Included this week:-
- Welcome to Term 3 / Staffing News
- Tech and Building & Grounds Committees
- SeeSaw
- The Arts Show
- Athlete's Foot
- Next Assembly
- Lost Ring
Welcome back, well welcome to week 2, no doubt routines are kicking back in and early cold mornings have become the joy of our lives again. It has been a busy break period here at the school with a number of new things going on. I would invite all of our community members to take the opportunity to visit the sacred space created by Torie and Alison in the Iona wing. This area will, over time, become a focal point for our student and staff prayer life and is a valuable addition to our existing spaces. The new sacred space provides a dedicated area for students to experience prayer and Godly Play and will have a strong focus on bringing the scripture to life.
We have also been fortunate enough to appoint Lucy Quinlan as our new grade 3/4 teacher in LG5 for the remainder of the year. Lucy comes with a strong knowledge of our school having completed teaching placements with us as well as working with a number of students in her role as a Kelly Sports instructor. The students and Lucy have been spending some time getting to know one another and it’s great to see so many excited students. We have also rearranged some staffing in the 3/4 area as part of these changes and Erica Hare is now sharing with Sharon Marshall in LG6 for the remainder of this term with Wayne Lynch continuing in his Phys Ed role as well as providing additional support.
More great news for our community, Lucy and Hamish Marquand are expecting their first child early January next year. This is an exciting time for the family and the school community as they prepare for the changes a newborn brings. Lucy will continue working in LG12 until mid December and we will look at appointing a replacement for the end of year early next term.
It is also a sad time for our community and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Murrihy and Sawall families on the recent passing of their grandfather, Michael.
Tech and Building & Grounds Committees
This term we are reforming two parent advisory groups. The Tech committee and the Buildings and Grounds.
The Tech committee reforms every 3 years as we look at technology use within the school with a particular focus on identifying hardware needs for the coming period. In the past the group has been responsible for the rollout of iPads and Chromebooks within the school. The key function of the group is to look at current trends in technology and then with the support of educators within the group provide advice about the direction the school heads with its technology purchases. There is also an element of best use practices within the discussions. If this is a particular area of interest and you feel you would be able to offer something to these discussions can you please complete the form linked below. This group tends to meet more regularly for a short period of time and is then disbanded, you would be committing to roughly four meetings prior to the end of year.
The buildings and grounds committee is one we haven’t had for awhile and will operate again as an advisory/support group. This will be an ongoing group similar to the School Advisory Council and Parents and Friends. Appointment to the group will be for a 2 year term. We are looking for a group of parents, who, with support from staff can oversee the maintenance/repair schedule of the school as well as looking at initiatives that we can be a part of such as the Kitchen Garden program or working bees. The group is not responsible for running these programs merely monitoring the implementation of them. If this is an area you feel you can contribute please contact me by email. Buildings and Grounds will meet once a term in an official capacity. There may be people who feel that whilst they don’t wish to sit on the committee they could help out with specific projects or at working bees etc.
If you are interested in joining the tech committee or buildings and grounds can you please complete the linked form here or email me at principal@scballarat.catholic.edu.au
SeeSaw
This week, if you haven’t already you will receive an invitation to access your child’s SeeSaw account. As you would know from previous emails SeeSaw is another of our communication tools and one that we hope will support parental engagement in learning. SeeSaw allows teachers and students to post images, videos and sound recordings of students work throughout the day and allows parents to comment directly to their child/ren. It will also provide parents with some insights into what is happening within the classroom and particular focus’ for learning. What the current research is showing us is that the value and importance parents place on ‘getting’ an education has a significant impact in students long term outcomes. By having a focus for discussions it is another opportunity to talk about the learning that is happening for your child.
The Arts Show
Term 3 sees our art show return, students are busily creating some wonderful pieces in their specialist lessons and classrooms. For more information about the show please see the newsletter section below.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot are running their school support program again this year. If you choose to purchase shoes through Athlete’s Foot and reference the school they donate $5 for every pair purchased. Whilst we don’t promote any company over another if you are purchasing shoes from them it is worth mentioning. This year we raised nearly $400 through the program. This money goes towards supporting our Sports program and P&F fundraising as well as providing a scholarship prize to two graduating students who have excelled in their representation of sportsmanship at St Columba’s.
