Principal's Report

Welcome back Term 4

I welcome back all of our students from the school holidays and particularly congratulate our Tiger supporters on their victory which they have celebrated long and hard, I am sure it will finish soon. As we begin Term 4, our focus returns to our Year 12 students who are now down to their final weeks of school. I outline the following expectations for them so they will continue their impressive work as our student leaders and finish the year well.

Class of 2019: Expectations for the Final Weeks of Year 12

To celebrate the end of their secondary school days we have put in place a number of formal celebrations which bring together family, friends and teachers in honour of the class of 2019.

The completion of VCE and VCAL certificates is a significant achievement and one worth celebrating as a community. To ensure that the whole community gets to enjoy these celebrations I outline the following expectations we have for our students.

Our school places a high value on treating people with dignity and respect, including respect for school property which is used for the benefit of all members of our community. Therefore, our simple expectation is that persons and property will be respected at all times and where students are deemed responsible for inappropriate behaviour then the school reserves the right to exclude those students from sitting their final exams at St John’s College, attending the Graduation Mass and Dinner and other formal functions of farewell.

Over the years we have been very proud of the way our students have conducted themselves and I believe that this year’s group will live up to the high standards we have for them and will finish the year enhancing their personal reputation and our school reputation.

I also take this opportunity to re-emphasise to parents the importance of supervision for any informal celebrations which may be staged at family homes over the coming weeks. Year 12 celebrations can often attract large numbers of young people, and therefore, adequate adult supervision would be required to ensure a safe environment for all participants. I have also instructed staff as a matter of school policy not to attend any informal Year 12 celebrations as from a legal perspective staff, in these circumstances, would be seen as being in a supervisory capacity- whether this was the intended arrangement or not.

A final College Assembly highlighting the contribution of our graduating students will be held on Monday 21 October and all parents of the graduating class are invited to attend at 10am. On the Tuesday Night 19 November, the Annual Awards Night will be held in the Br Leo Scollen Stadium and once again, all parents and students are invited to attend this celebration of student achievement and excellence for the 2019 school year. The final celebration for our Class of 2019 will take place on 22 November with a Graduation Mass at St Patricks Cathedral followed by Dinner at the Sofitel.

I look forward to these wonderful family celebrations which are an important time to not only celebrate our students' achievements in completing their schooling but also give thanks to their families and teachers who have supported them along the way.

Staffing 

I welcome back from leave to Term 4, Ms Anne Aldis, Ms Sue Keel, Ms Ash Holly and Ms Melissa Jeffrey.

Mr Andrew Dias has advised that he will be stepping away from the role of Monoceros House Leader to return to his teaching role. Ms Anne Aldis will take on the role of Monoceros House Leader for Term 4 of this year.

I also congratulate the following staff members on their appointment to Positions of Leadership in 2020. Ms Maria Nasioulas has been appointed to the role of ICT Systems Leader and Ms Sue Keel to the role of Monoceros House Leader in 2020.

The following staff members have been appointed to permanent teaching positions for the 2020 school year:

Mr Paul Colvin

Mr John Loonstra

Mr Eamonn Farrelly

Mr Michael Perryman

Mr Patrick O’Connell

Lasallian Youth Minister – 2020

Following interviews at the end of last term I announce the appointment of our new Lasallian Youth Minister for 2020 – Mr Jan Holewa. Mr Holewa is currently working at De La Salle, Malvern, as an Education Assistant and is an active member of St Benedict’s Parish in Burwood. He is looking forward to working with our young people in a variety of pastoral activities throughout the school year. I thank Mr Philippe Dulawan Assistant Director of Lasallian Youth Services, for his support in the selection process and the ongoing formation that he will provide to Mr Holewa over the coming year. I also wish to thank our inaugural Youth Minister, Miss Harmony Miller, who concludes her time at St John’s Regional College at the end of 2019 after two years in the role. Miss Miller has been an excellent support and mentor to our young people and we wish her well as she pursues a career in education.

Sports Precinct and Landscaped Front Gardens

Over the school holidays construction Company, Turf One, began the redevelopment of the SJRC Sports Precinct. This will include a new FIFA accredited soccer pitch, three multi-purpose basketball/netball and tennis courts with all-weather roofing, athletics running track, softball pitch and irrigated football oval. We expect the new facilities to be available for the start of the 2020 school year.

The school holidays also allowed for the completion of the landscaping and front gardens to mark the entrance to the new administration centre fronting Caroline Street.

 ASEAN Bridge Partnership Program

Staff member, Mr Eamonn Farrelly, travelled to the Philippines over the school holiday period to visit Leyte International High School. This visit is part of the ASEAN Bridge Program sponsored by the Australian Government which aims to connect schools in Australia and Asia through learning projects. Highlights of the trip included taking in the sights of Tacloban City, celebrating International Teacher's Day with the students and teachers of Leyte High School and experiencing a wonderful culture of food and friendship. This simple exchange has opened up a whole variety of learning opportunities for both schools which we will pursue when Mr Farrelly returns for Term 4.