Around the College

House Volleyball

The second annual House Volleyball Championship brought high energy and strong competition to the Provence Centre on May 5, as select Year 7 and 8 students battled it out for the Damien Schumann Shield.

Named in honour of former student Damien Schumann (MOC2005)—Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist in beach volleyball at the 2018 Gold Coast—the Shield celebrates both talent and teamwork.

Congratulations to Chisholm House, crowned 2025 champions, with MacKillop and Grandin rounding out the top three.

The prestigious Joe Moore Medal—awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final and named after the founder of Mazenod’s volleyball program nearly 40 years ago—was also presented on the day.

House MVPs were recognised for their contributions across the competition. Well done to all players on a fantastic day of volleyball.

‘Discover Tomorrow’ Careers Expo 2025

The annual ‘Discover Tomorrow’ Careers Expo took place in The Provence Centre on Friday, 9 May, providing Year 10–12 students with direct access to a wide range of career opportunities. Over 100 exhibitors, representing approximately 56 organisations and occupations, filled the venue—including leading Victorian and interstate universities, TAFEs, private education providers, and industry sectors.

Victoria Police and the Fire Brigade brought a team of former Mazenod students, along with a police vehicle and fire truck, offering an interactive experience for students. An inspiring speaker program featured Mazenod Alumni who shared their career journeys, offered advice, and answered questions about life beyond school.

By hosting the Expo on campus, we provide students with the unique opportunity to explore their future pathways in a familiar, supportive environment—enhancing their confidence to engage with exhibitors and make informed decisions about their educational and career goals.

Staying Safe Online: Victoria Police Presents to Year 9 & 10 Students

Today, Mazenod College welcomed Senior Constable Jaclyn Mahood of Victoria Police to speak with our Year 9 and 10 students about the serious and often confronting realities of digital safety.

In an age where digital communication is second nature, the presentation offered a sobering reminder of the importance of using technology responsibly. Topics covered included photo consent, the distribution of intimate images, unsolicited content, and the legal ramifications of possessing or sharing explicit material. The dangers of online grooming, identity scams and oversharing on social media were also explored, with students encouraged to critically assess the content they post and whom they engage with online.

Senior Constable Mahood drew on real-life cases and relatable examples to help students understand the gravity of online actions. The session also emphasised that people online may not always be who they claim to be, and that some videos or posts—even those shared with friends—can make young people vulnerable to exploitation.

Importantly, students were challenged to think critically about their actions and online behaviours, and to consider the long-term consequences of seemingly small decisions, such as sharing a photo or sending a message. The session encouraged them to stay informed, ask questions, and take responsibility for their digital choices.

The conversation doesn’t end at school. Parents and carers play a crucial role in helping young people stay safe online. The ThinkUKnow program offers the following guidance for families:

• Have open conversations, often

  The most important tip we can give you is to start talking to your child regularly about their online activities and interactions.

• Supervision is essential

  This means knowing what your child is doing online, who they are interacting with, and what platforms, apps or games they are using.

• Be approachable if your child needs help

  Coming forward isn’t always easy, and your child may feel reluctant to tell you about online issues if they believe they will be punished or have their devices taken away. This also makes children more secretive about device use and at greater risk of exploitation.

• Check privacy settings

  We recommend that you research and understand app settings, including privacy controls. This could include turning off location services, setting profiles to private, or disabling chat functions.

• Know how to report

  If something goes wrong online, it is critical your child is supported. You need to know how to take action and report.

We thank Victoria Police and Senior Constable Mahood for their continued partnership in supporting the wellbeing of our students and helping them navigate the digital world with greater awareness and responsibility.

For more information and practical advice, visit thinkuknow.org.au

EAST Sydney Pollution Solution Conference Tour

Student agency and voice are two guiding principles that underpin all Ecology And Sustainability Team (EAST) initiatives. Within the sustainability space, these principles are particularly important as a counterpoise to the sense of hopelessness that many students feel when faced with frequent climate crises, environmental disasters and ecosystem degradation.

From Monday to Thursday this week, a small cohort of EAST students had the opportunity to exercise their agency and voice – having been invited to Sydney to speak at the annual ‘Jack the Super Prawn Pollution Solution Conference’, accompanied by Mr Tony Rolfe, Mr Tony Coghlan and Mr Nate Fallon. This annual student conference, formed in collaboration with the creator and author of the environmental adventure series ‘Jack the Super Prawn’ Mr Antone Jaja, brings together leaders from industry and government to platform pollution solutions designed by students from schools across Australia. During the conference, Zain Muscat and Joshua Morin presented on behalf of EAST and the De Mazenod Family Education Network on the innovative ‘front to back of house’ methodology that EAST students have adopted in their College Waste audits. In the audience were schools from around Australia and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Australian National University, ANSTO and Treaty Council Worldwide. EAST students then facilitated the iteration of scalable pollution solutions with primary student focus groups, in service of the ultimate prize of having their ideas adopted by the Australian Federal Government.

While in Sydney, EAST students were fortunate to participate in a range of additional workshops and experiences designed to enrich students’ understanding of the principles of sustainability and ecological responsibility. In a bespoke program at Taronga Zoo’s cutting-edge immersive Institute of Science and Learning, students undertook deep learning on marine waste and deforestation and had the privilege to work with reptile and mammal experts to handle endangered forest species from throughout Australia’s East Coast.

