Principal
Dear Mary MacKillop, Catholic Regional College Community,
This is our last Newsletter for the term. I wish you all a safe and restful break.
May the risen Christ of Easter, the one united fully in the life and love of God, who invites us to share this life and love with him, fill our hearts this Easter – and in leading us to a richer appreciation of life and love help us to radiate the peace and joy of life to others. May our world become a more peaceful and loving place because of the effects of Easter on all people of good will.
An Easter Meditation
There is no question that we are living in a complex time. There are wars still raging, floods in Queensland, earthquakes in Myanmar, cost of living pressures and other challenges both large and small, local and abroad.
During times of challenge, we can feel overwhelmed, that is natural, but we can also feel hope. Hope in the goodness of each other. Hope informed by the knowledge that we have previously faced hardships as either individuals as a nation or a global community and overcome them. Hope firmly based in the knowledge that there is a God who loves us and says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
So with this in mind, I offer you the following meditation on Easter by Thomas C. Fox - https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/easter-meditation - reflecting on the events depicted in the Gospel of Mark 16:1-3:
The Jewish Sabbath is over and three women arrive to anoint Jesus on this first day of the week just as the sun is rising. As the women walk toward the tomb they are saying, “Who will roll away the stone?” (Mark 16:3). We still have the same human question: “Who will roll away the stone of our various blockages and our blindness?”
The Risen Jesus is the lasting image and eternal icon of what God is going to do everywhere for everybody in all of time. God’s exact job description is this, according to St. Paul: I am the God “who turns death into life and calls into being what does not yet exist” (Romans 4:17). Starting in Genesis, Yahweh is always creating something out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo), which becomes the bedrock meaning of grace. Jesus stands forever as God’s promise, guarantee, and lifetime warranty of what God has always been about and will forever do: turn crucifixions into resurrections! What else would give us hope?
For me, that is what it means to “believe in Jesus” (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23). We, like the women in the Gospel, are still asking, “Who will roll away the stone?” The first thing we need to recognize is that the stone is surely there but notice also the moment of their arrival. They came “just as the sun was rising” (Mark 16:2). I think the text is telling us that it is divine light that allows us to both see—and then see beyond—the very same stone.
Easter Liturgy
Thank you to Sarah Roscoe-Smith and the Year 12 Youth Ministry class for their Easter Liturgy presentation on Friday, 4 April. This was a prayerful and engaging experience for all involved. I am also grateful to Mr Gerard Gordon for his thoughtful and challenging reflection on the Crucifixion. Additionally, thank you to the students of Mrs. Julia Lesllie's and Mrs. Jackie Van Dillen's Year 7 Homerooms for their praticipation.
Thank you to Scott Blencowe, Nicole Dudman, Beth Winterhalter and our maintenance team for ensuring this was a successful gathering of our community.
Clean-Up Australia Activity
Thank you to Ms. Nicole Dudman's Year 11 Youth Ministry class for their leadership in planning and organising a Clean-Up Australia Activity today. It involved all students.
G.E.M. Awards
Following our Liturgy Mr. John Ryan announced the recipients of Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (G.E.M.) Awards to students. The awards were nominated by staff for students exhibiting a G.E.M. trait. Thank you both Mr John Ryan, Mr. Chris Spencer, and Ms. Jenny Damon for their work in collating, printing, and presenting the awards.
Recipients are listed in the Around the College section of this Newsletter.
SSV Divisional Aths
Congratulations to Travis Newton on his leadership and organisation of our SSV Athletics team who competed earlier this week in the South Gippsland and Bass Coast Division. Travis was supported by a number of staff including Emma Blunt, Jessica Cox, Bernard Lumsden, Beth Montgomery, Brydie Phillips, Stephen Ross-Bryant, Aliesha Wriggley and Casey Tempest.
Also well done to Alisha Hemming for her organisation of the event. Whilst Alisha is new to the role as SSV Division Coordinator this year, she is an experienced in the
administration and coaching in a number of sports and has done a fantastic job this year.
