Thank you for your support of the College in Term 1. There has been much achieved in this first quarter of the year and I feel optimistic about the path we are forging together. In an ever busier world, where we are overloaded with contradictory information and opinion, our focus should be on simplifying things to what we can control, which is mostly our own actions. As a College, this focus is to create a safe, respectful learning environment where our students can flourish. Due to the many components of school life, this focus is not necessarily simple but it is (mostly) within our control. For students, we would ask that their focus is on doing their best at all times, whether that be their interactions with others or their application to their classwork. I would see that creating good habits are crucial to any kind of success and in line with looking after those things that are within our control.

I spoke to both the Middle and Senior Campuses last week about a question I have: whether students are clear about the expectations we have of them and are we, as staff clear on the expectations from students and families? At the Junior Campus we speak of the Better B’s; Be a Learner, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be Fair. These are both appropriate and clear for our younger students. If clarity exists, then it is much easier for everyone in the St Aloysius Catholic College community to operate and be able to focus on developing that learning environment where our students can flourish. Next term, we intend to work through a process giving students, staff and parents an opportunity to create a code or set of guidelines of expectations which we can aim towards, giving us focus and clarity. 

As we move towards the end of Lent, I asked the students if they could reflect on their own actions and see if there was an area they could improve and seek to implement that into their lives, rather than giving up something just for the sake of it. In terms of the Catholic Church, this change of heart to something better is called metanoia and the challenge is to make any change ongoing, turn it into part of our good habits to set us up for success.

Wishing our school community a joyful and blessed Easter. May our hearts be filled with peace, hope, and the promise of new life.