Dear Parents

I am so glad that all our students have made such a calm start to 2022. It is also wonderful that we can confidently plan for the year, and know that many of the events the students have enjoyed will be back for 2022.

Over the next term, we are working to streamline our communication with parents. We will be utilising only three platforms for this

- Skoolzine (SZ APP) - Alerts, Parent Teacher Meetings, Newsletters

- SIMON & PAM - Absences, Permissions, Health, Reports

- Flexischool - Lunch orders

We know that life is busy and are hopeful that by streamlining the platforms we expect parents to use, we will help families stay in touch with the school without it being a burden.

In 2020, the school developed a Master Plan. This Master Plan was completed and will support us in planning for and executing projects that we know will enhance the Teaching and Learning for our students. I will add parts of the Master Plan to each newsletter so that parents can see what we have planned for the school over the next 3-15years. This week, I have included the plans for our car parking.

Term 1 Class Newsletters

Prep Term 1 Newsletter 2022

Grade 1/2 Term 1 Newsletter 2022

Grade 3/4 Term 1 Newsletter 2022

Grade 5/6 Term 1 Newsletter 2022

GRADE GROUPS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SZAPP ALERTS

We now have grade groups for parents to sign up for on SZAPP. This will allow us to send information that is specific grade information. It will mean less messages to all parents and will ensure you get the information you need.

It is an easy process to sign up for your child's grade's alerts and can be done in the SZAPP. There are step by step visual instructions below. Please know you will still receive whole school message alerts.

1. In the SZAPP, click on the MESSAGE tab

2. Turn on the tabs of your child's grades. They should look green.

3. Enter the passcode which is 5183

4. If the tab is green, you are subscribed! Below, this is what a prep parent account should look like.

NEW PICKUP PROCEDURES - STARTING TODAY

Starting today (Friday 18th February) there will be a change to car pickup procedures.

ALL students who are picked up in cars and who are in RED HOUSE, will now be waiting in CAR LINE 2, near the Learning Centre. I ask that parents who have children in RED HOUSE, now pick their children up from the 2nd car pickup line.

In Summary

Pickup line 1 - GREEN HOUSE CHILDREN ONLY

Pickup Line 2 - RED HOUSE, YELLOW HOUSE, BLUE HOUSE CHILDREN.

Below is a link to our updated pickup map to help.

After_School_Pickup_PARENT_MAP_2022.pdf

We have reached this decision after using the last two weeks to observe the flow of traffic. We have observed that the holdup is mostly at Car Line 1 for a number of reasons. We are very hopeful this reduces congestion along Hope St. Thank you to all families that offered the school feedback on this and to all families for their ongoing patience and want to help us get this right.

WOOD NEWS

Thank you to all families that have enquired about the wood at the front of the school. Please know that this wood is part of some exciting new gardens for our schools. We will slowly move this wood into the school to enhance the play spaces for our children over the next month.

Have a wonderful weekend to all families

Andrew Greco

Principal

ASSEMBLY FRIDAY 25th February

PARENTS INVITED

ONLINE EVENT - Starting 2:20pm

LINK - https://meet.google.com/bdm-kgns-ysc?authuser=0

School BOARD - Parent Involvement Opportunity

The School Advisory Committee (School Board) is a great opportunity to become involved in the operations of the school. The School Board is an advisory committee for the school and acts as a conduit between the school and its parent community.

The School Board meets twice a term and our meetings are held during the week (Video Conference and/or Face to Face) starting 7:00 pm- 7:30 pm (We are happy to move these times and be adaptive depending on the needs of the group)

Officially, the School Advisory Committee is advisory to the principal. This body acts as an adviser on strategic planning, support to the principal, school improvements, development, policy, and general leadership. The sole purpose ultimately is to serve and work toward the mission and vision of the school.

If you are interested in sharing your good ideas and supporting the school to be as good as it can be for our kids, please email me to express your interest. Emails can be sent to principal@bunyip.catholic.edu.au

I look forward to receiving nominations in the coming days.

_________________

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PULSE SURVEY - Parent Survey to HELP our school

Each Term I will send out a PULSE parent survey, just to try and get 'the pulse' of how our parent community is going in regards to their children's schooling. Below is a link to the survey. The surveys will always be less than 10 questions and will support us in creating the best possible learning environment for your children.

This survey is CONFIDENTIAL and no names or email addresses will be collected unless you provide them for us. The school will not contact you personally to discuss your responses.

This is your best opportunity to let us know how you are feeling, and your best opportunity to let us know what we are doing well and what you know we could do better.

