The Coracle - Term Four, Week 9

The final half of Term Four has been an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of many of our students. The Year 5 Rite of Passage was a fitting farewell to students moving from Junior to Middle School and recognised the strengths and talents they have shared with us on their journey so far.

We welcomed new students to the Junior School during Week 9, when all students participated in a transition morning, meeting their teachers and class group for 2022.

To finish our week, we celebrated the Prayer and Presentation Assembly, awarding Caritas, Endeavour, Academic Excellence and High Achievement Awards. We also presented our special awards and congratulated the following students.

• Sports Allrounder Award - Awel Malou
• Arts Award - Jolie Hakizimana
• Global Citizenship Award - Ali Hussaini
• Mary Woznitza Award - Maddison Chamings
• St Columba Medals - Nathan Robertson and Charlotte Brown

   

   

As the year draws to a close and we reflect on our year with gratitude, it is timely to thank those staff leaving our Junior School. Mr Andrew Getgood, Mrs Rachel Delaney, Mrs Verona McDonald and Mr Aidan Oliver have contributed to the life of our College in many ways. We thank them for their dedicated service and deep care and support for our students. We also say farewell to students and families leaving us and thank them for their partnership and support in working together to help every child achieve their fullest potential.

Finally, to all our staff who have shown outstanding commitment, resilience, care and compassion for supporting the wellbeing and learning of our students this year, we say thank you. Despite the challenges and unpredictability of the 2021 year and COVID19, they have worked seamlessly as a team to ensure consistency and care for students, families, and each other.

May you all have a blessed Christmas filled with peace, joy and love.

Mrs Julie Hancock | Head of Junior School

As we conclude another academic year, I would sincerely like to thank all of the parents and caregivers for your ongoing support with your child’s education. I feel that a great sense of community has been established this year, and I look forward to working with you in 2022.  As we continue to live in uncertain and unfamiliar times, our students are well placed to succeed and flourish into the future.  Our aim is to work together to develop our young people into Empowered, Compassionate Global Citizens, a key strategic goal of the College. 

Transition and Orientations Days

In Term Four, we were able to facilitate various transition sessions. The Year 5 into 6 sessions allowed students to meet key staff on the Middle School site and familiarise themselves with the facilities.  The students met their House Leaders and increased their awareness of ‘what life is like’ in the Middle School.  We also conducted the Year 7 and 8 transition day, which introduced the new students to their class buddies and also to get a ‘taste’ of the teaching and learning that occurs in the Middle School.

Year 9 Rite Journey Homecoming Ceremony

On the last day of the term, our Year 9s celebrated the Homecoming Ceremony, which signifies the end of the Rite Journey program and marks the transition into Senior School.  The TRJ program highlights the students' journey and movement from childhood to adulthood.  During the ceremony, the students reflected on what they learned about themselves, their most significant challenges, and what they will remember from camp.   The ceremony also allowed us to present the students with their Middle School Completion Certificate.  I sincerely wish the 2021 Year 9 cohort all the best with their future studies.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the work of our dedicated staff, both teachers and educational support officers (ESOs), for the extraordinary care they provide the students and families in our community. Have a blessed Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you in 2022.

Mr Shane Dowling | Head of Middle School

Suddenly we are at the end of another school year in the Senior School. It has been a delight to see all our Seniors finish the year so well.

On Thursday 19 November, we farewelled our Year 12s with their Graduation Dinner. Like you, I can’t wait to hear their success stories as alumni into the future. Our Year 11s sat trial examinations in Week 7, an excellent opportunity to seek experience in this assessment style and valuable feedback from teachers. Along with this, the majority of our Year 11 cohort engaged in the Year 12 transition seminars. Each 2022 teacher held a session with students to explore what their course offers and the support that will be provided by staff. Students readily engaged in this process and highlighted they felt ready to take on Year 12 in 2022.

Our Year 10s have been a delight at the Senior School this year; they have transitioned well into Senior School learning and finished the year with the highest number of Academic Awards across R-12! A true testament to their learning habits and commitment to their studies. It has been a delight to work with each Senior School student this year as their Head of School, and I can’t wait to see where 2022 will take us.

I wish all our families a safe holiday break. 

Mrs Deirdre Walters | Head of Senior School

The highlight for Term Four for the Year 12 students was the Farewell Breakfast and Liturgical Celebration. Each cohort member was given the opportunity to say their final goodbyes to each other and celebrate the end of their schooling journey at St Columba College. As a part of the celebrations, the students engaged in an R-12 Liturgy in which they walked out of the College hand in hand with their Reception buddies with whom they have worked closely across the 2021 school year. While many students left this celebration with a sense of loss and even tears, it is evident that they relished the chance to say goodbye to the school community. 

There have been several House-based Liturgical Celebrations across the term, where students are provided opportunities to embrace the Anglican and Catholic faiths of the College. In addition to this, the R-5 and 6-11 Prayer and Presentation Liturgies gave all students the chance to celebrate their success and to acknowledge the work that all students and staff have engaged in across the year. 

The Rite Journey Homecoming Ceremony was the final celebration for the Year 9 students before moving into the Senior School. This allowed them to reflect on their journey to this point as students and share their individual successes from their time as Middle School students.

Ms Helen O'Connor | Director of Spirituality 6-12