At St Columba we will transform the lives of our students by offering the educational opportunities that will enable them to have lives of purpose, service and engagement.
Values are the heart of an organisation driving school culture, expectations, behaviours, and decision making. The SCAS values, grounded in the Christian understanding of Faith, Hope, Truth and Love lay the foundation for our purpose and priorities for the future.
The value of faith represents a confident belief for the future based on our trust and assurance in God’s promises, even though we may not yet see the fulfilment of those promises. As an Anglican school, we value the intellectual exploration of faith and its compatibility with reason, recognising the two are not mutually exclusive.
Teaching is about faith – our students need to have faith in our teachers' ability to instruct them well, meeting their academic, pastoral, and spiritual needs. Students who enjoy the trust and care of their teachers invariably seek to participate fully in their own education.
Our parent body needs to have faith that the School will serve their children well in the education process across the spectrum of academic, moral and spiritual guidance. The development of that faith is enhanced by developing relationships that are free of rhetoric and that clearly show our desire to protect and nurture their children.
The teaching staff need to have faith that those who lead the school community are competent and strong, able to make difficult decisions, balancing both individual circumstances and the greater good.
Hope represents our confident belief in a positive future and our resilience to navigate the path, in a creative and intellectually informed way, grounded in our Christian faith.
Biblical hope is grounded in a thoughtful, reflective, and intentional trust in God’s character and faithfulness.
The value of truth represents transparency, honesty, and integrity in all we do. We demonstrate the value of truth through our curiosity about the world, our community, our school, its people, and ourselves, and the courage to understand the truth from different perspectives.
Truth values a spirit of enquiry and intellectual endeavour, encouraging students to become critical thinkers, capable of making reasoned and informed decisions.
Anglicans value theological diversity, within the bounds of orthodoxy, recognising truth can be expressed in various ways while grounded in the teachings of the Christian faith. Truth is what aligns with God’s character, His Word, and counter cultural socio-economic reality. It is not factual accuracy as perceived by intellectualism alone but encompasses moral integrity, reliability, and faithfulness that finds its fullest expression in the person of Jesus Christ.
The value of love encompasses our compassion, forgiveness, kindness and deep care for others as well as oneself. It is founded on inclusivity and respect for all and the desire to serve as a member of our school and community.
Biblical love has various dimensions and expressions. While love includes characteristics such as selflessness, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and sacrificial giving, it is exemplified most fully in God’s love for humanity. This is expressed by a love for God and love for one’s neighbour. It is a commitment to care for and serve others through acts of compassion, mercy, and justice in the world.
A key verse can be found in Romans 5:8. It is this love that Jesus taught would take his followers beyond reciprocate love based on affection to a love that could create space for the inclusion even of enemies. This is the kind of love that Jesus' disciples (and church) were required to imitate in their relationships with others.
At St Columba Anglican School, our Chaplaincy provides a welcoming environment that supports the spiritual and personal growth of our community. Our Chaplaincy Team is here to guide and connect us to the Christian values shared by our School and the Anglican Church of the Grafton Diocese. We actively support students, staff, and parents, building connections with local churches and community groups. We are there for students and their families during both joyful times and challenges, reflecting our commitment to compassion.
Each week, our Worship Services offer a moment for students to reflect on what and who matters most in their lives through theme-based gatherings that enhance our spiritual community. Our Christian Studies program introduces students to the basics of Christianity, encouraging exploration within a multicultural society. As students progress, they explore topics like ethics, philosophy, and social justice from a Christian perspective. In Secondary School, these studies become dynamic discussions, empowering students to critically engage with ethical ideas and relate them to Christianity in today’s world. Our focus is on fostering a lived experience of faith rather than just teaching it.
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Yii Birpai Barray – This is Birpai Country
Gathay Nyiirun Wakulda – Let us all go together as one!
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