Principal's Message
Announcement
After nine wonderful years at St Paul’s Catholic Secondary College, and eight as Principal, it is with mixed emotions that I inform the community that this year will be my last. I have accepted the position of Principal of Xavier Catholic College in Ballina and will commence there from the start of the 2021 school year.
My time at the College has proven to be some of the most rewarding and successful of my career. The changes we have been able to make, improvements in facilities and the growth and success of our young people and our staff is something of which I am very proud. From smallish numbers in 2012, we have grown to around six hundred students, with world class facilities, the envy of many other schools in our region and in the Diocese, to the point we are now competing and ranking highly with schools across Australia.
There are many whom I wish to acknowledge and thank for their support over my time at the College.
To the two parish priests under whom I served, Fr Paul Gooley and Fr James Foster. Your guidance, support and unwavering confidence in my decisions and vision for the community has allowed me to bring to life an education for our young people that is creating champions and success stories all over the country.
The staff of this College have been amazing and are second to none in the work, dedication and commitment to the students in their care. It is no great surprise that each day or week we learn of the successes of our graduates in some aspect of their lives, and much of this can be attributed to the teachers who cared for and nurtured them during their time at the College. Staff did not clock off at 3.30 pm each Friday only to recommence at 8.30 the following Monday. For most, the work of ‘teacher’ is a 24/7 proposition and each does it entirely out of love and devotion for their students.
To our students, who have done so much for me over the years, often bringing me to tears out of pride and amazement at their achievements and accomplishments. Not only that, the humanity and love that they have shown has been truly touching and, as many parents will already know, it has inspired in me a love for them as if they were my own child. Each year when we have graduated our Year 12 cohort, I speak openly and honestly of the love that I have for them and encourage them to take that out into the world and to share it generously.
And to our parent body I say that many of you have become friends and are like family to me. The close working relationship we have established, and the ease with which we can communicate, discuss, banter and join together for the benefit of our young people has been truly uplifting. I thank you all for that.
Of course there have been many times that have challenged me and indeed has, too, for the entire community. It has brought us to our knees at times and yet we have lifted each other up to take on the world again each day. The lessons I have learned at St Paul’s, the friendships I have made and experiences I have gained will live with me forever. The person and leader I am today is in no small way a testament to this community.
To the community of Kempsey and the wider Macleay, as well as the Nambucca Valley, I say a heartfelt thank you for all you have done for me. I will treasure every moment of it. And when the time comes to reflect on my life in years down the track, I know that this beautiful place will be one that I hold dearest in my heart.
However, we still have a full Term 4 ahead of us. I look forward to working with everyone, parish, staff, students and families to bring what has really been a horrendous year to a successful conclusion. In the meantime, I wish you a joyous and restful break until we return in October.
God Bless
Kevin Lewis BEd (Syd) MEd (ACU) GradCertRe (Uon)
College Principal
kevin.lewis@lism.catholic.edu.au