Principal’s Message

by Principal, Mr Steven O’Connor

Lockdown Update

It appears after the Premier’s press conference on Wednesday, September 1 that the lockdown will continue for a while longer. There is some hope with the prospect of restrictions possibly being reviewed and lifted for large parts of regional Victoria as early as next week. It is certainly my hope that we will be able to welcome back all students to the College and to face-to-face teaching as soon as possible, but it appears that this might be a way off for us and for all schools.

We continue to strive to support all boys as best we can via our remote learning program during this latest lockdown.

It has been confirmed that the GAT has been postponed again to Tuesday, October 5.

As early as next week, schools will reach out to Year 12 students and inform how they can be vaccinated in state-run clinics by October 5. The government’s aim is to have all Year 12 students receive their first dose by October 5.

Metropolitan schools will remain in remote learning for the remainder of Term 3. Regional schools may return to face-to-face learning on-site in Term 3 – yet to be confirmed. Next week, the government will reveal what Term 4 will look like and the roll out of vaccinations for students.

The lockdown may end in regional Victoria (except Shepparton) as of next week, with more details to come in the next few days or early next week.

I am very conscious that this is far from ideal. And I constantly think about our boys and the staff and hope and pray that they are coping with the current lockdown and our remote learning platform. It is not easy on our students and staff and I know it is not easy on parents.

I ask that we continue to work to support each other through these challenges and difficult circumstances. It is important that we are patient and that we are kind to each other through this.

I hope that we will soon receive good news about resuming a routine which will see students and staff back on site and interacting with each other.

 

Student Leadership – 2022 Student Leaders

Recently I announced the appointment of the new Student Council for the remainder of this year and 2022. These appointments were finalised after an extensive and rigorous process which included:

• Year 11 students nominating themselves or peers from their own House
• Staff providing detailed feedback on the nominations and their suitability for leadership roles
• Shortlisting of Year 11 students – once students were shortlisted, they were invited to write a letter of application and respond to the specific leadership criteria
• Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 were invited to vote for the positions of College Captain, College Vice Captain, House Captain and House Vice Captain
• Shortlisted students were invited to attend an interview with me and either the Deputy Principal or the Director of Senior School to outline their application in detail

I have to say that I was very impressed with all those young men in Year 11 who applied and who attended the interviews. I conducted every interview and was enormously impressed with the capacity and the commitment of all applicants.

Following this extensive and rigorous process, I am very pleased to announce the following appointments to the key roles on the 2022 Student Council:

College Captain:                                          James Clark

College Vice Captains:                              Zenon Czulij and Isaac Hucker

House Captains and Vice Captains:

Galvin:                                                            Jesse Cairns (Captain)

Edward Charles and Edward de Salis (Vice Captains)

Keniry:                                                           Alex Molan (Captain)

Soren Andrews and Kane Irvin (Vice Captains)

Nunan:                                                           Joe Fraser (Captain)

Deng Lual and Ben Mornane (Vice Captains)

Ryan:                                                              Will Quinlan (Captain)

Charlie Bissinella and Noah Ryan (Vice Captains)

 

This week, the Director of Boarding, Mr Mike Silcock and I conducted interviews for the leadership roles in the College’s Boarding House. Following these, I am very pleased to announce the following appointments:

Captain of Boarding                                 Toby Martin

Vice Captains of Boarding                     Brayden Purchase

Edward de Salis

Thank you for all who were involved in these appointments. I look forward to formally welcoming our new Student Council next term and to working with them from this time.

Mr Steven O’Connor

Principal