From the Principal 

Dear Parents, Students and Friends of St Virgil’s College, 

Choomalaka Festival & Feast

A very big thank you to all who supported the Choomalaka Festival & Feast last Friday evening. Our students shone on stage, in showcasing their work and in serving on the night. Thank you to Ms Amelia Clark, Mr Jack Machin, Mrs Jill Norton and Mr Aaron Lucas for their efforts in preparing our students prior to and on the night and the many other staff who contributed behind the scenes. I think you would all agree that our students from Kindergarten all the way through to Year 10 performed very well and this reflected the long hours of dedicated practice they have undertaken with the support of many staff to ensure the night was a success. 

I also take this opportunity to thank the Parents & Friends Associations from both the Junior and Senior School who provided significant support leading up to and on the night which reflects our strong parent community who have a generous spirit. We look forward to a bigger and better festival next year and thank all those who attended for supporting this very important event.  

The photo gallery of Choomalaka can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3LR9kmk

Staffing Update  

We wish Mrs Maryanne Saxton all the very best as she undertakes long service leave next term. We also wish Mrs Renee MacGregor all the very best as she takes on the role of Religious Education Teacher at Guildford Young College next term. During this time Mr Thymon Venter along with a combination of internal staffing arrangements will take on Mrs Saxton and Mrs MacGregor’s teaching responsibilities.

I write to advise you of the sad news that Mrs Julene Bednall, after five years of dedicated service at the Junior School, will retire from her position at the end of the year to spend more time with her family. Mrs Bednall has undertaken the role of Learning Support Teacher and will be greatly missed by all. Her position will be advertised early next term and I will advise the community of her replacement as soon as the appointment process has concluded. Mrs Bednall will also be taking long service leave for the first six weeks of Term 4. We wish her well for this period of leave and thank Ms Grace Gardener for undertaking her role during this time. 

Mrs Chelsea Mouritz, who recently returned from parental leave, has been appointed to the position of Director of Curriculum K-12 at St Mary’s College in 2023. I congratulate Mrs Mouritz on this significant appointment and wish her all the very best with the transition to her new role next year. 

We will have an opportunity to farewell and thank both Mrs Bednell and Mrs Mouritz for their wonderful contribution to the College over many years prior to the end of the school year. 

Finally, we congratulate Ms Lucinda Gear – College Counsellor who has announced that she will be expecting the birth of her second child at the end of this year. It is anticipated that Ms Gear will take parental leave from the beginning of December. Please join me in congratulating Ms Gear and her partner Mr Cook on this exciting news. 

Building Works 

During the term break the Junior School will be erecting fencing to ensure that the College is secure particularly as we continue to have our Early Years students access the main playground. In line with our duty of care the College gates will be locked of a morning and opened when staff are on duty from 8.15 am. Please be mindful of this when dropping students at the Junior School.  

Leadership Positions

I take this opportunity to congratulate the following staff on their appointments to a number of Senior Leadership positions which will commence at the beginning of 2023.  

Director of Administration:  Mrs Mary-Jane Anders 

Director of Learning & Innovation: Mr Rohan Mitchell 

Director of Wellbeing:  Ms Farron Boxall 

I look forward to their contribution to the Leadership Team and the strategic direction of the College. Please note that the Assistant Principal – Religious Identity & Mission and Heads of Middle & Senior Schools will be re-advertised early next term.  

Advertising is also underway for the following positions for 2023:

• Design & Technology Teacher (one full-time ongoing position)
• Mathematics/Science Teacher (three full-time ongoing positions)
• English/Humanities/Religion Teacher (three full-time ongoing positions)

Student Free Day 

Please be aware that following the public holiday on Thursday October 20 (Royal Hobart Show Day) the College will be having a student free day on Friday October 21. In lieu of this day, staff will be undertaking First Aid training on two evenings from 3.30 pm – 6.30 pm to ensure they are appropriately trained in basic casualty care.   

A reminder that the first day back for students is Monday October 17. 

Best wishes for everyone over the next two weeks, and a safe journey for those travelling out of Hobart or abroad.

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL