Principal Report
Principal’s Message Week 9 Term 4 2019
2020 will be a very exciting year for us as we embark on our new strategic directions and
begin our journey with the International Baccalaureate. Staff have already begun planning
for 2020 and have enthusiastically embraced the new opportunities that this step has
afforded us. The opportunity to be recognised as an International Baccalaureate World
School, offering the Primary Years Programme, is the next step into firmly entrenching a
learning culture in our community that is inspiring, rigorous, relevant, purposeful and
engaging for all involved. It will assist in enabling our learners to step boldly into the future,
equipping them with the skills they will need to participate with confidence in a world that
continues to rapidly change. Ultimately this will enhance learning and teaching whilst
continuing the strong structured focus we have on numeracy and literacy in our school, thus
ensuring we are delivering a high-quality education for all well into the future.
The staffing for 2020 has now been finalised and the following is a summary of what will be
in place for the next year.
At the end of the year we will farewell Ewelina Podgorska. Since joining St Columba’s in 2018
Ewelina has been an integral member of our staff. She has been a wonderful asset to our
staff and leadership team during her time here. Her expertise in the early years, literacy and
professionalism has been exemplary. We are grateful for the wisdom, knowledge and
breadth of experience that she has brought to our school. She will be greatly missed by our
whole community - school and parish. We wish Ewelina all the best in the future and as she
embarks on a new chapter in her life.
There have been some changes to our staffing and leadership roles for 2020 and I would like
to welcome to our school community two new staff members: Miss Lauren Doran, Miss
Gemma Canalini.
I am very excited about the new staff joining the school next year. I know you, our
community, will make them feel very welcome.
2020 Teaching Staff
Principal: Daniella Maddalena
Deputy Principal- Student Wellbeing & Student Services: Bern Bradley
RE, Innovation & Learning, ICT, NCCD & Intervention Leader: Natalie Cromie
PYP Leader: Brooke Dobric
P-6 Literacy Leader: Brooke Dobric
Maths P-6 Leader: Stuart Mill
Sustainability Leader: Stephanie Young
Classroom Teachers
Prep Sophie Champion
Prep Stephanie Young
Grade 1/2 Gemma Canalini
Grade 1/2 Lauren Doran
Grade 1/2 Angela Saliba & Carla Howard (3rd teacher role)
Grade 3/4 Liane Pimenta
Grade 3/4 Rachael Bulcock
Grade 5/6 Stuart Andreou-Mill
Grade 5/6 Tara Wilkes
Visual Art & Kitchen Garden Bec Long
Languages (Mandarin) Sarah Huang
Physical Education & PMP Sharelle Braithwaite
There will be extra support for all classes in Literacy and Maths Prep- Year 6, with a
Differentiation Support Teacher working within each year level. This will allow smaller
groupings during these times for explicit instruction and will also provide the opportunity for
greater personalisation and differentiation of the curriculum.
Kath Davies will work as Differentiation Support Teacher providing Numeracy support to
Prep – Year 6.
Bern Bradley, Natalie Cromie and Brooke Dobric will also work as Differentiation Support
Teachers across Prep- Year 6.
Learning Support Officers (Aides)
Norma Pullen, Suzie Hansen, Lorraine Everitt, Freda Minas, Julie Watson, Andy Szkibik, , Justine Seymour, Laura Harris, Kylie Marshall
We are very excited to continue to provide regular music classes throughout each term with
Chris Lazzaro. These sessions will focus on music making and creating and will occur
fortnightly in terms 1, 2 & 4, term 3 will be dedicated to the Community Arts Program. In
2020 the children can pursue instrumental music lessons with Creative Music and all
children will of course participate in our Community Arts program during term 3.
The children will find out their classroom teacher on Thursday 12 th December when they
have a ‘Step Up Day’ orientation session, with their new teacher and class from 9:00-
11:00am.
I am extremely excited about 2020 and our new Strategic Directions, ‘St Columba’s – a
school for the future’. We have already ensured our Annual Action Plan reflects these new
directions. As the new year starts, we invite you to share in our journey by attending the
planned information sessions, open learning days and other learning experiences that will
provide you with the opportunity to participate and immerse yourselves in this new chapter
in the life of our school.
Class Lists for 2020
One of the big tasks we undertake at this time of year is the placement of children in classes
for next year. It may look like a simple task, however, in reality it is quite challenging. It is
about ‘getting it right’ so all children can succeed in their learning and in a social setting.
Often these two factors can cause some conflict because the children who they prefer to
socialise with may not always be the best children to be in the class with.
In all situations, I advocate that children need to be risk takers and problem solvers and this
can be applied to the children they have in their class. Instead of looking at whether the
children will not be with some of their friends, I see it as an opportunity for the children to
meet many more friends.
There can be many valid reasons as to where a child is placed in a class. These reasons can
be educational or social. The staff have put in a lot of time placing all the children in their
classes for next year and I would ask that parents trust our professional judgment.