Over the next two weeks we will see the Year 12 girls complete the HSC and join with them and their families in the celebrations that mark the end of 13 years of school education. We are very grateful that we can gather to participate in these events, given the restrictions and risks of the last few years. Please keep the Year 12 girls and their families in your prayers during this time. It might be hard to believe but in a short time, you and your daughter will also be celebrating her graduation from the College.

Earlier this year you would recall the College conducted a survey called Tell Them From Me. In this survey, we collected feedback from girls, parents and staff on the experience of the girls in their classes, their lessons and their social groups. We have collated that data and engaged an early career researcher from University of Wollongong to assist with the data analysis and the projects going forward. You will receive further information about this in the next weeks, as well as a brief audio which will accompany it. 2022 will be an exciting year as we put into action the key projects that have come out of the needs as identified by our community. St Pat’s is a great school and we will continue to build on our services in 2022 so that each girl can grow and achieve her true potential.

Sadly, Mr Nathan East will be finishing at the College at the end of the year. He has accepted a leadership position in another school, which will begin in 2022.  I would like to thank him for so capably leading the HSIE KLA for the past years. He has been creative and passionate about providing engaging and dynamic experiences for the girls in HSIE. Mr Duncan will also be finishing at the end of the year as he has accepted a lecturing position at ACU from 2022. This is a wonderful achievement for Mr Duncan and we thank him for his contributions and work over his years at the College as the Aboriginal Liaison person, assistant to debating and, more recently, acting Year Coordinator. We wish both staff the very best for their future.

Next week we will be hosting a meeting with our Board Directors and Company Members. We are very fortunate to have the support of such professional and talented experts in our Board, committees and members. They give their time and expertise voluntarily as they are committed to ensuring the College provides the best for the girls in Macarthur.  Their contributions to the growth and sustainability of our College community are invaluable. I am very grateful for their wisdom. In particular we extend our thanks to Sr Elizabeth Delaney, Chair of Members and Ms Anne-Maree Creenaune, Chair of our Board.

Finally, we will host our end of Year Mass and Awards/Assembly on Friday 10 December. The day will finish at 12pm when girls can be collected or make their way home.  The Mass will begin at 9am and the Awards/Assembly will begin at 10.30 am. Unfortunately, parents will not be able to attend on site due to regulations and girls will be in their homeroom watching the events through Vivi. Only award recipients, one year at a time, will be able to be present in the MSC.   Both events will be live stremed to the community. A link will be sent to parents to access the live stream, early in the final week. A letter outlining this has been sent to parents.

Once again, the blooms of the jacaranda tree marks the season of Advent. This is a time for us to prepare for the coming of Christ. I will leave you seven statements that you can use to herald each day leading up to Christmas:

                “Come, O wisdom from above”

                “Come, O Sacred One of Israel”

                “Come, O flower of Jesse’s stem

                “Come, O Key of David”

                “Come, O Radiant Dawn”

                “Come, O God of all the earth”

                “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

                                                                      Joan Chittester, A Monastery Almanac. 2010

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal