ST. COLUMBA S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Committed to the total development of the whole child in a nurturing family community, revealing Jesus Christ. We must teach more by example than by word. Mary MacKillop Newsletter #11 28th April 2016 Dear Parents/ Guardians Welcome back! Gracious and loving God, As we mark ANZAC day, we remember all who lost their lives through Australia s involvement in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. On ANZAC Day, we especially remember the courageous actions undertaken by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the First World War. On this national day of commemoration, we pray for the airmen, sailors and soldiers who died in battle, sacrificing their lives while on duty. We commemorate their bravery and pray for the families who lost loved ones. As we strive for peace in our country and world, help us to become instruments of your peace. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. It has been a fantastic first few days, with a smooth start everywhere. Thank you very much to the staff who were here in the holidays preparing for a great start to the term. Your hard work is certainly very much appreciated. In staffing news, Mrs Kate Wilkes will be our Pre Kindy teacher this term while Mrs O Brien is on leave to look after the new edition to her family. Kate also works as a support and Year 6 science teacher each Tuesday in our school. We also welcome the following student teachers; Samantha Wilson-Hamilton in Year 2, Patricia Gabb in Year 4, and Fransisca Lukito and Zoe Keil in Year 6. I m sure your time with us will be a rewarding one. I would like to extend a special welcome to the Leather and Kariyakarawana families. We are delighted to have you in our school. There is plenty happening this term with school Masses, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, assemblies, interschool carnivals, Mother s Day assembly, P&F meetings and the like. Once again there will be many opportunities to be involved in your school, and we truly welcome and appreciate your attendance in any and/or all of them. I am very much looking forward to our ANZAC Ceremony which will take place tomorrow at 2.30pm in the undercover area. This ceremony will be run by students from our Year 2 and 5 classes. At this service we will remember those who served in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations throughout the world. We will also reflect on what it means for us today. If you could join us it would be greatly appreciated.
Next Friday 6 May at 8.45am we will present a short Mother s Day assembly. At this assembly our choir will be performing as well as a Year One presentation. All present are then invited to stay for morning tea which will be provided by our P&F. We hope you can join us. I would like to say a big thank you to all parents and guardians for having the students looking fantastic for the school photos today. Can t wait to see how they turn out. It is a requirement that the school be advised of all student absences by 9am in the morning. If your child is going to be absent due to illness or an appointment please email the front office by this time each morning. Looking forward to an enjoyable and rewarding term together. Best wishes. Mark Ryan Acting Principal Thursday 28 April Friday 29 April Tuesday 3 May Thursday 5 May Friday 6 May First Holy Communion Parent Meeting at 6pm in the School Library ANZAC Service at 2.30pm First Holy Communion Retreat at the Schoenstatt Shrine Confirmation Retreat at the St Joseph Convent Mother s Day Assembly at 8.45am followed with Morning Tea We will be offering parent prayer sessions this term for special anniversary or feast days. Advance notice of these dates will be given in this newsletter A reminder that there is a parent meeting for the Sacrament of Eucharist at 6pm this evening. Thank you to those parents who attended our Sacrament of Confirmation parent meeting last night. Important Dates to Note: First Holy Communion Retreat Day Tuesday 3 May Confirmation Retreat Day Thursday 5 May Thank you to all parents, students and staff who have generously contributed to our Lifelink paperchains. We will have a very long St. Columba s chain to join to the many other paperchains on LifeLink Day, 8 June. BE A PERSON OF MERCY I think we too are people who, on the one hand want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. And Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think and I say it with humility that this is the Lord s most powerful message: mercy. Pope Francis Homily, Parish of Saint Anna in the Vatican, Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17, 2013
