Dear Parents/Carers,

It is hard to believe that we are already moving into the middle of Term 4. Fortunately, it has been relatively smooth sailing with staff and students working hard to finalise assessment in preparation for Semester 2 reports. Year 10 students sat their formal exams this week and Year 9 are sitting their exams this week. 

Our building program is moving forward very well with the roof going on our College Hall and the concrete slabs being poured for the floor. The Middle Years Block is also progressing well with the concrete slab at ground level now down and the form work erected for the second storey. 

I have attached some photos below that illustrate the progress being made. The Hall in particular is huge and you may not the small orange blob which is a tradie working on the floor. It gives you an idea of the magnitude of this building which when complete will transform so much of our life at school.

We look forward to both buildings being completed in the middle of next year. 

College Hall 

Middle Years Block

Pope Francis visited the town of Assisi on October 3 to sign a new encyclical on human fraternity at the tomb of St Francis. The new encyclical entitled ‘Fratelli Tutti’ focuses on the important work of promoting peace, harmony and solidarity between individuals and nations. A papal encyclical is one of the highest forms of communication by the Pope and usually deals with some aspect of Catholic teaching — clarifying, amplifying, condemning or promoting one or a number of issues. 

St Francis has written …“We need to develop the awareness that nowadays we are either all saved together or no one is saved. Poverty, decadence and suffering in one part of the earth is a silent breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting the entire planet”. 

I believe this encyclical to be particularly relevant at a time when there is so much social, religious and political unrest. Recent terror attacks in Europe, political division in the US, protests about the handling of COVID-19 and so on are often about inequity, suffering and intolerance. We all have a responsibility to work together to build a better community and in doing so, we build a better world.

St Francis of Assisi was a wonderful role model. He challenged people to develop a greater appreciation and care for the environment and followed the lead of Jesus in living a humble lifestyle with a focus on giving to those less fortunate. 

Leading up to the season of Advent, which prepares us for Christmas, I encourage you to discuss with your children what you can do as a family to assist someone in need and the importance of doing so. 

May God continue to bless you,

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal