Assessment and Report Writing Day

A reminder that tomorrow, Friday, June 12, is a student free day to allow teaching staff to complete assessments and write reports and, as a result, the College will be closed. Thank you for your continued support.

Year 11 Formal

One of the highlights of the calendar for our Year 11 students is the Formal which will be held this evening (Thursday). We hope our senior students have a great night and enjoy the opportunity to come together, create lasting memories and demonstrate the respect and responsibility that we expect in our community.

Music Camp

Music students have the opportunity to gather next week, work on their ensemble skills and develop their music craft during an intensive program at Amberley Retreat Centre. This is also an important opportunity for those involved in the College production to rehearse ahead of their performance next term. Thank you to Music Leader, Ms Katie Thomas, Ms Brendan Tollit and the talented team of instrumental music teachers who facilitate this great opportunity.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

Next Tuesday, June 16, is the GAT; an important part of the VCE assessment system. Completed by all students undertaking Unit 3 and 4 studies, it is conducted under examination conditions and assesses general skills such as literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and written communication. The GAT does not test specific subject knowledge; instead, it provides an independent measure that helps the VCAA ensure VCE results are fair, accurate and reliable. It is a huge logistical exercise to administer such a comprehensive exam and I thank in advance Ms Pastore, Ms Rampal and all in the support network for their efforts to accommodate the needs of our young people.

College Registrar

We welcome Ms Yasmin Zancanaro who is joining the St Mary’s staff as College Registrar. Yasmin will be liaising with families seeking enrolment as well as working on marketing and development with Mr David Formosa. Thanks to Ms Jo Warr who has put great energy into this role over the last two and a half years and is entering a well-earned retirement.

Darren Atkinson 
Principal

This week, our College is in the midst of the examination period. For some students, this will be their first experience of formal examinations, while others will be well accustomed to the process.

As a student, I never particularly enjoyed the pressure of tests or the fear of failing and disappointing my parents. However, as I grew in confidence, resilience, and positive study habits, I came to view examinations differently. Rather than seeing them as a measure of my worth, I learned to see them as a snapshot of where I was in my learning journey at that particular moment in time.

As a teacher, I strive to embed this philosophy in my work with students. Progress in learning is far more important than perfection. While this is often easier said than done, I know that for parents and caregivers, supporting and encouraging a young person during examination periods can be both challenging and stressful.

Once examinations have concluded, I encourage families to use the opportunity to reflect on learning habits, celebrate growth, and build confidence. Rather than focusing solely on results, consider discussing the learning growth with your child.

Some helpful conversation starters might be:

• What worked well?
• What didn’t work?
• What is next? What changes do we need to make?

As a mum, I was often surprised by the answers to that last question. I vividly remember discovering that my enthusiastic singing around the house caused stress levels to rise rather than fall!

On a more serious note, the most important thing is that your child feels loved, supported, and ready to face the next challenge life presents.

As we guide our young people through both successes and setbacks, it is important to remember: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill

Fiona Mulhall 
Deputy Principal

Intermediate report AFL - Mazenod 22-15-147 d St Marys 5-4-34

In our final game of the season, we once again faced a tough challenge against a polished Mazenod outfit.

Juegan and Lehosz produced four-quarter efforts, consistently finding the football and both managing to hit the scoreboard. The St Mary's boys persisted all day and showed great excitement when rallying around their teammate Rogers, who kicked a remarkable goal that looked destined to go out of bounds. Instead, it took a couple of Shane Warne-like leg breaks before somehow dribbling through the big sticks.

A big thank you to Mazenod, who kindly offered several players to help complete our bench. These boys gave 100% effort and are a credit to their school.

That was the season that was. While the wins were few, the season was filled with wonderful camaraderie, growth, development and resilience, which is always the St Mary's way. I am incredibly proud of the boys who turned up every week, knowing it would be a tough day, and continued to represent the school with pride and honour.

I would also like to commend our leaders, Dunne, Boribon, Mullender and Juegan, who remained positive and upbeat throughout what was often a challenging season.

A special thank you goes to Agatha M, Olivia and Emily, who did a fantastic job assisting with match-day duties throughout the year.

Finally, thank you to our head coach, Lockwood, who remained calm and composed regardless of the scoreboard and always provided words of encouragement, belief and hope.

Be sure to check out the player profiles. Congratulations to Z. Holland on a fantastic season.

Mr Cavolo
Teacher

Get ready to rock and roll, and be transported back to the 80’s - The St Mary’s College 2026 Production is approaching fast, and tickets are on sale this Friday 12th June at 9:00am!

Dust off your leather jackets, tease up your hair, and get ready to unleash your inner rock star! This year’s highly anticipated school musical is none other than the high-energy, smash-hit Broadway favourite: Rock of Ages!

After 5 months of rehearsals, the show has come so far, and we are excited to get this show up and running for all to see. Our incredibly talented cast, crew, and band have been working tirelessly after school to bring the iconic sounds of the 1980s back to life. Set on LA’s famous sunset strip, this hilarious and heartwarming story is packed with big dreams, big guitar solos, and even bigger hair.

You have 4 performances to choose from:

• Wednesday 5^th August (Family and Friends Night) - 7:00pm
• Thursday 6^th August - 7:00pm
• Friday 7^th August - 7:00pm
• Saturday 8^th August - 1:00pm (Matinee) & 7:00pm (Closing show!)

