By Mrs Liisa Hammond, Principal

Welcome to 2025

Gospel Luke 2:22-40

It is fitting that the Gospel of the Presentation of Jesus has come to us at this time. As we are welcoming new students and welcoming back our other students, we are reminded of the significance of new beginnings and Luke’s Gospel serves as a beautiful metaphor. Just as Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the temple, our students are being presented to our college community, embarking on a journey that is filled with hope, potential and a little trepidation.

The first few weeks of school, especially attending a new school, is a significant milestone for students, parents and the college staff alike. It is a time filled with excitement and anticipation but also with a sense of uncertainty and awareness of the challenges ahead. Parents, much like Mary and Joseph, bring their children to our college with hopes and dreams for their future. They trust that Assumption College will be a place where their children can learn, be safe, be challenged and thrive.

Our staff, akin to Simeon and Anna, recognise the potential within each student. We see the promise of future leaders, innovators and compassionate individuals whose lives will positively impact those around them. Our role is to nurture these gifts and support and guide our students through the ups and downs of their educational journey. We know that there will be hard times, moments of struggle and doubt, but we also know that with the support of family and our staff, our students can overcome any challenge.

The secondary education journey is not one that our students undertake alone. It is a collaborative effort, a partnership between the home, the college and the student. Together, we create an environment where students are grounded in the values of justice, wisdom, generosity and compassion so that everyone in our community can reach their full potential. We celebrate their successes and provide a shoulder to lean on during difficult times.

As we begin this new school year, let us embrace the hope and the promise that each student brings. Let us allow their light to shine, guiding and supporting them through every challenge and triumph. May we approach this year with Truth and Love, confident that together, we can ensure that our students’ time with us is filled with joy, curiosity and discovery.

Senior Cohort of 2024 Results

As many of you would have already seen on our social media post, our 2024 Seniors experienced great success:

• 100% of students attained a QCE /QCIA
• Dux – Nicholas Garvin 98.50
• Proxime Accessit – Sam Cartwright
• Ordine Tertia – Cooper Morton
• Median ATAR – 83.25
• 100% of school-based apprentices and trainees completed or converted to full-time    work
• 2 Diplomas completed
• 55 Cert I and Short Courses completed
• 41 Cert II and III completed

Ultimately, what is truly exceptional is that every individual has achieved an authentic and valid pathway for their next steps. It is such a privilege for our staff to be able to provide opportunities for our young people to experience such success.
Congratulations to our graduates, and we look forward to hearing and celebrating your future successes.

Week -1 and Week 0

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their time, expertise, and professionalism, which were clearly on show during what is fondly referred to as Week -1 and Week 0 of Term 1. During that time, our staff experienced several professional learning opportunities and collaborative/individual planning time.

Opportunities included:

Week 1: Executive Leadership Team Professional Development Days
- Jen Smeed from Educational Outcomes Strategic Development
- 2025 Strategic Direction and Organisational
- Individual Portfolio reflection and creation.

Week 0: Whole Staff Professional Development Days
- Jen Smeed from Educational Outcomes – Data Story Telling
- Planning for Personalised Learning – Getting to Know Your Learners
- Strategic visioning through the unpacking of the Annual Action Plan discussion with    staff, students and TCS staff
- Mandatory TCSO Training including Child Protection and Code of Conduct
- Behaviour Support
- Introduction to the Year 7 Cohort and their individual needs.

Welcome New Staff

We are very excited to welcome Mr Andre Boon as a replacement for Nat Webb and Aaron Buchanan, who has accepted a new position at the College as School Officer: Performing Arts Classroom Support. 

Parent/Guardian Communication

At the beginning of the year, there is always a plethora of information that is important to send out to our community. Please note the following communications that have been sent, and please contact our college office if you have missed any of these communications:

- Welcome to 2025 Letter
- Parent Code of Conduct Letter
- Year Level specific letter with college expectations articulated
- College Photo Day
- Opening Mass and Welcome Afternoon Tea

Parent Code of Conduct and Amendments to the Enrolment Agreement

Recently, you have received a letter from me outlining a newly created document and informing you of amendments that have been made to the Enrolment Agreement which you would have signed upon enrolling your child at our college.

