The Coracle - Week 5, Term 1

The start of the 2021 school year has been a positive one, with our Beginning of Year Liturgy in Week 2, and our Prayer and Presentation held in Week 3. It was wonderful to have family members present again to celebrate these occasions with us.

We now have the ability to invite guests to our College events with consideration of the SA Health COVID restrictions.  Volunteers are welcome to assist in classrooms again with teachers organising schedules to enable this. Another event parents and caregivers are welcome to attend is the upcoming Sports Carnival on Friday 12 March. This is an outdoor event and we kindly ask you to continue to ‘check in’ at the school gates and adhere to social distancing requirements.

This week at our Assembly we recognised the newly elected Leadership Positions for 2021 within our Junior School. Students took up roles as Junior School Captains, House Captains and the Student Representative Council.

The position of Junior School Captains is a new role at the College. To apply, students wrote about their personal strengths, leadership qualities, and aspirations for the College. They were then interviewed by the Junior School Leadership Team. The two students selected demonstrated outstanding leadership, compassion towards others, confidence in representing the College and have been positive role models throughout their Junior schooling. We congratulate: 

     

Nathan Robertson and Awel Malou

The position of House Captain is one elected by a child’s peers and teaching staff. Many factors are considered in this selection process, including positive role modelling and leadership qualities, positive behaviour, the ability to work independently and work co-operatively with others. These positions are held in high regard and we are confident that our children will fulfil their roles humbly and admirably. We congratulate:

   

   

The following students have been elected by their class peers as SRC. As a voice for their class on the council they have an important position in communication and active citizenship in the Junior school. We congratulate:

Mrs Julie Hancock | Head of Junior School

 

Peaceful Parents Program
4 Week program, commencing Thursday 4 March

11B Adelaide Road, Gawler South SA 5118

(Dr Naomi Rutten Mental Health GP Clinic)

Cost of program: $200.00 per participant, for the 4 week program

9:30 am - 11:30am

The Peaceful Parents program is a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based parenting program, created by Wellbeing For Kids to increase resilience in both parents and their children. 

Peaceful Parents is a strength-based parenting workshop that is engaging, practical and supportive for parents. Parents learn strategies to lessen stress, enjoy parenting more as well as learning practical strategies to build resilience in their children.

​Peaceful Parents' is facilitated by Andrea in weekly sessions, for 4 weeks. The programs are held in Gawler, SA. 

More Information

Year 9 Rite Journey Departure Ceremony

The Rite Journey is a year-long program designed to acknowledge and celebrate each student’s shift into adulthood. On Monday February 15, we held a Rite Journey Departure Ceremony for our Year 9 students. A highlight for the day was our Journey Hike at Cobbler Creek. This was a symbolic part of the day as the Year 9’s commence The Rite Journey together and begin tackling challenges throughout the year.

I would like to thank all of the parents and guardians who were able to attend the ceremony. Your commitment and involvement in the program remains vitally important. A special mention to Ms Eugenia Stopyra (Director of Spirituality) and The Rite Journey Team: Miss Olivia Cocker, Miss Elaine Rouhana, Mrs Gemma Zaknic, Mr Chris Spry and Mr Scott Hoban for their hard work in preparing for this event and for assisting with the Ceremony.

Team Building Activity Day

In Week 5 of this term, we held a Team Building Day for our Year 7s and Year 8s. The students participated in a variety of activities to encourage them to become acquainted, as well as test their decision-making and problem- solving skills. The event was run by ‘Wilderness Escape’, a company who aims to ‘guide people through experiential learning to achieve a range of personal skills in outdoor pursuits that will increase the person’s participation and appreciation of outdoor pursuits and the environment’. The day was very successful and a lot of fun! We hope that this day generated a genuine cohesion amongst the students as well as develop close relationships.
 

Mr Shane Dowling | Head of Middle School

On Thursday 18 February, the Mars Rover ‘Perseverance’ landed 210 million kilometres from the gates of St Columba College. The landing was watched by 10.9 million people and was an incredible sight to see. My favourite moment, however, was the tweet that NASA published: “I’m safe on Mars. Perseverance will get you anywhere”.

This mission has been decades in the making. NASA have been open about their successes as well as their failures along the way, which is something very few organisations do. For our best Scientists and Engineers across the globe to say ‘we got it wrong, but are going to keep going’, really gives our students a shining example on how they can also develop resilience and accomplish their personal goals.

Back on Earth and into the school grounds, I wish to encourage our 2021 Senior Students. It may feel like the reality of committing yourself to learning has set in. Year 10s have settled into the Senior School, the excitement of returning to friends has perhaps faded away for our Year 11s, and the Year 12s have now received their jumpers. However, I hope you all take the message from NASA to heart as it is ever so relatable to your journey in the senior years at St Columba; “Perseverance will see you through!”

Mrs Deirdre Walters | Head of Senior School

Junior School

The Junior School students took part in our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, which marks the beginning of Lent. The liturgy was led by Year 5 Lock and the students enacted a symbolic rendition of Jesus in the Wilderness. All students made a cross to wear or hold as a reminder that we are approaching Holy Week and Jesus death. This is a time for thinking more closely about our relationship with God.

During the leadership Assembly, the Junior School Captains performed their first role by presenting a cheque to Anglicare from our fundraising last year. Karyn Gibbens from Anglicare came to receive the cheque and spoke to the students about some of the work of Anglicare. Well done to everyone who helped to raise a total of over $5000!

Mrs Jane Bailey | Director of Spirituality R-5

Middle/Senior School

It has been very special to begin 2021 with a number of different celebrations in the first half of Term 1. In Week 2 we had an R-12 ‘Beginning of Year Liturgy’ to bless our school year. In Week 3 we acknowledged the 2020 achievements of our students at our ‘Prayer and Presentation’ Liturgies. The new large screens recently installed in the gym are so clear and have certainly made a difference to the way students engage at these occasions.

In Week 4, the Year 9 students began The Rite Journey program with a Departure Ceremony. During the Liturgy, they threw a rock into the lake next to the College that signified a childish behaviour they want to abandon as they explore what it means to be a young adult. Also during Week 4, we started the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. In the Anglican and Catholic tradition this is a time to stocktake our lives and see how we can improve as people of God.

On Ash Wednesday the Year 12 students spent the day reflecting on the year ahead for them, making a commitment about their study and receiving their Year 12 jumper.

Ms Eugenia Stopyra | Director of Spirituality 6-12