This week’s newsletter was delayed with the onset of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our College Community for the support that we have received over the last week. The team at the College have done an outstanding job in working to ensure that our community was well informed, and our facilities well maintained and ready for our return on Wednesday.

The College Farm did a magnificent job in looking after our animals, with the addition of two newborn calves over the weekend.

I trust that all families are safe and well after the impacts of the weather system, if you have any concerns or require any assistance, I encourage you to contact the school so we can provide assistance where possible. With this being my first term at West Moreton Anglican College I have been greatly impressed with the strong connections across our community which has been evident in the work and support that has occurred over the last week.

Showa Gakuin High School Visit

We recently had the privilege of welcoming twenty students from Showa Gakuin High School in Tokyo, Japan, for the third consecutive year. During their visit, I had the opportunity to meet with Principal Yoshikazu Yamamoto, as well as Tanya Ferguson from Australian International Student Tours (AIST).

The visiting students participated in a mix of class visits, cultural activities, and local excursions. Highlights of their trip included a visit to Dreamworld and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which provided a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange and connection. It was a pleasure to host our international friends, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership in the years ahead.

Lions Youth of the Year Program

I also had the honour of attending the Lions Youth of the Year Program this past weekend, where we had two of our very own students, Chloe Butler and Kylah Gough, as entrants. The Lions Youth of the Year Program is designed to foster leadership skills in young Australians and aims to support students in honing their skills for the workforce. I was incredibly proud of Chloe and Kylah for representing our school with such dedication and enthusiasm. Both students were excellent representatives of our College through the impromptu questions and speech sections, with Chloe named as the overall winner on the day. She will now progress to the Regional Finals on March 15. 

International Women's Day Event

Last Saturday we celebrated International Women’s Day. Unfortunately the Zonta Ipswich Breakfast that we usually attend with our students had to be cancelled due to the weather, but the impact on our school of many strong women over many years is important to recognise. 

We are fortunate to have so many experienced female staff in leadership roles across the College, who have helped to shape our school and our culture since 1994. The role that leaders in our Executive Leadership Team like Mrs Janelle Lecinski, Ms Kirsten Mullen, Ms Sue Stewart, Mrs Anne Shaw and Mrs Jackie Britz play as role models to staff and students cannot be underestimated. 

We have an amazing group of female staff who all do outstanding work across the various departments of our College. Thank you for all that you do to support the WestMAC community.

Academic Mentoring Program

Finally, our Academic Mentoring Program for Year 12 students has begun. While our focus is to support our Year 12 students as they navigate their final year of school, there are a number of key strategies that I wanted to share, that are important for all students of all ages when focusing on learning.

Dr Britton and the Senior School team are doing a wonderful job in supporting our students to be well organised and to focus on the high impact study tactics, with the introduction of the WestMAC Six Pack for Academic Success:

• Effective Time Management
• Active Learning
• Spaced Practice
• Interleaved Practice
• Retrieval Practice
• Seeking feedback

Andrew Peach

Principal