Issue 1, 6 February 2023
Welcome back to 2023. I extend my warmest welcome to all our students and families for the new school year. Our school theme this year is 'Called to Community'. So, it has been particularly important to us thus far to welcome everyone into our wonderful school community.
Being part of a Catholic school community invites students, staff and the broader community to work together to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. Our theme this year is close to the heart of the Catholic faith and our Josephite charism as it seeks to promote respect for others and invites us to live peacefully and in strong connection with everyone and everything around us.
I am excited that this year will be filled with opportunities for our students to grow in love, wonder and understanding. All the best for the year ahead!
Loving God,
We are called to community, as part of God’s family and bound by God’s love. Open our hearts and minds to share your love through compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. Open our hearts and hands to serve others. Help us to devote ourselves to living in communion with each other and all of creation. Enable us to build a community where individuals feel they belong and are deeply known and loved. May we be dedicated to living grateful lives, where we celebrate and share our giftedness with others. Guide us to follow Jesus in the call to community.
Amen.
It has been refreshing to start the school year in a 'normal' way. While the peak of COVID-19 has seemingly subsided, it is still important for everyone to remain vigilant to keep everyone safe. Therefore, we ask students who are unwell to stay home if they have cold or flu-like symptoms and get tested for COVID-19. If students have COVID-19, please advise the school as soon as possible, and stay at home until all acute symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever) have cleared.
Caritas College congratulates our Year 12 Class of 2022 on their excellent South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) results.
Our school values SACE as an important secondary school qualification that equips students with the skills, knowledge, and personal capabilities needed to be successful beyond school. Therefore, it is important to us that every student achieves this qualification. Once again, we are extremely proud to have achieved 100% SACE completion rate.
- We extend our congratulations to Louise Hunter as Dux of the College with an ATAR of 98.20 and Sophie Glamuzina who obtained an ATAR of 96.30.
- 20% of our students achieved an ATAR of over 90, which also included three A+ and two Merits. 38% achieved an ATAR over 80 (students raw score and do not include the University Equity Scheme bonus points).
- 34% of all the grades obtained were in the ‘A’ grade band, which is a great achievement. 100% of the grades awarded to our Year 12 students were ‘C’ grade or better.
- 20% of our students completed their SACE while undertaking a university course this year. More than 1 in 3 of our Year 12 students successfully completed their SACE taking advantage of a vocational educational training (VET) VET pathway. We congratulate those students who have been successful in securing a traineeship, apprenticeship or employment as a result of their VET pathway.
We acknowledge those students who have achieved great success in their learning and personal development, which is not always reflected in an ATAR score.
Of course, we acknowledge the teaching and non-teaching staff who play an essential role in nurturing and supporting our students to develop a love of learning that leads to such impressive SACE result.
We welcome a number of new staff to Caritas College this year. They bring a broad range of knowledge and skills to our school community. I know our school community will embrace all of our new staff and make them feel welcome at Caritas College:
- Chloe Shanahan (Leader of Catholic Identity)
- Nicole Yendall (Primary Teacher)
- Pennie Boscence-Press (Primary Teacher)
- Bridget Manning (Primary Teacher)
- Liz Murphy (Primary Teacher)
- Kelsey Woodards (Primary Teacher)
- Josh Lambert (Secondary Teacher)
- Amali Samaranayake (Classroom ESO)
Over the holiday period Rosa Gomez resigned from her role at our school after 17 years of service. Rosa joined our school community in 2006 as a language teacher. Since then, she has shared her passion with our students and exposed then to the Spanish culture and language. We thank Rosa for her service and dedication to our school community for the last 17 years. We wish her all the best in the future.
Thank you to the families who attended our Family Information Evening last Thursday. It was pleasing to see teachers share important information about how we can work together to support students spiritually, socially, emotionally and academically. We understand that parents/caregivers are often busy and it can sometimes be difficult to find time to meet with teachers. Your child’s learning and wellbeing is important to us and every teacher invites regular and open communication with families to ensure everyone is on the same page with supporting student learning and wellbeing.
Over the weekend our Year 12 Student Leaders travelled to Adelaide on a Josephite immersion experience. This opportunity provides valuable leadership experience for our Student Leaders in sharing the spirit of Mary MacKillop and Julian Woods.
Students were accompanied by Sr Helen Duke who helped lead them on a pilgrimage to visit significant Josephite sites detailing the life and legacy of Saint Mary MacKillop. We look forward to them sharing their learning and insights to make a positive difference in our school community in 2023.
The 2023 Catholic Education Awards South Australia will again be presented this year as part of the celebrations of Catholic Education Week on Thursday, 18 May 2023. Nominations opened on Wednesday 1st February and will close on Tuesday 28th February 2023.
Our College had the great joy of celebrating the success and achievements of Leigh O’Shaughnessy and Alanah Rowe last year when they both received CESA Awards. This was great acknowledgement for the wonderful work they do in our school community.
We have another opportunity this year to shine a light on a teacher, support person, leader, volunteer or program that makes a positive difference in our school community.
Go to the Awards website to nominate or read more information.
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