Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Guardians, and friends of Nazareth 

It has been an exceptionally busy few weeks at the College, with a variety of evening events showcasing the many talents and opportunities available to our students.

One of the highlights was our recent school production of ‘You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown’.  The performances were outstanding, and I congratulate the cast, crew and staff on delivering such a professional and entertaining show.  Their commitment, creativity and hard work were evident throughout the production, making it a wonderful success for our College Community.

Equally impressive was our VET and Careers Expo, which generated tremendous interest among our Year 9 and 10 students.  We are fortunate to be able to offer such a broad range of vocational pathways and opportunities, enabling students to explore options that align with their interests, strengths and future aspirations.

Last Thursday, we were delighted to welcome representatives from a variety of universities, TAFE institutions and other learning providers to our annual Subject Selection Evening.  This week, our Year 10 students, together with their families, have also spent time exploring vocational pathways and career opportunities.  We hope these experiences will support students in making informed, purposeful and meaningful study choices as they plan for their future.

Throughout the evening, I had the opportunity to update parent groups on the progress of our capital works projects.  Construction of both the Student Hub, which will be known as The Marian Centre in honour of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the gymnasium extension, is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion by the end of this term.

I also spoke about budgeting and future school fee increases. All Catholic, independent and other faith based schools across Victoria, will be required to fund anticipated wage increases for teachers and education support staff from their own operating budgets.  We remain committed to ensuring that the College continues to provide high quality educational opportunities while carefully managing these financial responsibilities.

Currently, all Catholic schools are working through planning and budgeting activities for 2027 to ensure we are well placed to support our staff, students and school communities in the coming year. This includes looking at how we can accommodate the changes likely to flow from a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) with school staff. 

We recognise the significant financial pressures many households are facing, and we are making a conscious effort to ensure these costs are not passed on through significant fee increases. 

We will continue to keep our parent community informed throughout this process. As always, our focus remains on maintaining strong school communities and continuing to deliver a high-quality Catholic education for every student.

What a fantastic achievement by our students who attended the Aerobics State Championships last week.  We are incredibly proud of their efforts, dedication and sportsmanship throughout the competition.  Their outstanding performances resulted in several teams progressing to the National Qualifiers, which is a wonderful accomplishment.  Most importantly, our students represented the College with pride and professionalism, demonstrating excellent teamwork and commitment.  Congratulations to all involved, and we wish our qualifying teams every success as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.

Finally, I would like to congratulate our SIS Teen Chef team on becoming the overall winners of this year’s competition, competing against numerous schools.  This is the first time Nazareth College has claimed the overall title, an achievement many years in the making. Congratulations to Justin Mai, Hayden Chao, Mila Gagic and Daniela Tokanovic for their exceptional culinary creations, which I can personally attest were magnificent.  I also extend my sincere thanks to Leesa Reynolds, Zoya Curcio, Kate Goodwin and Tracey Blake for their expertise, guidance and dedication in preparing the students for this outstanding achievement.

Go Nazareth!

Stay safe and God bless

Mr Sam Cosentino

Principal