not already done so.
For more FEE INFORMATION please visit our website
https://bunyip.catholic.edu.au/school-fees-and-levies
2023 School Fees Concession Program Financial Hardship
Eligible Centrelink Concession Card (CCC) Holder
Information for Applicants
Aim: To assist school families experiencing financial hardship in accessing a Catholic Primary education for their child/children.
Confidentiality: At all times, the dignity and privacy of those seeking a fee concession will be respected.
Level of Concession: School office staff can advise applicants of the concessional fee to be charged. This concessional fee is fixed annually by Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited. Approved applicants will be charged only the concessional fee which will cover all standard school fees and levies including any charges remaining for camps, sports and excursions after the application of the Camps, Sports, Excursion Fund (CSEF) benefit.
Eligible Concession Cards: Centrelink issues a number of concession cards for a variety of reasons. Some cards have a generous or no income test and therefore holders of these cards are ineligible for a fee concession under Category One. Only CCC’s that are eligible for CSEF are eligible for the School Fees Concession Program.
The following CCC’s are the most common cards that are eligible for CSEF. The CCC type is specified as a two or three letter code printed on the concession card.
- YA or YAL – Youth Allowance
- PPS – Parenting Payment Single
- PPP – Parenting Payment Partnered
- DSP – Disability Support Pension
- NSA – New Start Allowance
- LI – Low Income
- FA – Family Tax Benefit
- SA or SKA - Sickness Allowance
- CAR - Carer Allowance
- ABA or ABY - Schooling Applicant
- AGE - Age Pension
- AUS - Austudy
- HCC - Health Care Card
- PTA - Partnered Allowance
- SPL - Special Benefit
- WID or WFD or WFA – Widow Allowance/Pension
- The CCC must be issued in the name of the fee payer and list the students for which the concession is to be applied.
- The expiry date of the card must be on or after 1 January of the year (2023) for which the concession is to be applied.
- If an eligible concession card expires after the start of the year, the concessional fee rate will still be applied for the entire year.
- If a family becomes eligible during the course of a school year, then a pro-rata concession may be granted.
Lodgement of Application: Application for 2023 close on Friday 23rd June 2023, please lodge your application immediately for your card to be checked and a pro-rata concession to be applied if applicable.
The following application forms must be completed and are available from the school office:
- Complete the school’s application form & the Direct Debit Request (DDR) Service Agreement (or Centrepay application form)
- Submit the completed forms and present a valid CCC for verifying and copying.
- Complete and return the CSEF application form immediately after receiving it from the school.
Important Notes:
- The concession is automatic for a parent/guardian responsible for the school fees, who holds an eligible CCC.
- Any offer of a concession is subject to the applicant entering into a DDR Service Agreement or CentrePay arrangement for a regular payment plan of remaining fees (either weekly or fortnightly payments preferred). Any default in payment may result in the concession being withdrawn.
- The Direct Debit form is available from the school office or alternatively the CentrePay application form is available online at https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/forms/sa325.
- A CSEF application must be submitted for a concession to be granted.
- A new application must be made for each school year.
- Where the fee account is split, the concession applies to only that portion payable by the eligible card holder.
- All families requesting, or receiving, a fee concession must notify the school should their financial circumstances change sufficiently to affect the level of concession offered or if cards are cancelled.
CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE
Eligibility:
An application on behalf of a student may be submitted if the student is:
- a Victorian resident;
- school aged and enrolled (3) three or more days per week at a school; and
A student who meets the above requirements may be eligible if they:
- attend their nearest appropriate non-government school/campus
- reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from the school attended
Note: Eligibility is assessed when the School completes your child’s application on the Student Conveyance Allowance System
(SCAS). If approved, the allowance payable is based on the one-way distance to make the journey to and from school.
If you are eligible and wish to apply for this allowance, please click the link to the Conveyance Allowance Application Form, which must be printed and completed and returned to the school office by Friday 10th March, 2023. Late claims cannot be accepted.
Conveyance allowance rates - Money You Get Back
Private car conveyance allowance rates
| Distance (kilometres) | Amount paid annually |
|---|---|
| 4.8 to 10 | $450.18 |
| 10 to 15 | $563.24 |
| 15 to 20 | $675.17 |
| 20 to 25 | $788.33 |
| 25 to 30 | $900.26 |
| 30 to 35 | $1,011.16 |
| >35 | $1,126.37 |
| Additional student | $225.19 |
| Next nearest school (government schools only) | $337.74 |
| Next nearest additional student (government schools only) | $168.82 |
Private bus conveyance allowance rates
| Distance (kilometres) | Amount paid annually |
|---|---|
| 4.8 to 10 | $506.15 |
| 10 to 15 | $619.31 |
| 15 to 20 | $731.24 |
| 20 to 25 | $844.19 |
| 25 to 30 | $956.33 |
| 30 to 35 | $1,069.28 |
| >35 | $1,182.44 |
FORM - Conveyance Allowance - Bus Private travel
FORM - Conveyance Allowance application - Private Car travel only