Our Community

Becoming involved in the school 
At St Columba’s we are fortunate to have a very active and engaged parent community.  We strive at all times to be welcoming and encourage parents and caregivers to use their gifts and talents to contribute to the life of the school.  Following are some of the opportunities to become involved in the St Columba’s school community:   This is the same text as the “school community”

Parents & Friends Association
St Columba’s has a very active Parents & Friends committee.  This group holds a meeting every four weeks and supports the school through fundraising and social activities.  We encourage all parents wherever possible to attend these meetings and support this group. 

In addition, you can support the school by volunteering to help in the uniform shop or joining the icy pole selling roster.(Term 1 & 4)

Classroom helpers program 
There are a number of ways you can help out in the classroom.  For example, volunteering weekly to help with literacy activities or running a once-off clinic with students.  A parent helpers program is run at the start of the school year to provide parent volunteers with a frame-work for helping in classrooms.  In addition we require all classroom helpers to have a current working with children check, have completed the online module and signed a code of conduct.  

School Advisory Council
The Advisory Council meets twice a term.  This group supports and advises the Principal and the Leadership Team in setting the strategic direction of the school and developing future goals.  Advisory Council Guidelines

Sub-committees
We have a number of specialist sub-committees that advise the Principal and the Advisory Council in relation to specific areas.  Current sub-committees include buildings & maintenance, technology, health and wellbeing and parish-school links. 

Volunteering a special skill or talent
If you are involved in entertainment, the arts, environment, marketing, learning technologies, graphic design, photography, policy development, strategic planning, finance, sport, gardening, or trades such as carpentry, plumbing etc you may like to volunteer your skill to support the school community. 

Attending school events 
Participating in school events is a great way to be involved in the St Columba’s community.  Some of the activities held regularly are: 

•   Each class is scheduled for either one assembly a year.  These showcase the work the students have been completing in class.  Assembly is held every second Friday at 2:40pm in the school hall. 
•   Each Learning Community organises one Mass or liturgy a semester, excluding periods such as Holy Week or Advent.  These are generally held on a Friday, though can fall on the date of a particular feast day.  
•   Regular whole school Masses /liturgies are held to celebrate important feast days or special occasions eg. start of school year, Mother’s Day / Father’s Day, graduation.