Dear Parents/Guardians
As we come to the end of the year I would like to sincerely thank the Good Counsel College community for your support during the year.

Schools are unique social structures where much of what is to be done is dictated by people who are not actually in them. We move into 2014 with the possibility of significant changes to National Curriculum, funding and societal expectations along with a group of clients who operate in an increasingly digital and social media world. Every student at the College next year will have started high school after the beginning of Facebook.

There are few students who do not own a smartphone and fewer that do not have access to mobile phone technology. This is a time of instantaneous communication and it seems, ultimately the loss of privacy.

It is a time now to reflect on what we are doing.

It is important that students gain results that allow them to realise their aspirations. However, in a world that challenges them constantly, the work we must do in helping them cope with what will happen is just as, if not more, important.

It is often a failure of our education system that in the drive to achieve a result, the ability to be resilient when things don’t fall into place suffers.

As an ex student at university said, “after a year at uni your OP means nothing, it is how you deal with what you have to do that counts.”

This year the College has invested in the person part of education with the NET team, a Student Welfare position and continued Social and Emotional Learning and we are committed to these programmes.

Any worthwhile change takes time and the investment of energy, and I can say to parents that as a Catholic school, developing a person to be good and moral is the most important part of what we do.

As our year ends I wish the seniors success in what they do and hope that come back to see us. I wish for those that are leaving the College heading elsewhere that they find a place that receives them in friendship.

To our departing staff Mrs Paula Houston and Mrs Kate Thomson— we wish them all the best in the future. Mrs Houston is moving to Western Australia to be closer to family and Mrs Thomson will be on leave in 2014.

For our families and students who will come back to a much changed school with the new block due for completion this year and operation next year along with an expanded oval, the staff and I wish you joyful holidays and good cheer.

It is at Christmas that we celebrate the birth of Jesus and in that event the foundation of our faith. A faith that has had significant influence on our town and in the building of our school.

Next year we continue the process of reforming with the Marist Schools of Australia. I would like to take this opportunity to both announce and congratulate our captains for 2014. Pictured below is Leo, Danielle, Jaiden and Eve who will also be representing the College at the Student Leaders Gathering in Brisbane in January.

From our families to yours—have a happy and holy Christmas, and I look forward to working with you One Spirit in Christ in 2014.

Paul Keenan
PRINCIPAL