From the Principal

Benvenuto - Welcome

Welcome back to Term 2. This is a short term and the first two weeks have certainly flown by. We are very pleased to welcome two new teaching staff members who joined our community at the beginning of this term: Rachel Preston Broughton - Year 8 team (two days a week) and Anita Damianopoulos - Foundation JH (two days a week). We extend a very warm St Anne’s College welcome to Rachel and Anita. There have also been some other changes to staffing with Keshia-Lee Dean moving from the Year 8 team to join the Year 9 team and Emma O’Keeffe will be in Foundation ID one day a week. 

We continue to use a range of attraction strategies in working towards employing more teaching staff at the college; one of these is looking at overseas candidates. We are currently in the process of supporting three overseas candidates to secure working VISAs and Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration. This has been a long process but we are close to being able to welcome these candidates to the college. 

We were incredibly blessed to have had exceptional applicants for the Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching role recently advertised. During the holidays we went through the shortlisting and interview process and we are very pleased to announce that we have a successful candidate – Cherie Boltong. Cherie comes to us with a vast range of experience in teaching and leading learning across F-10. Cherie has most recently been a Principal in an international school in Singapore. She has extensive experience in International Baccalaureate (IB) education and Inquiry learning. Cherie is a woman of faith who is dedicated to the mission of Catholic education. We look forward to welcoming Cherie in her role at the beginning of Term 3.

Our Year 11 students are now well into their VCE and VCE-VM Unit 1 studies. The students have experienced their first Outcome Assessed Tasks (OATs) and have settled into a study routine, Vocational Education and Training (VET) studies and Structured Workplace Learning placements. The Elevate Education organisation has been visiting the college, supporting the Year 10 and 11 students around time management strategies and exam study hints, tips and routines. During this term, School of Possibilities students will prepare for mid-year exams and some will be preparing for the General Achievement Test (GAT). We wish these students all the best with their studies.

Our Year 4 Sacramental candidates continue their Sacramental preparation with the Confirmation Journeying Mass held on Sunday, April 30. The children are moving into their final preparations for their Confirmation and Eucharist celebration on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, at Christ the King Church, St Mel's Parish. The children have worked very hard to prepare and have been well supported by their families in undertaking the parish-based program.

During the first week of term,  I sat in on a very informative session regarding the proposed Indigenous voice to parliament referendum. Constitutional law expert Professor Anne Twomey gave a succinct and clear explanation around what the proposed amendments to the constitution were and what impact they would have. We were also joined by Uncle Paul Briggs who was able to share an Aboriginal perspective. I came away with a much clearer understanding of the proposed changes and the process. I would urge you, if you have not already, to gain a deeper understanding of the proposal and process as the referendum date nears. 

From June 2, I will be taking a period of long service leave. In my absence, with the approval of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Executive Director, Paul Desmond, the college's Deputy Principal - Community Wellbeing, Kate McGrath, will take leadership of the college, supported by our amazing leadership team. I will return at the beginning of Term 3. Wishing you all a joyful week ahead.

 - Susan Carroll, Principal

Thanks to the Michel family 

We would like to acknowledge the generous donation of a Yamaha Clavinova piano by Julie Michel and family to St Anne's College.  Students who learn with visiting music teacher Shannon from The Key to Piano are enjoying practising their skills on the newly acquired piano.

Thanks to the following businesses for supporting St Anne's College:

 Adornato's - for landscaping supplies 

 Intercontinental Spares - for the 40ft shipping container

 ConX Hire - for the VMS display board