A Message from our Acting Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Term 3.

As always there is a great deal going on and in prospect, but in looking at the next few weeks I would like to acknowledge and celebrate that this is NAIDOC Week. We held our celebrations at the end of last term (and thank to you Ms Gaudie for her organisation), a feature for me being the great wisdom of Uncle BJ Cruise – like Ozzie, quite inspirational.

Secondly, we have sport all over the place and I won’t pretend to be across it all apart from recognizing the great efforts of Mrs Hergenhan (who probably doesn’t sleep). I’m not sure that we have more sport than in previous years, but my impression is that our students keep progressing to the next round or level more than ever. Snow Sports is happening this week, for example – best wishes to all these students.

The Year 10 subject selection for 2026 is in full swing (thank you Mrs Woods and Mr Lynn), from my experience a few things: a student who gets in over their head is miserable, a student who is not sufficiently challenged is just as miserable or perhaps, regretful. Students should do what they are passionate about and let careers unfold from there. It’s a simple thing, but the happiest kids are always the ones who know they are learning and enjoying that learning.

Photo days are Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 2, Tuesday being the formal class and year group photos and Wednesday being siblings and all the various groups. Your help with uniform is always valued.

And a word before I go… My role in Pastoral Care in the College leads, in my mind anyway, to a few certainties.  The first is the absolutely crucial role of the trusted adult in the lives of our kids. Across all the issues of adolescent wellbeing and mental health, every student needs someone who knows they will listen and help, no matter what is at hand. That doesn’t mean that there will be no consequences or that parents and carers are their child’s non-judgmental best friend. It means that they know that you love them and will always listen and move forward together. Kids who don’t talk about what’s worrying them is always my concern.

Secondly – social media is the major factor underlying many of the issues that our students face. The genie is out of the bottle in terms of the technology, much more important now is our education of our kids in the values and morality of its use. There are many positives of course, but I see (in my investigating/helping/repairing role) most of the negatives – gaming, screen addiction, the lack of awareness of a lifelong digital footprint, sleep deprivation, cyberbullying, isolation rather than connection and of course the exposure to absolutely inappropriate content and views. There is much evidence to suggest that some of the worst things in our society – misogyny and racism for example, are in fact on the rise. Cue social media. Enter the trusted adult.

 Again, in relation to social media, teachers are sometimes dragged into scenarios that can be categorised as cyberbullying or harassment. We are members of the community too and as such might appear on social media as coaches, volunteers, committee members, activists and so on. We also must have the right to a safe workplace where a social media post, for example, is not scrutinised by students and warped into a vehicle designed to denigrate. There are many legal frameworks to ensure that teachers have a safe workplace to which all schools (as employers) are bound. If needs be, unfortunately, students may face exclusion for the targeting of a staff member. There’s no “Be the Light of Christ” or “Shine Your Light” in any of that.

“Shine Your Light” is present and thriving in our relationship with the Sisters of St Anthony in Pontevedra. Mrs Woods , Mrs Bigelow and Mr Lynn have just returned from the Philippines with a group of students. Life affirming. Life changing.

Best wishes

Adrian Wels

Acting Principal