Columba Catholic College Newsletter Volume 27 No. 1 - 2nd February 2024

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Columba Families,

Whilst the term got off to a staggered start with the recent weather events and disruptions, we are pleased to advise that our students are settling back into College life and ready for a new year of learning. Thank you to all students, staff and families for your support last week. This year we welcome 77 new students to Columba and wish all of our students, staff and families a great year of learning in our community.

This year our College theme is Goodness, Love and Mercy. We are called to take up the challenge and use our gifts to enhance our own lives and the lives of others. 

Special thanks to Alisha, James and the entire Guild family for the special Turning Hearts medallion which has been mounted on Mackenzie’s Memorial plaque in the Year 12 Garden area near Kelly Block on Mt Carmel Campus. This medallion uses a QR Code to share memories and photos of Mackenzie. It is a wonderful celebration of Mackenzie’s life and her spirit which is alive in our community.

This week we hosted Parent Information evenings at both St Mary’s Campus and Mt Carmel Campus. Thank you to our families for their commitment to the co-education of our students. Thanks also to our staff for preparing such great information  about life and learning. These events are important as we continue to build positive family-school-parent partnerships here at Columba.

Communication at the College:

It is essential that effective communication is maintained between home and school. With this in mind, I encourage all families to ensure that notifications and communications that are provided via Compass, email, Facebook and SMS are reviewed and if clarity is required that the school is contacted directly for support. Communications relating to the College that do not come directly from the school can impede school processes and may not be accurate. Group chats and posts that are not endorsed by the college and are circulated in community forums are strongly discouraged. We have experienced bouts of mis-information and online behaviour that is counter to the values of the college and the parent partnership agreements affirmed at enrolment. If you have any concerns or enquiries, please contact the College on:  07 47871 744 or email office@columba.catholic.edu.au . Thank you for your support.

Parent Code of Conduct:

Strong relationships are built on respectful partnerships. Please find here a copy of the Townsville Catholic Education Parent Code of Conduct for your reference and information.

Representing Columba:

Representing Columba in any sport, or in extra curricular capacity is a privilege not a right, and as such I ask that students and families understand that we expect exemplary behaviour for a student to represent the college. I believe that it is a double standard to enable students to represent the College in a sport of extra curricular activity if their behaviour at school is not of an acceptable standard or does not reflect our core values. Learning is our core work and respect is the cornerstone of high quality relationships. If behaviour at school is contrary to this, a student will not be able to represent the College. In instances where students are suspended, they will not have the privilege of representing the College, regardless of their sporting capabilities. I name this now as we begin a new year, expecting the best of all of our students in all aspects of College life and supporting them to aspire to be their best; and do their best.

In Focus: Pastoral Care and Wellbeing at Columba

As we begin the school year I would like to focus our attention on Pastoral Care and Wellbeing. It is important that as a community we are all aware of the expectations, processes and procedures in place to support our students. The safety and wellbeing of our students is central to our mission as a Catholic school. In doing so, I wish to draw your attention to the following  information. 

The ‘Big Five’ Values  at Columba, we focus on ensuring that all actions begin and end with ‘Respect.’ We relate all of our actions and behaviours to the ‘Big Five.’ 

1. Respect for Self 
2. Respect for Others 
3. Respect for Learning 
4. Respect for Environment 
5. Respect for Tradition 

School Safe Persons are those staff with whom students can discuss any concerns about things that happen at school, such as conflict with peer groups or study stress. Their concerns may also be about things that occur outside of school and more serious issues. Please find here the link to information regarding our School Safe Persons.

Positive Behaviour Support

Promoting and celebrating positive behaviour is highly effective in promoting and coaching positive behaviour at school. Clear expectations, positive feedback, rewards and recognition for personal behaviour choices are important for sustained positive behaviour and for highlighting ways to engage in positive relationships at school. Please find here a copy of the College’s Positive Behaviour Support Framework.

Procedures for Addressing Bullying

Please find here a copy of College Procedures for Addressing Bullying and a copy of the Diocesan Education Council’s Bullying in School’s Policy for Addressing Student Bullying in Schools DEC Policy  Both documents are used in the management of matters of this nature at Columba. In the coming weeks, we will be liaising with students regarding other ways to report incidences of bullying or inappropriate behaviour at the College, to ensure that there are a variety of ways that this can be communicated to key personnel in the school.

