From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, Students, Staff and Friends of St Norbert College

It is difficult to believe that we have reached the season of Advent and the end of another school year. I can remember wandering around the College on my first day as Principal, excited but nervous about the responsibility I had been given to lead the school I feel very privileged to work in. I look forward to continuing to develop the College and to start the new school year with the four classrooms in our new building, Gennep, in operation. The College community will be able to see the new facilities at our Community Mass on Sunday, 18 February (save the date).

We concluded the year with a beautiful Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Fr Peter Joseph, O Praem. The very prominent Jesse Tree in St Joseph's Church is a reminder of the story from creation to Christ’s birth. I hope that students looked carefully at the special ornaments that act a symbols of timeline of the key people in the Old Testament to Jesus’ birth. 

At our final assembly this week, I reminded students that Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. I challenged our student to find ways to live out the gifts of Advent, represented by the four candles on the Advent wreath:

• Show love by contacting someone you have neglected.
• Be people of hope who trust in God’s guidance and help in our times of challenge.
• Find joy in everything you do and in the people you meet.
• Pray for peace, especially in Gaza/Israel, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria and also in our own families.

The end of any school year brings some sadness, as we farewell much loved staff. I would like to thank Mr Liam Mackenzie, Mr Louis Webb and Mrs Kelly Marsh who have completed short term contracts.

I would also like to farewell the following staff, who move on to their next challenge in the new year with our best wishes:

• Mr Peter Hawke who has taken a promotional position as Vice Principal at Prendiville College.
• Mr Rod Dowling who has also taken a promotional position as Vice Principal at Perth College.
• Miss Kerri Hilton who after 37 years of dedicated service to our College, is moving to a new school to build a theatre culture from the ground up.
• Ms Amanda Marsh who is pursuing other interests.
• Mr Matthew Price who has taken a promotional position as Head of Learning - Health & Physical Education at John Bosco.
• Mrs Brooke Kremer who returned to extended family and has taken a position at Bunbury Catholic College.
• Mrs Alexandra Ericson who has taken a position at Mater Dei College.
• Mrs Michelle Hoffmann who is embarking on part time work.
• Mrs Lauren Lee who has resigned her position after extended parental leave.

Best wishes to:

• Mr Corey Houwen who is taking one year at Hale College.
• Ms Anna Garton who is taking one year leave.

You can find a more detailed recognition of our departing staff in our latest Koinonia (yearbook) that has been distributed to the youngest student in each family. Years 11 and 12 students who have not collected their copy are welcome to do so from Administration (please refer to the Notices and Reminders page for school holiday hours). My heartfelt thanks to our Marketing and Communications Officer, Mrs Kate Aylett, for the well produced and colourful edition.

We are excited to announce that Mr Ryan Godfrey and Mrs Katelyn Godfrey welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Paisley May Godfrey, on Sunday, 3 December at 6.48am. As the youngest member of our College community, we look forward to a visit from Mrs Godfrey and Paisley next year. Will she be a Prémontré Penguin or a Tongerlo Joey? 

I hope that the holiday break will allow staff, students and families the time to rest and rejuvenate. Please take this opportunity to enjoy a slower pace with each other.

Take care and God's blessings for Christmas and the new year.

Ms S Rainford

(Principal)