With all your heart and, all your soul and all your mind鈥�
Last week I had the privilege of attending the biennial conference of the Catholic Secondary Principals of Australia. Three of the keynotes were significantly challenging and have given me great food for听thought听especially as we听commence听a new semester.听
One such keynote was delivered by Br David Hall titled 鈥楾ransactional to vocational: arresting the leadership drift鈥�. In this keynote, Br David asked the question 鈥業n what world are we called to proclaim the gospel?鈥� He spoke about how the transcendent has been rendered redundant and how humanities spiritual instinct has been numbed. The exponential rate of changes that are being waged upon the human race especially in the area of innovation, digital transformation and AI can feel overwhelming and often we feel adrift without an anchor. In times such as these, fear and division can overshadow hopes and dreams 鈥� how do we live a purposeful and joyful life in such a time? His antidote was to reclaim our connection to our soul, something that perhaps we don鈥檛 refer enough to except maybe in times when someone passes away. It is the soul, Br David reminds us that touches most deeply into our humanity. The great spiritual writer Thomas Merton says that the soul is the deepest centre of the human, untouched by illusion and beyond ego, the place where God can be found. We are reminded in Matthew 22:27 to 鈥楲ove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.鈥� The soul is integral to human completeness. Br David reminded us of the power of daily prayer and contemplation to stay in touch with the soul, the place that can anchor us in times of turbulence, doubt and fear. It is here we remember that God has hopes and dreams for us, here we can find meaning and purpose and here that we can find the source of renewal and vitality.听
Compass Implementation feedback听
The last week of Term 2 saw听a very successful听launch of our new Compass platform. After听a听week of preparation and听a number of听sessions of staff training, students were given an introductory session hosted by Compass and then we were set to go. The Office staff reported positive feedback from听parents. We are grateful听for听the support of parents听who听have downloaded the app, responded to messages on听Compass听and accessed the resources provided to support your navigation of this system. Please remember that this is where parents notify the College of absences, access all College听communications听and give consent to excursions. Students have also provided听very positive听feedback about the usability of the system from their perspective. Semester 1 reports are available to parents in Compass.听听
Big Picture Learning听
One of the strategic commitments of our School Improvement Plan 2025-2028 is to be听Bravely Ambitious: Expanding and renewing learning design,听pathways听and experiences within and beyond the classroom.听We are delighted to announce that after several years of exploring the possibility we will be introducing our first Big Picture Learning advisory class at Years听9 and 10 in 2027. Following 鈥楥ome and Try鈥� days in听Term 2 and a family information evening we have secured enough support to begin with further interest continuing to be expressed. Big Picture Learning听aligns听with our听Learning听Charter principles which provide the compass for our approach to learning at 蘑菇视频. This听states听that we believe learning听is:听relational, contextualized,听personalised, transformative,听intentional听and for life. Big Picture Learning design is based around four key elements, learning in advisory, assessment by exhibition, learning through interests and learning through internships. We are thrilled that we have听a number听of听staff who are also excited about teaching in this space and have received the听appropriate training听from Big Picture to set us up for听successful implementation. To learn more,听please听visit our website听Big Picture Learning – 蘑菇视频听
Pupil Free Day听Outline听鈥� Wednesday 22 July听
Next Wednesday the College staff will be undertaking a day of professional learning. The focus will be as follows听
- Responding to 鈥楧rawing New Maps of Hope鈥� 鈥� Catholic accreditation听听
- Revisiting our Graduate attributes听in light of听our work with New Metrics for Success as we look to the implementation in听Years 11听and听12听
- Safeguarding Learning 鈥� as part of our commitment to ensuring ongoing staff training and culture building around safeguarding听
- Teacher practice and our annual action plan goals 鈥� a time for teachers to look at their goals for development in their practice听听
- Compass Learning 鈥� introducing teachers to assessment task in Compass.听
This full day of learning for staff covers听a number of听key areas and is critical to the ongoing development of our staff and College processes听Students听are not听required听at school on Wednesday.听
Anniversary dinner听and Celebrating 70 scarves听
We are well underway with ticket sales for our anniversary dinner to be celebrated on Friday 28 August at Truffleduck. Please secure your tickets .听
Last chance to order your anniversary scarf. This limited edition scarf is available on CDFPay (Under ‘Events’) for purchase until 24 July 2026. If you do not have CDFPay, please call our office to make your order.
Finally, gratitude for a successful immersion to Timor Leste听
On the first day of the听break听we welcomed back a very weary crew of听travellers听from our Timor Leste immersion. It was听a very successful听trip with positive feedback about the students and the way they听embrace听the experience and looked out for each other and the staff.听In a year when we are thinking about the value of 鈥榡ustice鈥櫶齮his听experience is one that heightens the awareness of all attendees听in a very听real way.听A huge thanks to听Jen Talbot, Michael McCallum, Tanya听O鈥橳oole听and Ned Holland who听accompanied听the students. Their professionalism,听care听and commitment to this program听is听second to none. We are听truly grateful.听
Blessings听
Luci听
