The Coracle - Term 3, Week 10

Term 3 has been a particularly busy one with many events and celebrations related to learning and wellbeing. Our students have been involved in the following:

• Book Week & Book Week Parade
• Year 3 Retreat
• Father's Day Stall
• Sciworld Incursion
• Junior School Performing Arts Showcase
• Junior School Kaboom Percussion
• Saint Columba Day
• Junior School Sports Carnival

We thank all the staff who have coordinated and made these events possible for the students.

Thank you to our families who have engaged with 3-Way Learning Conversations and had the opportunity to celebrate your child’s learning. If you were unable to attend these meetings teachers are always happy to meet to discuss your child’s progress. Please Direct Message them or ring the Junior School to arrange a suitable time.

This term, Ziggy, our wellbeing dog joined the community and has quickly formed warm and impactful relationships with students. Some of the ways he is working and benefiting others are captured in our gallery images.

We hope you have a restful holiday and thank you for your ongoing support.

Mrs Julie Hancock | Head of Junior School

As we conclude Term 3 and move towards the end of the year, I would like to highlight the program that the Year 9 students have nearly completed this year. The Rite Journey is a unique educational program in schools, designed to support the development of self-aware, responsible, respectful, resilient, resourceful and reflective adults. Throughout the year, the students have progressed through a series of passages and each one guides them through the journey. The passages include:

• The Calling: Students show gratitude for their childhood and are called on their journey to adulthood
• The Departure: Parents, carers and mentors join the students for an opportunity to learn, reflect and look forward
• The Following: The students are guided throughout the year by a number of supportive adults including teachers, parents/carers and mentors
• The Challenges: Resilience is built by giving students challenges and helping
  them acquire the skills, resources and mindset necessary to overcome them
• The Abyss: The biggest challenge of the year takes students out of their comfort zone to help them learn more about themselves
• The Return: Students reflect on what they have learned and experienced over the year, and the gifts and skills they will carry into adulthood
• The Homecoming: Students are celebrated and honoured at a gratitude ceremony involving teachers, parents/carers and mentors

Early in Term 4, our students will partake in the ‘Abyss’ which is a three-day camp to Hindmarsh Island. When they ‘return’, they prepare for the Homecoming ceremony to mark the transition to Senior School and the end of their Middle School Journey. We look forward to celebrating this at the end of the year.

Below are some images from Saint Columba Day, an event to honour our patron Saint. The day began with a Liturgy, then students participated in games and fete activities, and overall it was enjoyed by the whole College.

Mr Shane Dowling | Head of Middle School

Students have worked hard for the second half of the term to ensure strong results across the board in their learning and extra-curricular activities. Our Year 12s are starting to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel', working hard in completing their last few assignments and begin transitioning to revision for exams. Our Year 11s have engaged in a variety of hands-on learning experiences from Outdoor Education excursions, sports coaching in the Junior School and Music performances to the parent community. Our Year 10s have worked hard across the Term in their Religious Education Stage 2 unit, specifically, working together on their collaboration skills for assessment. It was great to take time out of learning and celebrate the Middle Senior School Sports Carnival (even though we got rained out!) and Saint Columba Day. These events were great opportunities for our community to come together, have fun and spend time with those they don’t always see in their day-to-day learning. Finally, I hope the Senior Students take the time to rest over the break and come back recharged for the last term of learning.

Mrs Deirdre Walters | Head of Senior School

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

The hills were alive with the Sound of Music this week as many of our students performed in this special stage show. Congratulations to the whole cast, College staff and Director, Mrs Kerryn Harris - you all made our community proud!