I ask that this survey be completed by Friday 25th February.

HELP US HERE -https://forms.gle/ZqD26uxVxxXiSGdWA

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Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday 29th March and Wednesday 30th March. The conferences will be 10 minutes each. All meetings will be at school in person.

All bookings should be made using our school's online booking system. The link will be distributed to parents in the coming weeks. The purpose of these meetings is to touch base with parents regarding

- Your child's transition to 2022

- Any new or existing learning behaviours that need to be discussed

- Clarification for parents/teachers on student learning

Bookings will be available soon

Please contact the school office if you need to discuss your 2022 school fee payment. All school fees for 2021 are overdue. Term 1 2022 school fee statements will be emailed shortly.

???? 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

Where a student or staff member is identified as a positive case, education contact tracing will no longer be a requirement.

The revised process is set out below.

Students

If a student receives a positive test result at any time, they must:

Parents, guardians, or carers must advise the School.
Parents, guardians, or carers are required to register the result on the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form available on the Coronavirus Victoria website as soon as possible.
Students who report a positive result must isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school and isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
Ensure students refrain from returning to school if they are symptomatic unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.

WATCH FOR COVID SYMPTOMS

If your child is unwell, even with mild COVID-19 symptoms, you must keep your child at home until their symptoms resolve and get your child tested with a PCR test (nose and throat swab) or complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
If symptoms continue, your child should stay home and take another RAT or PCR test in 24 hours. If that test is also negative, your child may return to school.

FACE MASKS

For all school settings, school staff and students in Grades 3 and above are required to wear a face mask indoors, including Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies.
Staff and students must wear face masks even if vaccinated.
Parents, guardians, and carers are required to supply their child(ren) with an appropriate face mask that covers the nose and mouth. Appropriate face masks include single-use face masks (commonly called surgical masks). Face shields, scarves, or bandannas do not meet the requirements of an acceptable face mask.
All visitors must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces when attending a school unless a lawful exception applies.

ACTIVITIES

COVID-19 will continue to be considered in all activity risk assessments. Guidance will be provided to schools on applying appropriate safeguards across a range of activities, including school camps and excursions.
Parents, guardians, and carers will be made aware of the risk of exposure and will need to provide their permission for their child’s participation in extra-curricular, out-of-school hours, or off-site activities.

VISITORS

Visitors on the school site should be kept to a minimum to support essential school activities or student needs.
Visitors will be required to comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.
The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record-keeping continues to be mandatory in all schools. All visitors working on school sites or entering school buildings are required to check-in using the Service Victoria QR Code on arrival.

COLUMBA School Leaders 2022

In 2022, Columba will continue to rotate its School Leaders each fortnight. We know that this will provide ALL of our grade 6 students with the opportunity to take on leadership responsibilities at least once, if not twice in the year.

This year we will also have two VALUE LEADERS from each colour house, as well as Social Justice & Liturgy Leaders. All school leaders will come from our 2022 grade 6 cohort.

I would like to offer a big congratulations to our new grade 6 Values Leaders. All were much deserving of their peer-voted roles. I know that all students who have been elected will uphold the Values our school expects. Values that all of our students work towards each day.

Respect

Perseverance

Inspiration

Generosity

Fairness

I would also like to commend all those students who missed out on a leadership position. The courage you showed to congratulate those that received the position was outstanding.

I know that all our school leaders will continue to set a high standard and be exemplary role models for all the students at Columba.

Well done to

Stella Ritson

Ash Murphy

Imogen Johnson

Frank Millis

Social Justice & Liturgy Leaders

Eilish O'Hara & Clancy Cunningham

Blue House, named after Dylan Alcott which stands for perseverance

Audrey Ryan & Mia Greco

Gold House, named after Cathy Freeman which stands for inspiration

Maya Brown & Archie Whelan

Red House, named after Fred Hollows which stands for generosity

Chad Carlsen & Max Wouters

Green House, named after Mary MacKillop which stands for fairness

Parents are welcome to attend our assembly on Friday 25th February via Google Meet. Badges will be presented to leaders live. To join the Assembly, please use the link below

https://meet.google.com/bdm-kgns-ysc?authuser=0

School Leaders

Social Justice Leaders

House Values Leaders

Literacy at Columba

Over the past year teachers at Columba have been considering the most effective, up-to-date method to support students in learning how to read, write and spell. We have now introduced the Jolly Phonics systematic phonics program in Foundation and the Junior school. We aim to teach ALL our children to read, write and spell confidently. Our program is supported by evidence-based research and includes phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary knowledge, fluency and comprehension. Jolly Phonics is sequenced into stages, allowing us to teach children the 44 sounds of the English alphabet in a sequential way.

