Welcome to 2026 – A Year to Discover
I hope you have had a relaxing break and that you are ready for the year ahead. I want to extend a warm welcome to our new students, staff members and families who are joining our community in 2026. The first two weeks have been filled with lots of energy and excitement. Classrooms are buzzing, friendships are rekindling and there is a familiar rhythm of learning returning. It has been a great start and I am grateful for the positivity shown by everyone as we embark on a new academic year.
This year, our College theme is Discover. It invites all of us - students, staff and families to think beyond ourselves and lean into opportunities for growth. I am hopeful that we can challenge ourselves to discover potential, to uncover new possibilities and to learn how to reflect and take responsibility for our actions. We all continue to learn and grow no matter how much experience we have and it is often in the times of struggle or mistakes that real learning occurs. Discovery is an active journey, and I encourage you to support one another as we learn, question, explore and grow.
We have some new staff who have started at the College. I want to introduce our new P-12 Deputy Principal, Mr Chris Wyatt who has been busy meeting students from Prep to Year 12 and making himself known across the College. Please look out for an opportunity to meet him at the upcoming swimming carnivals, meet the teacher events or at the Parent Café on Friday mornings.
Mrs Kylie Singles, will be the acting Head of Junior School for 2026, and Mr Jason Corbett‑Jones, is our new Head of Senior School. Both have been actively setting clear expectations for the year ahead and supporting staff and students as we establish strong foundations. Thank you to our families for supporting our refreshed mobile phone expectations. The policy guidelines have been thoughtfully updated to promote student safety and encourage rich, in‑person relationship skills. If you do need to contact your child during the day, please leave a message with the Admin staff.
This week Junior School families have had the chance to meet classroom teachers and hear from Mrs Singles at the recent Meet the Teacher sessions. I do trust that this time was helpful so that you can support your child’s next steps in learning. Our staff are committed to creating strong learning experiences so that curiosity is encouraged and every learner is seen and able to make progress.
In the Senior School, Years 8, 9 and 10 camps have already taken place, offering students an important opportunity to build resilience and step outside their comfort zones, offsite. Years 7, 11 and 12 have completed onsite activities designed to promote connectedness alongside developing strong study skills.
Next week, I am excited to have Dr Justin Coulson returning to the College for a second year. In 2025 he spoke about resilience and how we can build ways for our children to manage challenges through facing them. This year he will speak about anxiety and provide helpful strategies for all parents. Please make sure you book in through the link provided in this newsletter and I encourage you to bring friends and other members of your family along. One thing I recall from last year was his message that our children need to experience the struggle. It is during the hard times that they learn to be stronger and develop stronger skills. We cannot protect them from everything, but we can teach them protective measures so that they can stand confidently.
I am looking forward to the many stories of discovery that will unfold this year.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 3:5–6