St. Columba's Primary School

Dear parents, carers and friends of St Columba’s,

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

May God’s love and blessings be with the Year 4 children over coming weekends.

In honour of this special occasion, the Year 4 children will be remembered in the prayers of the St Columba’s Catholic Primary School and Parish. Mrs Pilatti, Miss Spinks and the Catechist team have worked tirelessly to prepare the children for this special event, and we are most grateful for their dedication.

STAFFING NEWS

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Shona Simpson for her dedication to her role as our School Councillor over the past four years. Shona has worked to support the children of St Columba’s in their connection with self, others and God. We wish her all the best as she will be finishing at St Columba’s at the end of this term. I will be interviewing for a Social Worker position to commence in Term 4 in the coming weeks.

WELLBEING WEEK

Beyond Feeling Good: What It Really Means to Flourish

Next week is our Wellbeing Week here at St Columba’s. A week full of gratitude activities, kind words, and moments of calm in our classrooms. Wellbeing truly matters, and I am glad we pause each year to celebrate it.

Wellbeing is essential, but it is not enough, on its own, to help a child truly flourish.

We often talk about wellbeing as simply feeling happy, calm, and comfortable. That matters, but flourishing is bigger than feeling good. A child can feel happy in the moment and still be missing the deeper things that build character and purpose.

What Flourishing Actually Needs

As a Catholic school community, we believe a flourishing life rests on more than good feelings:

Purpose: Knowing your gifts matter and your life has meaning beyond yourself.
Character Strengths: The courage, patience, and honesty that shape a person who can meet life's challenges with strength.
Connection: Real flourishing happens in relationship, with family, friends, teachers, community, and God.
Faith and hope: The belief that every child is known and loved by God gives them something wellbeing alone cannot: hope that carries them through the hard days, not just comfort on the easy ones.

Why This Matters for Wellbeing Week

So next week, let us hold both truths together: feeling good matters, but it is a foundation, not the finished building. Our hope for your children is not just that they feel calm this week, but that they are being formed, day by day, into people of purpose, character, connection, and faith.

I hope you will ask your children what they are doing for Wellbeing Week and perhaps, gently, what is helping them become the best version of themselves, not just the happiest in the moment.

Wishing your family a week of genuine flourishing.

God bless.

Emma Bell

Principal

FRIDAY 14 AUGUST

PAF Christian Drama - Year 6

Father Nino visits Year 4

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

SUNDAY 16 AUGUST

FHC Mass @ 9.30am

NEXT WEEK:

Wellbeing Week - No homework and wear sports uniform all week

MONDAY 17 AUGUST

Write a Book in a Day

TUESDAY 18 AUGUST

Pre Kindy Loose Parts Incursion

WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST

Year 5 Zoo Incursion

FRIDAY 21 AUGUST

3G Assembly
Father Nino visits Year 2

Online School Calendar

Award recipients on Friday, 21 August

Year 1G – Oak, Charlie, Alex, Zoe

Year 1W – Chester, Jorie, Edison, Isabelle

Year 2G – Luke C, Alexandria, Olivia, Rory

Year 2W – Andrew, Sophia, Scott, Everley, Lucy

Year 3G – Evelyn B, Hugo F, Harper, Oliver

Year 3W – Mila, Harvey G, Clare

Year 4G – Arielle, Owen Y, Evelyn G

Year 4W – Chloe, Grace, Hazel, Ava

Year 5G – Fletcher, Sasha, Olivia H

Year 5W – Madison, Eloise, Georgia

Year 6G - Hugo O, Arthur, Eva, Evelyn, Theo

Year 6W – Grace, Caroline, Alistair, Ellen, Henry

CAPSS Inter-School ML Carnival

On 11 August, our Year 6 students attended the CAPSS Inter-School ML Carnival at Morris Buzacott Reserve. Students competed in four teams across the Modcrosse and League Tag competitions, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and teamwork throughout the day.

It was particularly pleasing to see the students continually improve, embrace challenges, and support one another as the competition progressed. Our students achieved finishing 2nd in Modcrosse and 4th in League Tag.

We are extremely proud of the determination and effort displayed by all participants. They represented St Columba's with pride, showcasing their skills across a variety of sports while demonstrating respect, encouragement, and teamwork throughout the day.

