The Old Scholars Globe the Old Scholars Newsletter of Gleeson College
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The Old Scholars Globe The Old Scholars Newsletter of Gleeson College Friday 7 November 2014 / Issue 14 20 YEAR REUNION CELEBRATION FOR OUR CLASS OF 1994 24 members of our Class of 1994, along With some travelling from as far away with their partners and friends, enjoyed as Sydney, we would like to thank all in catching up over drinks and tapas at a 20 attendance for making the night a great Year Reunion function at the Astor Hotel success. We would like to say a special last Saturday night. thank you to Heidi for all her planning and preparation for the function and wish all The event, ably organised by 94’ graduate members of our graduating Class of 1994 Heidi Williamson (Nee Sandison) along the very best, both now and in the future. with support from Gleeson College, was a fantastic opportunity for old friends to *PAGE 3: SEE MEMBERS OF OUR CLASS OF reminisce about their schooling days in 1994 AS THEY REVISITED GLEESON FOR A the 90s. 20 YEAR REUNION TOUR LAST FRIDAY* FROM ‘GREAT’ TO ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ relationships and that high expectations in The customary shared BBQ lunch was learning and behavior had been put before well received in the College courtyard and the young people in these schools and they the ‘Carnivale Talent Show’ in the DRMC had responded appropriately. I have the highlighted the amazing diversity of talent belief that Catholic educators have always that Gleeson has to offer. It was certainly a instinctively created these conditions by day where the community worked together, the way we choose to serve in our varying ‘With One Heart’. roles, but we also know the importance of A Way Forward: the quality of our example and witness to Open Spaces - Flexible Minds the values of the Gospel. I can already tell I have been meeting with a committed group from my initial observations that this is of current Year 11 students planning a way indeed a great school and I want to work forward in the re-designing of our current tirelessly to ensure that it develops into an Study Hall into a more contemporary and It is with pleasure and a sense of great extraordinary school! privilege that I write my first Old Scholars flexible open space. A few years ago I was Globe newsletter as Principal of Gleeson Happy Day! fortunate to travel to a conference in Sydney College. I feel blessed to have been The Senior Student Executive met with me which had an impact on my understanding provided the opportunity to lead this early in Term 2 to explain that they had an of how Senior School students learn best, wonderful College community that I have idea to brighten up a day at Gleeson College and one of the key elements to this was heard so much about. I am committed by organising a ‘Happy Day’. I thought what that the traditional classroom set up of to ensuring that Gleeson continues to be a wonderful thing for our young leaders to desks and chairs in neatly formed rows is a place of welcome and a truly Catholic do. On Friday 6 June, Happy Day came to not conducive to 21st Century learning. fruition and we were treated to a day of community that values genuine dialogue, A key element to contemporary learning smiles, RAK’s (random acts of kindness!), that every student in this College receives spaces is the ability to create several music and food. It certainly was a very the entitlements that they deserve, and spaces within spaces - hence the need for happy day at Gleeson College and a lovely most importantly that there is a culture of flexibility. I wanted the Year 11 students way to lead into the long weekend. engagement that enables all students to who will be going into Year 12 in 2015 to flourish. I would like to acknowledge our wonderful be a part of the creation of this space in I would like to acknowledge the contribution leaders Isabella Cansdell, Katelyn James, order for them to have ownership of their to the College of Mr Phil Lewis as the Sophie Nelson and Steven Howick-Brown learning. It has been very exciting to work previous substantive Principal for 10 years in particular for their initiative and great with these students and we look forward to of outstanding, visionary leadership. I have kindness in organising this for our College constructing this new design together. community. been thoroughly enjoying getting to know For God so loved the world that he gave this College community, the students, staff Gleeson Day His only Son and families and will continue to work as The last day of Term 3 was a wonderful At a time when there appears to be so hard as I can to ensure that all