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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.
Eucharist, 1998 by Linda Syddick Napaltjarri
The subject of the painting depicts The Eucharist or Holy Communion a ritual where celebrants re-enact the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. In the centre of the painting we see the cross (which represents the Crucifixion) set against a very distinctive Australian background featuring Uluru (Ayers Rock) while bread and wine either side of the cross symbolizes the body and blood of Christ.
The remaining symbols convey the artist’s own Aboriginal interpretation of the event. The three boomerangs either side and to the top of Ayers Rock denote the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They also symbolise the promise of return made by Jesus. The series of small eleven U-shapes to the base of the cross represent Christ’s disciples. Directly above, the horizontal snake symbolises Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.
To the bottom of the painting the large blue U-shape denotes a participant in Holy Communion, while either side a Kangaroo ancestor signifies Aboriginal spirituality and belief.
Linda's life has been influenced by Lutheran missionaries, hence the syncretic nature of her work. Whilst upholding her traditional belief system she is attempting to reconcile this contemporary issue through her art; a fusion of Christianity and the Dreaming.
This serves to remind us that the Dreaming is essentially a dynamic process which incorporates the totality of life, rather than a static historical, mythical past. The Dreaming deals with all issues; past, present, and future.
Principal Message 15th November 2024
Dear Parents and guardians,
Today we celebrated our annual Athletics Day, and it was a resounding success! It was truly inspiring to witness the incredible sportsmanship, determination, and joy displayed by our students.
Our House Values were on full show today, representing Fred Hollows, Cathy Freeman, Mary Mackillop, and Dylan Alcott, truly embodying the spirit of our school values. All students exemplified the importance of perseverance, compassion, and inclusivity. Just as these remarkable individuals overcame challenges and achieved greatness, our students too demonstrated resilience and a positive attitude.
I am so proud of everyone!
I was particularly impressed by the competitive spirit and the graciousness in both victory and defeat. It's essential to remember that while winning is exciting, learning to lose with dignity is equally important. Our students embraced this principle but more so, parents who gave their child a cuddle and encouraged them to keep going. What a great learning.
I would like to extend a big thank you to all the parents and guardians who attended the event. Your presence and support significantly contributed to the day's success. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the dedicated Columba staff who worked tirelessly to ensure a fun and safe environment for all. As always that are the true stars of the show. We are so lucky.
A special thanks to Danielle Sharpe, our Sports Coordinator, for her exceptional work in organizing this fantastic event. This was her first Athletics Day at Columba, and she certainly made a significant impact in such a short time. Well done Dani!
Let us give thanks to God for blessing us with such an amazing school, wonderful facilities, supportive families, and dedicated teachers.
May God continue to bless us all.
Sincerely,
Andrew Greco
Principal
Congratulations on completing your first reconciliation!
This is a significant milestone in your spiritual journey.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, often referred to as confession, is a central practice in the Catholic Church. It involves a person admitting their sins to a priest, who, acting in the person of Christ, offers forgiveness and penance.
Some individuals may feel fear or shame when considering confession. This can be due to feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or a misunderstanding of the sacrament. However, the Church emphasizes God's infinite mercy and the transformative power of forgiveness.
The sacrament offers an opportunity for spiritual renewal and healing. By acknowledging one's sins and receiving absolution, individuals can experience a sense of peace and reconciliation with God and others.
What is Reconciliation?
CHRISTMAS IN A
SHOE-BOX-2024
Christmas will soon be upon us, yet again! Every year Columba families have helped bring joy and hope to less fortunate children and families within our local community, through our Catholic Social Justice initiative, “Christmas in a Shoe-box Appeal”.
We are seeking to assist families through donations of gifts for children and adults. Last year’s contribution was incredibly successful with over 100 gifts donated to this most worthy cause and we are again asking families to be involved in this simple, hands-on project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. This is a real opportunity to encourage our children to reach out to others.
If your family would like to be involved in this thoughtful and generous project, simply shop for a gift and place it in a box or gift bag. Then label the gift with the age and gender of the person you think it would suit.
If you are unable to assist, you might consider donating some festive non-perishable goods for Christmas hampers.
I thank you for considering this hope filled project as a way of giving thanks for what we have and keeping in mind Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift.
Step 1
Shoe Box/Christmas box
Use an empty shoe box/Christmas box or bag.
Step 2
Fill With Gifts
Fill the box with a variety of gifts or single gift. Please note: we have been asked to secure the box with a ribbon or elastic band rather than wrapping them as St Vincent de Paul often add donated vouchers to the boxes.
Step 3
Drop Off
Write a gender and age label on each shoe box lid and drop off at Columba before Friday December 6th when we will present our gifts to a representative of our local St Vincent de Paul chapter.
Operations Accountant
The Diocese of Sale is seeking a qualified Accountant to assist the Diocesan Business Manager in the day-to-day financial operations of the Diocese and its associated entities. This is a permanent part time role of 30 hours per week with flexible days to be negotiated. The salary for the successful candidate will be based on experience, education and skill level. Applications will be open until 5pm Monday 25 November 2024.
