It has been an incredibly busy fortnight!

Year 12 Formal

Our Year 12 Formal, held last week at Novella on the Park, was a wonderful occasion. I commend all of our students who attended for how they presented themselves (they looked fantastic) and how they joyously entered into the occasion.

There was a great atmosphere throughout the evening, and parents/carers, staff and students had much fun on and off the dance floor. I would particularly like to thank Mr Zakris for organising the event.

Kindy (2024) Playgroup Commences

It was great to have parents/carers, and the majority of our 2024 Kindy students join us this week for their first playgroup. There were a few nerves (from parents/carers and future Kindy students alike), but our staff expertly worked with the students reading, playing and having fun.  

New Parent/Carer Information Evening

A big thank you to all our future parents and/or carers who joined us on Wednesday night for this event. The assembled audience heard vital information about the College, and many of our student leaders were involved in a “fashion parade” to show the various summer and winter boys' and girls' uniform types. We look forward to our many new students joining the College in 2024.

Year 4 into 5 Transition Information Evening

Six of our current Year 5 students did a fantastic job presenting to the gathered audience last night. The students discussed critical information, tips, and observations regarding their transition into Year 5. It can be a daunting time for our upper Junior Year students to enter into middle years; however, as a number of the students indicated, students and families have nothing to be scared about! I thank all staff in attendance, and we look forward to seeing our current Year 4s make the successful move into Middle Year Learning.

Parent/Carer Advisory Group Meeting

Last night, a meeting was held to discuss future parent/carer advisory groups/bodies. In the face-to-face and Zoom meetings, I spoke about parent/carer feedback across 2023, the results of various surveys and the dominant parent/carer commendations and recommendations from last semester‘s parent/carer forum.

I shared during the evening the critical point that, while we do not wish to have a ‘traditional’ Parents and Friends’ Association, there is a need for parent and carer voices to be heard for various needs to be met and groups to be represented.

As such, I put forward the proposal to have a group called the ‘Friends of Francis’, essentially an amalgamation of the previous Social and Care Committees. This group will meet each term to look at ways to support those in the community, provide social opportunities and fundraise for various needs (whether student initiatives and/or family members in need).

Additionally, it’s clear that parents/carers wish to have input into various processes and policies across the college, and therefore, an advisory group is to be established. This group will meet less regularly, be more fluid in its membership, look at draft documents (policies and processes) and put forward ideas around the day-to-day functional aspects of the college.

Both groups will be launched in 2024, and opportunities for parents and carers to join one or both groups will be communicated in the new year. 

2024 Pastoral Care Team

Yesterday, students were informed about the respective year and/or stage leaders for 2024.
I’m therefore pleased to announce the following team for next year:

Having such a talented group of caring and committed professional educators to work with your children is excellent. While we have a number of weeks to complete 2023, I look forward to the new year.