Welcome to Semester Two

Welcome back to school for Semester 2 and I hope that you had an enjoyable break as a family, and that Semester Two has started positively.

A special welcome to students joining the St Mary’s College community to commence Term 3. We trust that you will find a home at St Mary’s where you feel like you belong and can flourish.

Japanese Student Visitors

We welcomed seven students from Taisei University High School in Osaka Japan over the last weekend. The students will spend their mornings developing their English language skills and each afternoon will participate in an activity that introduces them to some of the sights of Melbourne and surrounds. Our Japanese students are here for two weeks, and I extend a huge thank you to the host families who have agreed to accept our visitors into their home. We also welcome Mr Toshi Kitano, Principal, and Ms Yoko Shimada who are accompanying the students on this visit.

Staff Professional Learning Program

In a very full program on Monday July 13, our staff participated in a workshop on the "Seeking Understanding" phase of RAISE. It was great to see the diversity of learning experiences created in explicitly teaching literacy/numeracy skills, but particularly the common threads in how understanding was built and checked across such different subject areas.

The afternoon ended with discussion around a proposal to renew our Year 9 program. More information will be provided about this proposal over the coming weeks.

Thank you for your support of these important workshops to focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning.

Whole School Assembly

Our first assembly for this term is on next Tuesday morning and we are gathering with the theme “Brilliance – Inspiring One Another”. We look forward to reporting back on the assembly in the next edition of Lumina.

EREA VSL CEO Announcement

We received news recently of the appointment of Mr Patrick Murphy as CEO of EREA (VSL) Ltd. This is how he was introduced by Chair, Professor Todd Walker:

Pat brings a distinguished career in education. He has served as Principal and Executive Principal across several schools, developing deep expertise in school leadership, student wellbeing, and the formation of young people grounded in Gospel values. Most recently, Pat has served as the President of the Queensland Association of State School Principals.

Mr Murphy will commence on July 27 and is visiting St Mary’s on July 31 for a tour.

Athletics Carnival

Our College Athletics Carnival is to be held at Newport Park Athletics Track tomorrow with students expected to arrive by 8.35am. Students travelling by train should disembark at Newport Station. Students will be dismissed at approximately 3pm from Newport Athletics Track.

P&F Meeting

The Parents and Friends Committee met for its regular meeting last Monday. It was pleasing to welcome several new members as the Committee discussed upcoming events and opportunities to further support College life.

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation from Ms Sandi Saundry, Food Technology Assistant, who provided an update on the development of the College's kitchen gardens and the recent achievement of receiving Gold Medallist honours at the ACC Culinary Competition. The Committee congratulated Ms Saundry on her outstanding contribution to the growth of Food Studies at St Mary's and encouraged her to continue creating opportunities for students to engage with the wider community through food.

The Committee was also delighted to learn that the College prepares almost 1,500 meals each year in support of Reaching Out in the Inner West and requested that this important service initiative be highlighted in Lumina.

Darren Atkinson 
Principal 

Last week, I had the pleasure of spending time in a Year 10 Visual Arts lesson. The students were using black pen to interpret and recreate famous works of art. The unit encourages students to explore, experiment with, and evaluate artworks while developing their technical skills through a range of techniques, mediums, and materials.

As I walked around the room, I was able to recognise many of the famous artworks the students were recreating. From Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer (1665) to The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893) Speaking with each student, I was impressed by the level of detail, creativity, and skill on display. While each student was quick to point out what they saw as flaws in their own work, I found their pieces to be outstanding. It was a reminder that we are often our own harshest critics. I left the classroom inspired to be a little more creative myself.

Semester 2 brings new electives, new classes, and change of teachers. In chatting with one of our Year 12 students, they commented that they are now at the "business end" of their VCE and are focused and working hard to achieve their goals. Their determination was inspiring. I encourage all our students to set achievable goals for the term and to work consistently towards them. As Lionel Messi once said, "You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it."

It has also been pleasing to see that the majority of our students are embracing the College's mobile phone and wearable device policy and guidelines. Perhaps this is one small sacrifice that allows them to be more present with one another, engaging with open minds, open hearts, and stronger connections.

It has been a wonderful start to the term, and I look forward to seeing our students participate in the Athletics Carnival this week.

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

St Mary's College is committed to providing a safe and child-friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and can actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.

At St Mary's College, we have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in our students’ best interests and keeping them safe from harm.

St Mary's College regards its child, safety, wellbeing and protection responsibilities with the utmost importance and as such, is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure compliance with all relevant child safety, wellbeing and protection laws and regulations and maintain a child-safe culture.

A reminder policies and procedures are located on the college website

https://www.stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au/about/child-safeguarding

Fiona Mulhall 
Deputy Principal 

Supporting the Whole Person: Our Pastoral Care Program

At St Mary’s College, our Pastoral Care Program plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing, personal growth and development of every student. Pastoral Care provides students with opportunities to build positive relationships, develop resilience, strengthen their social and emotional skills, and feel a strong sense of belonging within our College community.

Our Pastoral Care curriculum is informed by the Respectful Relationships program, which supports students to develop the skills and understanding needed to build healthy, respectful and positive relationships.

Through our Pastoral Care Program, we are committed to supporting the whole person and ensuring that every student feels known, valued and supported.

What are we learning in Term 3:

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Jen howard 
Director of Students

"To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often." St John Henry Newman wrote those words in the nineteenth century. Newman was an English convert, an Anglican priest and Oxford scholar who, after years of study and struggle, entered the Catholic Church and became a cardinal. What he gave the Church was a way of holding faith and change together: his great insight was that a living tradition, like the human person, does not stay the same by refusing to grow, but proves itself alive by developing, deepening, and maturing without losing its identity. A tree that stops producing new branches has not achieved perfection. It has stopped living. It is a reminder that growth and even the discomfort of change are not detours from a well-lived life. They are its shape and purpose.

This insight sits at the heart of the whole learning journey at St Mary's, captured in our 3 Stages of Learning. In Years 7 and 8, the work is Belonging. In Years 9 and 10, it becomes Broadening Horizons, widening a student's view of themselves and the world, and trying what they might never have chosen alone. In Years 11 and 12, it becomes Becoming, as students draw together what they have discovered and step into who they are going to be.

Subject selection sits at the hinge of that journey, in Broadening Horizons, and it deserves more than a logistical glance at prerequisites. It is a moment of discernment: not simply what will you study, but what are your gifts inviting you to become, and are you willing to embrace change in order to become this? The Catholic intellectual tradition has never treated the mind as a tool for mere efficiency and a Catholic education inherits that posture: a person is more than a resume, and to study anything seriously is to marvel at creation and try to understand it. Subject selection, rightly seen, is an invitation into that wonder turned toward a young person's own life. We live in a world changing faster than any generation before us has known. It would be tempting to treat subject selection as pure strategy, choosing whatever seems safest or most employable. But an education that only chases a moving target will always be a step behind. What does not change is the nature of the human person, and the deeper call to know oneself, love well, and use one's gifts for others. Newman would say a person who refuses ever to change has not simply stayed faithful to themselves. They have stopped “becoming”.

Three things are worth holding onto. First, honesty about strengths, looking again at where real ability and enjoyment overlap, rather than settling for an old story about oneself. Second, a willingness to try the unfamiliar, since growth rarely comes from staying inside what is already proven, but from stepping deliberately toward it. Third, patience with difficulty, since character, like understanding, is built through resistance, not around it. An unexpected subject may lead to an unexpected struggle, and that struggle may lead somewhere a student could not have planned alone. This is not a flaw in the process. It is how growth and vocation usually arrive.

And the pattern does not end at graduation. Belonging, Broadening Horizons, and Becoming are the shape of a whole life, repeated again and again, in every new job, community, or season that asks a person to belong somewhere new, broaden beyond what they know, and become someone slightly more than who they think they are. Newman's own life moved through repeated, often painful changes of belief and vocation, and it was precisely his willingness to keep changing that he came to see as the truest sign of a soul still growing toward God. If students leave this term asking not only what will get them somewhere, but who they are becoming, subject selection will have been an exercise of efficiency, as well as purpose and meaning.

Daniel Di Lisio 
Director of Learning and Teaching 

Friendship: Quality Matters More Than Quantity

Making friends can be exciting, but keeping strong, healthy friendships isn't always easy, especially when so much of our communication happens online. While social media helps us stay connected, it can't replace the value of real conversations, shared experiences, and being there for each other.

It's worth taking a moment to think about the kind of friend you want to have—and the kind of friend you want to be. Great friendships aren't perfect, but they are built on trust, kindness, honesty, and respect.

Here are some ways to build healthy friendships:

• Be patient and kind. Good friendships take time to grow.
• Set healthy boundaries. It's okay to say no or protect your own wellbeing.
• Be honest. Kind honesty helps friendships become stronger.
• Listen carefully. Sometimes the best way to support a friend is simply to listen.
• Spend quality time together. Make time to catch up in person or without distractions.
• Be yourself. You don't have to like all the same things to be good friends.
• Meet new people. Having different friendship groups can help you grow in confidence.
• Respect each other. Healthy friendships are built on mutual respect.
• Know when to ask for help. If you're worried about a friend, telling a trusted adult isn't betraying them- it's caring for them.
• Look after yourself. Spending time alone to recharge doesn't make you a bad friend. In fact, it can help you be a better one.

