From the Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

Staff Professional Learning Days

On Friday 13 November and Monday 16 November, staff will be participating in two Professional Learning Days. The staff in the Senior School will be undertaking mandatory Child Safeguarding training as well as participating in some planning sessions within their learning teams. The Junior School staff will be engaged in planning for the implementation of the Primary Years Program. Just a reminder that these two days are student free.

Christmas Hampers

Once again, the College will be supporting families in our wider community that need support and happiness at Christmas through the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers Appeal. As we move towards the end of term, we are calling on our College community to assist in donating items that can fill hampers that will be delivered to local families at Christmas. The Marist Solidarity Coordinator, Ms Kent will be sending communication this week to all of our families outlining how you can participate this year.  We are asking that all donations be received by the beginning of December (Week 8). Thank you in advance for your support of this initiative and thank you to Ms Kent for coordinating this very worthy initiative on behalf of the College.

Staff Changes

As indicated in the last Newsletter, several long-standing members of the Senior School teaching staff will finish their time at St Greg’s at the end of this year. This week I wish to highlight the contributions of Mrs Julie Robinson in her role as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer. 

Mrs Julie Robinson commenced at St Gregory’s College in January 2012 in the role of 

Indigenous Liaison Officer and she has given nine years of dedicated service to the College. In this time, she has provided wonderful support to many young people with a particular emphasis on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She has developed excellent relationships with students and is seen by them to be a person of great care, commitment and support. 

Julie has been a strong advocate for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and worked closely with staff and students to engage the entire College community in significant occasions at various times each year, including the annual Harmony Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC celebrations. These enriching, enlivening and purposeful occasions are often spoken about among the highlights each year for staff, students and families. 

As a staff member, Julie has been a wonderfully supportive colleague and someone who has always displayed a real and deep care and concern for others. Her friendly and engaging manner has always made staff feel valued. We are grateful and thankful for Julie’s many contributions and commitment to this community over an extended period of time and we sincerely thank her for everything that she has done as a teacher, carer, mentor and colleague. 

We take this opportunity to wish Julie all the very best for the remainder of her time at the College and we offer our very best wishes and God’s blessing for her time beyond St Greg’s.

Replacing Mrs Robinson in the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison is Mr Craig Ashby. Craig is a proud Gamilaraay (Gamilaroi) and Yuwaalaraay (Uallaroi) man of Murri descent. Craig has had extensive experience working with and mentoring Indigenous students across New South Wales as well as developing and strengthening their family, community and cultural links. We look forward to welcoming Craig to the St Gregory’s College community in 2021. 

Mr Paul Brooks

College Deputy Principal / Head of Senior School

Mr Paul Brooks

College Deputy Principal / Head of Senior School