7 August 2020

John Visentin, principal of John Paul College, Frankston, reflects on his role in leading the school, and how a disrupted year has uncovered new ways of learning in partnership with students and families.

What does a Catholic educator require?

Faith and hope. As a Catholic educator, your faith guides who you are and what you do, and that has to be central to what you bring to the role.

The sense of hope is why I get up every morning, because I’m really hopeful for the young people I work with. Whether it’s leading a school or teaching or any other role in education, it’s our shared faith that gives us hope for young people. Being part of their journey is a real joy.

What do you like about leading a Catholic school?

I’m loving being a principal, as I’ve loved all my different roles in many schools, but being a principal gives you the freedom to make decisions that can have large positive impacts on students both in school and beyond.

Seeing the students grow and learn is a real highlight. It’s such a wonderful experience watching them find their way, discover their passions and seek the pathways to the things that bring them meaning.

As a leader we get to see our young people growing into adults, and it’s great to have been part of supporting that journey.

We have a significant influence in the way schools operate, and with that comes a huge responsibility to help our young people achieve their best.

What’s the greatest opportunity for families?

The period of remote learning during the COVID-19 lockdown has shown us that there’s a great opportunity for families to be involved in student learning, wellbeing and growth. Never before have we had such strong communication channels in our partnership between school, families and students to get the best outcomes.

The first half of Term 2 this year gave parents greater insight into what really goes on in schools and the great work that teachers do, and it’s opened the door on the discussion of how we can support learners together to achieve their best.

What are your hopes for the future?

Camps, excursions and school productions have had to be postponed or modified, so I hope we’re able to get back to some normality soon to continue adding to the richness that these events bring to school life.

Beyond that, I want our college to continue to be a place that provides excellent outcomes for young people; a school of joy and hope where students can be the best they possibly can be. Inspired by John’s Gospel our school motto is ‘with Him is the fullness of life’, and I want that to be true for every student here.

This article was originally published in the Term 3 edition of Catholic Education Today.