From the Principal
As we enter the month of May, we remember that May holds a very special significance for Catholics around the world. May is a time where we honour Mother Mary, where we deepen our faith, and celebrate some of the most important events in the Church's calendar, including the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Pentecost, and the Feast of the Visitation. These feasts remind us of the foundational events in the Catholic faith and help us to connect with the larger community of believers around the world. During May, Catholics traditionally celebrate the May Crowning, a tradition in which a statue of Mary is crowned with flowers, symbolizing her role as Queen of Heaven and Earth. The ceremony is often performed by children, who dress in white and carry flowers as a sign of their devotion to Mary.
The month of May commenced with a day dedicated to St Joseph the Worker. There is very little about the life of Joseph in scripture but still, we know that he was the husband of Mary, the foster father of Jesus, and a carpenter. We also know that he came from the royal lineage of King David. We can see from his actions in scripture that Joseph was a compassionate man, and obedient to the will of God. He also loved Mary and Jesus and wanted to protect and provide for them. The example of St Joseph is one that sets the tone for all of us throughout May.
From Monday 15 May, I will be commencing my enrichment leave for three weeks, where I will be visiting a number of schools across Europe, including the first ever international school, the International School of Geneva. It is this school with whom we have established a partnership to train our staff to attain the certificate in the Universal Learning Programme (the ULP), a framework for teaching based upon the findings of a quarter of a century research from UNESCO. During my enrichment leave, Rachel Valentine will be the Acting Principal supported by all members of the leadership team. Chris Needle, Siobhan Blomfield and Theresa Daunt will rotate as Acting Deputy.
On Tuesday, Chloe Cornell commenced her leave and we wish her all the best as she gets ready for the birth of her child. We also welcome back Cynne Yang from leave in Term one.
This year we have reestablished Community Connect with the first parent event taking place last night at the Flemington Kensington Bowls club. I would like to thank all Committee members led by Ruth McClelland with support of the College Deputy Principal Rachel Valentine and Madeline Irvine, Director of Marketing and Communication, for all their planning, communication and organisation, and also to members of the leadership team and staff showed their support by their attendance and participation.
Finally, to all the mothers and carers in our community, I send you an early best wishes as we celebrate Mothers’ Day, on Sunday 14 May. My abundant and heartfelt thank to you for all that you do. Happy Mother’s Day.