From the Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

Term 4

We are already at the end of Week 2 of a short term. As parents would be aware from information communicated earlier in the year, our students in Years 7-10 commence yearly examinations from Friday 27 November, with their final day of attendance being Friday 4 December. Our Year 11 students conclude classes on Wednesday 9 December. Further details will be provided in subsequent communications about the arrangements for the end of the year. However, it is important that all students begin to prepare themselves for the week of examinations that will occur in Week 8. All students will have an examination in each of their subjects and students will be progressively receiving assessment task notifications in the coming weeks. 

Staff Days

An early reminder to all families that both the Senior School and Junior School will be holding Staff Days this term on Friday 13 November and Monday 16 November. These are pupil free days and there is no provision for supervision of children at the College on either day.

Staff Changes

Several long-standing members of our Senior School teaching staff will be concluding their time at the end of this year to move to positions in other schools.  This week I wish to highlight the contributions of one of these teachers. 

Mrs Joanne Dash, the College’s Learning Support Coordinator, has accepted a leadership position at another school. When Joanne commenced her employment at the College in January 2004 she was employed as a Science/Biology teacher. In 2011, Joanne was appointed to her current position as the Learning Support Coordinator.

In her time at the College, a significant number of students have benefitted from Joanne’s expertise and her dedication and great care. Many of these students have made it to the end of Year 12 with Joanne’s wonderful contribution to their academic and social-emotional wellbeing.  As a leader, Joanne has built a supportive team around her and they have all worked together as a well-oiled machine, always with the care and development of the young people as their focus. 

Joanne has worked with most teachers in the College to provide in-class support, program modifications and adjustments for assessments and exams.  She has taken responsibility for ensuring quality professional learning was delivered to teachers in the Disability Standards and differentiated practice, having presented to staff on multiple occasions during Staff Meetings and Staff Development Days.

We will miss Joanne’s friendly and caring manner, her humble nature and her willingness to help and assist whenever necessary. We wish to thank and congratulate Joanne for her many achievements and tremendous contributions to the St Gregory’s College community over the last seventeen years. 

Replacing Mrs Dash in the role of Leader of Learning – Learning Support and Enrichment in 2021 will be Mrs Melina Sangster. Mrs Sangster is currently the Director of Teaching and Learning at The Illawarra Grammar School and she is a former staff member of St Gregory’s College. We look forward to welcoming Melina back to our community next year.

Mr Paul Brooks

College Deputy Principal / Head of Senior School