Principal's Report
Welcome to the 2022 school year!!
A very BIG welcome to all of our new families and all of our current families.
What a start to the year! Our students have responded really well to the challenges that COVID has presented. They have returned with a focused attitude and a generosity of acceptance and compassion for each other and the staff. We take this opportunity to thank families for their support, because it is through your guidance and support that we embrace these challenges. I am grateful to the staff for the way they prepared, planned and welcomed students as they returned from their Christmas break.
Support is an interesting point to raise, I believe it is easy for families to support us when they agree with a decision we have made, whether that be about uniform, attendance or academic achievement, but not so easy to provide that support when they disagree with a decision. I am asking for a genuine partnership with families, one where we trust the decisions that are being made by staff. At times this may not be easy, but together we all want what’s best for our students. We, the adults need to be united in our decisions. That doesn’t mean that questions can’t be raised or disagreement can’t occur, but it does mean that this happens in polite conversation with the relevant staff member. Our expectations of students are about enhancing their growth and development and together we can be so much more impactful in that space.
We also take this opportunity to remind our community that we are a Kildare Education Ministries Catholic Secondary College in the Brigidine tradition. It is therefore, our responsibility to make our core values of Hospitality, Compassion, Courage, Hope, Justice and Wonder come alive in all that we do, with a particular emphasis in 2022 on the value of Compassion. Our College theme this year highlights this; Allow compassion to be the lens of your heart is our theme and we will unravel this with students and staff as we walk together.
As we work toward our Multi Campus College, it is important that we build and compliment the capacity levels of our staff by employing new staff.
This year we warmly welcome to our college:
Les Butler - Generalist Teacher
Taylor Filkin - English and Humanities Teacher
Rebecca Hof - English and Drama Teacher
Julie Ann Watson - Music, Humanities and Arts Teacher
Stuart Taylor - Generalist Teacher
Cheryl Watson - Tutoring Program
Brooke Arlow - Education Trainee
Kiefer Berryman - Education Trainee
Claire Byrne - Education Trainee
Sebastian Monahan - Education Trainee
Abbey Watson - Social Worker
Kyle Coates - Education Support
Geordie Butler - Education Support
Emma Gazelle - Education Support
Carlie Leach - Education Support
Beth Leach - CRT
Term One is the period of time that we as a faith community prepare for Lent; the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday March 2, and is a time to embark on a spiritual journey where we are challenged to do more, to do better and to be better. Lent calls us to pray, to fast and to give alms. It calls us to be compassionate. Let us think about what this looks like for us as members of a family, of a faith community, of St Joseph’s College and a community.
I am conscious of the privilege that leading this College community brings and I am really excited about being a part of this wonderful community that is St Joseph’s. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Michael Delany for his leadership and guidance of this community over the last seven years. Michael has set the wheels in motion for us transitioning to a Multi Campus College; it's now up to all of us to make that a raging success! I am confident that through strength and kindliness we will do just that.
Anne Marie Cairns
Principal