By Mr Kort Goodman - Principal

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students

It is with mixed feelings that I write to you today to inform you that I will be leaving Assumption College at the end of the year and taking on the role of Principal of St Joseph’s College in Toowoomba from January in 2020.

I have always openly stated that I am very proud to be the Principal of Assumption College and that it is a great privilege to have been provided with the opportunity to be part of the team leading this College. I am also not afraid to admit that, at times, the role has been very challenging, but for the great majority of the time it has been extremely rewarding. Witnessing the growth in the College, the growth in the students and staff and the improvement in the outcomes for the students has been a highlight.

I am very proud of the journey that we have been on over the last four years and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the leadership team of the College who have clearly set down an improvement agenda. However, I also acknowledge that the great progress and achievements our College and our students have made over the last four years has been down to the staff and student’s efforts. The improvement in our teaching and learning practices, our senior schooling outcomes, the growth in student numbers, the increase in pastoral, sporting and cultural opportunities for the students, the increased curriculum opportunities including music, agriculture and vocational education certificate courses, the planning, overseeing, and bringing to life of the new facilities are just a few of the incredible outcomes we have seen over the last four years and this is a result of the commitment and hard work of the community.

In leaving, I have the greatest confidence in the fact that Assumption College has a great team of hardworking, committed and determined professionals, who will carry on the wonderful work that we have been doing. As a community, I would strongly encourage everyone to get behind the future leadership team, offer support and speak confidently about the future of the College in the community. With continued focus on achieving the intents outlined in our strategic plan this community is on the verge of achieving something very special.

In regards, to who will be Principal for 2020, the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office is currently exploring options for the appointment of an Acting Principal at Assumption College for Semester 1, 2020. An announcement will be made in the near future about that appointment. Recruitment will then occur for the substantive appointment of the new Principal to begin Semester 2 2020.

Finally, I would like to thank the Assumption College wider community for your support. I have felt very welcome from the first day I arrived, and have appreciated this very much. I would also like to thank the staff of Assumption College for your support and friendship. Not only are you extremely generous and committed to your roles, but you have continued to demonstrate an open mind to the belief that individually and as a group we can continue to be better educators and this is a testament to your professionalism and the care you have for our students. Finally, to the students thank you for making me feel welcome and for your friendly greetings and smiles each day. I will miss the people of the Assumption College community very much and I wish you all the best for the future.

May God hold all members of the Assumption College community safely in the palm of his hand. Amen.

Presentation Night

Congratulations to the students who received awards at our Presentation Night last Thursday evening and to the students who performed on the evening. The evening was a great celebration of the year that has been. Events like this do not just happen and again it is a testament to the amazing efforts of our staff and students. A massive thank you to the staff, in particular, Mrs Brodrick, Mrs Bacon, Mrs Newley, Mr Bernardi, Mrs Stevens & Mrs Le Sueur for their tireless work in preparing the videos, powerpoints, programs and awards for the evening. Thank you to Mr Drew Schultz, Mr Flynn Donaldson, Mrs Kristy Searson and Miss Rebecca Bastion for their work in preparing the performers. Finally, I would like to congratulate and thank our Assumption College School Leaders for 2019 and 2020 for their efforts in hosting the evening.

End of Year Best Wishes

How quickly all the days, weeks and months of the 2019 school year have gone. As we prepare to close the school for 2019 and head off into the Christmas season and the summer holidays, there is much we can reflect back upon and give thanks for - our successes and how much we have learned (academic, social, physical, cultural and in faith), and how we have supported, cared for and challenged each other to be the best we can be.

Thank you to all - students, staff, parents and family and parish - for your support this year. We can most certainly take pride in who we are as a community.

We will miss the staff, students and families who are moving on from Assumption College at the end of 2019 and we wish them all the best for their futures. Thank you for the gifts of yourselves. We pray that you will be thrivers, not just survivors, that you will act out of optimism, not pessimism, that as you journey you will all contribute to making this world a little more hospitable and a little less hostile, and that you will be sustained always by people who care for you, challenge you and love you.

As this is our last newsletter for the school year, I would like to on behalf of the Assumption College community wish you all a happy, safe and holy Christmas break.

Kort