As we commence another academic year, I am reminded of the promise of having a ‘fresh start’. From welcoming our new leaders, new members of staff, bright and spritely students to new and exciting new buildings, there is no space untouched by a sense of opportunity to make this year an exceptional year for learning, growing and achieving.
We have so much to be inspired from 2023 in terms of learning and teaching. The Class of 2023 fulfilled our past mantra of ‘do your best, give your best’ achieving VCE results and pathway outcomes, many surpassing predictions and personal best results. Every student achieved a VCE. Some of our top achievers are pictured above at our 2023 Night of Excellence.
Every student has a pathway option. 96% had a first round offer for further learning. Every Vocational Major student has a destination in either tertiary education, traineeship, apprenticeship or full-time work.
Special mention should be made of our students who have been selected for the VCE Season of Excellence in Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Technology. All these top achievers will be celebrated with the College community next Tuesday morning at our Top Achievers’ Assembly. The promise of the Class of 2024 is there and we look forward to what the legacy of this cohort will bring to our 128-year story.
This year our teaching and support staff will continue to work on differentiating their teaching and academic support practices, aiming to connect with each student and their learning aspirations and needs. As always, this is a partnership between students, parents and teachers. I call on all to embrace this ‘fresh start’ mindset and be the difference.
In the year of the 2024 Olympic Games we can draw inspiration from the Olympic motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’. It is an event that symbolises unity and exuberance of the human spirit. These three Latin words mean ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’. Baron de Coubertin borrowed the motto from Father Henri Martin Dideono, the headmaster of Arcueil College in Paris. I’d like to think our Catholic identity was the inspiration for this global motto and I encourage us all to draw from it in 2024.
