Over the next 18 months the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, in conjunction with the Catholic Education Office of Melbourne, will guide a consultative process that will result in new governance arrangements for over 290 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
St John’s Regional College will be part of this consultation process initiated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli in response to the Victorian Government Betrayal of Trust Parliamentary Inquiry. This Inquiry recommended that all organisations receiving funding for services to children be incorporated and adequately insured, hence the requirement for a new Governance structure.
A draft Governance Model outlined below has been circulated to Parish Priests, school principals, education staff, parents and families, all of whom will have the opportunity to contribute to the future decision-making processes for Catholic Schools in Melbourne.
The establishment of a new Governance Model for Catholic Schools is an important step in aligning the purpose of Catholic Schools with the broader vision of the Church as outlined by Archbishop Comensoli. Continuing our strong focus on education and social justice through our local communities, families, youth, the poor and broken.
In coming weeks the Archbishop will announce a steering committee, which will be made up of key personnel from the Archdiocese and Catholic Education Melbourne, Parish Priests, school principals and a parent representative. The steering committee will guide the process that will result in new governance arrangements for Melbourne Catholic schools, including St John’s Regional College, by January 2021.
Awards Evening and Art and Technology Exhibition 2019
Our Annual Awards Evening will take place on 19 November in the Br Leo Schollen Stadium at 7pm. I extend an invitation to all members of our community to attend this special evening with its focus on celebrating the growth, development and excellence achieved by our students in all facets of school life.
As per last year, the Art and Technology Exhibition will open on the same night beginning at 5.30pm. The announcement of the Bro Amedy Molloy Art Prize will take place during the Awards Evening.
Enrolment Open Evening
19 November
Our second open event for the term will take place on Tuesday 19 November at 6pm in the new Administration Centre on Caroline St. Parents will have the opportunity to hear from senior staff and students, tour our student facilities and see displays of student work presented in our Annual Art and Technology exhibition. Enrolments for 2020/2021 are invited and parents can book a place for this Open Evening by contacting our College reception on (03) 8793 2000 or through Try Booking via the Enrolment tab on our school website https://www.sjrc.vic.edu.au.
Sports Precinct Update
The redevelopment of our sporting facilities as part of the completion of our Stage One Masterplan continues to progress well. Construction Company Turf One advises that they are on schedule for a late January completion date, just in time for the beginning of the 2020 school year. The new facilities are attracting attention in our local community with a number of sporting organisations expressing interest in hiring the facilities for after school and weekend sporting programs. The St John’s Regional College Advisory Board will work with prospective sporting groups and the Dandenong City Council to ensure that our local community, alongside our students, enjoys the benefits of these magnificent new facilities.
Bereavement
I thank everyone in our community for their prayers and thoughts over the last few days on the passing of my father, Kevin, last Tuesday morning. He passed away peacefully having enjoyed a wonderful life, the father of nine children. He will be missed.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
