From the Principal

This week we welcomed the exciting news of the College’s new principal for 2024, Mrs Lauren Brooks. I had the pleasure to meet Mrs Brooks over the Easter break, and I immediately experienced her warmth and genuine excitement to be joining the College community in October as the new and permanent principal for the College. Mrs Brooks and I will work together in a smooth transition of the principal duties in Term 4 before I finish my role in December and return to my family in Sydney. As we welcome Mrs Brooks to the role at the end of this year, I am sure the loving and generous College community will embrace her, just as I have been since my arrival last year.

After the joy of the Easter break last weekend, it has been learning as usual at Saint Ignatius. I am impressed by the diligence of our students and staff in all three campuses. This week I have witnessed the bonding of Year 7 and Year 11 in working together to build peer relationships and support. It was quite spectacular to see both cohorts flying kites in the wind on the Bourke Oval yesterday. There was a lot of laughter as kites got tangled and the trusty scissors were brought out to solve the problem. Young people working together on a fun activity shows to us the things we want an Ignatian to be: happy, relaxed, and supportive of one another. Whilst the task of kite flying itself looked simple, the underlying learning and messaging are clear ‒ being together and working together are important, and being grateful and joyful in relationships is what we strive for here at the College. Be it the never-ending game of handball from Year 12 all the way to Reception, rolling down hills in the Junior School, the inter-House soccer on the oval, or the wonder of hatching chicks in the IEY, these joyful moments are precious in a world that often presents us with vastly different imagery.

Our students and staff have worked hard this term and now, as the term concludes, it is time for rest. I do realise that Year 12 may have some assessment work to complete, but the need for rest is important for the growing brains of young people. As we know from the current research on sleep and rest, both benefit the brain, promote memory and analytical thought, support expansive thinking, and can also spur creativity. For all these reasons and more, it is important that rest is made a priority these holidays.

I wish all members of the College community a safe and happy term break and look forward to welcoming our students back for Term 2 on Tuesday 2 May 2023.

With prayers of peace and hope,

Barbara Watkins
Principal

OREMUS (Let us pray)

We remember all in our College community. May our prayers comfort those suffering at this time. May God’s blessing be a source of support in their sorrow and loss, and bring courage, patience, and hope.

“Ask and you shall receive … knock and the door will be opened unto you.” (Matt 7:7)

If you would like someone to be remembered by the College community in prayer (even anonymously), please provide details to the Rector, class or Mentor Teacher, or House Leader.