From the Principal

It feels like Christmas

There was much excitement last week with the opening of our refurbished Ignatius Centre (Library). It was great to welcome students to a new and innovative learning space. Our College is always a work in progress. It will take us some time to get the library usage right as we work with students to create appropriate guidelines that can stimulate creativity and provide quiet learning areas as required. We are thrilled with the end product and more importantly, the initial reaction of our students.

Mr Bill Quartermaine, Director of Inquiry and Innovation has provided this excellent summary:

The Ignatius Centre is a modern, multi-functional learning space designed to enhance student learning.

There are three large learning spaces: an Innovation Hub; Collaboration Hub and an Independent Learning Hub.

Each learning space is distinctive in style and caters for different styles of teaching and learning using space, furnishings and technology. The students have access to modern technology, smart boards, write-on tables and walls and, of course, thousands of books in our collection.

There are also two conference style rooms which are collaborative spaces for group work and an upstairs mezzanine reading space.

All secondary students who wish to use the library after school can have something to eat and drink in the new library café. 

The Primary students have their own learning areas, highlighted by a beautiful open space for students to listen to stories and a new outdoor learning hub. Groups of students can gather around tables or on couches for reading, learning tasks and hands-on activities.

Last week we conducted our first Secondary Assembly for 2022. Pre-COVID, we took large gatherings of students, staff and parents for granted and we have certainly missed the special sense of community over the past few years.

At the assembly, I likened the re-opening of the library to receiving a new present. As a young boy, I recall receiving a new cricket bat one Christmas and preparing the bat for use by applying oil, gently ‘hitting the bat in’ and then using light sandpaper to smooth out any cracks. The preparation for the opening of our new buildings has been equally comprehensive as our staff, architects and builders manage the inevitable COVID related delays. I love that our students are immediately responding well to the renovated library. Invariably, there will be some ‘cracks’ that develop but we will work with students and staff to ensure the new space is optimal for learning.

Our A Block development, including a new examination centre, and our new staff building are also due for completion towards the end of this year. We will keep everyone informed of progress.

Robert Henderson

Principal