From the Principal

I am delighted to announce the 2018 VCE Dux is Isabella Cassetta with an ATAR of 96.6. I am also very proud to announce that Annie Tabone received a perfect score study score of 50 in Visual Communication and Design. The College community is incredibly proud of Isabella, Annie and of all our 2018 VCE and VCAL students. We wish them all the very best as they commence the next phase of their lives.

The College Awards night was held on Thursday 6 December. On this night we acknowledged and congratulated the students for their outstanding commitment and contribution to MSJ during 2018. They are to be commended for their dedication and hard work. A full list of award winners is featured later in this newsletter.

Wow! What a great year 2018 has been.  Our theme for the year has been Let Joy Ignite Us and I can honestly say that I have seen so much evidence of how joy has ignited us throughout the year. I have seen joy in the students’ work and in their learning; in their friendships and in making new friends; in their participation in our sporting program; and in their enthusiasm for debating, and the great joy they have shown when participating in the many lunch-time activities.

There was so much Joy in all that have participated in the arts, in particular the great work that was done by so many students and staff in Seussical the Musical!

There was joy in the way that our community helped others through the many social justice activities that took place throughout the year.  Our participation in masses, liturgies, prayer and reflections showed how we were open to the joy that God’s love brings us. There has been so much Joy in our community.

The words and actions of our students, staff and families throughout the year have ignited the joy in all of us. Thank you for being so joyful!

I wish to acknowledge staff member Jenny Clark. Jenny has been a teacher at MSJ for the past 43 years and is now retiring. Many students have been privileged to have been taught by Jenny over her many years at the College and they, and the wider MSJ community, are very grateful for her commitment to MSJ. We wish Jenny all the very best as she commences her retirement, she will be missed.

Thank you to all staff for their continued hard work and commitment to the MSJ students and their families. Thank you to the parents, carers and family members who have supported our community throughout the year.

May you all have a very holy and peaceful Christmas.

Kate Dishon

Principal