St Columban's Primary School Mayfield 

NEWSLETTER
3rd May 2001 

Dear Parents,

Welcome back for Term 2. The Easter break was very busy at St Columban’s School with tradesmen laying cables to every room for the connection to the Catholic Schools Office Intranet project. Every classroom will be soon connected to the Internet which can be used at any time of the school day by teachers and students with the Catholic Schools Office as our provider. This has been a long term project which has required the upgrade of electrical wiring in every classroom to accommodate multiple powerpoints as well as the laying of many underground land lines through the front car park by Telstra. A file server and distribution boxes will soon be installed.

The purchase of eleven new computers in the past 18 months to facilitate our transition into this project has pushed our resource base to the limit but we have sought to give your children the best opportunities in the field of information technology. The infrastructure that is now in place will cope with the demands of computer technology education for many years at St Columban’s. Your early attention to school fees and fundraising efforts would be greatly appreciated this term.

TERM 2 – INSERVICE DAY – MAY 18. Another reminder that the Inservice Day for the North Region Schools is Friday May 18. All Catholic schools in the North Region will be closed on that day as teachers will be participating in 6 workshops at St Peter’s School, Stockton.

MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT – MAY 11. A reminder about the Mother’s Day Concert on May 11 at 10:00am in the parish hall. This will be followed by morning tea for mothers and grandmothers. A Mother’s Day Stall will also be held in the Library on that day so every child can purchase a present for mum. Prices range from 50 cents to 5 dollars.

Mrs Sue Clegg and Mrs Cathy Powell are co-ordinating this effort. Donations can be sent to the school office.

Mother’s Day Concert Costume Request: During a musical item in our Mother’s Day Concert, a number of children wearing their national costumes will be participating. Please advise Mrs Rak of any problems.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. A great deal of work has been completed around the school during the holidays to improve drainage for ourselves and our neighbours. Thank you to Father Brian Brock, Mr Kevin Lynch, Mr Mark Stephens and Mr Andrew Stephens.

KINDER ENROLMENTS FOR YEAR 2002. The enrolment period for Year 2002 has begun. Please inform any friends or relatives who may wish to enrol their children to do so as soon as possible. Some Catholic families have been disappointed in recent years when the class has filled quickly.

SPORT. A Sports Expo planned this week with clinics in Soccer, Basketball and Rugby League provided by the Soccer Federation, Newcastle Basketball and Newcastle Knights has been postponed due to the weather.

The Waratah-Mayfield Rugby League competition begins this Friday with a game against Tighes Hill Public School.

Polding Winter Trials will be held in Bathurst this Friday. Best wishes to Bradyn Perry and Mathew Casserly who will be representing the diocese in Rugby League.

The AFL Hunter Region Finals will be held on May 15 at Newcastle’s No 1 Sportsground. The team has already had another training run with the AFL Development Officer.

Waratah-Mayfield Cricket Club recently presented the school with a replica of the Gary Gilmour Cup as the Inaugural winner in 1999. A voucher for $200 worth of sporting equipment was also much appreciated.

The Diocesan Cross Country Championships will be held at Blackbutt Reserve next Tuesday May 8. Mrs Searl and Mrs Taylor will be taking the team.

CENTENARY OF FEDERATION. On May 9 2001 a special commemorative meeting of the Commonwealth Parliament will be held in Melbourne, the original home of the Parliament. The National Council has proposed that a medallion be presented to students in the context of the centenary of the opening of the First Commonwealth Parliament.

Mr Allan Morris, Federal Member for Newcastle, will be visiting St Columban’s on May 16 to present the medallions to each student in our school.

The Prime Minister and Mr Morris have jointly signed a commemorative certificate for the school which will also be presented on the day by Mr Morris.

This will be a great opportunity for the children to learn more about the Centenary of Federation and Australia’s achievements over the last 100 years.

WORLD RED CROSS DAY. The school will be represented at the Evensong Service at Christ Church Cathedral this Sunday evening to celebrate World Red Cross Day. The school captains and vice-captains will be in attendance and Gabrielle Taylor will be reading one of the prayers.

ACCESS ASIA. The school has been successful in preparing a submission to the Access Asia program to fund a Japanese Language and Culture Program for Years K-4. These classes will receive a half-hour lesson each week for the next 3 years with Japanese teacher Toshiko Tamplin. The senior primary children with continue with Italian lessons under the Community Languages Program conducted by Signorina Maria De Vitis.

