Principal's Report 

It has been a busy time here at the college over the past few weeks. After farewelling our Year 12 students earlier in the term, it was the Year 10, and 11 students’ turn at sitting exams and finishing up their final classes. Earlier this week, our current Year 10 and 11 students began their 2022 studies and attended our annual Step Up program to get a taste of what their courses next year will be. I would like to congratulate our senior school students on sitting their exams and participating in this Step-Up period. By all accounts, it was a very successful transition from 2021 programs into 2022 and bodes well for their success in their studies next year. 

It is difficult to believe that we are already so close to the end of the year and, once again, the campus is becoming quieter. With our senior students either on holiday or engaged in work experience placements. This does give our junior students opportunities though to take advantage of the available space and they are certainly doing that now.

As we draw closer to the end of the year, we are starting to see a number of projects begun earlier in the year but disrupted due to COVID start to take shape, with many approaching completion. One such example is our Indigenous art and garden project out beside the new stadium. We have seen a large number of staff and students helpers roll up their sleeves and take part in this work, ably directed by our own Allana Constance and under the expert guidance of our artist in residence, Simone Thomson (https://simonethomsonart.com/). If you have not yet taken a look at this project, I strongly suggest that you do so soon. We will be looking to hold an official launch of this work in the new year so, please, keep an eye out for that too. 

With COVID restrictions easing and things at school approaching what could almost be described as ‘normal’ I encourage all members of our community to remain vigilant regarding COVID-19 and to continue COVID safe practices. In particular, if students are sick, they need to remain at home, get tested and not come to school until they receive a negative test. To date, we have not had a confirmed positive case and this is largely due to our families doing the right thing and following these processes. I thank all families who have faced testing and isolation requirements and followed these appropriately for helping to protect our school and its students and community. We are very grateful for all efforts in this area and recognise the sacrifice that this often means for people. 

As we head into the holiday period, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all members of our community for the united and collaborative way in which it has approached 2021 and the challenges we have faced. For our students finishing classes, please stay safe and well over the break and make sure to come back in 2022, ready for a whole year of on-site learning!