It is with regret that the Board OF Trustees received the following resignation from our Principal, Mr Ray Scott, at last week’s May BOT meeting. I am sure you all join me in acknowledging the 7 years of senior leadership Ray has given to Aquinas College and thank him for his generous time given to working with our students and staff. Scott Kahle, Chair, Aquinas College Board of Trustees.
Dear Parents, Caregivers and families of the Aquinas College community,
It is with mixed emotions that I inform you of my resignation from the position of Principal of Aquinas College, effective at the end of the 2017 school year. I have been considering the move for some time and believe this is a good time for a new principal to step into what will be the next phase of development for the college.
It has been an absolute privilege and honour to be the Principal of Aquinas College over the past seven years. The success of the college has brought me great personal and professional satisfaction and I extend my thanks to the Aquinas College community for the opportunity to fill this role.
I have always been a strong believer in the underlying principles of holistic education that drive Catholic education. This passion to get the best from students in all activities, be it Catholic Character, academic, sporting, cultural or social, has been a central focus for me at Aquinas College. The six “Touchstones” provide a wonderful context from which to promote, develop and strengthen the Catholic faith of the students and the staff. In this regard I am also grateful to Bishop Steve (along with Bishop Denis earlier) and the Priests of the Diocese for their ongoing support and encouragement of Aquinas College.
The most important aspect of my role has always been the people with whom I have worked – the students, the staff, the Board, the parents and wider community. I have always endeavoured to promote honest, open and effective relationships with all groups and have been grateful for the overwhelmingly positive support from all parts of the Aquinas community. I have valued the family atmosphere and the positive culture of the college that springs from this.
The development of the school over the past seven years (and the earlier years of its development) has provided opportunities to grow and improve the facilities and this has been another source of satisfaction for me as principal. I am indebted to our current Board (and earlier Boards), to groups that include ASA and the PTA, and to the Diocese for the planning and/or support that has allowed this to happen. Planning currently being done will set the scene for the next phase of development in the college. However, the greatest resource of the school is, and remains, the people inside it – the students and the staff. I have loved my time working with the students and helping them to get the best from themselves. The variety & depth of talent expressed by our students is truly impressive and gives me confidence in them stepping up as leaders in the future. I have also loved working with the staff and leading the team of teachers and support staff who strive to give their best in developing the young men and women of Aquinas College. I have enjoyed the opportunities to bring new staff members into the school with strengths in a variety of areas. I have also enjoyed identifying and developing the strengths of staff by providing them with new opportunities within the college. Teaching is a challenging but rewarding profession and needs to be valued in all communities. I thank the Board and community for the support given to the staff at Aquinas College.
As stated at the beginning of this letter I will leave with mixed emotions. I have been fortunate to teach in, and enjoy various roles, in a number of schools around the country. I know I will miss the people and the atmosphere of Aquinas College but also know I will carry with me many special memories.
In the meantime, as we work through this term and the remainder of the school year, we must continue to make the most of the time to achieve our personal and common goals.
I wish the College and the community all the very best in the future.
Ray Scott
Principal, Aquinas College
