Principal

Dear Mary MacKillop, Catholic Regional College Community,

Deputy Principal – Culture, Excellence and Growth

As you are aware, over the last few months, we have been engaged in a thorough selection process, with the support and collaboration of the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL), as well as guidance from the College Advisory Council, to appoint a Deputy Principal – Culture, Excellence and Growth.

Accordingly, I am delighted to announce that Mr. Chris Spencer has been appointed to this leadership position.

Chris is well-known to our community and has been on staff since 2020. During his time, Chris has held various roles including Director of the Junior School, Year 9 Wellbeing Leader, and Pastoral Care Leader. In all these roles, Chris earned the respect and trust of all he encountered. He has been a member of both the Leadership and Planning & Policy Teams. Accordingly, Chris has a strong understanding of the College's operational and strategic priorities. Before joining our community, Chris served at Our Lady of Mercy College in Heidelberg and again worked in various leadership roles, including as a Head of House.

Chris also testifies to being a lifelong learner. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Education, a Certificate II in Sport and Recreation, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. He is currently in his final year of a Master of Education and Theology.

During his interview, Chris was able to clearly articulate how his faith informs his actions as a teacher and leader. He also actively participates in and contributes to prayer, liturgies, and masses.

Both in Chris’s application and during the interview, he provided a clear vision of how this role contributes to the College’s strategic goals and the actions required to sustain a culture of continuous improvement.

In making this announcement, I wish to thank the following people for sharing their time and expertise assisting me as members of the selection panel:

Michelle Jorgensen (Member of Advisory Committee and is the Acting Director, Performance & Innovation at South Gippsland Shire Council)
Chris Black (Principal of St Peter’s College, Cranbourne and Clyde North).
Richard Wans (Manager, Leadership and School Registration at DOSCEL)

Chris will officially commence in this new role at the start of Term 3. He will also continue to act in his current position for the remainder of the year to ensure stability in the well-being area.

I trust that you will join me in congratulating Chris on his appointment to this important leadership role, and I am confident that he will appreciate your support now and in the future.

Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week

Each year, from 27 May to 3 June, Australians mark National Reconciliation Week (NRW)—a time to reflect on our shared histories and to commit to strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. This week calls us to truth-telling, justice, healing, and unity.

National Reconciliation Week begins and ends on two profoundly significant dates in Australia's history. 27 May commemorates the 1967 Referendum, when over 90% of Australians voted “Yes” to amend the Constitution to allow the federal government to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to include them in the national census. This moment was a key milestone in recognising the rights and voices of First Nations people.

3 June marks the anniversary of the 1992 Mabo Decision, in which the High Court of Australia recognised native title rights of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait. This landmark ruling overturned the false doctrine of terra nullius, acknowledging that Indigenous people had lived on and cared for this land for thousands of years before European settlement.

Before NRW begins, we also acknowledge National Sorry Day on 26 May, a day of remembrance and reflection for the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families by government policies. Sorry Day reminds us of the pain caused by past injustices and the importance of acknowledging this history as part of the reconciliation process.

The theme for NRW 2025 is “Now More Than Ever”—a clear call to action that reconciliation is not a past event, but a continuing journey that requires courage, learning, and solidarity.

This call resonates deeply with the 2025 Church Jubilee theme: Pilgrims of Hope. As people of faith, we are called to walk together, with hope in our hearts and justice as our guide. Reconciliation is not only a national responsibility but a spiritual path that reflects the Gospel values of dignity, compassion, and peace.

We hope that the experience of the week was an opportunity to listen, learn, and act—honouring the truth of our history and committing ourselves to a future of shared respect and genuine reconciliation.

To learn more and get involved, visit reconciliation.org.au. Together, as pilgrims of hope, we can walk the path of justice and healing.

At our school, we recognised this important period in a variety of actions, including themed prayers, information shared with students in Homeroom, and a Sorry Day Footpath Liturgy.

Thank you to Scott Blencowe for his outstanding organisation, presentation, and leadership during the week, and also to Hannah Collocott, our new Cultural Liaison, for her support and work.

SSV South Gippsland Division Cross Country

Thank you to Travis Newton and Alisha Heming for their overall leadership and organisation of the SSV Division Cross Country Championships on Tuesday, 27 May 2025.

We had a number of students placed in the Top 8 students in their respective divisions. They will be competing later this week at the Regional Competition.

Thank you to Rachel Collins, Bekk Anthony, Ken Myors, Boyd Robinson, and Robert Damon for their work related to this event. Thanks also to John Ryan for his presence, which ensured the day was successful.

Staff Professional Development Day

On Thursday, 29 May, staff engaged in a day of Professional Development. The morning session saw Teaching Staff working on deepening their knowledge of The Resilience Project, undertaking core compliance requirements, reviewing our Teacher Position Description, and engaging in the initial stages of a consultation program to review leadership positions in the school.

Our support staff worked with an external facilitator to build a greater sense of purpose, teamwork, and a focus on the service elements of their roles.

The afternoon involved further consultation, compliance requirements, and a presentation to teachers in Leadership roles on the role of Occupational Therapists and how their work supports the improvement of learning opportunities for students.

Thanks to everyone for their participation in the day. Specifically, Scott Blencowe and John Ryan for the Prayer, John Ryan for the session on the TRP for Teachers, and Laura Higgins concerning Teacher Role Descriptions. Kaila Hutchinson led the support staff in their session with the external provider.

VET Music SAC Performance

Thank you to Beth Winterhalter for her work preparing her students for their Music SAC on Wednesday, 28 May. Unfortunately, I had another commitment, but all reports indicated that it was a great success. Thanks to all the staff who attended to support our students.

Unit 3 Theatre Studies Performance

Thank you to Cary Johnson, who prepared our students for their performance on Friday night, May 30, 2025. Thank you again to Beth Winterhalter, who supported Carly and the students on the evening, and to all staff who attended the performance.

Year 7 2026 Enrolments

Year 7 Enrolments for 2026 were expected to be submitted by 31 May 2025.

As of today, 83 confirmed applications have been completed, and another eight are in progress. Most of these are from schools other than our priority Catholic Primary Schools.

There are places available, so we will continue to review applications. However, as a matter of fairness, priority will be given to completed applications submitted on or before May 31, and in order of receipt after that date, according to our policy.

Staff News

This week, we welcome back Tracey Bugbird from leave. Thank you to Anna Patterson and Anne Burke, who assisted whilst Tracey was away.