St Augustine's College Kyabram

From the Principal

Senior students working in the Place of Possibility building

Prayer

Loving God,

As we commence this new year,

open our ears and our hearts to listen to your voice.

Amidst the chatter and busyness it is sometimes hard for me to hear

the small whisper of Your voice speaking to my heart, 

providing me with direction and guidance.

Bless me to quiet myself in the stillness of You in order for me to have a heart to listen and heed your desires for me.

My God, I trust you with all my heart.

 

Amen

 

 

Welcome to all members of the St Augustine’s Community.

 

Returning to school for another year brings much joy to many.  Watching our new Foundation students commence their journey in Catholic Education is a proud moment for all of us.  The sparkle in their eyes and the nervousness that goes with it, is a special moment that will remain with families for many years to come. I understand that commencing formal education is not just a momentous occasion for the child, but parents also share many mixed feelings.  It was evident that our families were extremely proud of their children however there was certainly a mixture of both ‘relieved’ and ‘sad’ faces.

 

Not only is St Augustine’s College a new destination for our Foundation students, we need to acknowledge that we have also witnessed the arrival of new students from Years 1-12.  We welcome these new students and families to our College and trust their experience will be of connection and opportunities.

 

It is also with great excitement that we welcome fourteen new staff to our College in 2019.  We trust that their experience will be one of joy and professional fulfilment.  We welcome the following:

  • Kirilee Westblade – Deputy Principal (Catholic Identity)
  • Carolyn Goode – Deputy Principal (Community and Wellbeing)
  • Bianca Anderson – English and History (9-12)
  • Ellen Pinnuck - Health & PE and Outdoor Education (F-12)
  • David Adamson - Psychology (9-12)
  • Loretta Shannon – Music, Drama and Religious Education (F-12)
  • Michelle Downie – Food Technology (5-12)
  • Kate Sloan – Primary Classroom (5-6)
  • Aviva Lindsay – Primary Classroom (1-2)
  • Amie Fleming – Primary Classroom (3-4)
  • Peta Bibby – Primary Classroom (3-4)
  • Tracy Learmonth – Learning Support Officer (F-4)
  • Carli Fairley - Learning Support Officer (9-12)
  • Tracey Vicary – Food Technology (Lab Technician)

It is with great excitement that we commence the new school year in our new ‘Place of Possibility’ building.  This amazing building provides three new science rooms (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), two music and drama rooms, a drama auditorium, five music tutor rooms, three art rooms and a food technology room that is accompanied by a café.  This facility will be available to all students from F-12 and it was great to witness the excitement and pride our students demonstrated when working in these spaces.  I would like to take the opportunity to thank all staff that spent many hours moving equipment and setting up their learning spaces in readiness for our first day at school.  In particular I would like to thank Merv Lancaster, Lisa Warren and Andrew Sierakowski for their efforts throughout this transition.  It would be remiss of me not to mention the diligence and dedication of our Business Manager, Trish Norton.  Trish has worked very closely on this project for almost two years and throughout the January holiday period, Trish was still actively involved and taking calls regarding the building phase.

 

As we commence our year, we pay significant attention to our 2019 College theme, “Listen with an open and humble heart”.  Throughout the year we will continue to explore this message and what it means to us as a College community.

 

I would like to thank those joining us today at Mass  to mark the opening of our school year and the commissioning of our College Student Leaders.  May you all have a wonderful start to the year and relish the opportunity that leadership presents you.

 

Lastly, I am extremely grateful and privileged to be leading such a great College.  The students, families, staff and parish working together make this a special place for so many people.  It is a place for learning, forming relationships and most importantly as our vision statements suggests, ‘we seek to educate the whole person as a contributing member of the human community in Christ'.

 

I wish everyone a great 2019 and look forward to sharing in many special experiences together.

 

Brayden Stone

Principal