DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - COMMUNITY & CULTURE

Over the past few weeks at St Mary MacKillop College, our school community has been alive with energy, creativity, and enthusiasm as we celebrated our focus weeks in Health and Physical Education (HAPE), Humanities, and the Arts. These dedicated learning experiences have provided our students with a wonderful opportunity to explore their passions, challenge themselves, and truly shine in their chosen areas.

Across all year levels, our students embraced each activity with a positive spirit and a willingness to engage. From active participation in HAPE initiatives promoting teamwork and wellbeing, to thoughtful inquiry and discussion in Humanities, it has been inspiring to witness the growth in both confidence and capability among our students.

A particular highlight of recent weeks was our Arts Week, which showcased the incredible talent within our school. The much-anticipated “MacKillop’s Got Talent” event was a standout success. Students bravely took to the stage in front of the entire school community, delivering a range of impressive performances. From musical pieces to dynamic dance routines, the level of talent, preparation and courage on display was truly remarkable. It was heartening to see students not only performing but also supporting and celebrating one another.

Events like these don’t come together without significant effort behind the scenes. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our Arts Faculty, whose dedication, creativity, and countless hours of preparation made the week such a memorable experience. Their commitment to nurturing student talent and providing meaningful performance opportunities is invaluable to our school culture. This was undoubtedly a huge undertaking, but one that was clearly well worth the effort.

I also wish to acknowledge the contributions of our HAPE and Humanities staff, who have similarly gone above and beyond to create engaging experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom.

Most importantly, I congratulate our students. Their willingness to participate, perform, and support one another reflects the strong sense of community we are proud of here at SMMC Swan Hill.

Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate CESH Week next week. CESH (Catholic Education Swan Hill) Week is a time for our college community to reflect on and celebrate our shared Catholic identity, the history and values of Catholic education in our region, and the important role faith plays in our learning environment. It is an opportunity for students and staff to come together in prayer, service, and community-building activities that honour our traditions while strengthening our connections with one another.

We are particularly looking forward to concluding the week with our CESH Mass, a special occasion where we gather as a whole school community in celebration and thanksgiving.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our school and its programs. We look forward to continuing to provide opportunities for our students to discover their strengths and interests.

Kath Jones

Deputy Principal Community & Culture