IONA 3

A Focus on Learning

It has been a focussed and engaged start to the year. As I wander around the College, visit classrooms and speak with teachers and students I see and hear the essence of what makes for a focussed learning environment – engaging lessons, attentive students, a commitment to doing our best work. An orderly learning environment ensures that students have the opportunity to be fully focussed on being the best student they can be. Our Learning Instruction Model and our Wellbeing Framework, together with the Learning Dispositions, provide the high-level structure for both productive learning and exemplary teaching. Congratulations to all for a great start to the 2025 school year.

SEQTA Engage

I encourage all parents to ensure they have set up their SEQTA Engage accounts. This is our primary tool for communication with families. It provides a wealth of information about your child’s learning programs and progress. You can also directly communicate with teachers through the portal. Student Notices provide a snapshot of the co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities on offer at the College. Your child’s timetable is accessible via the portal, as well as upcoming assessments, and assessment results. Courses are available to view, planned within the Learn Instructional Model, which provide an opportunity for you to talk to your child about their learning. Our teachers are committed to ensuring the learning is visible to students, via the SEQTA portal, so that they can navigate their own learning pathway. Our staff at Front Reception can support you to set up your SEQTA Engage Portal if you have not already done so.

First Week of Term Two

A reminder to all families that the first week of term two, from Monday April 21 to Friday April 25 is a student free week. Both Monday and Friday are public holidays. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday all College staff will be involved in various professional learning programs. We look forward to three days of great learning, as we ensure our skills remain relevant and focussed on delivering quality, up-to-date learning experiences for all our students. Our staff members, as well as being dedicated professionals, are committed learners.

Trustees Blessing on the Opening of the Foxford Innovation Centre

Students and staff are loving the new learning spaces and the engagement with new curriculum offerings. The aromas wafting from the Food Technology spaces are mouth-watering, setting tummies rumbling. This blessing was offered by Deirdre O’Donnell on behalf of the Trustees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries at the opening of the new facility. Deirdre is a College Alumna, was the former St Columba’s College Board chair, and is now a Trustee of Mary Aikenhead Ministries.

We gather in gratitude as we open this place of learning, inspired by the mission and values of Mary Aikenhead Ministries and the spirit of the pioneering Sisters of Charity’s mission in Foxford, Ireland – where faith, service and education were woven together to uplift and empower generations for over 130 years.

May this building, named in honour of this heritage, be the same for this community and for generations to come.

May it be a place of wisdom and compassion, where knowledge is shared and hearts are formed in justice and love.

May it reflect the courage, vision and dedication of those who have gone before us, especially the Sisters of Charity, who responded to the needs of their times with faith and action.

Bless all who enter here – students, teachers and members of the College community.

May they grow in understanding, integrity and a deep commitment to serving others, especially those most in need.

May this space be filled with respect, curiosity, and a passion for truth, so that all those who learn here may go forth to create a more just and compassionate world.

Catholic Education Week Prayer 2025

Loving God,
You call us to arise and shine, for Your light has come.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we give thanks for the gift of Catholic education—
for 128 years, St Columba’s College has been a beacon of faith, learning, and service.

Fill our hearts with hope, that we may walk boldly as Pilgrims of Hope,
inspiring others with the light of Christ.
May we honour our rich heritage, embrace the present with faith,
and build a future where Your love shines in all we do.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Working with Children Check (WWCC)

The College values parent/carer involvement in College activities eg Mock Interviews. To participate, you must have a current WWCC. When applying for a WWCC, can you please choose “Volunteer”. Many parents/carers are selecting “Employee” when completing their application. An employee WWCC includes a fee of $131.60 while there is no charge for a volunteer WWCC. The employee check covers persons who are paid for child-related work, so only staff who are employed by the College should be applying for an employee WWCC. As a parent/carer, the next time you need to renew your WWCC for College related activities, please select “Volunteer”. When applying or renewing we ask parents/carers not to nominate “St Columba’s College” in the “Organisation Details” section for non-College related activities, either paid or unpaid.

International Women’s Day 

Jemma M (College Captain)

On 12 March, we had the privilege of attending the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools International Women’s Day Breakfast at Parliament House, held in the beautiful Queens Hall. The room was filled with tables set with a delicious breakfast, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the event. Upon arrival, we discovered that we were split across different tables, giving us the opportunity to meet and connect with student leaders from other schools. Through icebreaker activities and conversations, we formed new connections and shared our leadership experiences. It was really nice being able to learn about the other Girls’ schools in our cities and connect with other student leaders in year 12.  A highlight of the morning was hearing from Jess Wilson MP and Georgie Crozier MP, who spoke about their roles in Parliament and shared valuable insights into leadership and advocacy. During the Q&A session, we had the chance to ask them questions, gaining further understanding of the challenges and responsibilities involved in political leadership.

