Dear Graduands,

Many of you will move into the next weeks with the thought of the upcoming TASC exams taking up a significant amount of your time, thought and energy.  For some, it will be about wanting to achieve your best. For others, it may be thinking that perhaps you could have followed a different subject pathway.

To give some perspective to the next few weeks, I say to you what has been said to those who have gone before you … you are more than a number - more than a grade.

Knowing that there are increasing voices calling for this self-evident truth to be recognised in the formulation of education policy and process fills me with hope.

This paper, Beyond ATAR: A Proposal for Change, is one such voice.

The authors of this paper write:

“There is increasing recognition, across the nation that the system of certification and assessment Australia uses for senior secondary education is not providing the value for young people that it might and should.”

They go on to stress:

That all learners should develop the confidence and capabilities to thrive as citizens and community members;

That every learner needs to develop the mix of knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and beliefs they require to navigate a successful transition from school; and

That tertiary education providers adopt broader, more transparent entry criteria and update their admissions process to better reflect the potential of learners …. In other words, don’t just use a number.  (It is worth noting that many courses and institutions are already adopting this strategy.)

I am heartened to know that our school, already operates upon these foundational beliefs.

The formation of the person by Catholic education was illustrated by a recent episode of Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery.  The guest was Magda Szubanski who was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia earlier this year.   As a prominent face of the same-sex marriage campaign, one might expect that she may have shunned the value of her Catholic education at Siena College in Camberwell.  Yet she told the host that: “Quite a bit of my conscience was formed at this school”.

This is what I hope we have provided for you.

In trying to develop some visual imagery of this, those who know me well will not be surprised that coffee came to mind.

The coffee granules might represent you as you entered into Year 7.  So much potential to contribute to a much sought after beverage … but not quite there, yet.

Parents, like sugar, add the sweetness making the drink so much the better.

And the milk? …  the teachers and support staff who add the cream, smoothing the cup.

But to complete the process I add the water - tasteless, colourless and hard to define - it is ‘the spirit'.  The Holy Spirit that allows us to be the best that we can be - to be compassionate, have empathy, be generous, hunger for good, seek to lift up, not put down.  And School Spirit that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is vibrant, generous, forgiving, believing in your potential to shape our world, caring for those who are weak or less fortunate.

When this all comes together, we cannot separate it back to its component parts.  - And while the whole is so much more than the individual parts, what makes it coffee is the granules.  In the same way, what makes you the fine gentlemen and ladies that you have become is the fulfilment of the potential that each of you were born with.

Thank you to your parents and yourselves for allowing us to be witness and party to your blossoming.

Frank Pisano

I am taking a week's leave (11-15 November), Miss Kim Walters will be Acting Principal, and Mrs Shelley Keightley as Acting Deputy Principal Pastoral Care.

Congratulations to year 8 student Kiah Mansfield who has been in China representing Australia in the Quad Nations Showjumping Cup.

In the individual event, Kiah was the highest placing Australian finishing 4th overall.

From this, the two highest place getters from each country competed the following day in a teams event with Kiah and Alyssa Greening (Vic) pairing as the Australian team winning the Quad Nations Cup from Singapore, New Zealand and China.

Congratulations Kiah on your fantastic achievements.

Also we offer congratulations to year 7 student Annabelle Radcliff who finished Runner up in the 13u Tasmanian Tennis Showdown over the weekend. Annabelle has now been selected to represent Tasmania in the Foundation Cup in January next year during the Australian Open.

Well done Annabelle

The ConocoPhillips Science Experience – in Tasmania
A nationwide STEM outreach program for year 9 & 10 students

The ConocoPhillips Science Experience is a three-day  hands–on science activities program.  Our aim is to inform students of the importance of science and technology while stimulating and heightening their interests in a wide range of science disciplines and career opportunities, encourages further studies in the sciences, while at the same time giving them a 'taste' of university/tertiary life.

Places are still available in the following programs;

University of Tasmania, Hobart                                                      11 – 13 Dec 2019

University of Tasmania, Launceston                                               3 – 5 Dec 2019

University of Tasmania, Cradle Coast                                            26 – 28 Nov 2019


A typical program includes-

Welcome
Hands-on activities in tertiary labs
Information on further study and career options with exposure to the 'top' people in their field
Associating with 'budding' young scientists to form lasting friendships
Excursion/Industry visit
Closing ceremony 

The full cost of enrolment is $190 per student and limited sponsorship is  available for those who need it, please contact the national office for more details. There is no selection process and students can enrol online at www.scienceexperience.com.au or download and post the application form to PO Box 158 Monbulk, Vic 3793.  

The Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) present their annual Arts Evening at the end of the school year. This is an opportunity to celebrate all of the achievements of our VPA students. 

The evening highlights work from our Senior and Junior Art students, along with performances from students enrolled in Drama, Music and Dance. The Art gallery will be open from 6:30 pm and we invite you to view the work exhibited. Performances will occur from 7PM in the Genesis Centre. The evening will end around 9:30pm. 

A belated congratulations to three students - Mackenzie Chugg (Y7), Grace Johnson (Y9) and Taya Stevens (Y11), who recently had their work published in The Advocate's Ignite Publication.

They showed wonderful commitment to this extra-curricular activity, researching and crafting an editorial piece each, and the College is incredibly proud of their efforts.  We hope to share each student's work in upcoming newsletters.

Eve Woodhouse
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