By Mr Simon Fleming - Principal

Welcome back to the new school year. This year we plan to realise the vision that we have for the College, especially with regards to aligning our academic and pastoral, wellbeing frameworks. We hope for far fewer distractions than what occurred in 2020 and a more normalised agenda of events. As a school, we are committed to our improvement plan and embedding those practices which we know will lead to improved outcomes for students.

As many of you are aware, we have had quite a few staff move on from ACW. It is interesting to note that shifts in employment have occurred across many sectors brought on by the pandemic's impact as people reassess their positions and locations. This certainly was an influencing factor for many. Many chose to relocate closer to family or existing schools. Some took up promotion positions or believed the time was right to move on from Warwick. The impact of the trends in employment location can be seen in the Real Estate market around Warwick, which has a renewed interest in housing. Many people are looking to move from condensed urban areas and avoid the possibilities of lockdowns. The Toowoomba Diocese has seen more than 50 new staff coming into our schools, and Education Queensland  is reporting similar movement.

The upside of staff movement has seen the recruitment of some excellent teachers. There is renewed excitement and anticipation for the year ahead which provides us with a real opportunity to create a harmonious community focussed on achieving our goals. Our new staff are passionate and keen to contribute to the success of our College. We will be introducing staff through a brief profile in the Newsletters.

I would like to congratulate last year’s Senior ATAR group and families on the results achieved. Dux of the College went to Hayden Doherty with an ATAR of 97.0. Ben Guy also achieved an excellent result of 94.75, and Tori Abood achieved 92.10. Breanna Cullen achieved 100% in her General English exam as did Faith Kelly in Dance. All our students have been offered a place in their preferred University course.

During the last week, staff have participated in some valuable professional development, including our Spirituality Day led by Brother Damian. As part of our annual action plan, we are taking part in the Ignite Learning project to provide a more stimulating learning environment for students. An important element of this project requires student voice around the teaching and learning so that they become part of the feedback cycle. Teachers need to be aware of the impact on learning of the teaching methods and activities.

We have had an excellent start to the year, and there is an expectant buzz around the staff room and school. There is no doubt that success at school is very much dependent on the types of relationships that can be built. We ask that students respect our standards, especially regarding uniform and appearance. We will not need to challenge students in the first place if they are doing the right thing, and this helps to forge those relationships. We ask for parental support in these matters.

Have a lovely week.

Simon