Principal's Message
Principal Message Week 6 - Term 4
The weeks are quickly slipping by, and we now find ourselves at the halfway mark of this final term for 2025. Today is a very special day in our school calendar as we celebrate the Year 6 Exhibition, the culminating event of our students’ seven-year learning journey at St Columba’s.
The Exhibition is always a time filled with excitement, nerves and pride for our Year 6s. As staff, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to mentor and walk alongside each student as they move through every stage, from initial enthusiasm to moments of challenge and deep inquiry and finally to the confidence and passion that shine through in their presentations.
It is this process of digging deep, persevering and reflecting that makes the Exhibition such a powerful vehicle for students to truly understand themselves as learners. By the end of the evening, we can confidently say that our Year 6 students embody the ten attributes of the IB Learner Profile. They stand as confident, compassionate young people who uphold the IB Mission Statement and reflect everything we value and stand for as a St Columba’s community and parish.
If you are unable to join us tonight at 5:00pm, I warmly encourage you to visit tomorrow morning. It is a truly inspiring experience that not only showcases the remarkable achievements of our students but also celebrates the growth of the whole child, their curiosity, resilience, empathy and confidence. We could not be prouder of who they have become.
This year’s Exhibition holds particular meaning for me personally, and I know there will be many more moments that continue to highlight why St Columba’s is such a special and vibrant community.
Our recent school musical was my fifth at St Columba’s and it was a particularly emotional one for me. The children certainly rose to the occasion, giving truly outstanding performances not only on stage but throughout the rehearsal process. Their teamwork, camaraderie and support for one another were exceptional.
Putting on a show of this scale is no small feat and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who volunteered, attended and offered their time, energy and encouragement. The feedback has been absolutely wonderful and to top it all off, our talented performers even made it to State Parliament, where our member, James Newbury MP, tabled an acknowledgement of their achievements and the outstanding work of our school.
Since then, we’ve regrouped and refocused our energy on ensuring a strong finish to the 2025 school year, both academically and socially. The Market, next week, is shaping up to be a wonderful community event, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing you all there. And of course, our Carols Night will be a beautiful way to come together and celebrate the end of another incredible year.
I would also like to thank you all for your kind words, encouragement and support following my recent announcement. There’s still one more newsletter to come, so I’ll save my reflections for then, but I do want to say how truly honoured and blessed I feel to have served as Principal of St Columba’s. The past ten years have been a life-affirming journey. I’ve always wanted to teach and make a difference, and I remain deeply grateful to Fr John for giving me this opportunity back in 2015.
I have often said that St Columba’s is not just a school, but a family and it has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to lead and learn alongside you all. I look forward to sharing the remainder of this term with you. There is still so much ahead, and I thank you for being such an important part of it.
