It has been delightful to commence the 2023 school year with a renewed sense of hope that this year's school life will return to a true sense of normality. In talking to students, parents and staff this year, I have acknowledged that it is important for us to recognise the impact of living during a pandemic over the last few years, and to know that we can truly look forward to returning to life post restrictions and lockdowns!
This has meant that we have been able to welcome families back onsite for a number of events already this year, and that students have been able to participate fully in all aspects of school life.
2023 marks a particularly significant year for Padua College as we celebrate our 125th Anniversary. Throughout this year we will celebrate this with a number of events, commencing last week with our College Opening Mass. Throughout the year we will reflect on the early beginnings of the College, established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1898, and the journey we have taken to get us to where we are today.
We have taken our College motto of ‘Perseverance Conquers All’, as our College theme this year, giving us the opportunity to explore and embrace these words and what they mean for each of us, as members of this wonderful community. In this, our 125th year, we reflect on this College motto which encourages to view obstacles that we encounter as challenges and opportunities that we endeavour to overcome. It also allows us to make mistakes and know that we can learn from every experience, and that this learning will ultimately contribute to us being stronger for the experience.
Lent
Last week marked the beginning of Lent, the most significant season in the Catholic calendar. On Tuesday, students were invited to participate in Shrove Tuesday activities and offered pancakes. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) and traditionally households made pancakes on the day to use up or ‘shrove’ ingredients prior to the fasting that occurs throughout Lent. My thanks to the canteen staff and parent helpers who assisted with the pancakes.
On Wednesday, all students were involved in Ash Wednesday liturgies which conveyed the significance and solemnity of the 40 days of Lent which concludes at Easter. Thanks to Matthew Williams, Mo Cromar, Peter O’Halloran and Anne-Marie Wilkinson, for arranging and leading these liturgies.
College Opening Assembly
On Tuesday 14 February, our whole College community joined together for our Opening College Assembly, where we welcomed our new Year 7 students and celebrated our high-achieving students from the Year 12, 2022 graduating class.
In recent years, this assembly has been conducted remotely due to the restrictions in place at the time, and there was an evident sense of joy and hope, at us all being able to come together again. During the assembly our 2022 College Dux, Ella Fischer, addressed the student body and talked about the importance of studying subjects that you are genuinely interested in, and not necessarily those subjects that are scaled up, as well as maintaining a balance between study and other activities such as sport, work and catching up with friends.
My thanks to Mr Curtis Stone, Ms Deb Hill, Mr Rohan Cameron and the Maintenance Team, Mrs Helen Sugameli, Mr Travis Pearce, Ms Julie Young, Ms Cathy Moloney, Mr Paul Jenkins, Mr Sam Noonan, Mr Mike Arthur, Ms Jacqui Sannia, Ms Stacey Brown, Ms Lauren Cameron, Ms Kate McLoughlin, Mr Ricardo Luis and Mr Luke Christiansen.
College Leaders
In 2023, Padua College is blessed with four wonderful Student Leaders in College Captains Beth Passmore and Will Deutsher and Vice Captains, Tilly Leamon and Finn Whitty who, along with our House Captains and Student Leaders across the College, lead our student body. Our Opening Assembly provided the opportunity for College Captains (Beth and Will) and Vice Captains (Tilly and Finn) to address our College Community for the first time in their new roles.
Beth encouraged our students to make the most of every opportunity, as well as take the time to cherish the experience. Will challenged us to consider how we can model Catherine McAuley’s call to “strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well”. Tilly and Finn formally thanked Ella, our 2022 Dux and echoed her advice shared with the student body.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank our student leaders for accepting these important roles and offer our College Captains Beth and Will, College Vice Captains, Tilly and Finn, along with the Student Leadership Teams, my best wishes as they lead the student body this year. We are fortunate to have such wonderful ambassadors in the form of all our Student Leaders across our campuses and year levels. I look forward to working with them in 2023.
