Headmaster's Report

Headmaster's
Report
Newsletter NO.1
Dear Parents.
A new school year is upon us; no doubt it will have its
ups and downs. Be that as it may. I would like to welcome
you all. both parents and boys. new and old. to
the 1978 school year.
At the Mass celebrated by our Archbishop to ask
God's blessing on our Archdiocese's educational efforts
for 1978. I noticed that a paragraph placed In the Mass
booklet as a rellection piece. was a quotation from the
booklet on Catholic Schools. This was produced by the
Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education late last
year under the title "The Catholic SChool". It offers all,
both staff and parents, who are making so many sacrifices
to support our system, much encouragement and
consolation. It is well worth purchasing.
I would like to quote one extract from that document
(p. 22) for your consideration:
" ... because of difficulties In the provision of adequate
staff and finance. In such a situation should the Church
perhaps give up her apostolic mission in Catholic
schools. as some people would like her to do. and direct
her energy to a more direct work of evangelisation in
sectors considered to be of higher priority or more suited
to her spiritual mission, or should she make State schools
the sole object of her pastoral activity? Such a solution
would not only be contrary to the directives of the Vatican
Council. but would also be opposed to the Church's
mission and to what is expected of her by christian
people."
New Staff: I am sure you will join with me in welcoming
the following staff members to the College - Br.
O'Neili from St. Kevin's. Br. Challis from Abbotsford, Br.
Fitzgerald from Treacy College and Br. Smith from Box
Hill. and also the following lay teachers who have joined
our staff this year - Mrs. Cantwell. our new Librarian. Mr.
Colvin, who has returned to us otter a year's study. Mr.
Douglas and Mr. Purchas, who are teaching in the Forms
1and 2 area, Mr. Hollyoak. who isteaching in the Forms 3
and 4 area, Mrs. Hayes and Mr. Dowling, who are teach-
2
ing in the Form 5 area. We also say goodbye to the
following staff members - Br.Chapman. who has been
appointed Headmaster at St. Kilda, Br. Coghlan, who
has also been appointed to St. Kilda, Br. Aron, who will
be doing full-time studies, Br.Jones, who has returned to
his own province of Western Australia; also the following
lay teachers - Miss Tout. Mr. Nieuwenhof and Mr.
McDonald.
Examination Results: The H.S.C. examinations for
1977 were very successful. with 85 out of 108 boys obtaining
their certificate. This Ispretty much the same result as
last year in numerical terms, but of those who did pass
the marks of individual students were much higher, and
this of course means that many more boys this year will
be able to obtain their first choice at University or Senior
Technical Schools. We congratulate all those boys who
have done well, and particularly:
John Love
Peter Bemman
Dux of Science
John Shanahan - Dux of Commerce
Paul Dawson - Dux of Humanities
. It is also important to mention the fact that boys who
did not do well would have also benefited from the year,
and the time spent in 1977 will be a valuable experience
for them. Many of these will eventually end up In the next
year or so with their H.S.C.
Work Experience: Many schools have been taking
part in Work Experience programmes during the last
couple of years and we here at Parade are introducing
our own scheme this year. We hope to start officially in
April.
Newsletter NO.2
For the last five or six weeks we have noticed at our
Sunday Masses the large candle on the sanctuary.
which has been alight during the Holy Sacrifice. This
candle is always placed in such a position from Easter
Sunday until Ascension Thursday. It represents the risen
Christ still on earth. Atter Ascension Day it Isremoved and
we are back in our normal dally routine, going through
the rather long period of time until once again the Easter
ceremonies will be with us.
Like the Church. of which it is part, the school is gradually
moving through its normal yearly process. For example,
you will be receiving the Term I reports very soon,
and most of these will be based on teacher assessment
and tests that Individual teachers have conducted
within their own periods. This assessment will be a
reasonable guide as to how your son is progressing at
the moment.
Future of the Higher School Certificate (Year 12)
Examination: The V.U.S.E.B.(Victorian Universities and
Schools Examination Board) will cease to exist on March
31sl, 1979. The V.U.S.E.B.has conducted the H.S.C. examination,
as we know it, and will conduct that exam for the
last time this year.
A new body, V.l.S.E. [Victorian Institute of Secondary
Education) will replace V.U.S.E.B.as from next year and
will take responsibility for year 12 assessment.
On April 5th, V.l.S.E. released a policy statement on the
future curriculum and assessment for year 12 students,
and the following points from that statement should be
noted:
(a) Timetable - There will be no major changes to
existing assessment procedures (as operating under
V.U.S.E.B.)in 1979 or 1980. The planned new strucfure for
curriculum and assessment will take effect for year 12 in
1981 - when the present year 9 students reach year 12.
(Thus our present year 10 and 11students will face H.S.C.