Guidance and Counselling

The effect of life’s stressors on the personal, social and academic development of students is widely  acknowledged. At Columba, the College Guidance Counsellor works in partnership with the College  community to promote and foster student development, mental health and resilience. Our Guidance Counsellors are Mrs Aleesha Watson (Mt Carmel Campus) and Mr Bradley Fissore (St Mary’s Campus). We are also joined by Megan Fisher who is an experienced Townsville based Counsellor each Friday at Mt Carmel Campus. Our counsellors are available to meet with students, parents/caregivers and staff to talk about concerns.  This is a confidential service. An appointment can be made either by contacting the Counsellor directly or leaving  a message with the office staff.  

Resources for Families

School TV is a free resource to assist families in raising happy, healthy and resilient youth. These resources are available by clicking on the link on our school website at School TV

Next Tuesday 6th February at 8.30am we will host our Opening Celebration of the Word and Induction of Student Leaders at St Mary’s Campus. This is a special time for our students and a wonderful opportunity to come together in community to bless our school year. We hope to see you there.

We are a community focused on high quality learning and teaching.  We look forward to growing and learning together. If there is anything that our staff can do to support your child, please let us know. And as we go forth into this new term may we continue to be blessed as a community to ensure that each young person is known, cared for and respected as individuals.

All the best for the week ahead.

Many blessings,

Melissa Turner
PRINCIPAL

STUDENT LEADERS 2024

OPENING CELEBRATION OF THE WORD, INDUCTION OF STUDENT LEADERS AND FAREWELL FOR MELISSA TURNER

2024 STAFF

* On Leave

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL:  Melissa Turner

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS:
Joanne Andrews (St. Mary's Campus)
Maria Peck (Learning & Teaching)
Dan Kyle (Pastoral & Residential) 

ASSISTANTS TO THE PRINCIPAL - RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
Donna Maxsted (St. Mary's Campus)
Christine O'Sullivan (Mt. Carmel Campus)

ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL - ADMINISTRATION:
Rebecca Ebelt (Mt. Carmel Campus)

ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL - PEDAGOGY AND LEARNING:
Rodney Lane (St. Mary's Campus)

BUSINESS MANAGER:  Megan Cundell 

PA TO PRINCIPAL:  Jo-Anne Thompson

TEACHING STAFF:
Fiona Adcock, Suzanne Barry, Leanne Brandis, Karen Brew, Tonya Burgoine, Lara Burns, Andrew Butler, Arnulfo-Jam Camat, Madeleine Carter, Haydn Champion, Kara Dawson, Elena Donohue, Manny Exarhos, Sabia Farnaz, Belinda Hourston, Dean Johnston, Michael Ku, Kalinda Large, Deirdre Martell, Thomas McFarlane, Jordan Moy, Callan Newman, Georgina Porter, Clare Stead, Melissa Stephenson, Brooke Stevenson, Emma Systa, Liz Ward, Gerard  Webber, Jemma Webber, Stuart Whitby

RESIDENTIAL LEADERS:
Michelle Burns (Girls) 
Caroline Jarmey (Boys)

RESIDENTIAL HOUSE PARENTS:
Bradley Christensen, Quinn Carr, Mitchell Davison, Justin Dixon, Matthew Guy, Adonia Hedges, Madi Hill, Kim Johnson, Kristine Jonsson, Margie Kingham, Katrina Lange, Dawn McGill *, Thomas Narayan, Charlie Pemble, Michael Power, Karen Spice, Jessica Van Der Mescht, 

ACCOUNTS STAFF:  Kylie Allison

ADMINISTRATION AND LIBRARY STAFF:
Christine Bell, Katelyn Crouch, Anita Dixon, Megan Lucas, Genelle Mitchell (St. Mary's Campus), Paula Smith (St. Mary's Campus), 