Thank you to Mrs Jenny Crichton, Mrs Leonie Malouf and Mrs Paula Northfield for their contributions in gaining this valuable grant from the Federal Government. The children will now have lessons in an Asian and European language before they leave primary school.

MAINTENANCE. Thank you for the Movigliatti and Powell families for their continued voluntary work in maintaining the school grounds.

Any saving in maintenance costs can be allocated to resources for the children.

CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS. We are grateful to the many volunteers who work in the canteen, however, we are still in need of volunteers for some days. If you are able to help could you please contact Cath Ryan at the school office or Maria Stephens. The canteen has been our only regular fundraiser for the past few years and your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Extra food available at the canteen during Winter:

LIBRARY. The school library plays a vital part in supporting the literacy needs of the students and teachers. The fiction collection has books that meet the needs of emerging independent readers and also supports borrowers with wider reading interests. Student’s weekly borrowing habits are often just as much a product of their parents’ and teachers’ influence as they are of their own interests. The amount of reading boys indulge in is usually a reflection of the amount of reading they see their dad engage in.

Children love to be read to and this can be a close sharing experience for a child and parent, even if the child has reached the stage where he can read without adult help. This term we plan to spend another $1000 on expanding the very well used collection of our school library.

A special thank you to Mrs Powell, who has offered to spend some time recovering and replacing the faded spine labels on our existing collection.

Helen Schulz, Librarian.

WINTER UNIFORM. The children should be in full winter uniform by May 21. School Photographs will be taken in full winter uniform on June 7. Families who are struggling to have their children in correct school uniform are invited to contact Mr Doyle for assistance. We are keen to have every child take a pride in themselves and their school. The school uniform helps to build this school spirit.

SCHOOL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – SAP. Dental assessments were conducted by Dental Therapists from the Hunter Area Health Service at the school on 5th April for children in grades K,1,2,3,4,5,6.

All children who were assessed on that day received a letter to take home to report the results. If your child missed their dental assessment on that day, please phone Royal Newcastle Child Dental Clinic on 4923 6296 to organise an appointment. It is advisable that this is done within four weeks of the assessment being done at the school.

FEDERATION OF P & F ASSOCIATIONS – MAITLAND/NEWCASTLE.

The Annual Conference will be held on Wednesday May 30 at East Maitland Bowling Club, Bank Street, East Maitland at 8:30am – 2:30pm. Cost is $15 and includes morning tea and lunch. Contacts: Narelle Cassey (inquiries) Phone 4943 1706 or 0403 262566 and Kathy Harrison (Registration forms) Fax 4966 4161.

Keynote speaker – Dr John Irvine "Bullying creating a safe & friendly environment for our children".

Workshop presenters and topics:

Doug Ashleigh – IT in the Classroom

Fabienne Balsamo – Alcohol/Drug Awareness

Julie Logan – Music and Learning

Rosemary De Bono – Learning and assessment.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Federation of Parents and Friends, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will be held at the Therry Centre, East Maitland on Sunday June 3 at 10:00am. Guest Speaker will be Mr Bill Walsh – Catholic Education Commission, the Facts about Funding of Catholic Schools. This meeting will include

Further details contact Parent Resource Officer on 4979 1303.

All interested parents and P & F Association Delegates are most welcome.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR VOLUNTEERS. All Parish and Schools Groups Volunteers, Helpers, Supporters, Co-ordinators, Executive Members and Ministers are invited to attend the Diocesan Mass to celebrate International Year for Volunteers at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton on Tuesday May 15 at 7:00pm to be celebrated by Bishop Michael Malone.

Supper will be provided in the Southern Cross Hall. Please bring your school/organisation banner. Further details contact 4979 1303.

Supported by the Federal Government International Year for Volunteers Small Grants Program.

KEITH WILLIAMS TENNIS ACADEMY. This will be conducted at Club Phoenix, Industrial Drive, Mayfield.

Accessories and restringing facilities. For professional and friendly service please call us on 4926 1637 or 0412 157 757.

SEMINAR ON AD/HD AND LEARNING.

VENUE: Wangi District Workers Club, Wangi Wangi

DATE: Saturday 26th May, 2001

TIME: 9:15am – 3:30pm

COST: $20 (Parents of ADD children), $40 (Professionals)

For further information phone: 4934 3944.

Back to the St Columban's Newsletters Index