Deputy Principal 

This morning I spent time with some of our new Year 7 students focussed on our value of Community. In particular, we spoke about what it means to belong to and authentically Catholic community such as ours. These messages are important for all of us and so I offer them here today:

• Being Catholic means that everyone is welcome, we are an inclusive community. Like Jesus and like Blessed Edmund Rice, we reach out to those with whom we have differences, we spend time with each other and generously learn about each other in the spirit of mutual understanding.
• Being Catholic means that we are people of prayer. When we pray we enter into a conversation with God and with ourselves. It is time for us to be truly honest, and to seek true forgiveness and humility. When we pray, we are reverent, showing our deep respect and awe for the divine presence of God in all our lives.
• Being Catholic we are resurrection people who live in hope. This hope makes us joyful, filling us with the energy and purpose to achieve extraordinary things through kindness and learning.

When the staff at St Virgil’s are going about the everyday work of supporting our boys to be their best, whether that be following up hair and uniform matters, planning learning sequences, providing feedback or running an assembly online, we are inspired and guided by our Catholic identity. As such we will approach all of these matters with compassion and patience. Likewise, we ask everyone in our community to keep this mindset and approach when we work together to support our boys.

Towards 2023

I have been very pleased to see so many of our students commence their studies in such a determined and focussed manner. Particularly our Year 10s who have embarked on early enrolment in some TASC courses are working very hard and extending their learning. During the year we will be rolling out our renewed guidelines for students regarding homework and academic integrity to further support their success and they prepare for their senior secondary studies.

Similarly, I have been very pleased to support a number of Year 10 boys to secure Australian School-Based Apprenticeships where they remain at school and concurrently are employed in a part-time apprenticeship. This combination is a great preparation for the world of work whilst still providing all the advantages of being supported by school and friends. Please contact Mr Lapolla if your son wishes to pursue this option.

School Absences

Parents are reminded that the College must be notified if your son is to be absent from school. If a student is absent for more than five days, a medical certificate is required. The staff monitor each student’s ongoing attendance percentages, and will follow up with families in cases of significant absences from school.

Please note, for extended absences for reasons other than illness, please seek approval  from the Principal using the process outlined in From the Principal in this edition of The Star.