Principal

Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop and Walkathon

Last week on Monday 8 August, we celebrated St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop’s Feast Day. I have participated in many days like this, but I write in all sincerity that the Feast Day and following activities were quite simply the best celebration I have experienced in my time in schools. All elements worked extremely well and there was a great sense of community on the day.

We commenced the day with a liturgy celebrated by Fr Peter Bickley. This was our first whole school Mass this year and it was for us together as a community.  Following the Mass, we held our Walkathon which is the main driver of our fundraising efforts to support the following charities this year: The Disabled Surfers Association; Shepherd’s Table; Project Kenya; Mary MacKillop Today; and Trinity Families. The charities support local, national and international works and all make a valuable contribution to improve the lives of the people they assist. 

Students returned from the Walkathon after about a two-hour journey from Koonwarra to the centre of Leongatha and then returned to school and were provided lunch and then entertained by the staff versus students' Netball game. All involved in the competition had fun which resulted in a win for the students.

I am very grateful to John Ryan for all his work and leadership in all aspects of the day.

Specifically, for the Mass, thank you to Nicole Dudman with regard to the liturgy and for ensuring students were prepared and ready. Also, my great appreciation to Beth Winterhalter and David Robinson for their work in preparing our choir. The singing by the choir was appreciated by all in attendance. Thank you as well to Scott Blencowe for the sound and set-up, Following the liturgy, the warm-up for the Walkathon led by Kapil Bhargava with Justice Captains was entertaining and genuinely had all involved. Also thank you again to Fr Peter for his wonderful contribution and meaningful homily.

Thank you to all staff for their participation during the Walkathon section, including those who were at school ensuring food was prepared, particular thanks to Kara Schwennesen.

Organisation of these days are an enormous task and the work undertaken by Elise Dowling, Jenny Damon and Donna Wylie along with all the Office staff was outstanding

Thanks to Edson Letendrie and Carly Kitchingman for the photography. Also, Matt Dunn’s work on the video of the day was excellent.

For the afternoon events, thank you to all involved in the Netball game. It was entertaining and it was generous of the teachers to allow the students to win.

Finally thank you to our students for their engagement and participation. 

Year 9 Camp

Thank you to Ken Myors and all the staff involved in our Year 9 Camp this week at Camp Coolamatong. The reports and pictures received during the experience indicated that this was a very enjoyable, engaging and worthwhile experience.  

Deputy Principal Wellbeing – Staff and Students

We will be interviewing the shortlisted applicants for the Deputy Principal Wellbeing – Students and Staff next Tuesday, 23 August 2022. Advice to the community should be made in the following week.

Subject Selection and Careers Guidance Meetings

There has been enormous amount of work over the last few weeks with subjects across the school as well as careers and course advice for our Year 12s. 

My observation is that this work was done in a professional and expert manner.

Thank you to all the staff in counselling students both during the day and after school. 

Recent Floods

The recent flooding has obviously impacted a number in our community particularly with roads being blocked in some areas. I am not aware of any families whose homes have been specifically damaged by recent events, but if there are can I please encourage you to contact the College if there is any way we can reasonably assist.

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

John M Freeman