After hearing Georgia and Jess’s incredible insights, we were given a sheet outlining key focus areas for change:

1. Clothing and essentials for women in crisis
2. Environmental action and fast fashion awareness
3. Food insecurity and waste shortage
4. Advocating for better consent and sexual health education

In our table groups, we discussed and ranked these issues based on their significance and brainstormed possible solutions that could be implemented within our respective schools. It was inspiring to collaborate with other young leaders and explore tangible ways to drive meaningful change in our communities. Overall, the experience was both insightful and empowering, leaving us with new perspectives, connections, and a renewed motivation to advocate for important social issues.

​​Not only did we celebrate this incredible day alongside fellow leaders, but we also held our own special STC community celebrations. During our International Women’s Day assembly, we were honored to welcome two inspiring alumni who shared their experiences and insights on the theme of ‘accelerating action’ toward gender equality in the workforce.

Monica Ireland, producer of Friday Night Footy, Super Saturday, and Midweek Tackle, gave us a firsthand look at what it means to be a woman in the male-dominated field of AFL. She reminded us that life is about embracing every opportunity, no matter how daunting, and that it’s okay not to have everything figured out—as long as we approach each challenge with passion and determination.

Our second guest, Marcelle Mogg, former CEO of Mental Health Victoria and a leader in the healthcare sector, shared her empowering motto: “Don’t wait for a voice—take your voice.” She encouraged us to have confidence in our abilities and to advocate for ourselves and others.

We embarked on a special House activity at lunch, our ‘walk for women’ !! Despite some friendly House Colour competition, It was amazing to see all the girls participating and helping to make the day one of solidarity and unity. 

We are so grateful to have such inspiring figures in our school community and thank everyone who joined us in this important conversation about women’s equality. Together, we can continue to change and create a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.

As technology continues to play a big part in our children’s lives, it’s important to consider how it impacts their wellbeing—especially at night. Safe on Social has published a valuable article addressing whether devices should be allowed in your child’s bedroom overnight.

The article explores the potential effects on sleep, mental health, and overall wellbeing, while also providing practical advice for parents on setting healthy boundaries.

We encourage all parents to take a moment to read this insightful piece. You can find it here: Should Devices Be In Your Kid’s Bedroom At Night?

Anxious Generation Guide: Practical Tools for Parents and Educators

Supporting children’s mental health is more important than ever. Our Principal Rita Grima has shared previously about the learnings from Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation”. 

Dr. Becky Kennedy at Good Inside has put together an “Anxious Generation Guide: Practical Tools for Parents and Educators”.

This guide offers clear, practical advice for understanding and supporting children dealing with anxiety. Whether you’re looking to build emotional resilience at home or partner with educators to create supportive environments, this guide provides helpful insights and tools you can start using right away.

Here is a snippet of the wise words from the Guide:

“As Jonathan Haidt writes in The Anxious Generation, we are underprotecting our kids online and overprotecting our kids in the real world. In other words: our kids need more protection online (hence our focus right here, in this guide, on boundaries!) and our kids need more freedom in the real world. After all, a key protective factor for kids – and a factor that counteracts anxiety – is feeling competent and capable. And competence is only developed as kids watch themselves navigate challenges, struggle, try things on their own, and eventually figure things out. In fact, when we “rescue” our kids by stepping in too fast and doing things for them that they can do for themselves, we end up building our child’s anxiety and fragility, because our kids never experience themselves as capable of coping and getting through tricky experiences. Think about it this way: the world is full of bumps and twists. If, during childhood, we are constantly “smoothing” over the road for our kid, then we actually make our kid more fearful of the natural ups and downs of life. Does this mean we should just release our kids into the wild without any oversight? Of course not. There’s always a better answer than two extremes. It does mean we need to let our kids figure things out, let our kids struggle, let our kids take manageable risks, let our kids have more freedom, and let our kids experience hard moments – because this is the only way our kids can discover their internal competence and capability. We want to prepare our kids for the road, not the road for our kids.”

We encourage all parents to read the guide by clicking here and entering your email address. 

Our Year 9 Journalism students are teaming up with LIVE FM to bring you a live radio show at Highpoint Shopping Centre on March 25th from 10AM – 2PM!

