Issue 13

De La Salle CollegE

Newsprint Issue 13 – 29 November, 2013

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Friends of the De La Salle Community, We have entered the final two weeks of the school year. Teachers are busily marking papers and writing reports for students in Years 7-10 prior to final Masses and Assemblies scheduled for next week. Reports will be mailed home on Monday, 16 December.

A Flying Start A highly successful Headstart Program for students currently in Years 10 and 11 was held this week. This program is designed to introduce students, in advance, to their chosen educational program for 2014. They have begun their new VCE coursework and some holiday work has been set (not too much!). We anticipate students will receive a confidence boost by gaining a flying start to their 2014 courses of study.

Congratulations to the Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning, Mark Gustincic and the Headstart Committee, chaired by James Walton and including Michael Petrie, Christine Thompson, Br Denis Loft, Rob Bonnici and Steve Young for driving this worthwhile initiative.

Parents To The Fore I want to acknowledge the work of the Parents’ Network, under the energetic leadership of Virginia Fairchild, which has again raised significant funds for the school this year.

In 2013, Virginia ends a close association with the Parents’ Network and a four year term as President. She also completes her time as a parent at De La Salle. Virginia and her committee are the epitome of how positive parental involvement can benefit a school in many different ways. The College is indebted to Virginia for her strong loyalty to De La Salle and for her willingness to work tirelessly and selflessly in its best interests.

The accumulated money raised by the committee over the past four years will be spent on upgrading seating for students in recreation areas at both Tiverton and Kinnoull Campuses and providing additional shaded areas which will protect them from the sun, especially during the summer months.

School Tours A Hit The final school tour for 2013 was held last week. These tours are held on several mornings and afternoons throughout the year in term time and are primarily designed to make prospective parents more aware of what De La Salle stands for and what it offers to students both inside and outside the classroom.

A highlight for attending families is to go on a guided tour with selected staff and students and to see the school in operation.

Judging by the considerable demand to attend one of these tours this year and the favourable comments received after the event, it is clear that there is strong interest in De La Salle as the chosen school for many families.

I would like to thank especially our Registrar, Robyn Miller, who organises these important occasions meticulously and who takes a personal interest in all families seeking information about a Lasallian education at Malvern for their son.

Thank you to the boys, too, who act as Tour Guides to our visitors and who present the school in such a positive light.

With every best wish.

Brendan Ellis Acting Principal Photo: First Communion – held at St. Anthony’s Church on 17 November He’s Learning to Live and Lead

Newsprint Issue No. 13 page 1

2013 COOLIES The following staff and Year 12 students left Australia last Friday to travel to St Lasalle Higher Secondary School, Tuticorin in Southern India as part of De La Salle’s Annual Coolies Program.

Mr. Larry Evans, Mr. Andrew Murrell, Mr. Tom Buick, Scott Callahan, Thomas Fisher, Alexander Grant, Brody Ledder, Mackenzie Fairchild, Max Stephens, Patrick Collins, James Eracleous, Thomas O’Dwyer, Pierluigi Grech, Aiden Atkin and Joshua Pulvirenti.

Since its inception seven years ago, instead of choosing to be part of the Schoolies celebrations to end their school days, a significant number of our Year 12 students have opted, with accompanying staff, to spend six weeks assisting in the improvement of the physical facilities of an under-resourced Lasallian school in India.

This program is a very practical demonstration of the Lasallian philosophy in action. We believe that it is a most worthwhile experience which will enable our participating students and staff to not only give of themselves to others less fortunate but also to gain much in return.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS Nathan Barrow (Grade 6) won the Bronze Medal in the Under 13 Boys Epee Event when he travelled to Sydney as part of the Victorian Team (“Vic Bandits”) to contest in the National under-age Fencing Championhips recently.

Well done, Nathan!

The College commends Michael Giannattilio (Year 9D), in becoming the youngest skating enthusiast to stage Australia’s first official closed road ‘Slide Jame’ event, which was held on Saturday, 26 October. The event also raised funds for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

What started as a hobby sport has now grown and a new generation of young avid fans have embraced the global revival of longboarding. Michael has developed an online social media and Youtube Channel and recruited his own Sherwood Skate team where kids can share and exchange knowledge ideas and tips ‘n tricks.

Michael as the producer, director and host has also been offered the opportunity to develop a spin-off concept and television series for Melbourne’s free-to-air Community TV, Channel 31 who are thrilled to add this new youth show to their programming line-up.

An outstanding achievement, Michael! De La Salle congratulates you and wishes you every success.

CONGRATULATIONS Our congratulations go to Liz Phibbs (Staff) and her husband Ben on the birth of Taj, brother for Kai.

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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COLLEGE LEADERS Following the Student Leaders' Camp at Phillip Island over the weekend, the following appointments have been made for 2014. We congratulate:

JAMES BENTON COLLEGE CAPTAIN

CHRISTIAN DI DONATO COLLEGE VICE-CAPTAIN

BEN STAFFORD COLLEGE VICE-CAPTAIN

STEPHEN ATHAIDE

THOMAS BRASHER

LUKE BROWNHILL

JOHN BUCHANAN

EDWARD CHEESMAN

MICHAEL HOAREAU

DAVID KELLY

LIAM O’CALLAGHAN

MATTHEW SWINNERTON

JAMES YOSIFFIDIS

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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COLLEGE LEADERS’ RETREAT On 22 November, the 12 dedicated, passionate Leaders of 2014 and myself, accompanied by Brother Jeffrey, Ms. Roe, Mr. Petrie, Ms. Wenzel and Mr. Houlihan (College Principal, 2014), made our way to Safety Beach for the annual Leaders’ Retreat. Over the course of the weekend, we were confronted with numerous tasks, challenges and asked captivating prompts and questions by the staff and Br. Jeffrey.

The first task consisted of the ‘Food Challenge’, where three groups were allocated a $70.00 budget to plan and prepare a miracle of a meal that would serve the 18 hungry house members. Every group tackled the task with the mind-set to tingle taste-buds and live up to Luke Brownhill’s standards. Each group did a fantastic job, even pitching in for other groups where needed.

Brother Jeffrey played a vital role throughout the weekend, imparting his wisdom and ideas on relationships with the whole group, and helping us understand how to be the best leaders we could possibly be for De La Salle College in 2014. Not only did he motivate us to make a change at school and within the community, but also within ourselves as genuine people who know what it takes to create positive and everlasting relationships. He mentioned a concept of the ‘Aspen Tree’, symbolising the individuality of each person, but also the single, communal root in which the trees are formed, or, the leadership group and De La community After an early wake on Saturday, where snags and eggs on toast saw daylight for a maximum of 5 minutes, we began the day of team challenges. These challenges focused on teamwork, trust and effort, and the more we put into them, the more we got out at the end of the day. From this, we became an even stronger, committed alliance, prepared to face all the challenges lying ahead in 2014 Following the day of mentally and physically demanding challenges, it was now down to the business end of the retreat. The hair-raising, heart-throbbing time came, where the selection of the Captain, and two Vice Captains of De La Salle College for 2014 were to be voted on and announced. The process lasted around an hour, each leader taking time beforehand to think through their selections and prepare themselves for the outcome The moment came, and the upcoming Principal, Mr. Houlihan, stood in front of all 13 of us with the name in his hand. A mixture of suspense, and nerves filled the air, which soon turned to applause and one bewildered, extremely honoured young man. That young man was me Huge congratulations also go out to the two Vice Captains for De La Salle College; Christian Di Donato and Ben Stafford, both wonderful, hard-working guys who will contribute immensely in 2014. I also congratulate the other leaders in the leadership group; I know that you all have sensational abilities and will be pivotal to the Leadership team. We hope we can all work together and be motivated to use our abilities for the greater good of the community Sunday morning arrived, where we attended Mass in Rosebud, and, being ahead of schedule due to the staff s amazing efficiency, everyone returned to De La by 11.30am, eager to tell their parents of the fulfilling and inspiring weekend they had encountered It is safe to say that the Leaders’ Retreat was a successful and positive start to the 2014 year; a year of no regrets and an immense sense of ‘brotherhood’. This would not have been the case if not for the hard work, dedication and commitment of Mrs. Roe and Ms. Wenzel. Our sincere thanks to those mentioned above, who sacrificed their weekend, and to Mr. Keneally, Mr. Ryan and Ms. Ferguson who dropped by to help out and partake in this push-off from the blocks and set the course for the Leadership group, Class of 2014, and the De La Salle College community within James Benton College Captain

