Columba Catholic College Newsletter Volume 28 No. 16 - 30TH OCTOBER 2025

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Columba Families,

October is Mission Month. Students at both St Mary’s and Mt Carmel have been participating in a range of “Socktober” activities to raise awareness and funds for the people of Timor-Leste. Please keep an eye out for events and activities on our calendar this month. Students have participated in Crazy Sock Day, a Monster Bake Sale, Money lines, Soccer games and Mission Month Liturgies to raise awareness of this important cause. Special thanks to Matt Tyrie and James Delaney for leading in this space. 

Last Wednesday evening was the Boarders' Christmas Party. Special thanks to Caroline Jarmey, Adonia Hedges, all of the Boarding staff, and our magnificent catering team for providing our students with these life-giving experiences. 

Our appreciation to Emma Systa, and all the St Mary’s staff, supporters, helpers, and students for a very well organised Primary Interhouse Swimming Carnival last Thursday, held at the beautiful Kennedy Regiment Memorial Pool. Our Secondary student helpers received high praise for their conduct and help on the day. Our Primary students demonstrated our College values of Courage, Commitment, and Compassion, trying their best and demonstrating enthusiastic Inter-House College spirit! Well done!

This week our Year 12 students commenced External Examinations and alternate programs as they complete the final stages of their journey at Columba. Please continue to pray for our Year 12 students at this important time.

Special thanks to the staff and families who attended the Benjamin House Mass on Saturday. We appreciate your support for our students and community. Special thanks to Father Emmanuel, Matt Tyrie and James Delaney for their leadership. 

Today we celebrated our grandparents and special friends with a special Grandparents’ Day program at St Mary’s Campus. Thank you to the staff and students for being such great hosts, our grandparents and special friends were able to enjoy a lovely lunch and beauitful prayer celebration. You play an important role in the education, care and support of our students, and we are grateful for your involvement in our community.

Tomorrow we recognise Day for Daniel.  This day reminds us of the important role we each play in keeping our students safe and educating them about the importance of personal safety. Please find here a link to the  Daniel Morcombe Foundation which provides students and families with a range of information suitable to support our young people. 

Tomorrow is also World Teachers’ Day. This is a time where we give thanks for the gift of education. Happy World Teachers’ Day to our educators who bless our students with spiritual, academic, social and emotional learning that enriches their lives. We are blessed to be called to this life-giving vocation. Hats off to our teachers!

All the best for the fortnight ahead.

Shayne Harrison
PRINCIPAL

STUDENTS' SUCCESS

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Year 12 students whose internal assessments have been confirmed by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority as a perfect 100% result! This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to their hard work, perservance, and commitment to excellence throughout their senior studies. Congratulation to each of these students on reaching such an exceptional milestone. 

YEAR 11 & 12 PASTORAL NEWS

The final term of the school year is always filled with a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and reflection and this year is no exception. As the Year 11 and 12 Pastoral Leader, this Term is always challenging but incredibly rewarding.

For our Year 12 students, last Friday marked the end of their formal lessons after thirteen years of schooling. For those completing General (ATAR-eligible) subjects, the focus now turns to the next important milestone — the external exams. Over the next three weeks, students will be putting their hard work and preparation into action. We wish them every success and remind them that support is available throughout this period from teachers, mentors, and the pastoral team.

Looking ahead, Graduation Week in Week 7 will arrive faster than we all expect. Families are encouraged to finalise their tickets for Graduation on Thursday, 20 November, and to complete the online consent form and payment for the Big Day Out on Wednesday, 19 November. These events are special celebrations of our students’ journey, and we look forward to marking this milestone together as a College community.

For our Year 11 students, this week’s Exam Block marks the conclusion of Unit 2 and the near completion of Year 11. However, the learning continues with Unit 3 (Year 12) work beginning immediately following exams and will carry through until the end of the term. This is an important transition period where students start setting the foundation for their final year of schooling.

