News & Events

In my privileged opportunity to serve as Acting Principal this Term, I welcome you to Term 2 as we consolidate and deepen our learning, and progress our commitment to excellence, one of our four values at St Paul’s College.

Edmund Rice Day celebrations to begin our term were a fitting reminder of our global partnerships as one of hundreds of Edmund Rice Communities around the world. Our Principal Paul Belton celebrated Edmund Rice Day in the homeland of our Founder, Blessed Edmund Rice, alongside Principals and Leaders from each Edmund Rice community worldwide, as part of the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) Congress.

Celebrating Blessed Edmund Rice reminds us that we are called to support one another in an inclusive community, where everybody can achieve excellence. Irrespective of who you are or where you come from, you deserve the opportunity to achieve excellence.

During our staff’s Professional Learning on Day 1 of Term 2 (student-free day), I outlined and specified what excellence must look like for our staff, if our students are to achieve excellence.

As outlined in the framework below, the challenge is to achieve excellence from students by being accountable, reminding ourselves that as staff at St Paul’s, we are choosing to give ourselves to this community, committing to collaboration between staff, and knowing that excellence is owed to our students and families. Informing how we achieve this important work is Jesus’ Mission outlined in the Gospel, the work of our founder Blessed Edmund Rice, and essential educational documents from secular/regulatory bodies and our Church.

In an opening assembly to Secondary students, I instead discussed excellence from their perspective, where trying for excellence offers an unacceptable excuse. Instead, it is our responsibility to find ways of achieving excellence for ourselves; this might be asking more/different questions, spending more time with the right people, undertaking additional study, appreciating the value of learning especially when we find it challenging.

The framework below summarises the need for students to prioritise excellence in Term 2 by ensuring their achievement, being accountable to themselves and their decisions (what they say and do, and knowing we can’t be accountable for what others say or do), being respectful to self and others and our environment, while also taking and making opportunities throughout the term ahead.

Throughout the remaining weeks of Semester 1, let us all consider what excellence needs to mean for ourselves and be challenged to achieve excellence (not merely try for excellence). Through this, we strengthen our sense of self and answer Blessed Edmund Rice’s call to realise our best for ourselves and our community.

Finally, I add welcome to the following staff who join our welcoming community in Term 2:

Bobby Vincent, ESO supporting Inclusive Education in Years 7-12
Anthea McCallum, ESO supporting Inclusive Education in Years 7-12
Brandon Jackson-Martin, First Nations Mentor and ESO
Hamish Morelli, Teacher in Years 7-12 and Counsellor
Stanislaw Domiszewski, Teacher R-12 supporting via Temporary Relief work each day

I wish you every achievement in the Term ahead and as always, please contact the College wherever we may be able to assist you, your child, or your family. 

Josh Foulis
Acting Principal