Principal 

Return from Mixed Mode Teaching

All students have now returned to onsite learning from the latest COVID lockdown. The mixed mode of having Years 11 and 12 onsite and Years 7-10 at home and online was a very challenging one. Despite this, our students have been well served and certainly enjoyed being onsite again.

There has needed to be considerable flexibility with the scheduling of assessments and the postponement and re-scheduling of a number of College events. Our Year 9 camps have been delayed, the Bentleigh East Open Morning (17 June) will be re-scheduled and, on current advice, the upcoming Year 12 Formal will be transferred to another date. It was announced by the State Government that the GAT would move to a different day; given the fact that the end of term is approaching and we have not yet received any further information, we assume that it will likely take place early next term.

The reality for us is that we are now well drilled in how to move between onsite and remote learning, however we are acutely aware of the longer term impacts on students learning and wellbeing and continue to work with all students to lessen these impacts as much as possible. As all parents and carers have been previously advised, please always contact the College should you have any concerns around your son’s progress or general welfare.

Second Semester

We began this new semester yesterday. Normally we would have completed our examination schedule earlier, however the recent lockdown prevented us from the proposed timing of those assessments. Therefore, we are experiencing the unusual pattern of completing examinations and then beginning new coursework within the same semester.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our students who have adapted to this necessary change. The report uploads for our student’s assessment results take place on PAM in the latter part of next week.

Thanksgiving Mass for Rhys Gillard

The College hosted the Mass for the life of our Year 12 student, Rhys Gillard. It was a great privilege to do so. The Gillard family have been well surrounded by our Community as they grieve the loss of their eldest son. Rhys’s two brothers, Tom and Austen are in Year 7 and 9 respectively and we continue to offer our respectful support.

We are also continuing to work with a number of our students who knew Rhys well. Each one of them are fine young men who are  working through their own grief process. The Gillard family remain in our thoughts and prayers and we continue to offer whatever support is deemed by them as needed.

CIS Survey

Thank you to all families who have now completed the CIS Survey. We have now issued CIS Surveys to students, staff, families and the Board. The College has received a very healthy number of responses. These will be collated and passed back to families in a summative form for your interest. There are many aspects that are quite informative.

We are currently in the phase of completing Part 1 of the documentation for final  Accreditation (Stage 3). This gets sent at the end of this term. All the final documentation will be sent at the end of the year in preparation for the major Team Visit in March 2022.

Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC)

An application from St Patrick’s, Ballarat to join the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) competition has been received. The ACC now incorporates music, performing arts, public speaking, arts and technology along with a highly structured and well regarded sporting program.

From 2022 onwards, St Patrick’s will compete in the single day Championships (Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country), along with other single day events. The admission of St Patrick’s to a weekly sports program will not take place, mainly due to the travel complexities involved for all schools.

The ACC Arts and Technology Show took place just on two weeks ago. This was held at the Edge, Federation Square and was a highly professional presentation of student works from the 12 ACC Colleges. One of our Year 12 students, John Freeman, opened the formal evening with a talk about the Arts.

New Principal Search

The College has begun the process to find the new Principal for 2022. The advertisement for this role is now circulating.

Per Vias Rectas

John Finn

Principal