Despite the forecast of inclement weather, we had a day with perfect light for our outdoor group photo shoots. If you have not yet returned your personalised photograph envelope, please do so by tomorrow. We would like to extend a very big thank to the Morgan family for cleaning and replacing the sand in our Early Years sandpit. Thank you also to Mrs McCollam for sourcing old tyres to add to the resources in the playground. These tyres have been used for many new play experiences. On the last day of Term One, our staff members lent a hand to plant a sensory garden in the Early Years playground. The children have been seen rubbing the leaves of the pungent smelling herb bushes between their fingers, but I am not too sure they approve of the fragrance of sage! Ondine Komnick Assistant Principal Welcome to the new school term. ANZAC Day on Monday was an opportunity for us all to look back on the heroism, mateship and courage of those who volunteered to serve their country in time of need, many of whom never returned. Among those who did return, and later became second Parish Priest of St. Columba s, was Fr Denis Brennan. The Archbishop of Perth at the time, Archbishop Patrick Clune (whose nephew Bernie and great-nephew Jeremy are members of this parish) asked priests to volunteer as Chaplains to the troops. Fr Denis Brennan was one who did, saying to the Archbishop, I go with the help of God. Here is a sketch of Fr Brennan, which fills us with inspiration and shows why we have named the building on the corner of Forrest and York Street the Fr Denis Brennan Anzac Centenary Building. We are indebted to the Archdiocese for the purchase and we seek your help to repay the debt. Donations are tax deductible and may be made to the St. Columba School Building Fund. Please give donations clearly marked Fr Denis Brennan Anzac Centenary Building to Monsignor Brian. This week we have the Sacramental meeting for the parents of First Holy Communion and Confirmation candidates. I look forward to seeing you. I am keeping all the children and families in my prayers and will invite the parishioners to do the same. Masses in the parish are Vigil, Saturday s at 6pm, Sunday s 7.30am and 9.30am. Further Parish News may be found on the Parish website: www.southperthcatholic.org. Kind regards and God bless you all. Monsignor Brian O Loughlin Parish Priest
Library Volunteers Roster: Monday 2 May Vanessa Beaglehole Wednesday 5 May Lisa Peterson Mrs Malarkey Teacher Librarian Mrs Shaw Library Officer Scholastic Book Club catalogues have been sent home this week. Orders are due back to the office no later than Monday 9 May. Unfortunately late orders cannot be accepted. Many thanks to Mrs Shaw for organising the bookclub for the school. Our musician of the week is Ella Dixon from Year 6R. Ella has played piano for two and a half years. Her favourite piece to play is the James Bond Theme and she enjoys playing for her family. Ella also enjoys playing netball. We will be running the Circle of Security workshops again in Term 2, subject to sufficient numbers. The course will be running on the following Thursdays from 9am to 12 noon at the Father Brennan Centre, 12 May, 19 May, 26 May and 2 June. Commitment to attend all four sessions is very important to enjoy maximum benefit from the program. Please see the attached flyer for further information and registration slip for completion and return to the school office by Friday 6 May. Hilary Campos School Social Worker Volunteers are needed to assist in the running of the canteen each Thursday and Friday. If you are able to help in the canteen, please let your class parent representative know. The children love to see you behind the counter, and it is also a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents in the school, and to become involved. Thursday 5 May 9am to 11:45am Rosanne Tilli 11am to 1:30pm Parent Volunteer Needed Year 6R Friday 6 May 9am to 11:45 Angela Cuthbertson 11am to 1:30pm Parent Volunteer Needed Year 6R Emma McGann Canteen Manager Thank you to Sarah Fiel and Lisa La Rosa for opening the Uniform Shop the additional mornings this week to ensure that our students had their correct uniforms for school photos. Online ordering is available for uniform purchases. Email through to uniformshop@stcolumbassp.wa.edu.au no later than 6pm each Monday during the school term. The Uniform Shop is open every Tuesday morning from 8.30am to 9am.
