From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends,

Final weeks of Semester One

We have two weeks remaining in Term Two. It is indeed a busy time for students and teachers with assignments due and tests or examinations being conducted to conclude Semester One. These assessments will provide valuable feedback about students' progress with their learning. While Semester One Statements of Results will be made available on June 24, parents and students can monitor student results and feedback using our Learning Management System, ‘Canvas.’ If parents are not familiar with Canvas, I suggest you ask your daughter or son to show you how to access their information. Parents will receive an email about accessing the Semester One Statement of Results.

Please note the following student free days during the remaining time of this term:

• Monday 13 June – Queen’s Birthday Holiday

• Friday 17 June – Teacher Professional Practice Day

• Thursday 23 & Friday 24 June – Staff Inservice Days

This term's final day of classes will be Wednesday, 22 June. Students will finish at the usual time of day.

Classes for Term Three will commence on Monday, 11 July 2022.

Year 10 Work Experience Week

Best wishes to Year 10 students as they undertake their Work Experience placement in the last week of term.

The aims of the program include the following:

• to build self-confidence and independence by learning to cope with new situations and new people;

• to learn about the changes taking place in society and the workplace;

• to learn practically;

• to explore a variety of career opportunities and decide how these relate to the student’s interests, skills, values and goals; and

• to prepare students for life after school and provide an insight into the world of work.

Many Work Experience positions were available through school; however, students and their families were encouraged to use their initiative to secure a suitable and interesting place. Well done to students who endeavoured to secure a placement themselves. When I signed the Work Experience forms, it was interesting to see the diverse range of placements that our students could obtain. On behalf of the College, I express our gratitude to the employers able to take on one of our students.

Thank you to Mr Bruce Connor (Work and Further Education Coordinator) for his efforts to coordinate this program and Mr Brendan O’Brien (YLC) for his support in this area, and the Yr 10 Teachers involved.

Tri-UMPH Music Festival 2022

The Student Leaders from the five Geelong Catholic Colleges have been planning for a significant joint school event. Clonard College, Sacred Heart College, Saint Ignatius College, St. Joseph's College and IONA College are uniting again in 2022 to make poverty history with the fifth Tri-UMPH Music Festival. The Student Leaders launched this undertaking by producing a promotional video that was recently shown to students at all five Colleges. “Tri-UMPH” is an acronym for “Triennially United to Make Poverty History.” As the name suggests, the event's purpose is to support the universal efforts to make poverty history. The Student Leaders are using this event to raise funds for East Timor towns facing poverty.

Our students will be bussed to and from St Joseph’s College Geelong so they can be part of this exciting day on Friday, 9 September 2022.

More details such as the cost, the program for the day and other arrangements will be provided next term.

Canteen review

Last week, I sent an email message to inform our school community that we will be conducting a review of our Canteen.

We are very grateful for the dedicated and long service of our Canteen Manager, Mrs Sandra Woodall. Sandra will finish up at the end of 2023. And we will celebrate her 27 years as a staff member late next year.

The College has relied on many, many generous parents, grandparents, neighbours and friends, some staff volunteers and Canteen Assistants, Mrs Fran Lakey and Mrs Lil Vella, to provide a service to our growing student and staff population. However, the pandemic has impacted the number of volunteer members, and there is a sense that there is an opportunity to review our Canteen.

The Review will be conducted by Administration/Finance Officer, Deb Pisarskis. The brief for the review to consider is:

• Staffing/volunteering

• Facilities

• Menu

• Ordering/payment

College community members can provide input by clicking this link to complete a confidential Google form until Monday, 27th June 2022.

Updates will be provided during the review, and feedback will be able to be supplied to Deb Pisarskis.

I look forward to the review recommendations informing the development of a strategic plan that will lead to an even better Canteen service that builds on the work done by Mrs Woodall, her assistants and many volunteers over the last 25 years.

Best wishes for the next fortnight,

Michael Exton

Principal