What Really Matters?

Last Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew asks a challenging question: “What value is there in gaining the whole world if we lose ourselves?”

It is a question that seems particularly relevant as we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend.

We live in a time where there is an increasing pressure to value that which we can monetise, and success becomes defined by wealth, status and notoriety. Our young people are surrounded by messages that tell them that to achieve happiness, we must have more and be more. Unfortunately, in a world of fake comparison, we end up inevitably envious and disappointed.

Perhaps one of the most important things a father figure can do is to be countercultural as an “influencer”. Young people learn what matters by watching what is important to their role models. When fathers prioritise family, faith, kindness and generosity, they show their young people that their worth is not determined by what they accumulate, but by their character.

By being present, listening, encouraging, setting boundaries, admitting when we are wrong and supporting our young people through disappointment and setbacks, we show another way of being. These are the things that matter most and they require our most precious commodity, time.

For some, Father’s Day is a joyful celebration; for others, it can be a difficult day. We recognise and respect those different experiences within our community.

This Father’s Day, we give thanks for fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, carers, mentors and all those who play an important fatherly role in the lives of our young people. Perhaps the greatest gift we can give them is to show, through the way we live, what really matters.

Happy Father’s Day.

Father’s Day Breakfast

Next Thursday, 10^th September, 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.

Social Justice Sunday

The last Sunday of August is Social Justice Sunday in the Catholic Church and the theme for 2026 is "Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division".

The Bishops’ Conference urges us to live the Gospel to address social divisions, antisemitism, racism, and violence. It emphasizes prayer, respectful dialogue, acts of compassion, welcoming migrants, reconciliation, and challenging hatred. The statement is available here: https://socialjustice.catholic...

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 today (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).

Apologies for the technical issues that some experienced when the Parent Teacher bookings were opened last week. The cause of the issue has been identified and addressed.

Footy Colours Day

The last day of Term 3, Friday 18 September, is Footy Colours Day and students are encouraged to dress in their team colours for the day with a donation to go towards our charities.

Commencement Term 4

• Monday 5^th October – Student Free day (Staff Spirituality Day)
• Tuesday 6^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 

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
— Mother Teresa

Student leadership at St Mary’s is about serving others with humility and courage. A few weeks ago, I posed this question to the Year 11 students: “What kind of prefect leader does St Mary’s College need me to be?” This question encouraged students to reflect on their leadership skills and qualities and consider applying for the 2027 Prefect Team.

Prefects play a significant role within the College community. They are representatives of the student body, role models for their peers, and a voice for all students. Great prefects bring their unique talents and strengths to the team in service of the whole community. They lead with, for and of others. Prefects understand that leadership is not about popularity or recognition; it is about having the courage to make the right decision, even when it is difficult or unpopular. They embrace the opportunity to lead the entire College by modelling servant leadership and living out the Charism of Edmund Rice through active participation in social justice initiatives.

Leadership also requires the ability to balance commitments and responsibilities.

In John 13:1–17, we are given a glimpse of the kind of servant leadership Jesus demonstrated when He washed the feet of His disciples.

Servant leadership requires LOVE, HUMILITY and COURAGE. For prefect leaders, this means knowing and valuing the students they represent, listening to their experiences, and seeking what is best for the whole College community. Like Jesus, who used authority to wash the feet of His disciples, prefects are called to lead through service rather than popularity. This means being willing to listen, support others, lead by example, and recognise opportunities to make a positive difference. Servant leadership is demonstrated through action - using your position not for personal gain, but to strengthen and serve the whole College community.

This year we have received 25 applications, and while not all students can be appointed to a prefect position, I know that each applicant will continue to be a terrific role model within our Year 12 cohort. My hope is that every student who applies for a leadership role does so with a genuine desire to make a positive difference and to help foster the strong sense of belonging and community that makes St Mary’s College such a special place.

