From our Principal

Welcome Back – Term 2

Welcome back to Term 2. It is great to have the students back and hearing the buzz across the College.

Our Vision

At Marist-Sion College, students experience an education where they are known and loved, grow as life-long learners and live as active citizens inspired by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Graduate and Early Career Teachers

Last term, we worked with Ms Emily Lace, Mr Tonderai Harawa and Mr Harrison McConnell to develop a video to celebrate our Graduate and Early Career Teachers. We asked them to think about their experience at Marist-Sion College working in a regional area, the support available from mentors, Learning Area Leaders and Mr James Mazzolini as the Director of Staff Development.

We are fortunate to work in a sector with excellent pay and conditions. Our Graduate and Early Career Teachers engage in meaningful work and clearly enjoy seeing our students learn and grow. Many of them commented on the collaborative team-based culture at Marist-Sion College and how much they enjoy working with colleagues and leaders they trust, respect and admire.

You can view the Graduate and Early Career Teacher video here: https://www.mscw.vic.edu.au/employment/graduate-teacher-program/

Student Uniform – College Winter Uniform – Term 2

Parents, guardians and carers play an important role in ensuring we maintain student engagement and value learning. Together we can support our students with this by attending to uniform expectations and appropriate personal presentation as we strengthen our commitment to belonging. In Term 2, all students are required to wear the College Winter Uniform.

Bob Stewart College Uniform Shop

The Bob Stewart College Uniform Shop is located at the front entrance to the College. To shop online, to check the opening hours or to book an appointment please visit www.bobstewart.com.au.

Strategic Pillars – Our Commitment to Action

Catholic Identity

We activate identity and mission through Catholic Social Teaching and affirming the dignity and inclusion of all.

Ltyentye Apurte – Santa Teresa Immersion

A cohort of Year 10 students participated in the Ltyentye Apurte – Santa Teresa Immersion over the holidays. The students spent time in Alice Springs and explored Standley Chasm, the sacred place featured in the Marist-Sion College theme for 2024, First Light – Reveal the Spirit. I would like to express my thanks to Mrs Jacinta Johnston, Mr James Mazzolini and Mrs Helen Davine for accompanying the students on the immersion. You can read more about the experience in Jacinta’s Emmaus article.

Marist Basketball Carnival

Prior to the holidays, a cohort of students participated in the Marist Basketball Carnival. The students spent time on the Gold Coast. Congratulations to the Carnival Champion Girls Team, Lavalla Catholic College and Carnival Champion Boys Team, St Gregory’s College. Well done to Cardijn College for winning the Boys Plate and Trinity College Beenleigh for securing the Girls Plate. I would like to express my thanks to Mrs Julie McMillan, Mr Michael O’Keefe and Mr Daniel Yamada for accompanying the students on the Marist Basketball Carnival.

Click here to view the 'final wrap' video of the carnival.

Formation in our Marist Spirituality

Over the holidays, the Executive Team participated in a formation experience with Mr Darren McGregor (Regional Director – Vic/Tas and SA) and Brother Tony Clark. It was wonderful day of dialogue and learning, and a privilege to listen and learn as we explored how key Marist values, or the Marian Face, are being shown and can be better reflected in the life of Marist-Sion College, Warragul.

From Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems and Reflections for Every Season by Joyce Rupp

Song Of The Empty Tomb – Marty Haugen 1991

Once you brought the dead into life, your hands were healing and peace, your words were fire and light, your life was promise and feast.

Now you leave us trembling and weak, no more the sureness of death, no more the world that I knew, life that is new with each breath.

Where now is the body you wore? What is this dark empty hole? Where is the One that I loved? Where is the fire of my soul?

You who were the truth of my life, you now my fear and my hope, who shatters death and the grave, who goes before me alone.

You who shake the earth and the stars, who opens tombs in my soul, who knows my weakness and pain, you tear and rend and make whole.

Here beyond the shadow of death, here where the day breaks anew, there is no future but faith, there is no promise but you.

Here in the midst of death, we shall see the birth of life, now in the darkest hour we shall know the face of God.

Here in the midst of life here within each fearful heart, now in each human form you shall be the Risen One.

Grant to us this day of your life, when all your people shall see, when death itself shall have died, when we your Kingdom shall be.

Mandy (Year 11 – Champagnat House)

Mandy has created an artwork that beautifully captures the essence of Mary. Mandy's meticulous attention to detail and profound emotional expression in her work are undeniably exceptional.

Learning and Teaching

We build expert teachers, adaptive teaching teams and collaborative expertise.

Parent Student Teacher Interviews

Parent Student Teacher Interviews provide valuable opportunities for the teacher, student, parents and/or carers to share and learn more about the student socially, emotionally and academically. They are a good way to establish and maintain collaborative relationships between parents/carers, teacher and student, regarding the student’s academic achievement, learning and wellbeing.

Interviews provide opportunities for:

building positive relationships
sharing information about the student’s interests and learning behaviours
sharing information about the student’s health and wellbeing
student agency, through showcasing their work
providing specific feedback on student achievement and progress
talking more in-depth about the student’s report
understanding more about how to support the student in their learning
establishing goals for improved learning and achievement in the future.

