Principal’s Report

Principal’s Report

The month of August –

Each year on August 15, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This feast day commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay–a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Because it signifies the Blessed Virgin’s passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts and a Holy Day of Obligation for all Catholics.   

The Gospel for this holy day recalls Mary’s actions after the announcement of Jesus’ birth by the Angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is also with child. Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles they and their unborn children will play in God’s plan for salvation. Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with her song of praise, the Magnificat. Both women recall and echo God’s history of showing favour upon the people of Israel.  

Therefore, today’s Gospel highlights Mary’s faith. Mary’s faith enabled her to recognize the work of God in her people’s history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God’s plan of salvation. 

Around the world, this is a very significant day with many celebrations planned.  Having visited my parents’ home town in Italy a number of years ago, I was fortunate enough to be present during these wonderful celebrations.  The whole town was filled with joy and happiness as people from all over the world came together to celebrate the feast of our most Blessed Mary.  May we as the community of St. Dominic’s come together during this feast day to share in the love for Mary.  May we also continue to devote ourselves to Mary so that we are open to God’s plans for us. 

 

During Week 7 the College will be acknowledging National Literacy and Numeracy Week.  Throughout the course of the week students will have the opportunity to engage in a number of literacy and numeracy activities.  Last week, we focused on “Write a Book in a Day”.  The books produced by the students were amazing.  The imagination demonstrated by our students clearly proved we are producing some outstanding writers for the future.  Literacy and numeracy has been a significant focus for the College in 2018 therefore I would encourage families to engage in the initiatives and even read a book together to help our students with their literacy and numeracy.

St Dominic’s College would like to congratulate Connor Kennedy from Y12 for receiving the Queen’s Scout Award.  He received this by the NSW Governor at a prestigious ceremony.  To receive such an honour, Connor had to complete the following tasks:

  • First aid qualifications in remote areas
  • Elected and served as the regional representative for the NSW State Venturer Council
  • Completed a Youth Helper course and provided 15 weeks of mentoring for the younger Scout section ages 9 to 11.
  • Completed Level 1 sailing and Level 2 canoeing guide qualifications.
  • Completed bushwalking qualifications to provide outdoor guiding for younger groups.
  • Led a six day, 65 km hike through Hills Gate Gorge from Jenolan Caves to Katoomba.
  • Completed the development of a mental awareness project within Scouts Australia.
  • Travelled overseas with Scouts Australia to New Zealand and completed caving, canyoning, black and white water rafting and hiking up the side of a volcano.

This is an outstanding achievement.  Congratulations to Connor for letting his light shine.  Dominus Lux Mea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Charlie Connell (Year 8) who has been selected for the U14’s Australian National Football team.  The team will be travelling to Fiji on 1 December to play against New Zealand Asia and Fiji.  Charlie was selected by a scout at one of his games.  What an amazing achievement by another son of St Dominic’s College.  We wish Charlie every success at the 

tournament later in the year.

 

 

 

 

 

The Creative and Performing Arts Showcase provides a great platform for the wonderful and creative students of the College to demonstrate their array of 

talents. The College should be extremely proud of the gifted students we have in both the Creative Arts and the Music Showcase.  The visual art display was wonderfully and expertly

presented with so many spectacular works by some very talented students.  Congratulations to Mr Lewis, Mrs Knowles, Mrs Thompson and Mrs Kennett for their organisation of the presentation and for their continued encouragement of our students in developing the creative side of their education.

The Music Showcase, once again, allowed our students to showcase their incredible talents in a variety of instruments and voice.  Our drama students also entertained us with their HSC performances.  Congratulations to everyone for having the courage to perform in front of an audience (in an intimate room) and sharing with all of us your talent.  Special thanks to Mr Wilson, Miss Ede and Mr Hine for their exceptional musical talent and their coordinating of the Musical Showcase.

Throughout the evening our Hospitality students provided great food that was enjoyed by all. Thank you to Mrs Monteleone for guiding the boys in delivering quality food and exceptionally well presented.

We have much to be grateful for here at the College and with the talent presented last night we have so much to celebrate as well.  Another great showcase of St Dominic’s College.

The annual MCS Athletics Carnival provided a highlight for me this month.  Although, we came second, the College spirit demonstrated by all students especially our senior students was amazing.  It was during the relays that exemplified what a great group of young men were representing us at this event.  The encouragement by all the athletes and the coaches was infectious.   The athletics team captain, Immanuel Tagaloamatua, has represented the College for the past six years.  He gallantly led the team to a very close second place.  There were many individual and team highlights but it was the spirit within the team that impressed me the most.

August has once again been a busy month for the College.  The following provided particular highlights for many at the College:

I would like to wish all our fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, uncles, or significant male role figure a very happy Father’s Day.  May this be a time for our sons and grandsons to express their love for those men in their lives that mean so much to them.  Have a blessed Father’s Day.

 

Dominus Mea

Let Your Light Shine

 

Mr M. Ronchetti

College Principal

 

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St Dominic's College, Penrith
St Dominic's College, Penrith