From the Principal – Issue #2, 2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Dear Parents/Guardians, Friends & Students of SAC,

The first fortnight of the school year is a busy time for students and staff. The energy it takes to reconnect, build new friendships and navigate a new part of the school landscape is significant, and I’m sure there were a few tired students and parents last weekend!

Thank you to the many parents who attended the Meet the Teacher Nights for Reception to Year 7 and Year 12 families. There was a great buzz in the air, and people valued both the formal and informal aspects of the evening. We hope that we will continue to build our relationships, especially with families new to SAC, so that we can work together to support the best outcomes for our students.

 The Opening Mass for the 2024 school year was held in the St Francis Xavier Cathedral last Friday. We were able to gather the whole school community in this sacred space, and students were very respectful and engaged in the Mass. Thanks to the many students who made this such a special celebration, as part of the choir, readers, altar servers or making the doves to decorate the pews in Religion classes. And of course, a huge thanks to the Liturgy Committee and the Music staff whose creativity brings the Mass to life. Looking around the Cathedral, I felt so grateful to begin the year in such a peaceful and reflective space.

Masses and assemblies will look a bit different this year, as the Redden Undercroft is now home to The Village – a collection of eight classrooms that will make space for the implementation of the next phase of our Master Plan. The Years 6 to 8 classrooms will be upgraded this semester, and the development of a new Dunlevie Building to provide bright, innovative and welcoming learning spaces for our primary students. Stay tuned as we collaborate on a vibrant community artwork for the front wall of The Village.

It was lovely to welcome 29 children to our first Play Group in the Cloisters. Reception teacher, Olivia Spadavecchia, and Primary Coordinator, Abby Matte, have done an outstanding job in planning for this initiative, and the marketing team has definitely let the world know that we are ready to welcome their little ones. Some young members of our own community came along, with children of staff and siblings of our current students. Children, parents and grandparents had a great morning, and we look forward to seeing them all again at next week’s session.

Yesterday evening I attended the SACE Board’s Merit Ceremony at Government House, where India Bament-Sitkowski was presented with the Aboriginal Student SACE Excellence Award. In addition, 21 students across seven subjects were recognised with Merit Awards for outstanding academic achievement. This moment of celebration for students and their families also acknowledges the outstanding work of our teaching staff, from Reception through to Year 12, who have challenged and supported their students to achieve this level of excellence. Next week, many graduates from the Class of 2023 will join us at the College for the Dux Assembly. Seeing our most recent graduates moving on to a diverse range of pathways is a great source of inspiration for our current students and we look forward to welcoming them back!

India Bament-Sitkowski (Class 2023 and Aboriginal Student SACE Excellence Award recipient) with her parents, Ms McEvoy and old scholar Amy Ralfs, who works for the Education Minister Blair Boyer and attended the ceremony. 

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

---