We’ll be interviewing guests from the local community – feel free to come on down and support the students, it will be a fantastic day!

Over the next few weeks, the College’s Performing Arts Department will be highlighting the breadth of experience and talent of our instrumental music staff. This week, we showcase our Music Program Leader and piano specialist, Ms Pei Sun Lai and Percussions specialist, Mr Ben ‘Bing’ Ingvarson-Favretto.

Ms Pei Sun Lai
Originally from Malaysia, Ms Pei Sun Lai moved to Melbourne to study Bachelor of Music (Pianoforte), Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Master of Education at the University of Melbourne. She is currently a Music Programs Leader who teaches classroom music from Year 7 to VCE. Ms Lai also teaches piano and upper Strings at the College. Furthermore, she enjoys co-directing the Senior Concert Band and accompanying Junior Choir rehearsals on a weekly basis. She has performed piano in many school-produced Musicals including Crazy for You, Anything Goes, Singing in the Rain, Legally Blonde, High School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Strictly Ballroom and Chicago.

Mr Ben ‘Bing’ Ingvarson-Favretto
Mr Bing is constantly and passionately involved with anything music. Since his studies at Monash University (BMus 2021) and University of Melbourne (BMus Hon 2023), Bing has toured internationally with acts such as Ivoris, BABBA, Theatre Collectives, and more. He has also performed in professional musicals Bran Nue Dae, The Wedding Singer, &Juliet, as well as countless community and independent theatre companies. Bing currently records professionally from his home studio and regularly gigs around Australia with independent artists, bands, musicals, and collectives of all genres.

Want to take your skills to the next level? Sign up now for Term 2 private lessons. Fill in an Enrolment Form and Direct Debit Form today and return them to performingarts@columba.vic.edu.au

St Columba’s College is calling on Parents, Friends and Alumnae Professionals to interview and provide feedback to our Year 9 Students as part of our Pathways Program

• Monday 30th June
• Tuesday 1st July
• Wednesday 2nd July

5.30pm to 8.30pm

Location: St. Columba’s College

Both the Interviewer (Parent/Friend/Alumnae) and the Interviewee (Student) will be onsite, face to face.

A current Working with Children Check is compulsory. 

If you do not have a Volunteer WWCC, apply for free, via the following link: https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children

If you are interested in participating in this valuable program, please complete the questionnaire using the following link  by Friday 23rd May indicating your availability: https://forms.gle/LY6UQ6h9Ck3MDYsT6

Should you have any questions about the 2025 Year 9 Mock Interview Program, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Rosalba D’Astoli, Pathways Leader via the Front Office on 9337 5311  or send an email to dastoliiannuzzir@columba.vic.edu.au

Introduce yourself! What is your role at the College?

Hi, my name is Ms Michelle Potter and I am the new College Nurse here at St Columba’s College. I have been a Registered Nurse for over 20 years, with the last 4 years within a school setting. I am here to support your daughters with all their healthcare needs and will work closely with our wellbeing team to provide a caring and supportive environment to all students. I see my role as a partnership with parents/guardians to achieve the best health outcomes for all students. Communication is a key area to achieving this for all parties involved.

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day?

In my spare time I am a busy mum of 2. I enjoy spending time watching them play out their passions in AFL football and basketball. I also enjoy unwinding down by the beach in Ocean Grove. 

If you could bring any fictional character to school for a day, who would it be and why?

I would love to have strawberry shortcake come to school as I love pink and think she smells beautiful. 

What is your favourite feel-good song when you need a pick-me-up?

Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay.

Families are encouraged to attend the ANZAC service, held at the Cenotaph in Queen’s Park at 3:00 pm on Sunday, 13 April, hosted by Moonee Valley City Council.  Following the service, light refreshments will be held in the Council Chambers.

Additionally, the Essendon RSL will host the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at 6:00 am on Friday, 25 April at Windy Hill, Essendon, followed by a breakfast available for a small donation.

The Sophia Library will be open during the school holidays at the following times:

Monday 7th April – Friday 11th April – 10am – 3pm

Monday 14th April – Wednesday 16th April 10am – 3pm

Your child climbs into the car after school, and you eagerly ask about their day. You’re genuinely excited to see them. The response? A mumbled “fine”… and that’s it.

Whether you’re facing a tight-lipped five-year-old who’s suddenly turned into a mime artist or a teenager who communicates exclusively in shoulder shrugs, cracking the code of kid communication can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark.

