​Our 30th Anniversary

In early February 1994, Nagle Catholic College officially opened its doors for the first time following the amalgamation of Stella Maris Presentation College and St Patrick’s College. As we commence our thirtieth year as a school, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the foundation upon which the College stands. The selfless and dedicated work of both the Presentation Sisters and the Christian Brothers cannot be understated in establishing the bedrock and charisms of our College. Their outstanding commitment to the students and their families in very challenging times sets a standard for all to aspire. Their legacy lives on in the form of the College values and ethos, which have been modelled upon the lives of Nano Nagle and Edmund Rice.
The appreciation of our heritage extends to the former students of both St Pat’s and Stella Maris. Whilst the establishment of Nagle marked a new beginning, the connection and shared history of the three schools remains entrenched. I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the three former Principals of Nagle Catholic College, Brother Warwick Bryant, Mr Declan Tanham and Mr Rob Crothers, and all the staff who have made a magnificent contribution over the past thirty years. Additionally, I would like to recognise all the Board members, the P & F members, the parents and every single student who attended any of the three associated schools. On behalf of the College, I thank you all for the contribution you have made to our Nagle Story.

Founders’ Mass
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Our annual Founders’ Mass commemorates Venerable Nano Nagle and Blessed Edmund Rice along with providing an opportunity to commission our Year 12 Seniors. Nano Nagle and Edmund Rice were born in Ireland, and both set up schools for the poor and disadvantaged. The lives of our Founders are the source of the College’s values and echo the College’s motto ‘For Others’. My thanks to Mr Damian Ramos, Deputy Principal of Faith and Life and Mr Murray Gardiner, Director of Catholic Identity and Mission, who coordinated the Mass on behalf of the College, and the many staff who contributed in a variety of ways. My sincere thanks also to Bishop Michael Morrissey who led our celebration, along with Father Bernard, who helped mark this special day in the life of the College.

St Pat’s Day Games
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The 2023 St Pat’s Day Games proved to be an exhilarating afternoon with activities including “sponge wars”, “wheelbarrow races” and “slip and slide” just to name a few! Students competed with terrific spirit and enthusiasm in a tradition that has contributed greatly to our College spirit and sense of community. St Pat’s Day Games originated at St Patrick’s College in the late 1980s, as a way of honouring the school’s namesake. The Games consisted of a commando course run through the school, designed by teacher, Mr Geoff Jamieson, and student, Ben Cobley. With the formation of Nagle Catholic College in 1994, the ritual was continued to acknowledge the strong link St Patrick has to the College’s history. St Pat’s Day Games is a truly unique and distinctive event, and a highlight of the year for both students and staff. My thanks go to Ms Aleisha Hosken, Mrs Emily Paradella and Ms Shania Poletti who coordinated the activities, our Maintenance Team who set up the various a games and all staff who helped facilitate the many events.

Principal’s Honour List
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Our highest achieving students in Semester 2 2022 were recognised as recipients of the Principal’s Award and recorded on the Principal’s Honour List. For every student who made this semester’s list, there are several others close behind offering a healthy challenge and friendly competition. It is important to strive for excellence in all fields of education. I would like to congratulate all students, both those who made the Honour’s List and those who tried their very best last semester, on their commitment to success.

​Year 12 Ball
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An important milestone for our Year 12 students is the annual College Ball which was held at the start of this Term. Our Year 12 Seniors were barely recognisable as they walked the red carpet. All of our students were impeccably dressed, with the right amount of glamour fitting the prestige of this event. The Ball was an outstanding success, hallmarked by some very enthusiastic dancing. Congratulations to Mrs Susan Seaward, Deputy Principal – Students, who was primarily responsible for coordinating the Ball. My thanks also to the many staff who contributed in a variety of different ways to ensure everyone had a good night.

Easter
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Catholics around the world use the season of Lent, a time of prayer, service and fasting, to prepare themselves for Easter. Each year as a College, we use this time to support Project Compassion, the major fundraising campaign of Caritas Australia. Caritas supports the end of world hunger and poverty through various projects around the world. These projects empower people to find long term solutions that improve their lives. My sincere thanks to our students who have so generously donated to this worthy cause and my thanks to staff who have coordinated the various fund-raising events over the Lenten period.
I would like to wish everyone a happy and Holy Easter. Easter is an opportunity to take time from our hectic schedules and reflect on the sacrifice Christ made for all of us on Good Friday, and our spiritual salvation through His resurrection on Easter Sunday. I trust that you have an enjoyable Easter break with family and friends. With this sentiment in mind, this is a friendly reminder that the College will be closed from Good Friday (7 April) 2023. School will resume for all students on Wednesday 26 April 2023.

