Assistant Principal -

Wellbeing

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to 2026, the year that our student leadership team has chosen the theme of LEGACY for. Last week they presented the theme to the College community, setting each and every one of us the challenge of thinking about how we wish to be remembered at the end of the year and viewed by others as part of this community. As a team they reflected on what is important to them and why it is important. We will be reflecting on this word throughout the year. 

It has been a very busy start to the year, and credit to our students and staff for maintaining the pace! From opening school mass and the announcement of our 2024 Dux, Joshua Bible, through to a swimming carnival and our Community Engagement Evening, it has been all hands on deck. Our new staff have added to our community a rejuvenated sense of enthusiasm and energy. Our Year 7 students have quickly settled into the rhythm of secondary learning. Our staff have been impressed with the settled nature of the majority of our classes.

The beginning of the year is also a time where people tend to set goals and plans in place. It is filled with high expectations and dreams. I would like to reflect on the message shared with our college community last week when Joshua spoke at the opening mass. Joshua challenged everyone to “just do it”. Even when it is hard, or you don’t understand it, give it a go, try your hardest, ask for help, and practice. Learning is hard. It is challenging. Mistakes are necessary. Sometimes you will have to review the goal or the plan, that’s okay, just never stop trying. I hope our students are able to think about this over the coming year. Learning takes time, it means taking risks, seeking feedback and doing something with it all. In 2026 we have looked at our learning as a staff, taken in the feedback (student, parent and staff) and we are trying something different in our Stage 5 spaces. This is a real opportunity for us to work with our students, preparing them for the next chapter of learning for them, whether that be in a stage 6 classroom, TAFE, SBAT or moving towards employment. The WIN project provides opportunities for skill acquisition for all. I am excited to be part of the project. 

It is a good time to remind our parents and carers that on enrolment our uniform expectations are clearly articulated to all families. This is also the case as our student panics from year 10 into year 11 and 12. I have found myself having too many conversations with students (even on day 1) about their uniform. In 2026 students are NOT to wear the hoodie to school. This is no longer part of the college uniform. Students can wear the soft shell jacket or woollen jumper at any time. Another significant change to uniform has been the girls sports shorts. In 2025 the shorts with white piping were removed, this being articulated many times through newsletters, student meetings etc. I ask for your support in these changes. Please know that there will be expectations for students to comply with these changes. Letters may be sent home requesting you to purchase appropriate uniform items from next week. We will continue to challenge students wearing Canterbury branded items, inappropriately short shorts etc to school. Similarly we expect students to wear black leather lace-up shoes, vans style shoes are not appropriate footwear, even for PDHPE practical lessons. 

I would also like to thank the students, families and staff that braved the damp weather on Monday evening and joined us for a BBQ and music here at the college. It was a great night. Our music students relished the opportunity to perform to a live audience in a relaxed atmosphere. It was great to see students (I must give Josh Townsend and Robyen Gibney a shout out here) for cooking several hundred sausages and onions for everyone. Our student leadership team had planned many different activities for the event, but were able to demonstrate true agility in condensing activities into the gym. I must also acknowledge the work of Mrs Amber Smith and Mrs Felicity Magann in pulling the evening together.

With regards,

Mellissa Bell

Assistant Principal Wellbeing