Included this week:-
- Catholic Education Week
- Congratulations
- Proposed Uniform Changes
- Open Day for New Building Spaces
- Catholic Schools Funding
- Next Assembly
Dear Parents and Carers
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week 2017 will be celebrated from Monday 22nd May to Friday 26th May in all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat. The theme this year is "Strive for the Greater Gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31). This theme is based on St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians in which he goes on to attest that all that we do must be centered on love.
This year our school will be celebrating Catholic Education Week with our ‘sister Catholic school’ - Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree. Though in distinct parishes, our schools both share the same Parish Priest: Father Marcello Colasante. We also share the same foundations, with both schools being established by the Sisters of Mercy.
Next Thursday 25th May OLHC Prep, 1 and 2 students will join with our junior students at St Columba’s for a shared liturgy in the church at 12.30. The children will eat lunch together and share in games and activities over lunch. The OLHC students will return to their school at 2pm.
St Columba’s middle and senior students will be bused to OLHC at 12 noon to share in a liturgy, lunch and activities over the lunch break. The students will return to St Columba’s by 2.15pm. Please make sure permission has been given via CareMonkey.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Emily Mullane (and Tim) on the wonderful news that they are expecting their second child, a brother or sister for Molly in late October. We wish Emily good health and the family every happiness. Emily will continue to work until early Term 4.
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week 2017 will be celebrated from Monday 22nd May to Friday 26th May in all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat. The theme this year is "Strive for the Greater Gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31). This theme is based on St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians in which he goes on to attest that all that we do must be centered on love.
This year our school will be celebrating Catholic Education Week with our ‘sister Catholic school’ - Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree. Though in distinct parishes, our schools both share the same Parish Priest: Father Marcello Colasante. We also share the same foundations, with both schools being established by the Sisters of Mercy.
Next Thursday 25th May OLHC Prep, 1 and 2 students will join with our junior students at St Columba’s for a shared liturgy in the church at 12.30. The children will eat lunch together and share in games and activities over lunch. The OLHC students will return to their school at 2pm.
St Columba’s middle and senior students will be bused to OLHC at 12 noon to share in a liturgy, lunch and activities over the lunch break. The students will return to St Columba’s by 2.15pm. Please make sure permission has been given via CareMonkey.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Emily Mullane (and Tim) on the wonderful news that they are expecting their second child, a brother or sister for Molly in late October. We wish Emily good health and the family every happiness. Emily will continue to work until early Term 4.
Proposed Uniform Changes
There has been a great response to the survey sent out regarding the proposed uniform changes. We had nearly 40% of our families responding and I sincerely thank those parents who did have their say. The results of the survey clearly indicate that the preferred option is to remain with the current uniform.
Many comments expressed the fact that the royal blue colour is distinctive and sets our school apart from other schools in our local area. Comments included:
Don't wish to change to have our uniform look like other schools. The royal blue makes us have more of an identity.
The current royal blue sets our fabulous school apart!
Being a former St. Columba's student I feel very loyal to the royal blue colour.
A few other primary schools are dark blue the royal blue is unique to St Columbas.
All dark blue is not as distinguished and the royal blue is unique and traditional.
The brighter blue existing colour lifts the dark blue in the uniform. A bright, happy uniform symbolizes the bright, happy kids in the school.
Comments were also made in relation to the additional cost to families of the proposed new changes.
Taking into consideration the feedback we have received, we have made the decision to remain with the current uniform and amend the logo to bring it in line with the style guide. This is a minimal change that will not affect the current uniform . We will also be introducing navy tracksuit pants. These we will be slowly phased in as our current supply of royal blue tracksuit pants sell out. Royal blue and navy blue tracksuit pants will be accepted as part of the school sports uniform for the next few years.
Open Day to show off our New Building Spaces
We are very excited to see the building works nearly complete. Many children have been fascinated watching the external works over the last few weeks. Handover of the new spaces will be on Wednesday 31st May, with the Prep and 3/4 teachers spending Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd June moving into the new spaces.
We are desperately seeking help for this move - MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK! Please consider giving one hour of your time on either of these days or in the week leading up to the move. We have lots of resources in cupboards that need packing and furniture that will need to be moved. Please let one of the Prep or 3/4 teachers know if you are able to assist, or leave your name at the school office.
On our school’s Feast Day - Friday 9th June, we will be celebrating a Mass together at 11am. Following this Mass, the school will be opened for parents and visitors wander through and see our wonderful new spaces (as well as the rest of the school in action). The school will be open to visitors from 12 noon to 4pm.
Catholic Schools Funding
Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of information in the media about the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools funding package and its impact on Catholic school fees.
The package proposed by the Government is a 10-year funding model, which will see significant changes to how Catholic schools are funded in the future.
Like the majority of Catholic schools, our school aims to be open and accessible to all families seeking a Catholic education. That means we aim to be affordable as well.