During this busy assessment period, it’s natural for students to feel stressed or anxious. We encourage any student who is finding things difficult to reach out to a trusted teacher, Pastoral Leader, or counsellor. Some practical strategies for managing stress include:

• Maintaining a balanced routine with regular sleep, nutrition, and breaks.
• Creating a study schedule to manage time effectively and reduce last-minute pressure.
• Incorporating light exercise or fresh air each day to reset focus.
• Practising relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness.
• Connecting with friends and family for support and perspective.

As we move toward the final weeks of the school year, we encourage all students to stay organised, remain focused, and take pride in how far they have come. The finish line is in sight — let’s make these last few weeks count.

Haydn Champion
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - PASTORAL & RESIDENTIAL

NEWS FROM THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

During this term, Year 7 students have been engaged in the study of ecosystems, examining the movement of energy and matter throughout the environment and recognising the significance of interactions among living organisms. Students have broadened their scientific vocabulary and are now able to identify various components within food chains and food webs. As the year wraps up, we will focus on the Sun, Earth, and Moon, exploring their roles in influencing temporal and seasonal changes. Students will investigate celestial phenomena including the phases of the Moon, eclipses, and tidal patterns.

This term, Year 8 students have extended their knowledge of states of matter and particle theory. The curriculum has progressed to identifying elements by their chemical formulae and utilising the Periodic Table as a reference tool. Students have examined atomic structure and learned how to decipher molecular formulae. Upcoming lessons will focus on distinguishing between physical and chemical reactions, with practical investigations designed to identify evidence of chemical change.

This term, Year 9 students have been learning about ecosystems and exploring how organisms interact through food chains. The main emphasis is on understanding how energy and matter move within these systems. By the end of the year, students will shift their focus to plate tectonic theory, examining how the Earth's surface consists of shifting plates and learning how these movements shape different landforms. They will also gain insight into why natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes occur.

During this term, Year 10 students examined the theory of evolution in detail. Building on previous knowledge of DNA structure and inheritance patterns, they explored the mechanisms of natural selection and reviewed various lines of evidence for evolution, including fossils, homologous structures, embryology, and DNA sequencing. The curriculum also addressed the impact of human intervention through selective breeding. To conclude the unit, students investigated human evolutionary history and analysed the evidence spanning the past three million years.

The Year 12 students have completed a solid period of revision, completing a plethora of test questions as they prepare for their final examinations. We wish them all the best as they wrap up the last leg of their school learning journey. Year 11 students now step up and begin to engage with important Unit 3 content for the rest of this term.

Ben Naughton
MIDDLE LEADER - SCIENCE

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Faithful Hearts- Purposeful Lives -One College - One Story

Welcome to the middle of Term 4 and the time in our church year where it is Ordinary Time. Yet we know the work that our students do is far from ordinary; it is purposeful, engaging, and challenging.  

On Friday last week, it was the last instructional day of lessons for our Year 12s.  Even on the wire, they were harvesting as many revision opportunities as possible or completing final assessment tasks. External  Exams begin today for their general subjects, and this will continue for the next three weeks for our ATAR students.   They are in our thoughts and prayers at this time.

Last Wednesday was Crazy Sock Day at Mt Carmel Campus, and there was some good spirit on the grounds as our students raised awareness and donations for Mission Month and the people of Zambia.  

Last Thursday, our Bishop Tim Harris officially proclaimed the 3rd Synod of the Diocese of Townsville, set to begin on Friday, June 12th 2026. However, from November 1st, the Diocese will take part in 6 months of deep listening- a time to hear from one another to discern where the spirit is calling us next.  The aim is to explore what is and what isn’t working.  Bishop Tim proclaimed that there would be two questions.

• Where do you see life, growth, hope and joy in the community?

• Where do you see the unmet needs or opportunities in our Diocese?

There are also three simple ways for you to answer:

1. Submit personal reflections through our online portal.

2. “Host your own listening session”: Gather a group - your parish prayer group, family at the dinner table, or colleagues at morning tea - discuss the questions, and submit your responses through the online portal. 

3. Join a listening session hosted by the Synod Office: There will be opportunities for people from North, West, South, and Townsville to come together in person or via Zoom. We will also host targeted sessions with specific groups whose voices we particularly need to hear from. 