All tickets are available Friday 12th June at 9am via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/DMZVJ

Or scan the QR code on the attached poster!

Let’s make this musical one to remember - because life’s too short to live without a little rock n’ roll!
You won’t want to miss this one! ROCK ON!

Molly Andrews-Dodds
Student Producer

You cannot be what you cannot see!

This phrase is central to the principles of career development, as we ask students to work on three basic questions in their creation of a career plan:

1. Who am I? What are my interests, skills and talents?
2. What is available out there?
3. How can I put this knowledge together to find my path?

The Morrisby Online provides a wonderful basis for students to work on these questions, but there is nothing quite like the real world discovery available at Work Experience, excursions, Careers Expos, Open Days and other careers events to really consolidate the ideas and aspirations of young people as they question where they fit in the rapidly changing world of work.

We all know that gender stereotypes abound in the world of work, so it is even more difficult for young women to see beyond a narrow range of careers. The Department of Education’s annual Trade and Tech Fit Expo provides girls with a practical, visible view of a world where women build houses, fight fires, operate heavy machinery, build tech start-ups and earn equal pay.

There was an enthusiastic response from girls in Year 10 – 12 when I advertised this excursion, although it being close to exams, only eight were able to attend on the day. Ms Fitzpatrick and I were delighted to meet these girls at the expo, on time and in full uniform. They were fully engaged in the activities, having a go at tasks and entering competitions. The girls had a worksheet to help them get the most out of their day and they all happily worked an that as they moved around the enormous and increasingly crowded exhibition hall! They were great ambassadors for their school, as well as getting the most out of their morning out.

If students and families would like the opportunity to learn more about the amazing array of careers open to young people in the future, there is one more opportunity at the Melbourne Career Expo which takes place from 17 to 19 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Free tickets are available at the link provided.

Mandy Ellwood
Careers Counsellor 

On Monday 1st June, a team of Year 10 and Year 11 students represented the College at the Senior Boys ACC Netball Day, competing against predominantly Year 11 and Year 12 teams from across the ACC competition.

The day began with several challenging matches as our boys adjusted to the pace and tactics of the competition. Despite facing older and more experienced opponents, the team demonstrated resilience, determination, and excellent sportsmanship throughout the early rounds.

Their persistence paid off, with the boys progressing to the next stage of the tournament. Strong teamwork and growing confidence saw them record impressive victories of 11–3 and 15–9 in their final two matches, securing an outstanding 5th-place finish overall.

A highlight of the day was how quickly the players adapted to the rules and strategies of netball. Many of the students were relatively new to netball, yet all contributed positively and represented the College with pride.

Special congratulations go to:

• Johnnie Munro – Leading Goal Scorer
• Will McGirr – Most Intercepts

Congratulations to all players on a fantastic achievement and for the enthusiasm, effort, and teamwork displayed throughout the day. Bring on the Intermediate and Junior ACC mixed competition days next term!

Lucy Dickson 
Year 7 Pastoral Care Leader

Meet the Tutors

Our Thursday Tutoring sessions have quickly become a valuable part of student life, and at the heart of their success are the dedicated tutors who give their time, knowledge and encouragement each week. These sessions are more than just homework help — they are a chance for students to build confidence, develop strong study habits and learn from mentors who understand the St Mary’s experience. We are proud to introduce the tutors who are supporting our students to thrive, both in and beyond the classroom.

Raj Johnston

My name is Raj Johnston and I was College Captain in 2023. It is a privilege to return to St Mary's each week to assist with the after school tutoring program. I am passionate about seeing individuals succeed and finding the confidence to reach their potential. I can assist with a broad range of subjects, including General Maths, English and the VCE Humanities subjects. Outside of work, I love sport, particularly cricket, spending time outdoors, and being with friends and family.

Ethan Oyston

My name is Ethan Oyston and I am a dedicated tutor and former Prefect of Academia at St Mary’s College. Currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, I am passionate about helping students achieve their academic goals and reach their full potential. A former St Mary’s student myself, I have a vested interest in and familiarity with the school. My main areas of expertise include English, Literature, Psychology, Legal Studies, General Mathematics, and a range of humanities and maths subjects for lower year levels.

Veronika Konotopchyk

Veronika graduated in 2025 achieving a 94.75 ATAR she is currently Laws (Honours)/Arts at Monash University

Campbell Lavender

Campbell was a member of the prefect team in 2025 and was also Dux of the College achieving a 96.35 ATAR. Campbell will be studying Laws (Honours)/Arts at Monash University.

David Formosa
Director of Development

Sailing is a sport for everyone. 

It helps develop confidence, teamwork, responsibility, resilience, and lifelong friendships, while also improving physical fitness and mental wellbeing. It also links naturally with school subjects such as history, geography, mathematics, and science, making it both educational and enjoyable.

At the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in the heart of St Kilda, we offer weekend sessions and holiday courses as part of one of the most unique sailing programs in Australia. Our activities include (dinghies & yacht sailing, powerboat, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, towed inflatable rides)

We bring St Kilda Harbour to life for young sailors from 7 years old, with experienced coaches and a strong focus on fun, learning, and safety. Both recreational and competitive sailing pathways are available throughout the year.

For parents and participants who wish to progress further in sailing, RMYS offers a 12-month Training Membership program. This includes access to up to nine courses across multiple disciplines, as well as savings of up to 40% compared to individual course bookings.

For more information contact - 03 9534 0227 or visit https://rmys.com.au/

David Formosa
Director of Development