For further information please see the Positions Vacant section of our website https://www.cdsale.org.au/job-vacancies or contact Mary Winter (Diocesan Business Manager) by email at maryw@sale.catholic.org.au
A Window Into Learning At Columba
We Are So PROUD!
Well Done Angus and Tahj!
Angus and Tahj recently represented our school at the Rocky Trail Academy Schools Mountain Bike Race. Both boys displayed exceptional skill and determination throughout the event.
We're thrilled to announce that their outstanding performance earned them the Champion School Award in the primary category! Individually, Angus secured an impressive 4th place, while Tahj claimed the top spot, finishing 1st overall.
To commemorate this incredible achievement, the boys have a framed certificate to present to the principal today. We will mount it proudly in our administration! We'll also share some photos of their race day experience.
Angus and Tahj are not only talented riders but also great friends. Their unwavering support for each other throughout the day was truly inspiring. We're incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to cheering them on in future races.
COLUMBA IN THE NEWS!
Cleaning up Bunyip!
Friday 22nd November
3/4R Respect (Whole School)
_______________
There will be no school assembly on Friday 15th November as we will be holding our school athletics sports.
The next whole school assembly will be held on
Friday 22nd November - week 7
RESPECT ASSEMBLY
Parents & families are always
welcome to our assemblies!
Important Information for this Fortnight
As part of our BIG DAY OUT, celebrating our grade 6's time at Columba, all grade 6 Columba students are invited to attend our excursion to Gumbya World.
FRIDAY 13th December 2024
The cost for each child is $60
You can pay online here https://bunyip.cdfpay.org.au/monitoronline/Account/AddToMyCart/18?itemType=3
The cost includes
- Buses
-Lunch
-Admission
You can pay using the following options
- Call the school and over the phone EFTPOS
- Visit the school and pay EFTPOS
- ONLINE PAYMENT through CDF Pay
PAY HERE - https://bunyip.cdfpay.org.au/monitoronline/Account/AddToMyCart/18?itemType=3
If you have any questions please contact Tory tparker@bunyip.catholic.edu.au
Regards,
Grade 6 Team
2025
After a vote by the current grade 5 students at the beginning of term, the design for the bomber jackets for 2025 has been decided upon. We are looking to order these by the end of the school year so they are available to students on the first day of Term 1 next year.
The price per item is approximately $53.00 but is subject to change depending on how many items are ordered. The jackets will need to be paid for at the beginning of the 2025 school year
Please note we cannot accept payment before then. When the time comes, this can be done over the phone using EFTPOS or paying by EFTPOS in person at the office. The students cannot receive their jacket until payment is made.
As the bomber jackets will be worn most of autumn, winter and spring in 2025, it is
recommended you purchase a size up to allow for your child’s growth over the next 12-18 months.
The current grade 6 students have kindly allowed the grade 5’s to try on their jackets to get an indication of size, so please have a chat with your child about sizing, and consult the link below if in doubt.
Please email Tory Parker: tparker@bunyip.catholic.edu.au with your intent to purchase and your child’s size by Friday 6th December.
Sizing:
Standard Kid’s Sizes from 6-12
Adults range from XXXS-XXXL
Size Chart available here –
https://www.bodenclothing.com.au/en-au/childrens-size-and-fit-chart
Thank you and with kind regards,
Senior School Teachers
???? DO YOU QUALIFY FOR A SCHOOL FEE DISCOUNT ????
For 2025, the annual amount to be charged to eligible CCC holders remains at $520 per family.
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
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 (2025) 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.
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 early March, 2023. Late claims cannot be accepted.
Conveyance allowance rates - Money You Get Back
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/conveyance-allowance/guidance/conveyance-allowance-rates
FORM - Conveyance Allowance - Bus Private travel
FORM - Conveyance Allowance application - Private Car travel only
FOUND
1 Black Kathmandu jacket size 6 green lining.
1 Black Kathmandu jacket size 10 green lining.
1 Black Macpac jacket size 10
1 Carlton hoodie size 10 & 1 Carlton cap
If you think one of these may be your child’s, please contact the office.
office@bunyip.catholic.edu.au 56295933
2024 Dates
Pupil Free Days - NO STUDENTS 2024
SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS
BUNYIP MARKET!
Eloise will be holding a stall at the Bunyip Market on November 24th, where she will be selling her handmade clay bead bracelets and loom band bracelets. She has been working hard on creating these items, and this is her first venture into selling her own creations.
Columba provides all families with access to before and after school care through DS Sports.
Our Before and After school care program is facilitated on site in our Multi-purpose Room before and after school
DS Sports are now taking Before and After School care enrolments for 2025!
ALL THE INFO YOU NEED IS IN THE FLYER BELOW!
Below is a downloadeable flyer with all the information you need to know regarding DS Sports Before & After School Care