From the Principal

Pictured above: Building works for the Year 11&12 Centre as of November 24

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

Advent

This weekend sees the start of Advent, which is the four weeks leading to Christmas. Advent serves as a time of expectation and anticipation of Christ’s birth. The theme for the first week of Advent is Hope. 

O Lord, as we enter this season of Advent,

this time of waiting and anticipation,

fill me with the hope of Christ. 

Help me to wait in great expectation for your 

great light to shine in this world, for all who

are living in darkness to see the dawning of your light.

May your light fill all the darkest corners of this world.

Our hope of Christmas, is the hope that the birth of a baby

 – Jesus Christ, your Son – will change the world,

and will work a change in my own life.

This I pray through your Son Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Orientation Day

Next Monday we welcome many new and existing families to our Junior School at Patrick Street and Year 7 at Austin Ferry. This will be an opportunity for families to hear from key staff, but most importantly for our new students to spend time with their teachers in preparation for next year. Maybe calling it an ‘Orientation’ Day is not the best title, because given that a genuinely successful education for boys is the result of a strong partnership between parents and school, with both playing a key role, the main benefit of the day was the initiating of that relationship between teacher and parent, with the boys present and for our young men to spend quality time with their peers and key staff in readiness for the 2023 academic year.

Grade 5 & 6 Camps

It was wonderful to see the Year 5 and 6 camps go ahead this week given the COVID-19 restrictions which were in place earlier in the year. Our Grade 6 students travelled to Canberra and Grade 5s headed down to Port Arthur. These co-curricular activities are a wonderful opportunity to build relationships outside of the classroom and for our students to experience a range of educational opportunities. My thanks to the students for their active and enthusiastic participation during their time away and to the staff who have so generously given of their time in support of our young men. It is greatly appreciated. 

End of Year 

This week the Year 10s completed their examinations and with end of year functions around the corner including the Year 10 Mass and Luncheon and Thanksgiving and Awards ceremony the year may feel it is rapidly coming to an end – which can mean either an acceleration of pace or a gradual slowing down depending on where you stand. I suggest that students should not slow down just yet. The final foundations for a successful 2022 are being put in place now. Year 10 students will commence Head Start lessons on December 5, and Junior School and students in Year 7-9 have plenty to finish off before the year is done. 

Staffing Update

I am pleased to announce that Mrs Annale van Heerden has been appointed to the position of Head of Middle School (Year 7-9) which will commence in 2023. Annale currently holds the position of Head of Year at Calvin Christian School as well as Teacher of Mathematics (Year 7-10). Annale is well known to many at St Virgil’s having held the position of Curriculum Leader Core 1, Year 7&8 Mathematics and Science Teacher and Learning Adjustment Leader from 2016-2019. Annale has a Bachelor of Education (Middle School) and an Honours in Education (Curriculum Studies). Annale comes highly recommended to this position, and I look forward to welcoming her to the College next year.  The role of Head of Senior School will be put on hold until next year and when a suitable candidate is found to undertake this position. 

It is with sadness that I inform the College community that Mr Steve Aitken has accepted a position at The Hutchins School next year. Steve has been a long serving and faithful servant of St Virgil’s College for more than 16 years and his development of the Outdoor Education programme has been extraordinary. I know that Steve leaves with a heavy heart but is excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead for him in this new role. We will have an opportunity to thank Steve for his outstanding service to the St Virgil’s College community and wish him all the very best as he takes on this new challenge. Advertising for Steve’s replacement is currently underway and I will advise the community once a suitable candidate has been appointed.   

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Jon Franzin 

PRINCIPAL