Principal Message – Week 1 Term 4

Welcome back everyone! I trust you all had a great holiday. What a fantastic conclusion we had to Term Three with Madagascar Junior and our traditional Footy Colours Day. The holidays were certainly well deserved and came at just the right time.

I know that many of our families headed overseas or interstate for warmer weather. I hope you have all enjoyed the time with your children and that the children have come back to school refreshed and ready for the challenges of Term Four.

Term Four is always an extremely busy term. From a teaching perspective, it is a time of consolidation and assessment as we prepare for semester 2 reports. You will receive an outline of what is happening over the term in your child’s class through the class newsletters. Look out for these on Skoolbag.

There is never a dull moment at St Columba's and this term is no exception. We have many special events, incursions, excursions and activities planned for the children. A highlight will be the annual Artwalk which will take place next Sunday 16 October. I know the PFA are in full- swing organization mode and we are very grateful to our local Elwood traders who have enthusiastically offered to display the beautifully crafted artworks. This is our major fundraiser for the year. I know that a great deal of thought and effort has gone into each of the spectacular artworks. Each class crafted and designed their art piece in keeping with our school’s commitment to sustainability. The thinking behind each piece has added an extra layer to art work that has been created and the children have gained valuable insight into how art can be inspired and the design and creative processes artists/designers go through. The children had a special viewing this week of the finished pieces and are deservedly proud of what they have accomplished. I hope that you can set aside the afternoon next Sunday to come and join the walk and join in this community celebration.

This term our Year 6s will also present our inaugural Exhibition. The Exhibition is the culminating, collaborative experience in the final year of the Primary Years Programme. In the PYP Exhibition, students demonstrate their understanding of an issue or opportunity they have chosen to explore. They undertake their investigation both individually and with their peers, together with the guidance of a mentor. Through the exhibition process, students demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for their learning—and their capacity to take action—actively engaging in the planning, presenting and assessing of learning.

The exhibition is a powerful demonstration of student agency, as well as the agency of the community that has nurtured them through their years in the PYP. We invite you, our community, to also participate in celebrating our Year 6s at the Exhibition and their development as internationally minded students who are eager to make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others. The Exhibition will be held on Tuesday 8 November at 6:30pm – all families are welcome.

With the weather improving and the end of year in sight, we have many special events and community gatherings planned. I ask that you take the time to look carefully at the dates in this newsletter and update your calendars accordingly. We look forward to welcoming you back onsite and at these events throughout the term.

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