EMERGING LEADERS CO-ORDINATOR:  Lorette Tassan

HEALTH CENTRE STAFF:  Terrina Muston

GUIDANCE SUPPORT STAFF:
Aleesha Watson, Megan Fisher, Bradley Fissore

IT SUPPORT:  Saahid Khan

COLLEGE CHAPLAIN:  Larrissa Crowley

CLASSROOM SUPPORT AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS:
Lesley Archer, Jordan Broomhall, Jessie Buck, Angela Carroll, Jahana Critchley, Larrissa Crowley, Suni-Faye Davis, Donna Edmondson, Brooke Hamlyn, Adonia Hedges, Jessie Huen, Vicky Kennedy, Cecilia Louk, Donna McIntosh,  John Pauling, Justine Pickering, Karen Spice, Annabella Tse, Sonia Wood

HOUSEHOLD STAFF:
Dianne Dunn, Shirley Fleming, Kim Fox, Amy Hartig, Shirley Jackson, Leah James, Dallas Langtree,  Yvonne Streeter,  Alma Thompson

FACILITIES MANAGER:  Phil Capewell

GROUNDS/MAINTENANCE AND STUDENT TRANSPORT STAFF:
Robert Abdy, Darren Hope, James Lee, Daryl Paxton, Robert Thompson 

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - SM CAMPUS

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome back to all our existing families and a warm welcome to new families joining our college in 2024. The beginning of our term looked a little different as the campus prepared for the arrival of cyclone Kirrily.  Thank you to all our staff who assisted in some way to preparethe  St. Mary’s Campus grounds and classrooms in the likelihood we were to receive damaging wind and rain. While St. Mary’s  Campus did lose power, we were spared any major damage and therefore able to reopen on Monday this week. 

On Tuesday evening parents were invited to their children’s classrooms for our parent information evening. Thank you to the families who were able to attend and meet their child’s teacher to learn more about the expectations and routines in their child’s classroom this year. The electrical storm and power outage didn’t stop our Yr 6 teachers from delivering their session.  A little dark and warm but Mr Webber and Mrs Maxsted adapted their plan and the Yr 6 information session went ahead!  If you were unable to attend the sessions, classroom teachers will email their presentations to all families. 

This term our Specialist lessons are Music (Ms Ward), PE (Ms Johnson), Health (Ms Johnson), Yrs 4-6 Chinese (Mr Ku) and Yrs Prep - 3 Digital Technologies (Ms Johnson). Prep to Yr 3 PE classes are on Monday and Yrs 4-6 are on Wednesday.  Chinese lessons will be on Friday and Music on Tuesday. Ms Johnson will take Digital Technologies on Thursday.  Specialist lessons started in the first week of term and students are settling into their new routines and learning in these subject areas. 

This term Inter-School sport is T-Ball.  Students in Year 6 have participated in trials and parent information will be forwarded later this week.  In other sporting news, the St. Mary’s Cross Country will be held on Wednesday 20th March. Students in Prep - Yr 6  will participate in this event on the Mt. Carmel campus. More information to follow on the Cross Country as we near the event. 

Next Tuesday, the Opening Liturgy and Induction of School leaders will be held on the St. Mary’s campus. The liturgy will begin at 8.45 and finish at 9.45. This is a whole school celebration with the students from Mt. Carmel joining us in the Undercovered area to welcome the new year and induct our College leaders. Students in Years 1 - 6 will be required to wear their day uniform and Prep students to wear their sports uniform.  Families are most welcome to join this celebration. 

Progessive Achievement tests (PAT) 

All new students to the College will be tested on Reading and Maths proficiency in the coming weeks.  Pre-testing of existing students (Yrs 2 - 6 ) was completed in Term 4, 2023. Year 2 students are required to participate in PAT R and PAT M in the September/October testing period only. The data from this testing is used to understand where students are in their learning and to monitor the growth of achievements over time.  Our Inclusive Practices Teacher, Ms Dawson, will conduct these tests.

Early Years testing

Students in Years Prep - Yr 2 will be pre-tested on oral language and numeracy competencies during Weeks 3 to 5 of this term.  Teachers use the data from these assessments to inform teaching and learning. Post testing occurs late in Term 3. 

