Message From the Principal

Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don’t fight them…just find a new way to stand.

– Oprah Winfrey

The COVID-19 pandemic and response of the community as a whole has provided both challenges and opportunities for learning, forcing everyone to find new ways to live, work and connect with others. Future generations will reflect on and study what has happened and how the world responded to this unprecedented pandemic. This has sparked me to instigate a special project recognising the importance of documenting this time in our own College’s history. Launched through our social media platforms this week, this history in action project calls on our community to send in photos, videos, drawings, paintings, poems and stories to help us create an expansive collection to record this time from our College perspective. I thank everyone in advance for their contributions and I look forward to sharing examples with our community.

Whilst this period of time has been completely unexpected and has brought significant challenges for our community, one could argue that the facing of challenges is an important part of personal development and growth. Challenges can help us become stronger and more resilient and without them, life can seem a little less meaningful, because we have nothing to compare the good times to. I have never felt so proud to serve such a compassionate and strong community than over these past months. I have witnessed families reaching out to one another, students being kind and supporting one another and the wider community by volunteering, donating and raising awareness through College led and personal endeavours. Only last weekend, Year 10 student Brooke Davis-Goodall was recognised by a local business for her selfless and generous act of kindness towards others. We are so proud of Brooke and all of our staff and students for going above and beyond to make a difference to the lives of others. Challenges come in many forms, and as we all find our new way to ‘stand’ in this world, can I please remind everyone in our community to please reach out to the College should you need our support through this time.

Above: Brooke Davis-Goodall and the Townsville Hospital staff who received her donated meals. 

This week during our virtual Diligence Awards Assembly, we acknowledged those students who have demonstrated their commitment and diligence to their academic program, by displaying persistence, self-discipline, focussed concentration and perseverance. Ms Byrnes delivered an engaging address where she reminded all of our students that intelligence can be fostered and developed through regular training in diligent habits and behaviours. I continue to be proud of our students and their recognition that investing in their education is the key to a bright future.

The College is thrilled to announce that our very own Ms Jordan Stewart will be leading Dominations House from Week 8 in Term 3, while Ms Towers takes maternity leave.

We are pleased to announce that Ms Meg Henderson will take up the position as Head of Year 7 while Ms Wood takes maternity leave.  Ms Henderson brings 14 years of experience to this role, working with this particular age group across curriculum development, learning enrichment and pastoral care. 

We also warmly welcomed back Mr Thomas Collett to the College this term in the Maths and Science departments. Thomas was with us in Term 4, 2019 and is very excited to be back in the classroom, virtual as it may be at the time.

After the very sad departure of Ms Kirsten Anderson at the end of last term, we have been incredibly blessed to have Ms Jill Turner join the College Pastoral Team to lead Powers House. Jill is a very experienced Drama and English teacher with many years’ experience across both curriculum and pastoral leadership roles. I know you all join me in warmly welcoming them both to our community.  

With the Premier’s announcement on Monday, regarding the Term 2 staggered return to school plan for Queensland students, I am once again reminded that this pandemic requires us all to continue demonstrating patience, agility and flexibility as we navigate the remainder of the term in a positive and supportive way. For updates regarding our College plan to support the return of students to our College over the coming month, I have used email to communicate directly with our families in this regard.

May God bless you all.

Amber Hauff

College Principal