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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ANNUAL ACC LAUNCH On Wednesday, 20 November, 2014 College Leaders - James Benton, Liam O’Callaghan and Ben Stafford represented De La Salle at the inaugural Associated Catholic Colleges Annual Launch. The Launch was held at Mazenod and began with a Mass, led by Fr. Michael Twigg, in the College Chapel. Following the Mass, attendees joined together for a dinner, which provided the opportunity for the 2014 College Leaders from each school to meet and socialise. Throughout the evening a Leader from each College made a short presentation espousing the unique identity and charism of their school. The Launch provided an opportunity for the College Leaders to gain an appreciation of their school’s broader involvement in the ACC, as well as learning a little about each of the other schools within the Association. The night was a great success and the tradition will be carried on in years to come, with a different school playing host each year.

Ben Stafford College Vice-Captain

ICT INFORMATION FOR 2014 Please see below information regarding transferring ownership of Netbooks and requirements for student technology in 2014.

Netbook Ownership Netbooks purchased through Digital Education Revolution funding in 2010 were given to students in Years 9, 10 and 11 to establish a 1:1 computer to student ratio. At the commencement of the program the ICT Committee resolved to transfer ownership of the Netbook from the school to the student at the end of 2013. By accepting ownership, students are agreeing to remove the installed software once they exit the College. If students require assistance to do this they may request a DVD containing the Windows 7 Starter Operating System from the College’s IT Services personnel. An external USB DVD drive is required. Note: one week's notice must be given before requests will be fulfilled. Students may return their Netbooks to the College if they do not wish to accept ownership.

Students who damaged their Netbooks and have not paid for repairs are excluded from the transfer of ownership.

Student Technology in 2014 The College is currently investigating the next phase of the 1:1 program to commence in 2015. Parents of students in Years 9 to 12 in 2014 are advised that the Netbook is the preferred device to bring to school. In the event that this is not possible another device may be brought in its place provided notification is given to respective Year Level Coordinators (mobile phones are excluded). It is important that parents understand that this is an interim arrangement only for the next 12 months in the light of new arrangements being made for the recommencement of the 1:1 program in 2015 and are advised not to purchase new devices if at all possible.

Apple iPads for Year 7 and 8 students in 2014 In 2013, the ICT Committee initiated a trial of parent purchased iPads for Year 7 students. The trial has been successful from the perspective that students readily bring their iPads to school and the iPads have been robust and reliable. From 2014, parent purchased iPads are the required mobile technology for all students in Years 7 & 8.

Primary Student Technology in 2014 An interim arrangement for the provision of technology for Grades 4-6 is being made by providing a class set of Netbooks for the sole use of Primary students. The Netbooks will be housed in a powered trolley located in the Tiverton Library and may be booked as a normal resource for Primary classes only.

Paul Maxted ICT Coordinator

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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2014 FEES The Fee Schedule for2014 is now available. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the 10 monthly payment option which spreads the fees evenly across the year.

Those families who paid their 2013 fees by this method are reminded that they need to complete a new form for 2014 fees.

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is provided by the Victorian Government to lower income families to help with education-related costs. If you are eligible to receive the EMA, click here to download the EMA Form.

Elaine Tyrrell Assistant Business Manager

DATES TO REMEMBER FOR YEAR 7, 2015 Key Dates – Year 7, 2015 Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Year 7, 2015 Applicant Information Evening – 7:30pm (Bookings essential)

Friday, 28 February 2014

Applications for Year 7, 2015 CLOSE

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Offers of places to prospective Year 7, 2015 students are posted Robyn Miller College Registrar

PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE This year, our 77 successful participants can find their name online, on the VPRC website. Download your own congratulatory front page of The Age that’s yours to keep as a celebration of this year’s Challenge via http://prchonourroll.com.au/.

Congratulations to all our readers!

Susan Jost College Librarian

REST IN PEACE Some of you will remember with great fondness a past staff member, Jill Kendall. Jill was a wonderful English teacher and was in charge of the library during her time at the College. Jill left the College in 1991.

