PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

The buzz of students back together is one of the most harmonious sounds you can hear.  Monday and Tuesday mornings, as we welcomed back all of our students, was wonderful.  Our Year 7 students were both excited and nervous as they made their way to Homeroom and their first classes. I enjoyed walking through the school yard at recess and lunch, talking with the students, answering their questions and hearing their stories of the summer.

I am sure that there is some anxiety in the community, around the current variant of COVID-19. The school has now installed 20 new air purifiers, thanks to the State Government. We have also received a number of Rapid Antigen Test kits, which we have been distributing to staff and parents/carers or students. We hope to receive more kits in the coming weeks for Week 3 & 4.  A reminder that testing is voluntary and all testing will assist in identifying positive cases to reduce the impact on our teaching and learning programs. I thank you for your support in this matter.

As we begin a new year, we also welcome a number of new staff to the school. I am grateful that we have been able to employ such wonderful people into our community.

Teachers: Casey Frame, Courtney Bell, Scott Anderson and Marcus Jetson. 

Learning Support Officers: Jorgie Allen, Yvonne Kelley and Nichola Miliano.

Administration & Wellbeing: Saige Ottrey, Jessie Ballam and Peta Goodman.

On Sunday 30th January, the St Mary MacKillop College and St Mary’s Primary School staff were commissioned to their roles in Catholic Education for 2022. It was especially special to have Bishop Paul Bird celebrating the Mass, with Fr James Kerr, and blessing our staff. The commissioning statements that we attested to are:

May our work excite our hearts and kindle in our minds a creativity to journey beyond the old limits of all that has become wearisome.

May our work challenge us towards new frontiers that will emerge as we begin to approach them, calling forth from us the full force and depth of our undiscovered gifts.

May our work fit the rhythms of our souls enabling us to draw from the invisible new ideas and a vision that will inspire.

May we remember to be kind to those who work with us and endeavour to remain aware of the quiet world that lives behind each face.

May we be fair in our expectations and compassionate in our criticism. May we have the grace of encouragement to awaken the gift in the other's heart, building in them the confidence to follow the call of the gift.

May we come to know that work which emerges from the mind of love will have beauty and form.

May our work be worthy of the energy of our hearts and the light of our thought.

May the work that we do with young people enable them to flourish and grow as children of God. Bring each of us everyday further into the wonder of each heart. 

(Adaptation, John O'Donhohue 2008)

I am excited for the new year, with all its challenges and opportunities. I look forward to working with our whole community, staff, students and parents/guardians.