Tennis lessons are offered for students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 on Thursdays from 1.10pm to 1.40pm, lunchtime, by Marshall s Tennis Academy. Should you wish your child/ren to participate, please complete the enrolment form which was sent home earlier this week. This form together with the payment NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE TENNIS COACH next Thursday. School Banking day is THURSDAY morning before school in the library from 8:15am. If you are interested in volunteering for this great program, please contacting Vanessa Wainwright on 0417 994 625 or by return email to Lorraine in the school office. Please also feel free to drop in and see us on any Thursday morning if you would like more information about what is required of our volunteers. Vanessa Wainwright (School Banking Coordinator) Mrs O Brien has welcomed a new daughter, Shona. A little sister for Aisling. We send our congratulations to the whole family.
ANZAC DAY: As we commemorate the 101 st anniversary of the fateful landings at Gallipoli, we publish this photograph of Father Denis Aloysius Brennan, second Parish Priest of St. Columba s Parish, South Perth. You will note that Father Brennan is dressed in military uniform, as he was an AIF Chaplain of Gallipoli. He was born in County Sligo, in north western Ireland on 3 December 1875. Father Brennan studied for priesthood at St Patrick s College, Maynooth and was ordained for priesthood in Perth on 18 June 1899 and arrived here in November 1899. His sister Sarah, and brother Jack emigrated to Western Australia and later went to Sydney. In 1901 he was appointed Administrator of Boulder and in 1908, Vicar of Goldfields with the title Dean. He worked tirelessly celebrating Mass and the sacraments, and a testimonial given on his departure for Narrogin in 1911 notes his work to provide satisfactory educational facilities and a convent that is a standing monument to his energy and zeal, and a Catholic education system that enables our pupils to hold their own both in musical and secular subjects with the products of any school in the State. In your departure it must be gratifying to know that you have left such a living monument to your good work behind you; gratifying to know that the little ones you so loved can morally and intellectually profit by your labour, and your gratification must be accentuated by the knowledge that those good qualities which made your personality so esteemed did not appeal to your flock alone but all sections of the community join with us in regret at your departure. In February 1915, at the request of Archbishop Clune, Chaplain General of the Forces, Fr. Brennan joined the AIF and was appointed Chaplain with the rank of Captain. Extraordinary tributes were paid to him by the people of Narrogin, as well as by religious and civil dignitaries, before his departure for the battlefields of Europe. He arrived in Suez, Egypt at the end of July 1915 and at Gallipoli towards the end of September, 1915. His description of life in the trenches is truly harrowing. He mentioned to his niece, Una Feighan, years afterwards that on one occasion a shell exploded right beside him but he was miraculously unhurt. He was evacuated from Gallipoli in Dec. 1915 and sent back to Egypt to recuperate. He rejoined his brigade in January 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Ordination in Narrogin in 1924 and in 1925 was appointed second Parish Priest of South Perth until 1932. He was then appointed to Victoria Park and later to West Perth. He died on 3 September 1940, R.I.P. Monsignor Brian O Loughlin Parish Priest.
See main noticeboard for more information. Grace-filled Parenting The Centre of Faith Enrichment: Thursdays 19 May to 23 May. Brookman House Child & Family Centre: Parenting Workshops 2016 George Burnett Leisure Centre After School Sports Programs Term 2 Save the Children Australia Garage Sale Saturday 7 May, 9am to 3pm Mathematics Enrichment Classes 2016 Curtin University HBF Run-for-a-Reason Join the St. Columba's group when you register for the HBF Run-for-a-Reason event that takes place on 22 May 2016. To register please enter online at https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/groupsearch.aspx, and in the column enter St Columba's Primary School. If you have any suggestion on what charity that our school can support, please email me on info@perthrunningclub.com.au Happy running, Ly San (Alvy - Year 5 & Larston - Year 1). Joeys at 1st Salter Point Sea Scouts - 6 to 7 Year Olds Joeys learn crafts, get into nature, learn great skills, have adventures. We're inviting you to join our new Joey section from 3 May. Joeys meet weekly, Tuesdays from 5pm to 6pm at the Scout Hall, Elderfield Road, Salter Point. Contact: deanne.dawson@outlook.com.au or 0430 311001. How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it! George Elliston