Principal's Post
Emergency Services Assembly
At the Full College Assembly on Friday 4th September, we welcomed and recognised Mazenod Old Collegians who chose a career in Emergency Services. Emergency services play a vital role in society by ensuring the safety, well-being, and security of individuals and communities. These dedicated professionals, including paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement officers, are the first responders to critical situations. Their prompt and skilled actions save lives during accidents, natural disasters, medical emergencies, and crises. Beyond immediate lifesaving, emergency services provide a sense of reassurance and comfort to the public, fostering community resilience and they keep us all safe.
We presented Aaron Chitaranjan (MOC2013) with a Leave to Serve award to recognise the amazing contribution that members of the Emergency Services make to the community. The Leave to Serve award strives to ignite in every Mazenod student - a life marked by purpose and service. This term it is awarded to Aaron for outstanding leadership, service and contribution to community and culture through the Narre Warren Fire Brigade (CFA), which has been keeping the community safe since 1944.
We also honoured the legacy and service of old collegian Police Officer Steven Tynan (MOC1983) and his colleague Damian Eyre, and we keep their family and friends in our thoughts and prayers as we do for all people who dedicate their life in Emergency Services. Through Steven’s achievements and memory, and his lasting contribution and impact on the Mazenod community and beyond, Steven embodies the values we hold most dear: integrity, leadership, service and excellence.
Enrolment News
During the week we finished interviews for the 2028 cohort of students and welcomed the Year 7 2027 students and families. Invariably, during the interviews, families are asked why they have chosen Mazenod for their son’s education. A consistent response is they know a current student or a former student who recommends the College to them. They also recognise the character and qualities of the young people who have been educated at the school. They recognise the dignity, respect and success of that past student and would like their son to have similar attributes. It is a very affirming exercise for the staff who are involved with the interviewing process, and I would like to thank the students, both current and former, for being people of integrity, which results in so many families making the College the first choice for their son.
We are also finalising numbers for all year levels for 2027 so please get the re-enrolment forms back as soon as possible. The deadline for the forms has now passed. Please forward these forms to the Finance Team as soon as possible.
ACC Cross Country
At Wednesday’s ACC Cross Country Championship, Mazenod claimed the Division 2 Champions Cup after a brilliant team performance across the age groups. Championship results came in U13, U15, U16, Intermediate, U17, Senior and Senior Overall, with the Junior team also placing 3rd. Well done to every runner who pulled on the Mazenod singlet and contributed to an outstanding day for the College.
Performing Arts Festival
The Performing Arts Festival was this week. Students and staff prepared an array of wonderful performances. The student Leaders were heavily involved and were very enthusiastic and encouraging of all creative artists, magicians, singers and actors to give it a go. It was wonderful to see that the Performing and Visual Arts has such a place of prominence in our school community.
Term 3
Term 3 concludes today for students, and Term 4 begins on Monday October 5. It has been a busy time for staff and students. Co-curricular activities are important for development and growth, especially during adolescence, and are associated with lower rates of anti-social and risky behaviour, lower rates of academic failure and lower dropout rates. Congratulations to all staff and students for participation in the broad range of co-curricular activities.
VCE Trial Exams
Senior Students will still be sitting Practice Exams during the term break and preparing for final assessments and exams. Good luck to all involved and hopefully there will be a chance to relax and enjoy some downtime as well.
Thank You
Thank you for everything you have done this term to keep Mazenod a safe and vibrant learning community, and to provide your son with opportunities to participate in a full range of activities. I hope you have a well-deserved holiday break with your family and friends.
All the best,
Dr Paul Shannon
Principal