Mrs Helen Weissenberger's last address
There have been a significant number of positive outcomes that were achieved by Mrs Karen Spiller OAM CF and her team throughout 2019 and I would just like to highlight some of those.
NAPLAN results – To be listed in the Top 50 Queensland Secondary Schools is a great achievement and to be the Top Performing School in Logan in both Primary and Secondary School for 2019 is a great outcome. NAPLAN is a point in time test and there have been many arguments around preparing our students for NAPLAN testing. However, the evidence does show that parents do base at least part of their decisions on potential schools on NAPLAN data.
During 2019, the College underwent its five-yearly NSSAB Cyclical review. Dom and I appreciated being part of the accreditation panel with an external validator and would like to pass on our sincere thanks and appreciation to the many people involved in the accreditation. What impressed us was the amount of work staff in both the Primary and Secondary School put into the accreditation and how passionate our staff is in delivering on the College Purpose – To Educate, To Inspire, To Make a Difference.
The refurbishment of the Sanctuary and the opening of Jingeri has inspired collaboration amongst teachers and across faculties in the Secondary School. This has been supported by the three Deans model in both Primary and Secondary School. The three Deans model is an innovative model and is providing support for our teachers in teaching, and our students and staff in learning, curriculum and academic welfare.
I would also like to mention the passing of the EBA by our staff with the previous co-curricular staff model being challenged. Previously, as part of the ‘old’ EBA staff had to commit to at least one co-curricular team per year, and for some staff, it was a task they did not want to be involved in. With EBA certainty, the College is able to move to the paid model for co-curricular activities. This helps support coaches that have a passion for the sport or activity that they are engaged in and has been acknowledged by both students and parents.
I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of Mrs Spiller and all of her team here tonight for their presence within the school community and management of the COVID-19 crisis. We have all had to adapt to very challenging circumstances in a short period of time – students, teachers, college leaders, and parents have all played an important role in the process. The extreme challenge and our response I believe has highlighted the degree of resilience we have as a school community.
I would like to acknowledge Claire Henkey and her team on the positive media coverage we have had during the pandemic. We have had regular media stories across all channels, both locally and nationally. Both Karen and the students have done the College proud with their confidence on television.
As I deliver my final address as Chair of the Board, I hope you will indulge me in recognising those who have supported me over the past nine and a half years.
| To my fellow Directors, past and present, thank you for your commitment and dedication to the College. At the beginning of 2011, our Purpose was 'Every person within the John Paul College Community has a responsibility before God to be the best they can be, to strive for excellence in all areas of their life'. From 2019 both the Board and the College Executive have been delivering on our current purpose – To Educate, To Inspire, To Make a Difference. I look forward to sitting alongside past directors, who are here this evening at future events as we all continue to support John Paul College into the future.
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I would like to recognise Scott Ingram, Norm Kerley, Allan Dennis, Russell Welch, Les Horsfall and Andy Gordon who have been integral members of the Board and Executive Leadership team throughout my tenure. The Board and Executive retreats in those early years were a time when we came together to work on the Strategic Plan of the College and as the Executive team, you delivered on the operational plans which delivered our overall strategy. I’m not sure if I should be thanking or blaming you Norm, as you were the one who put my name forward as a potential Board Member to Mr Warren Peat and Mr Mark Fenton back in 2010.
Parents, Directors, Staff, and Executive members have recently spoken to me about the legacy of the current board. So, what is our legacy? When we talk of our legacy, I have to acknowledge the eight and a half years that I have worked alongside fellow directors, Robert Simpson and Robin Mack. To Robert and Robin, I thank you both for your professionalism, commitment and dedication to the Board of Directors. We have engaged in many a robust discussion, not always agreeing but ultimately making the best decision for the College. I will miss not working alongside you both and value the friendships we have made.
As a Board, we listened to the College Community and are proud to have delivered on our promise of air-conditioning all learning spaces by 2018. When I first started on the board this was one of the biggest issues for parents at the time.
