Year Ten Year 10
H
ow quickly Year 10 passes by! It seemed only recently that I was welcoming a keen group of fresh-faced students into one of the best years of their time at College. It has been a privilege to work closely with the students and during this time I have seen many changes. They are a Mr Daneil Quartermaine social group, close knit and Head of Year 10 enjoy each other’s company. Their numerous gifts are constantly on display and every day each student brings something different and new to the College. The four pillars: academic excellence, faith education, music and PSA sport have been demonstrated and improved upon in numerous ways by this group of young men as was clearly evident on Awards Night. Commendations should also go to those students who, whilst not formally presented on the night, battled hard all year to improve themselves and fulfil some of their potential. There are many students who have achieved greatness without the recognition they deserve. They can only be identified by the commitment to their faith, their honesty and generosity which has been given so freely and out of sheer kindness. For many students, Year 10 marks the time of decisionmaking for the future. Possible career directions and subjects are chosen that better define the pathways for most students in the next two years and beyond. Hopefully, what these decisions lead to is a sense of individual responsibility – being responsible for their own career choices, of their academic progress, of their behaviour and of their own faith development. There have been many events this year that the students have revelled in, including ten-pin bowling with Mercedes, retreats, dances with Penhros and
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PLC, India fun-run, Saturday PSA sport for the first time and Unfair Day. There have been many assembly sessions on bullying, study-skills, careers, technology, TAFE, university and apprenticeships. These could not have taken place without the assistance of the two sets of Student Councillors we have had this year and the myriad of professionals at our disposal. The Year 10 Pastoral Care Group Teachers were a very caring group of professionals. Being a PCG teacher is so much more than taking the roll and reading out notices. It involves talking to the students, listening to them, writing and reading reports, ringing their parents and following up on student problems. I was very lucky this year to have an excellent group – Ms Pagoda, Mr Liggins, Mr Kosovich, Mr Smith, Ms Savy-Walsh and Mr Emmanuel. Thanks to these people for their dedication, hard-work and perseverance and for volunteering for many events that are not the normal duties of a teacher. You made my life a lot easier and certainly enriched the lives of your students. Finally, a message to each boy: THE PRESENT Today is a gift, that is why we call it the present. Right now, somebody is very proud of you; somebody is thinking of you; somebody is caring about you; somebody misses you; somebody hopes you are not in trouble; somebody is thankful for the support you have provided; somebody wants you to be happy. (A Canopy of Stars: Some Reflections for the Journey Fr Christopher Gleeson SJ) Mr Daniel Quartermaine Head of Year 10
