Principal's Welcome
From the desk of our Principal Jeff Allen
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
WELCOME
Welcome to the inaugural year of K-12 Av Christi College.
This is a very exciting time for the College as we formally bring together two rich and vibrant school communities to become a K-12 centre of educational excellence. Our aim is to provide the best possible contemporary and personalised learning environment for all students.
I am very privileged to fulfill the role of Principal at Av Christi College and look forward to working alongside you as we embark on the next chapter of our remarkable story.
OUR FOCUS
Our focus for 2022 is to continue the ongoing conversation with community members to finalise our College Vision, Mission and Values which will then guide the strategic priorities and key school-wide structures for 2023 onward.
As stewards of the Yidarra Catholic Primary School and Av Christi College stories we “remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence” (Pope John Paul II).
In building our future story together as one community, we are excited for the rich learning, care and faith development opportunities we can provide students across the years as a K-12 school.
We also look forward to planning the ongoing development of our full College site to support student needs. We are pleased this year to have representatives from each schools’ Advisory Councils on the 2022 K-12 Av Christi College Transition Advisory Council in support of this process. We aim to continue to grow the rich relationship with the St Thomas More Parish and look forward to introducing a K-12 Friends of Av initiative early in the year to ensure parents and caregivers are engaged in the life of the school.
STAFFING UPDATE
I am pleased to announce the K-12 Senior Leadership Team for 2022 is as follows:
Principal Jeff Allen
Vice Principal Frank Italiano
Head of Primary Rosemary Paparella
Assistant Head of Primary Antonio Muto
Assistant Head of Primary Danielle Damjanovic
Deputy Principal Ministry Gemma Wooltorton
Deputy Principal Senior School Damian Scali
Deputy Principal Middle School Patrick Woolley
Avus Dean Sally Farrington
Business Manager Marie-dominique O'Connell
I am also very pleased to welcome a number of new staff to our College community this year to fulfil a range of fixed-term and ongoing roles:
Floriane Balino Primary Teacher (Early Childhood)
Michelle Berry Cafeteria Assistant
Erinn Avbell Secondary Teacher (Outdoor Education Learning Area)
Max Cherrington Sports Assistant/AFL Trainee
Paul Cranley Secondary Teacher (Religious Education Learning Area)
Alyssa Cutler Secondary Teacher (Religious Education Learning Area)
Marcel De Fries Secondary Teacher (T&E Learning Area)
Elena Del Bianco Secondary Teacher (LOTE Learning Area)
Rielle Doick Secondary Teacher (T&E Learning Area)
Holly Faulkner Primary Teacher (Early Childhood)
Sarjit Hayer Secondary Teacher (LOTE Learning Area)
Megan Henry Secondary Teacher (English Learning Area)
Melissa Kelly Secondary Teacher (Religious Education Learning Area)
Olivia Mollica Primary Teacher (Early Childhood)
Trang Nguyen Secondary Teacher (Science Learning Area)
Marie-dominique O'Connell Business Manager
Martene Oversby Secondary Teacher (Religious Education Learning Area)
Therese Schembri Secondary Teacher (Science Learning Area)
Katelyn Versluis Secondary Teacher (Arts Learning Area)
Brighid Williams Secondary Teacher (Science Learning Area)
Tristan Wills Secondary Teacher (The Arts Learning Area)
We look forward to the positive impact that our new staff will have on the College community.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In reflecting on our learning outcomes from last year, we acknowledge the efforts of our 2021 graduands. We commend them on their positive attitude and resilience in working toward their goals.
The hard work and dedication of our high performing ATAR and VET students is to be especially commended. They are a terrific example of what can be achieved through self-regulation, commitment and strong levels of application.
Some key achievements of the 2021 student cohort are highlighted below:
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 2 General Exhibitions
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 1 Subject Exhibition
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 6 Subject Certificates of Excellence
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 1 VET Certificate of Excellence
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 20 Certificates of Distinction
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 24 Certificates of Merit
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 7 students (5%) achieving an ATAR 99+
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 37 students (29%) achieving an ATAR 90+
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; 61 VET Certificates
We look forward to formally recognising the considerable efforts of these students at our upcoming Whole School College Assembly on Tuesday 1 February in the College Gym.
COVID-19 UPDATES AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING
As a College, we continue to follow the guidelines provided by Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) in line with State Government and Department of Health advice in the current COVID impacted climate. We have safety measures and plans in place as required to support the safe return of students.
Please rest assured that the College will provide COVID related updates to families as the situation continues to evolve.
For more information, visit:
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AMALGAMATION UPDATES
We will communicate broadly with families as we continue to shape up key whole school initiatives moving forward, including the provision of a ‘road map’ which will provide clarity for parents and students. In the interim, the College has a number of necessary transitional processes in place to align key elements between the Primary and Secondary schools.
We are grateful for your ongoing feedback and enquiries to date, which has contributed to the FAQ page available here:
KEY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Monday 31 January
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; Kindergarten to Year 7, Year 11 and Year 12 students commence
Tuesday 1 February:
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; Year 8 to Year 10 students commence
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; Whole School Assembly (K-12)
Friday 4 February
·&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ;&Բ; Av Christi College Community Mass
o To formally celebrate the commencement of K-12 Av Christi College we are thrilled to have Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB celebrate our Community Mass
o Time: 6.00pm
o Location: Secondary School Oval
o Please note that this is a compulsory event for students. We will provide further information closer to the event
For all other key events across the year, please access the College calendar available at:
The College releases a fortnightly digital newsletter to ensure engagement with our immediate and broader school communities. The first e-News for the year will be sent to families on 1 February and will also be available at: .
We look forward with great excitement to our first year as a K-12 College as we work together to support the growth of students as whole persons with the capacity to positively shape the world around them.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Jeff Allen
PRINCIPAL