From the College Principal 

Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Friends of the St Gregory’s College Community,

As I am sitting down to write my final College Newsletter article for the close of the 2020 year, once again I am amazed at the speed of the year that has just passed and the realisation of how quickly time seems to fly these days. It only seems like yesterday that I was sitting at my desk writing the first Newsletter for 2020! Back in late January, we had no idea of the challenges we would face with the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact that would have on so many of the things we would consider as normal in our life. I feel blessed to be writing this Newsletter article, knowing that the Government and health officials in Australia and NSW have done an amazing job keeping us as safe as possible from the effects and impacts of the COVID virus, as being experienced across the globe. As a College, I also feel justifiably proud of our community and how well we have managed the crisis. I wish I could pat everyone on the back for a job well done!

It has been an absolute privilege for me to lead the College over the past year and witness the continuing growth of this wonderful school. This year, as a College we have been very proactive in so many areas, always with the benefit of having a ‘rear vision mirror’ so we can see where we have come from, and with the ‘headlights’ on so we can assess where we need to go and how we might achieve our potential as a College over the coming years. On a personal note, thank you to the St Gregory’s community for embracing me as the College Principal, and for your outstanding support and friendship over my two years at the College. I very much look forward to continuing my service to the College over the coming years.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW LITURGICAL YEAR & CHRISTMAS - The new Liturgical Year began on Sunday 29 November. At the start of the Church’s year, we enter the wondrous season of Advent with an exhortation to ‘stay awake’. We begin a time of preparation and anticipation as we look forward to welcoming the Christ Child into the world at Christmas. Christ calls each of us today to be awake to his presence in every moment, so that we may stand ready to greet him when he comes again in glory. 

The word Advent comes from the 

Latin advenio, "to come to," and refers to the coming of Christ. This refers, first of all, to our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; but second, to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion; and finally, to His Second Coming at the end of time. Our preparations, therefore, should have all three comings in mind. We need to prepare our souls to receive Christ worthily. Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St Andrew the Apostle (30 November) and embracing four Sundays. 

Blessings to you all as we begin our Advent journey. 

OUR COLLEGE MISSION - Over the past few weeks we have celebrated a number of significant College events; we have farewelled our Year 12 ‘Class of 2020’ with significant and moving ceremonies; we have welcomed our new Kindergarten students for 2021 at their recent Orientation afternoons; and, we have welcomed our new Year 7 students for 2021 from a range of other schools when they attended the College recently for their Orientation Day; we have witnessed the growth of our Year 2 students in their annual Christmas Concert; we have announced our Student Leaders for 2021; and, we have seen our Year 6 students complete their Junior Years of education and begin the transition to the senior years of schooling through their Transition Day. It is amazing how dynamic St Gregory’s is! It is fitting that at all of these occasions our message to students and their parents is that we are proud to be a Catholic school and our ethos is built on the Gospel values of respect, love, kindness, patience and commitment, and the Marist values of humility, simplicity and modesty. We don’t shy away from these important messages and we have expectations that students who are part of our community at St Gregory’s have these values as the pillars on which they can build their education. As we conclude the 2020 school year and look forward to another great year in 2021, I ask our parents and carers to re-consider their reasons for enrolling their son/daughter in our Catholic College and what it means to part of a community built on faith and the love of Jesus Christ. When we return to the College in 2021, I would hope that each member of our community re-commits to the purpose of Catholic education and how that is manifested in our work at St Gregory’s College.

I have used many opportunities at student assemblies and meetings with staff over the past year to continually emphasise the importance of developing a strong, inclusive, high expectations and progressive culture in our College. Each and every student, staff member and parent must feel ‘ownership’ in the College, by doing so this enhances all we want our College to be and to stand for as we move forward. A lack of ownership can cause dissatisfaction and disengagement with what is on offer. I have stressed in a variety of ways the following key points about St Gregory’s College: 

1. St Gregory’s is a great school because it has a mission and vision which is clearly being lived out each and every day. You can see it and can feel it. It is not just words on a sign or in a prospectus.
2. St Gregory’s is a great school because it is characterised by students who are known, loved and well cared for.
3. St Gregory’s is a great school because it is characterised by students who are provided with opportunities to grow and prosper every day.
4. St Gregory’s is a great school because it is a place where students learn respect through being treated with respect.
5. St Gregory’s is a great school because it is where students are happy to learn; happy to mix and form solid friendships; and, happy to go beyond the expected.

