Catholic Identity and Mission 

Welcome back to the new school year.  A special welcome to our new students, families, and staff. 

It was wonderful to see the new Year 7s start their journey at Secondary school on Wednesday.  With their big bags full of books on their backs and excited smiles showing enthusiasm and excitement.  We also welcomed back our Year 12 students for their final year of Secondary education.  It is my favourite day to be back at school, day one.  I love being back after a break and seeing everyone looking well-rested and full of smiles and joy for a new year.

In my second year in the role of Director of Catholic Identify and Mission, I feel very blessed and am full of eagerness for the coming year.

Firstly, I would like to introduce my Religious Education team for 2024.

Mr. Scott Blencowe

• Religious Education Leader/Student Leadership/Social Justice Animator
• Scott will work closely with our RE teachers leading Curriculum development as well as our student leaders with events and leadership activities throughout the year.

Mrs. Cate Kavanagh

• Sacristan 
• Cate will assist in setting up for whole school Masses and Class Masses in the Chapel. 

RE teachers from Year 7-12

Welcome back to new and returning staff to the RE team for 2024 Mr. Zac Cox, Mr. Patrick McCarthy, Mr. Hamish Duckmanton, Ms. Melinda Stephan, Ms. Cassie Raschle, Mr. Chris Spencer and Mr John Freeman.

Annual Improvement Plan

From our Annual Improvement Plan in 2024, I specifically want to focus on reconnecting with our Josephite Charism through experiences that foster and animate our school's Catholic Identity.

One of the first ways we will begin the year doing this is at our Opening Mass/Ash Wednesday celebration next Wednesday 14th February, where we will celebrate the beginning of a new year. We will also be blessed with ashes as a sign of our onward journey to new life through the season of Lent.  After this Mass our 2024 college leaders with be presented with their badges. This Mass will start at 11.10am.

On Thursday of next week (a no-bus day for our students)  our staff will continue their professional learning and reconnecting to the Josephite Charism with Sr Rita Malavisi, a Josephite Sister working at the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre in Melbourne. Staff will conclude the Humble Beginning Program. Based on the foundational scripture of Micah 6:6 and John 10:10. 

These four values/virtues above will be encountered through a different lens – a story from the founders; a devotion or tradition; a story from the life of a Sister; a story from scripture; a contemporary story and a song.  Our staff always look forward to learning together.

Our Patron Saint - St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

For those families new to our school, below is some information about Australia’s Patron Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. 

Each year level will complete a mini-unit at the start of the year in RE reminding them of the story of Mary MacKillop.

Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Melbourne on 15th January 1842. And entered eternal life in Sydney on 8th August 1909. 

Mary took the religious name "Mary of the Cross."  Mary responded to the isolation of colonial families by pioneering a new form of religious life to provide education for their children. 

She and her sisters shared the life of the poor and the itinerant, offering special care to destitute women and children. 

Remembered for her eagerness to discover God's will in all things, for her charity in the face of calumny, and her abiding trust in God's providence.

Some wonderful quotes from the Life of Saint Mary of the Cross, Mackillop, give us a taste of her spirituality and faith:

"Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can."

"Find happiness in making others happy."

"We must teach more by example than by word."

"Remember we are all but travellers here."

"Never see a need without doing something about it"

"Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God." 

Fr Paul W. Kelly said…

Saint Mary MacKillop's life is also an example of complete trust in God's providence….  But this is not some kind of helpless waiting around and doing nothing …  but rather Saint of the Cross (MacKillop) knew that God's providence was revealed through the love and care of human beings… So, Mary became famous for her attitude (and actions) summed up in that saying I quoted earlier: "Never see a need without doing something to help." 

Mary saw a need for education, shelter, and support for those most in need; namely poor children, and destitute men and women... and so set up schools and shelters for people in need….

We can all make a difference by responding to the needs around us and believing that we can make a difference, with God's grace and providence. ….

May Our Lord inspire us to be people of care, compassion, graciousness, and love – to respond to the setbacks and acts of malice in the world the loving way Mary Mackillop did, with compassion and perseverance, and may we also continue to be people of practical action, making a difference to those most in need.

Our college theme chosen by our student leaders this year is:

“Be faithful in little things; ​

All will be right with time and a little patience." ​

(MotCM 1873)

Year 12 Retreat

Our Year 12 Retreat students took part in a three-day retreat last week run by The Passionist Retreat Team at Bayview Adventure Camp in Grantville.  Tom Warren and his team from The Passionist Retreat Team facilitated the days as requested by our students after a successful Year 11 Retreat in August last year.  Our Year 12 students were fantastic. They participated wholeheartedly in all the activities and used the time well to reflect on their journey ahead. The most exciting moment was when they received their year 12 jumpers and of course, getting saturated during canoeing! 

My sincere thanks to staff Ms. Georgia Townley, Mr. Scott Blencowe, Ms. Sarah Roscoe Smith, Mr. Zac Cox, Ms. Cassie Rascle, Ms. Melissa Fuller, Mr. Gerard Gordon, and Ms Beth Winterhalter who gave up their family time, especially at the start of the year with kids starting school, kinder etc.  I am very grateful for their support as always. I am sure you would have heard some wonderful stories of their experiences already.

JJAMM Experience 2024 – Celebrating Student Leadership. 

Next Friday, Mr. Scott Blencowe and I will accompany our two school captains Jack Donohue and Dinisty Francis to Sydney for the JJAMM Experience 2024 – Celebrating Student Leadership. 

This experience provides an opportunity for students from Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools to gather. The retreat aims to provide an opportunity for our student leaders to develop a deeper understanding of the charism of our schools as inspired by Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods.  Jack and Dinisty are very excited and look forward to sharing with you their experiences on return.

I look forward to working with you this year as we begin to unpack the story of Mary Mackillop who, through her life, shows us how to be true people of faith and an inspiration to the students in our care.

Have a wonderful weekend.