Dear Families,
We’ve made a very positive commencement to Term Two. The students seem settled, well-presented and engaged. We have welcomed a number of new students, along with their families, and new staff to our community.
Please see a number of matters that have captured my attention in recent times.
Materials Design and Technology Facilities Development
This is an exciting development that we are working closely with Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) to pursue. Architectural plans have been drawn and subsequently, will be presented to CET at the end of this month. The project will see a doubling in the footprint of this space, not to mention a significant enhancement in the safety and functionality of the environment.
Should we be successful, we have planned a commencement time for Term 4, this year. Of course, we consider planning and development applications with council within these timelines.
As we continue to progress, either Mr Andrew Leary or myself will communicate updates as they become available.
Attention: Current Families with Younger Siblings for Year 7 (2024)
College Board Annual General Meeting
We recently held the College Advisory Board AGM and the following appointments have been made:
Maree Collins – Chair
Jonathan Cahill – Member
Peter Johnstone – Member
Ben Sandow – Member
Fr John Girdauskas – Ex-Officio, Parish Priest
Andrew Leary – Member, College Business Manager
Mr Gregg Sharman, Ex-Officio, College Principal
We have received expressions of interest for Board membership and will provide an update when available.
Our Strategic Direction: Preparing for the Future of Marist Regional College
Our College Advisory Board and College Leadership Team have been working through a draft Strategic Direction (2023-2027) document as we plan for the needs of the community. Much of our thinking is to address learnings from our external Validation Report, which took place in Term Four, 2021.
There is much to consider from the perspective of our College’s Catholic identity, learning and leadership, resources and pastoral care/wellbeing of staff and students. In addition to our Validation Report, we are using the National School Improvement Tool as a point of reference for our work.
St Brigid’s Catholic School, Wynyard – Centenary Celebrations
We would like to congratulate our friends at St Brigid’s Catholic School, Wynyard on reaching 100 years! A Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, presided by Archbishop Julian and Father John, with a “Centurion Dinner” to be held this evening.
Although we have a long-standing relationship, we naturally experience many students who transition from St Brigid’s to our College as more parents desire a birth to adulthood Catholic Education for their children.
In partnership,
Mr Gregg Sharman
Principal
Bereavements
We have been advised that Year 11 student Max’s father, Gerry Anderson passed away this week following a long-term illness.
Please keep Max and his family, including former students Kelsey and Eimear, in your thoughts and prayers.
Mrs Cynthia Castles
Sadly, earlier in the week, we heard of the passing of Mrs Cynthia Castles. Cynthia commenced at the College on 14 October 1985 as Bursar’s Assistant. Cynthia held a number of roles at the College including Uniform Shop Coordinator and First Aid Officer, and played a key role in the coordination of the Kalori. After a significant contribution, Cynthia retired in December 2005.
Cynthia was described as professional, versatile, skilled, hard-working, generous, loyal and loving.
We would like to express our sincere sympathy to Cynthia’s family, immediate and extended, and her friends and former colleagues of this College.
Fr Bill Ryder
On Thursday 20 April, I flew to Sydney for Father Bill Ryder’s funeral. An obituary written by Fr Paul Mahony has been shared with you in this newsletter. Fr Bill was Principal of this College from 1994 until 2000. After leaving MRC, he became the Provincial Leader of the Society of Mary. In layman’s terms, the head of the Marist Order in Australia.
During my time in Sydney, I had lunch with Fr Paul Pearce. Many of you would remember Fr Paul from his time at the College. I certainly remember him as my Religious Education teacher in Year 11! Fr Paul is in good spirits and I would like to welcome him back when he is able to visit us.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen