Principal

Dear Members of the Academy Community,

We come to the final newsletter for 2025.  It is hard to believe that the 2025 year is drawing to a close - it has been a year where much has been achieved in so many areas and a year where, led by our dynamic Senior Student Leadership Team, we have been true to our College theme, “Pave the Way.”   This theme has been lived in word and  action.  Our 2026 College Co Captain, Zoe Dafnias summed up the lived expression of the theme with these words:

“It was so lovely to watch the ways that our College has embodied this year’s theme , “Pave the Way” by boldly inspiring change within and outside of our community, and creating pathways together towards the future we want to create.  This year’s theme reminded us of the power we have to make a difference in our world and the responsibility we hold to leave a legacy of which we are proud”

At last week’s College Assembly, our new student Leadership Team formally announced the theme for 2026,  a very challenging theme “Courage to Care”

In announcing this theme, our 2026 College Co-Captain, Grace Tull stated: 

“This theme encapsulates the importance of having the bravery to try our best, support those around us, and care for ourselves and the world."

Our Co-Captains went on to expand on their thoughts:

Zoe: We feel that the message of this theme can be applied to a wide range of aspects in our lives both as students and as individuals. We are hoping that it will remind you all that there is such an admirable strength in displaying care as well as courage in your day-to-day lives. In our world where it can be easier to pretend that we don’t care about things that may challenge us to grow or be brave, there is an importance of caring for causes that spark passion within us and inspire change. Afterall, if Ursula Frayne didn’t have the courage to set sail for Australia from her home in Ireland and possess the care to uplift and assist others,  we wouldn’t be gathered here, celebrating our school, this morning. 

And although this is our theme for next year, we invite you to reflect on the times this year where you stood up for something you care about, tried something new or challenged yourself to grow. Each of these moments have already demonstrated our new theme. Throughout next year we encourage you… to have the “Courage to Care” for all aspects of your life, not just the ones involving the school. 

Grace: Sometimes we say that we don’t care about something because it’s easy to pretend that the outcome won’t affect us or because we’re scared of what may happen if we acknowledge something is important to us. It’s easier to say that we don’t care about a test grade so there’s no point in trying, or to pretend that the future of our planet doesn’t stand in our hands as we watch a piece of plastic be littered and leave it there. It’s easier to claim we are uninterested in doing the school musical so we won’t have to experience the fear of auditioning or to say we don’t care about winning a volleyball game so we don’t feel embarrassed if we lose. 

Zoe: But by saying we don’t care about things that deep down, we know matter to us, we miss out on experiencing the power of trying. Regardless of our test grade, or the score of the volleyball match, when we bravely acknowledge our care for something and challenge ourselves to try our best, the result will always feel rewarding. So, the next time that you feel nervous or unsure about something and try to use ‘I don’t care’ to protect yourself from this fear, we encourage you to reframe your mindset and consider how much good can come from having the courage to say ‘actually I do really care about this’.

Of late, we have celebrated two very important events - the Graduation evening for the Year 12 Class of 2025, which was a wonderul night and a very fitting celebration of the Class of 2025, and, last Wednesday, the Celebration of Excellence evening.

Wednesday's Celebration of Excellence Evening provided the opportunity to acknowledge student excellence in all areas.  I congratulate those students who were acknowledged.  They should be truly proud of their efforts and I know teachers and parents share their pride. 

Year Level Duxes

Back: Charlotte B Year11, Callie A Year 10,  Willa C Year 8

Front:  Riley A Year 9, Giulia B Year 7

I extend best wishes to the staff and students who are leaving us and take this opportunity to wish them well for the future.  We thank each and every one of them for their contribution to the College.   I particularly wish to thank a long serving staff member, Mr Joe Natoli who has been such a wonderful member of the Academy staff for 24 years.

Joe is the ultimate gentleman!  He is a passionate teacher but, more importantly he is a kind and caring member of staff for whom nothing is too much trouble.  He is a great listener and is always ready to lend a hand when needed.  Joe, you are a true Mercy man and you will be sorely missed.  We wish you and your family well in retirement.

Staff departing the College

Cinzia Stojkovich – Art Teacher, 3 years at Academy (retiring)

Daniela Lupone – Science teacher, 9 years at Academy (retiring)

Catherine Glenister – RE Teacher, Synergy, 13 years at Academy (retiring) but will be Manger at nearby Mercy Hub, so will continue the Mercy journey

Joe Natoli - Legal Studies, Humanities teacher, 24 years at Academy, previously taught at OLMC, Heidelberg (retiring)

Maria Spackman-Williams – English teacher, 2 years at Academy  (retiring)

Jess New – Director of Sport, 1 year (relocating to Queensland)

Bianca Montagner – casual Music teacher & alumna (Mac.Rob HS)

Madeline McCurry - Visual Arts Assistant, Language Assistant and Learning Enhancement Support, 1 year at Academy (conitinuing her studies)

Finally, I say thank you to all members of staff, students, members of the College Advisory Council, the Parents’ Association and the Alumnae Committee for your support this year.  The teaching staff finish on Friday, 12 December and the College office closes on Thursday 18 December at 11.30am.   

Our 2026 theme “Courage to Care” is one we look forward to further actioning throughout the year.  The road ahead beckons and the Academy community moves forward with hope and joy.

I wish you a very happy Christmas, a safe and relaxing holiday and every blessing for the coming year. 

Every blessing,

Sr Mary Moloney rsm 

Principal