For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
It is a privilege to join the Whitefriars College community this term as Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching.
It is a great time to be part of the Whitefriars community. Last week marked the long-awaited return of our Year 12 students to the College – who are to be commended on their positive approach to undertaking a significant VCE assessment, the General Achievement Task (GAT). After many weeks of learning from home, students undertaking Units 3 & 4 sequences and Senior VCAL have joyfully returned to the College. It is perhaps also symbolic that their preparations for VCE examinations will be undertaken in Spring, a time of growth and possibility.
The arrival of Spring brings with it, new life and longer days. It is our shared hope that the warmer weather and the beginning of a new school term also signals renewed enthusiasm and energy for learning in our boys. The Home Learning Program will continue to be implemented for students in Year 7-11 for another week, before the staggered return to school begins. Learning Leaders have been guiding their teams to ensure an emphasis on essential knowledge and skills across all learning areas this term, so that our students experience feelings of success and mastery in their learning. College staff have also been harnessing the power of Zoom to connect the boys with experts in a range of industries and it was great to join our Year 9 Science students as they heard from Jessie Panazzolo, a passionate conservationist, about her work both in Australia and abroad.
In the past fortnight, I have had some great conversations with students about learning here at Whitefriars. I have been part of rich, professional dialogue about what is in the best interests of student learning. I have seen examples of College staff working collaboratively to cater to the diverse needs of our students.
Already I have come to witness that Whitefriars College is, indeed, a school in which every young man is seen and known.
Catherine Spurritt
Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching
