ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD
GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
EACH WEEK THE ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD
provides all the information you need to know and links to things that you might need to cross off your list. Stay organized by reading it every week and making sure that you add events and deadlines to your calendar!
LET'S DO IT!
DATES TO REMEMBER
10/29 - Kindergarten & 1st Grade Field Trip to Jackalope Acres
10/30 - School Mass - 7th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/31 - K-8 Halloween Parade & Trick or Treating - 1:45 10/31 - Early Dismissal - 12:30 - Preschool Only
11/1 - No School - Pre-8 - K-8 P/T Conferences & Pre Workday
11/6 - School Mass - Veterans Mass - 8th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 11/7 - Prayer & Praise / 1st Quarter Excellence Assembly - 8:15 11/11 - No School - Veterans Day 11/13 - School Mass - 6th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 11/14 - Picture Make ups & Retakes 11/16-11/21 - Capital Campaign Commitment Week 11/18-11/22 - Book Fair 11/20 - School Mass - Kindergarten Leading Liturgy - 8:15 11/20 - Thanksgiving Food Collection
11/20 - Parent Workshop with Ruby Jo Walker - 5:30 - More info to Come 11/21 - Pre - 8th Thanksgiving Lunch 11/22 - Early Dismissal - 12:30 - Preschool Only 11/25-11/29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break 12/4 - School Mass - Staff Leading Liturgy - 8:15 12/5 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15 12/6 - St. Nick Visit 12/7 - St. Columba Christmas Bazaar
Report Card Update
We would like to apologize that so many of you have not received your 23-24 end of the year report card. While you always have access to your student's grades in Blackbaud, we know the report cards and test scores are an important piece that families look forward to. Your student's final report card and ITBS scores will be included in the envelope with their first quarter report card. Sorry for the delay in making sure these reach you.
Yearbook Update
We would also like to apologize that the 23-24 yearbooks haven't materialized like we had hoped. While we share in your disappointment, we also know how meaningful these are for students and are currently working on an alternate solution to still make these happen for our families. We are hopeful to be able to have a product to hand out to those that ordered them by Christmas break (at the latest). If you would prefer to have a $15 credit added to your Blackbaud account instead of waiting for this final product, please email office@stcolumbaschooldurang o.org.
Capital Campaign
Thank you to everyone who attended the Capital Campaign events! If you missed attending an event, a Zoom will be shared with the community next week.
Halloween Festivities
Our annual Halloween Costume Parade and Trick or Treat Celebrations will take place on Thursday, October 31st at 1:45. The students will parade and then trick or treat around campus.
Families are welcome to join us.
Thank you to everyone who donated candy!!
Service Hours
Thank you to all you have already started on your service hours for the school year!
If you have hours to log, please click HERE to help us track the hours.
Hours are approved monthly and your account will be credited once the goal of 20 hours is reached.
We will be reaching out soon with more volunteer opportunities such as the book fair, Thanksgiving lunch, and more.
Veterans MassNovember 6th
We will be having a special Mass to honor our veterans on Wednesday, November 6th, at 8:15. Remember that there will not be school on November 11th for Pre-8th Grade in honor of Veterans Day. If you are a veteran, please email office@stcolumbaschooldur ango.org so we can add you to our list. If you have a special veteran in your life, please also let the office know so we can sent them a personal invitation to honor them.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Please remember that there will not be school on Friday, November 1st, as we will be having parent/teacher conferences for K-8 and preschool will be having a workday. It is an expectation that all families attend fall conferences with their student's homeroom teacher, and a time will be assigned to all of those that don't sign up. We ask that you sign up before October 29th please.
Conference Signups
Kindergarten - Ms Garcia
First Grade - Mrs. DeRaad
Second Grade - Mrs. Robertson
Third Grade - Mrs. McCrady
Fourth Grade - Mrs. Washburn
Fifth Grade - Mrs. Pribble
Sixth Grade - Mrs. Nakamoto
Mrs. May
Seventh Grade - Mrs. Poettgen
Eighth Grade - Mrs. May-Ostendorp
Art - Mrs. McMillen
Music - Mrs Stuard
Learning Lab - Ms. McMahon
Steam - Mrs. Patrick
St. Columba School is Hiring!
We are looking for a paraprofessional to join our team to support our school literacy specialist, literacy programs, and classroom teachers in managing and organizing classrooms from first to fourth grade. They will coordinate and receive direct support in gathering and preparing materials for lesson intervention. They will also provide much-needed support during instruction time, monitoring and supporting students during center work while the classroom teacher works directly with intervention groups. If you enjoy interacting with students and supporting teachers and educators, we’d like to meet with you. Feel free to share your past experience along with your application. It is essential that the paraprofessional is a pleasant Christian who displays a cheerful, respectful, relaxed, and pleasing personality when working with others, regardless of the situation.
Ultimately, you will support and engage in various developmentally appropriate events depending on the directed administration and classroom teacher instructions. You should show flexibility, patience, and a genuine caring attitude towards students.
Paraprofessional Responsibilities:
Ensure classroom safety guidelines are met at all times
Utilize various techniques to successfully manage students, i.e., positive reinforcement, gentle and subtle redirections…
Engage with children to enhance and encourage learning
Assist the teacher in gathering and modifying materials to meet the specific needs of a child
Print out and distribute intervention lessons for teachers K - 4
Prepare materials for class centers for students not in intervention groups
Organizing the classroom and teaching materials, monitoring the classroom during lessons, and minimizing distractions and disruptions. Take necessary precautions to protect students. Perform other duties as assigned.
Requested skills:
Experience working with children in an education setting
Must complete and pass a criminal background check
Passionate, dedicated, and committed to teaching children
Experience in helping teachers in a classroom environment desired
Dependable and punctual
Good understanding of the educational system
Strong interpersonal and social attributes
Have patience with children, including those who may need extra support
Ability to stand, move around, and squat for long hours at a time
A secondary school diploma or equivalent is required; a Bachelor’s degree is preferred
Hours and Compensation:
20 hours a week: 4 hours 5 days a week
10 hours of materials preparation
10 push-in-time first - fourth grade classrooms
Starting immediately commencing June 1, 2025
Pay range: $20hr - $22.50hr
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to office@stcolumbaschooldurango.org
Cover letter and resume can also be dropped off to St. Columba School
Reminder: Teacher & Staff Birthday Collection Closes on Thursday, October 31
We are excited to continue our annual Teacher & Staff Birthday Collection. Last year with the generous support of our St. Columba Families, we collected over $3,000, allowing each teacher and staff member to receive a $100 cash gift on their birthday. So far, we’ve collected $1350 this year. This collection ensures that the entire staff is celebrated equally from Preschool through 8th grade as it takes a village to run the School. Giving to the fund is completely voluntary. For the collection to be successful this year, all donations need to be made by Thursday, October 31st .
We hope you will support this meaningful PA initiative by contributing below. Contribute to the Birthday Fund
THE PARISH CONNECTION
