From the Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and Friends of St Norbert College,

The end of the school year is a hectic, but exciting time. This week saw the distribution of the 2017 edition of Koinonia, a wonderful publication detailing the exciting efforts and events of the past year and the vibrant College community we share. I would like to acknowledge the amazing work of Mr Matthew Biddle, our College Community Relations and Marketing Officer. Mr Biddle was ably assisted by Mr Frank Mulligan and Mr Roger D’Almeida.

One of the more recent events at the College was the Year 7/2018 Orientation Day, held on Thursday, 30 November. This day was a wonderful day of excitement and activities, superbly organised by Ms Carrol Abel, our Year 7 Coordinator, ably assisted by many staff including our Heads of House. It was a wonderful gesture by our senior leaders to return from their holidays to assist with the program.

We were blessed on our last day today to celebrate our Thanksgiving Mass, an opportunity to give thanks for the year and to look forward to 2018. Our appreciation to Fr Peter and Ms Kyd for organising our Mass and those parents who joined us. Mass was followed by our final College Assembly where I thanked our students for their contributions this year and reminded them of our return date on Thursday 1 February, 2018, with our new and Year 11 and 12 students commencing the day prior on Wednesday 31 January. All students need to be organised prior to the start of the new school year in terms of uniform and grooming.

It is important at the end of the school year to acknowledge the staff who are departing our College or commencing periods of leave.

In previous editions of the College newsletter, I have informed our community of various staff movements. I would like to acknowledge Mrs Natasha Quinn who moves to Chisholm Catholic College in 2018 as the Vice Principal, along with Mr David Lyons-Nash who also moves to Chisholm in a Mathematics teaching role. Mrs Kim Walker takes up the role as the Head of Mathematics at Servite College, Miss Louise Atkinson commences full-time study in Primary Education and Miss Karis Hughes is embarking on an exciting year of travel in 2018. I would also like to acknowledge Mrs Lindy Munnings, our Finance Officer, who will take up the Bursar’s role at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Mount Lawley.

A number of staff, namely, Ms Jude Chalmers (ENG), Mrs Tram Ghani (ENG), Mr Aldo Carlino (DNT), Miss Lauren Mirco (HASS/RE) and Mr Patrick Whalen (MATHS) all completed temporary contracts of varying lengths at our College. We are most appreciative of their efforts and contributions during those times.

We also extend our best wishes to staff embarking on leave in 2018 – Miss Stacey Fairhead and Mr Greg Hulshoff are away for the 2018 year and we wish Mrs Samantha Eloff our very best wishes and God’s blessings for the healthy arrival of her first child.

I thank all staff for their hard work, efforts and contributions this year to again make St Norbert College the amazing community that it is.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish our very best to those students and families not returning in 2018. We thank them for the support and cooperation forged between the College and home and wish them well in the future.

I was privileged this week to represent our College community at the Thanksgiving Mass for St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School. It was a very special and emotional occasion in which we farewelled the much-loved Principal, colleague and leader, Mr Peter Yensch. I would like to repeat my words when I shared our heartfelt and warm congratulations on the wonderful contributions Mr Yensch has made to Catholic Education in Western Australia, and for his warm and inspiring leadership of Catholic education in the community of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and St Norbert College, here in Queens Park.

Whilst we acknowledge the end of one year and the period of rest and relaxation prior to the commencement of the next, it is important to maintain a focus on the joy and happiness of Christmas. This time of the year is one of joy, wonder and happiness for Christians the world over. From the moment of Mary’s Immaculate Conception to the birth of Jesus, we are reminded of the challenges and barriers that we inevitably have to meet in our lives. More importantly, we reflect that God’s love for us is our strength in overcoming these obstacles.

I would like to wish all of our students and families the blessings of a happy and holy Christmas and a safe return in 2018. May God’s blessings of peace and love characterise your festive season.

God Bless,

Mr S Harvey (Principal)