Regards,
Mr Michael Williams
Principal

 Welcome to the Principal’s Reflection for Term 4!
 
Year 12 Graduation Mass & Ceremony
The Year 12 Graduation Mass, held in the St Francis Xavier Cathedral, was a very special opportunity for our senior students to gather in prayer together for the last time. It was wonderful to be able to share this celebration with the many parents and family members who were able to attend.  
 
The Year 12 Graduation Ceremony, held in the Bishop Justin Bianchini Gymnasium, was also a meaningful experience and a rite-of-passage for all our graduates. Some of our students, from varying educational pathways and backgrounds, shared their experience of being a student at the College. Their personal reflections were open and honest, and reflected positively upon their fellow students, teachers and support staff. The night was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of this group of fine young adults. On behalf of the Nagle Catholic College community, I wish all our departing Year 12 students the very best for the future. I hope they will look back on their time at the College with fond memories. 

​Year 7 2023 Orientation Day
Our Year 7 2023 students, in preparation for their commencement at the College, completed their Orientation Day in late October. Our new students spent some time with their Heads of House and House Captains, learning about what life is like as a Nagle student and enjoying a variety of activities over the day. As was expected, our new students started a little nervous, however, they left the College very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. A significant number of staff were involved in making the day a success, and it would be impossible to acknowledge all of them here. I would, though, like to make mention of Mr Kerry Pile, Director of Students – Year 7 next year and this year’s Director of Students – Year 7, Mr Rohan Fariss, who coordinated and planned the Orientation Day.  

2023 Student Leaders
I had the pleasure of announcing our 2023 student leaders at the Commissioning Assembly this Term. As leaders, they have a significant role in continuing the welcoming and inclusive environment at the College. It was great to celebrate this momentous occasion with them and their families. During my address, I noted to our new College Student Leadership Council that leadership is NOT a path to privilege. Rather, true leadership is about putting the needs of others before your own and working towards the greater good for all members of the College community. This idea is sometimes referred to as servant leadership. It is the belief that leadership is about serving others and not about being served or using your position for your own benefit or sense of entitlement. Servant leadership is about making the right decision rather than the popular decision.
Link: 2023 Student Leadership Council
 
I separately congratulated all of our Year 11 students on becoming our new Seniors at the College. I view each and every one of them as a leader and I look forward to the important contribution that they will make to the life of the College in 2023. 

​Primary Schools Music Tour
In November, our Music students toured three of our feeder Catholic primary schools, performing and showcasing their talents to the younger students. Well done to all of our students who performed. The development of our Music programs this year has been amazing to watch under the direction of our new Head of Music, Mr James Softly. Thank you to Mr James Softly, Mr Ian Weggler and Ms Sarah O’Malley for coordinating the tour. We all look forward to listening to even more amazing performances next year!

​Presentation Ceremony
The College’s Presentation Ceremony was held in early December. This was a fantastic celebration of our students’ achievements in 2022. As a College, we are very proud of all of our students and the contributions they make to their own personal development, as well as to the growth of the College. The Presentation Ceremony was an opportunity to acknowledge this in the presence of families, staff and invited guests. The organisation of the Presentation Ceremony is complex and I thank Mr Damian Ramos, Mrs Emma Maluish, Mrs Jasmin Welsh, Mr Logan Bunter, Mrs Aoife Ramos and Mr James Softly for the coordination of this event. I also thank our students and staff who assisted with any aspects of the organisation, setting up or packing up.

​College Review
Early in Term 4, the College underwent a review process, known as a Quality Catholic Education School Review (QCESR). This process included a three-day panel visit to the College by representatives of CEWA who met with numerous staff, students, and members of our wider community to gain an appreciation of our unique context, our processes, our programs, and the quality of the education we provide. This review focuses upon the effectiveness of the College’s engagement and improvement journey over the past three years and makes recommendations for future areas of growth. I am very pleased to report that the panel was most impressed with the culture, identity and educational opportunities provided by the College. The report noted that pastoral care of staff and students was a high priority and significant gains had been made in student attainment and retention. I thank all stakeholders for their involvement in this comprehensive process. Our staff should feel affirmed about the wonderful work they all do at the College in providing a high quality, holistic education for our students. 

End of Year
To our staff who are leaving the College at the end of this year, I thank you for your dedication and support during your time at Nagle. I trust you have enjoyed your experiences here and that you are leaving with many happy memories of your time at the College. I wish you all the very best in the next phase of your life.
 
