Celebrating Mother’s Day at the Junior Campus

Mother’s Day is a special opportunity to pause and celebrate the incredible women in our lives — those who nurture, support and guide us with unconditional love. At the Junior Campus, we were delighted to mark the occasion with our Mother’s Day Breakfast and Raffle, bringing together families in a spirit of gratitude and community.

We were especially grateful for the number of mums and special guests who joined us for breakfast on Friday morning before school. It was a wonderful atmosphere filled with smiles, laughter and meaningful connection — a true reflection of the vibrant community we are so lucky to have.

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who supported our Mother’s Day Raffle by purchasing tickets — your generosity is truly appreciated! The raffle, run by our wonderful Parents and Friends Association, was a great success, and we are excited to announce our lucky winners:

• 1st Prize – William M (Year 6W)
• 2nd Prize – Alvaro (Year 5P)
• 3rd Prize – Leo (Year 3P)
• 4th Prize – Aaron F (Year 6W)
• 5th Prize – Dhakshi (Year 6G)
• 6th Prize – Victor (Year 3P)

Congratulations to all our winners!

We hope all our families enjoyed a meaningful Mother’s Day and were able to spend quality time with the special women in their lives — mothers, grandmothers, aunties, carers and role models — who give so much every day.

Thank you once again for helping us celebrate this beautiful occasion as a school community.

Thank you to everyone for your support in ensuring the boys arrived at school on Wednesday, 7 May in full winter uniform for the Edmund Rice Mass at the Cathedral.

Celebrating Mass in the Cathedral is always a special experience — the beautiful surroundings and stunning acoustics make it a truly memorable occasion. It was a wonderful celebration of Blessed Edmund Rice and the combined choir added a particularly moving touch to the liturgy with their heartfelt singing.

We are proud of how our students represented the College on such a significant day.

Author Visit – Dr Cameron Stelzer

We were thrilled to welcome Dr Cameron Stelzer to the Junior Campus for a special author visit. Dr Stelzer, the creative mind behind popular titles such as The Stroogle and the Pie Rats series, brought his stories to life through engaging sessions with our students. The boys were incredibly lucky to gain first-hand insight into the writing and illustrating process from a published author, asking questions, exploring story ideas and even beginning their own creative work. Opportunities like this inspire a deeper love of reading and writing and help our students see themselves as storytellers. A huge thank you to Dr Stelzer for sharing his time, creativity and passion with us!

Our recent Student-Led Conversations on Monday, 12 May were a tremendous success, with the vast majority of families making time to sit alongside their child and engage in a rich discussion about their learning journey. These conversations are a powerful part of our Junior Campus culture, designed to empower students to take ownership of their progress and articulate their growth.

When students are given the opportunity to lead the conversation, it not only builds confidence but also strengthens their ability to reflect meaningfully on their work. They are encouraged to discuss what they are proud of, identify areas for improvement and share the goals they have set for the remainder of the school year. This process promotes self-awareness, responsibility and resilience – key skills that support learning well beyond the classroom.

Equally important is the partnership it fosters between school and home. Parents gain valuable insight into their child’s achievements and challenges and students experience the encouragement and support that comes from sharing their successes with those who care most about them.

We thank all families for their engagement and support. It was truly heartening to see so many proud moments shared and we look forward to seeing our students continue to grow in confidence and capability as the year progresses.

On Monday, 19 May, we are excited to welcome our Mid-Year Reception students for the first of five transition visits in the lead-up to starting school in Term 3. This is a significant step for our newest learners as they begin their journey at the Junior Campus.

In preparation for their first visit, Mrs Chambers, Mrs McGradey and Mr Teakle have been visiting each of the boys in their kindergarten or childcare settings to begin building those important early connections.

We are also thrilled to see a number of familiar faces among the group, with several younger siblings of current students joining us. These visits are designed to help the boys feel confident, welcome and excited about starting school and we look forward to supporting each of them as they take this important step.

Impressive Team Performance at School Sports SA Cross Country Mountain Biking Event

On 9th May, a team of Year 5 and Year 6 – Alex T, Conor O, Charlie S, and Harvey N represented the school at a relay-style cross country mountain biking event held at Craigburn Farm. Competing against 98 teams of over 300 students, they achieved an impressive 38th place in a challenging two-hour race format, with only one rider allowed on the track at a time.

The boys showed outstanding teamwork, supporting each other and cheering on other schools throughout the event. Their behaviour and sportsmanship were exemplary, even as they navigated a course that saw serious crashes and fierce competition from schools fielding multiple teams.

