Principal’s Log

There was tremendous energy and goodwill as students returned at the start of this week and quickly settled into the routines of learning.  We welcome all staff, students, parents and carers to the start of the 2023 school year and a particularly warm welcome to the many new students and their families and new and returning staff.  We have an exciting year ahead and we look forward to staff, students and parents growing together throughout the year.

The Commencement services provided a great way to welcome staff, students and parents into the new year as we installed the new Middle and Senior College leaders and new staff at the Middle and Senior College service and welcomed students into new phases of learning at both services.  Our Year 5 students modelled their sense of co-agency as they presented their Year 5 badges to each other. We thank Pastor Ray Morris from the St Mark’s congregation for his leadership of the Middle and Senior College service and Mayor Mr Mark Jamieson and the Hon Mr Jarrod Bleijie for their involvement in the installation of our student leaders. We thank Chaplain Mrs Holly Gricks for her leadership of the P-5 service.  We thank Mrs Michi Hauser for her coordination of both services and parents, staff and students for making these services such warm dignified starts to the year.

It was great to connect with many new and continuing families at the Welcome Breakfast where we had over 200 people in attendance. The Breakfast provided a good opportunity for families to build and strengthen relationships within the community.  We appreciate the food provided by our hospitality team led by our Year 11 and 12 students and Mrs Colleen Beattie and the hospitality team.  Thank you to parents including our Friends of Pacific team, students and staff for their attendance and Mrs Leanne Bevis for her coordination of the event.

In the coming fortnight, we have a number of parent information evenings. Parents are strongly encouraged to come along and learn how they can best support the learning of their children. Students learn best in communities where there is a strong partnership and a strong sense of co-agency between parents, students and staff.  We look forward to connecting with families next week at our P-5, Middle College and Year 11 Information Evenings.

We wish our Year 3-6 students all the best with their swimming carnival next week. We also wish our Year 8 students all the best as they engage in their 5-day outdoor education experience where they have the opportunity to grow in their self-awareness, social-emotional capabilities, confidence, relationships with each other and connection to the environment.

May God enable us to see ourselves and others as desired guests who are welcomed into relationship and community for good purpose.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal