St Columba's School, Ballarat
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Message from the Principal

11/21/2017

 
Included this week:-
  • Colour Run
  • World Day of the Poor
  • Farewell Whitney, Welcome Sarah
  • Farewell Sho
  • Use of Iona Wing Rooms
  • P&F and School Advisory Council AGM & Nominations for positions
  • 2018 Learning Groups
  • Important Dates for later in Term 4 and Term 1 2018
  • Springfest Beneficiary 2017
  • Assembly
​Dear Parents
Colour Run
What a fantastic school community event!!  Our inaugural ‘Colour Run’ was held last Sunday morning in beautiful sunny and still conditions at Vic Park.  Over 220 runners and walkers participated in either the 5km, 1km or 2km events.  I’m not sure who had the most fun - those throwing the colour or those ‘receiving’ the colour.  The children (and teachers) have enjoyed recalling and sharing stories this week.
 
This was one of our school’s major fundraising events for the year and was a huge success.  The plan is for the Colour Run to be an annual event, and to grow even bigger next year. Whilst the aim of the run was to promote community, fitness and a healthy lifestyle; it looks like we’ve raised approximately $2500 for the school.
 
A huge thank you to Alison Palmer who initiated the idea and to the wonderful P & F committee who assisted with the organising and running of the event.   Special thanks to The Darbin family, owners of Bakers Delight Sebastopol, for donating the bread. Thanks also to Lang's butchers for providing a discount on the meat; to Le Peche Creswick, and Boost Juice for attending our event.
To parents for organising the BBQ, the coffee cart and the permits with the Ballarat City Council and pre-sales of t-shirts.
Thanks also to all the volunteers on the day who helped out with the registering, t-shirt sales, BBQ cooking and marshalling.
​World Day of the Poor
On Sunday we celebrated the first ‘World Day of the Poor’. Pope Francis announced the World Day for the Poor in his concluding message for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. He said he wanted it to be celebrated annually on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, a week before the Solemnity of Christ the King, as “yet another tangible sign of this Extraordinary Holy Year.” It’s also based on “our understanding that each of us is poor in some way, and that we need to empty ourselves of certain things so that God’s grace can fill us, God’s mercy can fill us,” he said, adding that “there’s so much we can learn from those who are poor as we try to provide.”
“Let us love not with words but with deeds”  (Pope Francis)
 
Farewell Whitney, Welcome Sarah
Last week we farewelled Whitney Bruty as she began maternity leave in preparation for their second child.  We wish Whitney all the best in this exciting time of preparation.  Welcome to Sarah Jones who has replaced Whitney in LG 13 each Tuesday and Thursday for the remainder of this term.
 
Farewell Sho
It is with sadness that we will be farewelling Sho early next month as he returns to Japan.  Sho has been with us all this year and has endeared himself to all in our community.  He will be very much missed.  The students had an opportunity to farewell Sho yesterday as a whole school with a wonderful variety of performances including an aboriginal dance, singing of Waltzing Matilda and ‘Miya Sama’, Australian poetry, and a presentation by the Hiragana black belt students.  
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​Use of Iona Wing Rooms
Staff have been very busy over the last few weeks converting the rooms in the Iona Wing into a library, visual and performing arts, Japanese and wellbeing/Christian meditation spaces.  We are hoping to begin using all these spaces very soon.
As the library is still being set up, students are unable to borrow library books until next week.  Thanks for your understanding and patience.
 
P&F and School Advisory Council AGM & Nominations for positions
The Annual General Meeting of the School Advisory Council (SAC) and the Parents & Friends Committee (P&F) will be held next Wednesday 29th November at 7pm in the school hall. All parents and friends are welcome to attend.  
At this meeting we will be farewelling a number of members of both committees who are retiring from their positions.
Janet Smith will be retiring as P&F Chairperson
David Bourke will be retiring as Chairperson of the SAC and Wendy Chennell will also be retiring from the SAC
The positions of P&F Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary and SAC Chairperson will be vacated on the night.  We will be calling for nominations at the General Meetings of the P&F and SAC which will immediately follow the AGM.  Please consider nominating for one of these positions.  If you are unable to attend and would like to nominate yourself for a position, please email Kim Butler on principal@scballarat.catholic.edu.au
 
2018 Learning Groups
Over the next few weeks the teachers will be placing students in their learning groups for next year.  Much time and thought is given to this process, with teachers focussing on the learning needs of all the students.  The children will be told of their 2018 learning group and teacher on the morning of ‘Going Up’ day - Tuesday 5th December.  They will then move into their 2018 learning group with their teacher/s for next year from 11.00am until 1.00pm.  
 
Important Dates for Later in Term 4 and Term 1 2018
Tuesday 5th December - Orientation / ‘Going Up’ Day
Friday 15th December - 2.30 Final Assembly
Monday 18th December - 6.00 Graduation Liturgy
Tuesday 19th December - Reports sent home
Wednesday 20th December - 12.00 End of Year School Mass followed by a bbq for students and families
Wednesday 20th December - 3.15 Students finish Term 4
Friday 22nd December - Staff finish
 
Tuesday 30th Jan - Staff resume
Wednesday 31st & Thursday 1st Feb - Numeracy Testing days
Friday 2nd Feb - Staff Professional Learning day (student free)
Monday 5th Feb - Term 1 starts for all students
 
Springfest Beneficiary 2017
A reminder to please support Springfest through purchasing raffle tickets on sale at the school office.  Tickets are $2 each, with the raffle being drawn at Ballarat Golf Club on Thursday December 7th.  
Prizes are as follows:
1st Prize - $6500 (Tools, Outdoor goods & 6x4 stock trailer)
2nd Prize - $800 (Flat screen TV)
3rd Prize - $500 Petrol Card
If you are able to sell a book of 20 tickets, please collect from the front office.
 
Assembly
The next assembly will be held on Friday 1st December at 2.30pm in the school Hall. The focus of the assembly will be Information Technology. 

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St Columba's School Ballarat        • Engaging • Inspiring • Empowering
306 Howard Street, Soldiers Hill, Victoria 3350
Phone: 03 5332 4894   Fax: 03 5331 7196
Email: office@scballarat.catholic.edu.au    Website: www.scballarat.catholic.edu.au