St Columba's has served the Elwood and St Kilda communities since the school was opened in 1918 by the Presentation sisters. St Columba's has always seen itself as a vital and vibrant part of the community around it. The school has seen many changes in demographics and has responded accordingly to the needs of the community.
Vision and Values
Our History
Our Values
Our motto, 'The little school with a big heart' represents St Columba's unique culture of care, empathy and respect for diversity. This emanates from parish life and our unique association with Sacred Heart Mission, which embody these core values as their central tenets.
Our Mission
As a Catholic school, we are called to act with compassion and empathy, to respect and care for our world and for the most vulnerable and to promote inclusion and provide community.
It is the village feel that captures the hearts of those who choose to enrol their children into St Columba's. The warmth and genuine nurturing environment that they see and feel as they enter permeates throughout the school and well into our community.
Our Vision
Now as we enter this next chapter of our school's history we see ourselves as a school for the future:
- A school that has a rich, relevant and engaging approach to learning and teaching while maintaining its tradition of care and wellbeing.
- A school where children truly flourish both academically and socially emotionally.
- A school that works together with its community as partners in education.
- A school where the 21st century is seen as an exciting new frontier where opportunities abound for each child in our care.
- A school that leads the way with sustainable practices and actions.
- A school that keeps at its heart the foundational tenets that it and the parish has been built upon respect, community, inclusion, care for our world and for the most vulnerable.
- A school that clearly sets its sights on providing learning that is engaging, rigorous, purposeful and meets the needs of learning for the future.
- A school that understands its place within the bigger global context and acknowledges and accepts the responsibility and challenges that come with this.
Our history is very much a part of who we are today and as we move forward we will strive to honour our past whilst embracing the challenge and excitement that 'St Columba's- a school for the future', promises our community.
Strategic Plan
Aligned with The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools' 2030 strategy, this plan marks a significant leap forward, drawing from our past successes while laying the foundation for an exciting future.
Our strategic directions revolve around three core pillars:
A Visionary Educational Framework: Tailored for the demands of 2023 and beyond.
The Globally Recognised IB PYP Program: Ensuring excellence in academics.
A Culturally Diverse and Caring Community: Fostering empathy, respect, and inclusivity.
Our commitment spans across various dimensions:
Learning and Teaching: Delivering an inspiring, inclusive, and rigorous learning experience.
Wellbeing: Cultivating a culture of inclusivity and empathy for each child's holistic growth.
Catholic Life: Encouraging action-driven faith and values, fostering care and inclusivity.
Capacity Building: Nurturing a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Stewardship and Resources: Responsibly managing our resources for a sustainable future.
This strategic plan embodies our dedication to providing a progressive, purposeful, and engaging learning environment. We believe this will empower our students to face the future with confidence and resilience.
