What a week it has been!
Our Good Standing events have been running throughout the week and continue tonight with our Year 11 students enjoying an evening on the river. We’ve seen silent discos, river cruises, bowling and the Year 12 Op Shop Disco, all of which have been fantastic opportunities for students to connect, celebrate their positive choices and simply have some fun. The outstanding attendance and engagement at these events has been wonderful to see.
A sincere thank you to all the staff who have sacrificed time with their own families this week to support these activities. Your commitment to our students does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated.
The highlight of the week, however, had to be Como’s Got Talent. Our theatre was absolutely packed with students and staff who were captivated by the incredible performances on display. The atmosphere was electric, with students enthusiastically supporting one another and genuinely enjoying the experience together. It was a wonderful reminder of the talent, courage and community spirit that exists within our College.
A huge thank you to our amazing Chaplain, Robyn, for all of her work in coordinating the event, and to our judges for giving up their time. I even had a report that a student witnessed Mr Mooney smile. While this cannot be independently verified, Mr Mooney himself suggested it was “more likely they saw a unicorn.”
Thank you also to the 30-odd students (my new besties! 😊) who have nominated to be part of the Student Advisory Group. I will be in contact with all applicants next week to outline our plans moving forward. If you haven’t yet nominated and would like to be involved, please don’t hesitate to put your hand up.
One thing that has also been fantastic to see recently is the continued improvement in student attendance. Every day matters. Attendance remains one of the strongest predictors of student success, and while a day here or there may not seem significant, those missed lessons quickly add up over the course of a term, semester and year. Learning is cumulative, and being present gives students the best opportunity to engage with their teachers, connect with their peers and make the most of the opportunities available to them. Thank you to our families who continue to prioritise attendance and support their children in getting to school each day.
I’ve also enjoyed seeing more of our students wearing the new uniform garments around the College. The updated items look fantastic and students have represented the College with pride. Uniforms help foster a sense of belonging and connection to our community, and it’s great to see students embracing the new additions so positively.
A reminder also that nominations for a Parent Representative position on our College Board close this afternoon. If you are interested in contributing to the strategic direction of the College, please refer to the information previously posted on Compass for details about the nomination process.
On a separate note, I have recently had conversations with several principals and Department of Education staff regarding the increasing number of pathways emerging for senior secondary students. University enabling courses, in particular, have significantly changed the landscape. While university entrance is certainly not the sole measure of success, these evolving pathways are beginning to influence how schools consider future offerings.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I think it is fantastic that alternative pathways are creating more opportunities for students. However, I also firmly believe that ambition, perseverance and effort remain the greatest drivers of achievement.
What I hope families hear from me is that we should always strive to challenge ourselves and reach a little further. If you or your child are considering a university enabling course, I encourage you to ask why. If the answer is simply that it is easier than undertaking an ATAR pathway, is that the best reason to make the choice? Or is there an opportunity to embrace a greater challenge?
Education should be about more than securing a job. It should be about developing resilience, building character, strengthening our capacity to learn and equipping ourselves with the skills needed to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.
I encourage families to have these conversations around the dinner table. They are important discussions. We all know that worthwhile achievements rarely come easily, and when something appears too easy, it is often worth asking what trade-offs might exist. Understanding those trade-offs is an important part of making informed decisions about the future.
Finally, a reminder that Communication Week is coming up soon. As outlined in last week’s update, this provides families with an opportunity to connect with teachers and discuss student progress. If you would like to arrange a conversation, please make sure you submit your requests within the advertised timeframe. Strong partnerships between home and school are one of the keys to student success, and Communication Week provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen those connections.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Alen Kursar
Principal
