The Exec Address

From the Executive Principal 

Dear MCHF community

As we near the end of term 2 and semester 1, I take this opportunity to thank all staff, students, and parents who have worked together for the benefit of one another. It has been a very busy term with a shortage of staffing, pressure to study, sit exams, mark exams, report writing, along with planning lessons and delivering the curriculum. All this while battling the cold weather and the flu. I hope all of you take time over the coming break to rest and recover.

Term 3 is an important time when Y12 students sit their trial exams. It is important that they are spending their next few weeks studying and committing to achieving their best. In term 3, we also prepare to select new College leaders. On an exciting note, we have our Spring Market on Sunday, 21 September, and we are looking for people to support this important event. We are also planning our first-ever Alumni Ball, as a way to reconnect with all past students and staff. This will take place on 17 October, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

The Middle East war rages, and Lebanon once again finds itself trapped in political turmoil and economic disaster. We pray that the God of Peace, will illumine minds and hearts so that the people there may experience stability and hope for the future.

Sr Margaret Ghosn

Executive Principal

Together We Achieve in Term 2

Dear College Community,

As we conclude Term 2, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all members of our College community for what has been a productive, enriching, and memorable term.

To our dedicated staff, thank you for your unwavering commitment, professionalism, and passion for teaching and learning. Your efforts have made a significant impact on our students' growth and well-being throughout the term.

To our wonderful parents and guardians, your continued support and cooperation are greatly appreciated. I would especially like to thank our Parent Association for the countless hours volunteered and the enthusiastic contributions made towards the life of the College. Your involvement in College events and initiatives makes a lasting difference.

To our students, well done on your efforts and perseverance this term. Each of you is on a unique learning journey, and I am proud of the progress and resilience you have shown.

This year’s College theme, "Together we achieve", drawn from our core value of collaboration, has been clearly lived out across all areas of the College life. From the classroom to the sporting field, from creative arts to leadership activities, it’s evident that unity and teamwork are helping us accomplish great things.

We congratulate our Stage 3 boys and girls who were recently crowned winners of the PDSSSC Soccer Gala Day - a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work and team spirit.

We are also thrilled to share that our 2026 Kindergarten enrolments are the highest they’ve ever been. This reflects the trust and confidence families place in our College, and we are honoured to welcome so many new students into our community in 2026.

Year 12 students are now preparing to enter their final term, with Trial HSC Exams and Graduation on the horizon. Earlier this month, the cohort came together for a Games Night on Friday, 6th June, creating memories and strengthening bonds before the important weeks ahead.

Our Year 8 students enjoyed their camp at Wiseman’s Ferry from Wednesday 18th to Friday 20th June. The feedback from both students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. A special thank you to the staff who generously gave their time to support this valuable experience.

We also had the joy of celebrating Grandparents Day on Friday, 20th June, beginning with a beautiful Mass, followed by morning tea. It was heart-warming to see our grandparents spending quality time with their grandchildren during recess, capturing moments that will be cherished.

The College was well represented at the Years 3–12 Public Speaking Competition held at St Maroun’s College on Tuesday 24th June, with participation from St Maroun’s College, St Charbel’s College, Holy Saviour Primary School, and our own students. Congratulations to all who took part and spoke so confidently on behalf of our College.

We also commend our talented students who took part in the PDSSSC Dance Gala Day at St John XXIII in Stanhope Gardens on Tuesday, 24th June. Your passion and energy showcased the vibrant spirit of our College.

To conclude the term, we celebrated our End of Term Awards and Assemblies for both Primary and Secondary. This term, we introduced the awards assembly for our Secondary students. The Primary assembly was held on Wednesday, 25th June, and the Secondary on Friday, 27th June. Congratulations to all students who received awards - you have set a wonderful example for your peers.

Farewell to Members of Staff

This term, we farewell the following members of staff and thank them for their service to our College:

• Ms Marie Safi, who will be retiring. We thank her for 35 years of service to our College in the Languages department.
• Ms Patrycja Pietak, who will be taking extended leave from the College.
• Ms Charlene Kazzi, who will be preparing once again to become a mother.
• Ms Vinita Nadan, who will be taking leave in Term 3.
• Ms Lara Elkhoury, who will be taking leave as she prepares for her wedding.

I look forward to announcing and welcoming our new staff in the first newsletter edition in Term 3 who will join our College.

I wish all students, staff, and families a safe and enjoyable term break. May it be a time of rest, renewal, and shared moments with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back as we continue our journey of learning, faith, and growth together.

Mr Elie Asmar

Head of College

Wellbeing Update: Tell them from me survey

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As part of our focus on school improvement, our College will once again be participating in the Tell Them From Me® (TTFM®) survey in 2025.

This survey, which has previously been conducted by the College, provides students, teachers, and parents with an opportunity to provide valuable feedback on College life, inclusive of the domains of Academia, Engagement, Faith, and Wellbeing.

As such, we would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey, as we value the role of parents and carers within our school community. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve opportunities for students for years to come.

To access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device, please use the URL below:

http://tellthemfromme.com/mchf2025 

Please note, this survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, and is available in multiple language dialects.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our students and wider College community.

God Bless

Mr Andrew Pearn

Head of Wellbeing K-12

Teaching and Learning Update

Learning, growth, and collaboration have been the cornerstones of Term 2, and we trust this will continue in Term 3 at MCHF. 

 This Term has been one of both momentum and progress. Across classrooms, we've seen students engaging deeply with their learning—asking questions, challenging themselves, and supporting one another. Our focus on high-impact teaching strategies has continued to take root, with staff embracing professional learning opportunities; our focus on Explicit Teaching will only accelerate in Term 3. 

 Term 2 also brought valuable opportunities for connection through parent-teacher interviews from K-11, community events, and cross-curricular projects that showcased both creativity and critical thinking. 

During the school holidays, on Tuesday 15 July, from 10-12, our Primary and Secondary Learning Centres (library) will be open for all parents and family members of MCHF students to come in, explore our library spaces, and borrow. We will have light refreshments, prizes, games, and arts and crafts. 

Reading is at the centre of good communicative practices, so we encourage all families to come and see us, just for a little while, during the holidays, and enjoy some of the vast resources we have.

In Term 3, we will also begin our Book Club for parents. Held in Week 3, and exploring books of all languages, the Book Club will be hosted in the Secondary Learning Space and will allow parents to explore their love of learning, just as much as the kids get to do the same. See the flyer below. 

To students heading off to see family and friends in other parts of Australia or the world over our upcoming break, I bet you are greeted with salutations about how grown up you look and how mature you have become since your last catch-up. But make sure you also impress them by sharing your positive attitude to learning and growth, tell them stories about how you have been resilient in your learning and have a renewed sense of excitement to grow your brain and your world, so you can be a positive contributor to the world when you leave the walls of MCHF. 

For Year 12 students, the foot is about to get firmly planted on the accelerator pedal as we head into Trial exams next Term. This is your opportunity to show off your talents and your knowledge. Seize this opportunity to give yourselves the best chance to springboard into life, post MCHF. We are all right behind you! 

We wish you all a wonderful break. Recharge your batteries and bring energy and excitement about all the things you will learn and do and create, and make in Term 3.