End Semester One

As this is the last edition of Lumina before we head into the end of semester break, I would like to offer my thanks to all who have made the first six months of this year so productive and rewarding. We have now spent a full semester acclimatising to being together on the single campus and the improvement in the feeling of “community” is palpable. We’ve had a very full first semester with camps and excursions, performances, ACC and CGSAV sport (with some great results), social justice activities, and, last week the formal. Coming up is Year 10 Work Experience which is an exciting opportunity to see what lies beyond schooling and Semester 1 Learning Conferences for Year 9.

There’s also room for improvement. We continue to ask our young people to respect the campus environment, especially the toilets, which seem to continue to be a location for anti-social behaviour that has a negative impact on others. Please reinforce your own expectations with your young people in support of a common goal of outstanding citizenship and care for each other.

I look forward to a very exciting Semester 2 and students return on Tuesday, July 22.

Annual Action Plan

We are sharing each of the priorities of our School Improvement Plan in Lumina and in this edition, it is our third of four:
SIP Priority 2 – Inclusivity
Goal: We strive for St Mary’s to be a place of inclusion and equity.
Intended Outcomes:
There is a culture of respectful relationships and a well-developed learning program that specifically addresses gender equity.
There are safe spaces for students outside of the classroom.

Interim CEO – Welcome

We welcome Mr Jeff Burn who is replacing Mr Andy Kuppe as the interim CEO of our parent company, EREA Victorian Schools Ltd. Mr Burn has a long history in Catholic Education and, most recently, has served as a Board Member. The EREA VSL Board met with Principals and School Advisory Council Chairs last Saturday to discuss a strategic plan for our six schools and help ensure that the unique nature and diverse needs of each school is understood. It was a very productive day and one in which the identity of St Mary’s College as an inner city co-educational school was celebrated.

Special Guest

Next week we welcome a visit from Ms Rachel Westaway, Member for Prahran, who will tour the College with our ambassadors and discuss opportunities as a local member to provide support to St Mary’s. We have an extraordinary group of College Ambassadors who continue to showcase the school on our weekly Talk and Tours. Please encourage your family and friends with school age children to sign up for a tour.

Parents and Friends thanks

A huge vote of thanks to our dedicated P&F who have committed the funds to upgrading air conditioning in a couple of our classrooms. This is a much-needed improvement that will benefit the young people using these spaces. I ask that you continue to support our P&F, especially through participating in the upcoming Trivia Night on Saturday 02 August 2025. Not only will it be great fun, but the proceeds will go towards improving our school environment.

College Production

Congratulations to Brendan Tollit, Katie Thomas, cast and crew on the excellent school production of Mamma Mia that we have been able to enjoy this week. A huge amount of time is committed to staging a school production and I extend my thanks to all who have worked to create this amazing opportunity for our young performers. I especially want to thank those who support the musical with their attendance. A performance needs an audience, and, without ticket sales, this event would simply not be possible.

Building Fund

As we head towards the end of financial year, you may be in a position to take advantage of a tax-deductible donation to the College Building Fund. Any donations to our College Building Fund will be welcome as we begin the process of commencing a new master plan for the site. Donations can be made here: www.trybooking.com/au/donate/smcbuildingfund

Semester 2

School resumes on Tuesday July 22 for students. Monday, July 21 is a professional learning day for staff.

Darren Atkinson 
Principal

Dear St Mary’s College Families,

We’re pleased to announce that Homework Club has returned for 2025, running every Thursday immediately after school until 4:45 pm, situated in the College library. Students can receive support across any subject, no matter what year group they are in. Whether the need is to complete homework with assistance, revising content learnt or developing study habits for upcoming SACs, tests or exams, our tutors Raj Johnston and Ethan Oysten are here to support your academic journey.

All students in all year levels are welcome to attend – no registration is required.

A few words from our wonderful, dedicated tutors:

Ethan Oysten

My name is Ethan and I was prefect of academia in 2023 and achieved an ATAR of 90.35. Of those things and my agreeable nature the school had no choice but to drag me back in, but I returned most willingly. For I am passionate about fostering good habits and skills, and the past year and a half of experience has been nothing but enriching, for me and the students I’ve worked with.

Raj Johnston

My name is Raj and I was the College Captain in 2023. My mission in life is to be as knowledgeable and academic as the current school captains, Matilda and Jude. In all seriousness, I genuinely love helping other people and seeing them grow into a well-rounded individual. If I’m not helping students at St Mary’s, you’ll find me on a cricket field or watching old cricket highlights.

In the words of Ethan and Raj… Your questions matter!

Please find below a summary Child Safe Standard 5, which came into effect on July 1 2022, and a summary of our action plan for this standard.

