From the Principal
Next week marks the fourth week of Lent. I share Pope Leo’s Lenten message which has a greater importance given the escalating conflict in the Middle East. He invites Catholics to listen, build community, and cultivate kindness, to abstain from words of hate and make space for words of peace.
“Dear friends, let us ask for the grace of a Lent that leads us to greater attentiveness to God and to the least among us. Let us ask for the strength that comes from the type of fasting that also extends to our use of language, so that hurtful words may diminish and give way to a greater space for the voice of others. Let us strive to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer finds welcome, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love.”
I hope that these words resonate at some level with all of us and that we find ways to prepare for the renewal and hope that Easter brings. I extend the invitation to all to attend mass on Friday at St Joseph’s Priory Church at 8:10am.
Open Day
We held our Open Day on Friday 27 February. Our visitors to the College were very complimentary of what they saw of our facilities and more importantly the student ambassadors that were the tour guides. Thank you to all staff and students who have showcased our College so far this term. Interviews for Year 7, 2028 have commenced and I recommend parents to submit applications for students currently in Year 4 (or below) as soon as possible-this includes for siblings of current St Norbert College students. We already have substantial waiting lists.
Staff Professional Development
On Tuesday 3 March, our staff completed Part 3 of a four part program in the Berry Street Education Model. The focus of the day was on:
Stamina – How to create a culture of academic persistence in your classroom by nurturing student resilience, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset.
Engagement – How to motivate students with strategies that increase their willingness to learn.
The College has committed to this educational model as it values relationship building to promote engagement in the classroom. Want to know more? Click the link below.
Inter-House Swimming Carnival
The Inter-House Swimming Carnival at Perth HPC reflected great House spirit and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Magdeburg House on a great win. Sadly, our scoring system provided an incorrect final result naming Tongerlo as the champion House. The margin was close and this amendment cannot take away the awarding of the Spirit Bear to Tongerlo who cheered enthusiastically throughout the day. A full report on the Carnival is included later in the newsletter.
I thank Mr Sam Mancini for co-ordinating the day and all staff for their contributions especially our Physical Education staff, House Co-ordinators and Heads of House. The announcement of Year level champions will be made on Thursday 19 March at 9am in the O’Reilly Centre. Our students will be competing in the ACC D Division Carnival on Monday 23 March and I wish them the best of luck.
NAPLAN
Our Year 7 & Year 9 students are currently completing their NAPLAN assessments. I am proud of the way they have conducted themselves. Please keep them in your prayers and I am confident that they will do their best. I thank Miss Carrol Abel for all her preparation to ensure the smooth running of the testing.
Harmony Day
As a community we are looking forward to our Harmony Day celebrations on Wednesday 25 March and I encourage students to proudly wear national dress that reflects their heritage.
God bless.
Ms S Rainford
Principal