Your prayerful support for Jill and her family is appreciated.

Judith Sully, mother of Greg Sully – teacher of Percussion in the Music Department - passed away on Saturday, 9 November.

Graham Francis Coyle - father of Paul Coyle – Instrumental Music Teacher in the Music Department. Graham passed away on Sunday, 17 November, aged 81.

Please remember them in your prayers.

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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WELLBEING NEWS Brotherhood Without Banners A group of 30 boys from Primary, Years 7, 9 and 10 have formed a group (in 3 sections) which meets around interest in film, anime, online gaming, comics and cartoons. The aim is to share interests, get to know more about the world of pop-culture and to attend the increasingly popular gatherings such as Comic-Con and Supanova exhibitions.

Participants have selected characters with whom they have some affiliation, are preparing their cos-play and we are in the process of making a members booklet of characters. Parents will have an opportunity next year to hear from members of this group at a parent evening centred around “boys and online gaming”.

It is not uncommon for parents to phone asking about limiting (or stopping) their son’s online gaming. If we regard gaming as just the latest piece of entertainment, then, as in all things, a balance is needed. There is time for entertainment and there needs to be time for all sorts of other things as well. So gaming needs to be limited.

It’s important to acknowledge that gaming is very much a part of the teenage landscape now, and that stopping access to gaming can also mean debilitating a boy’s social interactions with others – it is a “hot topic” of conversation and one of the ways in which young people bond.

Alcohol and Young People – Parent Evening Did you know?

Children who start drinking alcohol early: • are less likely to finish school • are more likely to suffer depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and ADHD • are more likely to experience problems with alcohol in their adulthood • may actually be doing permanent damage to their brains The City of Stonnington in partnership with the East Malvern Junior Football Club and the East Malvern Tooronga Cricket Club Presents Smart Generation Panel. This panel includes:•

Bosco Rowland is an Alfred Deakin Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University and is conducting research that is focussing on how adolescents obtain and are supplied alcohol and testing ways of reducing supply to adolescents.

•

Danny Alcock is the Community Services Manager for Taskforce, a leading Drug and Alcohol Agency.

•

Paul Kelly and Karolyn Formosa the Local Youth Resource Officers from Prahran Police.

Having a conversation with your child about alcohol can be difficult and confronting. It is important to do - as it will help them stay safe now and be smarter, healthier and happier in the future.

The Smart Generation panel will look at how we can help our children understand the risks of drinking alcohol before the legal age of 18.

Date: Venue: RSVP:

Tuesday 10 December 2013, 7.15pm-8.45pm Dunlop Pavilion, Moira Street, East Malvern Monday 9 December 2013 to csingh@stonnington.vic.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all students and parents a festive holiday season.

Pascal Rohan Director of Student Wellbeing

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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CHAPLAIN’S NOTES CONGRATULATIONS: to Samuel Andrews, Jonathon Arnold, Thomas Seddon, Kieran Halloran, James Suffolk, Jacques Ludekens and Liam Robertson who received Eucharist for the first time at St Anthony’s Glenhuntly on Sunday, 14 November, 2013.

DIARY NOTE…….

If you are planning for your son to prepare for the Sacraments of First Penance, Communion or Confirmation through De La Salle during 2014, please send me an email: jferguson@delasalle.vic.edu.au or you may call on my direct line 9508 2161. Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, 10 August, 2014.

OUR LITURGICAL YEAR HAS COME TO AN END AND WE BEGIN A NEW……

Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of Christ the King which marks the end of the Liturgical year and next Sunday we will commence a new year starting with our Advent vigil in preparation for Christmas.

Advent is teeming with opportunities; whether it is to take time to reflect on our year; or doing some random acts of kindness; or practicing openness to receive love when it comes in the same way that the Blessed Mother did, accepting and receiving love, nurturing love and releasing it into the world.

This Sunday we will begin a new liturgical year during which we listen to the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew makes us aware of our long heritage, often connecting the writings of the Hebrew Scriptures to show that Jesus is the fulfilment of all that God promised His people. We become aware during the year of listening to Matthew’s Gospel that only in looking to the example of Jesus will we truly come to know God. Matthew exhorts us in this Sunday’s Gospel to “Stay awake! Be ready.” The season of Advent invites us to consider how ready are we to welcome our Saviour into our lives again at Christmas.