Fiona Mulhall 
Deputy Principal 

Magnificat: Year 9 at St Mary's College

“My soul magnifies the Lord…” Luke 1:46

The Magnificat is Mary's song of praise in the Gospel of Luke. The word Magnificat means "magnifies." In her song, Mary begins to see possibilities greater than she had previously imagined. Her horizons are broadened as she becomes open to new experiences, deeper purpose, and a future she cannot yet fully see. Her response is one of faith, hope and love. This witness lies at the heart of our vision for Year 9 at St Mary's College.

Broadening Horizons through Virtue

As the beginning of the Middle Years, Year 9 marks the commencement of a stage of learning we call “Broadening Horizons”. It is a time when students are invited to expand their understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them. Before pathways become more specialised in the senior years, students are encouraged to explore widely, encounter new ideas, discover hidden strengths, and engage with experiences that challenge and inspire them.

Like Mary in the Magnificat, students are invited to recognise possibilities they may not have previously imagined. Through openness to learning, courage in embracing new challenges, and engagement with a rich variety of experiences, they begin to develop a deeper understanding of who they are, what they value, and what might be possible for their future. For Christians, Mary is a model of discipleship and virtue. Through her openness to God's call and her willingness to step into an unknown future, she demonstrates that growth often begins with courage, trust, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities.

Inspired by Mary's example, the Year 9 program is shaped by seven virtues that have guided Christian formation for centuries. Together, these virtues provide a framework for helping young people develop the habits, dispositions, and character needed to flourish in learning and in life.

The Seven Heavenly Virtues

The seven virtues are traditionally grouped into two categories.

The theological virtues orient us towards God and shape our relationship with Him. They invite us to live with trust, purpose, and love.

The human virtues guide the way we live each day. They provide the practical wisdom needed to make good decisions, build meaningful relationships, respond thoughtfully to challenges, and contribute positively to our communities.

The Theological Virtues

Faith

Faith opens us to trust, wonder, and understanding. It encourages students to remain open to new learning, deeper questions, and God's presence in their lives.

Hope

Hope nurtures resilience and optimism for the future. It enables students to approach uncertainty and to see possibility, even when challenges arise.

Charity

Charity forms us in love, compassion, generosity, and service. It teaches students that their gifts and talents are best used in relationship with, and in service of, others.

The Human Virtues

Prudence

Prudence develops wise judgement and thoughtful decision-making. It helps students discern what is good, make informed choices, and act with wisdom and responsibility.

Justice

Justice calls us to recognise the dignity of every person, the interconnectedness of all living things, and our responsibility to contribute to the flourishing of our communities and our common home.

Fortitude

Fortitude nurtures courage, resilience, and perseverance in the face of challenge. It encourages students to embrace difficulty, take positive risks, and continue striving towards their goals.

Temperance

Temperance cultivates balance, self-mastery, and the freedom to make choices that lead to personal and collective flourishing.

Alongside a strong academic core, the virtues provide the foundation for the entire Year 9 experience in the Magnificat program. Students engage in interdisciplinary learning that connects knowledge, skills, and perspectives across subject areas. They explore authentic questions, tackle meaningful challenges, and develop the capacity to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply learning in real-world contexts.

Beyond the classroom, students encounter a breadth of experiences through leadership, service, reflection, creativity, community engagement, and experiential learning. These opportunities encourage them to discover new interests, develop new capabilities, and broaden their understanding of themselves and the world around them. We are excited to share in this with our Year 9 class of 2027 and pray that each student embraces the Magnificat program with Mary’s sense of hope, faith and love.

Daniel Di Lisio
Director of Learning and Teaching 

This week, our Vocational Major students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the Australian Sports Museum. The excursion was designed to encourage students to think more broadly about large-scale events and the extensive planning and organisation that takes place behind the scenes.

Students were taken on a tour of the MCG, learning about the history, operations and day-to-day workings of one of Australia’s most iconic sporting venues. A particular highlight was seeing the Collingwood dressing rooms being prepared ahead of the Wild Card Final. The students were thrilled to have this behind-the-scenes experience and were enthusiastically taking photos throughout the space.

The tour was led by retired MCC member Alan, who also happens to be a college alumnus from the graduating class of 1966. Alan brought along his old school cap to share with the students, creating a wonderful connection between the past and present. His genuine pride in the school, which he continues to carry with him almost 60 years after graduating, was a special part of the day.

Students also enjoyed exploring the Australian Sports Museum, where they interacted with the Game On sports simulations. They had the chance to test their skills, reflexes and abilities across a range of interactive activities.

The knowledge and insights gained from the excursion will be valuable for students considering careers in hospitality, events and related industries. It will also support their planning for their upcoming Year 12 Community Project tasks, as well as a future school event that our Year 11 students will be involved in organising.

It was a valuable and enjoyable day that gave our students a fascinating insight into the scale, planning and teamwork required to deliver major events as well as see what different types of job opportunities are out there in these places.

Grant Godbold 
Pastoral Leader - Year 10 and VM Leader

Last week, the Year 10 Drama Class viewed the phenomenal Australian play ‘Break of Day’ at the Malthouse Theatre. Written by Steve Rodgers and directed by the incredible Sarah Goodes, the play centres around a small rural town in Victoria and the complex relationships that the people in the town have. The year 10 class absolutely loved the actors’ performances, the astute directing and the intriguing narrative but the highlight was the incredible set, which was on a revolve and featured the town through a 360 degree panoramic view. Even more outstanding is the fact that one of our fantastic Year 12 VM students, Francis King was part of the team that constructed the set. I sat down with Francis to discuss his incredible set and the work that he undertook.

Mr. Tollit: Hi Francis! Fantastic work on the show. How long did it take you and the crew to build that set?

Francis: The whole thing took about 6 weeks.

Mr. Tollit: That’s incredible. What were some of the challenges in building a set that needed to feel authentic and lived in and not something just ‘made for a play’?

Francis: It was all in detail -the designer made sure that the set was dressed in the real detail that she had researched making sure the design looked living in and authentic. One of the biggest challenges we faced was working with a budget of only $30,000, which was very cheap for a large-scale set. The set was an 8-metre-tall building, so it was challenging and potentially dangerous to construct. It was also built on a revolve, meaning the entire set needed to rotate during the performance. Another major challenge was transporting the large set from the warehouse to the theatre and making sure it could be put down quick and having enough time to build it again in the theatre.

Mr. Tollit: How rewarding it is to see your work used in a meaningful and purposeful way?

Francis: I felt very proud and flattered that my hard work was used for something so creative and by such professionals to create an experience that everyone could enjoy.

Mr. Tollit: I stopped counting the revolve when it turned the tenth time because by then, I thought I had seen everything it had to offer…but I was wrong! Was it important that the audience needed to see different aspects of the set at different times?

Francis: Yes-it needed lots of different perspectives so that it felt like a whole town – not just a one aspect of the town.

Mr. Tollit: Any good/bad/funny stories you wanted to share that the general Malthouse audience would likely not know?

Francis: One funny story that the general Malthouse audience probably wouldn’t know is when one of the painters was walking backwards, tripped over, and fractured his wrist. To he was carrying paint at the time, so the paint ended up spilling all over him.

Mr. Tollit: Well you know what they say! No point crying over spilt paint! Thank you Francis for your time and for the wonderful work you contributed to this wonderful production.

Brendan Tollit
Pastoral Leader - Year 12

🎶 MASSED MUSIC CONCERT 🎶

Join us for a special evening celebrating the incredible musical talent of our St Mary’s College students.

📅 Thursday 10 September
🕖 7:00pm – 9:00pm
📍 Logue Hall, St Mary’s College

Enjoy an evening of music, performance and community as our students come together for our Massed Music Concert.