The College has now finalised the 2023 Calendar and it is available here

Lastly, I extend the abundant blessings of the Advent season to all families in our community. Some of our students are leaving us this year for other educational opportunities locally, or intra and interstate and I wish you all the very best for your future success. To all of our families, I wish you a restful and fruitful Christmas break. Thank you for your trust and support over the course of the year.
 
Regards,
Mr Michael Williams
Principal
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Reflection on your time at Nagle.
I started at Nagle as a Year 7 in 2013 and graduated in 2018. While I was there, I was always a part of anything to do with the arts including Rags to Riches, Shakeyfest and musicals. Due to my commitment, I very gratefully received the Sister Pascal Award for Cultural Contribution to the Arts in both Year 11 and 12.

What advice do you have for our students?
The one thing I have learnt since leaving high school is that there is so much time to achieve your goals. I still want to attend university one day but why not travel the world and follow my dreams first. Never worry about what others are doing around you, or their opinions on what you want to do with your life. As long as you’re happy and not living with regret, that is all that matters.

This year our Class of 2012 are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their graduation. Shakyra Baskeyfield shares her story since graduating from the College. ​

What did you do after finishing Year 12?
I took a gap year where I worked full time completing my Certificate 3 in Children’s Services. I then moved to Perth where I worked as a nanny while studying a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education where I majored in Theatre, English, and Philosophy and Ethics, all of which I discovered my passion for through my secondary studies. ​

What are you up to now?
Since graduating I have been working as a teacher, coordinating the Drama program at a large public school south of Perth. In 2021 a Master in Education where I specialised in Educational Wellbeing. I have since started a degree in Sexology where I intend to help to influence a healthy approach to sex education within schools. ​

Reflection on your time at Nagle.
I loved my time in the Drama program and performing in Dracula Spectacular was a truly ridiculous and memorable experience. I also appreciated at the time, and as an adult, Mr Cameron’s Philosophy and Ethics lessons where we learned a huge amount about life and experiences, a little philosophy too. ​

Any advice for our students?
Breathe. I spent a huge amount of time desperately trying to be perfect and it was exhausting. It also meant I missed out on some valuable experiences and opportunities for fun. People always say that high school is the best years of your life but honestly it just provided me with the opportunities to reach the best years of mine. I worked hard and it paid off, I just wish I had taken a little more time to enjoy the ride.

Aim high and do not stop striving for your goals, but make sure they are yours and no one else’s.

This year our Class of 2012 are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their graduation. Elizabeth Arthurs shares her story since graduating from the College. ​

Reflection on your time at Nagle.
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves that high school is meant to be the “best years of our lives”, but if you are reading this and you are struggling, I want you to know that it is OK, and I promise life does get better after high school. When all you have done is attend school everyday from kindy to Year 12 it’s hard to fathom life outside of that. My baby sister is currently choosing her subjects for Year 11 next year so I have been recently reflecting a lot on my time in high school and have been forcing my (not so) wise words onto her. But like all things in life, she must go through this experience for herself and give herself space to make her own choices.
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I was a classic overachiever at high school who studied far too much and worked far too hard for a good ATAR. I did little else for the two years, and sure, my name is up on the board in the Library in the “400 club” but who cares? Upon reflection, I wish that I had spent more time being present, enjoying the company of my classmates, spending time with friends and doing some hobbies instead of stressing myself sick about getting the highest mark. Unless I wanted an assured pathway to medicine or wanted to become a Vet, then my ATAR really became a surplus. I wish that I had studied less and had more fun. No one cares what mark I got except for me. And no one cares to this day at work. I do not rock up to a new job and say “Hey, what ATAR did you get?” 

Any advice for our students?
Getting a “good” ATAR is not the be-all and end-all, there is more to life than good grades and if you graduate with marks you are not happy with, it does not define you. You are not stupid and you are not a failure. And if you really want to get into a course that you initially did not get the marks for, you can make it happen some other way if it is truly what you want.

Some of the smartest people I know received marks they were not happy with and ended up doing their PHD! There are ways to get into university if you do not get the initial marks you want, and if you do not want to go to university and have plans to do a trade or get into a sector that doe not require a degree then that is equally as valid and important. University only seems to make sense these days for specific jobs or if you have an interest in a specific academic area that you wish to learn more about. We need people to do all sorts of jobs to make the world go round.