Child Safe Standard 5: Diversity and Equity

This standard focuses on recognising and responding to children and young people’s diverse circumstances and understanding that some children are more vulnerable to abuse than others. Schools are required to attend to any adjustments to provide equitable protection for all children and young people. This includes creating safe and welcoming environments, ensuring accessibility to information and support, and implementing complaints processes that are child-friendly, culturally safe and easy to understand. Upholding equity and respecting diverse needs are relevant considerations in implementing all the Child Safe Standards.

At St Mary’s College, we work towards the implementation of Standard 5, by:

Student-friendly versions of Child Safety policies.
Child Safety information translated into preferred languages.
Ensuring LGBTIQ+ students, students with disability and students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are aware of appropriate actions to be taken if racism, discrimination, harassment or victimisation occurs.
A differentiated curriculum to suit individual needs of CALD students and students with disability.
Creating an all genders uniform policy.
Ensuring gender diversity and equality is reflected in student voice and student leadership programs.
Development of a gender-inclusive, anti-discriminatory culture within the College community that promotes students' dignity and privacy.
The use of gender-inclusive examples when discussing families, relationships or professions and vocations.
College dedicated Child Safety email address childsafety@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au

Shaun Lancashire
Deputy Principal

Attending the formal is like a rite of passage for our Year 12 students. It's the night when they get all dressed up, pose for some pictures with friends or dates, and then dance the night away. And our students did just that at Lakeside Pavilion. A mix of 80s, 90s and contemporary music saw some flamboyant dance moves and flashbacks - ‘the worm’ made an appearance. When ‘The Summer of 69’ blared over the speakers even our principal Mr Atkinson was enticed to the dance floor. The energetic atmosphere was buzzing with vibrant fun and laughter. Special thanks to our MC’s Harvey Andrew and Siobhan McCartin for their smooth running of the night.

Judy Vandrine
Year 12 Pastoral Care Leader

Mamma Mia!

We are excited to finally present our College Musical to audiences over this weekend. This immersive and unique theatrical experience – which encourages audiences to sing along and dance during the production – opened with a preview show on Wednesday for the cast’s friends and family and the excitement and energy was palpable. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with many of our audience have already booked to see it again.

There are three more shows over the weekend and tickets are extremely limited – book your tickets now at

https://www.trybooking.com/eve...

Don’t miss out on a major milestone in St. Mary’s College’s musical legacy!

On behalf of the entire production team, thanks so much for your tremendous support with Mamma Mia

Brendan Tollit
Year 11 Pastoral Leader

From Olivia Koutroulis – 8 Edmund Class Captain

Term 2 has been full of excitement for Year 8! One of the highlights has been the involvement of Year 8’s in the school production, Mamma Mia. We’re super proud of everyone who’s been part of it and want to wish the cast and crew all the best for the shows. Our school netball team has also been training hard every week at MSAC, getting ready for a big Term 3 full of competitions and events. In Food Tech, we’ve been cooking up a storm and learning lots of new skills, which has been a fun and tasty experience. Science has also been a hands-on adventure, with lots of exciting projects that really helped us understand the content in a practical way.

Wishing everyone a happy and restful holiday, we’re REDI to learn in Term 3!

From Alex Piva – 8 Mary Class Captain

What a term it’s been for Year 8! Our ACC soccer team made it all the way to the semi-finals, which was an amazing effort from everyone involved. We also had the chance to attend Music Camp, a great opportunity to connect with others and keep building our music community at SMC. We’ve also been super excited about the school production, Mamma Mia – it’s been awesome seeing so many of our peers involved! In Design and Technology, we’ve been working on Bluetooth speakers, which has been a cool and creative way to explore design and electronics.

Hope everyone enjoys the break, bring on Term 3!

From the Year 8 Pastoral Care Leader

As we bring Term 2 to a close, I’d like to take a moment to sincerely thank all the parents and carers of our Year 8 students. Your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership in your child’s education is truly valued. Whether it's helping with homework, attending events, or simply checking in with your child after a long day, the care you show makes a real difference in their development and wellbeing.

This term, we’ve seen growth in many areas, from academic learning to co-curricular involvement and social-emotional development. Students have engaged with a variety of learning opportunities and challenges, and it’s been rewarding to witness their resilience, creativity, and teamwork in action.

Looking ahead to Term 3, I’m excited to announce a number of new initiatives that will be introduced across the cohort. These programs are designed to deepen students’ understanding of how and why we live out our College values as well as being respectful, engagement, diligence and involvement (REDI to learn approach). Through weekly activities, reflective tasks and team-based challenges, students will have opportunities to recognise and celebrate how they contribute positively to their learning and to the Year 8 community.

I’ll be sending out more detailed information in an email at the beginning of Term 3 so you’re aware of what’s coming up and how you can continue to support your child.