The new document was the Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) Parent Code of Conduct, which is a companion document to our existing TCS Parent Engagement Charter.

The TCS Parent Engagement Charter affirms the relationship between parents and staff, which, as we know, works best when it is based on mutual respect and acknowledgement of the unique contribution that each party makes to the education experience of students. Positive, healthy relationships are a feature of a distinctively Catholic community.

The new document, the TCS Parent Code of Conduct, defines the boundaries within which the relationship between parents and the college occurs most effectively. The TCS Parent Code of Conduct makes clear and explicit what has largely been assumed and unwritten in the past. It is what most parents would consider essential and appropriate if schools and colleges are to function at their best.

Both documents apply to all schools and colleges within the TCS community and form a part of the Enrolment Agreement between parents/legal guardians and the college.
Links to both documents are included below for your information and convenience.

Together with parents/legal guardians, we seek to support students with additional requirements and medical conditions to succeed. In order to do so, we need to be made aware of all additional requirements, including physical, medical, educational, environmental, sensory, social/emotional, as well as medical conditions and allergies. The current Enrolment Agreement included the requirement of parents/legal guardians to provide all relevant information regarding these conditions.

This clause has been amended to also require parents/legal guardians to:

a. consent to independent specialist assessments to inform reasonable adjustments prior to or during the course of the student's enrolment (as required) and

b. to bring it to the college's attention any new or developing additional requirements and/or medical conditions, e.g. disabilities, special learning needs. 

Power to Search

The College has a legal obligation to ensure that college premises remain safe and secure for students, staff and other visitors. To give effect to this obligation, a clause has been added to the agreement that allows college staff to search college-owned property, which includes student lockers and college-owned electronic devices, if staff have reasonable grounds to believe the student is in possession of certain property or content which presents a risk. 

Parents/legal guardians will be contacted should searches be required for students’ personal property and/or electronic devices, e.g. school bags and mobile phones.

While there is no current issue or concern at the college, this amendment has been made to contemporise and align with our responsibilities.

Opening Mass, Presentation of 2024 Dux and Welcome Afternoon Tea

On Wednesday, 5 February 2025, our college celebrated our Opening Mass. We were blessed that Father Nathan could join us to celebrate this important occasion with an exceptional Homily that carefully crafted a lived experience of our theme for 2025: Light the Lantern.

Congratulations must go to Nicholas Garvin for his attainment of the 2024 Dux Award. Nick’s acceptance speech spoke of the joy, the struggle and the triumph of his journey at Assumption College. An insightful rendition of his journey that will no doubt inspire our current Year 12s and those to come. Congratulations also go to Sam Cartwright’s achievement of Proxime Accessit – a truly exceptional result that embodies the definition of grit and determination. Recognition must also be given to Cooper Morton, who achieved the status of Ordine Tertia, a result that was gained through the strategic execution of a well-thought-out plan that included hard work and discipline. Congratulations to these young people and their entire cohort. Thank you for the inspiration that you provided throughout 2024 and again on Wednesday.

Many thanks go to our families and staff who joined us for the Welcome Afternoon Tea; it was a lovely afternoon to spend time greeting old friends and welcoming new ones.

Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee

No doubt you are aware that our Annual General Meeting of 2025 is being held on Monday, 10 February 2025. As always, we invite all parents/guardians to be active members of our P&F, new and current families of our college.

At the AGM, we are calling for nominations for the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. At the end of last year, we sadly farewelled our President and Treasurer as their final children graduated from the College. With all executive positions declared vacant, we are looking forward to seeing as many families as possible attend to ensure that our P&F continues to effectively represent the interests of our families. Please note that at each P&F meeting, the Principal or a delegate of the Principal from the College’s Executive Leadership Team is present to listen to and respond to the needs of our community.

May our Mother Mary grant her blessings upon our College Community.