My younger brother chose not to complete ATAR and now he is studying Psychology at university. A friend of mine did not complete ATAR and now works high up in the Department of Communities earning more money than me! She started in an entry level job for Housing and climbed her way up. Do not pack everything in to focus on Years 11 and 12. If you are working a little job on the side, if you are playing sport or music or have a hobby you really enjoy, my advice would be to keep going with those things,  because the older you get, the more thankful you will be to have rich and fulfilling ways to spend your time.  
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Life is more than the job you choose or the career you study. My goal this year is to fill my cup up with things I enjoy, hobbies, experiences, travel, time with friends and family. Monday to Friday I pay my rent by working as a social worker, but I do not like to identify solely as that. I am more than the work I do.

The best bit of advice I received from a former mentor at university was “what do you want your day to look like?”, that helped me narrow down my career choice to social work. And honestly, I am not sure if this is something I will do until I retire. And that is ok! I am still a bit lost and trying to figure it out. That is called being an adult. The secret is, we all pretend we know what we are doing…

If anyone would like to reach out and discuss social work as a possible career choice or would like to get in touch in general, my email address is: Elizabeth.arthurs@health.wa.gov.au

Best of luck xx

What did you do after finishing Year 12?
It took a few years to figure out what I wanted to do, but after completing an Advanced Diploma in Radio Broadcasting I have spent the last five years as a radio host + MC, including a stint doing Geraldton breakfast radio! 

What are you up to now?
​I am living in Perth and I currently work on a few stations here as well as host events and functions. 

Reflection on your time at Nagle
A lot of my best friends (and my housemate) are people I went to high school with and I loved my time there. 

This year our Class of 2012 are celebrating their 10 year anniversary. Kelsey Houwen, our 2012 Head Girl, shares her story since graduating from the College. ​

What did you do after finishing Year 12?
After I finished Year 12 I moved straight to Perth to study at UWA. I lived on campus for four years while I completed my studies, which I highly recommend to regional students if you have the opportunity. I completed my law degree in 2020 and began working at the District Court of Western Australia. I did a little travel while I was studying but planned to do more when I finished uni. Unfortunately, COVID derailed that plan so I hope in the next couple of years I can fit some more overseas holidays in! 

What are you up to now?
Nowadays I live in Perth with my partner, Matt, and I am working as a criminal lawyer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. 

Reflection on your time at Nagle
I have very fond memories of my time at Nagle. I had such a fantastic experience, and my friends from school are still some of my closest friends. I also appreciate all the support and guidance that the staff gave me throughout high school.

Any advice for our students?
Enjoy your time at school, particularly with the people around you. It is cliche to say, but it does go by pretty quickly and soon you will miss seeing your school friends every day. And try not to worry too much about what life after school is going to look like. My path to where I am today was by no means smooth, but somehow all the little mishaps led me right to where I am meant to be.

This year our Class of 2002 are celebrating the 20 year anniversary of their graduation. Melanie Walls, shares her story since graduating from the College. ​

What are you up to now?
I am now the Scientific Director of the clinic, The Fertility Specialists of WA and Regional Scientific Director (WA) for the City Fertility Group, where I oversee the day to day running of two IVF Laboratories. We have a team of 18 incredible scientists who work daily to help couples towards their dream of a healthy baby. I am married and have two little kids, Elsie is 3 and Finn is 1.

Reflection on your time at Nagle
I just have the best memories from my time at Nagle. I loved St Patrick’s day and having a pool on campus on hot days but mostly for me it was the long-lasting friendships I made, I still have an incredibly close group of friends from high school. Even though some of us live in different places now, we always catch up when we can and it is like we were never apart when we do. I think this is rare, as most of my Perth friends and colleagues have lost touch with their high school friends. Maybe it is  a country kid thing, growing up in the country was the absolute best!

Any advice for our students?
Do not stress too much if you do not know exactly what you want to do, that is rare, and almost never works out the way you plan. If you do know what you want to be, but do not get the ATAR to get into it, there is ALWAYS another way, if you are passionate about it and dedicated, you will get there in the end!

What did you do after finishing Year 12?
After finishing Year 12, I went to study a Bachelor of Arts (Art) (First Class Honours) at Curtin University. I visited Melbourne a couple of times whilst studying and was overwhelmed with how welcoming and energetic the city felt, so with some exhibitions in the eastern states coming up, I decided to move to Melbourne in 2008. From here, I started volunteering and subsequently working at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and travelled to Japan and New York to start to get a taste of the world.

What are you up to now?
​I an currently studying a Masters of Contemporary Art at VCA, University of Melbourne. I make my living as an Artist working on exhibitions, participating in local and international art residencies, delivering workshops and developing large scale public artworks in Australia and overseas. 

Reflection on your time at Nagle
I am not gonna lie, high school was hard, so awkward and so lonely at times. I placed a lot of expectations on myself and tended to swing between trying to fit in and feeling completely out of place (but I think a lot of people feel this way at high school!). The teachers at Nagle were really supportive and I am very grateful for the opportunities I had to go on trips to Canberra and Perth as well as being allowed access to the Art rooms at lunchtimes! 

Any advice for our students?
Now, I was not going to write a bunch of advice, but that is exactly what is it come out, so strap in...
·  Do not try to be anyone but yourself (people know when you are faking).
·  Successful people are those that stand on their own two feet and then look around to see how they can pull others up with them.
·  No one is coming to discover you (sorry), get out there and make space for yourself.
·  Collaboration and community are important, as is spending time on your own. Give it a go at least once. 
·  Ask for help when you need it.
·  It is okay if things do not happen exactly how you thought they would, there are always other ways of getting to where you want to go, practice being open to alternatives.
·  Be curious about the world and listen. The most interesting people never stop learning.
All the best for the current Year 12s!

This year our Class of 2002 are celebrating the 20 year anniversary of their graduation. Yasmine Phillips, our 2002 Head Girl, shares her story since graduating from the College. ​

What did you do after finishing Year 12?
After Year 12, I moved to Perth to study a Bachelor of Mass Communication (Journalism and Public Relations) at Curtin University. My first jobs included working as a journalist in Narrogin and Albany before being offered a cadetship at The West Australian newspaper and then working at The Sunday Times as a reporter, Deputy Head of News and then Head of News. During my time with News Corp, I also completed a placement with the New York Post through their international development program. After that, I moved into public relations where I was the Senior Media Adviser to the Treasurer of Western Australia before joining Curtin University in 2017. I also made the most of every opportunity during this time to travel the world whenever I had the annual leave to do so! 

What are you up to now?
I am working at Curtin University as the Media Relations Manager. My role entails sharing the wonderful stories of Curtin students and staff with the general public, as well as telling the inspiring research stories from our brilliant academics by working with media outlets across radio, TV, newspapers and online. I currently work part-time after returning from maternity leave following the birth of my daughter, Ava. 

Reflection on your time at Nagle
I have the best memories of my time at Nagle - I truly feel blessed to have completed high school there. I made incredible friendships that continue today and received so many lasting opportunities from the brilliant teachers who went above and beyond. It will always be a very special place to me. 

Advice for our students
I think the most important advice is finding something you enjoy and you are passionate about. If you are doing what you love, it makes all the difference! I also think there are so many extra opportunities available for country students - all you have to do is look for them.​

The Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge is an international initiative aiming to promote Computer Science among school students at all ages. The Challenge is open twice a year to Australia students in Years 3 to 12, and engages students' computational thinking and problem solving skills in a fun, interactive environment.

What is Computational Thinking? 
It involves integrating strategies such as organising data logically; breaking down problems into parts; interpreting patterns and models; and designing and implementing algorithms.  The six Computational Thinking skills are: 

• Decomposition - breaking down problems into smaller, easier parts
• Pattern Recognition - using patterns in information to solve problems
• Abstraction - finding information that is useful and taking away any information that is unhelpful
• Modelling and Simulation - trying out different solutions or tracing the path of information to solve problems
• Algorithms - creating a set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task
• Evaluation - assessing a solution to a problem and using that information again on new problems. 

Our ACE Program students took part in the Challenge in Term 1 with some fantastic results. Well done to the following students who were awarded Merits, Credits, Distinctions and High Distinctions. 

​Some students ran, others walked and a few skipped. With perfect weather conditions, our annual Interhouse Cross Country Carnival was a wonderful day for students and staff to enjoy the outdoors as they competed in our first Carnival for the year.
 
Congratulations to our two record breakers:
Samaia – Year 10 Girls record with a time of 14:06:41
Will – Year 12 Boys record with a time of 11:53:86
 
With the theme of the Carnival participation, and with every point helping their House’s tally, a special mention goes to Zachary, Year 10, who despite having a pre-existing injury decided to walk the entire course on crutches, with Benji keeping him company.
 
Well done to the Carnival winner, Kelly House!

​VET Pathways can make school more interesting and relevant to students while kick starting their career with recognised qualifications. They can graduate with their WACE and have the choice to continue in their TAFE studies or decide to move into a higher education course. This pathway is a great introduction into the world of work. Students will learn practical skills in Year 11 and Year 12 while gaining insight into the needs of the workplace. Success in their chosen program can lead to employment or give them a head start in other nationally recognised qualifications. Some higher level qualifications will offer pathways into higher education and university studies. 

Here are some of our students in action at Central Regional TAFE developing their trade skills.​