From the Director of Students

Dear College community I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new students and their families.

It was great to see so many happy and enthusiastic students ready on the first day of school and for the year ahead. 2020 will be a benchmark for significant change and growth as a College.

The focus will be on nurturing and supporting the social emotional learning of our students while developing and enhancing a pastoral care program which has been specifically designed to a particular year group.

Over 2019 a lot of planning went into the restructure of our pastoral care themes; Bell time changes; The introduction of a Wednesday morning year assemblies and the with the appointing of our new Academic Co-ordinators; We will be able to support our students further by tracking their progress and achievements consistently. Another important change is the homeroom structure in 2020. Students will now have the same Year Co-ordinator and Homeroom teacher for 2 consecutive years.  The aim is to form stronger pastoral bonds between staff and students while making your son’s Homeroom teacher more connected with their students needs.

In 2020 more emphasis will be place on mental health support programs in our Stage 4 and Stage 5 students. I am excited and proud to announce that St Gregory’s College will be involved in 2 new Mental Health studies. The FUTURE PROOFING program run by the Black Dog Institute and the YAM Program run by Catholic diocese of Wollongong. These programs will be offered to students in Years 8 and 9. Further information will follow once these programs are launched later in the year.

This year the College Merit system will also see some changes that will give students in the Senior school a significant positive boost.

Later this term our Stage 6 students will have the opportunity to attend the PARTY program at Liverpool Hospital, we are very lucky to have been given the opportunity to attend. The program focuses on the prevention of risk-taking behaviours in youth. The whole day program gives students a real understanding of the dangers involved in risk taking. Students visit the trauma unit of the hospital and speak to a number of doctors, nurses and victims of major trauma injuries. The day is not only highly educational but one they will never forget.

Finally, I urge parents to keep an open line of communication between you and your child, and his teachers. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact your son’s Homeroom teachers as the first point of call.

Mr Baldino Vetrano

Director of Students