BUEN CAMINO

It has hard for me to believe that this day has come – my last day with students at Holy Cross College. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to be the foundation Principal of Holy Cross College and to establish this new school in Ellenbrook.  I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Holy Cross College community.  I have appreciated your support and your good wishes as  I set out on the next stage of my journey. 

It has been such a pleasure to get to know the students at Holy Cross College.  I have enjoyed so many special times with the students – in classes, on Retreats and the College Sleep Out, on camps and excursions, at sporting and Arts events and with some of them in Canberra, Spain and Rome.   I have valued student voice in so many aspects of the building of this new College – in designing learning and buildings, selecting furniture and play equipment.  Particularly special to me has been walking with the our young people on Camino.  It has been a privilege to see so many of them grow through the school – our first Year Ones will be in Middle School next year and our first Kindergarten students go into Year Five.  It has been quite a journey… but the time has come for me to take a new path.

I thank all in the College community for their good wishes and for the very special gifts I have been given.  My gift to the College is a cross created in Cologne in Germany.  It is called the Divine Welcome Cross and draws from the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Its depiction of the two people embracing is symbolic of the all loving father reunited with his son. In the background are leaves, symbols of the tree of life. On the reverse side of the cross are the words : Permeate, O God, my entire essence. Fill my entire being that others can experience your great love through me. I am Yours.

Holy Cross College is a strong community, but communities are made up of people and relationships and that can be messy, as we share good times but we also disappoint each other at times. Our College Vision is to be a Community of Transformation in the Spirit of the Risen Christ.  I hope the Divine Welcome cross will remind the College community of the transforming power of mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness in our relationships with God and with each other. 

Each year, we say farewell to staff who leave the College to take on new opportunities.  This year the following staff will embark on a new stage of their journeys.  I wish them well and thank them for their contribution to Holy Cross College.

• Ms Kelly Bond 
• Miss Laura Goodwin
• Mr James Parsons
• Ms Natascia Morlotti
• Mr Richard Smiroldo
• Miss Jessica Vaini
• Mr Anthony Davis
• Mrs Jude Sharper
• Mrs Sharon Andrews
• Mrs Renee Foxbridge

I thank all of the staff at Holy Cross College.  They are a wonderful team of people and have a wonderful commitment to giving our young people so many opportunities. 

I am very pleased to tell you that his week we accepted the tender on the building of the College Gymnasium and works should commence early next year.  By the end of next year the College Gymnasium should be complete and College events will be held in this beautiful new facility.

My journey with the community of Holy Cross will be one that I will cherish forever. I have been very lucky to have these very special years at Holy Cross College and it is very hard to say goodbye. But Holy Cross will always have a very special place in my heart and I will be back to visit.

As I leave to embark on the next stage of my journey, my wish for the College community is that each of you will always be true to the motto of Holy Cross College and live ‘life to the full’.

Buen Camino

Ms Mandy Connor

Principal