Thank you and well done to all our Student Athletes who all competed to the best of their ability taking out an overall second in the competition. We had many exceptional performances and all students gave their best. More details can be found in our Sport@MMCRC section of the Newsletter
Reconciliation Formation
Thanks to Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe and Year 11 Youth Ministry students for their work preparing with the Year 3 students from St Laurence O’Toole, Leongatha and St Joeseph’s, Korumburra for the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Primary School Athletics Sport student support
Thank you to Chris Spencer, Jess Stein, Cade Maskell, and Jackie Van Dillen and our VET Sport Coaching students for assisting with the athletics days at St Joseph’s Primary School, Wonthaggi on Tuesday and St Laurence O’Toole PS, Leongatha on Friday last week.
Federal Election
With a Federal election on Saturday 3 May, the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has developed communication materials to assist Catholic school communities to understand how their vote will impact the future of Catholic education.
2025 Federal Election materials are available on the NCEC website - https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/2025-federal-election/ - and outline key issues such as school choice and fair funding and also include priorities document, School Funding Explainer, and a Dispelling the Myths page.
I encourage you to read this information to help inform your choices for the upcoming Federal election.
2026 Enrolments
Last Newsletter I wrote at length regarding this matter. I encourage all families looking to enrol their child for next year to do so prior to the closing date of 31 May 2025. We will always work with applications after that date, but as a matter of justice priority will be given to completed applications submitted on or before 31 May and according to our policy, which can be found here. However, for your information and convenience please see below the criteria applied to our enrolment process:
Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Thanks to Edson Letendrie and Anna Patterson for all their work and preparation for the Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews this week and last week.
It was great to meet and talk with many families on both evenings. As always these conversations were affirming and informative. Thanks to all the families who were able to attend.
Staff News
Director of College Organisation
After an extensive process I am pleased to advise that I have appointed Rebecca (Bekk) Anthony to the position of Director of College Organisation. Bekk will commence at the start of Term 2.
Many of you will know Bekk through various encounters as she is a past parent, highly engaged in the community, particularly in Korumburra, and as a senior leader at Korumburra Secondary College (KSC).
Bekk is a highly experienced educator and has strong experience in school operations, staffing and timetabling. During her time at KSC she has held number of positions including Acting Assistant Principal – Wellbeing and College Operations, Wellbeing Leader, and Year Level Coordinator. Additionally, Bekk is a VCAA assessor for NAPLAN, Legal Studies, and GAT.
Bekk was selected by the panel from a strong field of applicants. I thank Chris Randell, a principal with 22 years of experience at Catholic College Sale and St Mary of the Angels College in Nathalia, and Claire Fabris, Deputy Principal – Campus Director Years 7 to 9, at Lavalla Catholic College for their support and wisdom in the recruitment process.
I also wish to thank Anna Patterson for her work as Acting Director of Organisation this term. We have all benefitted from her experience and calm presence. Anna will return next term doing Casual Relief Teaching work.
I am sure you will all welcome and support Bekk when she commences next term.
Instrumental Staff
We welcome two new instrumental teachers to the College.
Yukiko Hama who will be teaching piano (you will remember Yukiko from last year as a student teacher.
Daniel Watson as a drums/percussion teacher.
Returning for Term 2
We welcome Georgia Townley back next term from maternity leave.
Georgia Townley’s replacement for Term 1 was Tara Cox. Her willingness to assist the College has been fantastic and appreciated by students, families and staff. Tara will be back next term to do Casual Relief Teaching work.
Farewell
On Thursday, 3 April, we had the opportunity to farewell Laura Muranty who has been on Long Service Leave this term but has resigned and will effectively complete her work at Mary Mackillop Catholic Regional College at the end of the term 1 break. Laura will continue her work with young people at the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA).
Laura has been at the College since 2013 and her dedication to the students and support of her colleagues, has been appreciated by all. Laura worked to provide students with valuable learning experiences, an opportunity to perform, a place to feel included, and to have voice.
We wish Laura all the best of success.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Sienna Falkingham and Nathan Denbrok who were married on the 1st of March 2025. It was a beautiful afternoon ceremony at Fern Valley in Mirboo North, surrounded by friends and family.
Sapientia Domini Docet Nos
John M Freeman