As always, if you ever have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re looking forward to another term of growth and success in Year 8, as we begin the important work of preparing our students to transition confidently into Year 9.

Wishing you and your families a safe and restful holiday break.

Annie Driver
Year 8 Pastoral Leader

As Semester One comes to an end, our Year 7 students can look back with pride on everything they’ve achieved in their first months of high school. It’s been a busy, exciting, and sometimes challenging journey.

From day one, Year 7s embraced the opportunities offered at St Mary’s College. The Year 7 Camp was a highlight for many, helping students step out of their comfort zones and form connections. Our students also got involved in House Athletics, the Walkathon, and Feast Day, showcasing their enthusiasm and commitment to the school community.

Many Year 7s also represented the school proudly through ACC and CGSAV sports and events, participating in competitions that encouraged teamwork, resilience, and school pride. These experiences helped students connect with peers beyond their own homerooms and strengthen their sense of belonging at the College.

In the classroom, students have worked hard to develop new skills, adapt to secondary school expectations, and manage a new routine. We’ve been impressed by their curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn.

Looking ahead to Semester Two, Year 7 students will have the chance to explore new elective subjects, continue building their skills, and take on fresh challenges. It’s a great time to set new goals and reflect on how far they’ve come.

To finish off, here are a few reflections from our Year 7 Class Captains:

Mikayla Mu – 7 Treacy

My first semester at St Mary’s College has been amazing. I started off knowing only one person and feeling unsure, but within a few weeks I was making friends, learning my schedule, and enjoying school life. Camp and Athletics Day were highlights of Term 1 and everyone connected so quickly. Now in this second last week, I am so excited and wondering what more semester 2 will give me and the whole year 7 cohort whether it is sport, academics or just anything in general, I am very thrilled for the next semester for Year 7.

Jackson Caguioa – 7 Ryan

My first semester at St Mary’s College has been great. I was nervous at first, only knowing two people, but it gave me the opportunity to make new friends. Camp was a really good experience, and I connected with people I hadn’t met before. Another highlight was making the ACC footy team. Even though we didn’t win, we had a great time playing together. It’s been a great start to high school.

Lucy Dickson
Year 7 Pastoral Leader

As part of the Year 7 Italian course students participate in a 2 minute “Meet and greet”

Conversation. This conversation is performed without notes and represent aspects of students learning throughout the semester. Here are some excellent examples that showcase students’ achievement in this subject.

Sal Lima
Teacher

Expressions of Interest – Triathlon Academy Coming to St Mary’s College!

We’re excited to announce that St Mary’s College is exploring the launch of a Triathlon Academy starting in Term 4!

The program will run before school from 7:15am to 8:15am, making use of our College pool and other facilities to help students build endurance, strength and skills across swimming, cycling (stationary), and running.

Whether your child is a seasoned athlete or simply looking to improve their fitness and try something new, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop discipline, goal-setting, and a healthy routine — all before the school day begins!

At this stage, we are seeking expressions of interest from students and families to gauge numbers and interest levels.

If your child is keen to be involved, or if you’d like to know more, please email:
📧 David Formosa – dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au

David Formosa
Director of Development

Support the Future of St Mary’s College – Building Fund Appeal

As St Mary’s College continues to grow and evolve, so too must the spaces where our students learn, connect, and thrive. Our Building Fund Campaign is a vital initiative that supports the ongoing improvement and development of our learning environment.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, recent projects such as the refurbishment of the McCartney Wing have already had a significant impact, providing students with modern classrooms, state-of-the-art facilities, and vibrant communal areas. With your continued support, we can ensure that future developments match the high standard of education we offer.

We invite families to contribute to the St Mary’s College Building Fund. 

All donations over $2 are tax-deductible and go directly toward enhancing the educational spaces for current and future students.

Your support, no matter the size, helps us shape a school environment where every student feels inspired to learn and grow.

To make a contribution, please visit:
👉 www.trybooking.com/au/donate/smcbuildingfund

Together, we can build a stronger future for St Mary’s College.

For further information contact David Formosa at dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au

Calling for Prize Donations – P&F Trivia Night

Our highly anticipated Parents & Friends Trivia Night is fast approaching, taking place on Saturday 2 August, and we need your help to make it a night to remember!

We are currently seeking prize donations from our wonderful community, particularly from families who own or are connected to businesses. Donations could include:

🎁 Gift vouchers (dining, retail, wellness, entertainment)
🎁 Experiences (tours, tickets, services)
🎁 Electrical goods or appliances
🎁 Hampers or specialty items

Your generous contributions will be used for raffles and auctions on the night — all helping to raise funds that directly benefit our students and school.

If you’re able to assist or have something you’d like to donate, please contact:
📧 David Formosa – dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to an exciting night of trivia, community spirit, and fun!

David Formosa
Director of Development