A little more patience required... but the rewards will be huge!

Last fortnight the Catholic Education Office and I signed off on permitting Project Coordination Group (our builders) to complete the new Technology, Art & Science Centre Stage 2. The first $10 million Stage 1 is almost ready to hand over. Cabinetry has been fitted this week and the scaffold around the building will come down in the next fortnight. However, there are considerable advantages in delaying the opening of this building by another term.

Project Coordination Group have developed a program to deliver the $3 million Stage 2 of the building (a 6^th Science Lab, additional Food Tech Room, additional Woodwork Room, 2 x Engineering ‘Make It’ spaces, a Middle & Senior Walk Through Canteen, Full Hospitality Kitchen and Construction Workshop). They plan to deliver all this early Term 3, delivering facilities designed for Year 11 & 12, more than 12 months ahead of schedule and saving up tens of thousands of dollars. These savings will be passed on to the College in the form of a better budget for furniture, fittings and equipment.

There are several factors that contribute to these savings:

1. The builders are already onsite. There is a saving to be made on site setup costs, site offices etc.
2. Trades who are onsite already engaged in Stage 1 can continue with Stage 2.
3. The builders will not need to construct temporary walls to allow students to access a partially completing building
4. The builders will not have to deal with work restrictions, limiting noise while students and staff work in the same building.
5. The builders are also highly motivated to construct the complete building. They believe the design will be a showcase of their work.

This means that rather than having students move in for the beginning of Term 2, they will have access to the full $13 million building early Term 3.  I would ask for your extended patience here. Let me assure you that we are very happy with the contractors and that they have proven themselves to be able to deliver a project on time and on budget.

We are very excited that Stage 2 has already started. If you drive through carline you will notice the new construction has commenced at the end of the building.

NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) Inspection

Last week inspectors from NESA visited the College, along with officials from the Catholic Education Office. They spent the day inspecting the College’s approaches to Curriculum, Learning & Teaching, monitoring of attendance, accuracy in roll marking and child protection compliance.

Whilst we do not get the official report until November, the inspectors left very pleased with what they had examined and acknowledged the good work we have been doing.

Enrolments Kinder to Year 10 2020, and Year 7 2021

Enrolment applications have been streaming in since our successful Open Day.

I remind all parents who are looking to enrol younger siblings that it will be essential to submit your enrolment application before the end of Term 1 (Friday 12^th April).

In previous years, we have accepted enrolments beyond the due date but this is unlikely to continue this year. There are several year groups in 2019 with waiting lists and I would anticipate that this will continue to be the case for 2020.

Please get your completed enrolment applications in ASAP.

Have a great week!

Mr Simon Abernethy, College Principal