Dear parents

Recently, I met with each Year 11 student who applied for Head Girl or Head Boy for the 2019 academic year. It was a pleasure to discuss how they have served the College in the time they have been with us, what their vision for the College is, and to discuss some of their life’s goals, too. I congratulate Brett Nigli and Ellyn McGlone on their appointment as Head Boy and Girl respectively, a role which will commence in Term 4 after our Year 12 students graduate. We will be farewelling our current leaders Liam Rego and Jessica DeFreitas Basilio in the coming weeks, who have both been outstanding student leaders of our community.

Congratulations also to our Year 9 students on presenting their Personal Projects in their Exhibition. The James Nestor Centre was filled with parents, family and friends. My estimation is that we probably had more than 600 visitors to the event, quite an accolade for all involved. How wonderful to celebrate Year 9 personalised learning, a culminative learning project for the middle years of schooling. Well done to Head of Year 9 Yvette Pearce, on a job well-done!

We were informed by Catholic Arts on Thursday that Tyler Sandon and Amy Riordan were joint winners of the inaugural 2018 Tenants Choice Award, part of the Angelico Exhibition. This award was introduced this year and encouraged tenants of the Forrest Centre to vote for their preferred artwork. Tyler and Amy received the same number of votes. The art folio prizes and the certificates were presented at the College assembly on Monday.

On Thursday 13 September at 6.30pm, our annual Arts and Technology Exhibition will be opened in the James Nestor Centre. Given the extraordinary art works of our students as displayed at the recent Angelico Exhibition in the city, the Exhibition will be another event showcasing our students’ talents for parents and friends to enjoy. Please check the College website for further details. All welcome.

At the College Assembly, we also announced the winners of the Long Tan Award. Many of the qualities we look for at the College are intertwined with those acknowledged by the Award. The criteria for the Long Tan Award envisage a student who:

· demonstrates a very high degree of leadership ability;

· appreciates the value and contribution of everyone in the team, and whose presence in the team enhances the outcome;

· demonstrates the application of a high standard of values in all facets of life;

· has excellent problem-solving abilities and who utilises creative approaches to solve them;

· takes the lead in achieving tasks in difficult circumstances;

· has excellent communication abilities, and who is willing to listen to other points of view and incorporate them where necessary; and

· takes the lead in community activities.

The winners of the Long Tan Award for 2018 were Liam Rego from Year 12 and Isabella Cuocci from Year 10. Congratulations!

Staffing News

Last week, I notified the College Board and staff that I have accepted Vice Principal Mrs Karen Prendergast’s resignation after it was announced she has been appointed to the position of Principal at Lumen Christi College, Martin. Karen will commence this role in January 2019.

Karen’s passion for a strong Catholic co-educational learning program, her strong inter-personal skills along with her knowledge of the challenges which educational leaders face in schools have enabled her to collaborate closely with our Leadership and Teaching and Learning Council Teams as we have paved the way for the future.

Karen has been an influential leader in the College and has assisted me in implementing a range of strategic goals, particularly in the two-year development of our new Vision for Learning after extensive consultation with teachers, and with the initial feedback from students and parents. The Vision for Learning will be launched in Term Four after our Year 12 students graduate.

Corpus Christi College has a strong reputation for attracting highly qualified and experienced staff, who then grow professionally whilst at the College. Karen is now the fourth Deputy Principal from Corpus in the past ten years to be appointed as a Principal. If we include the five Middle Leaders who have been appointed as Deputy Principals in the same time period, it highlights our enviable reputation amongst Catholic schools, attracting high quality applicants for roles at the College.

I will be taking three weeks Long Service Leave in Term Four from Week Three, so Karen will be covering my role in that time. As I am responding positively to treatment, I am taking this opportunity to holiday overseas with my adult daughters.

With Jim Elliott retiring at the end of the year, the College entered a rigorous recruitment process to search for our Deputy Principal Ministry, an important role at the College.

It is with pleasure I announce our new Deputy Principal Ministry is Ms Gemma Wooltorton.

Gemma is currently Assistant Deputy Principal at John XXIII College, a position she has held since 2012, where she was also Acting Head of RE in 2014. These roles have included coordinating the pastoral and educational programs for Year 9, 11, and 12 students. Gemma was formerly the Head of Religious Education at Kolbe Catholic College from 2009 until 2011, where she coordinated special projects for the Principal, having also held an Acting Deputy Principal role in 2011. Between 1997 and 2008, Gemma was the Head of RE and the Coordinator of the Ministry Team at Prendiville College. Prior to this role, she has also held the Assistant Principal’s role at Queen of Apostles and was the National Secretary and Extension Worker with the Australian Young Christian Workers movement.

Having been awarded a Master of Education in Leadership and Management from Notre Dame University and having completed the Accreditation for Leadership of the Religious Education Learning Area, Gemma is also well qualified for this senior leadership role in the College.

Clearly, we continue to attract strong candidates to the College. Gemma will take up her position at Corpus Christi College at the commencement of Term One, 2019.

The Final Word

Week Nine is one of those ‘big weeks’ at Corpus.

Year 7s will in participating in the Grandparents Mass and morning tea on Friday, showing their loved ones the wonderful works on display at our Arts and Technology Exhibition, which also opens on Thursday night. Again, I invite all members of the community to come into the James Nestor Centre, as it transforms once again for the Exhibition. I am in awe of the talents of our students which will be on display at this event.

I take this opportunity to thank James Howard, Sheldon McIntyre and the HPE and Athletics staff coaches on their preparation of the students who are competing in the A division ACC Athletics Carnival on Wednesday, and on behalf of the College, we wish the team all the best.

Best wishes and God bless

Caroline Payne

Principal

From The Principal