Principal’s Log

As a community, we enjoyed the opportunity to congratulate and celebrate with the graduates of 2022 at their Graduation Service, Final Chapel and Formal.  Throughout these events, there was a tremendous sense of warmth, dignity and appreciation. We thank the Graduating Class of 2022 for all that they have been and contributed.  We are proud of who they have become as young men and women and wish them well for their next phase of life. We thank Ms Leigh Finter and Mrs Leanne Bevis for their organisation and leadership of these events and all staff, students and parents who made these final celebrations such memorable occasions.

Throughout this week we have been inspired by the thinking of our young people as they shared their learnings through the Pacific Plus and STEM Showcases. The STEM Showcase had Year 9 and 10 students proudly explaining the thinking behind their designs. This included underwater drones constructed to repel sharks and check submarine cables, investigations into light that included holograms, and images created through visual retention and exploration of bionic hands and roller coaster design.  The Year 6 Pacific Plus groups excitedly shared their thinking about diverse topics that included wormholes and singularity, life without fear, how animal features affect our perception of them and face pareidolia. Needless to say, I learnt a lot as I engaged with in-depth conversations with students who enthusiastically shared their learnings.  We thank Mrs Jo Belchamber, Mrs Linda Sydes and Ms Adelle Byerlee for their leadership of the Pacific Plus experiences and Mr Wes Warner, Mrs Marnie Whittaker and Mrs Claire Richards for their leadership of our STEM electives.

Mr Jarrod Bleijie joined us in thanking our volunteers at the Volunteer’s Afternoon Tea on Tuesday. Our parents and other volunteers play an essential role in the provision of the range of opportunities at the College. We thank all those who have given very generously of their time and our hospitality team for their catering.

At the end of the year, our Business Manager, Mr Mike Healy is retiring from his role of Business Manager after 22 years of tremendous service.  Mr Healy has carried a variety of roles in addition to his role as Business Manager.  Mr Healy has been a wonderful servant leader who has always been very generous with his time, equally willing to support the setup and pack down of events, movement of traffic through the car park, returning to the College late at night to check on alarms and spend hours managing the finances, overseeing facilities development and business activities of the College including workplace health and safety. We are deeply indebted to Mike for very capably managing the finances of the College and for his very significant contribution to this community as Business Manager.  We wish Mr Healy all the best as he transitions into retirement through the early part of next year.

We also express our appreciation to Ms Leigh Finter and Mr Brett Kersnovske who have very capably filled the roles of Acting Director of Students and Acting Head of Middle College students this year.  It is a credit to both Ms Finter and Mr Kersnovske that they have filled their roles well and been able to lead significant improvement in the wellbeing and leadership development of Middle and Senior College students and the pastoral care programs within the College.  We also express our appreciation to Ms Megan Bancks who has capably fulfilled the roles of Acting Head of Mumba and Bula House.  Ms Finter will continue as Head of Senior College Students and Mr Kersnovske as Head of Bula House next year.  Ms Bancks will take on the new role of Head of Personal Development.

We thank and farewell the Head of Mathematics, Mrs Patricia Hosking and Mrs Abi Blessing as Middle and Senior College Science and Mathematics teacher. Mrs Hosking has done an excellent job in supporting the professional development of staff and the learning of mathematics across the Middle and Senior College.  Mrs Hosking has been very generous with her time and we have benefitted from her passion and capability in leading high-quality learning in mathematics. Mrs Blessing has made a valuable contribution as a classroom and pastoral care group teacher and in the leadership of the development of Design Thinking.  We thank both women for their very significant contributions and capable leadership and wish them well for the future.

We thank contract teachers Mrs Karen Costa, Mr Chris Gilmore, Mrs Ruth Douglas, Mr Ben Stewart and Ms Rebecca Abnett for the professional and capable way they have supported the learning and development of young people throughout this year and wish them all the best for the future.

We wish Mrs Kate Vaney, Middle and Senior College Media and Digital Technology teacher and Mr Chris Bartlett, Head of Christian Studies all the best as they take well-deserved leave from the start of next year.  Ms Michelle McMillan will be Acting Head of Christian Studies in Mr Bartlett’s absence.

I am pleased to announce that Mr Mark Hauser will be the Director of Students and Head of Middle College Students next year.  Mr Hauser has done an outstanding job as College Chaplain this year, establishing the role, building strong relationships with students, supporting staff and students in their spiritual growth, establishing a youth group and capably fulfilling many of the roles of College Pastor. We thank him for his service as College Chaplain and look forward to his leadership as the Director of Students. Mrs Holly Gricks will continue as College Chaplain next year.

We look forward to welcoming Mr Ryan Lovell from St Peter’s Lutheran College, Indooroopilly as Business Manager, and Mr Michael Knight as Head of Mathematics (Head of Mathematics, Santa Sophia Catholic College, NSW).  We also look forward to welcoming the following teachers, Ms Tiffany Harman (Humanities and Senior Geography, Ed Qld), Mrs Nicole Schirripa (Digital Technologies, Ed Qld), Ms Taylor Edwards (Science and Psychology, Robinvale College, Vic), Mr Tony Davies (Industrial Technology and Design, Careers Focussed ACT), Ms Lucy Cumerford (Hospitality), Ms Sophia Rule (P-6 teacher) and Mrs Virginia Schlotterbach (Christian Studies and Humanities, Ed Qld).  This is a talented team of people and we look forward to them contributing to the leadership and growth of our students and community from the start of next year.

Thank you to staff, students and parents for your contribution to the growth of our people and the College throughout the year. We pray that God would bless each one of us as we enjoy the change of rhythm that school holidays provide. 

May God’s peace and love, fill us all with joy over the Christmas and holiday period.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal