Secondary News
Welcome Edition – Term 1, 2024
Dear Community,
Friday was my first opportunity to address the whole Secondary School. I took this opportunity to share with our students the things I care deeply about and the expectations I have of them. I think it’s important that they understand where we are coming from to ensure that there are no mixed messages.
I also highlighted the importance of us working as a team which includes parents/carers, staff at MacKillop and the student. When all three engage positively with the student’s education, amazing outcomes can be achieved. I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and months and building strong relationships between home and the College.
As a starting point, I encourage you to ask your sons and daughters about their start to a new academic year. You don’t need to ask technical questions about Year 10 Algebra; rather, just demonstrate an active interest. Simply asking about their day, what they enjoyed, what topic they are studying in Science, etc., makes a world of difference and says to your child that you care about their education and believe that it’s important.
As a prompt, you might want to ask them about the points I raised in my first address.
They included:
What Do I Care About?
- Each of you as individuals
- Your Teachers
- Support Staff
- The College community
- The College’s reputation
What Do I Expect?
- That each of you will demonstrate respect:
– Respect for yourself
– Respect for others
– Respect for the College - I will have high expectations of you, and so will your teachers.
- That you will represent the College with pride.
- That you will demonstrate a strong work ethic.
- That you will do the basics well. Strong House Spirit.
- That you will leave this College with choices for your future.
Look, I’m a realist. Not many of your children will be champing at the bit to converse with you about my first speech. Having said that, I’m determined to embed these key messages, and I have the utmost confidence that it will help your children thrive at MacKillop.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has provided me with such a warm welcome to the MacKillop community; it is clear to me already that this is a beautiful community and one I am excited to immerse myself in.
God bless,
Paul Lynch
Acting Secondary Principal