From the Principal

Benvenuto - Welcome

The last two weeks have been jam packed with adventure for our Year 7s and Year 3/4s as they enjoyed the camp experience. The Year 7 team headed up the mountain to Camp Howqua where they challenged themselves on the flying fox, high ropes (really high ropes!) archery, horse riding and a survivor course. The year 3/4 team headed to Alexandra where they enjoyed the activities at Camp Alexandra. They were extremely tired on the way home – I believe it was a pretty quiet bus trip home with adults and children alike sleeping on the bus. Camps are a fantastic way to address the personal and social capabilities aspect of the curriculum.

It was exciting to see some of our students take part in the Sunrise program on Thursday. We were invited by Channel 7 Shepparton to be part of the magic of television being in the audience of Sam Mac’s live cross segment featuring the Goulburn Valley. The students had an opportunity to see the ‘behind the scenes’ working of a television production. It was a very early start but well worth it.

On Friday last week, our FIRE Carriers attended the annual Shepparton Sorry Day commemoration. Two of our students introduced and thanked the guest speaker of the day. All who attended experienced a moving ceremony which taught a little more about the Stolen Generations. On Thursday a group of St Anne’s College FIRE Carriers attended the annual Reconciliation Mass held in Nathalia this year. The students represented the college beautifully under the guidance of Elizabeth. Our message stick, along with those of all the other schools in attendance featured in the symbolism of the mass. 

The biggest event of the last two weeks was on Sunday when the candidates for Confirmation and Eucharist were presented to Fr Peter Taylor to be Confirmed and receive their first eucharist. The students have been preparing all year for this event and there was much excitement on Sunday. This year the confirmation and eucharist celebrations were timed to coincide with Pentecost Sunday, the final week in Easter time in the Catholic Church. Originally the feast of the Pentecost was celebrated as the Feast of Harvest by the Jewish people. Today the feast of Pentecost represents a commemoration of the Holy Spirit coming down on the Apostles, sending them out to tell the Good News, hence the connection to the sacrament of Confirmation. I would like to congratulate the children and their parents for their commitment in preparing for the celebration, making it a special day for the St Mel’s parish community.

The first of June marks the beginning of the winter season in the Southern Hemisphere. The June solstice marks the shortest day of the year. This means the cold weather is coming upon us. Some people love the colder months, others prefer to hibernate inside in the warm. Whatever your preference is, continue to find the joy in every day. 

I have now taken leave from the college for the rest of this term. Kate McGrath is stepping into the role of Acting Principal. I hope that the last few weeks of term are productive and successful and that everyone enjoys a well-earned break in a few weeks time. 

 - Susan Carroll, Principal

Thanks to the following businesses for supporting St Anne's College:

 Adornato's - for landscaping supplies 

 Intercontinental Spares - for the 40ft shipping container

 ConX Hire - for the VMS display board