🎟️ FREE EVENT – BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

👉 Book your free tickets:
https://www.trybooking.com/DPLJM

Bring the family and come along to support our talented young musicians. We look forward to seeing you there! 🎵

David Formosa
Director of Development

St Mary’s 12 matches/ 53 sets d De La Salle 3 matches / 22 sets

A great way to finish the season with a comprehensive win.

The scoreboard below.

The Table Tennis squad had a solid season, showing great commitment, determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Brandon Sun was exceptional throughout the season, finishing ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles. He secured five singles victories and four doubles victories, consistently performing against the opposition’s strongest players. His performances were a major highlight of the season.

Special mentions must also go to Harry Denning and Stephen Iveja, who performed consistently throughout the season and made valuable contributions to the team.

A big thank you to the entire squad for the way they committed themselves to training and represented the school. Their dedication, teamwork and excellent sportsmanship were a credit to the team and the school.

Below is table of wins in singles and doubles.

Eddie Cavolo 
Teacher

Our Parents & Friends Making a Difference

At St Mary’s College, sustainability isn’t just something we talk about — it’s something our community puts into action.

Thanks to the support and involvement of our Parents & Friends Association, our College has been able to make a meaningful contribution to reducing textile waste. As at 26 August, an impressive 74.5kg of textile waste has been diverted from global landfill.

But the impact goes well beyond the weight of the textiles collected. This initiative has helped contribute to:

• 1,788kg of CO₂e emissions prevented
• 13,596kWh of energy saved
• 221,855 litres of water saved

These figures demonstrate the power of community action. What might seem like a small initiative — choosing to recycle unwanted textiles rather than sending them to landfill — can have a significant environmental impact when we all get involved.

Our P&F plays an important role in creating opportunities for families to connect, contribute and make a positive difference to our College community. This initiative is another great example of the P&F putting our shared values into action.

74.5kg diverted from landfill and counting.

A wonderful achievement for our Parents & Friends and the wider St Mary’s College community — and a reminder that when we work together, our impact can be significant.

David Formosa
Director of Development

Hey Dads, Join Us for Breakfast 

We invite all the dads, grandfathers and father figures in our St Mary’s College community to join us for a special Father’s Day Breakfast on Thursday 10 September, from 7:30am–8:30am.

It’s a great opportunity to start the day together, enjoy some breakfast and coffee, and celebrate the important role that dads and father figures play in the lives of our young people.

📅 Thursday 10 September
⏰ 7:30am–8:30am
📍 St Mary’s College

If you’re able to join us, please RSVP by emailing dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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

Alumni Tutoring Program Returns in Term 3

Our popular After-School Alumni Tutoring Program returns in Term 3, providing students with the opportunity to receive extra academic support from graduates of St Mary's College.

We are incredibly fortunate to have former students who generously help current students succeed. Having recently completed their own secondary education, our alumni tutors understand the challenges students face and are well placed to provide guidance, encouragement and practical study strategies in a supportive environment.

Whether students are looking to consolidate their understanding, prepare for assessments or simply build confidence in their learning, the tutoring program is a fantastic opportunity to receive additional support outside the classroom.

New for Term 3, we will also be offering a dedicated Year 7 and 8 Mathematics Tutoring Session every Tuesday after school. This session has been designed to strengthen students' mathematical understanding, reinforce key concepts and build confidence in a small-group setting.

Students are encouraged to attend regularly, and families are invited to speak with their child's classroom teacher if they feel they would benefit from participating.

We thank our alumni tutors for their continued generosity and commitment to supporting the next generation of St Mary's students. Their willingness to give back is a wonderful reflection of the strong sense of community that exists at St Mary's College.

Program Details

• Tuesday: Year 7 & 8 Mathematics Tutoring – 3:15pm to 4:15pm
• Thursday: General Homework and Study Support (all year levels) – 3:15pm to 4:15pm

David Formosa
Director of Development