Columba - Summer 2021

COLUMBA S T C O L U M B A’ S C O L L E G E C OMMUN ITY MAG AZI N E

PA G E 4

Congratulations and farewell to the class of 2021.

PA G E 6

Developing and supporting future focussed skills.

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2021

P R I NCIPAL’S

WELCOME Another year marked by disruption and uncertainty which once again gave the indomitable spirit of the St Columba’s College community a chance to shine.

While there were certainly times during remote learning when spirits were flagging, the characteristics of endurance, perseverance and resilience were a hallmark of our lockdown experience. Very fitting expressions in a year where our celebrated Mary Aikenhead Ministries Value has been “Hope”.

This edition of the Columba Magazine captures College life in a semester where most of the learning and co-curricular experiences took place remotely. As you will see in these pages, the fact that students and staff were not onsite did not dampen the appetite for involvement, participation and learning. The creative energy to harness the power of technology to keep us connected to the activities that give life and energy was on full show for all to see and experience.

Despite the lockdown it is pleasing to see that many students will be eligible for their Connect, Engage and/or Learn Badges this year, as part of the Bronntanais O Dhia program. This is a testament to the spirit of endeavour, contribution and connection that is such a strong feature of our community. In particular, as you will read in these pages, the commitment to justice advocacy and action. The work that our staff and students do to raise their voices and commit their time in solidarity with those on the margins, continues to be a defining characteristic of this Catholic faith community.

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In all aspects of our learning and work together, St Columba’s continues to be a future-focussed community, while working to deliver the best programs and experiences for our students.

In the spirit of Faithful, Contemporary and Innovative, all staff members at the College work to ensure that learning is relevant for students and that the development of skills will provide a solid foundation for future learning in whatever field of study and work our students will choose into their futures.

As students slowly returned to full-time onsite learning during Term 4, it was not hard to be inspired and lifted by their joy of being physically connected in community once again. Their delight at being “back at school” was infectious, and the chatter and laughter of student voices filling the classrooms, corridors and school grounds was welcomed by all.

Great excitement and anticipation have coloured the planning of the 125-year celebrations in 2022. We look forward to acknowledging and commemorating the impact that this wonderful College, and the spirit and tradition of the Sisters of Charity, have had on generations of young women since 1897.

Ms Rita Grima St Columba’s College Principal

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1937 Commercial Class, Typewriting Room.

“ “ CONTENTS

Class of 2021 Graduation The future is STEAM Visual Arts College Reports Semester Snapshot College Leadership Team

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Alumnae Spotlight Our Community The Divine Dance and the College Captains Next Issue

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Cover Art by Shania Ambegoda, Year 12 03

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CLASS OF 2021!

After two years of being in and out of remote learning, we were pleased that restrictions eased enough to allow our seniors back onsite to share their final week together.

Our Year 12s took a trip down memory lane with letters from their year 7 selves, they signed each other’s graduation bears and shared breakfast. They wore their pyjamas, posed for countless photos and had a great deal of fun in the lead up to graduation day.

On Monday 18 October, St Columba’s College officially farewelled our Year 12 cohort with a full day graduation catering to small groups, followed a few weeks later by a community event at the Coburg Drivein cinema. The events held allowed the community to celebrate the class of 2021, in the best possible way.

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To add to the festivities for our Year 12s, on Thursday 28 October, the VCAL students gathered together to celebrate the end of their St Columba’s College VCAL journey, with a lunch and farewells under the front verandah of the historic Bruton Building.

The class of 2021 have proven to be a group of courageous and resilient young women, who despite two years of interruptions, remained positive throughout. We wish them all the best in their journeys beyond our College gates, and know that the experiences of the past two years have shaped them to be strong women ready to take on the world.