The College has invested in a number of capital projects aligning to the Strategic Plan during my tenure – Noelene Munns Learning Centre.
The Wesley Middle School Precinct – happy memories of the day I ruined a good pair of shoes when Robert, Dilshani, John and I had a tour of the Wesley Building renovations just prior to opening on a very wet day and we all had to trundle through the mud.
The Science Building refurbishment has been one of the highlights of my time on the board. From inception and visiting other schools to look at their Science buildings to involving Allan and his team of both teachers and students in the design of our Science building – to watching that dream become reality.
The new Kindergarten building was approved by the board to support the Strategic Priority of Sustainability – and to support Enrolments. Kindy is a feeder into the Primary School, and I am pleased to say that from 2019 to 2020 our Prep year had the highest retention from Kindy.
Another milestone was the decision to commence boarding - Fenton Village and the boarding students again supports our enrolment strategy.
There has been a focus on the Governance of the College over the past nine years with the introduction of the Governance Committee, currently chaired by Mr Scott Eustace, with Mr Robin Mack being the Inaugural Chair of this committee. The Board has worked alongside Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) on a number of governance initiatives. The Board and Executive Team participated in the pilot of the ISQ Governance Program. This program is aligned with the AICD Company Directors course but with more focus on case studies relating to School Governance and Operations. I would encourage all new directors to a school board to undertake the ISQ course.
The relationship between the Board Chair, Board Deputy Chair and the Principal is pivotal for the success of the College. Open and honest communication is critical, celebrating the highlights but reflecting on what could have gone better in our decisions and operations. I pass on my sincere thanks to Mrs Spiller for the enormous time commitment she has given to both Dom and I and the Board over the past three years. Dom and I have met with Karen on a weekly basis to provide the support link between strategic and operational plans.
I could not have held the position of Chair for just over seven years without the support of my fellow board members and in particular the support of my two Deputy Chairs in that time - John Dawson and Dominic Taylor.
| John and I were a formidable team for over four years until John finished his time on the board at the end of 2017. John was a voice of reason, and he always put the students at the centre of all decisions. John and I spent many hours working together, so much so that his beautiful family referred to me as his second wife. Andrew and I are blessed to have remained good friends with John, Kym and their family. John, it was an absolute privilege working with you and I thank you for your significant contribution to the College.
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To you Dom, it has been a pleasure working alongside you for the past four and a half years, the past three as Deputy Chair. As part of Board succession, the Board appointed Dom as the Deputy with my retirement in 2020 pending. Dom, you exemplify the College motto of Unity | Christ | Learning and like John, our students remain pivotally at the centre of all of your decisions. You are an empathetic communicator and leader and I wish you and the Board continued success.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank the outstanding commitment of my current fellow directors throughout the year. You all continue to challenge, inspire and share your professional expertise at a strategic and board level and dedicate countless hours to the College. I wish you all continued success as you deliver on the strategic priorities of the College during this pandemic and post-COVID.
I would like to extend my utmost appreciation and thanks to our Director of Finance and Company Secretary, Mr Scott Ingram for his commitment to all of our board and board committee meetings. It has been a privilege to work with someone of your intelligence, calibre, integrity and wisdom over the past nine and a half years. I will miss not working alongside you but appreciate the friendship Andrew and I will continue to share with both you and Jenny.
To my family, Andrew and Emily, thank you for your support and understanding with all of the sacrifices I have made to be here or to support the College.
To Mrs Karen Spiller, Mr Norm Kerley, Mr Mark Zietsch, our Heads of School and the Executive Leadership team we thank you for providing outstanding leadership in pursuit of excellence here at John Paul College. This extends to the outstanding teaching and support staff here at the College. You all make a difference to ensure that when a student graduates from John Paul College they are confident, compassionate and empathetic, community-minded, resilient and adaptable, have a global outlook and are skilled young adults. I am proud to say that John Paul College is in exceptional leadership hands with you Karen at the helm.
