By Mrs Liisa Hammond, Principal

Gospel

Luke 9: 28 – 36

In the Gospel of Luke 9:28-36, the Transfiguration of Jesus is explored. This profound event, where Jesus is transformed, and His divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John, offers us deep insights into our faith and affords us the opportunity to reflect upon our College’s motto of Truth and Love.

"As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning." (Luke 9:29)

Truth and Love are the cornerstones of our college community. The Transfiguration teaches us that living in truth means being open to the divine presence and guidance in our lives. It calls us to be honest with ourselves and others, to seek the truth in all situations, and to stand firm in our convictions.

Living in love means embracing the compassion and grace that Jesus exemplified. It means reaching out to others with generosity and wisdom. As a community, we are called to love one another as Christ loves us, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

How can we do this in our daily lives? Here are some suggestions which are inspired by our values of justice, wisdom, generosity and compassion:

1. Seeking Truth: Be curious and open-minded in your studies and interactions. Wisdom is not simply gaining knowledge, but the action inspired by that knowledge. Question, explore, and seek to understand the world around you with integrity.

2. Living in Love: Show generosity and compassion to those around you. Support your peers, respect your teachers, and contribute positively to our college community.

3. Transforming through Faith: Allow your faith to guide you in making decisions and facing challenges. Understand that justice is demonstrated by respectfully advocating for fairness, supporting the marginalised, and living out Christ's teachings of truth and love.

As we reflect on the Transfiguration, let us be inspired by our motto of Truth and Love. May we light the lantern for those in our community to guide and support all.

Live Feedback and the Removal of Interim Reports

As we continue to embrace innovative ways to enhance our young people’s educational experience, I am pleased to share an important update regarding our reporting system.

With the successful implementation of our online learning management system, CANVAS, we have introduced live feedback for our students. This system allows students and their parents/guardians to track academic progress in real time. Through CANVAS, feedback on drafts and final results is readily accessible, providing a continuous and transparent view of each student's performance.

Given the comprehensive nature of this live feedback system, we have determined that interim reports are no longer necessary. The real-time updates available on CANVAS effectively negate the need for these reports, as they offer a more immediate and detailed insight into student progress.

This change aligns with our commitment to fostering an environment of open communication and continuous improvement. By utilising CANVAS, we ensure that students receive timely feedback that can be used to guide their learning journey. Parents and guardians can also stay informed and engaged with their child's academic development, supporting them more effectively.

We understand this is a significant shift from our traditional reporting methods, and we are confident that this approach will better serve our community. Should you have any questions or require assistance navigating CANVAS, please do not hesitate to reach out to Anna Hardy or Natalie Bennett. We are here to help you make the most of this valuable tool.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in our mission to provide a high-quality, faith-based education grounded in Truth and Love. Please note that the live feedback functionality does not replace our Student/Teacher/Parent conferences, which are scheduled for Term 2, Tuesday, 29 April 2025 and Term 4, Tuesday, 14 October 2025, or whenever you would like to schedule a meeting with one of your young person’s teachers.

Employment Opportunities and Updates

Specialist Mathematics Teacher: As many of you would be aware, via Anna Hardy’s previous newsletter item, we are still awaiting our Mathematics Teacher, replacement for Cate Tunstall. Given the teacher shortage and the difficulty of filling such a specialised position, we have had to recruit internationally. Our new teacher is on her way from South Africa, via New Zealand and Adelaide. We anticipate her arrival any day now and are incredibly grateful for the expertise of our current Mathematics teachers, particularly our Curriculum Leader of Mathematics, who has stepped in to ensure that no student is disadvantaged whilst we pursue this process. We absolutely acknowledge that this is not ideal, and I encourage you to speak with Anna and Esther if you have any questions or concerns.

Mathematics/ITD Teacher: You may have noted that we have also advertised, in the past week, for a Mathematics/ITD teacher. Due to family commitments, Mr Greg Convery has decided to return to Toowoomba. If you know someone suitable for this position, please do not hesitate to encourage them to contact Anna Hardy or me to discuss the role.

PA to the Principal: We have also advertised for this Level 5 full-time role. Marita Lunney is also returning to Toowoomba owing to her husband’s work commitments and, more excitingly, the opportunity to move closer to her first grandchild, who was born just over a week ago. If you know someone suitable for this role, please do not hesitate to encourage them to contact Marita Lunney or me to discuss the position.

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