SHAUN Mason has commenced his tenure as Galen Catholic College principal, welcoming students back for term two this week. Catholic Education Sandhurst schools in the district have had an extra week of holidays following term one, as staff undertook professional learning days related to the Magnify Sandhurst program. This program focuses on strengthening core areas like literacy and numeracy, building supportive classroom environments, and integrating Catholic values in daily learning. Mr Mason, who was a deputy principal at Galen a decade ago, was appointed in December to take the reins from previous principal Darta Hovey. He spent term one at FCJ College in Benalla, where he has been principal for the past three-and-a-half years, while that school worked towards appointing a new principal. Jim Samon has held the role of interim principal for the first term, and will now return to his deputy principal role. Mr Mason, who has also previously worked at Xavier High School in Albury and Catholic College Wodonga, has a passion for learning and teaching, and is known for his focus on student growth and staff collaboration. "What I'm most looking forward to is getting to know all our students - their stories, their families - and being able to put faces to names," Mr Mason said. "I'm especially excited to be back at Galen and to be part of a community I know and care about." Mr Mason is committed to expanding the breadth of subject offerings available at Galen, ensuring the college continues to respond to the evolving needs of its students. He also places strong emphasis on parent engagement, encouraging families to play an active role in their child's learning journey. Mr Mason's appointment comes at a significant time for Galen, as the school prepares to celebrate 50 years of providing quality Catholic education in the region. Galen's history actually stretches back to 1888, when four Brigidine Sisters from Ireland opened Brigidine Convent Wangaratta. The secondary school was known as St Joseph's High School, later referred to as The Convent, and in 1955 became St Joseph's College. Champagnat College was opened in 1955 as a day and boarding school as well as a juniorate for the Marist Brothers. In 1974, the availability of a Federal Government grant led to the decision to establish a regional co-educational college for years 11 and 12, to be known as Galen Catholic College. The school began in 1975, which is the occasion being marked by the anniversary celebrations. St Patrick's Hall was its temporary home, with classes beginning in the new college buildings halfway through the year, and Brother Ross Keane the school's first principal. In 1982, the Marist Brothers handed over the reins of Champagnat and Galen to the Wangaratta parish, and in 1983, Sr Anne Boyd assumed the role of principal of the enlarged Galen Catholic College (amalgamated with St Joseph's and Champagnat). The anniversary celebrations, on August 29 and 30, are open to everyone who has been part of the St Joseph's, Champagnat or Galen communities over the years. College tours will be held between 10am and 1pm on Friday, August 29, followed by a ticketed gala dinner, 'Celebrating Generations of Galen', that evening at Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway. Mass will be held at the college on Saturday, August 30 from 10am, followed by light refreshments. Tickets can now be purchased for the gala evening, and more information about all events over the two days is available at https://www.galen.vic.edu.au/community/alumni/old-collegians
