From the Principal

As our first term draws to a close we are grateful for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon our community so far this year. Students have embraced the learning and co-curricular opportunities given to them and staff have been very generous in their time to support our students.

I had the pleasure of spending time with our Year 7 students while they were on camp last week in Somers.  The camp is a key part of our transition program and it was wonderful to see how enthusiastically students were participating in the various activities and witness the strengthening of connections among students and between students and staff. As our Year 7 students near the end of their first term of secondary school we hope that are feeling settled and well connected to their new community. 

As we prepare for our holidays, it is important to remember that we remain in the season of Lent and are also preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Easter reminds us of the importance of reconciliation and forgiveness in our daily lives. It is a time for new beginnings, new life and a time to reconcile differences.  

Easter is also time to speak out for justice; for our first peoples, refugees and asylum seekers, for children and for all whom society has marginalised. Our community is currently collecting donations for Project Compassion and we encourage students and families to contribute in whatever capacity they can.  As consumers we can also help to reduce the exploitation of children and farmers in the cocoa industry by purchasing Fair Trade chocolate this Easter (https://fairtradeanz.org/for-consumers/products/chocolate). 

One of our lawns was a sea of colour last week in support of National Close the Gap Day on March 18. Students were invited to reflect upon the inequalities in health, life expectancy and access to health care that Australia’s First Nations people experience and make an individual pledge to contribute to closing this gap.  Each hand represented an individual pledge and as a collaborative display represented our commitment as a community to close the gap and work towards justice and reconciliation for all Australians.

The holidays are an excellent time for students to reflect upon what they have learnt so far this year in each of their subject areas, to consolidate their learning and prepare for Term 2.  This term break is a very important time for VCE students and should not be seen as a holiday.  Whilst it is important that all students take time for rest and relaxation, VCE students should complete on average 3-4 hours of study per day over the term break.  In addition to completing any work set by teachers, students should thoroughly revise the content covered so far, complete past/trial examination questions and ensure that they are up to date with topic summaries etc.

I wish all students and families a safe and relaxing holiday and as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, may you have…

The gladness of Easter, which is hope.

The promise of Easter, which is peace.

The spirit of Easter, which is love.

We Pray For

We ask for your prayers for members of our community and their families who have recently lost loved ones:

Cameron Sayers

Fellow educator

(Star of the Sea College, Gardenvale)

Anne Fraser

Sister of Carmel Fraser 

(staff) 

We pray that our loving God hold them gently in the palm of His hand.

Nicole Mangelsdorf

Principal