We are indeed fortunate that these five indicators are very much part of the culture at St Gregory’s College. We still have many things to work on over the years ahead, but we will be proactive and dynamic in addressing each and every issue that we are made aware of. Please continue to support us by providing constructive feedback and engaging with the College through your active participation.

STAFF MOVEMENTS - At the end of the school year we farewell a number of staff members who have provided dedicated service to the College, many over an extended period of time. The following staff leave us this year: -

• Mr Max Spencer
• Mrs Lucia Martin
• Mrs Joanne Dash
• Mrs Julie Robinson
• Mrs Jodie Hillhouse

On behalf of the College community, I thank all our departing staff members for their contributions to St Gregory’s and for helping make our school a centre of excellence. I wish them every success in their new ventures and assure them our prayers are with them as they continue their journey beyond St Gregory’s College.

At the end of the school year we also farewell Mrs Melissa Partridge, Mrs Jesse Bacon and Mrs Penny Kalaremas as they conclude their teaching contracts at the College. I thank them for their dedicated service and wish them well in their new endeavours.

We also wish Mr Peter Hogan, Mrs Deb Monte and Mrs Jessica Allen every best wish as they take extended periods of leave in 2021. Our prayers are with them.

At the end of the school year, we will also farewell many families from our College community. A number of families are re-locating and some families have decided to try another school for their child in 2021. For whatever reasons we are losing these families, I extend our prayers to you for the next phase of your son’s / daughter’s education. We hope their time at St Gregory’s has been one of happiness and contentment. We wish you God’s blessing on your journey beyond St Gregory’s.

YEAR 12 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE & ATAR RESULTS - The 2020 Higher School Certificate results (from 6 am) and the ATAR results (from 9 am) will be released on Friday 18 December. Our Year 12 students will hopefully join in some hospitality in the Brother Luke Hall Foyer during the day to celebrate their results. A report to our College community will be prepared and distributed following the release of the results. 

YEAR 7 – 10 – RETURN OF EXAMINATION PAPERS – Students and their parents/carers are invited to the College on Saturday 12 December between 9 am and 12 noon to collect their Year 7 – 10 Examination papers from the Brother Luke Hall. Exam papers can be checked, and any changes can be notified to Mr Ric Bombardiere, our Director of Studies by Monday 14 December.

CAPITAL PROJECTS – 2021 - In 2021, the following capital projects have been included in our budget. These projects will be staged across 2021, and understandably, they will cause some disruptions during the construction phases: -

• Senior School - STEM Building & Theatre – Master Plan #4 (Work in progress – tender stage - towards 2022 construction)
• Senior School - Ongoing Refurbishment of Boarding Houses – Master Plan #5
• Junior School - Shaded Creative Play & Seating – Master Plan #6
• Senior School - Redesign/Refurbishment of Classrooms 010 - 014 – Master Plan #3
• Senior School – Outdoor Learning & Indigenous Yarning Circle – Master Plan #7
• Senior School - Basketball Precinct - Refurbish existing Courts & Cover x 2 courts, Lighting & PA/AV – Master Plan #1A
• Senior School - Futsal Court - including tiered seating & upstand walls – Master Plan #1B
• Junior School - All-Purpose Covered Netball / Basketball court & Volleyball court – Master Plan #2
• Senior School - Replace Front Entrance Paving & Under Cover Walkway to Administration Building – Master Plan #13
• Senior School - Replace Marian Centre Roof
• Senior School - Renovation Dining Room – Donovan Centre
• Senior School - Renovation of the Senior School Canteen
• Senior School - Additional Outdoor seating near canteen – Master Plan #16
• Senior School - Roof for outdoor Construction classroom
• Junior School & Senior School - Updated signage around the College
• Senior School - Monument sign at Road for Senior Campus – Master Plan #9

As you are well aware, 2020 has been a challenging year for all concerned. We hope that 2021 will allow us the opportunities to re-invigorate the College facilities and to work towards the array of projects in the College Master Plan and other maintenance projects.

