Specialist Subjects

Students at St Columba's relish the opportunities they are given to expand their knowledge and skills in a diverse range of specialist learning areas. At St Columba's we offer the following specialists subject areas and experiences.

The Arts - Visual Arts, Music and Drama

The Arts are a vibrant and much-loved part of life at St Columba’s, providing students with opportunities to express themselves, build confidence and showcase their talents.

Students participate in weekly Visual Arts lessons, led by our talented Art teacher, Bec, where they explore a range of techniques, materials and creative processes. You only have to walk around our school to see that the standard of artwork on display is truly exceptional.

Our Music program runs throughout the year, with a strong focus on school-wide events such as Christmas Carols. Students develop their performance skills while contributing to meaningful community celebrations.

Every second year, our highly anticipated School Musical takes centre stage. Productions such as The Little Mermaid, Seussical, Madagascar, Shrek Jr. and Finding Nemo Jr. have showcased the incredible talents of our students, complete with impressive staging, lighting and production design. Our most recent production, Finding Nemo Jr., even went ‘on tour’, visiting local kindergartens to perform a medley of songs.

In alternate years, we host our Art Show, where students proudly exhibit their work for the school community. This much-loved event celebrates creativity and provides students with an authentic opportunity to share their artistic achievements.

Students also engage in Media Arts through our STEAM program, exploring areas such as green screen production, photography and digital creation. These experiences allow students to combine creativity with technology in innovative and exciting ways.

Primary students performing in Finding Nemo Jr school production
Students on stage during Finding Nemo Jr showcasing drama and performance skills
Student artwork displayed showcasing creativity and visual arts learning
Primary students engaged in visual arts creating and exploring different materials

Mandarin

Learning an additional language offers a wide range of benefits for students. Research shows that it strengthens problem-solving, critical thinking and listening skills, while also enhancing memory, concentration, empathy and the ability to multitask.

As an IB World School, we are committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn another language. At St Columba’s, all students participate in weekly Mandarin lessons. Guided by our specialist Mandarin teacher, Ms Song, students are immersed in Chinese language and culture, building their skills and confidence in language acquisition as they progress through to Year Six.

Primary students learning to tell the time in Mandarin using interactive activities
Students learning about Chinese festivals and their meanings in Mandarin lessons
Students completing a cutting and matching activity to build Mandarin vocabulary
Classroom display showing the Year of the Horse as part of Chinese zodiac learning

Physical Education

Students at St Columba’s enjoy a wide range of opportunities through our Physical Education and Sport program.

Weekly PE lessons with our specialist teacher, Mrs Zimmerman, class-based sport sessions and participation in House and interschool events all contribute to an active and engaging experience.

Physical Education lessons focus on developing fundamental movement skills, along with the concepts and strategies that enable students to participate confidently, competently and creatively in a variety of physical activities.

Through Sport, students engage in game-based activities that strengthen their sense of self, build positive relationships and foster teamwork.

Prep students also take part in a weekly Perceptual Motor Program (PMP), which supports the development of gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance and tracking skills.

Student with foot on soccer ball on school courts during physical education lesson
Student helping a peer during an athletics race showing teamwork and encouragement
Student wearing St Columba’s swim cap standing beside the pool during swimming program
School sports team holding ribbons and shield celebrating achievement and participation

STEAM

At St Columba’s, our STEAM program blends Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics into hands-on, inquiry-driven learning. Led by a specialist teacher, Miss Rachael, students from Prep to Year 6 explore creative problem-solving through real-world challenges, emerging technologies, and collaborative design thinking.

Each lesson encourages curiosity, innovation, and critical thinking—preparing students not just for the future, but to shape it.

Student investigating a plasma globe during a hands-on science lesson in the STEAM lab
Students working together using LEGO SPIKE kits to build and code solutions
Student using virtual reality headset to explore immersive learning experiences
Students participating in a cyber safety and digital wellbeing lesson at school

What Makes Our Program Unique?

  • Robotics & Coding: Students work with LEGO Spike Prime, Spheros, Beebots and Makey Makey kits to bring code to life.

  • Design & Engineering: Through tools like Strawbees and Makedo, students engineer, prototype, and build purposeful solutions.

  • Digital Creativity: Our green screens, stop-motion kits and multimedia tools empower students to express learning through digital storytelling and media arts.

  • Cyber Safety & Digital Citizenship: Through our partnership with Inform & Empower (an eSafety Commissioner endorsed provider), students build healthy and informed digital habits from the earliest years.

  • STEAM Clubs & Events: Our popular lunchtime and after-school clubs, student-led STEAM Day, and national competitions like the International Maths Challenge spark extra engagement and extend learning.

Our award-winning STEAM program has been recognised with a 5 Star Innovators badge by The Educator and continues to evolve with the latest advancements in education and technology.