Next Assembly
Our next assembly will be this Friday 27th July at 2.40pm. This Assembly will be lead by LG 11.
At this assembly Grade 5 buddies will be introducing another group of Foundation students to our school community
The following prep students will be introduced:-
Oscar K, Olivia K, Charlie McL, Hannah W, Lewis W and Emma H.
We have also been fortunate enough to appoint Lucy Quinlan as our new grade 3/4 teacher in LG5 for the remainder of the year. Lucy comes with a strong knowledge of our school having completed teaching placements with us as well as working with a number of students in her role as a Kelly Sports instructor. The students and Lucy have been spending some time getting to know one another and it’s great to see so many excited students. We have also rearranged some staffing in the 3/4 area as part of these changes and Erica Hare is now sharing with Sharon Marshall in LG6 for the remainder of this term with Wayne Lynch continuing in his Phys Ed role as well as providing additional support.
More great news for our community, Lucy and Hamish Marquand are expecting their first child early January next year. This is an exciting time for the family and the school community as they prepare for the changes a newborn brings. Lucy will continue working in LG12 until mid December and we will look at appointing a replacement for the end of year early next term.
It is also a sad time for our community and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Murrihy and Sawall families on the recent passing of their grandfather, Michael.
Tech and Building & Grounds Committees
This term we are reforming two parent advisory groups. The Tech committee and the Buildings and Grounds.
The Tech committee reforms every 3 years as we look at technology use within the school with a particular focus on identifying hardware needs for the coming period. In the past the group has been responsible for the rollout of iPads and Chromebooks within the school. The key function of the group is to look at current trends in technology and then with the support of educators within the group provide advice about the direction the school heads with its technology purchases. There is also an element of best use practices within the discussions. If this is a particular area of interest and you feel you would be able to offer something to these discussions can you please complete the form linked below. This group tends to meet more regularly for a short period of time and is then disbanded, you would be committing to roughly four meetings prior to the end of year.
The buildings and grounds committee is one we haven’t had for awhile and will operate again as an advisory/support group. This will be an ongoing group similar to the School Advisory Council and Parents and Friends. Appointment to the group will be for a 2 year term. We are looking for a group of parents, who, with support from staff can oversee the maintenance/repair schedule of the school as well as looking at initiatives that we can be a part of such as the Kitchen Garden program or working bees. The group is not responsible for running these programs merely monitoring the implementation of them. If this is an area you feel you can contribute please contact me by email. Buildings and Grounds will meet once a term in an official capacity. There may be people who feel that whilst they don’t wish to sit on the committee they could help out with specific projects or at working bees etc.
If you are interested in joining the tech committee or buildings and grounds can you please complete the linked form here or email me at principal@scballarat.catholic.edu.au
SeeSaw
This week, if you haven’t already you will receive an invitation to access your child’s SeeSaw account. As you would know from previous emails SeeSaw is another of our communication tools and one that we hope will support parental engagement in learning. SeeSaw allows teachers and students to post images, videos and sound recordings of students work throughout the day and allows parents to comment directly to their child/ren. It will also provide parents with some insights into what is happening within the classroom and particular focus’ for learning. What the current research is showing us is that the value and importance parents place on ‘getting’ an education has a significant impact in students long term outcomes. By having a focus for discussions it is another opportunity to talk about the learning that is happening for your child.
The Arts Show
Term 3 sees our art show return, students are busily creating some wonderful pieces in their specialist lessons and classrooms. For more information about the show please see the newsletter section below.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot are running their school support program again this year. If you choose to purchase shoes through Athlete’s Foot and reference the school they donate $5 for every pair purchased. Whilst we don’t promote any company over another if you are purchasing shoes from them it is worth mentioning. This year we raised nearly $400 through the program. This money goes towards supporting our Sports program and P&F fundraising as well as providing a scholarship prize to two graduating students who have excelled in their representation of sportsmanship at St Columba’s.
Next Assembly
Our next assembly will be this Friday 27th July at 2.40pm. This Assembly will be lead by LG 11.
At this assembly Grade 5 buddies will be introducing another group of Foundation students to our school community
The following prep students will be introduced:-
Oscar K, Olivia K, Charlie McL, Hannah W, Lewis W and Emma H.
Lost Ring
One of our staff have lost a ring which has high sentimental value as pictured. If you happen to see it, it would be greatly appreciated if you could return to the office.
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