Around the College

Premier's VCE Awards

On Monday 3 June I had the pleasure of attending the Premier’s VCE Awards ceremony at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. These awards recognise the top performing students for their outstanding academic achievements in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).

Individual Graded Assessment Scores are used to determine the top group of students for each VCE study award.

Ashleigh Pereira (class of 2018) received an award for VCE Food Studies. She was one of four students in the state of Victoria to receive this particular award. Ashleigh achieved a perfect study score of 50 in 2018 for Food Studies.

Nazareth College congratulates Ashleigh on her outstanding achievement and wishes her all the best with her future studies.

Ms Christine Vaughan

Learning Leader, Arts and Technology

Production - The Addams Family

Unbelievable but true! Production has come to an end.

As I was one of the team heavily involved in this year’s musical, I can confidently tell you that much work was done, many new skills developed and laughter was always found along the way. I would like to thank all the individuals who contributed to another successful show presented by our very own Performing Arts Department.

Many students (backstage, make-up, band, front of house, video/promo team) were instrumental to an inclusive ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach. We really do have so much talent and goodwill here. All Nazareth staff who contributed with their time, expertise and curriculum and room change adjustments (sorry PE!) were very much noticed and appreciated by the Production Team and The Addams Family Cast. Often attention is drawn on the four production team members and solely the students on stage. This is not a true reflection of the multitude of aspects that create a successful show. Only the ‘tip of the iceberg’. Finally, a very sincere thank you to the parents and families who supported this year’s show in so many, different ways. Again, such goodwill here

As we move on from The Addams Family, the Performing Arts Department will now look to Semester 2. Students will continue to have opportunities to develop skills and connect with their peers. The Semester 2 ENSEMBLE Schedule will be released shortly. Please consider participating in these opportunities which are run by the finest professionals.

Ms Tatiana Vega

Performing Arts Coordinator

Vinnies Winter Appeal

The motto of the St Vincent De Paul Society  ‘Giving a hand up’ was very evident during this year’s Winter Appeal, in the lead up to our Mass for Social Justice held last week. The school community was encouraged to donate items of non-perishable foods, toiletries, and clothing, both new and used. Yet again, Nazareth College accepted the challenge and generously donated over a three week period. As can be seen in the photos, it is remarkable what we can achieve as a College, to help people amongst us that are less fortunate than ourselves.

On behalf of the Vinnies team who coordinated this appeal, I would sincerely like to extend a huge thank you to each and every student, family and staff member who contributed so willingly.  We were fortunate to have James Tudehope (a representative from St Gerard’s parish and President of the SVDP Dandenong North Conference) speak to the students after communion and to offer his thanks for our contributions. A sad fact that struck each of us was that housing is in such high demand in Dandenong that the reality for some people is that they are being forced to sleep in tents, in a suburb merely a few kilometres away from Nazareth College. This shocking fact should reassure us all that our donations are invaluable to organisations such as SVDP. Our ‘hand up’ really does make a difference.

I would also like to thank Emma Xerri for her communion reflection, whereby she shared her insights on what it means to be a Vinnie. I have included her testimony below.

Collectively as a school, we donated more than 1300 items of food, toiletries, and clothing (not counting second-hand donations).  McCormack House did themselves proud with a total of 280 items donated. An awesome effort!

McAuley 5, urged on by Ms Formanek, once again donated the greatest number of items (180). Congratulations to them all for this achievement.

The Vinnies work is not done - stay tuned for more exciting opportunities to be involved in ‘Giving a hand up’.   This will begin with The Winter Sleepout in Term 3.

Ms Lisa Douglass

Vinnies Coordinator

Being a Vinnie - a reflection from the Social Justice Mass

The generosity which has been exhibited through the donations of the Nazareth Community have been a great display of the works of the St Vincent de Paul Society. The ethos of the organisation is to give a hand up, not a handout. Whilst our work through this Winter Appeal has been primarily through donations and giving ‘a handout,’ these efforts are not without the hard work of Ms Douglass and our Vinnies Conference. I am constantly inspired by the dedication of each Conference member and their unwavering spirit and determination to improve our works and fundraisers. I am also incredibly inspired by the works of external members of the St Vincent de Paul Society, including Mr James Tudehope, who we are so very fortunate to have with us today.

This time last year, I began my work for the Dandenong Tutoring Program, a service run through the St Vincent de Paul Society with the help of many selfless volunteers. As a student myself, who is very fortunate to have a strong, supportive family background, I felt it was my responsibility to ensure that other young people receive the same support and access to education as me. Admittedly, it was a shock to learn just how many students, locally, are disadvantaged in their access to education, particularly those from refugee backgrounds who are usually unable to read and write and have no one at home who can help them. Hence, I’ve worked with these students, to ensure that they are able to complete and understand their schoolwork and make a few friends along the way. Sometimes this role is challenging, but I am surrounded by brilliant, compassionate individuals who have been involved with the program unfailingly for several years and are always willing to offer their assistance.

Their generosity, and the tremendous value they place in helping those less fortunate than themselves, is what the St Vincent de Paul Society is founded upon. And I feel so fortunate to have the opportunities that I do to provide a ‘hand up’ to those in need through the tutoring program and our very own Vinnies Conference.

From this experience, I have learned the importance of gratitude. Every day at school we engage in Thanksgiving Prayer before lunch to take time to reflect and give thanks for all we are so privileged to have. Normally this prayer is short. A quick thanks for the meal we are about to receive and we all scurry out of class. I’d like us all to take a moment now to think about everything we are truly grateful for. Whether that be the person seated next to you or the scarf you wear each day to school that shields you from the cold. Or maybe it’s your access to clean drinking water whenever you need it, or your right to an education which, as I’ve learned, is much more appreciated among those with less privilege than ourselves.

Mother Mary MacKillop said, ‘never see a need without doing something about it.’ And I’ve been so amazed that through your help we have been able to collect donations which will help many within our community through the challenging winter months. Once again, you have all acknowledged the need for change within our society and have made the generous decision to assist us in our Winter Appeal. So on behalf of our Vinnies conference, I thank you all so much for your support and generosity.

Emma Xerri

President of Nazareth Vinnies Conference