Meet the Principal

Welcome to our IB World School, St Columba's Primary in Elwood. It's my pleasure to invite you to look around our website and get a feel for our school and our PYP Programme.

We have a lot to offer but, first and foremost, it's our close-knit family feel that captures the hearts of those who choose to join our school community. The warmth and genuine nurturing environment that they see and feel as they enter permeates throughout the school and well into our community.

It's been my privilege to be Principal of St Columba's for the last eight years. Working together, our school has evolved significantly and we have a lot to be proud of. With a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy, we've been recognised by ACARA for significant growth in the NAPLAN and pride ourselves on our ability to plan for targeted student learning.

We're a 5-Star Resource Smart School a huge achievement and evidence of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and doing our bit to make our world a better place. We offer a vibrant specialist program including Mandarin, Physical Education and the Arts. And last but not least, there's our exceptional After Care program an extension of our school which provides the same quality of care and family feel.

Wherever the future takes us, we'll journey there together guided by our strong Catholic faith and core values of:

  • Community and empathy for others
  • Respect for diversity and inclusivity
  • Purposeful and enriching learning experiences
  • Holistic wellbeing physical, emotional, social and spiritual

We understand that choosing your child's school is an important decision. So, we've outlined the unique way St Columba's can nurture your child here hopefully good food for thought in your decision-making process.

If you have any questions or would like a personal tour, I'd love to hear from you. I'm only a phone call away (03 9531 6560) and my door is always open.


Warm Regards,
Daniella Maddalena
Principal

What our parents & students say

"A very welcoming and whole-of-child focused sch...

Parent of prep student