Naplan testing 

NAPLAN is for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students. The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 13 March 2024 and finishes on Monday 25 March 2024. Schools are asked to schedule the tests as soon as possible within the testing window, prioritising the first week.  ACARA supports inclusive testing, so all students have the opportunity to participate in the national assessment program. Adjustments are available for students with disabilities who have diverse functional abilities and needs. Teachers will  work with parents/carers and students to identify, on a case-by-case basis, reasonable adjustments required for individual students with disability to access NAPLAN. Adjustments should reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments.   From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards. There is a standard for each assessment area at each year level. Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the child at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling. Student achievement is shown against 4 levels of proficiency: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided by your child’s school later in the year. 

School Photos

Please note that the St. Mary’s campus school photo day will be held on Thurday 22nd February.  Envelopes for ordering will be distributed shortly. 

Our campus assemblies will continue to be at 8.35am on Thursday mornings in the Dining Hall. We look forward to families joining our community for assemblies as well as our special events and celebrations throughout the year.

Joanne Andrews
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

FROM THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL - ADMINISTRATION

Dear Columba families

I am delighted to join our community in 2024 as a new member of the leadership team at the Mount Carmel Campus. This year, I will be celebrating my 20^th year as an educator, and I am excited to work alongside the excellent young people of Columba in my new role at the College.

A principle I firmly believe in is trying your best and using a growth mindset. We are all on our own personal learning continuum, and in each classroom, all our students have their own unique perspectives on the concept being taught. Every student can value-add to their learning continuum each lesson, even if they find something they don’t know…yet. In my new role, there are many things that I am yet to learn, and that’s OK! The most important thing is to always work hard, try your best, and believe you will get there in the end. In the words of Winston Churchill, never, never, never give up.

As we start a new school year, I want to encourage our young people to dream big, make mistakes, keep learning and know that their future achievements are as limitless as the horizon.

I look forward to meeting and working with you all this year.

Rebecca Ebelt
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL - ADMINISTRATION

MC CAMPUS LEARNING AND TEACHING UPDATES

NAPLAN

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 13 and 25 March 2024.

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

Read the NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers. To see the format of the tests, visit the public demonstration site.

NAPLAN is for everyone: help for students with disability sitting NAPLAN

NAPLAN is for everyone. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is committed to an inclusive testing process that allows all students to participate in the National Assessment Program.

NAPLAN’s disability adjustments enable an equivalent learner experience for students during testing and include, for example, magnification, alternative questions, keyboard accessibility, extra time, rest breaks and tailored testing.

Please contact Gina Porter if you would like to discuss disability adjustments available further.

PAT TESTING

New Year 7-10 students will complete PATM and PATR testing between Weeks 3 and 5 during Term 1.

2023 ACADEMIC AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Academic Subject prizes for rotational subjects in Years 7 and 8; Year 7 and 8 Civics and Citizenship; and Years 7-10 History in Semester 2 in 2023.

2024 DALRYMPLE TRADE TRAINING CENTRE (DTTC) CLASSES

Classes at the DTTC commenced this week. Students will attend the Dalrymple Trade Training Centre on the following days of the week to complete their certificate.

Students will attend classes at the Dalrymple Trade Training Centre each week between 9.00am and 3.00pm. Students will be transported to the DTTC by College bus at 8.45am and will be bussed back to the Mt Carmel Campus at 3.00pm. It is expected that students will attend Pastoral Care at 8:30am and sign out at the Mt Carmel Office at 8.40am before catching the bus to the DTTC and check in with Mr Broomhall when they return at 3:00pm. Students will be dismissed from the Mt Carmel Campus in the afternoon. Students are not to permitted to drive vehicles to the DTTC.

If parents / guardians / caregivers need to pick students up from the DTTC for an appointment, it is essential that the office staff on the Mt. Carmel Campus are informed of these arrangements. The office staff will inform the staff at the DTTC.

HOMEWORK CLUB

Homework Club will commence next week (Week 3) on the Mount Carmel Campus. Homework Club is available to all Year 7-12 students to focus on their homework and academic studies in a quiet, supervised and relaxed environment, where they can receive support from teachers.

Students are able to attend Homework Club to:

• Complete homework
• Complete assignments
• Revise for exams
• Gain assistance to help understand subject content, for example, Mathematics, English, HASS.

