From the Principal Class Team

Dear Parents and Guardians

With the weather closing in, and the term into the eleventh week, students and staff alike are well and truly ready to welcome the holidays. We’re definitely noting how programmed we have become for a 10 week term!

 

Congratulations to all our students on their achievements over the first semester. We have marvelled at their sporting prowess, been entertained by fabulous music and dance performances, enjoyed their artistic creations, been inspired by their leadership and advocacy, and, of course, felt joy and pride in seeing them grow as learners and young people. Just some of these achievements are reflected in your child’s semester report which will be made available to students and families this week via Compass, and we encourage you to take time to celebrate with your child.

 

Farewell……

At the end of this term we bid farewell to several staff: Ms Clara Campbell will be taking family leave, and we wish Clara and her partner well for the birth of their baby. Mr Mario Orsini and Mr Simon Marrow will take leave for Term 3, and Mr Eli Goldbaum will be on leave for Semester 2. We hope they enjoy their time off.

 

We would also like to thank Mr Steven Angelkovski, Mr Bruno Bonanno, Ms Simone Papagianopoulos, and Mr Peter Sinclair who have replaced staff on leave during the first semester. We appreciate the enormously their support, work and commitment to the students, and wish each of them all the very best.

 

Ms Nicole Thompson joined the Student Wellbeing Team as a social worker in 2010 and subsequently took on the leadership of the team, as Student Wellbeing Coordinator. Nicole led her team in the provision of a comprehensive range of support, counselling and referral services, as well as in the development and implementation of proactive programs to enhance students’ wellbeing and mental health.

 

Nicole was instrumental in leading the school’s successful application for the GP in Schools program, and in establishing the operation of this hugely valuable service. Her commitment to excellence in student wellbeing, to the development of a skilled team of allied health professionals, and to the wellbeing of families was evident in every aspect of Nicole’s work, and, importantly, in the strong legacy she leaves at the school.

 

Nicole has announced her resignation, and on behalf of the students, staff and families of St Albans Secondary College, we acknowledge and sincerely thank her for the impact she has had on shaping a rich, high quality Wellbeing Team and program. We wish her well and every success and happiness in her future career directions.

Vale, Terry Murphy

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Mr Terry Murphy, a former teacher of what was then St Albans High School.

 

Terry joined the staff as an English, Art and Drama teacher. His passion for the visual and performing arts was evident in his classroom, dedication to his students and to instilling that passion and love of the arts in them; but never more so than in his work as writer and director of MAC. 1999: Condition Wasted, Just Hot Gossip, and Flake Failure are legendary in the history of MAC, and it was Terry’s energy, creativity and vision that saw him take Flake on tour to perform in Ballarat. His organisation of art exhibitions featuring the work of students and staff was further testament to his belief in students and his determination to have their work publicly shown and recognised.

 

In recognition of Terry’s enduring contribution to the College, and with support from former student and School Councillor, Mr Fred Schober, the school will establish the TJ Murphy Performing Arts Scholarships for a Year 9 student. The inaugural scholarship will be offered this year.