Principal's report

ACC Finals

Congratulations to our 1st XI Soccer and 1st XVIII Football teams on their performances in the recent ACC Finals in Melbourne. Despite not bringing any silverware home with them on the day, they should hold their heads high on the back of some tremendous performances throughout the season and in the finals itself. I was and am very proud of their efforts and congratulate them on their success!  

Music Workshop

On Tuesday 25 June, our talented musicians spent the day in workshops with counterparts from Caulfield Grammar and Ballarat Clarendon College in our Performing Arts Centre. This initiative was put in place by our Head of Music, Mr Matthew Pankhurst and provided all with a tremendous day to rehearse a range of new and unseen pieces of music and then perform them in a concert in the evening. 

It was fantastic to see the collaboration amongst the young people from the three schools and to witness and hear the growth in their performances throughout the day.  

Well done to all involved and a special thank you to Mr Tim Snibson who led the way in rehearsing and conducting the combined ensemble (120+ students across the three schools) across the day. The performance of this ensemble was a highlight! 

Feedback from the Year 9 Melbourne Experience

During the week I received a lovely email from a member of the public who encountered some of our Year 9 students in Melbourne. It was terrific to read this email, which reflects the conduct and manners of our Year 9 students; I would like to share it with you:

“Dear Mr O'Connor and teachers, 

My name is Catherine, a customer service employee at Yarra Trams. Today I was working at Flinders St tram stop on Swanston St, a group of your students walking on the platform approached us with a smile and asked for direction to The Shrine of Remembrance.

They were really polite and sincere. It was such a pleasant chat with them. 

We asked them if they were on an excursion, they explained to us they were on the school's Year 9 program where they stay in Melbourne for a week to explore and learn. 

A few minutes later, another group of your students approached us. Again, they were so polite and sincere. We also had a good laugh with them. 

About an hour later another group of your students were at the stop along with one female teacher. I told her how lovely and polite the students were. The teacher was also very lovely.

Please send my compliments to your students and teachers.

Thank you for a pleasant chat with your students from your school. It was the talk of the day among us staff because they left us with good impressions of your school. 

Kind regards,

Catherine

Well done to our Year 9 students and many thanks to the staff who organised and provided this important opportunity as part of our Year 9 Program.

End of Term 2

As we reach the end of a long and productive term, I acknowledge and commend our students and staff on their efforts throughout Term 2. In some ways, it is hard to believe that we are halfway through the 2024 school year already. I trust that the term has been one of strong academic and personal growth for all students. 

There have been many highlights throughout the term, and I congratulate and thank all involved in the following:

• The official opening of our new Performing Arts Centre
• Edmund Rice Day – a wonderful community day highlighting the ethos of the founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Rice
• ‘School of Rock’ – our first major production in the PAC – what a show! 
• The ACC Finals for Football and Soccer
• The introduction of The Liam Duggan Academy, enhancing our Football program
• Great success and involvement in a range of BAS events across various age groups
• Reconciliation Week activities
• The Liverpool Football Club Academy Taster Clinic promoting a new era of soccer at the College
• Mothers’ Day Mass and Breakfast
• Year 10 Night of Homelessness

Of course – as a school – our core business is teaching and learning, and I have been pleased to see how our students have engaged with their studies throughout the term. Our Year 12 students are leading the way in this context, and I encourage them to maintain their diligent and focused approach to their VCE work next term. 

I wish all students, staff and families a very happy and safe holiday ahead. I hope that everyone finds the time to refresh and perhaps find some warmth somewhere along the way as well! I am looking forward to getting into a couple of good books and catching up with a few friends over the first week. 

Term 3 commences on Monday, 15 July for all students and I look forward to welcoming them back to the College then.