From the Head of Campus
Assistant Principal and Leader of Mission Retreat
Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the annual AP and REC conference in Dubbo. The facilitator this year was Phil Glendenning AM. Phil has been a pivotal figure in Australia's social justice landscape for over three decades, dedicating his career to advocating for the rights of refugees, Indigenous peoples, and communities affected by climate change. As the founding Director of the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education (ERC) since 1996, he has led initiatives that intertwine research, education, and advocacy to address pressing societal issues.
During the 2 days we were humbled to hear of the amazing work that Phil and his colleagues have done, and the difference they have achieved both here and globally. I was energised by the overarching theme of - from ‘small things big things grow’. Whilst Phil’s own contributions have been large, on a global scale he was clear on never underestimating a change in the right direction - no matter how small. Social justice issues can be tackled from the ‘grassroots’ level - and the small actions we can do here at school, and in our own small communities can have a big impact.
Our value of Service is foundational to the power of change we can initiate here at school. I am proud of the initiatives our students are consistently involved in, and committed to ensuring we continually work to advocate for those in our community that need fairness, support and compassion - which is central to our faith and Catholic Education.
Years 7 - 10 Parent Teacher Night - Week 10
Earlier this week you would’ve received an email with an attached letter informing you of the upcoming parent Teacher Interviews for Years 7 - 10 to be held at our Secondary campus on Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July . These interviews will be for families to discuss their child’s report and progress throughout Semester 1. The bookings for these interviews will be via the COMPASS portal and will open this Sunday - 22 June and close Thursday 26 June. This will allow teachers time to prepare for the interviews, in providing purposeful feedback.
“Parent-teacher interviews are important because they facilitate communication and collaboration between parents and teachers, which is crucial for supporting a child's academic and personal development.”
There is a sentiment that parent Teacher Interviews are only important if there is a problem at school. This is not the case. These interviews are a great opportunity to engage with your childs learning - gaining an understanding of what they are learning in their classes, how they are ‘tracking’, gain an understanding of what their strengths are as a learner and areas that may need improvement - including what support can be provided at home. These interviews provide a chance to make connections with staff that are a vital element of forming a positive partnership between school and home. We look forward to welcoming you all in Week 10.
Blaney McCarthy-English | Head of Campus - Secondary