One of the big impacts of the Turnbull Government’s funding package is that Catholic school fees will have to rise. This won’t happen tomorrow, but over the next 10 years, cuts to school funding will mean fees will gradually increase.
Catholic education leaders across Australia have been working hard to make sure the Government and the Opposition understand that our students will be disadvantaged by the funding model. Everything is being done to make sure the Turnbull Government’s funding package does not become law.
That’s where our school community comes in. In coming weeks, please keep an eye out in the school newsletter for information about how you can add your voice to help prevent unreasonable fee increases. With your help, we can make sure our politicians in Canberra are listening to Catholic schools.
Next Assembly
Our next assembly will be Friday 26th May at 2.30pm in the church. This Assembly will be lead by LG 5. At this assembly 7 of our Prep students will be introduced to the school community by their grade 5 buddy.
The following prep students will be introduced:-
Evie Morgan, Nathan Vowles, William Pitman, Ethan Mardling, Elsie Brady, Tanner McCarthy and Jack Barlow
Please note that the assembly advertised for Week 8 (Friday 9th June) has been moved to the following Friday 16th June (Week 9) due to the School Open Day on our Feast Day. This assembly will be lead by LG 10.
There has been a great response to the survey sent out regarding the proposed uniform changes. We had nearly 40% of our families responding and I sincerely thank those parents who did have their say. The results of the survey clearly indicate that the preferred option is to remain with the current uniform.
Many comments expressed the fact that the royal blue colour is distinctive and sets our school apart from other schools in our local area. Comments included:
Don't wish to change to have our uniform look like other schools. The royal blue makes us have more of an identity.
The current royal blue sets our fabulous school apart!
Being a former St. Columba's student I feel very loyal to the royal blue colour.
A few other primary schools are dark blue the royal blue is unique to St Columbas.
All dark blue is not as distinguished and the royal blue is unique and traditional.
The brighter blue existing colour lifts the dark blue in the uniform. A bright, happy uniform symbolizes the bright, happy kids in the school.
Comments were also made in relation to the additional cost to families of the proposed new changes.
Taking into consideration the feedback we have received, we have made the decision to remain with the current uniform and amend the logo to bring it in line with the style guide. This is a minimal change that will not affect the current uniform . We will also be introducing navy tracksuit pants. These we will be slowly phased in as our current supply of royal blue tracksuit pants sell out. Royal blue and navy blue tracksuit pants will be accepted as part of the school sports uniform for the next few years.
Open Day to show off our New Building Spaces
We are very excited to see the building works nearly complete. Many children have been fascinated watching the external works over the last few weeks. Handover of the new spaces will be on Wednesday 31st May, with the Prep and 3/4 teachers spending Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd June moving into the new spaces.
We are desperately seeking help for this move - MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK! Please consider giving one hour of your time on either of these days or in the week leading up to the move. We have lots of resources in cupboards that need packing and furniture that will need to be moved. Please let one of the Prep or 3/4 teachers know if you are able to assist, or leave your name at the school office.
On our school’s Feast Day - Friday 9th June, we will be celebrating a Mass together at 11am. Following this Mass, the school will be opened for parents and visitors wander through and see our wonderful new spaces (as well as the rest of the school in action). The school will be open to visitors from 12 noon to 4pm.
Catholic Schools Funding
Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of information in the media about the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools funding package and its impact on Catholic school fees.
The package proposed by the Government is a 10-year funding model, which will see significant changes to how Catholic schools are funded in the future.
Like the majority of Catholic schools, our school aims to be open and accessible to all families seeking a Catholic education. That means we aim to be affordable as well.
One of the big impacts of the Turnbull Government’s funding package is that Catholic school fees will have to rise. This won’t happen tomorrow, but over the next 10 years, cuts to school funding will mean fees will gradually increase.
Catholic education leaders across Australia have been working hard to make sure the Government and the Opposition understand that our students will be disadvantaged by the funding model. Everything is being done to make sure the Turnbull Government’s funding package does not become law.
That’s where our school community comes in. In coming weeks, please keep an eye out in the school newsletter for information about how you can add your voice to help prevent unreasonable fee increases. With your help, we can make sure our politicians in Canberra are listening to Catholic schools.
Next Assembly
Our next assembly will be Friday 26th May at 2.30pm in the church. This Assembly will be lead by LG 5. At this assembly 7 of our Prep students will be introduced to the school community by their grade 5 buddy.
The following prep students will be introduced:-
Evie Morgan, Nathan Vowles, William Pitman, Ethan Mardling, Elsie Brady, Tanner McCarthy and Jack Barlow
Please note that the assembly advertised for Week 8 (Friday 9th June) has been moved to the following Friday 16th June (Week 9) due to the School Open Day on our Feast Day. This assembly will be lead by LG 10.
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