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AWARD RECIPIENTS

(Top left) Sisters of Charity Award for Service - Grace Saporito (Top middle) Board of Directors’ Young Woman of Influence Award - Bridget Kennedy (Top right) Mary Aikenhead Ministries award for Social Justice - Carla Perrone (Bottom left) VCE Leadership Award and the Melbourne University Principal’s Scholarship - Adele Roeder (Bottom right) Sisters of Charity Award for Learning - Jasmine Barrass

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“

To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science.

Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.

” LEONARDO DA VINCI

Da Vinci’s words are apt. We are in the midst of great industrial change; the students of today are preparing for careers and jobs that don’t yet exist. How do we support the next generation for work that we can’t see?

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) is a pedagogy that uses interdisciplinary learning areas to help students develop necessary cognitive skills such as creativity, critical thinking, decision making, and complex information processing. These skills are the foundation for an unknown future, where innovation and problem solving will lead the way. Building works at the College, over the coming years will reflect this interdisciplinary methodology, while providing spaces for the development of subject-specific knowledge and skills.

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HOW IS STEAM IMPLEMENTED AT S T C O L U M B A’ S C O L L E G E ?

St Columba’s College recognises the growing need for STEAM, and offers a variety of learning programs, co-curricular activities and partnerships, to support the learning and development of students and staff.

SUBJECT BASED OFFERINGS The College offers many opportunities for students to study subjects from the STEAM disciplines as well as providing links to the field through other learning areas. At Year 7, Design Code Create students explore digital citizenship and study how computers communicate through data encoding and binary systems. Critical and logical thinking skills are enhanced through various activities in order to prepare students for the coding component of the subject.

These skills can be transferred across subjects, such as Mathematics where coding is part of the curriculum.

Our Year 8 students study the interdisciplinary subject of Fiontar. Fiontar makes use of STEAM practices and pedagogy through various learning tasks centred on the three topics of Sustainability, Melbourne and STEAM. Their learning is scaffolded with the design thinking process and focuses on real life application, as well as the development of future focussed skills. The College STEAM lab is a highly resourced centre with a laser cutter, 3D printers, workshop tools and recycled materials so that students can make physical prototypes of their work. Students also have access to drones, Jimu and EV3 robots, and stand-alone virtual reality goggles which promote an active learning experience.

STEAM is offered as an elective for students in Years 9 and 10. Concepts from design thinking are further explored by studying the role it plays in structuring and promoting good innovation. Students discuss the key skills and mindsets of designers and innovators and study how these dispositions can be applied to real life problems and design. Concepts such as wearable technology, drones, Rube Goldberg machines and Aviation are taught at these year levels.

CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS The College offers many STEAM programs outside of the usual curriculum, such as Make it Monday, where students spend lunch times in the STEAM lab interacting with various resources to make products using the laser cutter and 3D printers. The STEAM lab has also supported the work of the Environment Captain this year implementing the design thinking process for the creation of the College’s vegetable garden design competition. While the Birdman Rally failed to run due to Covid this year, students were given the opportunity to participate in the Victorian Solar Car Challenge. Students participating in this attended weekly online meetings throughout term three and four and were guided through the construction of a model solar car.

PARTNERSHIPS The College has developed strong partnerships with various organisations to further enhance STEAM learning at the school. Currently the school is participating in the STEM Professional in Schools program which is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment and is delivered by the CSIRO. Mechanical Engineer, Ms Kelsey Rowe, has been matched to the College and has worked to increase the development of STEM skills, knowledge and confidence with both teachers and students. The partnership has continued during remote learning where she has been assisting students with the Victorian Model Solar Car Challenge.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is another College partner, who has assisted Year 10 PBL students, since 2019. Planning is currently underway to extend this partnership to other year levels in 2022. The aim of this project is to integrate hands-on learning with support from AWS into the Year 7, 8 and 9 curriculum to help students develop coding and cloud-based skills. During term four, the implementation of the Precious Plastics Program in collaboration with Monash University will begin. The College has recently purchased a plastic granulator, sheet press and plastic former to embark on this exciting program. The machines will broaden the scope of the curriculum and will allow for the creation of more interdisciplinary learning opportunities for students across learning areas, in the Arts, Science, Technology, Humanities, Fiontar as well as the Environment Group. The Precious Plastics Program will support the curriculum in sustainable education, raise awareness and allow for implementation of more sustainable practices across the College.

To ensure teachers are at the forefront of innovation in STEAM education, the College is working in partnership with MACS, Monash University, Brisbane Catholic Education and the University of Queensland on the ARC (Australian Research Council) Linkage Project. Participation in the project on ProblemBased Learning (PBL) will be the driving paradigm for multi-disciplinary STEAM learning at the College and involves staff across learning areas. There are three phases of action associated with this project which will span across 2021 - 2023. Phase one (2021) involves the development of an initial framework for PBL in educational practice.

Ms Melissa D’Amico, STEAM Leader 07

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Students have continued to flourish in Visual Arts. Despite the many and long lockdowns of 2021, our artists have innovated and created, using a variety of materials, techniques and technology to develop beautiful and inspiring pieces. Here is a selection of works from our Year 7 to 12 students.

To explore the extensive range of art produced by students across the College throughout the year, visit our 2021 art exhibition Déjà Vu at www.scconlinegallery.com

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(Left page) Mikaela Ellery, Year 10 (Top left) Angelina Mawn, Year 12 (Top right) Tiana Ciavarella, Year 7 (Bottom left) Velvet Muy, Year 8 (Bottom right) Maya Ibrahim, Year 9 (Middle right) Face Masks, Year 11 09

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COLLEGE REPORTS

Site of the new STEAM Building, at the corner of Lorraine and Buckley Streets.

Students participating in school-based sports teams earn points as part of the Bronntanais o Dhia program.

MASTER PLAN

B R O N N TA N A I S O D H I A

The purchase and subsequent clearing of 145 Buckley Street last year triggered a change to the original Master Plan and allowed the College to reconsider the construction of a new building on a larger parcel of land. The work on the Master Plan has continued through 2021, with stage A of the plan having been approved by the Board of Mary Aikenhead Education Limited and by the Trustees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries, after the recommendation from the College Board.

The Bronntanais o Dhia (meaning gifts from God) commendations program was launched this year. The program aims to extend opportunities for positive reinforcement of student achievement and behaviour, helping to build a holistic story of an individual student’s development. Students are encouraged to extend the pursuit of excellence into a wider range of fields that are classified into the three pillars of our Learning and Wellbeing Framework - Connect, Engage and Learn. These pursuits allow our talented students to demonstrate their many and varied skills.

This has been a very rigorous process, that has really supported the vision of this project. In addition, the College has been successful in receiving a Victorian Government capital grant to support the development of this significant infrastructure development. The College now moves to the next stage of the Master Plan – selecting a project manager and an architect to bring the new building to life. St Columba’s College looks forward to this new phase and development, and will continue to share the plans and works with the College community.

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Due to COVID-19, a number of our activities were not able to proceed, which impacted on our overall 2021 points. Despite this, a number of students have been successful in applying for their first embroidered badge for their blazer. These students are to be congratulated for their efforts and contributions to the College this year. We are excited to continue this program and the pursuit of achievement, for years to come.

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The 2022 Student Executive begin their leadership training.

Ms Suzanne Krajcer and Ms Mariya Saric team teaching in the VCAL room.

THE REVIEW OF STUDENT

LEARN INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL

LEADERSHIP A review of the Student Leadership Model was conducted in term one of this year. The review involved the collection of data from students, staff and parents via surveys, student forums and interviews.

A significant theme that arose during the review was that impactful student leadership opportunities should be available to all year levels, including Year 7s, and that the role of the House Representative should be expanded. As a result, a Student Engagement Team or SET will be introduced.

In 2022, we will also have House Representatives at each year level. These House Representatives will elect students from each year level to form the SET. The role of the House Representatives and the SET will be to amplify student voices and to work with staff to create a better school for all.

