From the Acting Deputy Principal

• Athletics Carnivals
• Student learning and achievement
• Da Vinci Decathlon
• Student Counselling
• Smoking Ceremony for Lachlan Ridley, Class of 2017 RIP

Athletics Carnivals

Next Tuesday’s Senior Athletics Carnival and Wednesday’s Junior Athletics Carnival are important whole school pastoral care events, attended by and participated in by all key staff and students of the College. Students must ensure that they are at school prior to 8.30am and that their names are recorded on the attendance rolls as crucial records for reporting purposes. Those groups leaving early for distance events such as the 1500m will pre-register and have their names recorded by supervising staff and left at the front office for recording on the official roll before boarding the bus.

Where there is concern that a student has not been accurately recorded on the roll, the student in question must report to Mr Brannan to correct this before absence emails are sent out during the day.

The event is an important milestone for our Years 11 and 12 students in particular.  However, all students are expected to participate in multiple events, to the best of their ability, and to support their Colour House, fellow students and classmates. Anyone in plaster, carrying injury or unable to participate will report to Mr Stearn before the event and fulfil duties as officials, supporting others' participation in the events.

Students will only be dismissed from the venue into the care of their parents/guardian, and with their parent's prior written permission.  No text messsages please as these make verification difficult in the field.

Student learning and achievement

We can be well pleased with the overwhelmingly positive responses of the vast majority of our students this term to the challenges of:

• improving the quality of the school environment by considering others and disposing of waste;
• wearing the College Winter Uniform with pride and ensuring grooming and haircuts are of a high standard;
• being in attendance at lessons and working with staff and students in teams to achieve positive learning outcomes;  and
• participating positively and connecting with others through the College’s cocurricular programs and opportunities.

While these observations have resulted in great learning gains across the curriculum, I have emphasised with students and staff this week the need to challenge our standards of learning to ensure we are not distracted from our highest potential; that the opportunity for higher order learning of every student is sacrosanct, and that no one has the right to compromise or detract from the learning, and learning environment of others.

Communication between students, staff and parents is key to safeguarding this principle. Pastoral Care, Teaching staff, Coordinators, Counsellors and Support staff are all available and empowered to ensure that student wellbeing and learning is at the core of everything we do, so please feel free to communicate concerns where they occur and help us make a positive difference in this respect.

Da Vinci Decathlon

Congratulations to Mrs Waterson, Mrs Raheb-Mol and our Year 7-11 Da Vinci Decathlon Teams which gained 1st Place in Year 10 General Knowledge last Wednesday and to Mrs Spanyk and the Year 5 – 6 Teams who claimed 3rd Place in Ideation (Philosophy) last week at this highly prestigious event held at Knox College. The team lists and performance details are presented later in Ms Waterson’s section.

Well done to Liaam Rao, solo violist who was a finalist performer in the exclusive Rotary, Gordon Waterhouse Memorial Music Scholarship, last Wednesday night at The Zenith Theatre. Thanks to Ms Bates for attending this event at which the premier musician from every local school performed at a very high standard.

College Counselling

Please be informed that Mr Russo, our College Lead Counsellor, is currently on leave.  However Ms McCarthy and Ms Gill, two trained and highly qualified members of our Counselling Team, have kindly made themselves available to ensure we have counselling expertise each day of the school cycle.

Pastoral care programs typically run by Mr Russo (such as Boxercise and Peer Mentoring, including the upcoming and much awaited Handball World Series) will continue, supported by our lead students and staff working together.

Smoking ceremony for Lachlan Ridley Class of 2017 RIP

Among the busy cycle of Learning and Study, Winter Sport and College life, it was a great privilege to meet approximately 50 Class of 2017 “Old Boys” at Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club and beach last Saturday morning. The gathering honoured our Year 12 student from last year, Lachlan Ridley, who sadly passed away last February, tragically crushed by his own car as it rolled down an incline against his house.

Lachlan’s Uncle Charles, a proud Gadigal man and elder, and Dad, Michael, led a smoking ceremony including the 300 strong gathering of Lachie’s parents, siblings, friends, school mates, SLSC Patrol and community. Woodchips from Lachlan’s TAS Major Work, his carved wooden surfboard, were placed on the fire by all in attendance.  Jacob Crisafulli (Class of 2017) spoke meaningfully of his connections and respect for Lachlan, and after moving circularly through the smoke all present were invited to move through a path of surfboat oars and rescue boards into the strong surf to lay flowers in remembrance.

It was a fitting, respectful occasion and manner to honour Lachlan Ridley and our community proudly played its part, as we did in the days after Lachlan’s death, in filling Our Lady of The Rosary Parish Church, Waitara and at his funeral Mass at Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood, places Lachlan was remembered fondly.

The event was a great segue to our Reconciliation assembly with guest Catholic Schools Office Indigenous Education Officer Mr David Ella on Monday, at which our students again rose to the occasion of celebrating and learning about our Indigenous Heritage, spirituality and the need to pass this on.

Lachlan’s Uncle Charles has agreed to lead ceremony to remember Lachie, and our rich traditions of respect, later this year at our Year 9 Camp, and possibly also at our Student Leadership Team Camp in August and October respectively, which will help us to celebrate his life and reflect on our own spirituality. Leica, Lachlan’s Mum, is also in the process of commissioning an indigenous styled memorial bench to be placed adjacent to Warriewood SLSC. Leica welcomes our support as she strives stoically and beautifully to remember Lachlan, her youngest child, with her brave composure and spirit as a grieving mother.

Vale Lachlan Ridley Class of 2017

Mr S Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal