From the Executive Deputy Principal and Campus Directors
Strengthening Our Partnership for Student Success
At St Monica’s College, we strongly believe that the best outcomes for students are achieved when school and home, work together in genuine partnership. This belief is closely aligned with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools’ Parents as Partners approach, which recognises parents as a child’s first educators and values the shared responsibility we hold in supporting each student’s learning, wellbeing, and development.
Effective partnerships are built on trust, consistency, and open communication. Our staff contact families for a range of reasons, including celebrating student achievements, sharing important information, seeking support, or working collaboratively when concerns arise. When teachers or leaders reach out, it is always with a clear purpose: to support students to engage positively with their learning and our College community.
A consistent approach between home and school is essential. Clear and aligned expectations around behaviour, uniform, grooming, attitude, and effort provide students with structure and clarity. When young people experience the same messages from the significant adults in their lives, they are better equipped to make positive choices, develop independence, and take responsibility for their learning and actions.
St Monica’s College is proud of our students and the broad range of learning, co-curricular, leadership, and personal development opportunities we provide. We are transparent about our expectations because we know that high standards contribute to a safe, respectful, and purposeful learning environment. These expectations are not arbitrary. They are shaped by experience, evidence, and our Catholic mission to nurture the whole person.
To support students in meeting these expectations, the College provides a range of pastoral, wellbeing, learning, and behavioural supports. While we always aim to work constructively with families and listen carefully to perspectives, there are areas where we will not negotiate. This is because we know, and consistently observe, that these expectations have a positive impact on individual students and on the collective wellbeing of our College community. Maintaining fairness, consistency, and clarity is essential in a large secondary school setting, and decisions must always be made with the broader student body in mind.
We also acknowledge that a positive outcome may not always align with what an individual family hopes for. School decisions are influenced by a range of factors, including student safety and wellbeing, system and policy requirements, equity, and the needs of the wider community. While we may not always agree, we remain committed to respectful dialogue and to acting in the best interests of all students.
Open, respectful, and solution-focused communication is fundamental to strong partnerships. All interactions between families and staff are expected to align with the St Monica’s College Parent Code of Conduct, which outlines the standards of behaviour and communication that support a safe and respectful environment for students, families, and staff alike.
To ensure all families are familiar with these expectations, a notification regarding the St Monica’s College Parent Code of Conduct will be sent via the Parent Access Module on SIMON on Thursday 30 April. This notification is intended to support a shared understanding of roles, responsibilities, and respectful communication, enabling families to continue supporting students in a helpful and constructive way. All families will be required to read the Parent Code of Conduct and acknowledge receipt through SIMON as part of this process.
We are grateful for the support of our parent community and the trust placed in the College. By working together, with mutual respect, clear expectations, and a shared focus on student growth, we strengthen our community and create the conditions that allow every student at St Monica’s College the opportunity to achieve their best.
Together, as partners, we continue to build a strong, faith-filled and supportive learning community.
Miss P Di Maria
Executive Deputy Principal
Ms A Xerri
Assistant Principal (Campus Director DRC)
Miss N Meade
Assistant Principal (Campus Director DSC)