Principal's Message
Principal Message Week 10 - Term 2
It’s hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point of the 2025 school year. It feels like only yesterday that we were welcoming everyone back, and now we find ourselves concluding what has been the longest Term 2 in quite some time. With the winter chill settling in—and a little tiredness and illness making its way through the community—the break feels particularly well timed and very much deserved.
Term 2 has been incredibly rewarding, filled with rich learning experiences, meaningful celebrations and deep community connection. Our students have embraced every opportunity, and the partnership between home, school and parish continues to be a hallmark of our community.
A wonderful example of this was the success of our Election Day BBQ. Thanks to the dedication and teamwork of Andrew, Jon, (SAC members) and Mel (Yr 6 PFA), the event not only raised significant funds to support our court refurbishment but also provided a vibrant showcase of our school and its community spirit. It was lovely to see families and visitors stay to play and connect on our school grounds.
This term also saw our senior students in Years 4 to 6 embark on their camp experience—an opportunity to build resilience, leadership skills, and friendships through shared challenges and joy. Meanwhile, our Year 2 and Year 3 students visited Poet’s Grove Kindergarten, engaging in creative tinkering projects and contributing to a beautiful mural for Reconciliation Week. These visits are part of a broader partnership that encourages our students to see themselves as mentors and contributors within the wider community.
Our students also took part in local civic events, including the ANZAC Day ceremony at the Elwood foreshore. Charlotte, Audrey and Bonnie represented us with reverence and pride, laying a wreath and leading the prayer. Their participation reminded us of the importance of nurturing values such as remembrance, peace and active citizenship.
Faith formation has remained a central focus, particularly for our Year 6 students who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation in week 6. A highlight was our Family Night, featuring guest speaker Hang Vo, CEO of Sacred Heart Mission. Hang’s powerful message about living faith with courage and being signs of hope in the world resonated deeply with both students and families.
Throughout the term, parent engagement has continued to flourish. Events such as the Literacy Open Learning Morning were extremely well received, with strong attendance and enthusiastic participation. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it was wonderful to see families engaged in their child’s learning. Initiatives like the Mystery Reader in Year 1, our joyful Mother’s Day celebration, and strong attendance at our Feast Day Mass all reflect the deep sense of belonging within our community.
Student voice remains a priority, with our SRC meeting regularly to discuss and lead a number of initiatives, including improving the pergola area, developing a Calm Space, and promoting respectful and safe use of shared spaces. It is encouraging to see students thinking critically and creatively about how to enhance the school environment for everyone.
This term also saw our students lead a beautiful initiative for Be Kinder Day. Students prepared thoughtful cards and took to the local community to share messages of kindness and connection. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive and truly moving.
One passer-by shared, "I came across young children from your school yesterday where a young boy handed me a card for Kindness Day! I was having a particularly difficult day, and this small act brought me much joy. Thank you." Another wrote, "Just letting you know I was approached this morning by a group of St Columba’s students on a ‘be kinder’ drive. They were delightful and if ever there was a time when we needed to be reminded to be just that little bit kinder, to extend grace, it’s now. Hats off to the teachers who organised it and to the students who were willing to put themselves out there and offer a desperately needed message."
Moments like these remind us of the importance of student agency and the powerful impact our children can have on the world around them. We are incredibly proud of their compassion, confidence and sense of purpose.
We’ve also had strong participation in co-curricular activities, with children representing the school in HOLT interschool netball, football and cross country. A number of students progressed to the next stage of Cross Country competition—a testament to their dedication and benefits of our running club.
On the facilities front, the court refurbishment is now in its final stages. While there have been a few hiccups along the way, the transformation has been truly remarkable. A huge thank you goes to the dedicated team who generously gave their time over several weekends to paint the fences and prepare the walls for the murals that will be installed in the coming months. Weather permitting, we’re hopeful the courts will be ready for use by the end of next week—an exciting milestone for our students and community.
Finally, we have now received the report from our formal School Review. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all staff and community members who contributed to the process. Your thoughtful engagement and professionalism throughout the reviewer’s visit were greatly appreciated. The report holds no surprises—Mark has affirmed the strength of our current practices and acknowledged the significant progress we’ve made over the past four years. He commended the school for fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where students and families feel known, affirmed and valued, and for the way our Catholic identity is made visible through authentic relationships, rich liturgical experiences and active community outreach. Our leadership was also recognised for successfully implementing a clear and shared vision for learning and improvement, supported by strong collaboration, instructional leadership and evidence-based professional learning. We now look forward to working with the reviewer and our MACS senior manager in the final week of term as we begin shaping our next four-year School Improvement Plan.
Thank you for your ongoing support and the trust you place in our school. I hope the break offers you time for rest, renewal and reconnection with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for what promises to be another rich and purposeful term of learning.
