Columba Catholic Primary School Newsletter 18th March 2022

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Columba Catholic Primary School Newsletter 18th March 2022

Principal Message
Important Information for this Fortnight
A Window Into Learning At Columba
School Photos
Religious Education News
Parish Bulletin 18th March 2022
Important Yearly Dates
Community News

On Tuesday our whole staff were invited to engage in a Professional Learning Day with George Telford. George works for Challenging Learning and was a principal for many years in the Latrobe Valley. Geroge comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and many years of experience facilitating professional learning for teachers.

Challenging Learning has been working with Columba since 2021, supporting us to improve the way we engage our students in their learning. Over two years we have worked with George on how we can continue to build high performing cultures in our school and classrooms. George has worked with staff on how we can use dialogue in the classroom to help students learn, and how effective questioning can engage and stimulate learning through the school.

I continue to be amazed at how our staff wants to keep learning and improving their practice so that they can be the best teachers they can possibly be for our students. I continue to be excited as I watch the collective growth of our team and I am sure as parents, you continue to see either first hand or through your children, how excited our children are about their learning.

Thank you all for finding alternate care for your children on Tuesday. I assure you it was well worth the time and am hopeful that some families were able to use the weekend to recharge, reconnect and reset for a big finish to term 1.

I look forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday 22nd March at our Athletics Day, and welcome you all again to our second outdoor assembly on Friday 25th March, 2:20pm.

For more information on Challenging Learning, please visit their website

https://www.challenginglearning.com/

https://columbahome.wixsite.com/dtcafe

I would like to officially launch Columba Catholic School's eLearning Lounge. The eLearning lounge primarily focuses on our 1:1 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) iPad Program. It is a one-stop shop for all information regarding our BYOD program. It outlines

- Our Educational Philosophy around Digital Technology

- Child Safety and Digital Technologies

- Purchasing iPads information (what do my children need)

- Device requirements

- Parent training and advice on keeping our children safe online

I encourage all parents to visit the page. I am hopeful our eLearning Lounge continues to be a helpful resource for all families.

Take care

Andrew Greco

Important Information for this Fortnight

WHOLE SCHOOL OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY

PARENTS INVITED

FRIDAY 25th March 2:20 pm

Enter gate 2 to find students and staff at the right-hand side of the Learning Centre.

__________________

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 continue to 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 are available using the link below

https://columbacpsbunyip.schoolzineplus.com/term1conferences2022

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS

As visitors to our school are becoming more accustomed to the electronic sign-in system, we are asking that anyone wanting to enter the school as a volunteer or to be involved in school events have a Working with Children Check. This is compulsory in Victoria.

When you sign in at the office, you will need to enter your Working with Children Check number.

You will not need a Working with Children Check to pick up your children.

All adults can apply for a working with children check which are

FREE for volunteers at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/.

If you have a current Working with Children Check and have forgotten the number or misplaced your card, please log onto the website and get your card reissued and find your number. You can log into your account at https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/wwccu/login.doj?next=mycheck#_ga=2.162912252.1158808644.1582516652-816484934.1582516652

A Window Into Learning At Columba

Meet Lucy, our Therapy Dog

We would like to introduce everyone to another staff member of the school community, Lucy. A beautiful, gentle Cavoodle dog. Lucy belongs to Chris Porter, who is part of our Education Support Team working in the 5/6 classrooms. Chris and Lucy have spent much time training on how to be a therapy support dog in a classroom learning environment.

Lucy is working on the following areas so that she is ready to be a Therapy Dog in our school

Formal obedience training
- Obedience commands
Canine good behaviour shaping and canine cognitive tonal conditioning
- Manners and communication
- Separation confidence
Socialisation and drives assessment
- Response to environment and equipment
- Interaction with dogs & other animals
Simulations, scenarios, and response to people
- Interaction with people
- Inappropriate handling
- Control under competing demands

Lucy has continued to shine in her role as emotional support for our students and will continue to visit classrooms and be present with students if they feel anxious and are keen for her company.

Due to her title, Lucy is exempt from the school policy regarding ‘dogs are not allowed beyond the school gates.’

We hope you will be able to see Lucy in action over the next few years and we know you will support her in taking care of our kids.

Inspiration Award Winners

ABOUT THE INSPIRATION AWARDS -

School Photos

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

Religious Education News

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The dates for the Sacrament of Reconciliation 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.

Wednesday 23rd March - Reconciliation Sacrament

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