School Assembly

The final project for this year for our 2025 Prefects was our School Assembly on Tuesday, and they decided to choose mental health as the theme. Special guest, Chelsea Frawley, spoke to our community about the work of the Danny Frawley Centre in the promotion of good mental health. She encouraged our young people to remember the acronym ALEC in their friendship groups (Ask, Listen, Encourage action, Check in).

Our Captains, Matilda and Jude, addressed the gathering about the importance of good mental health and provided some sobering statistics on the prevalence of ill mental health in the world. Student Wellbeing Prefect, Tomasz, spoke about the resources available to support students at the College and the online resources.

In my talk to the assembly, I spoke about the beauty of our imperfection and that the gift of our humanity is that we are all flawed. As we grapple with the power of AI, I asked our young people to consider the value of heartfelt messaging especially for interpersonal communication.

Prefects

I’m pleased to advice that the Prefects for 2026 have been elected this week. They are Ted McMahon, Jack Prentice-Evans, Charlotte Ogier, Maya Taifernopoulos, Maya Jess, Stella Ligudzinski, Dylan Collett, Cameron Hoad, Hugo Boddington and Jahrielle McAlary.

Congratulation to each of these students on being elected to this role by the staff and their peers. It is a great honour but also comes with responsibility to demonstrate leadership and inspire others in the community to greater things.

While we restrict ourselves to 10 Prefects, it is not lost on me that there were 20 Year 11 students who applied for these roles. This is an amazing display of interest from this year level of which they should be very proud. Those who missed out on a place will be understandably disappointed; however, it is important to remember that leadership takes many forms and there will be other opportunities in 2026.

Social Justice Sunday

The last Sunday of August is Social Justice Sunday in the Catholic Church and the theme for 2025 is "Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving homeless people with mental ill-health".

The Bishops’ Conference has focused specifically on the link between homelessness and mental ill-health and included some case studies to talk about this issue. The statement is available here: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2025/08/06/signs-of-hope-on-the-edge-social-justice-statement-2025-2026/

Most of our young people would have a personal experience of homelessness and mental ill-health as they journey to school on public transport and the social justice statement raises the importance of this issue. It is serendipitous that our School Assembly this week also had mental health as the focus.

This year, let us take Social Justice Sunday as a turning point. Let us commit as individuals and communities to stand with people living in homelessness and mental ill-health. Let us advocate for structural change: affordable housing, integrated mental health care, stronger protections for the vulnerable. And let us, in our daily encounters, offer the radical hospitality of Christ. Emilia Nicholas, Josephite Justice Network

Parent Teacher Interviews

We end the week with Parent Teacher Interviews, and I hope that you find the feedback useful and an opportunity to discuss with your young person their progress at school. Thank you for your support with our early finish on Thursday (2.50pm) and student free day on Friday so that we can provide this feedback. A reminder that there is also feedback available in PAM or on SIMON Everywhere (download from the app store).

Father’s Day Breakfast

Next Thursday we will host our annual Father’s Day Breakfast. Please join us at 7.30am in the Plaza as we say thanks for the dedication and love of our fathers.

Emergency Teachers

Emergency (replacement) Teachers are a very important part of our response to teacher absence, especially during the colds and flu season, where absence due to illness is inevitable. As teaching has a strong relational component, it is unsurprising that our young people miss having their regular teacher and don’t always find it easy to engage with someone that they do not know. Our expectation is that the students show respect for their Emergency Teacher, follow the instructions left by their regular teacher on SIMON, and endeavour to use their class time productively. It is important that our Emergency Teachers feel welcome so that they want to return. In time, they will learn the culture of our school and the expectations we hold for our young people. Please reinforce these basic principles should you hear comments about Emergency Teachers at home.

Commencement Term 4

• Monday 6^th October – Student Free day (Staff Spirituality Day)
• Tuesday 7^th October - Students recommence.

Uniform Term 4

When we return for Term 4, we move into summer uniform. Our uniform is a publicly visible symbol of unity, and we want our young people to wear St Mary’s uniform with pride. Please help by using the next couple of weeks to check that the summer uniform is:

1. St Mary’s uniform,
2. The correct size / length,
3. In good condition.

The Uniform Shop is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 8am to 4pm and the first Saturday of the month from 9am to 1pm. Details are available on the College website

Darren Atkinson 
Principal 

Dear St Mary’s College Families,

Following on from the last couple of newsletters, I provide an update here of all things related to subject selections. Subject selections are now closed for all year levels. There are still some isolated conversations taking place between staff and students, though the main work in collating selections data is now done. We now move into the timetabling phase, which involves a mix of determining the classes that will run at each year level and the staff that will teach them. This is a time consuming process that is vital to ensuring the school is fully staffed prior to the start of next year. First and foremost in this work, every year, is working towards as many students getting what they want as much as possible across the year levels. Perfection in this endeavour, as I have learnt, is not possible. Thanks to all families and students for their support in engaging with the College as this process continues.