Next year, two additional roles will be established. The Peer Support Leader role will be offered to Year 10 students to support the transition of our incoming Year 7s and new students in Years 8 to 12. The other role to be introduced is the Student Wellbeing Action Team Captain, which will be open to a Year 12 student and will sit on the existing Student Executive.

All student leaders will be partnered with specific staff, who will support and mentor them in their leadership roles and journey at the College.

The Learn Instructional Model (LIM) was spearheaded by Head of Learning and Teaching, Greta Bajada, and provides a clear framework for teachers and students specifically to design and implement rich learning experiences across all learning areas. The LIM has been rolled out throughout the College during 2021.

The LIM has become a foundational reference for teachers in designing, reviewing and reimagining the way learning and teaching happens within and beyond the classroom. The LIM follows through six key elements: Activate, Explicit Instruction, Curious Application, Collaboration, Reflective Practice and Flourish.

Teachers use the LIM as a tool to be very explicit and intentional about their pedagogical approaches. Each element is ‘signposted’ within unit plans and used explicitly across the scope of a lesson or a range of lessons. Throughout the year, students have become more familiar with the elements of the LIM and use language of the model to describe their learning.

This allows students to have a greater understanding of their teachers thought processes and become more active learners.

The LIM has also become pivotal to the professional development cycle. A key feature of the LIM is coaching conversations, which involve Instructional Leaders working with teachers in conversation and classroom visits to observe aspects of the model within classes and provide support where needed.

The implementation of the LIM during 2021 has been a positive one. The model has shown to be effective even in a remote learning setting. Both students and teachers have taken to the elements, language and structure of the model successfully. The LIM will continue to be realised throughout 2022 and beyond.

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In the Live FM recording studio, putting together Columba Live.

The Tunnels of Love’ winner of two MACS STEM MAD showcase awards.

HOUSE FEAST DAYS Despite the lockdown our de Lacy House and O’Brien Feast Days were still celebrated. The Houses hosted remote liturgies, and held competitions to dress up themselves, or even their pets. Students didn’t let their remoteness get in the way of acknowledging their House patrons and joining together as a community.

(Left) Grace, Year 12, getting in the O’Brien orange spirit.

(Right) Even pets celebrated de Lacy’s feast day.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING In Year 10, our students don’t undergo the traditional work experience program. Instead, they participate in Project Based Learning (PBL) with industry partners such as Amazon, Zoos Victoria, St Vincent’s Hospital, Akorn Educational Services, Moonee Valley Council, Making Media and Live FM, where they aim to solve real problems using design thinking. In a PBL first, the students presented their ideas, findings and recommendations in radio segments that were broadcast live on Friday 3 September. They had 400 listeners on the day, and further 450 listening to the podcast since.

Projects from PBL were subsequently entered into the MACS STEM MAD Showcase in October, resulting in three awards for St Columba’s students: - MACS Award for Wellbeing for the Helping Hand Bot produced by the Technologists cluster working with Amazon.

- National Gallery of Victoria Award for Artful Ingenuity, for The Tunnels of Love produced by the Informers cluster working with St Vincent’s Hospital.

- MACS Executive Director’s Award for Demonstrating the Catholic Ethos, for The Tunnels of Love produced by the Informers cluster working with St Vincent’s Hospital.

Well done to all involved in PBL Week and a big congratulations to our MACS STEM MAD showcase award winners.

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HARVEST Earlier this year Environment Captain, Adele Roeder, along with the Environment Group decided to take over a few of the garden-beds at the College and transform them into veggie patches. Starting with a design competition and conversations with the College Business Manager and Gardner, the garden beds were then transformed with the help of staff and students. In the last week of Term 3, the garden was flourishing and the first harvest took place. Some produce was left for staff members to enjoy, and the rest was distributed to people in the local neighbourhood.

The garden has been a great success, and we will enjoy many more harvests to come.

(Right) A successful first harvest for the STC veggie patch.

PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY In June, Year 7 student, Tiana Ciavarella, was the lucky participant in the Principal for a Day program and in November Madison Camburn, Year 9, had her turn. Tiana and Madison spent their day shadowing College Principal, Ms Rita Grima, where they learnt just what it takes to be the head of a school the size of St Columba’s College. With many meetings held, school walk throughs, yummy lunches and a chance to share their own ideas, both students were able to witness just how much goes on behind the scenes, and how staff work collaboratively to ensure that each student is able to thrive in their learning environment.

(Left) Tiana, Year 7, with Principal, Rita Grima. (Right) Madison joined Principal, Rita Grima, for a remote meeting.

RUOK

WEAR IT PURPLE

In the week leading up to this year’s RUOK? Day, the College’s Student Wellbeing Action Team (SWAT), set daily activity challenges for students as a way to promote prioritising wellbeing. On RUOK? Day, Bridget Kennedy, Social Justice Co-Captain, took over the College’s social media to share information regarding mental health, ideas and suggestions to help reach out to friends and encourage staff and students to acknowledge the day by wearing yellow. The College’s social media stories were a sea of yellow, as the community rallied together to promote wellbeing and mental health.

Wear it Purple Day aims to raise awareness and provide opportunities for youth organisations and schools to develop inclusive environments and experiences for rainbow young people. Florence Cooper, Liturgy Co-Captain, spearheaded the day for the College through our social media channels. She shared critical information and statistics regarding rainbow youth and led by example wearing purple for the day. Staff and students alike joined the cause and our social stories were turned purple.

(Above) From nail art to yoga, a week of remote challenges set by SWAT.

(Above) Students support Wear it Purple on their daily walk.

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RECONCILIATION DAY At the end of May, the St Columba’s College community acknowledged National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. The Social Justice Co-Captains and Indigenous Perspectives group organised activities for the week. Although restrictions impacted these activities, the group was able to lead a liturgy in the chapel and encourage students and staff to sign their name on a banner signalling their commitment to a future based on respect, recognition and reconciliation.

(Left) Bridget and Carla, Social Justice Co-Captains, showing the signed Reconciliation banner.

THE GREAT BOOK SWAP Year 10 PreCal literacy students, in association with Sophia Library staff, held a Great Book Swap event on June 16 and 17 to raise much-needed funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. The foundation provides literacy education and resources to over 400 remote communities around Australia. The event was a great success with many students and staff participating, making it possible to reach our goal of raising more than $500. We are so grateful to everyone who donated their time, money and books, to make the event such a success.

(Right) Students and staff looking for the perfect read at The Great Book Swap.

CHARITY RUN – MARIBYRNONG 150 On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October, many of our staff and students joined in the 40th anniversary charity run, alongside their St Bernard’s College counterparts.

The runners completed more than 700kms combined, with the St Columba’s College community raising more than $2700 funds for this year’s charity partner, the Brother Beausong Catholic Education Centre in Kenya.

Congratulations to all involved.

(Left) Year 12 Charity Run participants.

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COLLEGE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Ms Rita Grima Principal

Ms Brigitte McDonald Deputy Principal

Ms Renee Fleeton Head of Faith and Mission

Mrs Nakkita Egan Head of Students

Ms Greta Bajada Head of Teaching and Learning

Mr Frank Bonavia Head of College Operations and Compliance

Mr Malcolm Finger Business Manager

Greg Bertuna Head of Human Resources

P R I N C I PA L’ S R E A D I N G CHALLENGE This year the Library staff launched the Principal’s Reading Challenge. Designed to be flexible and interesting for students, the Challenge encouraged participants to select a particular category from which to read. The categories focused on the Library’s fiction collection and its genres.

These included Realistic Rockstar, Other Realities Aficionado and Graphic Novel Guru. For students who preferred a more varied challenge, a Reading Bingo category was also an option. Eighty-four students signed up to take part! It was wonderful to see so many students interested in the challenge and genuinely enjoying working their way through the categories they selected.

The winners of the inaugural Principal’s Reading Challenge are de Lacy House!

