PRINCIPAL'S PEN

Dear members of the Saints family,

Happy New Year!

Welcome to this special edition of Saints News, which contains pertinent information about the beginning of the 2023 academic year. Please take the time to read and digest it. 

There is always something exciting about a new adventure. The enthusiasm displayed by our Year 7s of 2023 on Orientation Day last November had a unique energy as they prepared to jump into something new. They are looking forward to their future at St Augustine’s and the possibilities seem endless. It is a delight to witness. No doubt their first week will be just as full of promise and excitement as that important day in November. For our returning students, there will be varying degrees of anticipation and an opportunity for a fresh start. We all start the year with the hope of continued improvement and confidence. 

2022 ATAR Results

Congratulations to our Class of 2022 who performed exceptionally well. These excellent results are indicative of the hard work and effort of our staff and students. 

Annual Goals

In 2022, the College’s three-year strategic plan ended. While 2023 is a planning year for the next three-year strategic plan 2024-2026, we have some clear goals to aspire to this year. The emphasis will be on aspects vital to the College including boys education, teaching and learning and inclusion.  Our key priorities are listed via the link below. Staff have made preparations across all subject areas to ensure a positive start to the year with many activities planned for the community to enjoy.

Upgrades & Building Works

Several upgrades to the College occurred during annual maintenance in the break:

• Changes to classrooms with new carpet and painting
•  Refurbishment of our First Nations area
• Building continues on Lavalla Stage 2. The project is on schedule for completion in June. And we are looking forward, at the start of Semester 2, to using the new music wing and the two additional science floors, which include contemporary break-out areas.

The 2023 Marist Theme 

The theme for this year is Created and Called – a revolution of love and tenderness. Some words from St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) call on us to be our deepest and truest selves in response to being known and loved by God. She wrote, “Be who God created you to be and you will set the world on fire",  which is what our theme urges us to do. 

Theologian and Dominican priest Herbert McCabe says that God is “helplessly and hopelessly in love with us” with a love that changes us. It ignites the flame of desire in our hearts to be God’s love in the world. It ignites a revolution, a revolution fuelled by God’s love. 

Motivated by that love, Pope Francis, writing in 2013, encourages us to look to Mary so we can “believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness”. In Mary, we see that humility, tenderness and concern for others are not virtues of the weak but of the strong. May we follow her example.

Star of the Sea Province 

The new Marist Brothers Province in Oceania was inaugurated on 8 December, the feast of Mary's Immaculate Conception. It incorporates Australia and nine other countries. The logos, pictured below, feature some well-known Christian and Marian symbols:

• The star: is subtle and formed from the apex of the cross, to the left and right extremities and to the bottom of the waves.
• The sea: the wave represents the diversity of the Star of the Sea Province, composed of quite different nations.
• Marist: the M is obvious in the centre of the design and acknowledges the centrality of Mary to our lives as Marists. 
• The boat: upon the waves, is a traditional image for the Church, the barque of Christ, referring as it does to the apostles in the boat with Jesus. We are navigating and travelling together as a community and family. 

An Exciting Academic Year Ahead

I challenge our Men of Saints to try something new. Try something difficult. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learning occurs best when we are challenged and must work hard at something. We learn best from our mistakes.  This is often when we get our best results, and this is what a growth mindset is all about. Consider nominating yourself for a leadership position later in the year, do a service activity, try out for a team, learn to play a musical instrument, and make new friends. Don’t be afraid to take good risks. 

Finally, welcome to all those new to the College. We have a new group of Year 7s, but also a warm welcome to our new students in other year levels, new boarders, new parents and new staff members.  I trust your time with us will be enriching.

Prefects

Before closing, I draw your attention to our new student leaders:   

Thank you for your ongoing support of St Augustine’s. I look forward to welcoming our new families and familiar faces later this month.