Principal's Report

Welcome to the term, and a special welcome from the holiday break to

Year 12 History students accompanied by staff who spent time in Canberra.
Students and staff, who, as part of the Lutheran Schools Habitat for Humanity Service Tour, built houses in Fiji
The staff and students who toured Japan and spent time in a homestay at our sister school Sundai Kofu, and visited Mobara, the sister city of Salisbury Council.

Each of these tours provide wonderful learning opportunities for our students and I sincerely thank the staff who accompanied the students who gave up their holiday break to enable such wonderful experiences to occur.

We have a number of staffing changes for the semester. We welcome two new teachers to the College: Meera Venkataraman and Merryn Ruwoldt, both teaching Mathematics.

We also congratulate the following staff that take on leadership responsibilities for the semester: Director of Senior Years, Sharon Ward; Mathematics Learning Leader, Andrew John; and Year 11 Year Level Leader, Jake Otto-Williams. We also welcome several preservice teachers, who will be working with classes during the term and also new students and families joining our community!

During the holidays several changes have occurred to the physical environment of the College. A new fence has been erected at the front of the property. The purpose of the fence is to clearly define the College grounds, ensuring a safer environment for students and staff. New gates will also ensure the grounds can be appropriately secured when required. Large rocks from the front of the school (along the fence line) have been relocated to create an outdoor seating space for students. The Mall has been concreted in preparation for future changes to this space as the building is completed. Upstairs rooms on the northern wing have also undergone some renovation in preparation for linking to the Senior Years building. New bench tops have also been replaced in one of the Science laboratories. Thanks to the Property Team who have enabled the many changes that have enhanced the College facilities.

Semester 2 will see some exciting changes to the exterior of the College as the structural steel and pre-cast panels begin to appear. With this construction, there will be times of noise and interruption to classes. As a College, we will do our best to minimise these interruptions, but ask that families bear with these inconveniences, that in the end will provide wonderful learning facilities for our students into the future.

The theme for Term 3 is Living Purposefully. The theme challenges us to think about our purpose in life, and the reason for our creation. Sometimes our purpose is not always clear or evident to us. God places us in situations and circumstances that we don’t always understand or feel comfortable with, but what is clear to us as Christians is that God has a purpose for each one of us.

Last week the documentary ‘The Last Quarter’ was screened on television. The documentary centred on Adam Goodes, an AFL footballer, Australian of the Year and an indigenous Australian. The documentary raised questions about the treatment of Goodes during the last three years of his playing career, a career he cut short and retired from due to the pressures he faced as a result of racism and discrimination. For those of you who did not see it last week, it is worth viewing as a stimulus for reflection on how we as individuals and as Australians respond to racism.

Adam Goodes will always be remembered for his incredible sporting prowess and athleticism, and in his early football playing years, I am sure believed this was his purpose: to become an elite footballer and use the gifts he had been given. Adam holds an elite place in AFL history, winning two Brownlow Medals and two premierships. He is a four-time All-Australian, member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, and has represented Australia in the International Rules Series. One would consider that he had well and truly achieved his purpose in life.

Adam, however, was subjected to racist comments from football fans during his playing days, and over time, realised he had a responsibility and opportunity with his profile, to stand up for who he was, a proud aboriginal Australian. Despite being subjected to ongoing discrimination, he has become a public advocate for challenging racism in Australia.

Adam discovered that his purpose in life was more than just being a wonderful footballer. He humbly, with grace and restraint, highlighted the discrimination that he and many others feel as indigenous Australians, advocating for equality.

What does Living Purposefully mean for you? What is your purpose at school, in your workplace, as a member of your family, or in the way you apply yourself in various situations? God has a plan and purpose for you. In Jeremiah 29:11 we read: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As you step into a new term, look for meaning and opportunity to use your God given gifts to live purposefully.

Blessings for the term

Heather Vogt

Principal