From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we continue through this significant year - our 70th year as a community, I am reminded daily that our story has always been one of both courage and care. While much has changed across those seven decades, what has remained constant is our commitment to an education that places the human person at its centre. This has been especially evident in recent weeks.

The presence of a construction zone at the heart of our campus has brought inevitable interruptions and inconveniences. Yet, I have been deeply impressed by the way our staff and students have responded - with patience, flexibility, and a shared determination to ensure that learning, activities, connection and relationships all continue to flourish. This quiet resilience reflects the strength of a community formed over many generations at the College.

Our Year 7 students, the newest authors of our story, have also made a wonderful beginning. It has been a joy to watch them galvanising their relationships with one another and with their teachers. In their laughter, their growing confidence, and their emerging sense of belonging, we are seeing students becoming more familiar with the rhythm of secondary school life. We reassure those families for whom there may still be some early ‘wobbles’ – please be assured that this is all very natural. That said, if there are aspects of your daughter’s transition that you are genuinely concerned about, please reach out to the college – we are here to assist and support your daughter, and there is really nothing that we cannot work out together.

Supporting each young person to feel known and valued remains central to who we are. Earlier this week, our teaching staff engaged in professional learning in diversity, equity and inclusion. Together, in small groups we reflected upon our awareness of our own unconscious bias, and the impact of this in the important work that we do. This training and discussion further strengthen our capacity to walk alongside each student with greater understanding and intentional care, ensuring that our community continues to be one where dignity and belonging are actively fostered and where cultural safety for all is a lived reality. It will be a focus of our work this year.

This week, we were thrilled by the extraordinary interest in our Principal’s Tours. Hosted by our newly installed (and badged) BenvenutiCommittee members - 100 prospective parents delighted in the personalised tours led by our welcoming students. I wish to extend my gratitude to all of the students involved; you represented our college with confidence, warmth and integrity.  We are now in a position where waiting lists are the norm for the next few Year 7 intakes – a good problem to have! In our 70th year, this strong interest affirms the enduring value of the education our community provides.

This weekend, we look forward to our Senior Formal, Saturday evening - a cherished milestone and a joyful celebration of the friendships and memories that define the senior journey for our class of 2026 – we cannot wait to see you shine! My thanks in advance to the exceptional work of Ms Tamara Richardson (Head of Greccio House), Mrs Lindsey Gould (Assistant to the Deputy Principal of Student Development and Wellbeing), Ms Licina (Deputy Principal of Student Development and Wellbeing) and the formal committee for their tireless work in making this night one to remember for our  Year 12 cohort.

As a Franciscan College committed to embracing; right relations with each other, with our earth and with our global brothers and sisters. This anniversary year also invites us to look forward. Many of you will have now seen online, on billboards and perhaps even on the back of a bus - our Human Edge Campaign.  This campaign speaks authentically to the human centred work, that is at the heart of our Franciscan education – an expression of education, that is as true as it was in 1956. 

One that is underpinned by a desire to form young people who can think critically, act ethically, and relate deeply to others. In our technologically saturated world, we continue to keep at the forefront, the ‘humanness’ of the role that we play in driving these new AI tools. Our edge is irreplaceable, unique, and enduring. It lives in the relationships between teacher and student, in the courage to ask difficult questions, and in the commitment to form young people of compassion, wisdom, and integrity.  We look forward to sharing throughout the year more about the exciting initiatives and learnings that are currently underway – each of them expressions of our Franciscan charism, in the contemporary context. This is our inheritance, and in our 70th Year - it is our promise to the generations still to come.

Construction of The Canticle is progressing well. Please find below Construction Update #2 for your reference with an exciting time-lapse of the project embedded. Enjoy!

We thank everyone in our community who has already given generously to our Caritas Project Compassion.

A final prayer for the mid-term point.

Heavenly Father, teach us patience as we walk through this Lenten season. When growth feels slow or challenges arise, help us trust your timing. Strengthen our endurance and steady our hearts. Thank you for working through every circumstance to shape our faith. Guard us from frustration and impatience. We trust you to complete the work you have begun in each of us, refining our character and deepening our spiritual maturity through perseverance and quiet faith.

Amen.

Peace and all good,

Samantha Jensen

Principal