Principal's Update - 2nd May

Welcome

Dear Families,

Welcome Back to Term Two!

I hope the Easter break was a time of peace, renewal, and joy for you and your loved ones. Whether it was a chance to rest, travel, or simply enjoy some special moments with family and friends, I trust it brought you the refreshment needed to begin the new term with energy and enthusiasm.

Term Two promises to be full of exciting and meaningful experiences for our school community. In the coming weeks, we will come together to honour the spirit of service and sacrifice at our ANZAC Day commemorations, celebrate the love and care of all the wonderful women in our lives through our Mother’s Day celebrations, and enjoy the fun and fitness of swimming sessions for our Years 3–6 students. We also look forward to joining schools across the state in recognising the incredible gift of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week.

There’s much to look forward to, and we are excited for all that this term will bring. Let’s continue to support one another and make Term Two a time of growth, connection, and joy.

ANZAC Day

A heartfelt thank you to our student leaders and teachers who attended the Ballarat ANZAC Commemoration Service last week. Your respectful presence and pride in representing our school were deeply appreciated and reflected the values we hold dear.

We are proud of the way you honoured the memory of those who served and contributed to such a meaningful occasion on behalf of our school community.

A Week of Inspiring Professional Growth

Last week, our staff engaged in three exceptional days of Professional Development, each offering unique insights and powerful learning opportunities.

We began the week united as a Central Zone to unpack the DOBCEL Strategy, aligning our shared vision and deepening our understanding of how we can collectively bring this to life in our schools.

The second day saw our teachers energised by Teach Like a Champion (TLAC). This dynamic and practical day was filled with achievable action strategies that our staff have already begun to enthusiastically implement in their classrooms. The buzz of positive momentum and collaboration was truly inspiring!

We concluded our PD week with a profound and enriching Religious Formation Day led by Sr Veronica Lawson and Sr Carmel Setford. This was a precious opportunity to reflect on our Mercy Charism and explore the rich heritage of St Columba’s School. It was a day of faith, reflection, and deepened connection to our shared mission.

A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to making these days such a meaningful investment in our professional and spiritual growth.

Thank you to our families for your support in enabling this valuable opportunity to happen.

Mother’s Day Liturgy - Friday 9th May

Children gathered today in Family Groups to help them prepare for our Mother’s Day Celebrations next Friday.

Please see the invitations sent today with your child/children

Please note that on Friday, 9th May Children will gather in classrooms as normal, then move to Family groups around 9:05 am. 

• 9:15 am -  Mothers will meet students in the Family groups and walk across to the Church, ready for a 9:25 am Liturgy start. 
• 9:25 am Liturgy start. -  Liturgy aimed to conclude at approximately 10:10 am. 
• At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Mums and Children will return to the Family Groups for Mums and Special women to enjoy scones, jam, and cream in the allocated Family Groups. Some colouring sheets will be available should Mums like to engage with children post morning tea, and if there is time, along with a Picture Story book to share. Due to OHS safety, Coffee and Tea will be available for purchase at a Coffee Van (if available - to be located at the front of the school, if desired. Drinks will not be served in the Classrooms.
• We aim for a 10:45 am finish so that the students can go to 1st break.

School Athletics Carnival

Our students are busily practising in preparation for our School Athletics Carnival, set for Thursday, 8th May at Llanberris Reserve. Students will be bussed to the event, parents are encouraged to pick their child/ren up prior to 3 pm. Please accept the permission sent out on PAM and indicate if your child needs to be bussed back to school, as we need to finalise bus numbers ASAP. This event will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to gather in their house groups and participate in various events. Thanks to those parents who have registered their intent to support the day. 

THE PROGRAM FOR THE DAY IS NOW ON PAM, ALONG WITH PARENT HELPERS.

Celebrating Catholic Education Week 2025

This year, we are excited to celebrate Catholic Education Week across our Diocese — a special time to honour the mission of Catholic education and recognise those who embody its spirit.

We pay tribute to all educators who have dedicated 30 years of service as outstanding Catholic educators, as well as those nominated for the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

A heartfelt congratulations to Lou Burke, who this year marks 30 years of remarkable service to schools and families across our Diocese and beyond. Lou’s unwavering commitment, compassion, and dedication to Catholic education are truly inspiring.

We are truly blessed to have Lou as a valued member of our staff and wider school community.

2026 Foundation Enrolments

Expression of interest forms close Thursday, 22nd May at 4:00 pm

School principals meet to determine the allocation of placements.

Placement Offers sent Friday, 13th June at 12:00 pm

The list of schools with vacancies will be published on Friday, 13th June at 12.00 pm

Placement acceptance closes Friday, 20th June at 4.00 pm

Register your interest in enrolling your child at a Catholic school in the City of Ballarat by completing an online “City of Ballarat Expression of Interest for Enrolment” form found here.  At this stage, you will be able to nominate St Columba’s Primary School as your first preference.

When completing the Expression of Interest form, you must indicate your first preference school and upload your child’s birth certificate and baptism certificate (if applicable).

REMINDER THAT SIBLINGS STARTING ALSO NEED TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION

School Uniform

We remind all families that our school has now transitioned to our winter uniform. Wearing the correct uniform is also a way of showing respect for ourselves, our peers, and the school, and helps to promote a sense of unity and belonging. Thank you for your continued support in making this school one we can all be proud to be a part of. Beanies are again available for sale from the school office. Also, our new Shell jackets are proving popular.

ORDERS via Quickcliq will be ready the day after ordering. Please contact the office if you have any questions

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Today we held a Parent Information session for our Year 4 Students preparing for their First Eucharist. Fr Ed and Fr Jim supported the facilitation of the meeting and it was wonderful to have a large number of families in attendance. Sessions commence next Monday during school time and our first presentation Mass is this coming Sunday at 10:00am. We look forward to seeing our families over the coming weeks as we support our students through this journey of faith formation.

Respectful Communication Matters

At St Columba’s, we are committed to fostering a welcoming, respectful, and supportive environment for all members of our school community. We kindly remind all families and visitors to ensure that interactions with our staff are conducted with respect, courtesy, and consideration at all times. Our staff are dedicated professionals who work in partnership with families to support the learning and wellbeing of every student. We thank you for upholding the values that make our school community a safe and respectful place for all.

School TV

It is not always easy for children and teenagers to always know how to manage friendships. Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a child’s wellbeing. 

Important Dates - 2025