As you prepare for Christmas may you and your family be blessed abundantly with the rewards of your efforts throughout 2013 and approach the New Year with joy and enthusiasm.

St John Baptist de La Salle - pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts - forever.

Joan Ferguson College Chaplain

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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DE LA VOLUNTEERS Thank you to everyone who has volunteered in any capacity throughout the year. Your contribution, whether big or small, is valued and ‘makes a difference’.

There are around 300 families on our 2013 Volunteers List so when requests go out there is always an immediate response.

On that note I have attached the 2014 Volunteers Form at the end of this newsprint for anyone who wants to get in early!

Thank you also to Virginia Fairchild who is retiring from her role as President of the Parent Network. Working with Virginia has been a lot of fun, in fact never a dull moment! Virginia is a ‘can do’ person and has contributed immensely to the College.

Helpers are still needed for twoodman@delasalle.vic.edu.au

the

Secondhand

Book

Sale.

Contact

me

on

9508

2138

or

email

Years 7-12 Secondhand Textbook Sale Tuesday, 3 December - Remaining VCE & VCAL Textbooks will also be sold on this day.

Help will be needed on • • • •

Monday, 2 December – 1.00pm to 3.30pm Tuesday, 3 December (minimum of 2 hours) - 8.00am to 5.00pm Wednesday, 4 December – 8.00am to Midday Thursday, 5 December – 8.00am to Midday

Hope you have a special Christmas.

Trish Woodman

PARENTS’ NETWORK To the Parent Network Committee members, Class Representatives and all our volunteers a big thank you, and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Virginia Fairchild Soon to be ex President

THANK YOU TO IMMURON De la Salle College would like to acknowledge the donation by Immuron of their tablet Travelan for the use by each of the students and staff on the 2013 Year 12 Coolies trip to India. Travelan has been proven to reduce the risk of Travellers’ Diarrhea and the symptoms of minor gastrointestinal disorders.

Immuron Ltd is a publicly listed Australian biopharmaceutical company (ASX: IMC) focused on oral immunotherapy using dairy-derived polyclonal antibody products for humans.

Level 1, 18 Kavanagh Street, Southbank. Victoria 3006, Australia Phone: +61 3 8648 4530 | Fax:

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

+61 3 9686 9460 Email: info@immuron.com

Newsprint Issue No. 13 page 9

2013 ACC SPORT REPORT With last year being the College Centenary Year, we were hoping to “get off the mark” strongly with sport in the first year of our bicentenary period.

Fielding the same number of teams in the ACC Competition this year, we managed to win one more ACC Title in 2013. Our Champion Teams were: ACC Division 2 Athletics, Year 8 Football, Open Golf, Senior B Basketball and Year 7 Cricket. Outside of ACC Competition, we won the Weightlifting Sport and Recreation Cup and VWA Schools League for the third consecutive year in front of our home crowd in the DLS Gym in Term 4.

The year didn’t start particularly well with our ACC Swimming Team finishing in 6th place which relegates us into Division 2 for the 2014 Carnival. The DLS highlight for the Carnival was the age group victory of our Under 13 Team. Whilst we do have some talented swimmers, we really need to improve our overall swimming “depth”. Under the guidance of “Team Windley”, our Swimming Squad numbers have increased and all indications are that the boys are primed for a strong tilt at the Division 2 Title in late February next year.

We participated in Division 2 ACC Athletics for the second time in the history of the College in a Lasallian Showdown with our “Beach Brothers” from St Bede’s. With a very committed and consistent effort from the entire team, we comfortably defeated St Bede’s by 30 points to win the Division 2 Title. In addition to the overall victory, we also won the Under 13, 14, 16 and Senior Age Groups as well as the Junior and Senior Cups. DLS is back into Division 1 Athletics next year and with renewed confidence and belief, we need to make every effort to ensure that is where we stay!

