ST NORBERT NEWS

From the Principal

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

I would like to officially welcome our College community to the start of the 2018 academic year and as such, the first edition of the College newsletter. The start of the school year is always an exciting time but one that can also cause some nervousness and trepidation. Last week we welcomed in excess of 183 new students to our College community and I’m sure, now that we are nearly through our first full week, many are feeling much more at ease thanks to the hospitality and assistance of peers and staff. I would like to thank everyone for the manner in which they have set the tone for what looms as a very exciting year ahead.

The College staff gathered for Mass on Monday 29 January with the staff from St Joseph’s where Fr Peter celebrated the beginning of the new school year. At this Mass, we also commissioned new staff to St Norbert College:

Mr Scott Arnold – Design and Technology

Miss Aleisha Crump – Humanities

Mr  Rod Dowling – Dean of Studies

Mr Corey Houwen – Health and Physical Education

Miss Justyna Jankowski – Mathematics

Miss Karen MaGee – Science

Mrs Geraldine Martin – Aboriginal Teaching Assistant

Ms Delia Rawlings – Education Assistant

Mr Michael Roche – Computer Science and Information Technology

Mrs Joleen Scott – Finance Officer

Ms Chen Wang – Mathematics

It is my pleasure to welcome all of our new staff to St Norbert College.

There have also been a number of role changes within our staff, many of which were alluded to last year. These include:

Ms Sharon Rainford – Deputy Principal 

Mr Chadwick Beins – Head of Learning Area - Arts

Mr Roger D’Almeida – Head of Learning Area –     Science

Mr Scott Hodgen – Head of Learning Area – Health and Physical Education

Mr Aaron D’Souza – Head of House – Xanten

As we commence the new school year, we have a number of opportunities to congratulate and celebrate the wonderful achievements of the Year 12 Class of 2017. We are delighted with the acknowledgement and rewards that this cohort has received for their hard work and effort, under the guidance and support of so many staff and family members. I congratulate staff, students and families on the following accolades:

  • St Norbert College Median ATAR 87.6 (ranked 4th across all WA Catholic schools and 18th in secondary schools in WA).
  • 100% of VET students achieving a Certificate II or higher
  • 96% achievement of the WACE Certificate.
  • St Norbert College was ranked a top performing school in Health Studies and Physical Education Studies and the highest scores for CEWA schools in Computer Science, Health Studies, Japanese as Second Language and Psychology.
  • 77% of students who applied for a public university received their first preference.

We acknowledged a number of students for their outstanding individual achievements at our first College assembly last Friday. Mr Dowling, our Dean of Studies, has further details of these students and their achievements in his article contained in this newsletter.

As we do at all College assemblies we also reflected on one of our St Norbert College values and for this first assembly, we took the time to reflect on the value of Commitment.

As members of the St Norbert College community, we strive to live this value when we commit our best efforts towards personal performance and seek every opportunity for self-improvement, when we set goals and commit to work to achieve these, and when we aspire to excellence in everything we do. This is a commitment we make for our own benefit and for the benefit of our College community.

One commitment that all families make at enrolment is attendance at the compulsory College events, the first of which is the annual College Community Mass, a wonderful occasion for all in our community to gather in prayer to ask for God’s blessings on our school year.

This year, the College Community Mass will be held on Sunday 18 February at 6.30pm in the College grounds. I look forward to sharing this special time with all of our families.

The Year 12 Ball was held last Friday at Fraser’s Function Centre in Kings Park. The beautiful backdrop of the city skyline proved a delightful setting for our students to enjoy the company of peers and staff. Enormous thanks to Mrs Kremer and Ms Morris for their dedication and organisation of this event and all in attendance for their conduct.

 

In closing, the Australian Bishops have identified the liturgical year of 2018 as a national Year of Youth. The Year of Youth invites the church into dialogue about the importance and life-giving presence of young people in the Church and society. The Year of Youth prayer, which I have included for your reflection, includes one line which calls on the Holy Spirit to “enliven our community with the creativity, energy and joy of youth”.

I thank all of our young people for starting this year with a wonderful spirit of community, enthusiasm and joy. It bodes well for an exciting year ahead.

God Bless

Mr S Harvey (Principal)

 

Year of Youth Prayer

 

Come Holy Spirit of this Great Southland

 

Inspire our entire faith community, as we prayerfully discern new horizons for spreading joy in the lives and communities of the People of God.

 

 

Come Holy Spirit of Youth

 

Fill the hearts of young people with the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

 

Enliven our community with the creativity, energy and joy of youth.

 

Guide us together, as we strive to offer God’s mercy to those who feel abandoned or outcast.

 

 

Come Holy Spirit of Faith

 

Empower our community to be courageous.

 

Unite your people as witnesses of love.

 

Walk with us, as we blaze new trails of discipleship, accompanying young people as we renew the Church together.

 

 

Come Holy Spirit of Vocation

Stir within young people an awareness

of God’s call.

Reveal to us the graces of young people.

 

Guide us all, in finding our place and raising our voices to build a civilisation of love.

 

Amen.