Principal Report
Principal’s Message Week 3 Term 1 2020
It has been a wonderful start to the new school year and everyone has settled back into familiar routines. As the year progresses there will be many new opportunities, as well as challenges for our children. Being able to navigate these moments and to take them in their stride, will provide valuable life lessons, and in the long term, be instrumental in building their social and emotional capital.
The opportunity to be recognised as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), is for us the next step in firmly entrenching a learning culture that is inspiring, rigorous, relevant, purposeful and engaging for all within this community.
Last week we hosted our ‘meet and greet and parent information evening’ and the first of many open learning mornings. It was wonderful to see so many of you taking the opportunity to engage with the school, staff and students on these two occasions. During the information session, Brooke Dobric our PYP Leader, shared the IB mission and how it aligns with our own school vision, mission and educational philosophy and ultimately how it will enhance the work we have already undertaken over the past five years in our classrooms and school to ensure we are continuing to deliver a high-quality education for all.
It has always been clear to me that our school is unique and, despite our size, we have always been progressive, inclusive and committed to ensuring our students are supported and nurtured to grow academically, socially and emotionally. Informed by contemporary research into how students learn, how the most effective educators teach, and the principles and practice of rigorous assessment, the Primary Years Programme generates stimulating, challenging learning environments that nurture and foster a lifelong love of learning. It is a curriculum framework specifically designed for learners aged 3-12 and holds central to its core, a philosophy that recognises, acknowledges and nurtures a child’s natural curiosity, creativity and ability to reflect.
The PYP fosters independent learning skills, encouraging every child to take responsibility for their learning. By developing the attributes of the IB learner profile, children also learn how to demonstrate respect for themselves and others, developing international-mindedness by working with others for a shared purpose and taking positive action for change. We see this as fundamental to enabling our learners at St Columba’s to step boldly into the future, equipping them with the skills they need to participate with confidence in a world that is rapidly changing and evolving.
The rate of growth of IB schools, particularly in Victoria, is testament to the standing the IB has within the community. Currently there are over 80 authorised PYP schools within Victoria, a combination of government and non-government, prompting many secondary schools to implement the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme. The PYP at primary school does not necessitate continuing onto an IB secondary school. However, with the learning experiences, skills and dispositions developed through the PYP, children will be able to transition to any secondary school setting, with confidence as independent and lifelong learners.
Becoming an IB World School takes dedication and commitment on the part of the school, parents, and learning community, to meet the IB’s rigorous quality assurance requirements. Once authorisation is confirmed, a regular cycle of support and evaluation will ensure the highest quality assurance. We aim to be authorised, as an IB World School, within two years.
The PYP will be an affirming and transformative experience for our whole school community: students, teachers and families, invigorating learning and teaching, and enriching school community and culture. We invite you to continue to share in our journey by attending the further planned information sessions, open learning days and other experiences and to look out for the regular PYP contributions in the newsletter. These will provide you with the opportunity to participate and immerse yourselves in this new chapter in the life of our school.
FlexiBuzz
In 2020 FlexiBuzz will be the main platform used by the school to send out information.
FlexiBuzz enables us to send out important messages, newsletters, alerts and notices.
Please ensure that you have access to this app on either your phone or personal device.
Instructions for installing FlexiBuzz
St Columba’s is using FlexiBuzz to communicate with you on everything that is happening at school.
Download the app, subscribe to a communication group and get alerted on news, events and more. Please note you need to subscribe to your communication groups in order to receive notifications. Please ensure you subscribe to your child/children's classroom group, you can do this by selecting the parallel lines at the top of the newsfeed then add/removing the boxes relevant to the information you wish to receive. Come into the office on Friday and see Julie if you are having any issues.