Sometimes friendships change, and that's a normal part of life. Some friends are with us for a reason, some for a season, and a few become lifelong friends. It's also okay to step away from friendships that are unhealthy or no longer help you grow.

Remember, one of the best ways to have a good friend is to be one. Small acts of kindness, respect, and support can make a big difference - not just to someone else's life, but to your own as well.

Trish Maguire
College Counsellor

A Warm St Mary's Welcome for Our Japanese Visitors

St Mary's College was delighted to welcome a group of visiting students from Taisei Gakuin High School in Osaka, Japan, for an exciting cultural exchange that is already creating lasting memories and friendships.

Our sincere thanks go to the wonderful St Mary's families who have so generously opened their homes to host our visitors. Their hospitality, kindness and willingness to share everyday Australian life have ensured our Japanese students have felt welcomed and part of the College community from the moment they arrived.

The students have already enjoyed a range of memorable experiences, including a walking tour of Melbourne's iconic landmarks, exploring the vibrant Queen Victoria Market, and a scenic trip to the beautiful coastal towns of Sorrento and Portsea.

Back on campus, our visitors have immersed themselves in College life through daily English lessons and by participating alongside St Mary's students in a variety of classes, including Food Technology, Art and Health and Physical Education. These shared learning experiences have provided valuable opportunities to build friendships, practice English and gain a deeper understanding of Australian school life.

With another week still to enjoy, there are many more exciting activities and opportunities ahead for our Japanese guests. We look forward to continuing to share our College community with them and creating even more memorable experiences before they return home.

Thank you once again to our generous host families and everyone who has contributed to making this exchange such a rewarding and enriching experience for all involved.

David Formosa
Director of Development

Students have been working tirelessly and can’t wait to put this show on for our audiences.
Please make sure, if you haven’t already, to buy your tickets to see this amazing show! 
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1599295

In this week’s newsletter, we have a special character reveal poster:

Maya Taifernopoulos as Anita Bath - Mayor’s assistant turned Passionate Protestor, leading the fight to save the Sunset Strip, and stop Hilda and the Mayor from getting rid of Rock n’ Roll!

We wouldn’t be able to put this show on without our wonderful Band!

They have recently started to join our rehearsals, and they sound fantastic! It’s been great for the cast to get a taste of the songs being performed with real instruments, instead of backing tracks. They’re ready to bring great 80s sound and music to our show!

Two weeks to go until we put on 5 spectacular shows for (currently) over 900 people! You won’t want to miss this.

Rock on!

Molly Andrews-Dodds
Student Producer

I have a great interest in the future as I am going to spend the rest of my life there. Charles Kettering

With students in their senior years now turning their minds to the next step on their Career path, whether in Year 10, 11 or 12, it is time for everyone to look into what will bring them the most satisfying future.

Parents usually say that they do not mind what career their child follows, as long as they are happy.

Yet often students tell me of parents insisting that they choose certain subjects or discouraging them from choosing subjects that interest them in favour of subjects that appear more “useful”, or even encouraging careers that appear to be secure, whether of interest or not. It is far more important to consider the transferrable skills developed in a subject or course than just look at a narrow set of imagined employment outcome!

Peer influence can place obstacles in the way of sound decision-making. Occasionally, I have been sworn to secrecy by students ashamed of their talent at piano accordion or Irish dancing. Others express their regrets at not following through with a subject they really enjoyed, because they feared the scaling or workload, decisions probably based more on hearsay than fact. Such disconnects often lead to stress, regret and resentment.

At St Mary’s College, staff work hard to value the full range of skills and talents in our students. Whilst this work will not always be obvious in the school setting, we work to find and promote these positives.

At the heart of career, course and subject selection is a sound understanding of one’s skills and interests, a curiosity about the myriad opportunities available and some guided help to put these together.

Parents and family members usually have a unique and wonderful insight into their young person’s talents and interests, so discussion of these and where they may lead should be ongoing in every household, right through the primary and secondary years. Not in the sense of “what do you want to be when you grow up” but along the lines of what gives you joy here, and where can that skill or interest take you? Encouraging students to stick with an interest, rather than following the crowd, continuing with lessons in anything until they reach a level of mastery that enables them to find joy in the activity, allowing them the space to follow an interest as far as they can – these all help young people to develop resilience and a true sense of their own worth. Striking just the right note in these discussions with teenagers can be tricky, but the right starting point is usually listening.

