Columba Catholic Primary School Acknowledges the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians and pay 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 identity are 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 our work.

Dear Parents and guardians,

Dear Families,

I need to acknowledge how busy school world is at the moment. Book Week, 100 days of school, Crazy Hair, Crazy Socks, Concert, Andrew Chin, Confirmation the list goes on. Thank you to all families for supporting us with these events. As a parent of three, I know how much thought needs to go into these days, our want as parents being we want our kids to be happy and be part of the fun.

I just want to remind everyone of the purpose of these events. The purpose is to teach children the importance of giving, generosity and thinking of others. One of our school values and house colour is GENEROSITY, which is named after Fred Hollows.

Fred Hollows restored sight to thousands of people around the world and trained countless eye doctors to do the same. He believed everyone, rich or poor, has the right to quality, affordable eye care. His work lives on today through The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Like Fred, the mission of the Catholic Church is to help those in need. To stand up for those that cannot stand up for themselves. Through all our fundraising for many wonderful causes, we know we are helping our students and community continue to think of others and help those in need. To think of people beyond ourselves and our own family.

“An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.”

(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium)

Can I also please thank parents for their ongoing support of all our staff. I am very aware that we work in a wonderfully supportive community, with many indivduals who are all working together to create the best school we can. Before my time, a Parent Code of Conduct was established to help keep us on track with how we should be for each other. This Code of Conduct was put together by parents in the community and a resource we use as a reminder of how we can continue to build on creating such a wonderful school for all children, adults and teachers in Bunyip.

Parent_Code_Of_Conduct.docx.pdf

Parent_Code_Of_Conduct _docx _pdf 72.54 KB

Have a wonderful weekend.

Warm regards,

Andrew Greco

Principal

Parent Teacher Conferences

Prep S Parent Conferences have already been booked.

All Family Conferences will be held at school in your children's classrooms

Tuesday 3rd September and Wednesday 4th September

Please book your conference/interview using our portal. I ask that all families be proactive in making time to see their child's teacher, as it will be a perfect opportunity to discuss your child's learning and some learning goals for the remainder of the year. You may receive contact from the school asking for your attendance.

Students are welcome to attend the conferences if that is the preference of the parent.

Please book asap especially if you have more than one child to ensure your meeting times are similar.

Please book your meeting using the link below

https://columbacpsbunyip.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/35

A reminder for those parents who are invited to attend a PSG...the PSG meeting will replace the Family Conference for this term. Please do not book both.

_

Confirmation is on the 28th of August.

All families should have booked their confirmation time after the

Confirmation Workshop on Wednesday 17th July.

Please book your place HERE if you have not already done so: 5pm or 7pm times available

https://columbahome.wixsite.com/sacraments

Confirmation Candidates 2024

Confirmation - all welcome

5pm and 7pm, St John the Baptist Koo Wee Rup.

Wednesday 28th August. Please keep our Candidates in your prayer:

Isaac Cornell

Nicholas Giblin

Harry Herra

Axel Jean-Pierre

Olivia Merrigan

Daisy O’Loughlin

Sevanna Reid

Isabelle Taylor

Jaxon Templeton

Please get in touch with the school ASAP if you would like your child to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation.

Contact Ms. Kelly Lucas to discuss or ask any questions klucas@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

Andrew Chinn Student Workshop & Afternoon Concert.

On Wednesday, August 28, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada.

Students will participate in class workshops with Andrew during the day and will perform these songs in an afternoon concert. We will then use these songs during our class mass celebrations.

Parents and families are welcome to join us for the concert.

The concert will take place in the 5/6 Learning Centre, at 2:15 PM. We look forward to seeing you there.

Biographical notes.
Andrew was a teacher for 20 years in Catholic schools in Sydney. He taught all grades from kindergarten to Year 6. Andrew has been songwriting since 1993 and has released 14 albums, 6 picture books, and 5 DVDs and provides online resources for teachers: www.butterflyhouse.online.
His best-known songs are These Hands, Rainbow, An African Blessing, and Rise Up! Andrew’s music is available on Spotify and Apple Music.

WEDNESDAY 28TH AUGUST

TWO FREE DRESS DAYS APPROACHING!

Our Church is Iona

https://stjosephsionamaryknoll.com.au/

Friday 30th August:

SENIOR ASSEMBLY Gr 3-6

School Value: Inspiration - Freeman house value

inspired by the life of Cathy Freeman.

Grade 5/6M will host and lead our assembly.

Assembly begins at 2:40 PM (please arrive from 2.35 pm)

in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Parents & families are welcome!

_______________

Congratulations to our award winners from the 16th August!

Congratulations to our award winners from today!

Footy Fundraiser

will be back in 2025!

Due to so much going on in the school over the next four weeks, we have decided to not hold our footy fund-raiser for 2024.

We look forward to bringing it back in 2025.

We will still hold a footy day in the last week of school

UPDATE FOR COSTUMES!

Get the kids READY!

Dear performers and families,

RE: UPDATED School concert and costumes

The purpose of this letter is to inform families about any updates to the costume items that will need to be supplied for the school concert. These items are needed by the end of August.

We are very excited to share that our school concert will be next term, on Tuesday 17th September. Tickets will go on sale on Monday 19th August through the West Gippsland Arts Centre. There will be a 1pm and 7pm performance. Tickets are limited to 4 per family (not including children already in the performance).

The name of the concert is, ‘The Antiques Roadshow’ and will see each class perform to music from different decades. Some costume items will be supplied by the school and some we ask families to supply. Below is a list of what families are asked to supply.

More information will be available soon. Watch this space to stay updated.

If you need any help or have any questions please reach out klucas@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

Thanks,

Kelly Lucas

On behalf of the concert planning team.

HAIR AND MAKEUP

Hair_and_make_up.pdf

Hair_and_make_up _pdf 229.63 KB

Father's Day Liturgy - all welcome

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday 29th August,

9:15am Columba Basketball courts.

Coffee Van available before and after the liturgy.

Classrooms open after the liturgy.

SCHOOL STUDENT BROADBAND INITIATIVE (SSBI)

The SSBI is an Australian Government initiative to provide free home internet until
31/12/2025 for up to 30,000 unconnected families with school age students.

Families can contact the SSBI National Referral Centre (NRC) to check their eligibility.

Once eligibility has been confirmed, NRC will support the family to get connected.

PLEASE SEE THE POSTER IN THE 'COMMUNITY NEWS' SECTION OF THIS NEWSLETTER BELOW, FOR MORE INFORMATION.