In addition to these capital projects in 2021, the following painting and construction projects will take place over the holiday break:

• Senior Staff Lunch Room refurbishment
• Senior School Canteen – painting inside and out
• Junior School Canteen – painting - outside only
• The Donovan Centre Dining room – painting - inside
• New carpet in the Examination Centre.
• Re-tiling of the Senior School Administration foyer and Student Services foyer.
• Minor refurbishment of the Counsellor offices.
• Renovation of bathrooms, dormitories and common areas of the Brother Fingal Boarding House.
• Replacement of awning and pathways in the Brother Senan Boarding House.
• New handrails and configuration of the Canteen lines in the Senior School (in preparation for our new catering company in 2021, Chartwells).
• Demolition and refurbishment of the Senior School Staff Common Room.
• Construction of the Mary Garden in the Junior School and placement of the Mary statue.

I thank Brian Schick, our College Director of Business Operations and Gerard Fetterplace, our College Facilities Manager for their commitment to ensuring these tasks and projects are completed and that they greatly benefit the College community.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS - As we conclude the 2020 school year and look forward to 2021, I remind parents and carers of some important ‘non-negotiables’ for students to commence the new school year on Thursday 28 January 2021. On Thursday 28 January, all students in the Senior School (Years 7 – 12) are expected to wear their formal Summer School Uniform – NO sports uniforms are to be worn on that day (there is no sport on that day). 

Parents and carers, please also assist and support us in the following: -

1. College Uniform – please ensure your son / daughter is dressed properly in the full College uniform at the start of next year. This includes formal black school shoes (leather uppers which can be polished). Boys shirts are tucked in at all times and long socks are worn pulled up if wearing shorts.
2. Hair Styles – please ensure your son / daughter has their hair properly groomed and cut for the start of the school year. No ‘radical’ cuts, styles or colouring are permitted. Girls must have their hair tied back.
3. Punctuality - respect for the College begins with being on time and staying on time each and every day. The school day begins at 8.25 am each day – students should be ready to move to Homeroom/class each morning at 8.25 am.

THANK YOU - I take this opportunity to thank my wonderful staff for their dedication and commitment to their roles in the College during 2020. It is a pleasure to work in a school where staff professionalism is clearly evident. I have felt great support from all staff during the year and I know how much they want (as I do) to make St Gregory’s the best school possible – a centre of excellence. I know we will continue to work towards this during 2021 and I ask for your support in all that we do here at the College to benefit the education of your son/daughter.

Personally, I would like to express my thanks to my College Leadership Team for their outstanding support throughout 2020. I greatly appreciate their wise counsel and friendship. They have assisted me greatly in my role as Principal throughout the year. I could not have got through this challenging year without their dedication, loyalty and sheer hard work.

I also sincerely thank Dr Frank Malloy, Executive Director of Marist Schools Australia and Dr John Robinson, our Regional Director from Marist Schools Australia  - both wonderful friends and mentors to me; the very supportive team at Marist Schools Australia; Brother Bryan Davis, our Marist Brothers Community Leader and the Marist Brothers in community at St Gregory’s College; our visiting clergy who provide outstanding support to our community; the College Foundation led by Mr Bruce Hanrahan; and, the College Finance Advisory Council and College Advisory Council members. To each and every one of these significant support people to me – I say thank you for assisting me to make St Gregory’s the great College it is today. 

Thank you, parents and carers for your friendship and the healthy respect you have for what we try to do here at St Gregory’s. Our work is always in partnership. The support you provide assists me greatly. My door is always open to you!

I conclude by wishing each of you God’s blessing for a joyous Christmas and a wonderful start to 2021. Take time to celebrate the Holy Season and to enjoy the company of your family. Be safe over the holiday period and I look forward to staying in touch with our families in the new school year.

I wish you God’s blessings always. May Mary, our Good Mother, Saint Marcellin Champagnat and Saint Gregory continue to guide us and inspire us on our journey.

Quae Seminaveris Metes – “You will reap what you sow."

Lee MacMaster 

College Principal (K-12)