From the Principal

Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Friends of St Virgil’s,

Advent

Advent has begun—a time of reflection, preparation and anticipation. Reflection on the year drawing to a close, preparation for all the events and activities Christmas and the holidays will bring, and a growing anticipation that comes with this time of year—building up to the great Christian feast of Christmas and all that that it signifies—peace, happiness, family and new life. This anticipation is experienced in the excitement of a child looking forward to Christmas morning, through to the sense of tension being released in working adults as they start to wind down from the stresses and strains of the year—looking forward to rediscovering our true ‘relaxed’ selves.

Thank you to all the members of our school community—students, parents, families, staff and volunteers—for all your contributions to the college over the year, from simple and routine matters through to all the extras that people provide without which a school cannot survive, and by receiving, schools can achieve great things.

Thanksgiving & Awards Evening 

Thanksgiving is our major annual celebration of achievement at St Virgil’s, covering the academic, religious, cultural and sporting domains of student life, also presenting our College Captains, and showcasing a range of student musical talents. Thank you to all who attended, to all the staff who contributed to the organisation and running of the evening, and in particular Mr Daniel Lapolla for planning and coordinating a very successful event. The time and effort given to the evening is a sign of the importance we place on the achievements of our students. 

In particular, I congratulate the following major award winners for 2023: 

Virgilian of the Year - Thomas Marr

Edmund Rice Award - Lachlan Gillie

Mark Waddington Memorial Award - Charles Lennon

PB Murphy Award - Thomas Marr

Joshua Cooper Award - Seth Clarke

Danny Forster Award - Joey Rosson

Olympic Change Maker Award - Samuel Nadler

CA Shirley Memorial Award - Jacob Clothier

I also offer my congratulations to the 2024 College Captains, Thomas Marr and Charles Lennon who will lead the student body and who will be our first Year 12 College leaders in over 30 years. I am confident they will lead this fine College with distinction. Both Thomas and Charles will attend the National EREA College Leaders Conference at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat in January in preparation for their leadership roles in 2024. We wish them well and thank them both for their continued service to the life of our College community.  

Farewells

It is with a touch of sadness, we farewell a number of staff, but we view them as our missionaries, taking our story to the world and who will make a significant contribution to the young across greater Hobart and mainland Australia. 

I wish Ms Amelia Clarke – Head of the Arts all the very best as she takes on a drama and creative arts role at St Aloysius College next year along with Mr Jamie Graham-Blair who has resigned from his position as Learning Support Officer to take up a position as a Sea Country Project Officer with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s Land and Sea Management program. I know both will be greatly missed and we thank them for their significant contribution to our College community. 

I congratulate the following staff on their recent appointments.

Director of Student Wellbeing: I congratulate Mr Thymon Venter who will be taking on the role of Director of Student Wellbeing, replacing Ms Farron Boxall who moves to Mt Carmel next year. Mr Venter has undertaken the role of Head of Dwyer House with distinction and I look forward to him contributing to the wellbeing of our young men and joining the College Executive Team next year. 

Head of Dwyer House: I am pleased to announce that Mr Matthew Desmarchelier will take on the position of Head of Dwyer House next year. Mr Desmarchelier is well known to our students having taught Mathematics and Physical Education at the College since the beginning of 2022.  

Food Technology Teacher: I congratulate Mrs Belinda Straatsma who has been appointed to the position of Food & Technology Teacher. Mrs Straatsma has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Home Economics) from Deakin University, Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Tasmania and has been a Food Technology Teacher at Calvin Christian School for over 10 years. As well as her role of Food Technology Teacher, Belinda has held Head of Department roles in Design & Technology and Health & Physical Education.

Languages Teacher: Ms Sannia Su has accepted my offer to take on the position of Languages Teacher (Chinese) in Year 7 & 8 given the departure of Ms Jessica Hutchinson. Ms Su is very excited to be taking on this position and sharing her culture and language with our young men.

Please join me in congratulating Mr Venter, Mr Desmarchelier, Mrs Straatsma and Ms Su on their appointments. I look forward to their positive contribution to our wellbeing and learning culture at St Virgil’s College. 

I wish you all a very blessed and happy Christmas, travel safely, enjoy good times with friends and family and we look forward to welcoming everyone back at the start of the 2024 school year when students commence on Wednesday 7 February.

Best wishes and God bless,

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL