Principal

Dear Members of the Academy Community,

We come to the final newsletter for 2023.  It is hard to believe that the 2023 year is drawing to a close – it seems that the year has sped by.

It has been a year when we have celebrated the Academy community in so many ways and have been true to our theme -  Many Voices, One Community.

One of the joys this year has been the significant growth in student voice made manifest in so many ways - student interaction at the regular Student Forum meetings, Assemblies led by members of the Senior Student Leadership team, engaging student speakers at various events and finally last week our new Co Justice Captains giving the Homily at our end of year Mass - indeed Many Voices, One Community.

Of late we have celebrated two very important events.  The Graduation evening for the Year 12 class of 2023 and last night's Celebration of Excellence evening.

It is a tradition that at each Graduation dinner we invite the College Captain or a significant student of 10 years ago to be the guest speaker.  This year our guest speaker was Ms Emily Lynch who reflected on her journey over the past 10 years.  You can read Emily's speech here

Last night’s Celebration of Excellence Evening provided the opportunity to acknowledge student excellence in all areas.  I congratulate those students who were acknowledged last night.  They should be truly proud of their efforts and I know teachers and parents share their pride. 

I extend best wishes to the staff and students who are leaving us and take this opportunity to wish them well for the future.  We thank each and every one of them for their contribution to the College. 

I would like to particularly acknowledge the staff who are leaving us:

• Ms Marta Battistella – our Italian Assistant
• Ms Sarah Francis – Japanese teacher
• Ms Georgie Terrill – Learning Support
• Ms Trish Maguire – Learning Enhancement Leader
• Ms Sue Moran – RE, Justice Leader, Synergy Leader and English teacher
• Mrs Anna Dimattina – English, RE and Wellbeing Leader
• Ms Tamara Hall – English and Humanities teacher
• Ms Geraldine O'Connor – English, Humanities, RE and Psychology teacher
• Mr Martin McInerney – Visual Arts Learning Leader, Art teacher

As you know a number of the teachers above have been at the Academy for a number of years.  In fact between them, Ms Sue Moran, Mrs Anna Dimattina, Ms Tamara Hall, Ms Geraldine O'Connor, and Mr Martin McInerney have given 81 years of service to the Academy.  

A great gift!  We wish those 5 teachers a very long and happy retirement.

Also we extend best wishes to Ms Maggie Murphy and Mr Kilian McNamara as they take a year's leave from the College and look forward to their return in 2025!

Thank you to all members of staff, students, members of the College Advisory Council, the Parents’ Association and the Alumnae Committee for your support this year.   The teaching staff finish on Wednesday 13 December and the College office closes on Tuesday 19 December at 11.00am.   

Our 2024 theme “Stronger together” is one we look forward to actioning throughout the year.  The road ahead beckons and the Academy community moves forward with hope and joy.

I wish you a very happy Christmas, a safe and relaxing holiday and every blessing for the coming year. 

Every blessing,

Sr Mary Moloney rsm 

Principal

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.   Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Philippians 2:3-4 

Christmas Prayer

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger.

We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child.   We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance. Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas,

the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless babe who cracks the world asunder.  We kneel before you shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen.

Help us to rise bigger than we are.

Amen