The Coracle - Term 4, Week 5

As the end of the school year approaches quickly, the Junior School Campus has been involved in many events and excursions that enable authentic learning experiences and extend students’ opportunities.

Highlights have included:

• Year 3 retreats, Year 1 Zoo excursion, Reception Marine Discovery excursion
• Tri-skills and SACA Cricket Blast Clinics
• Remembrance Day Liturgy and Anzac Cookie sale, Volunteers morning tea
• Little Columba’s 2023 Reception transition and Year 5/6 transition

Teachers have been busy analysing NAPLAN, PAT and classroom assessment data to determine the targeted teaching needed for students during Term 4. It has been wonderful to see the growth and progress of each individual student.  They continue to focus on their learning goals in literacy and numeracy this term, and staff look forward to communicating this in end-of-year reports.

We congratulate the students who graduated from Children’s University on Tuesday evening at Bonython Hall, Adelaide University, by completing extension activities outside of school. A special mention to Matthew Fairclough, who completed 200 hours, an amazing achievement.

Last week we farewelled Mr Matthew McGinty from the Junior School. Matt has been at the College for 20 years, and during this time he has taken on various roles. As the Assistant Head of Junior School, he has led with great commitment and a passion for student wellbeing. Students, staff and families have valued his compassion, positive relationships and deep sense of community. We thank him for his contribution over many years and wish him well as he takes long service leave and into the future.

In 2023, Mrs Leanne Pfeiffer and Mr Angus Bugeja will commence roles as the Assistant Heads of Junior School, R-2 and 3-5. Angus joins us for the remainder of this term from Gawler and Districts College, and we welcome him to the community.

As we move toward the end of the term, we ask that all families continue to work in partnership with us for the health and safety of students. As you enter the car park, please do so slowly. Ensure if car doors are being opened in the pick-up zones, that footpaths are clear of pedestrians first, as we have had reports of some near misses and people being knocked by doors. After school, students are not permitted to play in the yard or playgrounds. This is a time to leave the school with family members or for students to move immediately to waiting areas. We seek your support with this.  

We look forward to some special celebrations as the term concludes. Our Year 5s will be concluding their time in the Junior School with a Rite of Passage in Week 7. This is a significant event as we reflect and celebrate student participation and achievement and send them forward to Middle School with our best wishes.

During Week 8, ‘Prayer and Presentation’ is the formal conclusion of our school year as a community, with a joyful celebration of the year and awards presented. We invite you to be present for these events.

Mrs Julie Hancock | Head of Junior School

Middle School Prefects - 2023

Early this term Mrs Spiniello and myself conducted Prefect interviews for 2023. What a privilege it was to talk to our young leaders and hear their ideas and aspirations for the College. We are extremely lucky to have a cohort of students who have a passion for helping others and a desire to make a difference. Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for a leadership role next year:

• Nathan Robertson
• Hanyeh Kazemi
• Gael Dushime
• Nathan Alberton
• Maheen Amani
• Ashton Hopgood
• Bor Akoy
• Brayden Hopgood
• Payton Hopgood
• Christie Chapman-Wardy
• Vanessa Evertz
• Kuir (Kiki) Ajak
• Calvin Kee-tui
• Brian Bosco
• Haiden Sims
• Izak Scherer
• Myah Richards
• Brodie Clapton
• Mya Hartley
• Nicole Alexander

We look forward to working with this group into the future and presenting the Middle School Captains at our 'Prayer and Presentation' in Week 8.

'Knights of the Southern Cross' Carnival

In Week 4 our Years 8s participated in the 'Knights of the Southern Cross' Sport Carnival. This annual event is a sport carnival against Xavier College and Thomas More College. The day was a successful one and our students were able to demonstrate both communication and teamwork, as well display their sporting skills in range of sports (Basketball, Volleyball, Netball, Table Tennis, Soccer). Special thanks to our Sports Coordinator, Miss Abbey Mozuras, for her organisation of the teams.

Transition Visits:

This term we are conducting our transition visits for our Year 5s into Year 6 (Weeks 5-7) and on Monday 28 November, we have an Orientation Day for new students across Years 7-9. The purpose of these sessions is to provide an opportunity for students and their families to familiarise themselves with the Middle School campus and to welcome everyone into our Middle School community. We reinforce our high expectations for both academic and personal growth. During the Middle School years, we want to foster and encourage our young people to be become self-directed, independent and compassionate global citizens.

Mr Shane Dowling | Head of Middle School

What a whirlwind the start of Term 4 has been! No sooner had we begun the term, we were already saying goodbye to the Year 12s as a whole community at the ‘Farewell to Year 12 Assembly’ on Thursday, 3 November. A highlight for all was the Year 12 Breakfast on Friday, 4 November; a College tradition where staff cook for students on their final day. The breakfast was followed by a special Graduation Liturgy, with the theme “Life is a journey, not a destination”, led by Reverend Jo Smith. Weeks 4 and 5 saw the Year 12 cohort engage in exams ranging from Modern History to Physics.

While the Senior School campus now seems quiet without our Year 12s, our 10s and 11s have thrived in extra-curricular activities, including the Year 10/11 Drama Performance, "Jacky Masterson and the Case of Absurdity". Students were exceptional in the performance, the first show produced in our new Lake Art Centre (on the Middle School Campus). We also had a group of Year 10 students who engaged in catering the event, "Amare di Cibo", producing an outstanding Italian-style lunch for staff.

It has been delightful and encouraging to see how students from Year 10 and 11 are readily preparing themselves for end-of-year activities and exams. This year we reintroduced Year 10 exams (post-COVID restrictions). We look forward to every student flourishing in this space.

Mrs Deirdre Walters | Head of Senior School

This term, the Junior School has been engaged with the Year 3 Retreat and Year 5 Reflection Afternoons. Students have had the opportunity to reflect and explore their own spirituality, faith, and ideas about their place in the world. Unfortunately, due to the weather, the Year 5 Retreat at Para Wirra did not take place as planned, but we managed a shortened version at school.

This term also saw the final days of Year 12s at the College. We celebrated well with the Year 12 Graduation Liturgy, which was celebrated by Rev Jo Smith. It was lovely to welcome her back to the College as she knew the Year 12s very well. Every student received a blessing, and their participation in the Liturgy was outstanding.

Mrs Jane Bailey | Director of Spirituality R-5