Principal

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

Welcome to Term 2. Thank you to the parents who attended our Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences last Monday. When students, parents and teachers work together, we can set clear goals and practical next steps for the semester, informed by assessment evidence and shared insights. 

If you were unable to attend — particularly where an interview was requested due to concerns about progress — please follow up directly with the relevant teacher. Where matters are urgent, the College may also contact families to ensure we can work together on a positive pathway for each student.

Relocating Student Services (Senior School)

Student Services is now located adjacent to the Front Office (formerly the Deputy Principal’s Office). This move makes support easier for students to access services across the day and provides improved facilities, including a dedicated First Aid room.

Co-locating Student Services with the Front Office will streamline processes, improve coverage at peak times (before school, recess, lunch and end-of-day) and strengthen support when students need to be signed out for collection.

Access to the Student Wellbeing Hub (counselling and wellbeing space) is unchanged. Existing appointments will continue as normal.

Parents are asked to please continue to contact the Front Office first for Student Services support, First Aid enquiries, and student collection/sign-out during the day.

ANZAC Day Service

Last Tuesday morning, the College paused to commemorate ANZAC Day and honour all who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Thank you to the staff and students who supported our service and represented the College at ANZAC Day commemorations across Hobart during the school holiday break. 

In particular, I thank Old Virgilian, retired Squadron Leader Alan Robertson, who served in the RAAF, for his heartfelt address, and the proud veterans, Army representatives, families, and College Chaplain Fr Suresh, who gathered to remember the Fallen Diggers and to pay respect to those who continue to serve. 

Mother’s Day 

Thank you to all the mothers and significant females who attended the Junior School Mother’s Day Breakfast and the Senior School afternoon tea this week. Sons, and all children, need their mothers who, in loving them and teaching them to love, are a reflection of God and a lesson in constant hope. Mothers will give infinite time to their children, as many mothers of the boys did in coming to these events, much to the open happiness of the boys to see their mothers there. 

As boys get older, they may be less obvious or open about the need for their mother’s presence and attention but need it just as much in different ways. This is most starkly demonstrated when things go wrong for a boy who, in adolescence and youth, can make poor choices and serious mistakes. Despite her frustrations, it is often the mother who is constant in her support and care throughout it all, because such love can never give up.

A particular thank you to all the staff who contributed to these two very important events.

Edmund Rice Beyond Borders 

In the final two weeks of Term 1, I attended the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) Congress in Buenos Aires, with a pre-Congress visit to Montevideo. It was a valuable opportunity to visit Stella Maris, Santa Margarita, Los Treblos (Uruguay) and Colegio Cardinal Newman (Argentina).

Seeing these communities in action reinforced the power of education to liberate and empower young people — supporting both learning and wellbeing — in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice.

It was also a wonderful chance to connect with principals and leaders from across the global Edmund Rice community. Thank you to Daniel Lapolla and the Leadership Team for their leadership and support during my absence.

Edmund Rice Day

Last Friday we celebrated Edmund Rice Day — the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of our Edmund Rice schools. Inspired by his commitment to educating young people, especially those experiencing disadvantage, Edmund Rice Education Australia continues this mission across more than 60 schools nationwide, including St Virgil’s. 

Our Mass also included the presentation of Facere et Docere (to do and to teach) Service Awards, recognising staff for their dedicated service to our College community. We acknowledged the following staff for their outstanding contribution to our College community:

10 Years Service Recipients  

Aaron Lucas                           

Tracey Williams                      

Lucinda Gear              

Mary-Jane Anders                  

Nicole Read                            

Kay Scanlon    

20 Years Service Recipients  

Sherry Coy                              

James Dalton  

35 Years Service Recipient                

Richard Hill                            

Year 7 students were also formally welcomed and acknowledged by the Old Virgilians Association Member, Mr Bruce Woods, and were presented with their OVA badge. 

Thank you to Fr Suresh for leading our Founder’s Day Mass and to Mrs Áine Toman for coordinating the activities throughout the day.

Best wishes for the week ahead. 

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL