In the past fortnight, the College campus has been transformed by the return of Year 7 to 11 students. There has been a palpable buzz in the school yard, classrooms and corridors as our boys have re-established their social connections with their peers and their teachers. The boys in my pastoral care group, Trinity 3, have shared with me their thoughts about returning to school – they are looking to the future with hope and optimism. We’ve shared the holiday destinations that we are looking forward to visiting, the meals we are looking forward to eating in cafes and restaurants and our shared hope of another Richmond premiership in 2022.
Our Year 12 boys are also looking to the future. With their final days of their secondary schooling journey behind them, is has been great to see so many boys taking advantage of conferencing and feedback opportunities with their teachers. This week has also marked the beginning of their final examinations, the culmination of six years of learning. I ask our community to keep these students in your prayers in the weeks ahead. The VCE system is built upon the practice of ranking – comparing the performance of one young person to that of their peers across the state. It is important to remember though, it is the narrative of our young people that tells their story, not their ATAR.
Earlier this week, Mrs Anna Gasparini, shared with College staff the growing list of Year 12 boys who have successfully applied for Early Offers from La Trobe University, Australian Catholic University, RMIT and JMC Academy. These early offer programs recognise students who demonstrate what we might have traditionally labelled soft skills such as creativity and innovation, effective communication skills, leadership capacity and service to the community. Many of our Senior VCAL students also already have offers of work and further study in their chosen fields lined up for 2022. As the Foundation for Young Australians (2017) would attest, employers are seeking graduates who are learners and problem solvers, who are digitally literate and enterprising.
Academic aptitude alone is not enough to be future ready.
Mrs Catherine Spurritt
Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching
