On Thursday Columba staff came together for a Professional Development day. The goal for this day was to build further capacity for staff in teaching Literacy, specifically the structure and content of the literacy block. As a staff we have been working on how we can continue to grow as a team, to ensure we make small improvements each day when creating the learning environment and experiences we provide for our students.

While we know that the teaching of literacy at Columba continues to be excellent, underpinned by hard work, expertise, collaboration and enormous effort, we know that no one is ever perfect and that there are always ways we can improve.

It has been from this want to improve that the staff at Columba have developed our school mantra,

As a collective, this mantra was developed over 6 months with all staff reflecting on how we could bring to life our School Vision and our own values on what we believe are the most important skills and dispositions our students need to be successful in our world. We all took a long time to percolate and deliberate over many words that were important to us, but it is the words in our motto that we know will best remind us all of what we want for our children.

On Thursday, this Mantra was front of mind in all that we explored in the teaching of literacy at Columba. We know that as staff will continue to encourage our students to be challenged in all that do to be the best they can be. That our students will be provided with learning environments which support them to be curious in their learning. That our students will be courageous by asking questions, speaking up for others that need help or understanding their own learning needs and putting in the hard work to choose the challenge to improve.

Again, thank you to the entire school community for making alternate arrangement for your children on this day. We know it takes many to allow our staff to have a day together.

Take care everyone

Andrew Greco

A reminder to all families that we ask students to be in correct school uniform each day. All Columba students need to be dressed in full winter uniform which includes

black leather school shoes or all black runners. A school softshell jacket or blue or black jacket of any brand/shop. We also ask that students wear 1 of three beanies to school.

• The school beanie which is supplied at our uniform shop
• A plain navy blue beanie
• A fight MND beanie

Community Event Opportunity

BUNYIP KINDER