From the Principal

Dear Parents, Students, and Friends of St Virgil’s College, 

Orientation Day

We welcomed many new and existing families to our Junior and Senior School campuses on Monday. This was a great opportunity for families to hear from key staff, but most importantly for our new students to spend time with their teachers in preparation for next year. Maybe calling it an ‘Orientation’ Day is not the best title, because given that a genuinely successful education for boys is the result of a strong partnership between parents/carers and School, with both playing a key role, the main benefit of the day was the initiating of that relationship between teacher and parent, with the boys present and for our young men to spend quality time with their peers and key staff in readiness for the 2025 academic year.

It was also wonderful to welcome our Kindergarten students and their parents/carers to the Junior School campus yesterday for our Kindergarten Orientation Morning. Kindergarten students had an opportunity to explore our facilities and our playground as well as connect with one another and our teaching staff. I thank all parents/carers for their engagement with the College and look forward to welcoming students and parents/carers to the Junior School when school returns in February 2025.   

Staffing Update

Junior School Music Teacher

It gives me great pleasure to advise that Mr Mark Narkowicz has been appointed to the ongoing position of Junior School Music Teacher commencing in 2025 replacing Mrs Jill Norton. Mr Narkowicz has been employed as the Primary Music Specialist at Ivanhoe Grammar School in Victoria since 2006. In this role Mr Narkowicz was responsible for the design and delivery of the Music program K-6, including conductor and coordinator of the Senior Choir and Year 2/3 Choir and Director of Musical Productions. Mr Narkowicz has also held Primary Classroom positions at Ivanhoe Grammar as well as The Hutchins School where he commenced his teaching career. Mr Narkowicz’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from the University of Tasmania and a Diploma of Teaching (Primary) from the Tasmanian State Institute of Technology as well as a Certificate IV in Music from NMIT Melbourne. Mr Narkowicz and Mrs Norton will meet prior to the end of the year to undertake a thorough handover. Mr Narkowicz comes highly recommended for this position, and we look forward to him contributing to the music program at St Virgil’s College next year.

Leadership Positions – Term 1, 2025 

As previously communicated, I will be taking leave in Term 1 2025. As a result of my leave Mr Daniel Lapolla has been appointed to the role of Acting Principal and Mrs Kim Mooney will take on the position of Acting Deputy Principal. Given these appointments, I am pleased to announce a number of additional leadership positions that have become available as a result of these vacancies. 

Mr Thymon Venter Acting Assistant Principal – Religious Identity & Mission, Acting Head of Religious Education  

Mr David Webster – Acting Director of Student Wellbeing 

Mr Daniel Robinson – Acting Head of Senior School, Head of Science 

Please join with me in congratulating Mr Venter, Mr Webster and Mr Robinson on their appointments. The College is fortunate to have a number of experienced educators who are able to step up and take on additional responsibilities when required. 

Year 10 Mass & Luncheon 

Our Year 10 students finished formal lessons this week and the College had an opportunity to give thanks for their contribution at a Mass which was held in the Joyce Performance Centre where Fr Stephen Smith offered the students a blessing. This was followed by the Year 10 Luncheon where our young men had an opportunity to reflect on the year and I thank them for their positive engagement on the day. It was a memorable occasion, and I thank Mr Daniel Lapolla, Mr Thymon Venter and the Heads of House for their organisation and support of our young men on the day. 

Child Safeguarding – Community Report

In our process of continuous improvement around safeguarding children and young people we have recently developed a Community Safeguarding Form. This form can be used by community members and members of the public to let us know if they are concerned for the safety and wellbeing of any of our students. The form can be found in the Child Safety and Wellbeing section of our website - https://www.stvirgils.tas.edu.au/our-college/about/child-safety-and-wellbeing-statement. When a form is submitted contact will be made by one of our Child Safeguarding Officers.

Speech Night – Wednesday 4 December 

I look forward to welcoming students and parents/carers from Years 3-12 to our annual Speech Night on Wednesday 4 December (6.00 pm for a 6.30 pm start) at MyState Arena. This will be the first time in the College’s history that we will gather students from Years 3-12 for this special evening, and more than 30 years that we will recognise and congratulate Year 12 students who complete their formal secondary education next week. I look forward to seeing you on the night to acknowledge student achievement and give thanks for the year. 

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL