iServi News | 12 February 2021 | Term 1, Week 1
Welcome
Welcome to another exciting year at Servite. A very special welcome to those families joining our community for the first time in 2021.
Each year it is a tradition at our school to focus on one of our key values which are born out of the Servite charisms. For 2021 our focus will be the value of Hospitality. The hospitality of the Servites is renowned worldwide and has been an important part of our story for generations. At a time when our world is suffering due to COVID with people facing different challenges each day, being hospitable to one another becomes more important than ever.
At Servite we celebrate Community as a core charism. We promote the value of hospitality and recognise the unique gifts and talents of each of our students. In being hospitable, we see our students for whom they are and aim to work alongside parents and caregivers in partnership to support them to become all that they were created to be. In knowing our students, we are able to cater for their pastoral, faith and learning needs to support their development as whole persons.
This sense of hospitality of course extends to our broader community as we strive to remain connected despite the busyness of today’s world and the necessary restrictions currently in place due to COVID. Over the course of the year, we will utilise technology and other innovative means to ensure quality communication between home and school. To this end, we look forward to connecting with families online in the coming weeks with the commencement of our Parent Information Evenings for certain year groups.
In working with the Parents and Friends, we will also be relaunching our Parent Connect sessions this term which will allow parents and caregivers to engage in learning around the various systems and strategies that we have in place at the school. It will also allow the provision of genuine feedback into the ongoing strategic growth and development of Servite. We look forward to continually updating parents and caregivers on the other upcoming community-based activities that we have planned.
I would like to thank our parents and caregivers for their outstanding support of the school during the interrupted first few weeks of Term 1. The delay meant that some programs had to be adjusted to adhere to government restrictions and to accommodate a shortened term, however our students managed well with the changes. I am also very thankful to all families for their support in ensuring students arrived at school with their obligatory mask.
Day 1 was a very exciting and busy one for us at the College, having everyone return together. Our Year 7 students and those new to the school from other year levels transitioned very well into the life of our school. It was terrific to meet so many new and existing families over a coffee in the morning. There was lots of joy and energy as our new students connected with each other and learned about a day in the life of Servite. Our Student Buddies were exceptional in the support that they provided to our new students. Their sense of hospitality and generosity is greatly appreciated. This terrific relationship is one that will continue to develop over the ensuing years.
We also took the opportunity to meet with students in their year level cohorts. This allowed us to highlight the plans and expectations in place for their particular year level and to encourage them to apply strong levels of effort and application at every opportunity.
This week we commenced our Formation Program with the Year 7 students in support of their effective transition into the College. This specially designed program supports student discovery of key values, learning ready attributes and learning skills that will set them up for future success as they progress through the College. Importantly, the program also ensure that the students develop a connection with others and feel safe and well supported.
The very busy Week 1 also included our annual Interpriory Swimming Carnival. Normally scheduled as a whole school event, the Carnival was redesigned to accommodate the COVID restrictions in place. We are grateful to Head of Sport Mr Dave Maxwell for his efforts in ensuring the success of the carnival which was held at our own Servite College Aquatic Centre. We were thrilled also to be able to livestream the event so families could still enjoy the experience despite the restrictions in place.
Congratulations to all the swimmers who committed their time and energy to the Carnival. We will now shift our focus to the upcoming ACC Swimming Carnival later this term. A reminder that we continue to run Swim Club at the pool before school for interested students.
In true Servite hospitality, we look out to the needs of our students and aim to personalise their learning journey. Hospitality begins by graciously accepting people and then taking the necessary steps to provide for their needs. Consequently, as highlighted by a very busy Week 1, we provide multiple growth, support and learning opportunities for students. We strongly encourage all of our students to harness these opportunities and to become fully involved in the life of their school. We want students to become leaders of their own learning and to be courageous in striving to become all that they were created to be.
Mr Jeff Allen
Principal