Staff News
We welcome the following new and returning staff to the College this year:
• Wayne Agg (T)
• Anne Marie Allen (M)
• Laura Allen (M)
• Tashara Bampton (R)
• Sarah Barrett (M)
• Danielle Barnes (M)
• Nicola Brown (T)
• Stacey Brown (M)
• Mathew Chacko (M)
• Renee Cheasley (M)
• Lucy Clapham (M)
• Alan Clarke (M)
• Samantha Clough (R)
• Jessica Congiusta (T)
• Jason Crabtree (M)
• Peta Daher (M)
• Kathleen Dauguet (T)
• Jennifer De Longville (R)
• Peta Denehey (M)
• Virginia Dunwoodie (M)
• Katherine Fitzgerald (M)
• Callum Fitzpatrick (R)
• Assunta Galbraith (R)
• Melissa Gilchrist (M)
• Nathan Johnstone (T)
• Deborah Kent (M)
• Charlotte Kidd (M)
• Su Kim (M)
• Julie Koscielecki (M)
• Emily McDougall (M)
• Lillian Morgan (M)
• Angela Morrow (M)
• Ben Murphy (M)
• Daniel Nisbet (T)
• Felicity Oliver (M)
• Dannielle Palatinus (M)
• Chiara Pardini (M)
• Nirasha Premaratne (M)
• Jacqui Price (M)
• Julie Rawson (R)
• Kirsten Robinson (M)
• Kelly Scheen (T)
• Catherine Scott (M)
• Darren Smith (M)
• Jade Smith (M)
• Janice Townsend (M)
• Jason Wang (M)
I am also pleased to confirm other staffing information for the commencement of 2023
We welcome back the following Staff Returning from Leave at the Commencement of 2023:
• Kellie Benedict (T)
• Georga Bryant (R)
• Andrea Cummins (R)
• Karen Doyle (T)
• Nicola Gee (T)
• Eve Macleod (M)
• Sharon Marshall (M)
• Sheryl Paton (R)
• Kirstin Trewin (R)
• Belinda Taylor (M)
• Kirsty Veugelers (T)
Campus Transfers for 2023:
From Rosebud to Mornington:
• Brian Filgate
• Cassie Collier
From Tyabb to Mornington:
• Andrew Ferguson
• Cathy Moloney From Mornington to Tyabb:
• Mel Kenyon
From Tyabb to Rosebud:
• Lisa Modd (from Term 2)
• Sonny Voss
Staff Taking Leave at the Commencement of 2023:
• Scarlett Christopherson (M)
• Rita Clough (M) (until retirement)
• Katrina Greenwood (M)
• Val Hardie (M) (until retirement)
• Fia Hobson • Tina Lunny (T)
• Mark Mannock (M) (until retirement)
• Suzanne Martin (M)
• Jenny McCulloch (T)
• Stacey Romeril (M)
Currently on leave and continuing leave in 2023:
• Brittany Graham (R)
• Tahlia Little (T)
• Victoria Shanahan (M)
• Cathy Wallace (R) (until retirement)
Condolences
We extend our condolences to Mr Travis Pearce on the passing of his father, Bruce over the holiday period.
We pray for former student Sami Schubel (Class of 2021) who died in a car accident in Darwin on 11 December 2022. May Sami’s family and all who grieve be comforted with precious memories and the hope of eternal life. Sami attended Years 7-9 in Geoghegan House at the Tyabb campus before transferring to Mornington to complete his secondary education. He was a valued member of Francis House, Graduating Class of 2021.
Sami was known and loved for his infectious positive energy and his caring and kind soul. We extend our condolences to Sami’s parents, mother Loui, father Brett and his siblings Jess, Hannah, Tayla, Jorgia, Tom, Jake and Josh.
We remember Bruce, Sami and their families and all those experiencing grief in our thoughts and prayers. Eternal rest grant unto Bruce & Sami O' Lord and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Mr Kyle Kraus and his wife Stephanie on the arrival of daughter also over the holiday period.
Mobile Phone Policy
I wish to thank parents for their continued support of our College Mobile Phone Policy. At the commencement of 2019 Padua College implemented this Policy which does not permit students to access their phones during the school day and it has been met with great success with our students being so much more engaged with each other during the day.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind both students and parents that if mobile phones are brought to school, they are to be placed in lockers prior to the first bell, and remain in lockers throughout the day where they can then be accessed again after the final bell. Any mobile phones being used throughout the school day will be confiscated.
If students need to contact home throughout the day, they should see their House Co-ordinator or go to College Reception.
Uniform
A reminder to all members of the Padua College community that the College Uniform is expected at all times. The College Uniform policy can be found in the student diary (for Year 7 - 9 students) and on the College website: https://www.padua.vic.edu.au/pages/padua-uniform-policy-1. Wearing the College Uniform reflects our students’ pride in themselves and in the College and I ask all parents and guardians to make themselves familiar with these regulations and support us in ensuring that your child is wearing our College uniform correctly.
Year 7 2024 Enrolments
Please be aware that enrolments for Year 7 2024 were conducted last year with the Grade 5 2022 students. If you have a current Grade 6 2023 student who is not already enrolled or not on College waiting lists, you should contact Mrs Lisa Jordan, Enrolment Registrar, immediately.
Year 7 2025 Enrolments
Enrolment for Year 7 2025 opened on Wednesday 1 February 2023. We invite families to enjoy one of our College Discovery Tours and bookings can be made via the following link: https://www.padua.vic.edu.au/enrolment-tours/school-tours-2
Details regarding Year 7 2025 enrolment are now available on the College website https://www.padua.vic.edu.au/enrolment-tours/information-applications .
School Photographs
Annual school photos have been taken at all Padua College campuses. To be able to view the images of your child and order photos, you will need to register online by going directly to the Arthur Reed website: https://order.arphotos.com.au . You have to enter the 2023 image code for your child (from their personalized flyer distributed by their Homeroom Teacher). Please note that all photo packages will be sent directly to you at home this year, so please ensure that you enter your correct details and delivery address upon checkout. If you do not have internet access or encounter difficulty ordering photos you may contact Arthur Reed directly on (03) 5243 4390 or email: customerservice@arphotos.com.au
Facilities
It is with much excitement that I report that the Year 7 and 8 Centre at the Mornington Campus is well underway, and it is scheduled for completion in November 2023. Please find a link to a 3D animation we have prepared to provide you a sneak peek at what is coming: https://vimeo.com/800422775/ed4ebd65e6