But here’s a ray of hope: research from the Harvard Family Research Project reveals that persisting with open dialogue doesn’t just improve today’s family dynamic—it weaves stronger decision-making abilities into your children’s future and creates family bonds that can weather any storm.

In short, it’s worth the effort to make conversations happen. If you pause and think about it, though, you’ll find that they usually do happen. Often more than we realize.

Understanding the Science Behind the Silence

While teenagers often cop the blame for becoming human clams, the truth is that children of all ages surf waves of uncommunicativeness.

• Our littlies might be wrestling with emotions bigger than their vocabulary can handle.
• Or they’re tired and don’t want to talk.
• Primary schoolers often retreat into quiet harbours when navigating the choppy waters of friendship dramas or classroom challenges.

For teenagers, there’s fascinating brain science at play. The adolescent brain undergoes a dramatic renovation project—imagine trying to have a quiet chat while major construction work is happening upstairs. Their emotional responses are cranked up to eleven, while their ability to regulate these feelings is still very much a work in progress.

The truth is, we often don’t feel like talking either. When you walk into the house at the end of the day and your spouse or partner expectantly encourages you to “tell me about your day,” do you open up and spill it all?

If you’re like most of us, you want to get in the door, get settled, and tick off a few things like dinner, washing, and getting kids to bed. And you’re about ready to talk when you’re lying horizontally in bed.

Making Connection Easier: Practical Strategies That Work

The good news? There are tried-and-true ways to pierce this bubble of silence, no matter your child’s age—or no matter how you’re feeling.

Create “Side-by-Side” Moments

Magic often happens when you’re not eyeball-to-eyeball. For younger children, it might be while their hands are busy with Lego or when they’re elbow-deep in craft glue. With older kids and teens, car rides become confession booths on wheels, and dog walks transform into walking talk sessions.

These moments, free from the spotlight of direct eye contact, often unlock the floodgates of conversation.

Master the Art of Active Listening

When your child does crack open the door to communication, resist the urge to burst through with solutions or life lessons. Instead, become their emotional echo:

• “That sounds really rough”
• “I can hear how excited you are about this.”

This approach works whether you’re validating a preschooler’s theatrical meltdown over the wrong-colored cup or a teenager’s complex social algebra.

For younger children, physically coming down to their level can help them feel seen and heard. With teens, acknowledge their growing independence by treating them as the experts of their own experience—at least initially.

Make One-on-One Time Sacred

In the whirlwind of modern family life, individual connection time often gets sacrificed on the altar of busy schedules. But carving out regular one-on-one time—even just 10 precious minutes—can work magic.

• For little ones, it might be bedtime stories where you do all the silly voices or morning cuddles that start the day with connection.
• With older children, it could be a weekly hot chocolate date or shooting hoops in the driveway as the sun sets.

The Secret Ingredient? Your undivided attention. Yes, that means letting your phone gather dust for a few minutes. This dedicated time whispers a powerful message: “In this crazy-busy world, you’re worth pausing for.”

Remember:

Nurturing open communication isn’t about forcing conversations or expecting overnight miracles. It’s about creating little pockets of safety where sharing feels as natural as breathing—whether your child is four or fourteen.

Plant these seeds of connection consistently, water them with patience, and watch as they grow into something beautiful—a relationship that can withstand any season.

Congratulations to Isabella R (WMSS3) and Sienna C (DLYS1) on having their outstanding artwork selected for the prestigious Catholic Education Week Creative Arts Exhibition. This recognition celebrates their exceptional talent and creativity, alongside other students from Catholic primary and secondary schools across Melbourne.

Their artwork is currently on display at the Catholic Leadership Centre, located at 576 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, and will be available for viewing until Saturday, 22nd March.

On Thursday 13th March the VCE Unit 1 Systems Engineering students visited Puffing Billy in Belgrave to get a hands-on learning experience about railway mechanical systems. Students were given a guided tour of the Puffing Billy workshop where the steam trains that run as part of the Puffing Billy services are maintained. An experienced Mechanical Engineer gave the students an insight into how the steam trains are maintained and how components are engineered. He also gave students a valuable insight into the different careers Mechanical Engineers can have and the types of specialisations available. 

The students then hopped aboard Puffing Billy and rode the historic steam train in their own carriage to the Lakeside station. At Lakeside station the students were given a tour of the newly constructed information centre, where they learned about the history of the railway.

After a return trip back to Belgrave via Steam Train it was time to head back to Essendon via electric train.

Thursday 20 March – Athletics Carnival

Thursday 3 April – Last day of classes for Students

Friday 4 April – Parent Teacher Interviews