From the Principal

Once again, we, like other schools, found ourselves having to transition to operating remotely with little notice. Fortunately, we are now well practised at this – staff, students and families and so, the transition went very smoothly. We were very pleased that our Year 11 and 12 students were able to return last week and very much look forward to having all students back at the College tomorrow. Let’s hope that there is no need to return to remote learning in the future.

Students in Year 9, 10 and 11 are about to sit their Semester 1 examinations. These examinations not only provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning but to also establish and refine their revision and exam writing skills. We trust that all students have been preparing thoroughly for their examinations and wish them well.

World Environment Day 2021 was celebrated at the weekend, the theme for which was ‘Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.’ Whist viewing the World Environment Day website, I was struck by this very powerful and poignant statement on the homepage: 

REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE.

This is our moment.

We cannot turn back time. 

But we can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, 

change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. 

We are the generation that can make peace with nature.

Let’s get active, not anxious. Let’s be bold, not timid. 

As a College we have taken a number of steps in recent years to reduce our impact on the environment including installing solar panels as part of each building project undertaken, replacing fluorescent tube lights with LED lights, planting only native species in our gardens and significantly reducing our use of single use plastic. Recycling bins are located throughout the College and composting bins located in key areas.  Our Sustainability Group has led a number of initiatives, including the establishment of a kitchen garden. In the months ahead we will be developing our sustainability goals, as part of our involvement in the ResourceSmart Schools program, to minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversity and take action on climate change.  We cannot turn back time, but we can all, individually and collectively, have a positive impact on our environment. 

Creator of our common home,

You fill the earth and sea and sky with life

Forgive us our neglect of your creation

The choking waste of our pollution

The damage done by careless habits

And our indifference to future generations.

Help us to amend our lives

To refuse more plastic if we can’t reuse it

To lift our voice for lasting change

And to live well and gently on the earth.

Amen.

Nicole Mangelsdorf

Principal