The Coracle - Term 1, Week 7

Welcome to Term 1, 2025. This year I have taken up my new role as the Director of Spirituality F-12 and I am really enjoying working with students across the whole college. It has been exciting to introduce some new initiatives this term and to develop some existing ideas.

We have a group of student Captains and Prefects who have a Spirituality Portfolio, and they have already been at work promoting the faith and traditions of our College. They played a main part in our R-12 Beginning of Year Liturgy, taking on roles, reading prayers and supporting the Junior School students through the faith component of the celebration. One of the team spoke at a Middle and Senior School Assembly about our traditions and beliefs about Lent, and acknowledged other students in our College who are celebrating Ramadan at this time. There are many similarities between the two different practices; both Lent and Ramadan are times of fasting, prayer and being generous to others. It was good acknowledge the commonalities in the rich diversity of our community.

Another initiative this term has been the opening of the Chapel on the Middle School Campus to staff and students at selected recess and lunchtimes as a quiet space for prayer, mindfulness and meditation. Many attendees have appreciated this opportunity to take time-out from their very busy schedules.

Unfortunately, we were unable to gather for whole-school worship on Ash Wednesday due to the heat, but we managed to livestream a service from the Chapel. This meant all students were still able to take part as they gathered in their smaller Daily Admin groups. The Imposition of Ashes, the marking on the forehead the cross in ash, was offered to all students and staff throughout the day. This is traditionally done in Anglican and Catholic Churches on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of the season of Lent, as a sign of being sorry for the things we do wrong, to recognise our own humility and to reflect on what we can do to love more in the world.

I am looking forward to the next half of what will be a very busy and exciting term.

Mrs Jane Bailey
Director of Spirituality F-12

At St Columba College, Student Life is more than just extracurricular activities—it’s an opportunity for students to grow, connect, and succeed. Through participation in clubs, sports, performing arts, and leadership programs, students develop essential life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and time management. This year we decided to move the launch of the Student Life events earlier to ensure more students had the opportunity to participate.

We believe that every student deserves the chance to experience success. Student Life provides a platform for all students to find their strengths, build confidence, and contribute meaningfully to the College community beyond the classroom. Whether they are performing on stage, competing in sports, or collaborating in a club, each student is supported in exploring their interests and celebrating their achievements.

Reflecting on Term 1, the College has made tremendous strides in expanding and enriching Student Life. With a focus on fostering a positive culture, our initiatives continue to enhance student engagement, influence academic programs, and strengthen the sense of community across the school.

Notable Launches and Events:

• Performing Arts: Introduction of Junior School JAM Band, Dynamics Choir, Columba Rumba, Confi-Dance Girls, North Metro Music Festival Choir, and Vocal Rumba.
• Middle & Senior School: Expansion of bands, ensembles, and choirs, including the Catholic Schools Music Festival Choir, Secondary Choir, Theatresports, and Dance Club. The College Musical, The Wizard of Oz, is in full swing, with rehearsals leading up to the Term 3 performance.
• Clubs & Activities: Debating, Lego, Future Problem Solving, Chess, Tabletop Games, Da Vinci Decathlon, STEM Racing, Indo Society, Dungeons & Dragons, Mathletes, Children's University, and Art Club.
• Sports: Formation of new teams, including Netball, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, and Athletics, with weekly training sessions.
• Student Leadership: Hosting the Student Leadership Retreat, launching the Deadly Mentorz Saltwater Leadership – Aboriginal Education Program, and student participation in the Adelaide Secondary Student Leadership Conference and National Student Leadership Summit at St Peter’s College.

So far, over 600 students have actively participated in Student Life activities, reinforcing a culture of engagement, celebration, and involvement. Student Life at St Columba is about offering diverse, dynamic experiences that take learning beyond the classroom and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Mr Oliver Harms
Director of Student Life

Welcome back to another exciting year at St Columba College. As we have begun this new academic year, there is an undeniable sense of hope and opportunity in the air about the boundless possibilities ahead for our students.

One addition to the College curriculum that we are especially pleased to introduce is a whole-school approach to Review Learning. At the start of each lesson, the classroom teacher will facilitate a review of what students have learned the previous lesson, week, month or year. This strategy is designed to strengthen their ability to recall knowledge, skills and concepts more effectively and efficiently. It also provides students an opportunity to work with their prior knowledge before building on it further during that lesson. It has been well received by students and teachers so far and we will continue to refine its implementation as the year progresses.

Our Junior School has also begun a new literacy program called Playberry Laser. This is a multi-tiered reading and spelling program used by students from Reception to Year 5. The program utilises fun and engaging activities, encouraging a love of literacy, while building strong foundational skills that will benefit our students for years to come. Reading is fundamentally the most important skill our students can develop in the early years of their schooling journey, and we want to empower them to succeed academically and beyond.

This term, we have already undertaken additional testing from Reception to Year 10 to also ensure classroom teachers are aware of each student’s individual strengths and areas for development in both literacy and numeracy.

Finally, I want to wish students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 all the best for NAPLAN, which started this week. This will provide us with quality information to continue to tailor our teaching and learning programs and ensure our students are able to thrive at the College.

Mr Jack Griguol
Head of Curriculum and Learning