PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS

Mr Chris Gabbett | Principal

2020 will be remembered as one of the most significant years in our College’s history, as it is the year we became, without reservation, a P-12 College. It gives me a special pleasure to write that. We are still experiencing the birth pangs and pains, and we have a few curves left on the full journey, but this year, we farewelled our first ever year 12 cohort. At the time of writing, I am very excited to see the number who either already have employment, have secured outstanding university offers or are on track for them. They engaged with the new ATAR system with real confidence and I am sure their results will reflect that.

Why does this matter so much? Because the decision made almost a decade ago for Highfields to have a senior Catholic pathway has been rewarded. The results in December and the eventual destinations of our students will finish that story – and then we will start telling it again with new characters.

This year has encouraged us at times to reconsider what it is a school does. I say that because so many of the activities we have become used to in schools have not been able to occur. Carnivals, Eisteddfods, sport afternoons, Father’s and Mother’s Day celebrations, parents at assemblies and masses, school camps; all were either curtailed or cancelled altogether.

I know that many families have really grieved this loss of community, just as the teachers and other staff have. Signs now indicate that there will be less restrictions into 2021, and we will be in a position to revert to many of our community focussed activities.

The silver lining of there being less extracurricular learning has been a real advance in the quality and quantity of the work inside the classroom. I can report that a lot of the potential energy went, for many students and their teachers, into outstanding learning. We have celebrated from P-12 those who have excelled across the College or have shown significant growth over the year. It is exciting to acknowledge the culture that has created this, the teachers that have encouraged this, and the philosophy that underpins this. One key message I would like to give is that our dignity as a College is guaranteed by all of our students learning and all of our teachers serving them, and I am so proud that they do this so well.

A Catholic school’s distinctives – its ‘specialness’ - is never limited to just faith and prayer. To see things this way is to suppress the most potent and transformative thing a Catholic College can do – provide an outstanding education. It is absolutely essential that we encourage all children to fullness of life, of learning and of dignity. I believe that this is something that the professional community at Mary MacKillop does extremely well. When I see the variety and quality of the extra-curricular opportunities offered to our students at all levels, I can see it is something we are getting better at year on year.

I would like to thank all staff at Mary MacKillop Catholic College who have supported so well in this most difficult of years. Thank you also to Mrs Leanne Andrews, P and F President, Mr Shayne Cleary, Board Chair, Dr Patrick Coughlan, Executive Director, TCSO, Dr Ken Avenell, Director for Mission and Identity and Mr Jim Midgely, Director for Teaching and Learning. Our work here is supported, directed and guided by their witness and wisdom. Finally, a huge message of appreciation to the families in our community who give us the honour of educating their children.