Principal's Report

The year of 2021 will forever be remembered by all of us given the complexities that it brought. As a school community, the hurdles and challenges that we faced this year were even greater than the previous year. There is no need for me to outline these challenges as they are all very familiar to all of us. These are also challenges that I am also hoping will never reoccur at any stage in the future.

Extraordinary times also bring extraordinary responses from people. Once again this year as a school community we have all worked incredibly hard and have tried our absolute best to support each other and look after each other. Our school community has looked to each other for support. We continued to show the resilience, flexibility and commitment that is required to beat these challenges and collectively we have achieved this.

As Principal of this school, I am incredibly proud of the work we have completed under these exceptionally trying times. I congratulate and thank all of you all for the enormous effort you have shown over this year and in particular the amazing support that you have given to each other, and to the college. I can’t thank you enough for what you have achieved this year.

Given all these challenges this year, the college has again focussed on its core work of fostering achievement and growth in learning and providing students opportunities to grow academically, socially, culturally, and emotionally through its programs. Our college’s vision “to achieve success for our community through respect, responsibility and collaboration” combined with our three values of respect, achievement and responsibility and the school motto of “Learn, Grow, Achieve Together” continues to underpin all of our work. Our vision is the lens that we use in looking and planning towards our future.

Under these circumstances, when I reflect and review on 2021, we once again completed a busy and eventful year even under lockdown. Our students have continued to participate enthusiastically in the many of extra-curricular activities organised throughout the school year. Extracurricular activities are important as they provide students with opportunities to explore their passions and to discover things that they may be interested beyond academics.

Our Student Leaders are a vital part of our college and continue to play an integral part in determining its vision. Our college is grateful for everything that they have done. In particular, I wish to thank our College Captains, Joanna Denoual and Solomon Erjok, and our college vice captains Gune Inyasio and Leila Wheatley who have been exceptional role models and effective influences on the culture of the year 12 cohort. I also want to acknowledge all the remaining Student Leaders who continue to be an integral part in the success of our college. We are grateful to the important role that they play in providing a student voice to our decisions.

The Year 12 class of 2021 has been thrown the biggest challenge of all and they have been exceptional in the way they handled it. They have had to endure two incredibly challenging years which no other cohort has ever had to do before. They have been a hard working group of young people and I am very proud of the work they have completed under these exceptionally trying times. To all graduating students, we wish you well as you embark on the next phase of your journey, whether it is further study or employment. We thank you for your contribution and welcome all of you into the history of our school.

Finally, I would like to thank all members of the College Council for their support and work over this year. I am very grateful for their contribution in leading this great school forwards.

As always, I am very much looking forward to 2022 and all the opportunities that it brings.

Enjoy the break.

John Mitsinikos

College Principal