Included this week:-
- "A Teacher Changed My Life"
- Visual Arts Teacher
- IMPORTANT changes - Volunteering at St Columba's
- School Closure Dates for 2017
- Information Evening for Prospective Families (Prep 2018)
- Calendar Dates
- Parent/Teacher Interviews
- Next Assembly
- Building Update
- "Big Steps for Little Feet 2017"
"A Teacher Changed My Life"
Hopefully some of you may have had the opportunity to watch the Insight program on SBS last night about teachers and the impact they have. Many of those interviewed shared that the teachers that made the most difference to them were those who engaged them in their learning, who inspired them to be their best and those who helped them find and build on their passions and interests. Many of those interviewed talked about the need for learning experiences to be authentic and for there to be connections to the real world.
The program caused me to reflect on our school's vision of "Engaging, Inspiring, Empowering" and how we live that vision out everyday at St Columba's. We place great importance on building strong relationships with each child, knowing their strengths, their interests and their challenges and helping children achieve success. The Walker Learning Approach focuses on engaging children in their learning through their passions and interests and making the learning realistic, connecting it to the 'real world'.
Hopefully in years to come our current students will look back on their time at St Columba's and the teachers they had and reflect on the positive impact they have had on their lives.
Visual Arts Teacher
Clare Fuller has been on leave since the start of term and Caity Gordon has been covering Clare's visual arts classes. This arrangement will continue through to the end of this term. We are hoping to welcome Clare back at the start of term 2.
Volunteering
Thank you to the many parents who have completed the Expression of Interest form for volunteers. The online training module is almost complete and will be emailed out to those parents who have expressed interest by the end of the week.
I encourage all parents who plan on volunteering in any capacity at St Columba's now or in the future to complete the Expression of Interest form. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete. Please click here for the form.
School Closure Dates for 2017
The school will be closed to students on the following dates:
Tuesday 18th April (Religious Education)
Monday 14th August (School Review preparation)
Tuesday 31st October (PLC professional learning)
Monday 13th November (Report writing day)
These are the only days, apart from public holidays, that the school will be closed to students during 2017.
Information Evening for Prospective Families (Prep 2018)
This Thursday evening at 7pm we will be holding an Information Evening for families interested in finding out more about St Columba's School. This is designed for families with Prep students starting school in 2018. Current families are welcome to attend, but are certainly not required to.
Current families with a child starting Prep in 2018 are asked to complete an Enrolment form available from the school office.
Calendar Dates
A reminder to parents to please check the Google Calendar under 'Upcoming Dates and School Calendar'. You will need to click on the 'Read More' button to locate the calendar. Dates are being continually added to the calendar as they are set. The date for this year's Graduation Liturgy has recently been added to the calendar.
Parent /Teacher Interviews
A reminder to book in for a Parent/Teacher Interview with your child's class teacher using the online booking form (attached below). Interviews will be held on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd March from 2.00 to 5.00. Parents who attended a PSG meeting do not need to book in for a Parent/Teacher meeting as well.
Hopefully some of you may have had the opportunity to watch the Insight program on SBS last night about teachers and the impact they have. Many of those interviewed shared that the teachers that made the most difference to them were those who engaged them in their learning, who inspired them to be their best and those who helped them find and build on their passions and interests. Many of those interviewed talked about the need for learning experiences to be authentic and for there to be connections to the real world.
The program caused me to reflect on our school's vision of "Engaging, Inspiring, Empowering" and how we live that vision out everyday at St Columba's. We place great importance on building strong relationships with each child, knowing their strengths, their interests and their challenges and helping children achieve success. The Walker Learning Approach focuses on engaging children in their learning through their passions and interests and making the learning realistic, connecting it to the 'real world'.
Hopefully in years to come our current students will look back on their time at St Columba's and the teachers they had and reflect on the positive impact they have had on their lives.
Visual Arts Teacher
Clare Fuller has been on leave since the start of term and Caity Gordon has been covering Clare's visual arts classes. This arrangement will continue through to the end of this term. We are hoping to welcome Clare back at the start of term 2.
Volunteering
Thank you to the many parents who have completed the Expression of Interest form for volunteers. The online training module is almost complete and will be emailed out to those parents who have expressed interest by the end of the week.
I encourage all parents who plan on volunteering in any capacity at St Columba's now or in the future to complete the Expression of Interest form. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete. Please click here for the form.
School Closure Dates for 2017
The school will be closed to students on the following dates:
Tuesday 18th April (Religious Education)
Monday 14th August (School Review preparation)
Tuesday 31st October (PLC professional learning)
Monday 13th November (Report writing day)
These are the only days, apart from public holidays, that the school will be closed to students during 2017.
Information Evening for Prospective Families (Prep 2018)
This Thursday evening at 7pm we will be holding an Information Evening for families interested in finding out more about St Columba's School. This is designed for families with Prep students starting school in 2018. Current families are welcome to attend, but are certainly not required to.
Current families with a child starting Prep in 2018 are asked to complete an Enrolment form available from the school office.
Calendar Dates
A reminder to parents to please check the Google Calendar under 'Upcoming Dates and School Calendar'. You will need to click on the 'Read More' button to locate the calendar. Dates are being continually added to the calendar as they are set. The date for this year's Graduation Liturgy has recently been added to the calendar.
Parent /Teacher Interviews
A reminder to book in for a Parent/Teacher Interview with your child's class teacher using the online booking form (attached below). Interviews will be held on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd March from 2.00 to 5.00. Parents who attended a PSG meeting do not need to book in for a Parent/Teacher meeting as well.

interviewflyerpteacherinterview_sem12017.pdf |
Next Assembly
Our next assembly will be this Friday at 2.30pm in the church. This Assembly will be lead by LG 7. At this assembly 6 of our Prep students will be introduced to the school community by their grade 5 buddy. The following prep students will be introduced:-
Bodhi Hoiles, Aliyah Polkinghorne, Isla Cooper, Matilda Beseler, Eleandra Dualan and Violet Landrigan. Our Choir Captains will also receive their badges at this assembly.
Building Update
We are finally seeing some real changes to our new Prep and 3/4 areas with plasterboard being hung in these spaces. The glaziers have installed the windows and the painters will begin work shortly. We are hoping to be in this space by the end of April or early May.
Our next assembly will be this Friday at 2.30pm in the church. This Assembly will be lead by LG 7. At this assembly 6 of our Prep students will be introduced to the school community by their grade 5 buddy. The following prep students will be introduced:-
Bodhi Hoiles, Aliyah Polkinghorne, Isla Cooper, Matilda Beseler, Eleandra Dualan and Violet Landrigan. Our Choir Captains will also receive their badges at this assembly.
Building Update
We are finally seeing some real changes to our new Prep and 3/4 areas with plasterboard being hung in these spaces. The glaziers have installed the windows and the painters will begin work shortly. We are hoping to be in this space by the end of April or early May.
Big Steps for Little Feet 2017
Today the Courier released it's Big Steps Little feet 2017 photos. Our wonderful students photos can found here and here.
Today the Courier released it's Big Steps Little feet 2017 photos. Our wonderful students photos can found here and here.