Towards the end of Term 3, our ACC Cross Country Team had hopes of improving upon their 3rd placing from last year. Despite another honest and determined team effort, we finished 3rd in this year’s ACC Carnival behind St Bede’s and St Bernard’s for the fifth consecutive year. The highlight from the Carnival was the age group win from our Senior Team. A most fitting and rewarding way for our Year 12 runners to sign off on their ACC careers!

Although we were clearly ahead of the other 3 schools in Division 1 and had a number of top ten event place getters, the challenge for our 60 runners again next year is to “run past” at least one of the Top Two schools in 2014.

Our strong involvement in ACC Sport and other sporting activities would not be possible without the willingness of the staff who coach and manage our many sporting teams. I sincerely thank all of the Coaches for their time, effort and enthusiasm for the ACC Sport program at De La which is of great benefit to the boys.

Special thanks to Simon Brown and Tom Curry, the Sports Assistants, who have not only coached ACC Teams but been integral to the organisation and coordination of all things sport at De La this year. We wish them both well as they leave us this year to begin their Primary Teaching careers.

We always strive to be as successful as possible in ACC Sport every year. Even more important than success is that every student and staff member who wants to be involved in sport makes the effort to be a positive contributor.

Once this happens consistently, the results will take care of themselves and DLS will become the home for more ACC pennants and trophies.

Peter Harte Director of Sport

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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WHAT’S HAPPENING (some reminders)

D E CE M B E R Sunday, 1 December

1st Sunday of Advent

Monday, 2 December

CORRECTION DAY – NO CLASSES College Uniform Shop Closed

Tuesday, 3 December

Years 9 and 10 Final Mass and Assembly Parent Network Secondhand Textbook Sale College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 4.00pm

Wednesday, 4 December

College Uniform Shop open, 8.00am to 11.30am

Thursday, 5 December

Years 7 and 8 Final Mass and Assembly Christmas Concert

Tuesday, 10 December

Primary Classes conclude with Mass and Assembly College Uniform Shop open, 8.00am to 11.30pm (Last Trading Day)

Friday, 13 December

Staff Mass and Christmas Luncheon

Monday, 16 December

Semester 2 Reports Mailed

Friday, 20 December

SCHOOL OFFICE CLOSES AT 4.00PM

JA N UA RY Monday, 20 January

SCHOOL OFFICE RE-OPENS College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Tuesday, 21 January

College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Wednesday, 22 January

College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Thursday, 23 January

College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Friday, 24 January

College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Sunday, 26 January

Australia Day

Monday, 27 January

Australia Day – Public Holiday

Tuesday, 28 January

STAFF RETURN FOR TERM 1, 2014 – Staff Professional Development Day

Wednesday, 29 January

Staff Professional Development Day College Uniform Shop open, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Thursday, 30 January

ALL STUDENTS (Primary to Year 12) COMMENCE Kinnoull Campus Photographs, 8.30am (Blazers required) Parents’ Network Morning Tea for all parents of new students College Uniform Shop open, 12.00pm to 4.00pm

Friday, 31 January

Tiverton Campus Photographs, 8.30am (Blazers required) College Uniform Shop open, 12.00pm to 4.00pm

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

Newsprint Issue No. 13 page 11

CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE LETTER

Last week the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other NonGovernment Organisations released its final report and recommendations.

It is source of much sorrow and regret for everyone in Catholic education that children were abused in Victorian schools.

For this reason I elected to appear before the inquiry – to make sure that our child protection practices stand up to the most rigorous scrutiny and to help the parliament identify ways to strengthen child protection legislation to protect our most vulnerable.

I am pleased to advise that in its report, the inquiry noted Catholic education’s effort and commitment to mandatory reporting and child protection legislation, and our comprehensive professional development and staff training initiatives.

The report also noted the need for Catholic education to undertake further work to ensure greater consistency with Victorian education department procedures.

While child protection laws apply to all schools equally, we will also proactively engage with the Australian Government’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to ensure our experience can help inform and strengthen legislation into the future.

It is not surprising that our efforts in relation to child protection were recognised. We take the unprecedented growth in Catholic school enrolments in the last five years as a measure of your continuing trust in our schools. Catholic schools have no greater responsibility than to honour the tremendous trust you place in them to provide a safe environment for your children.

Stephen Elder EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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He’s Learning to Live and Lead

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