PRINCIPALS REPORT
One of the beautiful beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church is the inherent dignity of every human being — how precious each and every one of us is. In an individualistic and materialistic society, we can sometimes lose sight of our own worth and importance as human beings. Our value does not come from our job, friends, money, fame, or fortune, but simply from being.
When we recognise the worth of others through this same lens, we are naturally drawn to act with compassion and care for one another. I love the quote by Fr Gregory Boyle: “You are exactly what God had in mind when He made you.” It beautifully captures this idea and encourages us to embrace who we are, without constant comparison to others.
We finished last term with parent-teacher interviews, and it was wonderful to see a record level of attendance. It is so valuable for us to come together and reflect on the semester that has passed. One of the most important aspects of this process is that it shows students we value their education. When parents and teachers work in partnership and focus on student learning, it helps foster a mindset in students that their education matters — encouraging them to strive for their best. I understand that family schedules are busy, and I sincerely thank everyone who was able to attend. We hope to continue this positive trend of growing participation in these evenings.
Semester 2 begins for our junior students with a fresh start to their assessments and reporting. A new addition to our most recent reports was the inclusion of the Grade Point Average (GPA). This provides a helpful summary measure of each student's progress, which they can use for tracking improvement and setting personal goals. At John Therry, the notion of ‘personal best’ underpins our approach to learning. We hope that each student will continue working to improve and take pride in the progress they make.
As we look forward to the term ahead, you’ll find a summary of key upcoming events below. I draw your attention to the staff development day for this term which is on Friday 8th August and will be a staff faith formation day.
We especially wish our Year 12 students the best of luck in their upcoming HSC Trial Examinations. We’ve been incredibly impressed by their dedication, with over 90 students attending holiday workshops — a strong testament to their commitment to doing their personal best. With just 30 days of regular school left, the countdown is well and truly on for Year 12. We know this time brings a mix of emotions: excitement for the future and some sadness as this chapter of life draws to a close. Enjoy the journey, Year 12 — you are in our prayers!