Distance Education Update - 25 September 2026
Updated: 16 hours ago
DISTANCE EDUCATION UPDATE Mr Bradley Whale (Head of Distance Education)
On Wednesday 23 September, our College community marked an extraordinary milestone as we celebrated the Year 12 Distance Education Class of 2026. It was a full and joyful day dedicated to honouring the perseverance, character, and achievements of our graduating students alongside their families, supervisors, and College staff.
The celebrations commenced on campus with our Year 12 Graduation Ceremony. Guests were welcomed with beautiful piano prelude music by Year 10 DE student Anna, followed by an opening prayer led by Year 12 student leader Annika.
During the ceremony, we were privileged to hear reflections from several members of our inaugural DE Student Leadership Team. Simran delivered a thoughtful address on the unique Distance Education experience, sharing how flexible learning schedules allowed students to pursue individual passions while building self-discipline, resilience and meaningful connection.
Sofia spoke inspiringly of her own growth from shyness to leadership, recounting how a student-led proposal in late 2025 paved the way for our inaugural DE Student Leadership Team and a number of new community initiatives. She encouraged her peers that "if you lead with passion and have a real desire for change, anything is possible." Offering words of deep spiritual encouragement as graduates look toward the future, Ihris acknowledged the natural worries surrounding "what's next?" and reminded her classmates that amidst all uncertainty, they can rest in the peaceful truth that God holds your future in His hands.
Following the presentation of Subject Awards and Graduation Certificates celebrating each student’s secondary education completion, families, staff and graduates gathered in the Lumination Lab for a celebratory afternoon tea before the festivities continued into the evening at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Course for our inaugural Distance Education Valedictory Dinner. Capably hosted by student MCs Jesiah and Thea, the dinner served as a formal celebration marking the conclusion of secondary schooling.
In his opening speech, Jesiah reflected on why establishing this inaugural Valedictory Dinner was so meaningful, highlighting the values of celebration, equal standing and creating a lasting tradition for future DE cohorts. Later in the evening, Thea delivered a heartfelt address honouring the teachers, parents and supervisors whose steadfast support behind the scenes made this milestone possible.
College Principal Mr Brendan Corr also delivered a memorable address, reflecting on how graduation serves as a pivotal moment connecting past effort with future opportunity. Drawing on his grandfather’s wisdom that "the end is tied up with the beginning," he encouraged graduates to live with purpose and agency rather than passively letting life happen to them. Referencing 1 Timothy 6:12, Mr Corr charged the Class of 2026 to "fight the good fight", urging them to be intentional with their choices and to dedicate their lives to what truly matters: faith, hope, kindness, generosity and love.
In my address as Head of Distance Education, I had the privilege of reflecting on the unique journey of our DE cohort and the incredible team effort that makes it possible. I again want to specifically acknowledge:
Our Parents & Supervisors: Thank you for walking alongside our students and for being the first port of call when stress or challenges arise. We are grateful for you partnering with us, and also navigating the day-to-day complexities that can exist. You are your child’s greatest cheerleader and the sacrifices made for them do not go unnoticed.
Our DE Staff: A heartfelt thanks to our wonderful teachers and support staff who invest countless hours behind the scenes creating lessons, marking work, organising events and consistently encouraging and praying for students from a distance. As many of our graduating students and families have noted, there is always something special when students meet their teachers in person for the first time and realise they’re real people, demonstrating a wonderful reflection of the genuine connections our teachers build across a screen.
Our Graduating Students: Beyond the obvious perks of learning from home in comfort, studying Stage 6 courses via Distance Education demands exceptional independence, time management and self-discipline. The adaptability our graduates have shown will serve them well in whatever lies ahead.
Whilst it was a good reminder for our Year 12’s, I would like to remind our entire community of Proverbs 16:9 - “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps”. May you all be encouraged to trust God as He guides your steps, whether that be into another term of school, into the HSC or beyond.
To the Class of 2026: Congratulations! We are immensely proud of the fine young men and women you have become, and we give thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout your schooling journey. We pray His abundant blessings over you as you step into whatever He has prepared for your future.
THE BIG COOK UP! Ms Natasha Collins
What happens when you take our DE students off their screens, bring them together in the kitchen and give them an opportunity to serve others? You get The Big Cook Up!
Our DE Clubs continue to be a wonderful asset to our online community, providing opportunities for students to connect, build relationships and use their gifts beyond the screen. This term, Simran, one of our DE Leaders and the students from our Leadership Lab Club initiated a volunteering opportunity for our DE community to serve others through practical action.
On Friday 18 September DE students from Years 9-12 were invited to come on campus to cook meals in partnership with Carevan, a not-for-profit community service supporting people experiencing hardship in the Blacktown community. We were blessed to have Julie White from Carevan with us, who explained the heart behind the service they offer and to guide the students as they prepared the meals.
Throughout the day, our students worked together to prepare an array of dishes and treats, including minced meat patties, cakes, oatmeal crumble and more. We were also blessed to have some of our Year 9 and Year 11 Food Tech students join us, helping us prepare even more meals for this important cause.
While the purpose of the day was to serve our wider community, it was equally special to see our DE students step away from their screens and spend time together in person. It was a blessing to also have one of our DE Teachers on-site, Mrs Debbie Truman who travelled from Goulburn to be part of and support this event. Students cooked, chatted, shared lunch and enjoyed plenty of laughs throughout the day.
It was a wonderful reminder that our DE community extends far beyond the online classroom. Through initiatives like The Big Cook Up, our students are not only building meaningful connections with one another but also learning the joy of using their time, skills and gifts to serve others.