Dear Parents, Guardians and Students

Welcome to all members of our community as we commence the 2020 school year. I particularly welcome all new students and their families to the College along with our new staff colleagues for 2020.

Our annual College theme for this year is ‘Light’. This theme originates from the line in the St Francis Peace Prayer "Where there is darkness, Light".

This theme will become a large part of our celebrations throughout the course of the year and will be articulated and expressed in as many way as possible.

As we commence the 2020 school year, we keep in our thoughts and prayers those that have been affected by the bush fires that have ravaged our country over recent weeks. First and foremost we pray that you and your families and friends are all safe.

We also know that some of our staff and parents have been involved in volunteer firefighting. For all those that have been in active service, I extend my sincere thanks to you. We have all seen the bravery and dedication shown by our firefighters on the news feeds, and it reminds us of how valuable and courageous your volunteer work is for our community.

The much bigger picture is obviously our concern for those who have lost loved ones, or lost their properties and livelihood. We hope that none of you have had family or friends directly affected, but given the extent of this emergency and the size of the Padua community, it is almost certain that some will have been affected.

The College will be holding a major fundraising event next week on Tuesday 11 February, which is the day of the opening Whole College Assembly. All students will be asked to make a gold coin donation on that day and during our assembly we will pray in solidarity for all those affected by the fires, particularly those in our own College community.

If in the meantime you would like to support St Vinnies’ work in the fire-affected areas, please go to the following link St Vinnies NSW Bushfire Appeal

Year 12 Retreats
Once again this year, our Year 12 students started the year by heading straight off to their three-day retreat last Wednesday 29 January. Staff and students had a wonderful time from all reports! These retreats enable our Year 12 students to deepen their individual faith/spirituality, reflect on the young people they are and are becoming, and continue to build in and strengthen relationships with fellow students and staff of the College.

My sincere thanks to Mr Curtis Stone (Vice Principal, Year 10-12 Campus), members of the College Faith Team, Senior House Co-ordinators, homeroom teachers and all staff involved, as well as the students who attended for their participation in these successful retreats.

Launch of Aspire9
Next Wednesday we will officially launch our Year 9, Aspire9 Program for 2020 at Seawinds, Arthurs Seat. Under the guidance of the Director of Aspire9, Mr Mark DeFazio, and the three Year 9 Program leaders at each Junior Campus, the students will participate in a symbolic walk from different locations to the one destination where we will celebrate with a liturgy and a shared lunch. This is a significant time for our Aspire9 students as they commence this special year at Padua College.

Commencement Eucharist and House Co-ordinators Meet and Greet
The Commencement Eucharist for the College will be held on Thursday 20 February 2020 at 7.30 pm at the Mornington Campus. All Year 7 students (from each Campus) and any new Year 8 to 12 students (from each Campus) are expected to attend this important opening celebration of the 2020 school year, along with all student leaders from Year 8 to 12. All other students and their families are most welcome to attend. A message will be sent to all families via CareMonkey and I ask that you respond to that message to indicate your attendance.

House Co-ordinators and homeroom teachers will be available to meet and greet parents prior to Mass from 7pm on this evening and I encourage parents, particularly those new to the College, to take this opportunity to meet with your child’s House Co-ordinator and homeroom teacher as you establish your partnership with the College.

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 mobile phones can be brought to school, they are to be placed in lockers prior to the first bell and remain in lockers throughout the day and can then be accessed again after the final bell. Any mobile phones used throughout the school day will be confiscated.

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. 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. As per the communication sent out by Mr Sam Wright at the beginning of the year, wearing the College uniform reflects our students’ pride in themselves and in the College.

Year 7 2021 Enrolments
Please be aware that enrolments for Year 7 2021 were conducted last year with the Grade 5 2019 students. If you have a current Grade 6 2020 student who is not already enrolled or not on College waiting lists, you should contact Mrs Lisa Jordan, Enrolment Registrar, immediately.

Year 7 2022 Enrolments
Enrolment for Year 7 2022 will open on Monday 2 March. The following week we will hold our Twilight Open Evenings at each of the Campuses of the College. The Open Evenings will run from 4.00pm – 7.00pm as follows:

Rosebud & Tyabb Campus Twilight Open Days
Wednesday 11 March

Mornington Campus Twilight Open Day
Thursday 12 March

Details regarding Year 7 2022 enrolment will be available on the College website from 2 March.

School Photos
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 2020 image code for your child (from their personalised 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

Performing Arts Centre (PAC)
Plans for the new PAC at the Mornington Campus are progressing very well and it is hoped that this project will commence in the middle of this year. I look forward to sharing with the College community more details and drawings of the planned building in the coming weeks via The Paduan.

Whom to Contact
Padua College works in partnership with parents, recognising families as the prime educator of their children. During the year, parents should feel free to contact relevant staff if they require help or advice. Please refer to the list of Staff Contacts for 2020, which will be available on the College website under Padua Community - Parents, from next week.

Staffing News
Congratulations:
● Congratulations to Ms Grainne Temple (M) and Mr Kevin Studholme who got married in Ireland over the holidays.
● Congratulations to Miss Kirsty Molesworth (M) on her engagement to Mr Jack Veugelers over the holidays.
● Congratulations to Miss Adele Carrigan (M) on her engagement to Mr Daniel Letho recently.
● We keep in our thoughts and prayers Mr Stewart Irving (M) who is currently fighting the bushfires in NSW.

Condolences and Prayers:
● We keep in our prayers at this time Miss Mary Cattermole (M) during this time of illness.
● We also keep in our prayers Mrs Suzanne Grimes (M) who is undergoing surgery soon and will be on leave for the term, and Mrs Teresa Newman (M) who is recovering after breaking her leg.
● Our condolences to Mrs Clare Parks (T) who returned to the UK for her mother’s funeral at the beginning of the year.
● Our condolences also to Ms Bernadette Devlin (M) on the recent passing of her father in Ireland.

