Principal's Log

It was good to see our Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students calmly engage with their NAPLAN tests this week. The NAPLAN data provides one important piece of data about the progress of student learning in the areas of literacy and numeracy. This assessment, along with other data collected through standardised tests, formal assessment and informal observation enables teachers to reflect on their literacy and numeracy programs. They are then better able to plan for the cohort and the individual student. It is important that this is seen as one element of a young person’s education. The intentional development of the whole child is our focus. This includes the skills of innovation, entrepreneurialism, life-long learning, creativity, communication, critical thinking and information technology. Deep understandings and appreciation in the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, physical and cultural realms of life provide a rich foundation for young people to flourish. 

It was a delight to celebrate the achievement of our Year 12 students who have performed at an outstanding level in their academic achievement and approaches to learning at this week’s assembly. We congratulate all of these students and thank their teachers for their strong encouragement and support. 

Our debaters have continued to make strong progress this year with our Senior Students participating in the Brisbane zone and the Middle College students in the Sunshine Coast Zone of the QDU debating. The senior students are now also enjoying the opportunity to engage in an invitational online debating competition on the Sunshine Coast. Having been runners-up last year, the team is keen to go that one step further. We thank Mr Alex O’Connor for his leadership of our teams and also thank our coaches, Mrs Ceilidh King, Mr Joshua Zanker, and past students Mr Austin Beasley and Miss Anna Krashnefski.

We look forward to welcoming back our Year 4 students from camp this week. Our Head of Outdoor Education, Ms Kim Wood has continued to work hard with our teachers to provide a continuity of learning that connects the rich experiences of students’ outdoor education and their broader learnings whilst at the College. We thank Ms Wood for her overall leadership and Mr Davis, Mrs Empson, Mr Doran, Mrs Atkinson, Mrs Sara Taverner, Pastor Tim Jarick, Ms Pia Henriksen and Mrs Natalie Rollings for their guidance and support of the Year 4 students on camp.

We look forward to our Open Day this Sunday. As part of the COVID requirements for the event, parents and visitors will be required to register prior to, or on arrival. There will be limits on numbers of adults per room and other protocols in place to ensure we are running the event in a COVID safe way for our community. We look forward to celebrating the growth of learning within the College with our families and the broader community.

May God grow a rich humility in us all so that we graciously and generously provide a place of welcome and opportunity for others to flourish within.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal