Padua Day

We celebrated Padua Day as a College community recently on Tuesday 3 June. The day started with our own ‘Camino Walk’ around the Mornington Campus with students stopping at various points to learn significant facts about St Anthony of Padua. Students from all three Campuses then joined together in the Mornington gym for the celebration of Mass and I am grateful to Fr Tony Doran, Fr Patrick Bradford, Fr Shymon Thekkekalathungal, Fr Angelo Wijewickrama OMI and Fr Bill Ousley for joining us and leading this celebration. Following Mass, students and staff all shared lunch and participated in a number of student led activities across the Campus; including the very popular Lolly Shop which raised funds for Vinnies.

This is such an important day on our College calendar and it was wonderful to see our students celebrating together and enjoying this special day. There are so many people who contribute to the success of a day such as Padua Day, but I would like to acknowledge the work and efforts of the members of the Mission Identity Team, the Maintenance Team, the Music in the Spirit class, House Coordinators and Homeroom Teachers, the Performing Arts Department, all staff involved in the Catering Team for the day and our Organisation and Logistics Team for scheduling all events throughout the day.

College Production

Rehearsals are well underway for our 2025 College Production of ‘Guys & Dolls’, with the cast and crew having two intensive days of rehearsals on 23 and 23 May. Rehearsals continue each week and the students and staff are doing an amazing job for what promises to be another outstanding Padua College production. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/DALFA

Welcome

As a College community, we welcome Fr Tony Doran to the role of College Chaplain. This is a new role in the Archdiocese and we feel very privileged to have Fr Tony working with us at the College two days a week in conjunction with his new role with the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Mornington Performing Arts Showcase

Music and drama students from the Mornington Campus had an opportunity to perform in front of an audience recently at our two nights for the Performing Arts Showcase on 27 & 28 May. For some of the students they have only been learning their instruments since the beginning of the year and it awe-inspiring to witness the talent that all students displayed at these shows. Rosebud and Tyabb students will have their Performing Arts showcase in the Performing Arts Centre later in the year.

Aerobics Teams

I extend my sincere congratulations to our three aerobics teams who recently competed in the State School Aerobics Competition. On Saturday 31 May with all three teams performing admirably.

I extend my thanks to Tiffany Hagart and student coaches Amelia Wilkinson and Evie Pfister who coached our Year 7 Mornington Team and to Tashara Brampton who coached Rosebud Team “Rosies’. While these were not selected to go to the National Finals the teams did themselves and the College proud with both their performance at the State Championships and all of their efforts getting to this stage.

Our Mornington Year 8 team “Panthers” coached by Jessie Young and student coaches Emerson McIvor and Laura Howard achieved second place and have made it through to the National Finals and we wish them all the best for this competition.

Congratulations also to Laura Howard (Year 10) who competed in the State Competition with her own team who did very well and also to Darcey Wylie and Saskia Jennings (Year 11) who made it through to the National Competition.

End of Semester One

Our Year 10 & 11 students are currently undertaking end of Semester One exams. This exam period marks the end of Semester 1 for the whole College on Friday 20 June and all classes moving to Semester Two on Monday 23 June for the last two weeks of Term Two.

The GAT

Earlier this week on Tuesday 17 June, all Year 12 VCE, Year 12 VCE VM and Year 11 students undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject (VCE or scored VET), sat the GAT. The GAT is an exam that assesses a student's general knowledge and skills in literacy and numeracy and helps ensure the quality of VCE assessments and demonstrates students' ability to meet the expected literacy and numeracy standards at a senior secondary level. With approximately 500 students undertaking this test, I thank Vice Principal – Learning & Teaching, Angie Ranson, along with Year 10 – 12 Learning & Pedagogy Leaders, Ciara Roberts and Jodie Connell, for leading the process involved.

ECAT

On 2 July we will have our annual ECAT (Education, Careers & Training Expo) which provides an opportunity for students in our senior school to talk to staff about subject options and pathways, along with consult with university and training organisations as they start to plan for future pathways. ECAT is always very well attended and valued by students and parents I encourage all Year 10 -12 students, along with their parents, to attend this popular event.

Year 11 Social

On Friday 27 June the Year 11 students will come together for their Year 11 Social. This year students have been encouraged to support our local Vinnie’s conferences by purchasing part of their outfit or their accessories from a Vinnie’s store, and then consider donating these items back after the event. This promises to be a wonderful celebration for our Year 11 students following their period of exams.

Vinnie’s Coat Drive

Each year we run a coat drive across the College where staff and students are asked to have a look through their wardrobes at home and donate any coats they no longer use to our Vinnies Coat Drive. This has been a great success this year with a great variety and number of coats being collected.

Staff News

We have recently welcome the following staff to the College:

Samantha Slattery (M), returning in the part time role of Careers Practitioner.

Daniel Bartolo (M), Applied Learning

Jett Wickes (M), Humanities

Liana Basile (M), CST

I extend my best wishes to the following staff who have resigned from the College:

Yvonne Walsh (M), 11 June

Amy McDonald (M – Counselling Services Team), 13 June

Stephanie Murphy (M), end Term 2

Georga Bryant (R), end Term 2

Marnie Kavanagh (T), end Term 2

Craig Ross (T), end Term 2

Emily Slaughter (M), end Term 2

Congratulations to Lillian Morgan (M) and husband Nathan O’Hanlon and the arrival of baby Jude Morgan O’Hanlon recently.

Long Service Leave

I am grateful to Executive Vice Principal, Marjorie Canal, for her support in taking on the role of Acting Principal while I take a period of Long Service Leave for the duration of Term 3. I know that I am leaving the College in very capable hands and I thank Marjorie, along with the other members of the Leadership Team, for their support during my absence.

Peace and blessings,
Kelly McGurn
PRINCIPAL