PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS – MAY 2022

Term Two has been underway for six weeks and during this time there has been numerous events and opportunities for students to continue their development.  I encouraged all students of their responsibility to:

• provide a caring and safe environment
• pursuing excellence and achieving their personal best
• assisting and supporting others
• respecting all members of our community so that we contribute in a positive manner

This message came on the back of our acknowledgement of the Year 12 Semester One Academic Award recipients who used their potential to achieve success.  Each person has potential to do anything they set their mind to do, however, it remains potential unless we act in a diligent manner, committed to doing our personal best.  

This exists in all of us and remains potential unless we act, seeking support from those in our community with the expert advice such as our teachers, to assist in fostering this potential to become the best version of ourselves.  I would encourage all students to continue in their pursuit of their potential so that they can add their story to our traditions and our story.

The Easter period comes to a conclusion over the past two Sundays.  The Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost Sunday provides our community with the courage and inspiration to continue the work of the original disciples as we share the story of Jesus and live our lives as encouraged by the gospels.

On Sunday 29^th May the Catholic Church celebrated The Ascension.   

The Ascension promises us that just as the Father raised Jesus from the dead, so too will we be welcomed into heaven, to be with God for all eternity.

This parable demonstrates the point.

In 1939 a father and son were famous art collectors. When World War II broke out, the son volunteered. In 1944 the son died in battle while rescuing another soldier. A year later, a young man came to see the father. ‘Sir, you don’t know me but I was with your son when he died. I want you to know he didn’t suffer.’ ‘I know you both loved art, and though this isn’t much, I want you to have it.’ He gave the father a package. Inside was a portrait of the son. It was rough work, but the father welled up with tears. ‘It was the least I could do for your son because he saved my life.’ A few months later, the father died. At the art auction which followed, investors gathered from around the world. The first item up for bid was the portrait of the son. The auctioneer tried to start the bidding, ‘$200 … $100 … Any bids? Any at all?’ The investors called out, ‘Skip this one. Where are the Rembrandts?’ Just then a man spoke up from the back. ‘I’ll give you ten dollars for the painting. It’s all the money I have.’ It was the gardener at the father’s estate. So the auctioneer brought down his gavel. ‘Sold for ten dollars!’ An investor called back, ‘Can we now get on with it?’ But the auctioneer continued, ‘The auction is over. According to the will, whoever bought this painting would inherit the estate, including all the art.’ No matter what they said the wealthy investors couldn’t buy their way into the inheritance. Only the one who had the eyes of love, and knew what they was looking at, inherited everything the Father and Son had to offer. So it is with us.

Richard Leonard SJ

This coming Sunday, the period of Easter comes to its conclusion with Pentecost Sunday.  As a young person, I was always confused about how the tongues of fire helped the disciples to speak in other tongues.  Since then, I have learnt that the miracle of Pentecost is not about speaking in foreign tongues, but of people of different languages receiving the gift of a common understanding of the mighty works of God in Jesus Christ.  This miracle of understanding was as though the lights suddenly went on for the disciples and they understood what Jesus was talking about so that those who heard the story of Jesus also understood despite the difference in language.

Congratulations to our Term 1 100% DSC recipients.  This is a remarkable achievement considering the challenges of the past two years, but I am encouraged by the number of students who were able to reach this milestone. 

NAPLAN testing is over for another year.  I would like to congratulate Year 7 and Year 9 for the diligence in preparing and completing the tests.  It can be a stressful time for many students.  We look forward to learning of the great achievement and learning gains for all our students. These tests are diagnostic tests that demonstrate what the students have learnt in class.  NESA states: 

“The results provide information about student achievement that can be used to inform teaching and learning programs. NAPLAN tests provide point-in-time information regarding student progress in literacy and numeracy and are intended to complement the wide range of formal and informal assessments that are already conducted in schools. NAPLAN test results are not intended to be used in isolation from other school-based assessment programs.” 

It is important to note that these tests help inform the College on student progress and assists us in developing programs that will assist the students of St Dominic’s College. 

The Student / Parent / Teacher Interviews provided all parents a great opportunity to maintain open communicate between stakeholders as we work in partnership to continue the holistic development of our sons.  As students continue with their learning, I would encourage all parents to engage with the son’s learning and contact parents if they believe their sons are not performing to the best of the capabilities. 

2023 Year 7 Interviews were conducted in Week 5. I was encouraged by the quality of those we interviewed last week and look forward to welcoming the new members of community later in the year. If you are a current family and have not enrolled your younger son for 2023, please do so as soon as possible as offers for Year 7 2023 will be sent shortly.

The month of May allowed many of our events to proceed as normal (i.e. as prior to COVID 19).  I encourage all readers to view many of these events through our College Website newsletter page by clicking here.

May we all continue to live life with hope.

Dominus Lux Mea

Mr Michael Ronchetti

St Dominic’s College Principal