This year we celebrated 125 years as a school community; an achievement to be celebrated by all members of Padua College both past and present.

In celebrating our 125th Anniversary, it has been an opportune time to reflect on where our story began and on the contributions of so many that enable us to be here today. With 125 years comes tradition, story, and wisdom. Our foundation story is one of a courageous and visionary community, responding to the needs of their time.

In the year 2000 the Principal, Mrs Patricia Cowling along with the College Captains buried a time capsule to be unearthed in our 125th year. Recently, Patricia, along with Chris Whitten, one of the College Captains in 2000, and some past and current staff members, along with some current student representatives, dug up and opened this time capsule. It contained many items including school photographs, a VCE Jumper, a yearbook as well as a letter she had written for the Principal, staff, students, and parent community of 2023. I would like to share this with you now, it is dated 16 October 2000.

Dear Principal, staff, students and parent community of 2023,

Congratulations and sincere best wishes to each of you on the 125th Anniversary of Padua College. This is a marvellous milestone and I expect you will be experiencing great celebrations as we did two years ago in 1998 when we celebrated the College's 100 years Anniversary.

I wonder how much Padua will have changed over these twenty-five years! God willing, I hope to be with you to join in the fun!

As we bury this Time Capsule in October of the year 2000 we symbolically also entrust the College to people such as yourselves, its future generations. Know that generations of students, teachers and parents before you have invested so much of themselves in ensuring that Padua remains a place where young people can dream dreams and imagine wonderful possibilities for life. We are a College where all individuals are respected for the talents and gifts they each have to offer and where it is each person's right to be helped to develop to the best of his or her potential.

We are mindful today of the hard work and inspiration of our early Founders, the Sisters of Mercy and the lay men and women who have developed the College over these many years. We are very conscious also of the work of our Parish Priests and members of the six parishes which we serve. Those parishes are: St Thomas More's, Mt Eliza, St Macartan's, Mornington, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Hastings, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Dromana, Our Lady of Fatima, Rosebud, and St Mary's Star of the Sea, Sorrento.

Today we are a single College on two Campuses with 1080 students at Years 7-12 at Mornington and 440 students from Years 7-10 at Rosebud. At present the Rosebud students complete their VCE at Mornington which enables us to offer a much wider range of programmes.

Our students today may indeed be many of the parents of students in the year 2023. I hope their lives thus far have been happy and meaningful and that they have been enriched by their own school days at Padua College.

The College Motto "Omnia Perseverantia Vincit" reminds us all of how much can be accomplished if we work to our best potential even when the going gets tough. May the years ahead for all Paduans both in the Year 2000 and in all future years be times of great joy and blessing.

With my very best wishes!

Patricia A. Cowling

As we enter the next chapter of Padua College’s history, may we continue to be a community drawing inspiration from our founding charism to be agents of change in our world, striving to live the Gospel Values.

In my first year in the privileged position as Principal, I would like to record some of the words I shared with Padua College Staff when the announcement of my appointment to the position of Principal at Padua College was made in April this year. I endeavoured to convey the sense of honour and gratitude I felt being entrusted to lead this wonderful community.

Firstly, I would like to thank the Appointment Panel including both Deb Egan (MACS Southern Region General Manager) and Fr Geoff McIlroy (President of the Association of Canonical Administrators) both present today for their trust and support as I embark on this role.

I wrote my end of Term One message to staff, the weekend after my first interview for the position of Principal, at that time unsure of the outcome. What I was sure of was the emotion I felt that weekend - it was a reflection of the admiration and respect that I have for our staff’s dedication to their profession and our College, namely to our students, our colleagues and our community.

I reflected on the capacity of our staff to inspire and encourage our students, as well as one another, to reach our full potential. I take on this responsibility with that same promise.

My mission is to ensure that we provide an environment that allows both students and staff to flourish and grow to their fullest potential, enabling all to actively participate and contribute to the world around us.

Together we endeavour to embrace new opportunities and overcome obstacles to best support our students, one another and our wider community. I ask that we work together, aspiring to foster a safe and nurturing learning environment that also engages and challenges each student and makes a positive difference in the lives of our young people; ensuring that we develop resilient, confident and respectful graduates who have the capacity to lead in the future with integrity, compassion and purpose.

I want each member of our College to be confident in my support and love. I am grateful for all that you do. I feel blessed and look forward to leading Padua College as we begin this next chapter together.

