From the Principal

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

I read a social media post from Catholic Education WA earlier this week that said:

“With the support of parents, our schools determine the needs of individual students and put programs and support in place to address those needs, ensuring the progress and wellbeing of the whole child, not just their academic performance”.

First and foremost, I thank our parents and carers for their unwavering support of our College and our staff. This is a common experience for the St Norbert College community and not just during this pandemic. 

Whilst our core business is providing for the teaching and learning of our students, there are other essential elements of our educational endeavours that go so far in developing the whole student. 

This has been evident in the past fortnight alone.

The commencement of the Lenten season, a most important period in our liturgical calendar, is always marked with Ash Wednesday services. This year, we celebrated Ash Wednesday in our year level, House-based homerooms. I was very privileged to be able to join our Year 7 Prémontré students for their Liturgy under the direction of Mrs Robinson and Miss Zampino. It was a lovely service, highlighted by the wonderful sense of reverence and reflection by our youngest students. Our thanks to Fr Peter, Mrs Palermo and Miss Kyd, for their coordination of the Liturgy and to those staff and students who recorded readings and prayers for the presentations.

Another recent highlight for me was the Year 7 Inter-House Swimming Carnival, held on Monday, 28 February. Whilst the whole school Inter-house Carnivals are always such an annual extravaganza of House colour and culture, due to the pandemic this was not possible. The Year 7 students however, warmed to the task and made up for their absent older peers with enthusiastic cheering, dancing and of course, swimming their hearts out in the pool. This could not have happened without the dedicated and determined approach from Mr Ryan Godfrey, our Director of Canons Sport. Thanks also the Health & PE staff, Heads of House, House Assistants and all other staff who assisted, with our hugest thanks to the Year 7 students who brightened the day for those who were there. We were disappointed not to host the whole school event this year, but rest-assured that all going well, 2023 will be another wonderful event. 

And whilst we continue to be impacted by COVID-19, with growing cases and close contacts within our College community and the impact this has on our College events, we must remain acutely aware of how very lucky we are and have been. 

There is much suffering in our world, but we must remain people of hope – as Easter people, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of Ukraine, those suffering through floods in the Eastern States and everyone impacted at this time.

God bless 

God Bless.

Mr S Harvey (Principal)