Principal's Report
Mass of the Assumption
Our whole school community stopped on Monday of this week to celebrate the feast of the Assumption. In honouring the feast day of Mary, Fr Luke Bulley, C.P., asked us to reflect on the life and example of Mary the Mother of Jesus. Her ability to say “Yes” to God at a difficult period in her life is a lesson about placing our faith in God and trusting that God will never abandon us in our time of need.
I thank our Director of Faith and Mission, Mr Rhynehart, Fr Luke Bulley, our youth band, led by Mr Jan Holewa as well as all of our student leaders and staff in making this a wonderful celebration of Mary’s Life.
Staff and Board Dinner
On the evening of Thursday 29 August the Annual School Advisory Committee and Staff Dinner was held to recognise the contribution of our long serving staff at the College and some significant farewells from our community.
It was great to welcome back staff members David Fong, Bruce Topham and Michele Trusler who retired earlier in the year and returned for the night so we could say thank you and acknowledge them for their wonderful service. Mr Andrew Schoenmaekers was also fare-welled for his contribution to our School Advisory Committee and Finance Committee over the last seven years. He and his wife Veronica will relocate to Geelong in the coming months and sadly step aside from his role of stewardship at St John’s.
Some significant milestones of service were acknowledged on the night including Ms Ollie Armstrong and Mr Peter Colvin who were both honoured for an amazing 40 years of service to St John’s.
I also congratulate the following staff members who were presented with their 20 and 10 year service awards.
Mr Andrew Dias 10 Years
Ms Ash Fraraccio 10 Years
Mr Peter Samuel 10 Years
Mr Paul Wintle 10 Years
Ms Amanda Gengaroli 20 Years
I thank them on behalf of our community for their generous service to this College.
Sr. Margaret Bellesini Award
At the School Advisory Committee and Staff Dinner the Sr Margaret Bellesini Award was presented to House Leader Ms Ash Fraraccio. This staff award was named after Presentation Sister, Margaret Bellesini, an early pioneer of the College who led the middle school of St John’s for a number of years with great commitment to her faith and her students. The award recognises a staff member who exemplifies the Core Values of the De La Salle Brothers and Presentation Sisters and I congratulate Ms Fraraccio on her witness to these values over many years.
Acting Principal
I will be taking long service leave from 19 August until 2 September. In my absence, Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching, Dr Janine Biggin will be the Acting Principal and Ms Frankie Flannigan and Mr Adam Gordon will share the responsibilities of the Deputy Principal of Learning and Teaching.
Book Week
Last week we celebrated Book Week with a range of activities to focus on literacy and the joys of reading. Activities included:
- Poetry workshop with Mr Peter Samuel
- Writing workshop with Mr Michael Toomey
- Visits from authors Huda Hayek and Bernard Caleo
- A Parent evening with author Abdi Aden
- A fashion parade of our favourite book characters
- Staff vs Student debate organised by Ms. Keel
Our students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to explore their love of reading expressed in a variety of different ways and I thank all the staff who contributed to and supported a wonderful book week particularly Dr Janine Biggin and Ms Dawn Heldt.
Year 11 Formal
The Year 11 Formal took place on Friday 5 August at the Grand on Princes. Our students thoroughly enjoyed dressing up and dancing the night away to DJ Shadows and given the lack of opportunities for nights like these in the last two years it could only be described as a joyous occasion. I want to thank our Formal Co-Ordinator Ms Angelique Phillip-Kemp and Deputy Principal Mr Van Es for their thorough planning of the night and all the staff who volunteered their time to assist with supervision.
