Life to the Full 2 - WORDS & DEEDS
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Incorporating The Old Virgilian February 2015 Vol. 12 No. 1 Life to the Full 2 - WORDS & DEEDS In this From the Principal Edition - 2014 Report • 2014 Principal’s Report It is hard to believe five years has gone consistent look and feel. This year a key by in my role as Principal of St Virgil’s focus was on moderation and the • ‘Jumping Jack Hale’ College. It is with great pride that I consistency of delivery across the year • A Letter from Br Gerald reflect on the school and its operations. groups. Staff attended many network • UNICEF - Rights of the Child 2014 marked the consolidation of the meetings and were involved in both Student Conference four term year within our planning, external and internal moderation of • Junior School Fair operations and consciousness. It is hard work. This process will continue to be to imagine that we used to have three built on in the coming years. The College • Junior School Camps terms. The staff and students have really also undertook a significant review of its • House Beach Bonanza Day appreciated the smaller blocks of work learning and teaching offerings and and the noticeable change in their especially what is required in the different • Re-opening and Blessing of the Hamilton Wing wellbeing is significant. Change has also year groups. We look forward to the allowed curriculum to be consolidated continuation of this project and as always, • Cricket trophies into units of work which complement our key focus on improved learning • Triathlon, Golf and Athletics the continued implementation of the outcomes for our boys. • Heritage Roll of Honour Dinner Australian Curriculum. Over the past years one of our major and news from Old Virgilians This year saw the conclusion of the first focuses has been building more tangible around the world. cycle of our Strategic Direction Plan and connections between the College’s two it was interesting to look back on the campuses. Our key events this year again Front cover: goals and tasks we set for ourselves for saw the coming together of both. The Angus Price admires the view from near the completion by the end of 2014. This Commissioning Assembly, Halfway Day pinnacle of Pindars Peak necessitated the need to go through the and Edmund Rice Mass all saw the process of review, reflection and combined College united as one. There replanning. The College will launch its also was the continuation of many new direction in 2015 which is built projects which saw parts of each school significantly on the process and visiting the other and one particular procedures of the past years and is focus was the junior boys travelling to founded in our commitment to Gospel Austins Ferry for their technology traditions, as lived by the person of Jesus learning. The Grade 5 and 6 boys, also in and modelled by the life of Blessed winter, utilised the two ovals at Austins Edmund Rice. Ferry for their football competitions and the senior boys were always there In core subjects, the Australian umpiring and supporting. Editor: Mark Waddington Curriculum is becoming embedded, and [email protected] staff and students are really beginning to We welcomed during the year our new 0429 990 980 understand the connections and Archbishop Julian Porteous. Archbishop structures that are in place. A number of Julian took the opportunity to visit both All contributions to Words and the other curriculums will start to come campuses and did the school the great Deeds are greatly appreciated. online next year and we look forward to pleasure of opening the renovation and The deadline for the next edition the whole of our curriculum having a redevelopment of the Hamilton Wing. is Friday July 17 2015. February 2015 Vol. 12 No. 1 WORDS & DEEDS - 3 “The College will launch its new direction in 2015 which is built significantly on the process and procedures of the past years and is founded in our commitment to Gospel traditions, as lived by the person of Jesus and modelled by the life of Blessed Edmund Rice.” This development replaced some of the million Centre was officially opened on days following our event, the staff and original buildings and the upgrade has Sunday October 19. students of the Mary Rice Centre showed been accepted wonderfully by the their gratitude in no uncertain terms. students and staff. I would like to thank As part of our connection with Edmund all the staff and students for their Rice Education Australia, this year saw The video of the day showing the patience as for the first term of the year, the College go through its renewal wonderful liturgy with its African focus many students were displaced as a result process. Renewal takes place in every and the soccer game played with the of the building, but the end result was Edmund Rice Education Australia school names of the Mary Rice Centre students certainly worth all the effort. every five years and looks at the College’s on the backs were both significant in the authenticity as a Catholic school in the lives of these children. The gifts that our At Patrick Street we were able to tidy up Edmund Rice tradition. A panel from students prepared for theirs were the quadrangle, outside of the Grade 3 our National group visited and spent gratefully received and have taken pride and 4 classrooms, and the inclusion of three full days looking at our practices of place in their classrooms. For me the synthetic grass was certainly a big hit and I am pleased to say that we received personally, it was amazing to see first- with the boys. Break time is constantly a very positive report. One of the hand, how far our fundraising goes and full of students playing cricket, down ball exciting things about the process is that how significant our support is in the lives or basketball together and the space is a series of recommendations are made of the families of our now extended certainly well used. to the College on how they can continue community. We look forward to to be authentic to our Catholic continually supporting this centre and its Again, thanks must go to the support of traditions. These recommendations will works into the future. our building committee who have been be linked in with our Strategic Direction significant in helping guide the direction planning helping us to maintain our Again this year the College spent a of our buildings. authentic and committed approach to significant part of its resourcing Edmund Rice education. I would like to expanding service learning The facilities of the College this year were thank our Governors for their support opportunities for our students. Our also greatly enhanced by the opening of during the year, especially our Regional connections with our local primary the state of the art New Town Bay Rowing Director, Mr Paul Williams for his schools, Edmund Rice camps, St Vincent Centre. The new home of rowing is a continued willingness to be a part of our de Paul, Foodbank, and Colony 47 were shared venture with St Mary’s College, community. Also thanks to Mr Michael all strengthened during the year, and Guilford Young College, UTAS and the Hoarsley who supported the College in many students took up the opportunity Buckingham Rowing Club. Whilst it the Middle Management Appraisals. to be involved. This involvement is at the provides our rowers with an excellent heart of the core mission of our training venue it is also a facility that can The Mary Rice Centre in Nairobi Kenya existence as an Edmund Rice school. be used by College groups as evidenced has become an integral part of our year Our willingness to be of service to others by the P&Fs successful Gala Auction and our special focus on our Walkathon is something that must be at the which was staged there on August 2. As and Halfway Day celebrations. This year forefront of all we do. Our students we develop new learning programmes for I had the pleasure of being in Kenya always do us proud and give far and students it also has the potential to be when our Halfway Day celebrations were above what might be expected. It is with used for activities such as retreats, aquatic on. Our staff and students continual a sense of pride that we report on this biology pracs and aquatic activities such support of this centre is significant and and the willingness of our students to as kayaking and canoeing. The $3.5 when I had the privilege of visiting in the give on a regular basis. February 2015 Vol. 12 No. 1 4 - WORDS & DEEDS The Board of Management of the Bonnie Jones Mrs Amelia Showers College as always provided wonderful Library Aide Maternity Leave replacement for Mrs support to the College’s Leadership Megan Williamson Team during the year. Their knowledge Jason Moles and wisdom were put to good use during Grounds/Maintenance Mrs Theresia Thomas the year and they continue to ensure the Leave replacement for Sean Morgan College is on strong footing. There was a Mrs Gerardine Borghesi Property Services Manager change in the Chair position with Dr Mr Mark Waddington Natalie Brown being replaced by Mr Tracy Moschogianis Leave replacement for Andrew Mazengarb. Natalie and fellow Administration Officer Mr Jamie Di Ienno Board member Simon Cooper (Accounts Receivable) concluded their tenure on the Board Mrs Suzanne Walker this year and the College would like to Louise Oldham Leave replacement for thank them for all of their support and Librarian Ms Chanchal Foxen hard work over their time on the Board.