As our week draws to a close, we acknowledge the solemnity of All Saints Day in our assembly. Historically, All Saints Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church annually on November 1st.  This day is dedicated to the saints of the church, that is, all those who have attained heaven and should not be confused with All Souls Day, which is observed on November 2nd and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven

Next week, across the College, we will be unpacking the annual Christmas appeal, and we hope that you can support this wonderful cause. 

In Hope,

Matt Tyrie
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION - MCC

CAREERS

 Celebrating Our Year 12 Students

We continue to be incredibly proud of our Year 12 students as they stay focused on exams and prepare for their exciting futures. Whether heading to university, a trade, a traineeship, employment, or taking a gap year, this is a time of significant growth and opportunity.

Congratulations to those who have already received job offers, traineeships, apprenticeships, and early conditional university offers. What a fantastic achievement!

Career Support for Year 12 Students – Final Term

As our Year 12 students approach the end of their school journey, anticipation and big decisions fill the air. While exams remain the priority, several support services are available to help students prepare for life beyond school.

Resume and Application Support

I'm available to assist students with resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interview preparation. Please reach out to book an appointment.

Careers Counselling

For students feeling uncertain or overwhelmed about their next steps, I offer one-on-one support to explore options, discuss pathways, and ease the transition from school to work or study.

Career Conversations with Families

Parents and caregivers are welcome to book a session, especially if your young person is still unsure about plans for 2026. These conversations can help explore ideas and build confidence together.

Supporting the Transition from School to Work

Parents and caregivers can help by:

• Assisting with resume updates and identifying suitable referees
• Exploring job boards such as Seek, Indeed, Jobs North Queensland, and Smart Jobs
• Following local job groups on social media
• Encouraging a positive online presence for future employers

Remember: it's okay not to have everything figured out. Career paths are rarely linear, and every experience helps shape the journey.

If your young person would like support planning their next steps, I'm here to help.

Release of Results

The QCAA will release final student results and Senior Education Profiles (SEP) on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. Students can access their results through their Learning Account in the Student Portal at myqce.qcaa.edu.qld.au. Students will need their Learner Unique Identifier (LUI) to access results.

ATAR Release

ATARs will be available via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) at www.qtac.edu.au/atar on Thursday, 18 December 2025. Students must sign up to QTAC's ATAR Portal to access their ATAR using their own name (as shown in their QCAA account), date of birth, LUI, and email address.

All ATAR students are strongly encouraged to share their ATAR with the College. If your child has not yet registered to receive their ATAR, please encourage them to do so immediately.

University Applications Still Open

Applications for university courses commencing in 2026 are still open. The deadline for the main offer round is Monday, 8 December 2025.

Here's to a productive and successful Term 4!

Kind regards
Helen Milton | Careers Advisor

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - PEDAGOGY AND LEARNING

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Staff,

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, our classrooms are alive with energy, focus, and the unmistakable sense of achievement that comes from a year of hard work and growth. Both teachers and students are giving their best effort to make the most of this important stage of learning, where so much progress takes place.

This year, a key focus of our Annual School Improvement Plan has been the improvement of literacy across all year levels. We have made significant progress through the purchase of new resources and the implementation of evidence-based pedagogies grounded in the Science of Reading and Learning. These approaches are already showing positive results in student engagement and achievement. We look forward to continuing this momentum into next year as we further embed these practices into everyday teaching and learning.

We also held our first assembly of the term under our new time slot of 2:15pm every fortnight. The change has been well received, with positive feedback from staff, parents, and students alike. It has provided a calm and cohesive way to end the week, and we’re eager to see how this new rhythm continues to support our community.

Behind the scenes, planning for 2026 is already well underway. This forward planning ensures we continue to provide the best possible learning opportunities and a rigorous, engaging curriculum for every learner. We have also begun meeting the newest faces of the Columba community who will be joining Prep in 2026. A number of transition activities are taking place this term to support a smooth and positive start to school life. This week, we held a Parent Information Night, and there are two more opportunities later in the term for our future Preps to visit the classroom, meet our staff, and begin forming meaningful relationships with their peers. These early connections play such an important role in helping our youngest learners feel confident and excited about starting school.

