Last Thursday, we were informed of the resignation of John Cortese. I wish to acknowledge and thank John for his outstanding service as Principal of Notre Dame College since 2013.

Over more than a decade of dedicated and faith-filled leadership, John has made a significant contribution to Catholic education and to the life and mission of our College. Under his guidance, Notre Dame College has continued to grow and strengthen as a faith-filled learning community, with a clear focus on both educational excellence and the formation of young people.

John’s leadership has been marked by commitment, integrity and a deep understanding of the Marist and Mercy traditions that underpin our work. His contribution has had a lasting impact not only on our College, but also across the broader Catholic Education Sandhurst community.

We thank John sincerely for his service and wish him all the very best for the future.

The process to appoint his successor will commence shortly and will be managed by Catholic Education Sandhurst Limited (CESL).

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of our Year 11 Theatre Studies students and staff following last week’s performances. The quality of the work presented was outstanding and reflected both the dedication of the students and the expertise and guidance of their teachers. It was clear that a great deal of time, creativity and collaboration went into bringing these performances to life, and the result was a showcase of impressive talent and confidence. Congratulations to all involved.

This week we had our Year 7 and Year 9 Learning Walks take place. I extend my thanks to the staff and students who opened their classrooms and to the parents and guardians who participated in the walks. These opportunities provide valuable insight into teaching and learning, allowing parents and guardians to see first-hand how learning is experienced across different year levels. We hope that all who took part gained a deeper understanding not only of what learning looks like in our classrooms, but also how it feels from a student perspective. These insights are important as we continue to reflect on and strengthen our practice.

With the end of the semester now just over a fortnight away, it is important that all students remain focused and organised in their approach to learning. This is a critical time for the completion and submission of assessment tasks. Students are encouraged to ensure that all work is completed to the highest possible standard and submitted on time. Careful planning, seeking support where needed, and maintaining consistent effort over the coming weeks will be key to achieving positive outcomes. Staff are available to assist, and I encourage students to take advantage of this support.

Thank you, as always, for the ongoing support of our families and the commitment of our staff in working together to provide the best possible opportunities for our students.

Emma Reynoldson - Acting Principal.