Great News!
All of our students have been able to return on-site for face-to-face classes over the past week which has been a particularly happy experience for all. We had the opportunity to farewell our Year 12 students on Friday, 22 October and the students conducted themselves fantastically.

As our Year 12 students completed their formal classes with us last week and begin their written exams this week it is fitting that we pay tribute to them in this, their final newsletter, before their final exams finish. For all of our Year 12 students, their behavior was impeccable throughout the final week where they completed a range of activities including a College Assembly where they were farewelled by all staff and students and their Year 12 breakfast and dress up morning. We take this time to reflect on their contribution and achievements over the past six years and celebrate the conclusion of their secondary education.

For the Year 12 students it marks the end of 13 years of classes. However, it doesn’t mark the end of your learning. To be successful in the future you will need to learn new skills, new knowledge, and a new way of building and sustaining relationships.

For parents it means an end to school fees and a change in the relationship with your child as they continue to develop their independence. For our staff it marks another transition point where the students that we have nurtured for the past 6 years go out into the wider world to make a difference. The thing that I am particularly proud of is the way that our community has risen to the challenges that they have had to face over the past 2 years. All students, particularly our Year 12’s, have shown themselves to be resilient, technologically proficient and above all else, connected to one another despite the challenges of long periods of isolation and not being onsite for large periods of the year.

I feel as though I know each and every one of you and I am feeling very proud of who you have become.

On behalf of the whole college community, I thank you, our graduating students, for your contributions to the life of the school and for the way that you have shared your talents and gifts with us. I thank you also for the leadership that you have exercised, and I particularly wish to recognise the contribution of those who accepted leadership roles this year, especially our captains, Monica A and Grace G, our portfolio captains, Jordan G, Jayan D, Jackson G, Hans A, Benjamin P and Liana O. Each one of our graduates leaves us with our best wishes for the future and our prayers that God will bless them abundantly.

Today, on behalf of all your fellow students, and on behalf of the staff, I say thank you, not only for the gift you have given us, but for the gift of yourselves as members of our community

School Fees
The College School Advisory Council recently met in October and have agreed that the College will not increase school fees for the 2022 school year. The fees were due to increase by $90 for Years 7 & 8, $110 for Years 9 & 10 and $120 for Years 11 & 12. This is the second year that the fees will remain the same with no increase. The College will place a credit of $120 on all Year 12 student’s accounts for 2021. These decisions have been made in recognition of the impact that COVID-19 has had upon many members of our community and more broadly the Australian economy.

The 2022 school fees will be as follows:

Year Level Annual Fee

• Year 7 $3,050
• Year 8 $3,190
• Year 9 and Year 10 $3,620
• Year 11 and Year 12 $4,140
  

A family concession will be granted to all families who have two or more students enrolled at Penola Catholic College. A discount of 10% for the second child, 50% for a third child and 100% for the fourth and subsequent children will apply. The maximum family fee will be $8250.

A compulsory Building Fund contribution of $200 will be charged annually for each student enrolled at Penola Catholic College.

Year 12 classes throughout SWOTVAC
Year 12 VCE & VET teachers will be available to students for all of their scheduled classes up until their exam is completed. With the Year 12 Exams being held in the Shortis building it may mean that there will be some room changes, these will be communicated through the student bulletin for the affected classes and teachers.

Year 12 VCAL classes will continue as normal until Friday, 20 November. All Year 12 VCAL students are expected to continue in these classes until they have satisfied all of their outcomes so that they can be awarded their VCAL certificate. We are committed to getting all of our Year 12 students through what has been a particularly disrupted year for them. Given the practical and hands-on nature of VCAL it has been more difficult to demonstrate competence in all outcomes remotely. Once Year 12 VCAL students have completed all of their outcomes, our VCAL Coordinator, will make contact with each family indicating that the student is no longer required at school.

Exams
Year 12 students commenced their written exams with English yesterday Wednesday 27 October. These exams continue through until Wednesday 17 November for our students. The Year 11 exams commence on Wednesday 17 November and conclude on Thursday 25 November.

Student Free Days this Term
Monday 1 November is a Student Free Day to allow staff time for planning, preparation, assessment of student learning, collaboration, curriculum planning and professional learning. This day will be student free for both campuses. I recognise that this creates an imposition on families and thank you in advance for your ongoing support as we strive to improve student outcomes.

Monday 22 November is a Student Free Day to allow staff time for planning, preparation, assessment of student learning, collaboration, curriculum planning and professional learning. This day will be student free for both campuses.

Friday 26 November is another Student Free Day. This will allow our Senior students (Year 11) a small break between finishing exams and commencing their Headstart program and allow our staff to have a correction day to finalise grades. For our Junior campus staff, time for correction and report writing of the end of year reports.

Our current Year 8-11 students will commence their 2022 Headstart program from Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December. Our current Year 7 students will have a one day Headstart program on Thursday 2 December.

Year 7 Enrolments 2023
A reminder to all of our existing families that Year 7 enrolments for 2023 closed on Friday 16 August. A number of families applied after the close of enrolment last year making it very difficult to accurately plan for the following year, so I ask that you submit your enrolment as soon as possible. Often families assume that we know that there is a younger sibling, I would be very disappointed if one of our existing families missed out on an enrolment due to not submitting their enrolment in a timely manner.

Glenroy Bell Times from Tuesday, 26 October

Broadmeadows Staggered Finish Times from Monday, 26 October
We will have staggered Dismissal times on the Broadmeadows campus with Years 9 and 10 having a shortened period 6 and finishing at 2.50pm, Year 11 and 12 students will continue until 2.55pm.

World Teachers Day
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually, a day that we acknowledge the professionalism, dedication and expertise of those responsible for educating our students at Penola Catholic College.

As many parents know instinctively, the impact individual teachers have on a child’s education can be great. Teachers are central to learning and, while there are other important factors, including the quality of the curriculum, school environment and student ability and commitment, it is teachers that breathe life into what is being taught and who engage and motivate students.

As a Catholic school we recognise that parents are their children’s first teachers, during the course of primary and secondary school it is often individual teachers that enliven education and cause students to identify what is most exciting and rewarding.

Each one of us, if asked, could most likely name one or two special teachers that made what was being studied engaging, lively and relevant and who sparked an interest and passion for learning that was life changing.

Teachers in Catholic schools, given their faith-based nature and commitment to the Church’s teachings, are especially important. Teaching is a vocation, a calling from God, not just a ‘job’. I encourage you to take the time to personally thank your child’s teacher on World Teachers Day.

Prayer for World Teacher’s Day

Giver of all wisdom and greatest of all teachers,
Look upon our teachers with love
Grant them the resolve to nurture our eager minds
and to never give up on us who fall behind.
Bless their hearts for they rejoice when we succeed
and encourage us when we fail
And bless them with gentle patience
for the path of learning is never easy
Kindle a spirit and passion in them
it is the flame that ignites the love of learning in us
Help them see the potential in each student
Their belief in us means much more than the grade we make
Instil in them a commitment to keep on learning
It shows us to not fear new knowledge and experiences
Inspire them to touch the future
They influence how big a dream we dream for ourselves
Bless our teachers who have come before
For their work endures to this day
Let the light of your example shine upon all teachers
To build up with their words
To love with their mind
To share with their heart.
Amen