Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

It has been a busy but successful and smooth start to the school year.  I am getting a better understanding as to exactly how Corpus Christi works. All schools are similar but have small differences. And there are always reasons why things are done the way that they are. Finding those things out is important. And I am amazed at how well the students accept the alternative to a Hall for their meetings. 

The new school Hall is still on track to go to tender shortly and to commence building in Term 2. This facility will make a huge difference to the functioning of the school.

A big thank you to all Staff and students for their cooperative participation in our mandatory Lockdown and Evacuation drills. These are part of our compliance and need to occur each year. They do cause some disruption to learning and we try to minimise that.

I would also like to thank the Year 12 leaders for conducting the mufti-day and BBQ in Week 2. Well organised, run and supported. 

In conversations with several parents there have been comments about changing the rules about uniform. There has been no change in any rule, simply the application of the existing rules. Most people do not have the chance to come into Corpus to form an opinion. They form their opinion from their judgement of our students that they see or meet. As such our image is important to who we are as a quality Catholic school. 

Likewise, we have moved to reduce the number of students out of class. 

Parents work hard to ensure school fees are paid and we need to ensure that the best education is provided for your children. This cannot happen when students are absenting themselves from class to access water or toilets frequently. 

National Apology Day

This day is commemorated annually on 13th February and encourages remembrance of - and apology to – the Stolen Generations and those whose lives have been affected by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation. This commemoration differs from Sorry Day which is held annually on 26 May, to mark the original tabling of the ‘Bringing them Home’ report.

On 13 February 2008, the first sitting of the new parliamentary year, then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd formally acknowledged the immense suffering experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to past government policies.

The National Apology to the Stolen Generations remains a momentous turning point that demonstrates the importance of historical acceptance in paving the road to reconciliation. On February 13 2025, it is 17 years since this apology was offered.

National Apology Day is a step on the path to reconciliation. It is a commitment to right the wrongs of past injustices and is about building a bridge of respect between all people.

Below is part of Mr Rudd’s Apology Speech

“I move that today we honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history. We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.”

God bless

Mr Wayne Marshall
Principal