As we prepare for the end of term three, it is wonderful to be welcoming the Spring weather. Students and staff continue to be busy with the many elements of school life and I am happy to be able to report on the following before we head into the term three holiday break.

A New Vice Principal - Learning & Teaching

I am delighted to announce that Angelina Ranson has been appointed to the role of Vice Principal - Learning and Teaching from the commencement of 2024. Angelina will be joining us from Perth and is currently in the role of Dean of Academics at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls. She has worked previously in Catholic Education in Perth and has ties with Mercy Education having worked at St Brigid’s College, Lesmurdie. She is very much looking forward to joining us at Padua College and I am excited by what she will bring to the Learning and Teaching Sphere and to our Leadership Team.

Positions of Leadership

We have had a busy time with the advertisement, interviewing, and appointment of Positions of Leadership to commence in 2024. I am pleased to announce the following appointments that have been confirmed:

MACS Board of Directors

This coming Monday we will be hosting the September meeting of the MACS Board of Directors at the Mornington Campus. We will have the opportunity to present to the Board during their working lunch and share with them the many and varied opportunities and offerings we provide at Padua College and the plans for our future direction.

MACSSIS

Recently all families will have received an email regarding the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of our College.

Details on how to access and complete the survey were included in the email and we encourage all families to help us to continue improving by completing this survey. The Survey can be completed online and is open until the last day of term three, Friday 15 September.

Herald Sun Shield Division 2 Grand Final

What an exciting afternoon we had last Friday 1 September as the Padua Intermediate Girls Football Team made their way to Ikon Park to play in the Herald Sun Shield Division 2 Grand Final! Having played in the semi-final some weeks ago, we were advised that it was planned for the Grand Final to take place as the curtain raiser for the opening game of the AFLW season on Friday. The girls did an outstanding job and I congratulate them on their wonderful win over Our Lady of Sion College. Congratulations to all the girls on the team and to coach Ms Phoebe Canning along with accompanying staff Mrs Nicole Love, Mr Curtis Stone and Mrs Sarah Bailey for the support they provided.

Grade 6 Transition Interviews

On 17 August, staff across the College were involved in our 2024 Year 7 student transition interviews. This is an important part of the transition process for our incoming cohort of Year 7 students and on this day they, along with their parents, were invited to come into the College to be interviewed by a member of staff so that we can gather the information we need to assist in a smooth commencement at secondary school for them. These interviews also provide an opportunity for families to ask any questions they may have.

I thank all staff who participated in these interviews and acknowledge the work of Transition Co-ordinator, Mr Phil Helisma, Enrolments Registrar, Mrs Lisa Jordan and Enrolments Officer, Mrs Rachael McIvor, for the tremendous amount of work undertaken to ensure the success of this day.

The Transition Day was followed by a Staff Professional Learning Day on Friday 18 August where teaching staff where involved in either Mental Health First Aid or continuing their work on the Writing Revolution program that we have been involved in throughout this year.

John Pridemore

Tomorrow we will welcome John Pridemore to address our Year 11 RE students. St Thomas More Parish is hosting this international speaker, who will be running a Parish Mission at St Thomas More from 18-20 September. John has a longstanding ministry running retreats and speaking of his faith journey from being involved with gangs in London to his conversion many years ago and I am sure our students will take much from his presentation. I thank Fr Patrick Bradford and Mr Matthew Williams for arranging this for our students.

2024 College Captains

Over recent weeks staff and students have been involved in the process of the appointment of the 2024 College Captains. Led by Mr Sam Wright, the process commenced with 11 students presenting leadership speeches to the entire student body via a livestream link from the Lecture Theatre during an eXcel period. Following this all students immediately participated in an online vote. Consideration was given to the vote count and seven students were shortlisted to be interviewed by Mr Wright, Mr Curtis Stone and myself. Each of the students involved in the process should be incredibly proud of the way they presented themselves and for the strong desire they have for working with staff and students in a leadership role. I am delighted to announce that the 2024 Padua College Captains are:

Vice Captains: Maya Denvir (Merton/Kolbe) and Jack Galvin (Merton/Kolbe)

Captains: Yasmine McCoy (Mercy/Doyle) and Oscar Donnelly (Elizabeth/Anthony)

From this year the Captains will commence their leadership role from the start of term four and I am looking forward to working with this new leadership team.

Graduation

With the end of term three upon us, our Year 12 students now only have a matter of a few weeks of classes before we celebrate their graduation and the commencement of VCE Exams.

Preparations are well underway for these events and I ask that all members of the College community keep this cohort of students in their prayers over the coming months as they prepare for the end of their educational journey at Padua College.

Congratulations and Condolences

We extend our congratulations to Mr Patrick Beli and wife Caitlin on the recent arrival of baby Theodore

We extend my condolences to the following staff members:

Mr Kyle Kraus on the passing of his grandmother recently;

Mr Rob Murray on the passing of his father recently;

Mrs Carolyn Cockerham on the passing of her father last week.

Staff News

Staff Commencing in Term 4:

Ian Lundie (from Trinity Grammar teaching Technology)

Ross Johnson (from UK teaching Maths) (commences on 11 September 2023)

Andrea Grasso (fixed term until 17 September 2023 teaching Science)

Emma Shanahan (fixed term for term 4 teaching Textiles)

Staff returning from leave in Term 4:

Scarlett Christopherson (Parental)

Patrick Beli (Parental)

Patrick Nichol (Parental returning Week 2 Term 4)

Jenny Tomkins (LSL)

Nathan Bonney (LSL)

Mona Esmaty (LSL)

Jenni Wilson (LSL)

Peter Kerr (LSL) returning Week 2 Term 4

Wendy Williams (LSL)

Lisa Jordan (LSL)

Kyle Kraus (Annual)

Daniel Spears (LWOP)

Kaiden Forsyth (LWOP)

Callum Tranter (LWOP)

Staff commencing leave in Term 4:

Simone Brick (LSL)

Anne Allan (LSL)

Kirsty Miller (LSL)

Kaye O’Day (LSL)

Anna Whittaker (Parental)

May all students, parents and staff enjoy the upcoming September school holiday break. We look forward to the safe return of the members of our community for term four.

Peace and blessings.