A word from the Principal

The End Of 2018

Reflection is an important tool, especially when coming to the end of a year. At secondary assembly I have encouraged the older students to reflect on their goals and dreams, to think back to their New Year’s resolutions and make an honest assessment of their progress, not to measure themselves against others but against the measure they have set for themselves.  When we reflect on the year, I hope there has also been a lot of joy, love and positivity to celebrate and acknowledge.  I hope 2018 at school has been a year with friends and laughter as well as working toward your goals. Our students have many talents and gifts and with effort and application are able to experience success. 

All our students should be celebrating their success as young people who work to be better members of their school community, who reflect and live our core values, who have worked to repair a fractured relationship or been open to new ideas or perspectives that are different.  These are valuable goals and signs of growing maturity and development and as staff and parents, we celebrate and congratulate students for these achievements. 

We celebrate the success of our staff, board and community – the completion of our TAS building was reason to reflect on our progress – we continue to grow, not only in the number of students but also in the diversity of subjects and opportunities for our students offered through the school. This year 53 students completed their Year 12 studies and await their results from NESA and the opportunities these can lead to.  Some of our Year 12 students have already been accepted into apprenticeships or the workforce in their chosen field and are well on their way to being fully engaged adults in their community!  We have also seen a number of Year 11 students complete their Preliminary studies and move from school to apprenticeships.  Again, these are wonderful achievements worth celebrating – this is our goal as educators; to work with young people to reach their potential and be empowered to carve out their own pathways.

To all our students, thank you.  Thank you for your willingness to engage with your school, to be curious and explore with wonder, to be willing to take risks and challenge yourself to grow and be the best you possibly can.  Thank you for the times you fail but try again.  As teachers and parents, we love watching you learn.

I would like to thank the parents, families and volunteers for your ongoing support as we work together with your children to develop resilient, well rounded, thoughtful young people who are ready to meet the challenges of life -  and work to improve the world for themselves and others. The recycling program lead by some of our youngest students has shown all of us how we can do simple things to improve our world.

I would like to acknowledge our wonderful staff: they are a dedicated team who work together to support our students as they grow and become mature and responsible young people – the staff are a group of very important individuals who play a significant role in making the school run smoothly every day. 

I would particularly like to acknowledge the staff who have left this year: Jo Webb, Sarah Buchanan, Martina Richardson, Dan Lukies, Gareth Leach and Andrea Romano.  I would also like to thank and acknowledge the staff who are leaving us as the year ends; Maree Slatter, Mandy Astill, Cate Johnston, Regan Smith and Nicole Quinlan.  We wish you well in whatever you do in the future, thank you for your contribution to our school.

I would also like to acknowledge the work of our Board; members past and present – these people are volunteers who donate their time and expertise to support the direction of the school and work for our community; their time and effort is greatly appreciated.

I also acknowledge the partnership we have had with Father Wayne Sheean for the last four years.  Father Wayne has added to the development of our Anglican faith and has supported the school in many ways.

I wish you all a safe and blessed Christmas.  At the centre of Christmas is the birth of a baby, a new beginning, the celebration of potential and promise – everything is possible and I wish you joy at this special time.

Have a happy and safe Christmas.

Mrs Carmel Spry

Principal