Principal Message Week 9 - Term 3

This term has been action-packed and filled with so many moments that capture what makes St Columba’s such a special place. At the heart of it all has been the learning, the engagement and the collaboration between students, staff and families. It is this partnership that truly makes our school such a vibrant and connected community.

One of the many highlights was Donuts with Dad for Father’s Day. To see the playground buzzing with families, children and games was an absolute joy, and I am so appreciative of the active role our families play in the life of our school.

Our rich arts program has also shone brightly this term, with preparations well underway for our whole school musical, Finding Nemo. This production is a celebration of the uniqueness of every child and the sense of belonging we strive to create. With every student taking to the stage, it truly showcases the joy of learning through the arts and the way we nurture the whole child. We are thrilled with the support of our community, evident in the strong ticket sales and cannot wait to share this experience with you in Term 4.

Our recent parent–teacher interviews were another highlight, providing the opportunity to celebrate student achievements and reflect on the goals and milestones that children have been co-constructing with their teachers. The strong growth we are seeing across the school in reading, writing and mathematics is a testament to the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teachers.

This dedication was also evident last night during our staff personal inquiry presentations. Just as our Year 6 students work towards and present their Exhibition in term 4, our teachers shared their own inquiries into areas that directly support the learning and wellbeing of their classes. These inquiries exemplify the IB Learner Profile and reflect the agency and professionalism of our staff. These inquiries are making a significant impact on student learning, social–emotional growth and wellbeing. This work connected beautifully to our recent school closure day, where staff began preparation for our upcoming IB Evaluation in August 2026. The collaborative spirit and commitment of our staff shone through, reminding me again of the passion and investment they bring to our children and our school. It was also a powerful reminder of the richness that comes from collaboration; learning from one another, affirming the expertise we each hold and working together to strengthen the learning opportunities we provide for our students.

Tonight, of course, we look forward to our school disco. A culmination of teamwork between parents, Year 5 students, and their teachers. Our Year 5s have embraced their leadership roles with energy and enthusiasm, showing wonderful initiative and organisational skills. To hear that nearly every child in the school is excited and ready to attend, dressed in “fluoro,” is another reminder of how connected they feel to our community.

To round out the term tomorrow, we will celebrate with Footy Colours Day—a wonderful way to come together one last time before we head into the holidays.

As we close the term, I want to thank every member of our community for living out our vision of nurturing active, compassionate, lifelong learners. It has been a term full of learning, growth, celebration and joy. I wish all our families a wonderful two-week break and I look forward to welcoming you back, refreshed and ready for Term 4—and, of course, our musical in Week 3!

STEAM News