Principal's Update - 15th May

Welcome

Dear Families,

As we move deeper into Term 2, it’s hard to believe how quickly the weeks are flying by! The unseasonably warm and dry weather has certainly been a welcome surprise, allowing our students to enjoy outdoor learning, sport, and events in comfort. There’s a real sense of momentum and positivity across the school, with many wonderful moments of community and celebration already shaping the term.

Last Thursday, the energy and enthusiasm were on full display at our whole-school Athletics Carnival, held at Llanberris Reserve. It was a joy-filled day where students demonstrated incredible sportsmanship, determination, and team spirit across all events. A huge congratulations to Hugo for his outstanding individual performance and to Gold House, who took home the House Cup with pride!

We extend our sincere thanks to all the parents, carers, and volunteers who gave their time so generously to support the running of the day. Your presence and help made a significant difference, and we are grateful for your continued partnership. And of course, we were blessed with beautiful weather, adding even more joy to an already fantastic day!

On Friday, we gathered as a faith-filled community to celebrate our Mother’s Day Liturgy, honouring the mothers, grandmothers, and special women in our lives. It was wonderful to see so many families in attendance as we paused to reflect, give thanks, and share in prayer and celebration.

Following the liturgy, our Family Group gatherings offered a lovely opportunity for connection, stories, and laughter. We hope all the special women in our community felt the love, appreciation, and gratitude we hold for the incredible role you play in our lives.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making both events memorable celebrations of community, faith, and togetherness.

Eureka Cross Country

We had 23 students participate in Cross-Country at Federation University during the week with five students progressing to the next level. Another fabulous day weather-wise, with the sun shining and the track dry and passable.

Eureka AFL 9's Competition

Congratulations to all our senior students who recently represented St. Columba’s in the AFL Competition last week. All our teams were amazing and showed great sportsmanship throughout the day. Good luck to our girls team who have made it through to the Greater Western Championships later in the Month.

Swimming

On Tuesday, we commenced our Swimming Program for Years 4 - 6 at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre. The children were assessed and then assigned to groups for lessons over the coming 5-week program. Please ensure your child's gear is well labelled and a plastic bag is provided for wet towels and bathers at the end of the session.

Sacramental Program – First Eucharist Preparation

Our Year 4 students have now begun their preparation for the Sacrament of First Eucharist, continuing their journey in our Parish Sacramental Program. We extend our thanks to the families who attended the information sessions, whether during school hours here at St Columba’s or after hours at the Cathedral. Your commitment and support are greatly appreciated.

The additional flexible meeting and Mass times offered across both parishes have provided families with greater choice and convenience, helping to support busy schedules. By advertising these sessions last term via Principal Update, Email, Seesaw and paper copies, families had the opportunity to plan ahead and choose what worked best for them.

While lessons are delivered at school, it’s important to remember that the program remains Parish-run and school-supported. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Tony at the Cathedral.

A First Reconciliation catch-up session for any Year 4 students who could not attend earlier will be held on Wednesday, 21st May at 3:30 pm at St Columba’s Church, with Fr Francis and Fr Ed. Please notify the school office if this applies to your child.

Practise for Eucharist will be on Wednesday, 21st May at 3:00 pm - at St Columba’s Church. 

Fr Ed will begin a run through with students who are preparing for their first Eucharist, parents are welcome to join us at the church. Families can collect students from the church after the practise, they will have their bags with them ready to go. If you are unable to collect your child, they will be walked back over to the school. Please let your child’s teacher know if you will be able to attend.

A friendly reminder to return completed trifolds to either the school office or the Cathedral Parish Office as soon as possible. Many students have also received their symbols in recent days; please ensure these are ironed onto your child’s baptismal stole in preparation for their special celebration.

Assemblies - Week 6 & 11

This term we will hold two assemblies, one in week 6  & week 11. Our students will lead us on Friday 30th May at 2:45 pm with the Book Fair open to families post this. 

Our Week 11 assembly will be held on Friday 4th July, the last day of term, at 1:30 pm followed, with students dismissed early at 2:05 pm.

SEED Day - St Patrick’s College and Loreto

This week, our Year 5 students had the exciting opportunity to attend SEED Day at both St Patrick’s College and Loreto College. This experience offered students a valuable glimpse into what each school provides in terms of learning, leadership, and co-curricular opportunities. The day allowed our students to explore the campuses, engage in various activities, and connect with new peers and staff. It was a fantastic way to begin thinking about the next chapter in their educational journey and to help them reflect on what setting might best suit their interests, values, and aspirations for secondary school.

? Scholastic Book Fair is Coming! ?

We are excited to announce that our Scholastic Book Fair will commence in Catholic Education Week on Tuesday 27th May! During the week, each class will have the opportunity to visit the fair and create their own wish lists, sparking excitement and interest in reading.

Families are warmly invited to attend the Book Fair after our school assembly on Friday 30th May, from 3:10 pm to 4:00 pm. This is a great chance to browse the wonderful selection of books with your child and make a purchase if you wish. Every book sold helps support our school and promotes a love of reading in our community. We will advertise some other times to visit the fair and purchase books as Catholic Education week draws closer.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bunnings BBQ - Helpers Required

Our school has been fortunate to secure once again a spot for the highly sought after Bunnings BBQ fundraiser, and we need your assistance to help make it a success!

The BBQ will be held on Saturday 14th June, commencing at 8:00 am and finishing at 4:30 pm. We require 3-4 volunteers for each shift ( 1-2 hr shifts) throughout the day. Please complete the simple form here to indicate if you are able to assist on the day. Organisers will be in contact with you closer to the date to confirm.

Should you have any queries, please contact the school office or Serena Nicholson on 0418 107 261.

Foundation Students Step Back in Time at Sovereign Hill!

On Tuesday, our Foundation students enjoyed a fabulous excursion to Sovereign Hill as part of our whole-school concept focus on the theme of Change. It was a wonderful day filled with excitement and discovery as students explored what life was like in the past. From panning for gold and spotting horses and carriages, to watching soldiers patrol the streets, there were endless opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.

The magic of yesteryear truly came to life, and the students were buzzing with curiosity and joy throughout the day. We were once again blessed with beautiful weather, and for many, the thrill of riding the bus with classmates was a highlight in itself!

A huge thank you to our staff and helpers who made the day such a memorable experience.

Enrolments 2026

All Ballarat Catholic Schools are now concluding the 2026 Foundation enrolment process. Applications close on Thursday 22nd May. Please note that current families will need to also complete the enrolment process, even if they have siblings currently attending the school. 

First round offers will be sent home on the 13th June.

NCCD

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) is an annual process in all Australian schools that counts students receiving ongoing support called ‘adjustments’ due to disability or imputed disability. It helps schools, education authorities, and governments to better understand the needs of students with disability and how they can be best supported at school. 

Schools are required to make reasonable adjustments when needed to ensure students with disabilities have access to learning on the same basis as their peers. The Disability Standards for Education 2005 defines ‘reasonable adjustment’ as an adjustment that balances the interests of all parties affected.

To be included in the NCCD, students must receive ongoing adjustments for a diagnosed or imputed disability, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The data, shared anonymously, informs planning, funding, and inclusive education practices.

Community

Important Dates - 2025