Staffing for 2020
Late last year Mr Peter Harte, Student Wellbeing and Growth (SWAG) - Mornington Senior Campus, resigned from the College to take up an opportunity at Killester College and I extend my best wishes to Mr Harte. I am pleased to inform the College community that his SWAG role will be absorbed into the role of the newly appointed SWAG - Mornington Senior Campus, Miss Samantha Powell and the Vice Principal - Head of Year 10-12 Campus, Mr Curtis Stone, as well as Administration Support.

Staff Commencing Leave at the start of 2020:
▪ Mrs Natalie Beattie (1 year LWOP)
▪ Ms Emma Peacock (1 year LWOP)
▪ Mr Phil Shanahan (Term 1 - 3 LSL)
▪ Mrs Suzanne Grimes (9 weeks Sick Leave)
▪ Mrs Teresa Newman (5 weeks Sick Leave)
▪ Ms Bernadette Devlin (3 weeks Leave)
▪ Ms Sinead Ryan (7 days LWOP)
▪ Mr Mick Slavin (Semester 1 LSL)
▪ Mrs Liz Ftizgerald (Term 1 LSL)

Staff Returning from Leave for 2020:
▪ Ms Chelsea Holmes (T - Parental Leave)
▪ Mrs Liz Filgate (M - Parental Leave)
▪ Mrs Bree Colcott (T - Parental Leave)
▪ Mrs Georga Bryant (M - Parental Leave)
▪ Ms Amy Bongiorno (M - Parental Leave)
▪ Mr Bill Dynes (R - LSL)
▪ Mr Michael Harrison (LSL)

Staff Members who remain on leave from the College for the start of 2020
▪ Mrs Brigitte Hamilton (1 year Parental Leave)
▪ Mrs Melissa Kenyon (Semester 1 Parental leave/LSL)
▪ Ms Assunta Galbraith (1 year Parental Leave)
▪ Ms Britt Graham (Semester 1 Parental Leave)

Campus Transfers 2020:
To Rosebud
▪ Miss Kirstin Trewin

To Mornington
▪ Ms Lucy Millar

Staff New to the College for 2020:
To the Mornington Campus:
▪ Mr David Phillips - Teacher (Science)
▪ Mrs Lisa Briant - Teacher (Maths)
▪ Mr Robert Murray - Teacher/HPE - LTL
▪ Mrs Bernadette Simpkin - Teacher (Science)
▪ Mr Michael Arthur - Teacher (Media/Drama)
▪ Ms Olivia Seal - Teacher (Philosophy/History)
▪ Mrs Sarah Mannock - VASS Administrator
▪ Ms Amanda Burchell - Teacher (Ag Hort)
▪ Miss Lena Vestermark - Teacher (Science)
▪ Miss Samantha Powell -Teacher (Psych) & M’ton Snr SWAG
▪ Mr Matthew Laird - Teacher (Maths/Science)
▪ Miss Alice Mount - Teacher (RE)
▪ Mr Daniel Keane - Teacher (Outdoor Ed/Maths)
▪ Ms Jessica Price - Wellbeing Team
▪ Ms Tegan Mitchell - Canteen
▪ Mr Steven Fraser - Teacher (Maths)
▪ Miss Jasmine Rigby-Smith - LSO
▪ Mrs Patricia Strawbridge - Canteen Assistant
▪ Miss Grainne Snooks - Catholic Faith Identity Assistant
▪ Ms Anna Croad - Canteen Chef

To the Rosebud Campus
▪ Ms Sian Pugh (Hunt) Teacher (Food Tech)
▪ Mr Daniel Kerwin- Teacher (Maths/HPE)
▪ Ms Martina Woolnough - Canteen Assistant
▪ Mrs Simone Wright - Performing Arts Co-ord To the Tyabb Campus
▪ Ms Cassie McLean- Teacher (Science)
▪ Ms Danielle Tennick - Canteen
▪ Ms Susan Jackson - Wellbeing
▪ Ms Annie Dowd - Teacher (Art/Technology)
▪ Mrs Nicole Crozier- Learning Enhancement Co-ordinator

The following staff were casual and now have contracts with the College:
▪ Mrs Lorraine Dvash - VET Assistant
▪ Ms Lee Collins - LSO
▪ Ms Emma Smith - LSO
▪ Mrs Claire Kearns-Smale - Food Technology Assistant
▪ Ms Lisa Stageman - Food Technology Assistant
▪ Mrs Wendy Holland - Student Admin
▪ Ms Kesha Nettlefold - Outdoor Ed Assistant
▪ Ms Agatha Lugowski - Outdoor Ed Assistant
▪ Mr Tim Walker - Hands on Learning Assistant

A very big welcome to new staff to the College this year.

I wish all students and families a wonderful beginning to the year and look forward to working with you in striving for our student’s success and achievements in 2020.

Anthony Banks
Principal

                                     Prayer

A PRAYER FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY BUSHFIRE AND DROUGHT
(From Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)

Eternal God, In wisdom and love you created our earth to sustain us and give us life.
We turn to you now in faith, hope and love,
asking you to look with favour on our fire-ravaged and drought-stricken land,
on our starving and displaced animals,
on our failing crops and burning farms, towns and forests.
Strengthen, sustain and give new heart to our farmers and to all who are affected by drought;
be with those who support them.
Strengthen and comfort the victims of the fires, those who have lost family, friends, property and stock.
Protect our volunteer firefighters and all members of essential services.
In your loving providence, send abundant rain to quench the fires and to restore our parched earth.
Father of all compassion, hear our prayer.