From the Principal
Damian Messer
SMC
Assessments
This month marks the beginning of our winter season. As our days continue to shorten, staff are busily preparing for the end of semester and reporting, while our students are preparing for and finishing their final assessments. Our senior students are moving into the exam periods with the Year 10 students starting in the coming days and our Year 11 and 12 students in Week 8. I take the opportunity to wish them well in their preparation for and completion of their exams.
Traffic
Over the past few weeks staff have observed several near misses in the streets surrounding the College. Young people are our most precious assets. We need to be conscious that the critical parts of their brain involved in decision-making and risk assessment are still reaching maturity. Students exiting vehicles should, where possible, try to do so on the kerbside of the street and not alight the vehicle into the oncoming traffic. I understand this can be difficult but again, the safety of our young people must be paramount.
I also ask people to be conscious of the traffic rules and the parking regulations that apply to our College and do what is possible to obey them.
Validation survey
Every four years the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office conducts a validation survey looking at St Mary's College as a Catholic school. This survey will be available to all staff, students and parents/carers, and later this month you will receive an email with the hyperlink to this survey.
The data we receive gives us considerable feedback, as well as some direction, as we begin our strategic plan update titled 'SMC 2025 and beyond'. I ask where possible that you help us by completing the survey in the time requested.
Co- and extracurricular activities
As you can see within the pages of this Fountain newsletter, the students continue to remain busy representing the College. I would like to thank our community who support our students and their participation in College life.
