College News

Back to latest news

From the Principal

Published 20/05/2022 · Academic

We are now well into Term 2, and we have certainly had some unusual weeks! After finishing Term 1 with plans for the new COVID regulations to commence in Term 2, things changed dramatically on the first day of school!

From a completely closed campus and masks to ‘freedom again’, we have contacted, traced, and reported cases to the Health Department and now are learning to live with significant numbers of student and staff absences. Despite all of this, our staff have been marvellous in ensuring our classes are able to run, and many are multitasking to help ensure that things run smoothly. I am sure you will join me in thanking our staff. We also would like to thank our families for your patience as we all navigate the changing COVID landscape.

As life returned to the College, we were pleased to be able to enjoy our Junior School Swimming Carnival (albeit with masks that week!), our Mother’s Day Assembly and Morning Tea, and the Year 12 Mother and Daughter Dinner and our Secondary Interhouse Athletics Carnival. Thank you to the families who have been involved in these events. We appreciate that quarantine and home situations have made it difficult for families to attend some events, but we hope that things will be back to normal with time.

These last few weeks, some students have been sitting NAPLAN and ESTS. This too has been a juggling act of sitting these compulsory assessments or trying to catch up upon return to school. We thank Mr Sills and Ms Kathryn White, who has vigilantly planned and replanned for students to have the opportunity to sit these assessments.

Our Years 11-12 students are now busily preparing for their examinations which will commence on 30 May. While Year 10 examinations begin on 9 June. Students will receive detailed timetables and instructions.

On the social justice aspect, our school has commenced a fundraising effort for LifeLink. This term, our students support LifeLink by collecting gold coin donations by donating non-perishable goods for to ‘The Shopfront’ to support needy families. We encourage our students to promote and support these great initiatives through friendly competition between each House. The Year 10s students also joined the Seeds of Justice Conference on 19 May. The students participated in storytelling, ritual and traditions sessions that encompass our Mercy Ethos as we work towards a nation of equity and justice. The theme for the first event was ‘Stories of reconciliation and mercy’. This was a great opportunity to network with students from other Mercy schools.

Next week we will have our first College Twilight Tour on 27 May at 4.00 pm. We encourage you to invite any friends or family who are interested in our College. Registration is via this link.

As winter solidly approaches, we hope that your families continue to stay safe and safety. We continue to pray to the Lord for the safekeeping of our students and their families.

God Bless,

Carmen Cox

Principal

Share this article

Related posts

Community & Info
Job Vacancy – Parish Secretary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Lesmurdie
The Lesmurdie Oblate Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes is seeking a Parish Secretary to work alongside the Parish Priest and assist with administration duties for the Parish. The position is part-time, 12 hours  per week (Tues-Fri). Working hours are negotiable. Microsoft Office, MYOB and VPDS data entry experience preferred. WWCC and Police Clearance are also required. The successful candidate will be motivated to understand and support the Catholic Mission of the Church and be a welcoming person of service to the community. Please submit a cover letter along with a current resume, including contact details for two employment referees. Applications close by 11 October 2024. If you would like more information and job description, please contact Fr Mathew Raj OMI, Parish Priest on pp.lesmurdie@perthcatholic.org.au
Read More
Academic
Year 11 Biology Embraces the Bush!
Gear up for adventure! Last week, our intrepid Year 11 Biology students swapped the classroom for the great outdoors, participating in a special field camp at Dwellingup alongside Mazenod College. This immersive experience provided a first-hand look at the fascinating world of ecological monitoring. Guided by the esteemed Mr. C, Environmental Educator of the Year, the students learned the art of fauna trapping – a crucial skill for understanding native animal populations. Just before sunset they set traps to capture nocturnal visitors, waking before dawn with anticipation to see what critters called the bushland home. Their efforts were rewarded with the exciting discovery of three Mardos and a curious Quenda! While the day brought a quite a bit of rain, the students’ spirits remained high as they delved into the techniques of flora surveys. Despite returning a little soggy, their knowledge and enthusiasm were truly enriched. This valuable camp experience forms the foundation for an exciting project back at St Brigid’s. The Year 11 biologists will now conduct a baseline flora survey of our very own school bushland. Armed with this data, they’ll then develop a conservation plan to ensure this precious ecosystem thrives for future generations. Stay tuned! We can’t wait to see the amazing results of their exploration and conservation efforts.  
Read More