News
COVID Update
Dear Parents
You may have seen in the media the recent SA Government Direction concerning COVID-19 vaccinations for staff in schools and Early Childhood Education Care settings.
The SA Government Direction now specifies that staff in all schools and education and care settings must have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination by 10 December 2021 and show evidence of a booking for their second dose.
The Direction also extends to volunteers (including Board members) and any unpaid workers.
It does not apply to students and parents who are incidental visitors to the school.
You would appreciate that the 2-year journey we have experienced in dealing with the pandemic has resulted in numerous strategies and compliance measures implemented for the safety of students, families and staff.
Throughout the pandemic we have been absolutely lock-step in following the advice of the SA Chief Public Health Officer as it relates to the schooling sector. The Catholic Education Office has strong direct liaison with the SA Department for Education which has meant that each sector has been remarkably consistent in the messaging over health measures adopted at school sites.
We will continue to monitor and act upon any relevant advice and make staff aware of this new government law.
If more information comes to hand that has an impact on the wider school community, I will keep you informed.
If you are a volunteer in our community, I ask that you contact Nicki via phone or email info@scms.catholic.edu.au to find out how you might supply the necessary information to be compliant with this government Direction.
Scott
Christmas Tree Festival
Families and individuals are welcome to put in a display. For further information please contact Suzie Harvey 0408493183
Reception and Junior Primary News
This week the R-2s celebrated World Kindness Day. They completed some activities that reinforced how important it is to be kind to one another and created T-shirts with the slogan ‘Be Kind’. Our school has a large focus on being kind not only on kindness day but everyday.
Christmas Giving
We have two donation collection boxes in the front office - the Vinnies Christmas Appeal and Share the Dignity. Items that can be donated for the Vinnies Christmas appeal include non perishable foods, toys and toiletries. Donations will be collected until the end of term and then donated to Vinnies. Items that can be donated for Share the Dignity include toiletries, handbags, sanitary products and other essentials. These will need to be donated by next Tuesday, 23rd November. To read more about Share the Dignity please follow the link: https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag
Principal's Report
Dear Community,
It’s certainly been a busy 5 weeks at St Columba’s.
A phrase we have used to describe our school over the past few years is ‘Small School, Big Opportunities’
We’ve certainly lived that over the past couple of months. In this time we have had students perform in front of 2000 people at the Festival theatre. Students Kneeboarding, Kayaking and exploring the Murray River ecosystem. Our whole school completing a full scale 90-minute Musical for our community. Students travelling to Monarto to learn about the habitats of wildlife from around the world. Finally just last week we had students sandboarding and exploring the rejuvenation of Kangaroo Island.
These opportunities involve so many moving parts.
Thank you to everyone who completed early morning drop offs, or after school pick ups. Thank you to families who dealt with excited children or very tired children.
Thank you to staff and parents who attended, who took time away from their families and lives to support these adventures.
Scott March
Gather and Grow
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Gather and Grow Fundraiser
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RE News
Hello!
This week has been a particularly hard one for our staff with the news of Deb’s passing. She was a great asset to our school, a terrific person and wonderful colleague. In the 11 years that I have worked at this school, I never heard Deb speak badly of anyone, in fact she often would always pick out the good of those around her. She had a great sense of humour and indulged me with her infectious laugh whenever I said a bad joke or acted like a silly maniac, especially when teaching the Receptions. She was very creative and loved it when she could share this gift with the students. Our murals at school are some of her work with these students. She loved music, and dancing and seeing the kids laugh. Seeing her in her element was pure joy. Her love for God was evident and she had a great connection with St Mary MacKillop. We often shared conversations about this remarkable woman and what she meant to us. When I approached Deb about helping me bring together the crazy idea of doing a massive ‘puzzle’ of St Mary for a drone video for St Mary MacKillop Day, her only concern was not painting it well enough, not doing St Mary justice. I think we can all agree, that this was an unfounded worry. She did more than that, she produced something really special. She kept saying, “I need to get the eyes right” and when she did, she felt connected to St Mary and told me the painting had become a prayer of sorts. I cannot thank her enough for all the hours she spent on that project. The love she put into it and how she brought the students in to help her with it with such patience and kindness. But most of all, I can’t thank her enough for being such a constant friend and a source and reflection of such goodness. I am sad I never got to say these things to her and it has made me realise yet again how short life is and how important it is to tell those around us how much we appreciate and love them. I pray that Deb is resting in Christ’s eternal peace and that she will intercede for us here down below. A patron of sorts for St Columba’s; a place where Deb spent a lot of time, where you see and feel her ‘thumbprint’ in the murals, in the kids smiles, and in the example of walking gently and humbly with those around us.
Requiescat in pace Deb Walford…
