College Principal

Term 3 is well underway and already we’ve enjoyed coming together as a strong and connected community with Santa Fest. This week of activities was an opportunity for us to unite to raise much needed funds for the Dominican Sisters to support their work in the Solomon Islands and Kopanang. There was a whole host of fun staff and student activities further developing strong camaraderie between staff and students as they competed in a variety of events such as the student versus teachers Netball game, the Montebello Mile and lunch time busking which drew a great audience. This year we have been collecting money for our Dominican Sisters in Ruvatu who need a second hand vehicle as regular flooding washes away the bridge that connects Ruvata to Honiara. As a result, it is impossible for the Sisters to travel to the school to work and there have been times they have had to resort to swimming across the river fully clothed to reach the school. Thanks to the generosity of our community we are able to support the Sisters in their important work. 

Last week ended with our Dom’s Day celebrations and the traditional crowning of St Dominic. Dom’s Plot was a beautiful venue for our Mass and we warmly welcomed Father Gavin Foster, Chaplain from St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill to celebrate Mass. Our theme this year was to ‘share your light with the world’. This was appropriate because St Dominic was a man whose life was strongly marked by light. For us as Dominicans, there is something compelling in the image of bright fire providing the light for one man to create an Order whose preaching has blazed around the world for more than 800 years. I must commend our students for the way that they entered into the spirit of the day. All of our students came together from Mary Bailey House, to Del Monte, Gioia House and the Secondary campus and their behaviour was impeccable. 

I have been enjoying reading regular updates from our World Youth Pilgrims as they trace our Dominican heritage in Italy visiting Siena, the home of St Catherine of Siena where they celebrated Mass in the Basilica Di San Francesco as well as touring the Vatican in Rome, and significant religious sights in Florence such as the Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Croce, then onto Bologna to visit San Domenico, home to the tomb of St Dominic. They are now on their way to Lisbon for World Youth Week. They have been great ambassadors for our school and we wish them well as they continue on their pilgrimage.

This week we marked the 100 Days of Kinder for our students. This is a wonderful milestone to celebrate and it was lovely to be present for their Liturgy and celebrations. Another significant event has been the start of the Year 12 Trials for the HSC and IB Programme. Our students were very calm and seemed well prepared when I spent time with them prior to their first English examination. This group of Year 12 students sets a very good example for the rest of the school. As a cohort they are connected and mature and I am really proud of their approach as they move towards the end of their time at school.  

The safety of our children is always a priority and it worries me that students’ lives are put at risk when drivers do not follow road rules that are in place at and around our school. Could I ask that you please support the College by encouraging your children to use the bridge when crossing from one side of the Boulevard to the other?  While there is a pedestrian crossing that students can use, sadly motorists do not always stop when the light is red. If they must use the crossing, I have asked students to check that cars have come to a complete stop before stepping onto the crossing. Council has repainted the crossing to make it more obvious but it remains a concern. Secondly, can I ask that parents not drive onto the school grounds at all. The Chapel Car Park is not a drop-off point and nor is any other entry onto the campus. We have also had complaints from neighbouring properties on The Boulevarde that parents are driving onto the footpaths and blocking their driveways to drop off and collect students. A driver’s impatience or desire for convenience may put one of our children in danger. Please stay calm, follow the road rules and put our children’s safety first. 

Huge congratulations to so many of our students who are experiencing success in a variety of areas. This includes our dancers who came first in the Dance Eisteddfod, our Science and Engineering Challenge and da Vinci Decathlon competitors, our HSC Textiles and Design Major Works exhibitors, and all recipients at our Academic Awards Assembly. This Friday night our Year 11A Debating team will compete in the finals of the Catholic Schools Debating Association and we wish them all the very best. We also congratulate Molly Hoogland in Year 11 who has won the State Final of the NSW Plain English Speaking Award. She will now represent NSW at the National Finals in a few weeks. 

Wishing you all well.

Go gently.

Paulina Skerman
College Principal