St Colman's Chatter
Mission Statement
St Colman’s Catholic School lives Jesus’ mission to serve others so that they “may have life, and have it in abundance” (Jn.10;10) by fostering the Mercy values of respect, courage and service.
In a nurturing and inclusive environment, students are inspired to be confident lifelong learners who share their gifts with the world.
Dear parents and friends,
As Term 3 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible growth, achievements, and community spirit that have defined the past few months. Our students have shown resilience, creativity, and a genuine love of learning. We’re so proud of everything our students and staff have accomplished—and grateful to our families for their ongoing support.
Looking Ahead to Term 4: Term 4 promises to be a vibrant and fulfilling finish to the year. Let’s carry the momentum forward and make Term 4 our best yet!
Wishing everyone a safe and restful break. We can’t wait to welcome you back with fresh energy and enthusiasm.
Canonisation of Carlo Acutis – A Modern Saint for Our Children
On 7 September 2025, Carlo Acutis will be canonised as the first millennial saint. Known as the “Saint in Sneakers,” Carlo was a teenager who lived his Catholic faith with joy and simplicity. He attended daily Mass, prayed the Rosary, and used his love of technology to create a website sharing Eucharistic miracles. Carlo passed away from leukemia at just 15, but his life continues to inspire young people to embrace faith in everyday ways. His canonisation reminds us that holiness isn’t distant or unreachable—it’s something our children can live out with courage, kindness, and curiosity.
School Prayer
Last year our school mission, logo and motto changed. To ensure that this is reflected in our school prayer some minor changes have occurred. I invite families to read the possible adapted prayer below. The School Board, staff, FACE group have looked at the prayer and added their suggestions. If you would like to suggest any changes please contact kkeys@scshh.catholic.edu.au or drop into the office with the suggestions.
Dear Lord
Help us to make St Colman’s School a place of love and learning. Like the Sisters of Mercy help us to show acceptance and compassion to all we meet.
With faith we grow and learn to respect all of God’s creation, inspire each other, serve the community and do the best we can.
Help us to spread your good news through our words and actions each day at home, at school and in our community.
Amen
FACE MEETING
Our last FACE Meeting saw Natalie from DiscoverOT come and talk about how Occupational Therapy can help students who may be encountering difficulties in the classroom with learning. Below are some of her very informative notes. THank you Natalie for a wonderful session.
OT is about enabling children to take part in everyday school life — learning, playing, making friends, and being independent. When we support participation and engagement their confidence grows which sets the foundation for academic and social success.
Consistency unlocks new skills and neural pathways for children – they are constantly learning
Children's development really is quite complex and so interconnected
- Academic learning and school success is the integration of motor, sensory, cognitive, language, and social-emotional systems. When a child struggles, it’s not about “trying harder” — it’s about identifying which layer of skills is breaking down and supporting it.
There are so many underlying skills required for students to sit, attend, and actively participate in classroom Learning
- Postural & Motor Foundations
- Core strength & endurance → to maintain upright seated posture.
- Postural control & balance → so they don’t slump, lean, or fall off their chair.
- Bilateral coordination → stabilising paper with one hand, writing with the other.
- Fine motor readiness → pencil grasp, scissor use, tool handling.
- Sensory Processing & Regulation
- Proprioception & body awareness → knowing where their body is in space to sit in chair appropriately.
- Vestibular processing → tolerating stillness without constant movement-seeking.
- Tactile tolerance → coping with clothing, seated surfaces, nearby peers.
- Auditory filtering → attending to their teacher’s voice while tuning out background noise.
- Self-regulation strategies → calming big emotions, staying alert but not overstimulated.
- Attention & Executive Functioning
- Sustained attention → focusing on task or instruction for minutes at a time.
- Selective attention → tuning into the relevant stimulus (teacher, task) over distractions.
- Working memory → remembering multi-step instructions.
- Impulse control → resisting urge to call out, get up, or switch tasks suddenly.
- Cognitive flexibility → shifting from one task or idea to another without any issues of not finishing to their level of “perfection” or mastery.
- Planning & organisation → knowing what materials are needed, sequencing steps to complete work.
- Communication & Receptive Language
- Listening skills → attending to verbal instructions.
- Receptive language → understanding vocabulary, directions, and concepts.
- Processing speed → taking in information quickly enough to respond in real time before next question or topic is discussed.
- Social-Emotional Skills
- Turn-taking & waiting → raising hand, waiting for a turn in discussion.
- Understanding social rules → group work etiquette, classroom expectations.
- Self-confidence & help-seeking → knowing when/how to ask for help without giving up.
- Emotional regulation → coping with mistakes, frustration, or change in routine.
- Motivation & Engagement
- Task initiation → starting work without excessive delay.
- Persistence → continuing even when the task is challenging.
Interest & curiosity → being able to connect learning to personal meaning
It is clear that OT Supports a Child’s Education in many ways:
- Classroom Participation – building attention, listening, and regulation skills so a child can follow instructions and join in learning.
- Fine Motor & Handwriting – supporting grasp, strength, coordination, and endurance for writing, cutting, and tool use.
- Gross Motor & Posture – developing strength, balance, and coordination to sit at a desk, move safely around the classroom, and join in playground activities.
- Sensory Processing & Regulation – helping children manage their emotions, energy, and attention so they can stay calm, alert, and ready to learn.
- Organisation & Independence – building executive function skills like planning, sequencing, and problem-solving for schoolwork and routines.
- Social & Play Skills – supporting positive peer interactions, teamwork, and confidence in group learning.
