PRINCIPAL

OPENING MASS

A highlight of our College year must be the Opening Mass where we all come together as a faith community. As is part of our tradition, we welcomed RNDM Sisters, Sr Margaret Spain, Sr Veronica Martin, Sr Marie Therese Ryder, Sr Shelley Barlow and Former Deputy Principal, Mr Trevor Lynch, also joined us for this special occasion.

I hope many of you managed to join us online yesterday as we blessed and welcomed all new students and staff and celebrated all that we embrace. We also blessed our new Special Ministers, our 2023 Captains and all Year 12 students. 

I am pleased to report how noticeably considerate and respectful our students were at all times. A number of staff and the Sisters also mentioned this to me. I look forward to seeing this trend continue throughout the year.

A Mass of this magnitude would not take place without the organisation and support of many people. I would like to particularly thank Fr Cyprian for a beautiful celebration, Dean of Ministry, Mr Chris Kan for his oversight and organisation of the Mass, our Maintenance team and our AV and Technical Service staff. 

SR MARGARET SCOTT RNDM

Earlier in the week, Sr Margaret Scott RNDM and Sr Shelley Barlow RNDM visited the school. Sr Margaret shared stories with some of our students on her experiences of her many years in South Sudan, including her time working at the Teachers College in Yambio. It was a real pleasure to have met Sr Margaret and to hear of the courageous and exceptional contribution to education that she and other RNDM Sisters have made to South Sudan. 

MEET THE PARENTS – YEAR 7

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming more of our new families to a couple of key events, namely the P&F Meeting and the Meet the Parents Morning Tea - Year 7.

Approximately 40 parents/caregivers joined us on Tuesday morning for the first of our Meet the Parents Morning Teas. I enjoyed spending time with these parents and getting to know them a little better. I was also delighted that many new parents attended our first P&F Meeting for the year and look forward to their continued support of P&F meetings and events throughout the year. 

I thank our Parent Engagement Coordinator, Mrs Liza Baskovich, for her work in this area.

YEARS 10 AND 11 PARENT INFORMATION EVENING

Our latest Parent Information Evening went well on Wednesday evening with sessions being aimed at our senior students. Parents/caregivers also had the opportunity to meet with their child’s PCG teacher.

Once again, thank you to Assistant Deputy Principal (ADP) - Year 12, Mrs Wiesia Collins, Year 10 and 11 PCG teachers with their respective ADPs, all presenters and our Theatre staff for this event.

As with all our information evenings and events, senior staff will review what worked and where we can improve for the following year. 

HOUSE BEACH CARNIVAL 

The inaugural House Beach Carnival for Years 7 and 8 was a huge success on Wednesday and we were lucky the day wasn’t too hot. Sorrento Beach was awash with colour as our students took part in the many activities. 

Thank you to Deputy Principal – Community, Mrs Sandra Manning with House Coordinators Mr Julien Hunt, Mr John Ryan, Miss Christine Polglaze, Ms Lorian Woolgar, Mr David Nelson, Mr Luke McQuade, Mrs Linda Anstiss and Ms Gill King for organising the event. I also extend my thanks to the ADPs of Years 7 and 8, Mr Justin Whitt and Mr Brett Dayman, teachers, education assistants and our Year 12 Student Leaders whose assistance ensured that this event ran smoothly.

A heartfelt thank you to all our parent volunteers who took time out of their busy schedule to run the BBQ for the students and make sure they were well fed at the conclusion of the Carnival.

I look forward to seeing this event continuing in 2024.

ACC INCLUSIVE BEACH CARNIVAL

Students who attend our Mary MacKillop Centre (MMC) had a wonderful morning participating in the ACC Inclusive Sport Beach Carnival at Sorrento Beach today. This event is a multi-sport beach carnival participation event for students with a disability from the ACC's network of schools. It was wonderful to see these students participate with energy and enthusiasm in a wide variety of beach and water activities throughout the morning. This was followed by a BBQ lunch for all attending schools at the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Many thanks to all teachers and education support aides that attended this event. 

God Bless.

Mr Leo Di Gregorio

Principal