Congratulations to de Lacy House students: Ava Curran, Isabella Curran, Arshpreet Kaur, Aiza Nasir, Kiran Nasir and Reyziah Pama, for completing the inaugural Principal’s Reading Challenge.

(Above) Students reading in the Sophia Library.

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S P O T LIGHT

To share your news with the community get in touch with us via email.

E alumnae@columba.vic.edu.au We would love to hear from you.

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COMM UN IT Y

Year 12 students enjoying the PEC supplied cupcakes, to celebrate the completion of their English exam.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

125 YEARS OF STC 2022 marks 125 years of St Columba’s College, making us one of the oldest schools in Melbourne. We have a variety of events planned throughout the year, which will engage our students, staff, families and Alumnae.

Thank you to the Parent Engagement Committee for their continued support of the St Columba’s College community. The year started off strongly with wonderful events and connections with many families. While restrictions meant that additional events could not take place, the PEC have continued to work behind the scenes preparing for 2022.

We invite Alumnae to join us in celebrating. More information will be made available soon. We also invite Alumnae, who are interested in providing practical support for the various events planned, to please email Brigitte McDonald, Deputy Principal, at mcdonaldb@columba.vic.edu.au

If you are interested in joining or working with the PEC, please email parents@columba.vic.edu.au

YEAR 7 2024 COLLEGE TOURS Our 2022 College tour dates have now been released.

Visit columba.vic.edu.au/college-tours to book your onsite tour and meet our College Principal, Ms Rita Grima.

SAVE THE DATE – 2022 EVENTS Opening school mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral – 17 February International Women’s Day Breakfast – 8 March Intergenerational Photos – 16 March St Columba’s Day Celebrations – 16 June Gala Dinner – 2 September Art Exhibition – 24 November

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In 2019, the College commissioned g l a s s a r t i s t , M i c h a e l H o o k , t o c a p t u re the qualities that identify us as a Mary Aikenhead Ministries School in the t r a d i t i o n o f t h e S i s t e r s o f C h a r i t y. T h e Divine Dance was born and consists o f t h re e p i e c e s , o n e a l a rg e b o w l o f g l a s s f l a m e s t h a t w e i n t ro d u c e d t o t h e c o m m u n i t y l a s t y e a r. T h e o t h e r s , t w o t o rc h e s o f c o m p l i m e n t i n g g l a s s f l a m e s , w h i c h w e u n v e i l t o y o u t h i s y e a r.

The Divine Dance acts as a constant reminder of the Holy Spirit that inspires the light that we are all expected to be. The different flames, all colours, shapes and sizes, represent a celebration of our diversity and the different gifts we all bring. The flames also challenge our school leaders as role models walking in the Footsteps of Mary Aikenhead, and as such, at each assembly our College leaders will carry the light in for us.

We introduce you to our 2022 College Co-Captains, Adriana Cilia and Annalise Ferbrache, who have shown exemplary College spirit and great resilience and determination to lead their peers, and who will be the first to carry the light. We look forward to this being a tradition in the making.

(Left) Adriana Cilia and Annalise Ferbrache, 2022 College Co-Captains, with the Divine Dance.

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IS SU E

STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE: CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF ST COLUMBA’S COLLEGE

C O N TA C T U S St Columba’s College

T 03 9337 5311

2 Leslie Road (PO Box 89)

columba.vic.edu.au

Essendon VIC 3040 Enrolment Enquiries General Enquiries Community News

E registrar@columba.vic.edu.au E principal@columba.vic.edu.au E alumnae@columba.vic.edu.au

UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF MARY AIKENHEAD MINISTRIES IN THE TRADITION OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY Proudly printed on post-consumer recycled paper to uphold the environmental values of St Columba’s College. Print edition summer 2021.

(Top) Bruton Building

C O L U M B A .V I C . E D U . A U

S T COL UMB A’S COL L E G E COMMUN ITY MAG AZIN E

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