From the Head of College,

Mr  A. Cummings Dip. Teach., B.Ed., MACE, MACEL

In 2007 this community celebrates its fourth birthday. Writing this in mid January means that we are eagerly anticipating the opening of the new Science building. For me, however, it will be the arrival of 383 students that will breathe life into these buildings and herald the start of another year of challenge and opportunity.

New staff and students will no doubt bring skills and personal qualities that can only enhance this growing educational community. To those new members of the community we are delighted to share with you over the coming years.

To the many families who continue to make Shellharbour Anglican College a wonderful community to be a part of I would just like to share again with you from my Presentation Night speech for 2006:

“In a speech to the Australian College of Education in 2000 Father Chris Gleeson, then Headmaster of St Ignatius, Riverview, made this observation:

I am very fond of the statement of Dr Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, when speaking about the importance of religious education in schools. He said:

‘You defend a country by armies. But you defend a civilisation by schools.’

Father Gleeson continues: In a time of social instability, children more than ever need a sense of connection to a living tradition. We need to teach our children to hear the sound of eternity in the midst of change.”

Thank you for being part of that journey and for your invaluable support of your children and this College. In 2007 this community’s strength will again be found in open and honest communication, a realistic recognition of our imperfections and a genuine desire to draw out the best in each of the children in our care.

For those of you considering the opportunity to send your child to Shellharbour Anglican College, I look forward to possibly meeting you in person and considering the part that you can play in this community and the part that we can play in your child’s future.

Tony Cummings

Head of College