Year 12 Valedictory Dinner

On Friday 22 November, we joined together with the students and parents of our graduating Class of 2024 for a wonderful evening at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, celebrating the 2024 Valedictory Dinner. This was the first time in many years that this has been a sit-down dinner as there is no venue in the local area to accommodate the number of guests we require. This move to a city venue was incredibly well received by our graduating Year 12 families with the evening including music from past student, Oskar Proy, a speech from former student, Bridgid Cowling (Class of 1997 and former College Captain) and the announcement of the 2024 Principal’s General Excellence Award. It is a great delight to inform the College community that Candace Walker is the winner of the Principal’s General Excellence Award this year. Candace is a most deserving student who sets an exemplary example to the rest of our student body.

Exams

I thank the Senior School Team for their organisation and management of the VCE, Year 10 & 11 exams. VCE results will be available on Thursday 12 December and I wish all VCE students good luck.

HeadStart

All 2025 Year 8-12 students have all had a good taste of their 2025 classes with our HeadStart Program for the last two weeks of the school year. This has been a great opportunity for staff and students to get to know each other and start to cover 2025 course content and I thank those involved in having the 2025 timetable ready for HeadStart.

Staffing Changes for 2025

Staff Taking Leave at the Commencement of 2025:

Andrea Cummins (LSL), Megan De Lange (LSL), Shaun Price (Parental), Heidi Cook (LWOP), Monique Walpole (LSL).

Currently on leave and continuing leave in 2025:

Leah Hirt, Brittany Van Schajik-Graham, Kirsty Veugelers, Eva Wawrzynczak.

Staff new to the College for 2025:

Mary Armstrong (St Peter’s College)
Chelsea Brodie (Keysborough College)
Jodie Connell (Mary Mackillop Catholic Regional College, Leongatha)
Louise Duke (Casimir Catholic College, Sydney)
Helen Gianopoulos (The Grange College)
Heidi Hutchison (Mount Eliza Secondary College)
Rosalie Kerr
Nicole Lim (Graduate)
Jesse Minett
Dean Patton (Mount Eliza Secondary College)
Damian Perry (Aquinas College)
Elise Quirk (Mackillop Catholic College, Darwin)
Amy Skene (Graduate)
Kate Swift (Sacred Heart College, Geelong)
Claudine Zalatan (Genazzano College)

I would like to acknowledge those members of the College community who are leaving Padua College and wish them all the very best for 2025 and beyond:

Staff finishing at the end of 2024:

Anthony Barnhoorn (LSL and then finishing), Sarah Barrett, Blair Cooper, Janine Cox, Marian Crawford, Holly Debnam, Emilio Di Paolo, Vilma Disney, Marietta Farrant, Callum Fitzpatrick, Ryan Gingell, Naomi Hagenmuller, Audrey Halliday, Caroline Heazlewood, Mairead Johnson, Melissa Kenyon, Peter Kerr, Sharon Marshall, Jacqui Price, Victoria Ronchi, Emma Smith, Helen Sugameli, Belinda Taylor, Jenny Tomkins (LSL and then finishing), Tina Van Wees, Pam Whitting.

Staff Returning from Leave at the Commencement of 2025

Mark Sturt
Tahlia Wilkinson
Wendy Williams
Ken Yeung

Condolences

I extend my condolences to the McAloon family on the passing of Sharon recently, wife of Stuart and mother of Kady and Liam (Year 12 2024).

Thank You and Christmas Blessings

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 College throughout the year.

I would also like to thank all Padua College families for their ongoing support and commitment to the College throughout 2024.

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

Peace and blessings,

Kelly McGurn
PRINCIPAL