From the Principal – 1 September 2022

As we welcome spring, we pray that the health outlook will improve across the community. The level of illness and absence throughout this term has been extraordinary. Thank you to all of the families who have been cautious and supported the community by keeping sick ones at home.

It is hard to believe that it is nearly the end of term and there are only five weeks of Year 12 classes remaining. Preparations for the final Year 12 day and all the graduation rites of passage are underway, including the welcome return to the Cathedral for the first time in three years.

Given the rain in recent months, we still have not managed to gain proper access to Finn Oval at Coolock. We trust the warmer conditions and further rain forecast for spring will be perfect for growth. We want to ensure that the surface is right before full student traffic starts. The students have been very patient and flexible waiting for their oval to open.

Last week iGEN has been in the media again. Interest in the program is growing, with the number of Year 9 students who have expressed an interest for 2023 being well above the maximum. The addition of the Ballarat Mercy Aged Care facility is a blessing, as it provides the opportunity for an additional class. This week we met with Mercy Health to consider the future direction and the expansion of the program with Australian Catholic University (ACU). We are so grateful for the partnership and the work of Ms Ellen Francis, iGEN Project Officer, who has been instrumental in liaising between the partners through the past three years and ensuring the success of the program. Post COVID we will now be on site and expand further. Read more about iGEN reunion and media.

Whilst on the topic of expansion, a new CMC Masterplan Team is forming to consider the next phase in development. A proposed early learning centre, primary school and further development at St Mary’s are critical items on the schedule. All members of the CMC community will have the opportunity to contribute to the consultation and development of the masterplan. Aligning timetables and reviewing campus enrolments and flexible arrangements will be part of that consultation.

Well done to all those who continue to represent our College with pride in so many ways. We’ve had a busy few weeks, with students achieving highly across a range of competitions. Congratulations to our team at the Science and Engineering Challenge who were runners-up for the region and also to the Senior Concert Band members who were awarded a Silver Shield at the Victorian Schools Music Festival.

There has also been great success in sport; well done to the Year 8 Boys Football Team who were State Runners Up in the School Sport Victoria competition. Check out the Latest News on our website for the full wrap on football, the highly successful Victorian Schools Netball campaign, the Intermediate Mixed Hockey Team progression to regionals and the personal bests in Clay Trapshooting. Watch out for the Sports Update in the upcoming holidays for the full Term 3 wrap!

Vaping, and the associated health concerns, is also a current focus in the media and the College has been contributing to this discussion. Sadly, the issue is of great concern across all schools post COVID. The myth “vaping is a safer option” is genuinely worrying and needs a community focus. There is anecdotal evidence from health agencies about health and addiction concerns. (Click for facts on e-cigarettes and vaping from Sonja Karras forum.)

At the moment we are visiting our feeder primary schools, as part of transition and developing Year 7 student profiles ready for 2023. The enrolment information is critical to transition. Thank you to each of the schools for their support and congratulations to the Transition Team for their work.

The College is progressing well in consolidating staffing for 2023. Thankfully we have a positive response to the advertised positions and have received applications from across the state and interstate. In the coming weeks we will be advertising Position of Leadership roles that are coming to the end of their tenure.

Kind regards,
Mr Brian Turner, Principal