Homework Club will be held on Thursday afternoon from 3.00-4.00pm in the Library. Teachers volunteer to assist students at Homework Club in subject areas such as English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Religious Education and Health and Physical Education.

Student expectations:

Students will:

• Be punctual to the after school session;
• Be prepared for each session with adequate homework or assignment or study work;
• Work quietly and independently of other students;
• Use computers to assist them with their academic studies only (not play games etc)
  

OPENING CELEBRATION OF THE WORD, INDUCTION OF STUDENT LEADERS AND FAREWELL TO MELISSA TURNER

Next Tuesday, the 6^th February 2024, the Opening Celebration of the Word, Induction of Student Leaders and the farewell for Mrs Turner will be held on the St Mary’s Campus, commencing at 8:45am. Parents and Caregivers are invited to attend.

Year 7-12 students will commence the day on the St Mary’s Campus. Students are to meet on the Mary Street side of the oval. Parents and caregivers are asked to drop students off at the St Mary’s Campus on Tuesday morning by 8:25am. Following the liturgy, Year 7-12 students will be transported back to the Mount Carmel Campus by bus at approximately 9:45am. Students who attend the Dalrymple Trade Training Centre will attend their classes at the centre following the liturgy.

Year 7-12 students are to wear their formal uniform.

Maria Peck
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - LEARNING AND TEACHING

PHOTO DAY

Columba Catholic College
School Photography Date:  SMC - 22/02/2024 & MCC 01/03/2024

School photography day is coming up soon. Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below or by returning the order envelope with your payment to our photographer on school photo day.  

2 easy ways to purchase:

1. Visa, MasterCard or PayPal
2. Cash – complete the envelope supplied and return it to our photographer on photo day

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au
And enter online order code: GBQ DYW 9M6

School photography information:

• Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school
• Sibling Photos - SMC only sibling photos and combined SMC & MCC sibling photos will be taken 22/02/24.  MCC only sibling photos will be taken 01/03/24.  Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. We provide your school with a list of sibling orders right up to the day of photography, so no one misses out. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope first thing in the morning of the day of photography, so your school is aware you want the photo taken and can bring your children together in time for it. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at your school. 
• Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately
• Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
• Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the “Order School Photos Here” button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9 digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past.

advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to Columba Catholic College for placing your trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience as fast as possible, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience please contact us at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact

Contact us at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PARENTS AND SPECTATORS

At this time of the year, as Columba teams take to the fields and courts around town, it is timely to remind parents and spectators of their responsibilities when attending school sporting fixtures.

The College has clearly developed Codes of Behaviour for parents and spectators (see below).  These have been developed with two very important tenets in mind.  The first is that young people should be allowed to participate in sport for their own enjoyment.  The second is that all coaches and officials must be respected and supported, not undermined.

It is imperative that our coaches are able to train and coach their team without interference.  At all times, coaches must be afforded the opportunity to address and direct their teams without having to compete for the players’ attention. Advice given from outside, while well-meaning, may actually contradict team plans and goals of which you are unaware.  At all times, the coach’s say is final.

Our coaches and managers give generously of their own time so that your children can play each week. Please appreciate and respect their efforts, and continue to attend fixtures and support our great College teams.  

PARENTS’ CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

• Remember that children participate in sport for their enjoyment, not yours.
• Encourage children to participate, do not force them.
• Focus on the child’s efforts and performance rather winning or losing.
• Encourage children always to play according to the rules and to settle disagreements without resorting to hostility or violence.
• Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
• Remember that children learn best by example. Appreciate good performances and skilful plays by all participants.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities.
• Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.
• Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Without them, your child could not participate.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

SPECTATORS’ CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

• Remember that young people participate in sport for their enjoyment and benefit, not yours.
• Applaud good performance and efforts from all individuals and teams. Congratulate all participants on their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
• Respect the decisions of officials and teach young people to do the same.
• Never ridicule or scold a young player for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.
• Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or players.
• Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
• Encourage players to follow the rules and officials’ decisions.
• Do not use foul language, sledge or harass players, coaches or officials.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Please be aware that if you are behaving inappropriately, you may be asked to leave school sporting fixtures.