Teachers are currently preparing Semester Two Academic Reports, which provide information on each student’s application to learning and how they have achieved against the achievement standard of their year level for each learning area in Semester 2. Reports will be published to families on Thursday, 5 December — the final day of the school year.

As the end of term draws near, I’d like to thank our students for their enthusiasm and perseverance, our teachers for their dedication, and our families for their ongoing support. The final weeks of the school year are always filled with reflection, celebration, and anticipation for what’s ahead — and we look forward to finishing 2025 strong, together.

Brooke Stevenson
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PEDAGOGY AND LEARNING - SM CAMPUS

INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL MAKES A SPLASH!

Last Thursday, our college community came together for a fantastic Interhouse Swimming Carnival — held during one of the hottest days of the term! Despite the heat wave, the energy on the pool deck was electric, with students diving into each event with enthusiasm, courage, and true house spirit.

It was wonderful to see every student having a go, whether they were competing for points, challenging themselves in new events, or cheering loudly from the sidelines. The atmosphere was incredible—so much so that the chants from the pool could almost be heard back at the school (our Prep students certainly thought so!).

A highlight of the day was the number of students who nominated for at least one event, I think everyone gave at least 1 stroke a go! A special mention also goes out to the swimmers who participated in the 100m event, these longer-distance races can be daunting, especially in the heat, but the determination shown by our swimmers was nothing short of inspiring. Congratulations to all who gave it their best effort — you should be extremely proud!

This year we trialled parent nomination forms to streamline event entries. While there were a few small teething issues, we truly appreciate our families' patience, support, and willingness to try something new. Your cooperation helped make the day a success, and we look forward to refining the process even further next year.

From the first race to the final relay, our houses were on fire with cheering, sportsmanship, and team pride. Swimmers felt the support every time they dived into the pool, and it was clear that the strength of our community spirit is as strong as ever.

A huge thank you to all staff, parent volunteers, officials, and students who contributed to a memorable carnival. Again, I need to do a special shout out the following individuals because without them this carnival couldn’t have gone so smoothly – Tracy Maff from ATM Aquatics for providing us with the facilities and lifeguards, Melissa Wilson from CTASC for guiding me through my first carnival as convenor and leading the points recording, and Desiree Beatty for her expertise and guidance throughout the day. 

Days like these remind us that participation, encouragement, and house pride are what make our school community so special.

We can’t wait to see those swimmers who qualified for the Interschool swimming team take on the other schools in the next few weeks. Permission notes will be shared later this week. 

Results from the day:

Trophy Winners - Benjamin 

Girls Aggregate - Benjamin 

Boys Aggregate - Rice 

Relay Winners - Benjamin 

Staff vs Students Relay - Students

Age Champions

NEWS FROM YEAR 5

NEWS FROM YEAR 6

PRIMARY CLASS AWARDS

IN THIS EDITION OF SCHOOLTV - A SPECIAL REPORT: A Guide to Safe Partying

Teenage gatherings provide young people with important opportunities to interact and build on their social skills and experiences. Celebrations, partying and socialising are a fundamental rite of passage and one of the most important aspects of a young person’s life. However, it is possible for the best young person to get carried away by their peers and the euphoria of the moment.

For parents and caregivers, keeping your young person safe can at times feel daunting and is often a compromise and a challenge. Most teenagers try to do the right thing most of the time, but your leadership as a role model is crucial. Your child may appear to be physically large and mature, but this is not necessarily matched by their emotional maturity and responsibility in behaviour.

Every party has the potential to get out-of-hand as sometimes it’s hard for young party goers to make good decisions. Communication and regular discussions are vital, particularly because young people are often faced with peer pressure to do things they prefer not to engage in. Hosting a celebration at home or at a venue can be a fun and memorable event but it is important to agree on the ground rules well before your event is announced to ensure there are no misunderstandings later on.

If hosting an event, you owe your guests a ‘duty-of-care’ and should ensure all reasonable steps are taken to keep partygoers safe. This Special Report provides caregivers with a list of things to consider when planning a celebration. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:

https://columba.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-guide-safe-partying

Aleesha Watson
GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR | REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

DROP IN AFTER SCHOOL - PCYC

TMR FREE WORKSHOP