STRONG MINDS, 

GENTLE HEARTS

Finishing the term with purpose 

At Saints, our vision is to form young men who are good Christians and good citizens. Inspired by the example of St Marcellin Champagnat and the way of Mary, we seek to create a community where every young man is known, valued and supported. As Marcellin reminded us: “To educate children properly, we must love them and love them all equally.” 

This Marist spirit is expressed through presence, family spirit, simplicity, gratitude, acceptance and a genuine willingness to listen. These qualities are central to the way we work with our young men and are qualities we encourage them to carry into their relationships, their learning and their wider community. 

As we approach the end of term, with assessments and examinations ahead, it is important that students in Years 7–12 remain focused and continue to give their best. Finishing well requires commitment, discipline and perseverance. Parents and families play an important role through encouragement and positive reinforcement, while our teachers continue to provide engaging and meaningful learning opportunities. When home and school work together in partnership, our young men are best placed to flourish. 

We encourage all boys to finish the term strongly, positively and respectfully. This includes taking pride in their presentation and ensuring that their hair and grooming meet college expectations. Students and families are reminded to refer to page 12 of the student diary for the College’s grooming standards. 

As we celebrate Father’s Day, we also take the opportunity to acknowledge the significant influence of fathers and father figures in the lives of our young men. The presence, example, encouragement and guidance of a father or father figure can have a lasting impact on the character and values of a young man. We sincerely thank and honour all fathers, grandfathers, carers and father figures within our Saints community for the important role they play in supporting and guiding our boys. As Walter M Schirra Sr reminds us: "You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.” 

May we continue to work together, in the spirit of family and partnership, to support our young men to grow in faith, character, learning and service – and ultimately to become the good Christians and good citizens we hope them to be. 

Three Violets Award

The Three Violets are a special symbol of the Marist community and were presented at yesterday's Father's Day Assembly. They represent the virtues of simplicity, humility and modesty. Small violets grow around Champagnat country in France. These flowers will often go unnoticed, until they are pointed out and then, they can no longer remain unseen.    

This award serves as a beacon of recognition for positive behaviors that might otherwise go unnoticed. It's a celebration of authenticity, and the genuine interactions that shape our Marist community. It reminds us that true strength lies in being genuine, trustworthy and considerate, qualities often found in the simplest gestures and the humblest of hearts. 

Simplicity  

This student is genuine and authentic in his relationships; he is truthful to those around him and is without deceit. This person will be free of complexities and intricacies and will lack any pretentiousness or showiness. What you see is what you get from this student.   

He can be trusted and relied upon no matter the circumstance. He is true to himself – living with integrity, openness and honesty – and does not try to be someone he is not. He is content within his own skin and is free from wanting to be like another or to envy what another has. Congratulations, Thomas King. 

Humility  

This student is humble and remains grounded at all times. He has a lack of false pride or arrogance and holds a moderate opinion of himself. This person is unassuming and works in the aid of others, and will generally think of others before himself. He does not look down on anybody and treats others as they would like to be treated. C.S Lewis defined humility well when he said, ”Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”  Congratulations, Ben Maher. 

Modesty  

The Marist expression “do good quietly" says it well. This student observes moderation and temperedness in everything he does. He is not vain, egotistical or boastful. While he allows his talents to shine, he does not blow his own trumpet. He accepts success with dignity and does not seek the limelight or acknowledgement. This student goes about his business quietly knowing who he is and his limitations. In many senses, he is the quiet achiever and often surprises others with his abilities. Congratulations, Ralph Nanang. 

Saints Man Award

This award is presented to a student who exemplifies the Marist charism. Cruz Vang-Ly, a Year 11 student, exemplifies what it means to be a Saints man. He lives the College values through his humility, integrity, compassion and commitment to others. Cruz fosters a strong sense of family spirit, making those around him feel welcomed, valued and included, while his caring and thoughtful nature reflects living In the way of Mary. 

Passionate about cooking, Cruz demonstrates a strong love of work through his dedication to becoming a chef. He also uses his talents in the service of others, recently preparing and sharing home-cooked meals with people experiencing homelessness. 

Cruz leads quietly by example, never seeking recognition for his actions. Whether at school or in the wider community, he consistently lives the values of a Saints man through his generosity, service and genuine care for others. Congratulations, Cruz.