Principal’s Reflection Term 1 2026
Welcome to my first Term 1 Reflection as Principal of Nagle Catholic College. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make my start so enjoyable. It has been wonderful getting to know the students and staff and I look forward to meeting more parents and community members in the coming terms.
Welcome to new students and staff.
We extend a very special welcome to the 222 new Year 7 students and 33 new Years 8 – 12 students who started with us this year. We hope you have enjoyed your first experiences of Nagle and are settling into our College community. Thank you to the Year 11 and 12 ‘Buddies’ for their support of our Year 7s and to those students who have made our new student’s transition to Nagle a pleasant one.
The College has also welcomed quite a few new staff this year:
Miss Sophie Agnew Gap Year – Science / Food Science
Mr Ross Annen - Technologies Teacher
Miss Kaitlin Battel - Humanities & Social Sciences
Mrs Mel Bennett-Surtees - English
Ms Narelle Bignell - Learning Support
Miss Teaghan Black - Health & Physical Education
Ms Donnelle Bleakley - Music Tutor
Mrs Kiri Bolton - Food Science Technology Assistant
Mr Dylan Casley Gap Year – Technologies
Mr Dean Caulfield Gap Year – Health & Physical Education
Mr Liam Chinnery Health & Physical Education
Mr Ardy Dennis Gap Year – Library
Mr Scott Dethlefsen - Humanities & Social Sciences
Mr Nicholas Els - Religious Education
Mrs Carla Ferreira - English
Miss Freya Geqwin Gap Year – Learning Support
Mrs Denise Hackland - Administration Assistant
Mr Ted Kerr - Mathematics
Mr Brendan Macdonald - Health & Physical Education
Miss Carly Markham - Music Tutor
Miss Abbie McDonald - Religious Education, Physical Education, Mathematics and Humanities & Social Sciences
Ms Erin Meckenstock - Mathematics
Mr Ben Moffat - Humanities & Social Sciences and Outdoor Education
Mr Jarrad Mongoo Gap Year – Faith & Life
Mr Dean Murdoch - Humanities & Social Sciences, English and Religious Education
Mrs Annette Pollitt - Learning Support
Miss Emma Portsmouth - Careers/ VET Administration Assistant
Miss Brydee Sorgiovanni Gap Year – Careers / VET
Miss Neve Staltari - English
We also welcome back:
Mrs Hannah Amiat - Science
Mr Dan Burke - English
Ms Alana Grose - Science
Mrs Emma Maluish - Administration
Mrs Sarah Tapper - Science
Year 12 2025 Results
Nagle’s Year 12 students from 2025 achieved excellent results across a range of pathways and we look forward to hearing about their successes in the future. Some of the notable achievements our Year 12 students achieved at the end of 2025 are:
98% achieved a Western Australian Certificate of Education
29 Workplace Learning Endorsed programs completed
24 students completed the Curtin Uni-Ready program
12 WA Recreational Skippers Tickets achieved
59 students completed 64 VET Qualifications
32 students gained an apprenticeship
Highest ATAR was 98.2 with 5 students achieving an ATAR above 90 and 19 students achieving an ATAR above 80
5 students achieved a Certificate of Distinction
7 students achieved a Certificate of Merit
Year 12 Ball
The annual College Ball is an important milestone for our Year 12 students and this year’s Ball was held at the end of the second week of term. Members of the community were out in force and lined up along the red carpet to catch a glimpse of the elegantly attired students and the amazing cars they arrived in. Congratulations to Mrs Vanessa Els, Director of Students (Year 12), 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.
Swimming
On the Friday of the first week of term our Year 7 students took part in the Year 7 Swimming Trials. The event was led by Mr Joe Italiano, the Heads of House and our Year 12 House Captains, with the College Captains on the microphone. The atmosphere around the pool was wonderful, with almost all students participating, no matter their ability.
