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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 Comments are closed.
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