From the College Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Friends of the St Gregory’s College Community,

We have now completed Week 4 of the academic year and we have experienced a very settled start of the year. Our staff and the majority of our students across the K-12 campus have adopted strong routines and we are maximising learning opportunities by our students being on task and engaged in their lessons. Every day is an opportunity to learn new things and this is the mindset we need our students to adopt – be open and flexible to learning; be willing to take risks in learning new things and consolidating past learnings; and, respect the learning of others in the class.

I thank our parents and carers who consistently reinforce and support the educational opportunities we offer at St Gregory’s. We always work in partnership and as the first and foremost educators of your child, we appreciate the encouragement and mentoring you constantly provide.

LENTEN PERIOD – Next week marks the commencement of the Lenten period in the Church’s liturgical calendar. On Wednesday 26 February, the College community will gather for Ash Wednesday liturgies, with students and staff receiving the sign of the cross in ash on their foreheads, a mark of sorrow and repentance for sin. As will be explained during the moving liturgies, this period of time leading up to the Easter period gives us all an opportunity to look within and to challenge ourselves to renew and revitalise our spirits. The ashes on Ash Wednesday are a stark reminder for us all of our life journey from our origins to our eventual passing.

For our students at St Gregory’s College, the messages of the Lenten period will not be lost as each student will be challenged to reflect and look closely at their life. The messages and stories in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are vivid reminders for us all of God’s love for us – his only son Jesus lived the human experience and eventually died on the Cross. His resurrection brings us all hope and his love is poured out for each of us.

The challenges of Lent are beautifully explained by Father John Cusick (Chicago): - “Consider the 40 days of Lent to be a form of “spring training.” It is a time of preparedness, preparation, discipline, exercise and practice for the game of life.

Before every sport plays its first contest, there is always an intense time of training. Knowing the game is different from playing the game. Before the curtain is raised at the beginning of any piece of theatre, there are many weeks of rehearsal. Knowing the story is different from playing your role. Before the baton of the maestro signals the first note, all the musicians have practiced their part hundreds of time before coming together as a symphony, trio, quartet or choir.

Each and every important part of life demands training, discipline and practice before the main event. Lent is training. Lent is practice time. Lent is honing our skills. Lent is discipline. Lent is our spiritual workout.”

Lent is also a time when we give of ourselves to others. Once again, this year, the College will be supporting the Marist Lenten Appeal. This is a real opportunity for St Gregory’s College students and families to open their hearts with love and hope to the needs of the world.

WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3 – Every day at St Gregory’s College is a step towards achieving our goals in our new Strategic Priority 3: -

‘A Respectful and Unified College Community

Where are we now? At the close of 2019, we are a College community that has pride in our traditions and values our heritage. A sense of belonging and family connection characterises our community. We understand that greater respect and unity are important features of the quality relationships we value and wish to continue building.

Where do we want to be? By the close of 2022, we want to be a community built on trusting, respectful and life-giving relationships that create an inclusive, supportive and caring College environment. Our students will work collaboratively with their peers and staff in an environment that enhances the social and emotional wellbeing of all. We will be a College with a culture of high expectations, promoting excellence in all that we do.’

Last year and early this year I have had the opportunity on many occasions to talk to groups of students at their assemblies and meetings. These are always important opportunities for me to ‘continue to build the culture’ of this fine College. My messages to the students are always relatively simple and unambiguous. I have asked students to show care for each other; to show care for their teachers and the staff they interact with; to show care for their College environment; and finally, to show care for themselves.

The importance of these four messages cannot be understated in my mind. As a community we are called to show care and not to be selfish in our words or actions.

I have asked students to thank their teacher every lesson and every day – this is so important! A ‘Thank you Miss’ or ‘Thank you Sir’ goes a very long way and builds a wonderful culture of support and friendship between staff and students.
I have asked students to say ‘Hello’ to staff as they pass in the College grounds and beyond the College. The head-down, non-eye contact lack of greeting is not part of our culture here at St Gregory’s – everyone should feel welcome and safe. A simple greeting costs nothing but means so much.
I have asked students to care for our College environment. I have been reminding students about their rubbish and looking after our lawns and gardens.
Finally, I have asked students to show care for themselves and their peers. Their personal appearance, the way they interact with their peers, their commitment to their studies, sport, music, etc., and their personal witness to their faith and spiritual development are all important factors for each student at St Gregory’s. We are here to support every student - their commitments are paramount in us achieving ongoing successes in this Strategic Priority.

COLLEGE OPENING MASS – On Friday 7 February we celebrated our College Opening Mass. Mrs Cathie Clarke, our Director of Mission and the senior students did an outstanding job of prising open and reflecting on our Marist theme for 2020 - ‘One Wild and Precious Life.’ We all loved Mrs Clarke’s take on the theme and her use of the Kenny Rogers song (The Gambler) to elaborate the point that we have so many choices to make in our life. Brother Robert O’Connor from Marist Ministries, who also joined us for the Mass (and loved it!) has recently offered his reflections on the theme. Please find below extracts from Brother Robert’s reflections: -

“What a great theme for our programs for 2020! If you’ve not come across Mary Oliver’s work – check it out! She challenges whatever age we may find ourselves in – mid-life, young, more mature even! She then invites deep reflection on this gift we have been given and asks what in this next phase of your journey do you plan to do with this “WILD and PRECIOUS life” you have! In many ways she replicates Jesus’ question in both Mark [10:51] and Luke [18:41] “What do you want me to do for you?” So, what is it you hope and pray for in the next term, this year, or whatever period of your