Year 9
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a positive experience for all involved. The staff at Gilkinson's dance studio spoke very highly of the boy's attitude and participation throughout. I must extend my thanks at this point to the seven staff members who have supported the year nines this year. Mr Rod Rainer, Mr Greg Hill, Mrs Nicole Love, Ms Sandra Vallini, Mr Graeme Porter, Mr Jeremy Baker and Mr Ed Clarke have lent their support throughout the year in a wide range of areas from pastoral administration through to supervising socials during their evenings. The positive and professional way in which they have done so should not go without recognition. My hope for this year's nines as they move into the senior part of their high school education is that they continue to develop and maintain the strength to think for themselves, to act only after consideration of the impact of their actions on others, to see through much of the superficial bravado that can govern the life of young men, and to stand against this sort of behavior within their society. In doing this, they shall truly be able to become, in the words of Edmund Rice, Men for others. I wish them all well.
ear Nine often proves to be one of the more difficult years of any student's time at high school. It is a year of challenges - physical, intellectual and personal ones, a year when social development leaps ahead for many students and a year when a number of boys will need to start considering both their path in life, and the effect that their behaviour might have upon that path. Such life decisions are not things to be taken lightly, and the degree of maturity with which the year nine class of 2002 have approached the various challenges placed before them has, on the whole, been admirable. A number of students, too many to list, have achieved excellent results in a range of pursuits, from the academic, to selection in state sporting teams. Year nine support for both the curricular and extracurricular aspects of college life has likewise been exemplary. Many students who may not have achieved spectacular results are nonetheless worthy of mention for the way in which they have striven at all times to give their all. During the course of the year, notable activities would include the social program conducted with Mercedes College, which included the annual bush dance in term one, and the formal dance lessons and social during term two. I was pleased with the way all the boys approached these social opportunities in a spirit of participation, which led to
Mr Anthony Eaton Head of Year 9
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