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 Friday, June 23rd, 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 12th June – King’s Birthday Holiday

• Friday 16th June – Teacher Professional Practice Day

• Thursday 22nd & Friday 23rd June – Staff Inservice Days

This term's final day of classes will be Wednesday, 21st June. Students will finish at the usual time of day.

Classes for Term Three will commence on Monday, 10th July 2023.

Opening & Blessing of Yr 9 Centre

We held a belated opening and blessing ceremony on Tuesday 6th June 2023 with the Yr 9 students, College Captains and guests. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and being unable to find a suitable date between the College and the availability of a government representative, we had to delay this event for quite some time. The Yr 9 Centre has been in use since 2020.

In attendance were:

• Ms Libby Coker, local MP and representative of the Federal Government;

• Mr Fergus Chisholm, General Manager for Infrastructure Services and Capital Delivery (MACS);

• Fr Darien Sticklen, Queenscliff Parish Priest, Canonical Administrator and member of the College’s Advisory Council;

• Fr Gerry Healy SJ, Jesuit representative and member of the College’s Advisory Council; and

• College Advisory Council members – Ms Marie Emmitt, Ms Jo Britt and Mr Bernard Lewis.

Gratitude was a predominant theme throughout the ceremony. We acknowledged with thanks:

• Past and present members of our school community. It has taken many years of saving to raise the funds needed;

• The Australian Government for providing a grant of $2.1M towards the overall cost of $5.5M;

• The architects – Clarke, Hopkins, Clarke;

• The builders – CICG (Commercial Industrial Construction Group);

• Our previous Yr 9 Coordinator, Mr Joe Pannuzzo and his team for steering the transition from the ‘old’ to the ‘new’ Yr 9 Centre;

• Our College School Advisory Council (previously the College Board – and Chairperson, Mr Tony Frizza); and

• The College’s Canonical Administrators.

Our students were encouraged to show their gratitude for this wonderful building by:

• Applying themselves to their learning;

• Looking after the building;

• Looking after each other with acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and respect;

• Working with our current Yr 9 Coordinator, Mr Ryan and the Year 9 staff team to build our school community.

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.

Some Work Experience positions were made available through school; however, students and their families were encouraged to use their initiative to secure a suitable and interesting place themselves. When I signed the Work Experience forms, it was interesting to see the diverse range of placements our students have obtained.

Thank you to Ms Dot Vajda (Work and Further Education Coordinator) for her efforts to coordinate this program and Ms Kirsty Allan (Director of Senior School) for her support in this area and the Yr 10 Teachers involved.

Best wishes,

Michael Exton

Principal