At Columba we help students learn the link between letters and the speech sounds they represent. Our students learn sounds (phonemes) are represented by letters (graphemes). We teach children that phonemes can be blended or ‘synthesised’ to form words. Reading starts not with whole words, but with the most basic sound unit, the phoneme (sound). The reading process involves decoding or ‘breaking’ words into separate sounds that are blended together to read an unknown word. At Columba Catholic Primary School, children learn how blending and segmenting words is a reversible process; if you can read a word, you can spell it!

We have introduced many decodable books for students in the Junior school who are learning to read. These are books that are carefully levelled according to the sound knowledge students have gained. Students will bring home 3-5 take-home books for the week and are encouraged to read and re-read these books. These books will be at an easy level; your child should easily read these books to make reading fun and successful. The harder, trickier reading work will be done at school with the support of our staff. We are working to build up our collection of decodables so some students may still read ‘predictable’ texts occasionally.

We do not encourage children to guess the identity of an unknown word based on pictures, context, or the word’s first letter. Your child will be encouraged to identify all the sounds in the word and blend them together..reading..not guessing!

Nor do we have children memorise long lists of sight words e.g M100W words. Not all phonics approaches are the same!

At Columba, we introduce a small number of ‘tricky words’ that frequently appear in print. They may be regular or irregular, deviating from common phonics patterns (e.g. said, my, is, was, are). These are words that children need to 'learn by heart' initially as they cannot decode them just yet, for example, with the word - said - the tricky part is 'ai' in that we can hear the /s/ and the /d/ . We would say in this word, the a and i are saying e. Students can sound the s and d part of the word.

Following is a link to a recent article in The Age newspaper celebrating the great growth in a school who introduced a similar Literacy approach.

‘Results came really quickly’: How one tiny Victorian school turned literacy around

School Photographs for 2022 - Columba Catholic PS

Annual school photos will be taken on Tuesday, 29 March 2022.

Students are to be in full school uniform.

PRE-ORDER ONLINE (orders close at 5:00 pm on the day prior)

See the packages available and place your pre-order online.

To order Sibling & Individual photographs, click on the following link;

School Photographs Orders

School Access Key: FX8ET3EW

Sibling photos are available for families with multiple children attending the school. Sibling photos must be ordered online before 5 pm the day prior.

** A complimentary family/sibling photograph is available for families who order an individual pack for 3 or more children at the same school. To be eligible, you must order all the individual packs first and then add the family photograph to the same shopping cart. The discount will be automatically applied.

If you place your order online before 5 pm the day prior, you do not need to return any paperwork.

If you have any inquiries, please contact us on (03) 5942 5234

Reconciliation Sacrament

The dates for our Reconciliation Sacrament for grade 3 & 4 students are below. Please note that many grade 3 & 4 students will be making their Reconciliation and First Communion this year. Please keep up to date with communication from the school and the parish.

Saturday 26th or Sunday 27th February - Reconciliation Commitment Mass

Wednesday 2nd March - Reconciliation Workshop 7 pm

Wednesday 23rd March - Reconciliation Sacrament

Please stay tuned for more information if your child is making their first Reconciliation in Term 1.

Synod_2021_2023_Walking_Together_Diocesan_Conversations_in_February_2022 _pdf 849.69 KB

Mass Times Iona Church and more...

Feb_130222_003_.pdf

Feb_130222_003 pdf 1.87 MB

Columba Master Plan

In 2020 the school developed a Master Plan. This Master Plan was completed and will support us in planning for and executing projects that we know will enhance the Teaching and Learning for our students.

Below are the plans we have for our car parking and pickup lines. We know that these changes will mean a better flow of traffic for parents at pickup and drop off times. It will also allow more parking for larger events and ensure the safety of our visitors, students and staff.

SECONDHAND UNIFORM

Unfiorms avaialble by request

A big thank you to all families who have donated their good quality uniforms that they no longer need. We currently have a huge supply of secondhand uniforms available.

If your children have had unexpected growth spurts, or have lost part of their uniform, as they often do, please feel free to call the office on (03) 56295933 or office@bunyip.catholic.edu.au we may have something to help get you through!

All items in our secondhand collection, have been washed and inspected to ensure they are of good quality. All items are for sale for a nominal donation to the school.

Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club

Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club 612.77 KB