Thanks for Term 1
This is the last Lumina for the term and a great opportunity to acknowledge a very encouraging start to the year. It is a term rich in activities and first-time experiences as we welcome new students, staff, and families to our community. We have celebrated our Welcome Liturgy and Excellence Assembly in Logue Hall; Athletics Carnival in a more suitable location in Newport and team building camps for Year 7s and 8s. Last week we conducted a very productive round of parent teacher interviews, and the feedback has been appreciated and overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunity to meet the classroom teachers. Each of these events brought our community closer together in one way or another.
I would like to thank our students for returning to school this year with a positive outlook and I appreciate that this mindset starts in the home with your encouragement and guidance. Thanks also to the St Mary’s College staff who continue to show that they are educators of the highest calibre.
Easter
For Christians, Easter is the most important festival in the liturgical calendar, as we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the cornerstone of our tradition and the essential truth on which our belief is founded; that even in the darkest of times, suffering on the Cross, we are called forward into the light by the Risen Christ. Easter is a time of saying thanks for the year that has passed, asking forgiveness for the many times that we have failed to live up to our own expectations, and going forward with confidence that we are forgiven and loved. It is also an important time as a secular holiday for many families to capture a rare opportunity to come together and share a thanksgiving meal. Whatever Easter may mean for you, I hope that your family's celebration is rich and life-giving.
Change of Uniform
When we return from holidays, we move into a winter season for uniform. There are a variety of styles available in the winter range to suit the needs of your young person and these are described in our uniform brochure. It is worth noting that shorts are permitted as part of the winter uniform as this is not demonstrated in the infographic. We appreciate the support that we have received this year and have witnessed improvements in the wearing of the summer uniform as a sign of pride in our identity as St Mary’s College. I hope to see this improvement continue as we move into winter uniform.
EREA School Renewal
We continue the preparation for our school renewal panel visit early in Term 2 and have submitted the Principal Report this week. The report is structured in four sections: context statement; achievements since last renewal; key EREA policies and initiatives; and key challenges. Thanks, especially, to Shaun Lancashire, for his assistance in helping with my understanding of the journey since the last review in 2019 and to other members of the leadership team who were able to contribute about their own portfolios. It is pleasing to see that so much has been achieved in a relatively short time and to be able to report with such optimism about the future. Students have also been requested to provide feedback to the panel via a brief survey and parents / guardians will be invited to provide feedback to the panel via our committees.
Staffing News
Ms Cathryn Quigley and Mr Ananda Perera end lengthy periods of service at St Mary’s College / CBC this term. We give thanks for the contribution that they have made as educators over many years and the impact that they have had on countless young people and wish them every happiness in a well-earned retirement. Ms Isabella Russo will be replacing Ms Quigley as Maths Learning Area Leader.
Term 2 Dates
Students return for Term 2 on Tuesday, 22nd April. This first week will be short as we also have ANZAC Day on the Friday. The last day of Term 2 is Friday, 4th July.
