From the Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and Friends of St Norbert College,

THERE is simply no better way to commence our final day of the year with students than a beautiful Thanksgiving Mass prepared by Mrs Palermo, Ms Kyd and celebrated by Fr Peter. This Mass is not just a celebration of the culmination of this year, but also an acknowledgement of the special time of Advent.

At the conclusion of Mass, it was wonderful to congratulate Fr Peter on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of his Ordination to the priesthood. Fr Peter commenced his ministry joining the Norbertines in Queens Park in 1979 and then ordained as a priest in 1982. It was special to be able to share this celebration with our students and staff, marking over 40 years of dedication and service to the Norbertines, to St Joseph’s parish and to St Norbert College.

To mark the 900th Anniversary of the Norbertine Order in 2020, the College commissioned a statue of our patron Saint and chose Fr Peter’s wonderful occasion to unveil the impressive piece that will be erected in the College grounds. Please see the photos taken of this special moment.

FAREWELLS

The end of any school year brings sadness, as we farewell much loved staff and students who move onto other schools or pastures and they all go with our best wishes. I would like to make special mention of the following staff who have served our community, in some cases over many years;

• Mr Chadwick Beins
  Mr Beins commenced at St Norbert College as our Director of Music in 2017 and became the Head of the Arts Learning Area at the end of that year. Mr Beins skill and expertise has been pivotal in strengthening the performing and visual arts here at the College and for that we thank him and wish him well in his new role as the Head of Year 7 at St Luke’s in Karratha.
   
• Miss Emilie Gawley 
  Miss Gawley joined us at the start of this year as a graduate teacher and has endeared herself to staff and students alike, we congratulate Miss Gawley on her appointment to an ongoing position at St John Bosco College.
   
• Ms Anna Greene
  After a number of years in Australia including 2022 as the Head of Year 7 at our College, Ms Greene returns to her homeland Ireland, to be closer to family and friends. Thank you Miss Greene, whilst the quantity of time with us was short, the quality of your contributions is immeasurable.
   
• Mr Frank Mulligan
  Mr Mulligan was farewelled from his teaching role at St Norbert College in 2016 but returned soon after as the Alumni Officer, providing great connection with our ex-student network. We thank Mr Mulligan for the incredible work he has done, the high standards set and the impressive editions of Norbertus over these years and hope we continue to see him in the capacity of relief teacher into the future.
   
• Mr Cian O’Gradaigh
  Mr O’Gradaigh is returning to Ireland to be closer to family and to care for his ill mother. We are unsure of the timing or possibility of Mr O’Gradaigh’s return but he goes with our blessing and our thoughts and prayers for his mother and family.
   
• Mr Khan Rickard
  Mr Rickard has been a “jack of all trades” this year, filling a varied teaching role across a mixture of learning areas. We thank Mr Rickard and wish him well in his future endeavours.
   
• Ms Diana Tersigni
  Ms Tersigni has long been associated with St Norbert College, teaching here from 1982 until 1987 before moving to Italy and then returning in a teaching capacity here in 2014. It would be difficult to acknowledge appropriately the impact and contributions of Ms Tersigni over that time, but we congratulate her and wish her well as she moves to Penrhos College. 
   
• Miss Michelle Vaughn
  Miss Vaughn joined us at very short notice in Term 2 after returning to Perth from Busselton ad we were delighted that she accepted our offer to teach here. We thank Miss Vaughn for her service and dedication to our students and community and wish her well in future endeavours.

There are a number of staff who are taking periods of well-earned rest and so I would also like to acknowledge Mr Greg Hulshoff and Mrs Brooke Kremer who are both embarking on Long Service Leave for 2023 and likewise, Mrs Karen Cassidy and Mrs Cynthia Villarosa for Term 1 next year. 

It is important to also acknowledge those students and families who finish their time at St Norbert College and move to other schools and endeavours. We thank you for your contributions to our College and hope that the memories gained and the friendships shared will be with you throughout your life ahead.

I would like to thank all in our community for your efforts in making 2022 another successful year, which wouldn’t be possible without the help, support and cooperation of the whole community and St Norbert College is a very special community indeed. Please take some time to enjoy another wonderful depiction of our year, captured in our 2022 Koinonia yearbook. Congratulations to Mrs Quartermain for her exemplary talents and incredible dedication to this year’s publication.

I would like to wish our families a happy and holy Christmas. I hope that you get the opportunity to spread the truth about Christmas – that it is a time of joy and an opportunity for reflection and that Jesus’ peace and love characterise your festive season. 

"Jesus is coming, and the road to meet him is clearly marked: it passes through works of charity. Charity is the beating heart of the Christian: just as one cannot live without a heartbeat, so one cannot be a Christian without charity." (Pope Francis)

IN MEMORIAM: Noel Dawkins AM

The St Norbert College community wishes to pay its respects to College pioneer Mr Noel Dawkins AM, who passed away recently.  Noel was instrumental in the development of the College, holding a Shire Clerk position at the then Shire of Canning during the formative days of the College, later becoming a huge part of the College Management Advisory Boards. Noel played an invaluable role in acquiring the necessary funds for the building of "Stage 2" (that is, the brown buildings that are now Tongerlo, Magdeburg, Strahov and Technologies) and the Xanten Theatre – an unbelievable task well done. The Tongerlo Building is named after Noel, becoming the NI and LM Dawkins Centre, opened in 1979 and dedicated to English studies. This naming was in recognition of the significant role Noel played as Chair of the College Advisory Board, and that too of wife Lurlene, who had shared voluntary roles with many other mothers regularly and generously.  The St Norbert College community offers its deepest sympathies to Mrs Dawkins and all of Noel’s family and friends.

God bless.

Mr S Harvey

(Principal) 

CEWA Principals Mass

Mr Harvey, and the incoming College Principal for 2023, Ms Sharon Rainford, received a blessing for their new appointments at the CEWA Principals Mass held at the Chapel of St Michael the Archangel in Leederville, on 18 November.  Supported by Prior Fr Peter Joseph and former Principal Mrs Annette Morey (2012-2017), who is now the Principal at Mater Dei, Ms Rainford received a blessing from Archbishop Costelloe, as did Mr Harvey who becomes Principal of Mazenod College in Term 2, 2023. Congratulations Ms Rainford and sincere gratitude, Mr Harvey!