We look forward to seeing you tonight and again next week.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

Students completing a Unit 3/4 Subject in 2024 will complete the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Tuesday 18 June 2024. This includes all Year 12 VCE students and relevant Year 11 students. Year 12 students completing the VCE/VM Pathway in 2024 will complete Section A only of the GAT (Literacy and Numeracy). Additionally, both sections of the GAT are compulsory for students with approval to take the unscored pathway. Students absent on the day of the GAT for exceptional circumstances can apply for an exemption via Mrs Jenna Dore (Director of Senior Learning).

College Production – High School Musical

This year, our College returns to the production stage by bringing to life this musical adaptation of the hit Disney film, High School Musical. It promises to be fun show for our students to perform and support and rehearsals are in full swing. The College Production will be staged in Term 3. Save the dates and book your tickets early for what promises to be a sellout season Monday 29 July until Sunday 4 August 2024.

Leadership

We are impactful leaders, building capacity and driving school improvement.

Positions of Leadership (POL) Model

We are excited to plan for a new Positions of Leadership (POL) Model for our College community, which is set to take effect in 2024 and beyond. In designing this model, we will:

Account for our new strategic plan and our future aspirations for our commitments to action.
Conduct a thorough analysis of our contextual and environmental factors, ensuring that the model we propose is future-focused and responsive to the needs of our College community from 2024.
Include leadership positions that prioritise building staff capacity through coaching, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
Design roles with flexibility in mind, recognising the importance of accommodating individual strengths and interests while also ensuring that all essential functions are covered. By streamlining our leadership structure, we will look to continue to meet all necessary functions.
Design to embrace collegiality and foster career progression and growth for all members of our community.
Design to integrate the essential strategies and building blocks of the harvests specified in the strategic plan.
College data sets suggest that staff preferences working in teams. Recognising that this is a College priority, the model is designed to revolve around collaborative teams.

Building a New Vision for our Position of Leadership (POL) Model

We will consult with staff across a variety of forums during the design phase of our new Positions of Leadership (POL) Model. We understand the importance of considering different perspectives and incorporating staff feedback into the design process. Through various consultations, including surveys and focus groups, we will gain valuable insight and suggestions from staff. These will be considered in the design of the draft model. Consultation is essential to staff engagement and wellbeing and this in turn will influence professional practice.

Child Safety

We commit to sustaining and improving our child safe practices and culture.

Marist-Sion College Discovery Evening

We are delighted to invite you and your primary school children to our upcoming Discovery Evening at Marist-Sion College. This event is an excellent opportunity to learn about the exciting opportunities available to your children as they transition into secondary school.

The Discovery Evening will be held on Tuesday 14 May 2024 from 7.00pm to 8.00pm at Marist-Sion College. During the event, you will have the chance to meet our staff and learn about the programs we offer.

Social Media – Facebook

To keep updated on College news regularly, check the College Website or follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maristsioncollege. The College will also launch the smartphone app SIMON Everywhere next year to provide parents, guardians and carers with convenient access to news, events, alerts and links to websites.

Stewardship of Resources

We commit to sustaining and improving our child safe practices and culture.

Master Planning

On Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 April, we welcomed our Architects, Williams Ross onsite for our Master Planning Staff and Student Consultations. The architects were interested in understanding our existing operations and discussing our aspirations for the College. Staff and students participated in the sessions having considered their aspirations for student learning and wellbeing.

Williams Ross will attend the next College Advisory Committee Meeting to capture parent voice through this consultative process.

Staff and students were asked:

What might your subject area look like in 5 – 10 years? How might the curriculum change?
Are there activities you would like to do now but can’t?
Is there a place on campus you consider to be the heart of the College?
What are the best parts of the campus – i.e. what things we shouldn’t change?
What on campus needs change?

College Fees

At the time of enrolment, families sign a contract with the College accepting the commitment to pay Education Fees and all fees must be paid in full no later than Friday 29 November 2024.

All and any discussions regarding Education Fees for your child/ren are treated as strictly confidential and our Fees Team will be more than happy to assist you with any questions or queries you may have via phone on 5623 5944 or email fees@mscw.vic.edu.au.

If at any time you experience difficulties with repayment of Education Fees, please contact the College Fees Team to confidentially discuss your matter. Where necessary, special arrangements can be made regarding timing and the level of payments.

Further information in relation to Education fees is available on the College website.

Concession Card

Families in receipt of a valid Concession Card as per Services Australia (e.g. Health Care Card, Pensioner Card, Veterans Card) are eligible to receive a credit through the Victorian Government Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) as well as an additional credit from the Australian Government to be allocated to Education Fees.

Please email the completed and signed CSEF application form, along with a copy of the valid concession card to fees@mscw.vic.edu.au no later than Friday 21 June 2024. Any forms received after Friday 21 June 2024 will not be eligible.

Once the CSEF form is approved by the Victorian Government through the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund, an amount of $225 per student will be credited to the Education Fees and a further credit will then be allocated as advised by the Australian Government.

The College will notify families of the CSEF outcome and the additional Education Fees credit amount once the CSEF Form is approved.

Further Questions

Should you have any further queries regarding your son or daughter’s learning or wellbeing, please contact your child’s Tutor or Subject Teacher as the first point of contact.

I hope you enjoyed your Easter holidays and we look forward to connecting with you again in Term 2.

Great God of Love and Life Eternal

Walk with us in this Easter season that we might proclaim the everlasting hope of your death and resurrection. Surround us with your peace, empower us with your Spirit, and raise us up through Jesus. May the newness of life You offer sustain us as we faithfully build Your Kingdom until you come again.

Amen.

Ms Lisa Harkin

Principal