Semester Snapshot

(Above) Auxiliary Bishop Terry Cullen celebrates the St Columba’s College Opening Eucharist.

COLLEGE OPENING EUCHARIST

This year’s College Opening Eucharist was a special event for the St Columba’s College community. On the 11th March, we gathered together as a community in one space, it was the first time we were able to do this in more than a year. Lead by Auxiliary Bishop Terry Curtin, we reflected on all that we had endured in 2020 and welcomed the beginning of new year, with particular focus on our timely College theme of Hope.

CELEBRATING 200 YEARS

This year across Australia, we celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education. On Monday 24 May, masses were held nationally on the Feast of our Lady of Help of Christians, as part of celebrations. A group of student representatives, along with Principal, Ms Rita Grima and Head of Faith and Mission, Ms Renee Fleeton, headed to St Patrick’s Cathedral, joining representatives from schools across Melbourne, to attend the mass. Celebrations will continue throughout the year. Visit 200years.catholic.edu.au for more information.

(Right) St Columba’s College students attend mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

INTERFAITH

St Columba’s College promotes the learning, understanding and collaboration with people of different faiths. Each year we hold our Interfaith Dialogue Day, which brings together our students and the students from Illim College, to explore faith, womanhood and friendship. Our Year 12 Text and Traditions class, visited Melbourne’s oldest Synagogue, East Melbourne Shule, and spent an afternoon in conversation with Rabbi Dovid Gutnick learning about history, Patriarchs, Prophets, beliefs and rituals. These experiences help us to promote our Mary Aikenhead Ministries’ values of love, compassion, justice and hope.

(Above) Students from Illim College and St Columba’s College. (Right) Students visit East Melbourne Hebrew Shule.

ANZAC DAY

This year we honoured Anzac Day as part of a whole school assembly and wreath laying ceremony. Our youngest and eldest student, joined our longest serving and newest appointed teacher to lay wreaths at the foot of the College flag poles, while the ceremony was live streamed to staff and students in the Multipurpose Centre. Anzac Day would not be complete without a biscuit, and our VCAL students ensured that we were treated with freshly baked Anzac biscuits at lunchtime, as part of the day’s activities.

(Left) VCAL students get ready to sell Anzac biscuits.

MOTHER’S DAY HIGH TEA

The College warmly welcomed mothers, special women and daughters to Gayip Biik on Saturday 8th May, to honour Mother’s Day. With a lovely and delicious high tea served, a beautiful liturgy, and a few fun games with prizes, the afternoon was a wonderful way to celebrate the amazing mothers and mother figures in our community.

(Above) Year 12 student Annalise, with her mother, Nat and grandmother, Marilyn.

BAHAY TULUYAN

This year’s Bahay Tuluyan bike riders were blessed with incredible weather for the yearly fundraising ride to Williamstown. The day was especially great, after its cancellation in 2020. Over 30 staff and students rode the 40km round trip to Williamstown. After a stop for lunch by the water, the trip home was a little slower but our riders were proud with their accomplishment. The day raised necessary funds for Bahay Tuluyan, a Filipino based charity, and raised the spirits of the St Columba’s College community.

SEMESTER snapshot

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY PANEL

International Women’s Day, is always acknowledged at St Columba’s College, and this year we decided to do things a little differently. With the theme ‘Women in Leadership’, the Year 12 VCAL students hosted a panel of guest speakers for the Year 10 cohort, who are in the midst of exploring their pathways. Bianca and Bridget Roccisano, of Bianca and Bridget Clothing and Boobie Tape, Emily Lucin, of Napoleon Swimwear, and Gabriella Roccuzzo, of salon Gabrielle, spoke to students of their journeys and their experiences of being female entrepreneurs. The event was hugely successful, with fantastic attendance and great insights shared to our students. A wonderful way to promote successful women on International Women’s Day.

(Right) Panel of speakers present to Year 10 students.

(Above) Alysha Lowrie, Ms Rita Grima and Grace Saporito

(Right) (L–R) Allanah Hessey, Sarah Pamment, Carla Perrone, Adele Roeder, Florence Cooper, Bridget Kennedy and Catherine Nicolaci.

STUDENT EXECUTIVE

With student led assemblies, new initiatives, fundraising efforts, and the general work of being in Year 12, the Student Executive, including our House Captains (page 11) have had a busy start to the year. Introducing the Student Leadership team for 2021:

College Co-Captains: Alysha Lowrie and Grace Saporito Arts Captain: Allanah Hessey Environment Captain: Adele Roeder Liturgy Co-Captains: Florence Cooper and Catherine Nicolaci Social Justice Co-Captains: Bridget Kennedy and Carla Perrone Sports Captain: Sarah Pamment