Principal's Log

Over this last fortnight parents, students and staff have enjoyed the Year 3 and 4 string ensembles and the Year 5 and 6 Multi-Instrument Concerts.  These performances have allowed young people, staff and parents to celebrate the tremendous growth the Year 3, 4, 5 and 6s have shown over the year. During Wednesday’s chapel we had the pleasure of listening to our Senior String Ensemble who demonstrated great musicality as they played a beautiful rendition of the ‘Joyous Sound of Christmas.’  We thank Mrs Helen Williams for her leadership of the instrumental team and the string program and all of the tutors who have enabled our music program to strengthen significantly, this year.   We thank our parents for attending and supporting the students at these concerts.

At years end we farewell our Director of Students, Mr Brendan Delaney who has served our community well since 2004 through his roles as Head of House and for the Director of Students and Head of Middle College Staff and Students for the past eight years.  Mr Delaney has been instrumental in the implementation of restorative practices and had significant impact on shaping the culture of the College through his support of students and staff and promotion of positive psychology.   We farewell our Head of Senior College Students, Mrs Kim Bonello who has given strong leadership to our senior students since 2011 and prior to that as Head of House.  Mrs Bonello has provided strong encouragement and support to senior students and also led the implementation of positive psychology into the College over the past twelve months.  We also farewell Dr Peter McMahon who has been Head of Bula House and prior to this year has also led the development of an outstanding Outdoor Education program.  In the early days of the College, Dr McMahon also fulfilled the role of Director of Students and played a significant role in the shaping of College culture and establishment of many traditions that are an integral part of College life.  We thank these three leaders for their very significant contribution and generosity of time and spirit that has enriched the lives of many.

We also farewell our Head of Careers, Mrs Natasha Purcell and Head of Learning Enrichment P-5 Mrs Anthea Brighton who have provided tremendous support to students and their families.  Middle and Senior College parents, staff and students have greatly appreciated Mrs Purcell’s warm, calm and encouraging professionalism as she has shared considerable expertise and strengthened our Career Education processes.  Parents of P-5 students and staff have appreciated Mrs Brighton’s care and considerable professional skills and capacity in supporting young people with diverse needs and their families.  We farewell Prep teacher, Mrs Anne Phythian who joined the College in 2003 and has been appreciated for the way she has nurtured and encouraged children in her role as a Foundation College teacher.  We also farewell Prep Aide Mrs Larissa Whincop who has provided valued care and support for the Prep children, their families and teachers.  Mr Norm Stone is also retiring as an Information Technology Aide after having generously served the College since its inception in 2001.  Mr Stone was instrumental in enabling the College to grow its IT services and in the early days the IT Education program.  Mr Stone has also given strong service to the Chess program of the College.  We also farewell Mr Damien Johns who has capably fulfilled a contract as a Year 6 teacher in Semester 2 of this year.  Staff and students have appreciated Mr John’s energy and commitment.

We thank all of these staff for their tremendous service they have given the Pacific community and wish them every blessing for the next phase of their lives.

We thank Mrs Natalie Campbell for her capable leadership of sport while Mr Kersnovske has been on leave.  Her thorough, warm and highly professional approach has enabled young people and staff to continue to participate in and enjoy a wide variety of sport this term.

We look forward to welcoming back Prep teacher Mrs Anna Maher, Mr Brett Kersnovske and Mrs Fiona Schefe as they return from leave.  We wish Mr Druery a well-earned break as he takes long service leave in Term 1 and Head of Music, Mrs Aleisha Tuaine every blessing as she takes maternity leave and welcomes a new child into their family.  We congratulate Mrs Marnie Whittaker, Industrial Technology and Design teacher on the birth of her baby and wish her and her family every blessing as they grow together and Mrs Whittaker enjoys maternity leave through until the end of Term 3 next year.

Next year we will be welcoming Mr Ben Ryan as the new Director of Students and Head of Middle College Staff and Students from the start of 2019.  Mr Ryan comes to us from St Augustines in Sydney where he has had roles as a Student Formation Leader of Year 7, 8 and 9 students.  He has also had experience in schools in Western Australia and the United Kingdom.  Mr Ryan is a keen sportsman and is involved in outdoor education within his school.  Mrs Wanda Hayes, who is currently Director of Post-Secondary Planning at Brisbane Girls Grammar and National President of the Career Development Association, will be continuing to enhance career education in the College in her role as Head of Careers Development.  Mrs Sara Taverner who has had extensive international experience and is currently at Our Lady of the Rosary, will be taking on the role of Head of Learning Enrichment P-5.  Mrs Taverner brings expertise and experience in supporting students with diverse needs including those who are gifted and talented.  We also welcome new teachers, Mrs Gina McCarthy as an Industrial Design and Technology teacher who has previously taught at St Andrews Anglican College and Pimlico State Highschool, Mr Alex O'Connor as a Middle and Senior College Mathematics and Science teacher from Nudgee College and Mrs Kim Kiernan as a Year 3-6 teacher from Merridan State College. Mrs Angela Lengenberner will be taking on the role of Prep Aide.  Mr Tim Ambrose will be joining the permanent staff as an Information Technology and Communications Assistant.

We congratulate Mr Mark Hauser who will take on the role of Acting Head of Senior School students after having very capably fulfilled the role of Head of Mumba House for the past two years, Mr Chris Mundey who has had previous experience as a leader of pastoral care of Middle College students in a New South Wales Catholic school who will be the Acting Head of Bula House, Mr Damien Evans who will take on the role of Acting Head of Mumba House for 2019, Mr Steven Lake who has had both local and international experience as a leader of music education and the performing arts as Acting Head of Music in Term 1 and Mr Damian Davis who will take on the role of  Head of Staff and Students P-5 during Term 1 next year as well as his current role of Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurialism  P-5. 

We look forward to the growth and new perspectives that these experienced and capable staff will bring into our community next year.

This year has been an amazing year of learning, growth and community activities.  We thank all staff, parents and students for the many and varied ways they have supported each other and this community.  I trust that you all have a well-earned break from the routines of school, find time for rest and return rejuvenated for the New Year.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal