From the Principal

Dear Parents, Friends and Students of St Virgil’s,

National Reconciliation Week

This week marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week 2024, which runs from 27 May to 3 June. This week offers a significant opportunity to enhance respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples of all cultures across Australia.

The start of National Reconciliation Week, 27 May, marks the 57th anniversary of the 1967 referendum. This landmark event in Australia’s history saw the highest YES vote ever recorded in a federal referendum, granting Aboriginal peoples full citizenship rights by including them in the national census and allowing the Commonwealth to legislate on their behalf.

National Reconciliation Week provides an important chance to reflect on our nation's journey in recognising and fostering relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It highlights the crucial role each of us plays in continuing to walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards healing and justice. This is highlighted by the National Reconciliation Week theme of 'Now More than Ever'.

EREA Meetings

On Friday 31 May, I will be in Brisbane assisting EREA College’s Ltd. with the appointment of the Principal of St James College, Brisbane. St James is one of EREA’s oldest colleges and is situated in the heart of the Brisbane CBD with a student population of over 800 students from Years 5-12. I look forward to supporting EREA and the broader St James' College community in assisting with the appointment of their new Principal and supporting the College during this important transition period.

Next Thursday 6 and Friday 7 June, I will be in Adelaide meeting with Principals of other EREA Colleges from Western Australia, South Australia, Canberra, and Queensland. Principals will gather and be provided with updates from across these jurisdictions. During my absence, Kim Mooney will be the Acting Principal, and I thank her for taking on additional responsibilities during my absence.

EREA Charter Renewal & Mission Strategy

St Virgil’s College is a member of Edmund Rice Education Australia, the governing authority that oversees more than 40 schools across Australia. Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice tradition have been educating young Australians in every state and territory since 1872. EREA schools are diverse, including primary and secondary, co-educational, boys, regional/rural, early learning centres, and flexible education.

Parents/carers are invited to assist Edmund Rice Education Australia in re-imagining who they are and how all EREA schools, including St Virgil’s College, can work as an authentic Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition.

We invite parents/carers to attend the Charter Renewal & Mission Strategy forum on Wednesday 12 June, from 6.30pm – 8.00pm in the Joyce Performance Centre at our Austins Ferry Campus. Please register your attendance via EdSmart.

Online sessions are also available for those who are unable to attend, and details can be obtained via the following link:  EREA Charter Renewal and Mission Strategy – Online Forum link

Senior School Canteen – Breakfast Service

Custom Catering has advised that due to low turnover for breakfast sales, this service will cease on Friday 14 June. Unfortunately, it is uneconomical for them to continue to run this service with such low sales given the current economic conditions, and it is not a model they offer in any other school setting. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. We confirm that there are no changes to their recess and lunch offerings.

Staffing Update

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Casey-Lee Hotton to the position of Literacy Leader commencing on Monday 17 June. Casey-Lee has been an Advanced Senior Teacher at Jordan River Learning Federation and has previously held leadership positions at Chancellor State College on the Sunshine Coast as Head of Department Humanities and Student Services as well as Year 7 Grade Leader. Casey-Lee holds a Bachelor of Education/Arts from the University of the Sunshine Coast where she majored in English and Science.

I confirm that Harry Jones will be taking on the position of H&PE Teacher (0.6 FTE), replacing Jamie Symons in Term 3. Harry is in his 4th year of a Bachelor of Education at UTAS and will complete his degree later this year. Harry has been employed as a casual teacher at Hobart City High School since 2023 and was also employed as a Teacher Assistant at St Patrick’s College Launceston. Harry has also been the Year 9/10 Cricket Coach for The Hutchins School.

On behalf of the St Virgil’s College community, I congratulate both Casey and Harry on their appointments and trust that they will find our College both professionally and personally rewarding. We look forward to welcoming them to our College community in the coming weeks.

We congratulate Maddison Bowerman, Administration Officer at the Austins Ferry Campus, who has been appointed to the position of Talent & Pathways Coordinator in the People & Culture Team at Huon Aquaculture. I know Maddi will be greatly missed by all but understand that this is a wonderful and exciting opportunity for her. We will have an opportunity to thank her for her significant contribution to our College community before her departure.

Student Free Day – Staff Spirituality Day

Next week, on Friday 7 June, the Junior School and Senior School staff of St Virgil’s College will join the staff from St Francis Flexible Learning Centre at the Austins Ferry Campus to participate in our Staff Spirituality Day. The purpose of this day is to deepen our understanding of what it means to be Gospel people and to engage in the charism of our founder Blessed Edmund Rice, a man of compassion, service, and faith. A reminder that this is a student-free day and that no supervision will be available for students (Junior and Senior Campus) on this day.

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL