Principal's Report

Dear Parents and carers,

Welcome to Term 2.  Three weeks into the term, and already so much has happened.  Our Year 12s journeyed to Beaufort for their retreat at the start of last week.  This year, a new venue was used, Cave Hill Creek Camp, rather than Norval at Halls Gap.  Students and staff were extremely positive about their experience over the three days.  Year 10s were also out last week on their Careers Camp in Melbourne. 

This week, following the Careers Camp, our Year 10 students participated in Work Experience.  They explored a diverse range of professions, including construction sites, real estate, teaching, and many other trades.  It was a week of rich learning filled with excitement and discovery as students gained insight into potential future pathways. Congratulations to our students, and thank you to those in the wider community who hosted them.  Programs like these cannot happen without your support.  Thank you also to staff members, particularly Mr Michael Harms, Careers Coordinator, who made it possible behind the scenes, and to those who ensured our young people had a visit or a call from a familiar face to check in across the week.

And this week, our cadets have been at their traditional May Camp.  Due to inclement weather and high winds, we decided to house the cadets overnight at school. 

We wish our BAS football team all the very best as they commence their 2026 competition.  We have a great squad, inclusive of boys from Year 10 to Year 12, ensuring maximum participation.  The boys are in Division 1 and will play 5 matches.  This year, supporting the team will be coach, Clinton Thomas, and Team Manager, Terry Molan.  Our BAS netball team play their competition in Term 3.

Staffing news

We welcome Ellen Collins, who joined the Monivae College community at the commencement of this term.  Ellen joins us from Wallan Secondary College, where she has been teaching across a range of year levels in Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design and Textiles.  She brings a strong passion for the arts and enjoys supporting students in building confidence and expressing themselves creatively.

We also welcome Brigita Keiller, who joins the Learning Support Team. 

Nathan Ough has been appointed as Student Leadership Coordinator.  I sincerely thank Jane Nankivell for developing and nurturing leadership at Monivae over the past few years.

On Wednesday, 22 April, Principals from the four MSC schools in Australia gathered for their retreat at Kensington, Sydney.  Part of our program was to walk from Coogee to Bondi. Here we visited the site and temporary memorial (a Menorah) of the recent shooting of the Jewish community who were celebrating Hanukkah, an 8 day festival of lights and commemoration of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd Century BCE.  For me personally, it was a powerful experience, and I couldn’t imagine the terror of the Jewish community celebrating peacefully along with the many thousands of others in attendance.  To lament, in Hebrew, means to mourn, and a custom or practice within this is to bring a stone or rock rather than flowers.  Each principal brought a rock from their area to lay on the Menorah to pay our respects to those who died and to show our support for the Jewish community and the hurt and grief they are experiencing.

Prayer for the Term

Dear God,

We thank you for the gift of creation and the beauty that surrounds us each day.

In this season of growth and remembrance, we ask for the grace to be people of true hospitality, opening our hearts to the needs of our neighbours and the "cry of the earth."

Grant us the courage to turn our hope into service.  May our hands be ready to help, our voices bold enough to speak for the silenced, and our lives a reflection of your mercy.

Bless the families, staff, and students of Monivae College.  Keep us grounded in your

love and connected to one another as we care for our common home.

Amen.

Kind regards

Mr Jonathan Rowe

Principal