This is the final Newsletter for 2019.
As a 'control' (parents knew when to look for the Newsletter in their child's bag), the Newsletter had a fixed publication date. This is less of a requirement now that it is delivered directly by email. With this in mind, on occasion, I have agreed to delayed publication this year to allow for better workflow of tasks at the College. This will continue in the new year.
With a late resignation, we are still to finalise one teaching position. Thus I will name new staff in the first communication of 2020. However, I take this opportunity to communicate those staff who conclude a contract of employment with us at the end of 2019 and I acknowledge their contributions:
Helen Smialek is retiring after 25 and a half years of loyal and faithful service, predominately in the arts and Humanities. Her positive attitude has been a constant - every time I walked into one of her classes she would stop to describe them as "just beautiful!". Her distinctive laugh ringing out of the staff lounge will be missed by us all.
David Bennet is retiring after taking this year on Long Service Leave. In his nearly 24 years, David has been instrumental in establishing sound foundations upon which we have been able to build an excellent ICT environment. His capacity to explain complex concepts in lay language was invaluable in helping me make decisions in this area.
Josie Emery’s departure will see us determined to honour her legacy that is emphasised by this year’s production of Chicago. She is both a product of and architect of our excellence in the Performing Arts and she leaves us to grace an interstate school with her talents and giftedness as a teacher.
Luke Everard completes 10 years in the MDT, Design Graphics and Humanities having secured employment in the South where he plans to settle.
Ian Rockliff has retired from our cleaning staff and was farewelled by his peers earlier this week. It is an indication of how everyone at the College teaches in some manner to know that a graduating student gifted him a piece of his artwork in appreciation for the conversations they held as Ian completed his tasks.
Mark Solari and Shane Burville move to new schools in 2020 having completed replacement contracts this year and we wish them godspeed and good luck.
Finally, Merran Doyle moves interstate. Merran has been an invaluable support to me as a part-time Executive Assistant to me, allowing Dawn Banham to work part-time. Merran’s initiative and professional competence have seen her take on additional work in Caritas reception. She will be missed greatly.
As the year draws to a close I am pleased to assure parents that we remain highly regarded in Catholic Education Tasmania for the Quality of our Education and our Processes. We are focused on being good citizens and building good citizens, and recognize that our expectations of students develop highly valued employability skills, including good communication; motivation and initiative; leadership; reliability and dependability; following instructions; teamwork; patience; and adaptability.
Through MyTERN, I am committed to growing a culture that equips individuals with thinking patterns and tools to take control of their own emotional response to life, and not resort to blaming circumstances or others.
I have been affirmed and encouraged by surveys of parent, teacher and student satisfaction taken earlier this year.
I am immensely proud of this school - students and staff, alike, and I acknowledge that we do this in partnership with parents … so thank you for entrusting your children to us.
May you have a blessed Christmas and I will keep you in my prayers,
Frank Pisano