In Week 4 the College held the Interhouse Swimming Carnival with a slightly different format due to the Aquarena pool closure. The change to format meant that not all students could attend the carnival and there were limits to the amount of staff and parents who could attend. The changes did not dampen the spirit in which all students who were at the pool participated. The fantastic sportsmanship and friendly competition between Houses and students were firmly on display and enjoyable to be a part of. Well done to Thomas House for taking home the Interhouse Swimming Carnival shield for 2026.
The ACC Swimming Carnival was held in Perth on the 25 March. Nagle took 55 students down to Perth to complete in the ‘B’ division event. Unfortunately, due to Tropical Cyclone – Narelle, the students and staff had to depart the carnival earlier than expected to ensure they returned to Geraldton safely.
An enormous thank you goes out to Mr Joe Italiano, the Heads of House and the HPE department for all the work they do in organising and supervising these events.
Founders’ Mass & St. Pat’s Day Games
The annual Founder’s Mass commemorates Venerable Nano Nagle and Blessed Edmund Rice, whose Orders established St. Patrick’s and Stella Maris, in providing Catholic Education to the children of Geraldton. The lives of our Founders are the source of the College’s values and echo the College’s motto ‘For Others’. At this mass the College also commissions our Year 12 Seniors, acknowledging their contributions and leadership in the College. Thank you to Mr Murray Gardiner, Deputy Principal of Faith and Life, who coordinated the mass and to Bishop Michael Morresy for presiding and celebrating the mass with us. My thanks is also extended to the students who served on the altar and readers who undertook their duties with reverence and grace.
After the Founder’s Mass, the 2026 St. Pat’s Day Games provided an afternoon of friendly competition and enjoyment. The activities for the event were coordinated and run by the Year 12 Student Leadership Team and included the very popular ‘slip & slide’, ‘slippery musical chairs’ and ‘pool relay’, just to name a few! The terrific attitude in which the students participated in this event is a testament to the tradition of the Games both at Nagle and St. Patrick’s College. The day is a highlight for staff and students and my thanks goes to Mrs Alisha Wyatt, who coordinated the Games, our Maintenance Team who set up the activities and all the staff who facilitated the afternoon. At the end of the Games we ended up with a tie between two Kelly 6 and Ryan 2. Well done to Ryan 2 for being the overall winners after taking out the ‘rock, paper, scissors’ duel.
Principal’s Honour Awards
Our highest achieving students from Semester 2 2025 in Years 7 to 11 were recognised at an assembly in Week Six. Students in Years 7 – 10 must have a course score of 75% or higher in Religious Education, English, HASS, Maths and Science to received this prestigious award. In Year 11, students need to have achieved an ‘A’ grade in four or more courses, with no course score less than 65%. Well done to the students who were acknowledged at the assembly for their achievements.
Easter
One of the many wonderful aspects of being a Catholic College is the ability to participate in the true meaning of Easter. During Lent ,staff and students have been taking time to reflect, pray and prepare themselves for Holy Week and Easter. Project Compassion, the major fundraiser for Caritas Australia, also shines a spotlight on ways in which we can help to fight world hunger and poverty and the College has been supporting this charity through donations and raising awareness during Term One. Thank you to all staff and students who have diligently contributed to the College’s fundraising events over the Lenten period to support this cause.
Holy Week and the lead up to Easter is also the last week of Term One for the College. Whilst the holidays beckon and the excitement of time away from school is almost here, it is also important to reflect on the sacrifice Christ made for us on Good Friday and the salvation he delivered in his resurrection. I hope that you have an enjoyable Easter break and take time to be grateful. I ask that you stay safe and return in Term Two, fully refreshed and ready to engage. The College will be closed from Friday 3 April and school will resume for all students on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
The events listed above are only a small example of the events that have occurred in the College during Term One. Nagle Catholic College’s calendar is incredibly full, with academic and cocurricular activities for students no matter what their interests. I hope that all students have made a good start to the year and have taken up at least one extra opportunity the College provides. Students who participate fully in the life of the College will have a far more enjoyable time and create many more memories. At Nagle, our aim is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed if they choose to.
Have an enjoyable break.
Mrs Susan Macdonald
Principal