Students were also fortunate to receive a private tour the facilities of one of Sydney’s most cherished social justice spaces – Wayside Chapel, in Kings Cross. A highlight was exploring Wayside’s rooftop garden, a community space where people facing disadvantage and local residents work together to form connected, inclusive and safe spaces for some of Sydney’s most marginalised. Students also visited the Museum of Contemporary Art to explore Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall’s profound body of work exploring the gaps, biases and long shadow of the colonial records, after which Mr Fallon took a historical walking tour of The Rocks to explore first contact histories and some of Australia’s earliest non-Indigenous archaeological sites.=

Those on tour will now be preparing reflective reports to contribute to EAST’s strategic planning, considering how the learning undertaken can be applied within the College context to inform future student-led projects and initiatives. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the College Executive, Mr Tony Coghlan, Mr Tony Rolfe, Ms Lynne Chenu and Mr John Tighe, all of whom played a significant role in making this trip a reality.

Jack Sarris: A Rising Star in Metal Fabrication

Jack Sarris (Year 12) is a young man with a lot of drive and determination. When he committed to the vocational pathway, Jack diligently searched SEEK for suitable employers who would take him on for work placement. He discovered Berwick Fabrications, a metal fabrication business located on Capital Drive in Dandenong. According to Kate, one of the owners, she knew Jack was destined for success based on his application. His confidence, respectful manner, and enthusiasm were clear indicators that he would become a valued employee.

Jack has been working at Berwick Fabrications since the start of this year and has acquired many skills. During a recent visit, Jack was cutting metal for doors being installed at a Peninsula Animal Shelter. He is becoming adept at welding and cutting, and he consistently demonstrates initiative by ensuring the workplace is clean and tidy.

Jack's personality is a testament to his character, as all 17 members of the workforce enjoy working with him and willingly take him to offsite jobs. This is not always the case with first-year apprentices, who can sometimes be seen as more of a hindrance than a help. Jack will commence his SBAT in July and is eagerly awaiting the end of school in October so he can become a full-time member of the Berwick Fabrications team.

Mazenod sincerely thanks Bradley and Kate of Berwick Fabrications for the mentoring and advice they have provided to Jack. The VCE Vocational Major program would not be as successful without the assistance of employers who are willing to give our young men experience in the industry where they wish to pursue a career.

If you have the capacity to employ a VCE Vocational Major student, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Leigh Harris at lharris@mazenod.vic.edu.au or Ms. Athena Beshir at abeshir@mazenod.vic.edu.au, our Vocational Education Leaders. The work placement days for Year 11 VCE VM Unit 1/2 are on Tuesdays, while Year 12 VCE VM Unit 3/4 students venture out on Thursdays.

Shaping the Men of Tomorrow

May 5-7 saw students in Years 9, 10 and 11 participate in Tomorrow Man workshops—an initiative designed to challenge stereotypes and promote healthy masculinity, emotional literacy and connection.

Led by experienced facilitators from Tomorrow Man, the sessions created a safe space for students to reflect, speak openly, and consider the type of men they want to become in an ever-changing world.

Through group discussions and guided activities, students explored what it means to show strength beyond the traditional expectations of masculinity. The workshops encouraged vulnerability, mutual respect, and a willingness to support one another in navigating life’s pressures.

At Mazenod, we are committed to the holistic development of our students. Programs like Tomorrow Man reinforce our focus on wellbeing, emotional growth, and helping young men build authentic, meaningful relationships both at school and beyond.

The College thanks the Tomorrow Man team for their impactful work and the students for their open engagement and courage throughout the week.

Melbourne Writers Festival

Written by Diyen Hettiarachchi (Year 10)

The Melbourne Writers Festival is an annual event held in the State Library. Mazenod as well as many other high schools had the opportunity to attend this year. This year’s program included talks by amazing writers like Neal Shusterman and poetic genius Solli Raphael. 

The first session ran from 10:00am until 11:30am and included authors Gary Lonesborough and Solli Raphael. Gary Spoke about his latest novel I’m not really here, while reflecting on his decisions and themes behind The Boy from the Mish. He shared his personal struggles with his sexuality and his commitment for more books about the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - one of the key motivations behind his writings. Solli Raphael captivated the audience with a powerful monologue, highlighting the process of which he developed and expressed his identity through his poems in the Light trilogy. Solli additionally shared his expertise in the creative process of poems and “challenged us” to write out about something we loved.

After Session 1 Mazenod headed to the food court for an hour break before heading back inside at 12:30pm for the final session.

The second session ran from 12:30pm to 2 pm and the students heard from Robyn Denison who talked about how her novel, Blind Spot, explored people’s motivations for and against action. The floor was opened and Robyn answered questions from the audience, going from where she gets her ideas and inspiration through to solving writer’s block all the way to her writing playlist! Neal Shusterman of YA dystopian fame then took the floor interviewed by Amie Kaufman. Neal talked about his new novel, All Better Now, as well as his previous series, Scythe. Neal was engaging, informative and thought provoking - just like his books.

It was such a privilege to hear from four fantastic authors who treated the audience like equals and were considerate and generous in their presentations and discussions. The students enjoyed the day immensely and came away with some new books to read and some new ideas to write.