Thanks to all staff, students and parents for their attendance at the online Parent Teacher Interviews this Thursday and Friday. Providing the semester two PTI’s online allows families and teachers to connect in a different, perhaps more convenient way. We will maintain this approach to PTI’s – face-to-face in semester one and online in semester two – in 2026.

Towards the start of Term 3, the Prefect Team of 2025 were asked what they would like to do as one of their last duties as school leaders. It was framed as an opportunity to leave a legacy – something to be remembered by. They proposed a whole school assembly focused entirely on mental health. The team worked hard to arrange the assembly and secured Chelsea Frawley to be our guest speaker. Chelsea is the daughter of Danny Frawley and works for the Danny Frawley centre at the St Kilda Football Club. Chelsea spoke at length in the assembly about the signs and symptoms of mental health and provided a very concrete way for young people to conduct a simple conversation with their friendship group – equipping them with the skills to check in on their friends and provide support in a meaningful way. Chelsea’s presentation was complemented by presentations from Darren Atkinson, the College Captains and other students on the same theme.

Please see the below details regarding Child Safety Standard 9.

Child Safe Standard 9: Child safety in physical and online environments

Child Safe Standard 9 focuses on the promotion of child safety and wellbeing in online environments in addition to physical environments, recognising constantly changing online technologies. As part of this standard, schools need to have policies and strategies aimed at identifying, reducing or removing the risk of abuse, including addressing risks from adult-to-child and child-to-child interactions. This includes paying attention to procurement policies when contracting facilities and services from third parties.

At St Mary’s College, we work towards the implementation of Standard 9, by:

• Undertaking a risk analysis of all physical and online Child Safety risks.
• Embedding a culture where all one-to-one interactions with students should be conducted with line of sight to another member of staff.
• Appropriate supervision ratios of students in classroom, yard, excursions and camps settings.
• Cyber safety included in our Respectful Relationships Program.
• Use of resources from the eSafety Commissioner in the Pastoral Program.
• Continuous review of Child Safe practices in line with government and EREA standards

Shaun Lancashire
Deputy Principal

A Sneak Peek into Term 4’s Visual Arts Show

Following on from our last newsletter contribution, here is a sneak peek at three artworks that will be exhibited this term. You may have seen the initial drawings—these are the finished paintings for their Film Noir assessment.

Students Agatha Apostolova, Sonny Duke Hirchfield and Oscar Rayson have created some outstanding pieces. They were tasked with selecting a photographic still from 1940s Film Noir films—images that clearly present the genre’s defining characteristics. The goal was to study tone—not only as a three-dimensional form but also through the use of shadows and highlights to create bold and captivating images that evoke the iconic Film Noir atmosphere.

This required students to carefully develop a full range of tones, from deep blacks to strong highlights. I am truly amazed by the level of skill, determination, and precision these students demonstrated. Their painterly techniques and bold application of shadows and highlights have resulted in striking and mesmerising images that transport viewers back to the 1940s.

The paintings are adventurous in their use of shadows and highlights. What impresses me most is how the students embraced each brushstroke with confidence—applying it decisively and then leaving it alone, not fussing over blending but letting each stroke have its place.

Aah, another proud teacher moment! I’m really looking forward to seeing these amazing works on display at the art show next term.

Ms Susan Lopez
Year 9 Visual Arts Teacher

Each year since the end of the Second World War the Australian Bishops have released a social justice statement. Many are familiar with various Church teachings and popular culture can tend to focus on a few areas to the exclusion of all else.

The year the statement is titled Signs of Hope on the Edge; Serving people with mental ill health.

The document is 24 pages long and it takes time to reflect on the call to service that is at the heart of the statement. I have included a link to the statement below and I encourage all members of our community to take time to read it.

Catholic social teaching is a rich source of inspiration and a basis for hope. Our students at St Mary’s need adults who can lead them to be hope filled people willing to build the common good.

SIGNS OF HOPE ON THE EDGE STATEMENT

Paul Quinn
Director of Identity

Hello Everyone,

Our recent assembly focused on Mental Health and Wellbeing, and I would like to pick up on some of the themes discussed and how to harness a positive self.

Harnessing a Positive Self

As adolescents grow, learning to harness the positive while developing a sense of self is vital. A key skill is naming and expressing feelings—asking “What am I to do with these feelings?” and being honest about them. This might mean admitting you don’t have all the answers and reaching out for help. Parents and teens alike benefit from this authenticity.

For teenagers, being authentic can be hard when facing pressures to fit in, look a certain way, or follow trends. Yet authenticity means focusing on what you truly enjoy, believe in, and how you treat others. It doesn’t stop you from changing or growing, but it helps you stay true to your core identity and values.

When you are authentic, friendships deepen because others value you for who you really are. This is how you begin to harness the positive within yourself.

Here are some reminders to support that journey:

• People’s actions reflect them, not you.
• Rejection doesn’t define your worth— not everyone will like you.
• Negativity can be observed, not absorbed.
• Criticism often comes from others’ insecurities—don’t take it on.
• What others think of you is not your problem.
• Words are just words—don’t take them personally.
• Silence doesn’t always mean something is wrong.
• Protect your inner self—positive self-talk is important.

Encouraging young people to harness positivity and authenticity helps build resilience, confidence, and meaningful connections—skills that will support them well beyond the school years. On 11 September 2025 it is RUOK DAY a perfect time to practice some of the skills mentioned above. A simple question that can have great significance– Are you OK? Ask, Listen, Engage and Check- in on each other.

Trish Maguire 
College Counsellor 

Last week, our Year 12 Physical Education students took their learning outside the classroom with a visit to The Hunt Strength & Conditioning gym for a resistance training session, focusing on muscular strength. Students could physically apply the training principles they have been studying in Unit 4, as well as identify different components to a training session.

The session was challenging and engaging, and run by a former CBC student Eddie Espinosa, who shared his experience and guided the group through exercises designed to build strength. It was great for the students to see how what they’re learning now can continue to be applied well beyond school.

This practical experience formed part of the class’s exploration of five different training methods. In addition to resistance training, students have also participated in continuous, fartlek, circuit and short-interval training. Together, these sessions have given them a well-rounded understanding of how training can be implemented to effectively improve a range of fitness components. With exams fast approaching, this was a good reminder of the importance of both theory and practice.

Lucy Dickson
Year 7 Pastoral Leader

Our year 12 Vocational Major Students have been looking at issues around feminism and sexism. They have previously completed work on the gender issues, reflecting on the documentary “Girls Can’t Surf” where the students started discussing the different experiences of Women and Men in professional sports. The students have often looked at the impact of the AFLW on our social landscape and why it is important for us to support women in the same way we support men in our community. This work has culminated in us attending the AFLW season launch game with traditional rivals, Carlton and Collingwood at the old Princess Park. It was a fantastic night, students were in great spirits, and they have started to look forward to celebrating their achievements when they finish the VM year 12 year in mid-October.

Grant Godbold 
Vocational Major Coordinator

Come and Tri Day with Momentum Triathlon

We are excited to invite students to take part in a special Come and Tri Day with Momentum Triathlon as part of the lead-up to the launch of our St Mary’s College Triathlon Academy in Term 4.

📅 Date: Wednesday 10 September
⏰ Time: 7:15am – 8:15am
📍 Location: College Pool

This free session is a great opportunity for students to experience triathlon training in a supportive and fun environment, guided by professional coaches. Students are asked to bring along:

• Swimming gear
• Sports clothing

If your child would like to attend, please contact me directly at dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au to confirm their place. We look forward to seeing many of our students give triathlon a try!

Regards,

David Formosa
Director of Development

Uniform Shop Open This Weekend

The College Uniform Shops will be open this weekend to assist families in preparing for the term ahead. This is a great opportunity to stock up on essentials, replace items, or ensure your child is ready with everything they need.

We encourage families to take advantage of the extended opening hours and avoid the busy rush during the school week.

David Formosa
Director of Development 

You may know that in Design and Technology we have a technician called Mr Simmons who works here two days a week.

In David’s spare time he has produced a coffee cart for our school. David has made this in support of Ms Saundry, Mr Godbold and VM students who will use it at school events and as a part of hospitality training.

The cart looks great and it’s more impressive that before starting at St Mary’s, Mr Simmons had never used a laser cutter. You can tell by the crest that he has well and truly got his head around this technology!

Michael Pye
Learning Leader for Technologies

🥐☕ Fathers & Mentors Breakfast – You’re Invited!

We’re rolling out the breakfast table and warmly inviting all St Mary’s students and their dads or mentors to our Fathers & Mentors Breakfast.

📅 Thursday 11 September
🕢 7:30am – 8:30am
📍 Logue Hall, St Mary’s College

It’s the perfect way to start the day – sharing a delicious breakfast, catching up with friends, and celebrating the special role fathers and mentors play in the lives of our young people.

👉 To help us with catering, please RSVP HERE

We can’t wait to see you there for this special morning!

David Formosa
Director of Development 

Parents & Friends Meeting

We warmly invite all parents and guardians to join us for our upcoming Parents and Friends Meeting on Monday 8 September, from 7:00pm – 8:00pm in the College Boardroom.

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other families, share ideas, and be part of discussions that help strengthen our College community. Your input and involvement makes a real difference, and we would love to see you there.

David Formosa
Director of Development