Principal’s Blog – 3 December 2021

Dear parents, students and staff

The 2021 school year is drawing to a close and I think everyone is looking forward to a relaxing break.

The Year 10 and 12 graduation ceremonies were each held earlier this week. The students were presented with their respective certificates and special awardees were acknowledged. Parents were permitted to attend the Year 12 event, which was significant as their last school presentation for most of the families. We say farewell to the students and their families who leave us and thank them for being part of the SFX family. The Year 12 Formal will be held on Saturday 4 December and the students are looking forward to this celebration especially given the COVID-19 restrictions throughout the year. We hope the Year 12 results that will be released in January will reflect the hard work and commitment by the students and their teachers.

The Year 10 students enjoyed their Year 10 social recently, which was a specially planned event to celebrate the year. This was undertaken in light of the COVID-19 restrictions earlier, which meant they could not participate in their camp. It was a wonderful night and the students entered enthusiastically into the spirit of the “Fluoro” theme.

The final show of the College musical, The Addams Family, occurred with a live-stream performance. With just a little practise, the cast, crew and orchestra performed magnificently after a break from the original week of shows in August, postponed due to lockdown. Congratulations to all involved and it was gratifying that the students were able to have some closure in recognition of the time and effort put into the staging of the musical. Thank you for bringing a great deal of joy to the SFX community through the production.

Staff and students should be very proud of the opportunities, success and achievements realised this year. SFX continues to build upon its wonderful reputation. The SFX 2021 Yearbook will be available next week and this keepsake will encapsulate a great deal of all those things dear to us in this community. I commend it to you. In the present environment where most information is ‘online’ the Yearbook will be a document that could take a high profile on the dinner table or lounge room table for some time to come. It is a very impressive publication and a big thank you to Kristie McFarlane for her publication skills and all those who have assisted in making it happen.

We say farewell and best wishes to the staff and students who are leaving us at the end of the year. The College is a better place as a result of their contribution and presence in our community.

In a separate email directly to parents there will be a schedule of fees updated for the 2022 school year. Naturally there will be an increase and I draw your attention to the changes. Some parents will take the opportunity to adjust their direct debit amounts in their budgeting plans for next year.

I wish you all the joys and blessings that Christmas brings. The birth of Jesus renews our hope in realising God’s plan for each of us. It is a special time as family and friends get together. Thankfully the shops will be shut so we can be focused on being together. Hopefully, our students will be focusing on the quality of the giving not the quality of the gift, as we remember also those who are less fortunate and will have not family or friends to share the Christmas spirit. The students have already made a start on this approach with their generous donations towards the Vinnies Christmas Appeal food hampers that will be delivered to Vinnies at the end of the school year. Don’t forget to bring in your donations before the end of next week.

“Christmas was close at hand, in all its bluff and hearty honesty; it was the season of hospitality and open-heartedness. All hearts were gladdened by its coming.” (The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens).

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and for all humankind.” (Luke 2:10)

I hope your travels over the holidays will be safe. Thank you for your support of SFX this year.

Best wishes, Happy Christmas and may you have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Paul Carroll

Principal