The Japanese concept of finding your ikigai can be a helpful way to approach career development with young people. Finding that balance between doing what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for can really help. Too often we are distracted by skills shortages and pay rates. The idea of success is often driven by the media-driven cult of celebrity, which equates success with fame and high salaries. Social media has only added to this shallow view of success. We all need to take a more Zen approach, where we value the internal markers of success, to help us find that “happy place” where work becomes a joy – at least most of the time! The concept of ikigai is a most useful approach to finding that place.

Mandy Elwood 
Careers Counsellor

From Garden to Plate: A Lesson in Fresh Food

Students recently enjoyed a rewarding hands-on learning experience as they harvested fresh vegetables from our Garden Cubes before heading to the kitchen to create a delicious stir fry.

The Garden Cubes, generously donated to the College through a grant provided by the Palais Theatre and with the help of Port Phillip Council and our wonderful Parents and Friends, have become a valuable learning space where students can experience the journey of food from seed to plate. After picking a variety of fresh produce, students worked together to prepare and cook a healthy stir fry, learning practical cooking skills while discovering the importance of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Activities like these provide far more than just a tasty meal. They give students an appreciation for sustainable food production, while helping them understand where their food comes from.

A sincere thank you to the generous donors of our Garden Cubes. Their support has created meaningful opportunities for students to connect with nature, develop lifelong skills and enjoy the satisfaction of sharing a meal made from produce they have grown themselves.

David Formosa
Director of Development

Last week the Vocational Major Students attended the Jewish Museum in order to learn more about our local Jewish community. Our students have studied the holocaust as a topic area after reading the text “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” in VM and they have looked at these issues in previous year levels. Our Jewish community in Melbourne is vibrant and has been involved in so many fantastic and enriching aspects of what makes Melbourne a great place to live. Students learned about Jewish customs and religious lives, being able to make comparisons to Catholic beliefs as well as seeing the ties to early Christianity and the life of Jesus as a Jewish man. We are blessed by having access to this local community and we are hoping to foster these relationships in future to better understand our local neighbourhood.

Grant Godbold 
VM Leader and Year 10 Pastoral Care Leader

Round 1

Emmanuel 11 matches/56 sets d St Mary’s 4 matches/ 19 sets
Brandon Sun won rank 2 singles 4 sets to 1
Julian Erata won rank 3 singles 3 sets to 2
Brandon Sun/Harry Denning won rank 1 doubles 5 sets to 0
Julian Erata/Tristan Fernando won rank 2 doubles 3 sets to 2

Round 2

Simmonds12 matches/54 sets d St Mary’s 3 matches/ 21 sets
Brandon Sun won rank 1 singles 3 sets to 2
Stephan Iveja won rank 10 singles 5 sets to 0
Brandon Sun/Harry Denning won rank 1 doubles 4 sets to 1

The Intermediate Boys Table Tennis team faced strong opposition in the opening two rounds of the ACC competition, competing with determination and sportsmanship throughout.

In Round 1, St Mary's was defeated by Emmanuel College 11 matches (56 sets) to 4 matches (19 sets). Despite the overall result, there were several impressive performances. Brandon Sun won the Rank 2 Singles in convincing fashion, taking the match 4 sets to 1, while Julian Erata secured a hard-fought victory in the Rank 3 Singles, winning 3 sets to 2. In the doubles, Brandon Sun and Harry Denning dominated the Rank 1 Doubles, winning all five sets, while Julian Erata and Tristan Fernando claimed an exciting 3–2 victory in the Rank 2 Doubles.

The team encountered another quality opponent in Round 2, going down to Simmonds College 12 matches (54 sets) to 3 matches (21 sets). Once again, Brandon Sun led from the front, winning the Rank 1 Singles 3 sets to 2 before teaming up with Harry Denning to record another impressive victory in the Rank 1 Doubles, 4 sets to 1. Stephan Iveja also produced an outstanding performance, winning the Rank 10 Singles in straight sets, 5–0.

Although the team was unable to record an overall victory across the opening rounds, they demonstrated resilience, commitment and excellent sportsmanship against strong opposition. Brandon Sun was the standout performer, remaining undefeated across both singles and doubles matches. His composure under pressure, consistency and competitive edge have been exceptional, making him a key contributor to the team's performances. Several other players also showed they are capable of competing strongly at their respective rankings, with a number of closely contested matches highlighting the team's potential. The experience gained against quality opposition will be invaluable as the players continue to develop and will place the team in good stead for the remainder of the season.

Eddie Cavolo 
Coach

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