From the Deputy Principal

Year 12 Retreat

The Year 12 retreat was held in the final week of Term 2 and was, by all measures, a great success. The retreat was hosted by the Youth Mission Team and focused on the theme of ‘Preparation’ – something particularly appropriate given that the Year 12 students are heading into the final months of their school life. The retreat gave students the opportunity to reflect on their lives and the impact that God and their studies of religion over their years of school has had on them. Additionally, it gave students the chance to consider the impact that they could have on their friends, family and future colleagues as they head off into their adult life. The retreat was challenging, funny, inspiring, enjoyable and most of all memorable. In the words of our students:

I liked the great sense of community and I enjoyed deepening my faith with the people around me.                                                                                         (Jordan)

Something I enjoyed at the retreat was the drama events. They showed us how we push God away from our lives, but when we need him most, we invite him back in. I think that we should appreciate the presence of God no matter what situation we are in.                                                  (Alvin)

The retreat was a memorable experience. It was a great way to end our retreat journey as a whole Year 12 group.                                                           (Riya)

The Year 12 retreat will be remembered as one of the many special events that made the final year for the Class of 2017 so memorable.

Year 7 – Year 11 Subject Selection

As the Year 12 students begin to ponder their post-school life, the remaining students at St Norbert College are beginning to select some of the courses that they will study at school next year.

Currently the Year 10 and Year 11 students are in the midst of planning their senior courses for 2018. For many of the Year 11s, this involves building on the great success that they have had so far in Year 11 and tailoring their pathway into Year 12.

For the Year 10 students, their subject selection process for Year 11 is drawing to a close. This Tuesday, students and their parents will participate in the Year 10 Subject Selection Interviews with a nominated Head of Learning Area or Head of House. This represents the final stage in a process that began with Year 10 Semester One exams and will conclude with the creation of ATAR and Vocational Pathways designed to suit the ambitions and interests of the students.  

For the remaining students across Years 7 to 9, they will soon begin the procedure of selecting their elective subjects for next year to complement their compulsory courses. For these students, Subject Selection Online opens in Week 3 and will give them the chance to select their preferred electives. For next year’s Year 9 and 10 students, they will be studying four year-long electives whilst students in Year 8 2018 will be able to select four electives each semester which includes both a language and compulsory Arts and Technologies units.

Subject selection is always an exciting time for students at St Norbert College as different pathways are discussed, new electives are considered and important decisions about future directions are made. I wish all of the students the best of luck in selecting the best possible combination of subjects for the year ahead.

Mr P Hawke (Deputy Principal)