members of celebration of Gleeson Day as we were much suffering and concerning events Gleeson College are able to be the very best grateful to have Archbishop Wilson and and happenings around the world, John’s that they can be. Already I am so impressed Monsignor Swann co-celebrate our Gleeson Gospel this Sunday reminds us of the love with the commitment of the College staff, Day Mass. Archbishop Wilson reminded that God has for the world and for us. In as well as the delightful and engaging us that there was much in Archbishop this passage Jesus almost demands that nature of the students, and I am very much Gleeson’s life that we can admire and we have faith in Him as a pre-requisite to looking forward to a remarkable journey in imitate, in particular his dedication to a life, sharing in His love. It is this faith that brings the years ahead. centred on serving others. us out of darkness into the light, and sets us on the road to salvation. From ‘Great’ to ‘Extraordinary’ This year’s theme for Gleeson Day was very You may have seen a Four Corners much centred on a ‘Carnivale’ atmosphere, It might be timely to reflect that we have a program earlier this year that examined which provided an opportunity for both staff God who suffers with us, knows our grief and three different Australian schools that and students to become actively involved pain and walks with us in times of difficulty had developed and changed to become in range of fun-filled activities. Gleeson’s such as that in the world at present. ‘great’ schools. The central message of traditional walk-a-thon once again was a the program was that these schools had fantastic success with many students and Mr Andrew Baker, become successful primarily because staff taking in a new scenic route around Principal there had been a renewed emphasis on the inner suburbs of Golden Grove. The the relationship between teachers and annual House Soccer and Netball Challenge students; the priority given by leadership to showcased the collaborative spirit and teaching and learning was based on these skills that exists within our student body. CLASS OF 1994 REVISITS GLEESON FOR 20 YEAR REUNION TOUR Members of our graduating Class of 1994 went for a stroll down memory lane at Gleeson College last Friday night! As a lead up to their 20 Year Reunion function on the Saturday night, Old Scholars from the Class of 1994 were taken on a College Tour led by fellow classmate and now current Damiani House Coordinator, Shannon Bertram. Lots of laughs could be heard as the group visited both the older buildings and rooms familiar to them, and also the newer St James Science labs and transportables. 1994 SRC President Craig Egan even saw his name for the first time on our College Presidents Honour Board! The group had time to catch up over drinks and nibbles in the Staffroom, along with their former teachers Mrs Jane Case and Ms Helen Gillen. The group enjoyed looking through the Yearbooks from their five years at Gleeson, with many giggles had over the wonderful hairstyles and fashion of the day! Thank you to both the 94’ Old Scholars and Staff in attendance for what was a fantastic, informal catch up to remember! CLASS OF 1994 20 YEAR REUNION TOUR: FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2014 Top Photo (L-R): Mrs Jane Case, Lisa Crompton (Nee Wigley), Christy Schaeffer (Nee Powell), Craig Egan, Georgina Leverington (Nee Mulqueen), Shannon Bertram, Kylie Collins (Nee Manley) & Ms Helen Gillen. Centre Photos: The 94’ Old Scholars and Staff tour Gleeson College & Shared Facilities. Above Photos: Checking out the fashion and events within the 1990 - 1994 Yearbooks! Photo Left: 1994’President Craig Egan finds his name on our College President Honour Board. STEFAN D’ANGELO (2011) SHARES HIS EXPERIENCE WITH YEAR 11 STUDENTS Old Scholar Stefan D’Angelo graduated SARAH PRODUCES A WINNER IN 2014! from Gleeson College in 2011 and was somewhat uncertain over where his Congratulations to Gleeson Old Scholar Sarah West (2002) who produced the future was heading. He knew that he feature film ‘Third Row Centre’ that won Best Feature Film at the 2014 Madrid wanted to get into the work force and International Film Festival earlier this year. start making money, but felt as though Third Row Centre received the gong against stiff competition from ten other he didn’t have an area of expertise independent films from many other countries. The film was nominated for six which would be appropriate for him. awards in total, including Sarah for Best Producer of a Feature Film. Sarah and After some consideration, Stefan applied her movie-making fiancé Lloyd Handley have produced several movies together for a job at Northpoint Toyota.