Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews – March 21

You should have received advice by now of our Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews next Thursday and the process for booking. In the allocated time, you will receive a snapshot of your young person’s progress designed to address areas of strength and areas for growth. You will appreciate that there is a domino effect if an interview runs over time that will inconvenience many others. Should you require a longer discussion, please end the interview on time and arrange for a follow-up at a later date. It is an expectation that interviews be conducted respectfully.

EREA National Charter Renewal

Principals of the 55 Edmund Rice Education Schools from across Australia gathered in Adelaide this week to discuss the charter for our schools that was developed in 2017. What was apparent when we gathered is that Edmund Rice Schools are both very diverse and can be found in every jurisdiction across the country. There are large and smaller secondary schools, both co-educational and single-sex, flexi schools, early learning centres and schools that cater predominantly for indigenous young people. We should feel proud of our place in a network of schools that continues to respond to the needs of the community. This is very much in the spirit of the founder, Blessed Edmund Rice.

We also found that we had much in common and these are shared beliefs captured in the touchstones:

• Gospel spirituality
• Liberating education
• Inclusive community
• Justice and Solidarity

Certain themes emerged during the conference that reflect the desire for EREA schools to continue to offer excellent learning outcomes for all young people, remain accessible, and be places of hope. Our new charter needs to be aspirational. Over the coming weeks, a call will go out to members of the community to contribute to the charter renewal process in preparation for the launch of the revised charter in November.

Mass of St Patrick

We have four students representing St Mary’s College at the Mass of St Patrick today at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Representatives will come together from across the Archdiocese of Melbourne to share mass and celebrate our Catholic identity as we commence Catholic Education Week. We also enjoyed a visit from Bishop Anthony Ireland this week. Bishop Ireland is very interested in St Mary’s College and met with the leadership team to discuss how we may be able to capitalise on the resources that are available in the St Mary’s precinct in coming years. Thank you to Fr Jerome for his organisation of this visit.

Triple J Hack Podcast

Our 2023 School Captains, Audrey and Raj, were interviewed last week to share their views on the student experience in a school that had moved from single sex to co-educational. As we have come to expect from our student leaders, they were both highly intelligent and articulate in sharing their thoughts on the challenges that St Mary’s had faced in building a culture in which both girls and boys believed they could flourish. Deputy Principal, Shaun Lancashire, was also able to contribute with great insight into the deliberate decisions that had been made by the College to help build an inclusive culture where all felt that they could flourish.

Triple J Hack Podcast - Listen

Darren Atkinson
Principal

Celebrating Excellence

Last week we held our annual academic awards assembly in Logue Hall. It was an opportunity to recognise student effort, based on the performance indicators in the reports, and student achievement, based on the academic results students achieved throughout 2023. It was a great opportunity to publicly celebrate our students’ achievements. Congratulations to all award recipients.

This week, and over the next couple of weeks, I will present the College’s anti-bullying message to each year level at their community meeting. It is a simple, yet powerful statement on what constitutes bullying and the fact that it happens in some way in our school (as it does in every school), what to do if you are a victim of bullying or see it occurring, and the support in place to identify and address instances of bullying. This presentation is in line with our commitment to being a child safe school, aligned with the implementation of the child safe standards that all Victorian schools must adhere to.

Shaun Lancashire
Deputy Principal

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Last week we celebrated International Women’s Day, March 8. IWD is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon the achievements of women in our communities today and those in the past who campaigned tirelessly so that women today have opportunities previously denied. The IWD theme, Inspire Inclusion led me to think about all the women in our Catholic tradition who have been models of inspiration over time. The 5 women listed below is a snapshot of the women who have inspired me, who would you add to the list?

Mother Mary- the very first person who came to mind, the first to say yes. How different things would be if she denied the Lord? Mary said “yes” to the message God gave her through the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38) and she is very important in our tradition. Mary came from a simple background and yet she was called by God to fulfill a very extraordinary role; that of becoming the mother of Jesus. This was not an easy role for Mary to take up!

Venerable Nano Nagle (1718-1784) cannot be forgotten as we walk the grounds of the Presentation Campus. Nano founded the Presentation Sisters with a vision to offer a Catholic education for all children so that they had a chance to better their lives.

Saint Mary Mackillop (1842-1909) Australia’s first and only saint. A woman who, despite being excommunicated from the Catholic Church for a short period of time, never lost sight of her vision, to help and educate the poorest of the poor.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) Growing up, I was always inspired by vision of Mother Teresa on TV. A petite lady who worked tirelessly to serve the poor, sick, dying and orphaned in India. Like Mary MacKillop, she founded a religious order.

Saint Teresa of Avila (1515- 1582) St. Teresa, a Carmelite who was made a doctor of the church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI, the first woman to be so honoured. She is most widely known for her spiritual writings and contemplative life.

Kate Johnston
Director of Identity

International Women’s Day at St Mary’s College

On Friday, 8^th March the St Mary’s community recognised and celebrated International Women’s Day.

On arrival to school, the College community were greeted by student representatives handing out purple ribbons. Historically, purple was a colour that denoted justice and dignity, and now it is used to represent women. Our student representatives created a positive and engaging start to the day and our community worn ribbons with pride.

Member of Parliament, Katherine Copsey (Southern Metro for the Greens), visited the College for International Women's Day. Meeting with students from Y7-12, Katherine spoke about her journey into politics and emphasised the importance of gender equality. She shed light on her endeavours in combating the climate crisis, promoting sustainable energy, and mitigating gambling harm. Katherine offered valuable insights and fielded questions from our attentive students. Her presence ignited a spark of inspiration among them, with many keen to learn more about a career in politics.

Jen Howard
Director of Students 

Celebrating Musical Talents and Future Performances at St Mary's College

Congratulations are in order for the 27 talented performers who graced the stage with their solos at our first music recital of 2024! Their dedication and passion for music were evident as they captivated the audience with their performances. A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and supporters who joined us to witness the remarkable talents of our aspiring young musicians. Your presence and encouragement mean the world to them as they continue to hone their craft.

As we bask in the success of the recital, rehearsals are already underway for our highly anticipated 2024 musical production, 'Little Shop of Horrors.' Get ready to be dazzled by our students' exceptional talents as they bring this iconic musical to life on stage. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements about this exciting event!

In addition to our upcoming musical production, we're thrilled to announce two more music events on the horizon. On ANZAC Day, our symphonic band and lead singers will be paying tribute to our fallen heroes at the Caulfield RSL. It's a poignant opportunity for our students to honor the sacrifices made by those who served our country.

And mark your calendars for the much-anticipated Music/Production Camp 2024! Details will be coming your way soon, so keep an eye out for more information on this enriching and immersive experience.

At St Mary's College, we take pride in nurturing and showcasing the talents of our students, and we're excited to witness their musical journey unfold in the year ahead.

Luisa Lawless
Director of Music

MAVERICK YIN and FINN DAVIS Shine at ACC Athletics Championships

At the recent ACC Athletics Championships held at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday, February 29th, St Mary’s College witnessed remarkable performances from Maverick Yin and Finn Davis. Amongst numerous commendable results, Maverick and Finn stood out as exceptional achievers for our school.

Maverick Yin dominated the under 15 shot put event with a remarkable throw of 12.45m, easily surpassing his competitors. Not only did he emerge victorious among the 6 division 2 schools, but he also outperformed the winner of the 7 Division 1 schools. Maverick's impressive throw, surpassing the 12m mark, set him apart as the sole athlete to achieve such a feat.

Similarly, in the under 17 high jump, Finn Davis secured a resounding victory in the Division 2 competition with a height of 1.85m. His exceptional jump equalled the winning performance in the Division 1 event. Finn, who holds the St Mary’s College record for under 16 high jump, came remarkably close to breaking the under 17 record set in 2005 with this outstanding performance.

A round of applause is also due for Spencer McKay (1st

in under 14 100m), Oscar Cao (1st in under 14 hurdles and long jump), Xavier Magnanini (1st in under 17 triple jump), and Will Stone (1st in under 17 hurdles) for their impressive achievements.

Zac Hardiman also deserves recognition for his outstanding performance in the under 13 category, where he competed in four events and secured 3rd place in the triple jump with an impressive distance of 9.23m, with the school record of 10.22m well within his reach.

It's worth noting that Will Stone showcased exceptional speed, earning him the title of the fastest runner in the school for 2024. With a remarkable time of 11.91 in the under 17 100m event, Will became the only St Mary’s athlete to break the 12-second barrier, based on times at both the House Athletics and the ACC athletics events.

Congratulations to all our athletes for their outstanding performances.

Coach Kaufman

Parents and Friends Meeting Reminder 

A reminder that the next Parents and Friends Meeting will be held on

Monday 18 March starting at 7:00pm

The meeting is held in the Presentation Campus Boardroom.

Shaun Lancashire will be running through a Community Consultation Activity. For this reason, this meeting is an in person meeting only.

Hope to see you there!

David Formosa
Director of Development

Embark on an Unforgettable Indigenous Immersion at Lake Mungo!

Are you ready for a journey of cultural discovery and connection? Join us on an immersive experience like no other as we explore the rich Indigenous heritage of Lake Mungo.

2024 Lake Mungo Expression of Interest Form

Calling All Easter Egg Donors!

As we prepare to celebrate the joyous Easter season, we are reaching out to our wonderful community for Easter egg donations to make our festivities even more egg-citing! 🌟

We invite you to spread Easter cheer by donating chocolate eggs, sweet treats, or any Easter-themed goodies that will bring smiles to the faces of our students and staff. Your generous contributions will help our Easter Raffle

Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a local business, or a member of our community, your support is invaluable in making this Easter season extra special for all. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference.

If you'd like to contribute Easter eggs or have any questions about donations, please contact Kate Johnston. Your kindness and generosity will be deeply appreciated by all!

Easter Egg donations can be dropped off at student reception on either campus.

Kate Johnston
Director of Identity