The 2023 school year will always be a special one for me personally and we have been delighted to have been able to celebrate the year together as a College community enjoying the fullness of school life again.

End-of-Year Exams and HeadStart Program

VCE Exams, along with Year 10 and Year 11 Exams all concluded well and were followed by our Headstart Program. This year all 2024 Year 8 – 12 students undertook two weeks, a full cycle, of Headstart with great success. This was once again a big undertaking for staff at the College and I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of College Director of College Logistics and Operations, Ms Cathy Moloney, Campus Operations Leaders, Mrs Nicole Love and Mr Brad Byles and Mornington Daily Organiser, Mrs Sarah Fritsch; along with all staff who embraced this opportunity to commence the 2024 learning program.

Grade 6 2023 Orientation Day for Year 7 2024

This week we have welcomed our incoming Year 7 2024 students for the Orientation Day at each of the campuses. My thanks to Deputy Principals - Heads of Campus and Campus Co-Directors Mr Stephen Veneris, Ms Tina Lunny, Mr Dan Nisbet, Ms Lisa Modd, and Rosebud Campus Co-Director and Transition Co-ordinator, Mr Phil Helisma, along with Student Wellbeing and Growth Leader (M) Mr Pat Janes, House Co-ordinators and Homeroom Teachers who worked to ensure a successful program was in place for our Grade 6 students.

2023 Yearbook

Due to an unfortunate printing issue, delivery of our 2023 College yearbook was delayed which meant that we were unable to distribute this to students before their departure. These will be distributed to our students at the beginning of the 2024 school year.

Uniform

I ask all parents to ensure that their students’ uniforms are checked so they are in great condition and fit appropriately for their return in 2024. Students are to return in full summer uniform and are reminded to ensure their hairstyle meets the College requirements and that personal grooming issues are attended to, including being clean-shaven and wearing appropriate jewellery according to College policy. All students must bring their hats as it is possible that there will be assemblies held outdoors. Students who do not meet the College policies on grooming and uniform will be removed from classes and parents asked to collect them. All students will be required to follow the Dress Regulations which includes a blazer worn to and from school commencing in Term One.

In particular, students are reminded that:

• summer dresses must be at least knee-length;
• mid-back band on their summer dress should be buttoned up and not tied in a knot to bring the dress in; and
• t-bar sandals must be buckled up at all times.

The only bag permitted at school is the College bag and non-uniform items will not be permitted.

Student Departures

To all students who are leaving Padua College at the end of this year, I extend my best wishes and good luck for the future. I trust you have fond memories of your friends and times here at Padua and wish you God’s blessings for the future.

Condolences

I extend my condolences to Mrs Julie Barnhoorn (M) on the passing of her mother, Sue Kelly, recently.

Staffing Changes

Families may be aware that after 16 years at Padua College, Mr Curtis Stone is leaving to take up the role of Deputy Principal - Students at Emmaus College. Curtis has been an integral part of Padua College over this time and has held the following positions of leadership: Junior Campus Student Leadership Co-ordinator, House Co-ordinator, Acting HPE Learning Area Co-ordinator, Acting Pastoral Co-ordinator and then Pastoral Co-ordinator and Vice Principal Year 10 – 12 Campus. Curtis has been involved in many major school events, most notably the development of the Year 10 – 12 Campus and the Whyte Senior Learning Centre and our annual graduation celebrations. I wish Curtis and his family all the best in this next adventure.

I would like to acknowledge those members of the College community who are leaving Padua College and wish them all the very best for 2024 and beyond:

Campus Transfers

Staff Taking Leave at the Commencement of 2024

Currently on Leave and Continuing Leave in 2024

Staff New to the College for 2024

Staff Returning from Leave at the Commencement of 2024

Thank You

I wish to take this opportunity to thank our priests of the region for their time and their support of our students and College community. In particular, I thank Fr Geoff McIlroy for his role as President of the Association of Canonical Administrators, and all the members of the School Advisory Council for their contributions to the College throughout the year.

I would also like to thank all Padua College families for their ongoing support throughout 2023.

2024 School Commencement

Below is a summary of the dates for the commencement of the 2024 Academic Year, to allow families to begin planning.

Detailed information regarding return to school in 2024 will be forwarded to families early in the new year from the Heads and Directors of Campus.

Christmas Blessings

I wish to thank families for their ongoing support and commitment to the College.

I wish all members of our Padua College community a happy and Holy Christmas and a peaceful and restful school holiday break.

Kind regards,

Kelly McGurn

PRINCIPAL