RESIDENTIAL NEWS

Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff and Students,

Welcome to the 2024 school year. I hope this edition of the College residential newsletter finds you well and ready to embrace the rigors and excitement that the new school year brings.

I warmly welcome all continuing and new students to the Columba Catholic College Boarding community. The boarders this year hail from all over north and central Queensland. The life experiences that these students bring to the boarding community can be best described as being rich and diversified in nature, making it an interesting and often an exciting place to be. 

The year did start off with a bit of a blast from Cyclone Kirrily. The College was well prepared for the cyclone and took the extra precaution of keeping all of our students in one location by moving the girls over to Comerford Residence and the Junior boys into the Ryan Residence. Even though the cyclone turned out quite mild, the students were well cared for and made safe at all times. A special  word of thanks to Caroline Jarmey, Michelle Burns and the Residential team for going above and beyond in ensuring that our students were safe and well looked after. 

Mrs Burns (Head of Girls’ Boarding) will continue to oversee the day to day operation of the Good Samaritan Residence and Mrs Caroline Jarmey (Head of Boys’ Boarding) will oversee the daily operation of Ryan and Comerford Residences. We have a number of new staff joining our residential team including Thomas Narayan and Mitchell Daveson (Boys’ Boarding), and Katrina Lange and Charlie Pemble (Girls’ Boarding). At this point, we are continuing to recruit casual staff who can fill in for existing staff on leave.    

On another note, I am excited to work with our Residential Captains (Charlotte Coggan, Grace Kuhl, Max Campbell and Matthew Hewlett). I am highly confident that they will take their positions seriously and will do a great job in fulfilling the responsibilities of their individual roles. From all accounts of what I have been informed of so far, they are doing a tremendous job. I encourage them to keep up the good work.

In regard to the Student Weekend Leave process, we ask that both the Parents/Caregivers and the Leave Host ensure that consent is provided to the relevant Head of Boarding by the close of the school day (4:00 pm) on Thursday. The children will be required, as in previous years, to submit their leave forms by Wednesday evening. The onus is on the students to ensure that the leave process is followed by the due times; otherwise leave will be denied. This procedure not only allows the College to adequately cater for students remaining in-dorms for the weekend but also teaches the students organisational skills.

The Residential Newsletter will continue to be a fortnightly publication and will be directly emailed to you. 

In regard to any queries that you may have in relation to Day School, please feel free to contact the appropriate Year Level Pastoral Leader. Please note, email is the preferred method of communication, and they will get back to you in a timely manner. The contact details are listed below for your convenience:

• Haydn Champion Years 11 & 12 Pastoral Leader
• Melissa Stephenson Years 9 & 10 Pastoral Leader
• Madeleine Carter Years 7 & 8 Pastoral Leader

In Week 3 (7-9 February) of this term, the Year 7s are off to Echo Creek (Tully) for their annual Year 7 camp. This is a great opportunity for students to get to know other students and staff at a more meaningful and productive level. Students need to ensure that they have all the required bedding, cutlery, clothing and toiletries for the camp.  If you have any queries in relation to the camp, please contact Ms Carter via email. 

Finally, I look forward to working with you, the parents and caregivers of your children, so that we may provide the best possible level of residential care.  Thank you for entrusting the College with the education of your child/ren.

Regards,

Dan Kyle
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - PASTORAL/RESIDENTIAL 

IN THIS EDITION OF SCHOOLTV - MANAGING SCREEN TIME

The latest research found that 77% of teenagers spend more than five hours on screens per day, but it is important to note that not all screen time is considered equal. Parents play a crucial role in modelling a positive and healthy approach to using screens and assisting children to navigate the content they watch. It is better to model and mentor screen use, rather than monitor it. Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child’s overall wellbeing. Ensuring the correct privacy settings are in place is vital to prevent children from being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content or online predators. Parents need to also be mindful of the potential impact screen time can have on a child’s social, emotional, educational, behavioural, and even physical domains.

In this edition of SchoolTV, care-givers will be provided with a range of guidelines and strategies to help manage screen time at home. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school for further information or seek professional help.

Here is the link to the Managing Screen Time edition of SchoolTV
https://columba.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/managing-screen-time

2024 SCHOOL TERM DATES

CADETS