Well done to all involved!

Leigh Chatt

Kiss and Drive - Not not arrive early for pickup

Available for students in Kindergarten to Year 6 (not Pre-Kindy).
Before school: from 8.35 am to 8.50 am
After school:
- Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students with no siblings in other grades may be collected from 2.55 pm.
- All other students from 3.05 pm to 3.20 pm.
- Do not arrive early - this creates congestion in surrounding streets. Your child will be safely supervised at Kalyara Mia.

Visitors Toilet

For the safety and privacy of our students, visiting adults who require bathroom facilities are asked to use the universal access toilet located at the ‘Blue Door’ opposite the Library / Year 6 area. Student toilets are strictly for student use only.

Log absence in real time on SEQTA

Please log your child’s absence directly through SEQTA. This updates our records in real time and alleviates the need for Administration staff to manually enter notifications received by other methods. During periods of illness and high absenteeism, your support greatly assists our busy office team.

You can use the SEQTA app on your device, or find the link on our Families web page under Quick Links.

Click to place Scholastic Book Club orders

Registrations Dad's Camp Out NOW OPEN for those who aren't already registered.

Those who have previously registered AND confirmed they are still attending, no further action required.

CAMP OUT DETAILS AS FOLLOWS:

Date: 7th November 2026

Time: Setup from 4pm

Cost: $35 per family, please add Children names & year when registering.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Fruit & snack on arrival.

Dinner: Sausage and bun, juice and zooper dooper.

Breakfast: Bacon and egg roll, milo, coffee, tea and juice.

Coffee Van planned from 7am on 8th November for those who want to purchase coffees and other items.

Registrations are on a first come basis, spots are limited to ensure safety for all involved.

Three registration forms to be completed:

Please register & pay via the following link, please add Children names & year when registering: https://square.link/u/XF13fIsg

Please complete the Working with Children Check Declaration https://www.stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au/parent-or-child-volunteer-declaration

Volunteer form, please select a task/s you can help with, we need volunteers for the event to go ahead. https://forms.gle/PRThyJCWF1zEnRAs8

Please note, the camp out is only for children currently attending St Columba's. Dads, father figures, carers and Mums are welcome.

Space is limited, due to large number of existing registrations, we apologise in advance if you are not able to get a spot this year.

If you require any further information, please contact Alan on 0423 840 411.

Congratulations to Our First Holy Communion Candidates-Group 1

I extend my congratulations to our first group of First Holy Communion candidates who will be receiving the Sacrament of First Eucharist this Sunday during the 9:30am Mass.

To our candidates, as you come to the table of the Lord for the very first time, may you always feel the close friendship, love, and guidance of Jesus in your lives. May you continue to carry the light of Christ with you everywhere you go, and know that your parish family is praying for you and cheering you on.

I extend my deepest gratitude to the parents, godparents, and teachers who have lovingly prepared these children for this holy milestone.

May God bless you abundantly today and always!

-Fr. Nino Vinciguerra

First Holy Communion Gifts

Are you looking for a gift for a First Holy Communion candidate? Why not purchase a gift for the Parish piety stall and support the Parish?!

The piety stall has a variety of colourful rosary beads, beautiful pieces of sterling silver and gold-plated jewellery, prayer cards and dedicated First Holy Communion gifts amongst many other items.

The piety stall will be opened following the 10:00am Mass on Saturday, 15th of August 2026 and by appointment: admin.south.perth@perthcatholic.org.au / 0466 579 740.

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Holy Day of Obligation]

Please come and join the Parish for a Mass on the Holy Day of Obligation for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Following the Mass, please join us for morning tea in the Parish Centre.

Date: This Saturday, 15th of August 2026.

Mass Time: 10am [in the Church].

Morning Tea & Piety Stall: 10:45am [in the Parish Centre].

Adsumus - Step 3, Week 3

When the Spirit moves among us, our differences need not divide us. As we listen to one another with open hearts, those differences can become a blessing; a source of strength, grace, and deeper communion. As we continue along the Adsumus journey, let us prayerfully reflect on what gifts/talents God has given us to be part of the mission of our parish community.