Well done to all involved!

Staff Spotlight: Ms Kathryn Brink

What inspired you to become a teacher/ESO?

I initially entered the education sector by chance. When my son started Reception, I was invited to support emergent readers through the school’s ‘Reading Army’ initiative. As I worked with students requiring additional literacy intervention, teachers observed measurable improvements in their sight word recognition and fluency. This experience illuminated the transformative impact of targeted instruction and differentiated support, sparking my commitment to further study and pursue teaching as a full-time vocation.

How long have you been teaching, and what subjects/grades have you taught?

I began my teaching journey part-time in 2013–2014 at a parish school before transitioning to full-time at CBC in 2015. My expertise lies in Inclusive Education, where I specialise in scaffolded instruction, differentiated learning strategies, and individualised support programs. I prefer small-group and one-on-one settings, as they enable responsive teaching approaches tailored to students’ specific learning profiles.

What is your favourite thing about teaching at our school?

One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching at CBC is the collaborative professional learning community. Our team fosters an environment of shared pedagogical expertise, evidence-based teaching practices, and continuous professional development. The culture of collegiality ensures dynamic and innovative instructional approaches that ultimately enhance student outcomes.

What do you enjoy most about teaching your current year level or subject?

Inclusive Education provides an opportunity to implement structured literacy interventions that target foundational skill deficits while fostering student agency and metacognition. Working in small-group settings allows for individualised learning pathways, enabling students to achieve pivotal ‘Aha!’ moments as they construct meaning and consolidate their understanding. By employing strategies such as multi-sensory learning, explicit instruction, and formative assessment, I empower students to develop self-efficacy, take ownership of their learning, and transfer skills into broader academic contexts.

What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching (hobbies, sports, travel, etc.)?

I have a deep passion for both sport and literature. Recently, I became a qualified diving coach and now facilitate four Learn to Dive groups on weekends. This role enables me to merge pedagogy with athletic coaching, fostering discipline, resilience, and skill development in an engaging environment.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about teaching?

The most valuable advice I’ve received is to embrace reflective practice and cultivate patience in the learning process. As educators, we often feel compelled to implement immediate corrective strategies, but learning is developmental and non-linear. Sometimes, it’s essential to step back, analyse progress through formative assessments, and celebrate incremental achievements. Recognising that each student navigates their own learning trajectory allows us to provide differentiated instruction that respects cognitive diversity while maintaining high expectations for growth and mastery.

 

Teacher Spotlight: Ms Tahlia Zollo

What is your favourite thing about teaching at our school?

I love being part of a community that embraces all students’ passions and abilities. This school has a special place in my heart because of the people of work with and the students. I cherish the special learning moments I get with my students, and I love watching them achieve goals and excel.

What do you enjoy most about teaching your current year level or subject?

I love being able to connect with students in a small group, giving me the opportunity to build relationships and create an environment for them to feel safe to be themselves.

What is one lesson or skill you hope every student takes away from your class?

If your child has even been taught by me, they will tell you about my unique way of learning spelling rules. I like to add excitement and fun to my lessons by using my amazing singing voice (hahaha). I have many of my students tell me, “I can’t get that song out of my head, Mrs Zollo”. That makes me so happy, and it also provides them with different strategies to build on their spelling skills.

What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching (hobbies, sports, travel, etc.)?

Outside of school, I love to cook. A lot of my cooking stems from my Greek heritage. I especially love to cook for my amazing family. I am very blessed to have my husband, 2 beautiful children, a dog (Frank), and a bird (Luca). We enjoy bike riding and sports as a family. We love going to the beach and we are lucky enough to live so close to it.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I would definitely go to Greece! I am lucky enough to have a family home on the island of Rhodes. My great-grandfather built the house there, and my Grandma was born in that house. It holds a very special place in my heart, and I hope to have it for my future generations.

How do you stay motivated and inspired as a teacher?

Being surrounded by the right kind of people is one of my biggest motivations. With a supportive family and staff, it fills my bucket every day. My students not only motivate me, but they also inspire me to keep growing. I always tell my students that I still learn new things. If we don’t grow or step out of our comfort zone, we cheat ourselves of the opportunity to reach new limits!

Mrs Alison Ronoastro
Head of Junior Campus

Our Junior Campus Tea Towel with Student Artwork!

If you missed the original ordering window, the good news is that orders have now reopened on QKR! and will remain open until Thursday, 6 June.

This is a wonderful keepsake featuring student artwork and a great way to support our school community. Don’t miss out!