At our final College Board meeting of the year this week, board members had a tour of the new boarding house, which is due for completion in December, although earthworks for the carpark will continue into next year. Our boarders will soon be helping to pack up Salesian House and the boarding facility that was transported here from Crystal Brook in 2007. Whilst one door closes, another one opens as we continue the tradition of boarding here at St Mark’s College.
This week we officially farewelled Mrs Margaret Fantinel at Benedict with a lovely morning tea to thank her for over 35 years of service to the College and wish her well in her retirement. Marg’s calm presence and beaming smile have been a hallmark of Benedict Office for years, but there is no doubt that she and her husband Shane are embracing retirement with enthusiasm. At the end of the year, a number of staff will be concluding their time at St Mark’s and embracing new beginnings. Mr Mark Murphy and Mrs Angela Jordan are retiring after over sixty years of service between them. Whilst I hope we see them back for some relief teaching in the future, I cannot express deep enough thanks for all they have contributed to St Mark’s College over the years. Ms Melissa Gadaleta also concludes in a permanent capacity at the end of the year, and I know will be deeply missed by staff and students across both campuses, but hopefully, we will see Melissa back for some relief teaching. Whilst not retiring, Mr John Gibson and Mrs Jane Gibson are leaving St Mark’s College after many years to move to Port Lincoln and take up positions at St Joseph’s College. Our loss is considerable but is definitely Port Lincoln’s gain and I wish John and Jane every blessing in their move; it is hard to leave a place when you have been part of the fabric of the College for so long. The collective years of service of these staff have had an immeasurable impact on the College and the wider community and I know many families will share my gratitude for all they have done to support them over the years.
I’d also like to thank and say farewell to Miss Bree Williams, Miss Brodie Nugent, Miss Olivia Carslake, Miss Alana Zubrinich, Mrs Sue Holze and Miss Morgan Cullen who are taking on new challenges next year, and wish Mr Kris Sjostrom, Mr Niall Ashby, Mrs Nikki Edwards and Miss Stacey Hier all the best as they take a year of leave. For each of these staff, new beginnings beckon and there are exciting times ahead as we welcome new teachers and non-teaching staff to the College in 2025.
In closing, and in keeping with the theme of new beginnings, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Ben and Mrs Bridget McInnes on the safe arrival of Goldie Lou.
There is excitement in the air as we close this year strongly over the next couple of weeks and continue preparing for new beginnings in 2025.
Dr Sandra Hewson, Principal
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