Principal Report

Principal Message Term 2 - Week 1

Welcome back to term 2! It is certainly a very different start to the term compared with this time last year. On reflection, it seems quite surreal that a year ago we began what was a very long and difficult period for all Australians and in particular Victorians. Whilst not gone or forgotten it is such a relief that we have been able to resume life and normalcy.

I trust you all had a relaxing time over the holidays after a very busy first term. I can hardly believe that I am now in my seventh year of principal-ship at St Columba’s. What a wonderful and rewarding experience it has been. As I look back over the years, I feel very proud of our achievements, both as a school and community. We have much to be proud of and this is continually reinforced by visitors to the school and prospective families. They all make mention of what a beautiful school we have, how welcoming and proud the children are of their school and that there is a deep sense of belonging, calm, connectedness and community that permeates throughout.

As a small school, we must offer a school that our community sees as high-performing in all areas. With all the scrutiny that education continues to attract, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the successes and achievements we are seeing across the curriculum at St. Columba’s.

At the end of term one, Dr Marica Behrenbruch our IB consultant, conducted a preliminary authorisation visit. The two-day consultation visit provided an opportunity for our school to work with Dr Marica, to ask questions and to receive feedback and advice. During her time with us, Dr Marica was able to review firsthand the progress we have made in working towards meeting the requirements for authorisation (there are over 76 standards and practices that should be in place or a school is working towards in order to be authorised). Marcia spent time talking to students, staff and parents, reviewing our policies and planners, and ensuring that we have in place the necessary constructs that will enable us to flourish and continue to grow as an IB World school. 

I am pleased to say we are well on the way to achieving recognition as an International Baccalaureate World School by the end of this year. We have achieved a great deal over the past 18 months. As a school, we have a clear, shared and enduring understanding of learning and teaching which includes collaborative practice, rich professional dialogue, shared understanding of assessment to drive learning forward and learner agency. Our students have common and shared language across all levels and can articulate and emulate the Learner Profile. They are also demonstrating greater self-efficacy towards their learning and growing in awareness as learners.  Our next steps are to use the recommendations from Marcia to complete and submit our application for authorisation which we will be submitting this month with the intention of a school authorisation visit to be conducted in Term 4.

Added to this, we have a very busy term ahead. Rehearsals for our musical, Madagascar Junior have begun, our Year Six students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Year Five and Six students will start winter sport, there will be NAPLAN for Years Three and Five, cross country for years 3-6, our school sports day, school reports, St Columba’s Feast Day June 9, and the long-awaited PFA parent night to name just a few of the events taking place. 

After 2020 it is wonderful to see that the spirit and strength of the St Columba’s community is very much alive again. I look forward to seeing you on many of these occasions throughout the term. 

COVID -19 Update

The Victorian Government relaxed its COVIDSafe settings on Friday 26 March 2021. 

Changes to the COVIDSafe settings include allowing more visitors in the home, changes to mask-wearing in some settings and updates to density limits in some settings. There are limited changes for schools. 

Visitors continue to be welcome at our school, however face masks must be carried by individuals 12 years and over at all times and worn when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained.

Unfortunately, the density limits of 1 person per two square metres still apply and that means we are unable to have parents and visitors attend assemblies due to the size of our hall and capacity. We will however continue to provide you with a recording posted to Seesaw of your child’s year level assembly. Should restrictions ease we will notify you of the new arrangements.

Individuals aged 12 years and over must continue to wear a face mask when on public transport, school buses and when in taxis or ride share vehicles – unless they have a lawful exemption.

Thank you for your understanding and support throughout this term as we continue to implement COVIDSafe practices at our school.