Principal

Dear Mary MacKillop, Catholic Regional College Community,

Welcome to Term 3

Join Us for Our 40th Anniversary Celebration

Our first major public celebration will be held on Thursday, 6 August 2026, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

The day will begin with our Feast Day Mass, celebrated by The Most Reverend Greg Bennet DD, Bishop of Sale. Following Mass, we will gather as a community to commemorate the College's 40th Anniversary through presentations that reflect on our history, acknowledge those who have shaped our story, and celebrate the contributions our College continues to make to Catholic education in South Gippsland.

We are honoured that Mr Paul Velten, Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, will join us and address those gathered, together with our Principal, Mr John Freeman. Our other guest speaker on the day will be Renae Littlejohn, one of the founding Principal’s daughters. Renae is also an Alumni, past parent, and was Chair of the Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2021. She will be sharing some stories about the early years of the College.

This celebration is open to members of our College community, including former students, staff and families. We look forward to welcoming many Old Collegians back to the College as we celebrate this important milestone together. 

Staff Spirituality Day

Our staff gathered on 13 July for our annual Staff Spirituality Day, providing an opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with the mission that lies at the heart of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.

Thank you to Nicole Dudman for her leadership in organising the day, and to Michelle Krohn, Scott Blencowe and everyone who contributed to making it such a meaningful experience.

As the only Catholic secondary school in our region, our Catholic identity is central to who we are. When speaking with prospective families, I often explain that it is not simply part of our name—it is the foundation of our purpose and the lens through which we seek to educate every young person entrusted to our care.

Being a Catholic school is about far more than visible signs such as our Chapel, crosses, statues, prayers, liturgies or Religious Education classes. While these are important expressions of our faith, our identity is most clearly demonstrated in the way we strive to live the Gospel each day. We seek to foster communities grounded in faith, hope and love; to promote justice, compassion and service; to uphold the dignity of every person; and, recognising that none of us is perfect, to embrace forgiveness, reconciliation and new beginnings.

These Gospel values shape not only our religious life but also our teaching, our relationships and our commitment to the holistic formation of every student. Our Staff Spirituality Day was a valuable reminder that Catholic education is not simply something we provide—it is the mission we share together.

Year 10 Camp – Building Connections and Community

Our Year 10 students recently enjoyed three memorable days at CYC Forest Edge, where the focus was on strengthening relationships, developing resilience and building a strong sense of community.

Through a range of outdoor challenges and team-building activities, students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, work collaboratively, support one another and develop leadership skills. These shared experiences help foster the trust, respect and belonging that are so important as students move towards their senior years of secondary school.

A particular highlight of the camp was an inspiring presentation from international speaker, author and adventurer Sam Clear, who shared stories from his remarkable 15,636-kilometre walk across 21 countries. His message of perseverance, hope, purpose and the importance of building bridges between people challenged students to consider how they can make a positive difference in their own communities.

Thank you to Melinda Stephan for her leadership in organising the camp, and to Darren Besanko, Rosemary Drennen, Milly Ellen, Gerard Gordan, Kellie Gwin, Michelle Hackett, Michael McManamon, Grace Ronchi and Dan Sheahan for generously giving their time to support our students throughout the experience. A special thank you also to Deputy Principal John Ryan, who visited the camp to spend time with students and staff.

Experiences such as the Year 10 Camp are an important part of life at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, strengthening friendships, nurturing personal growth and reinforcing the sense of community that is at the heart of our College.

Year 7 2027 Enrolment Interviews Complete

We have now concluded our three rounds of Year 7 2027 enrolment interviews, welcoming 122 prospective students and their families to Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College.

The interview process is always a highlight of the enrolment journey, providing an opportunity to meet our future students, hear about their interests and aspirations, and begin building the strong partnerships between home and school that are so important to a successful secondary education.

Thank you to Jackie Van Dillon, Claire Cassidy and Alison McIntyre for their outstanding organisation of the interview program, and to the many staff who generously gave their time to meet with families and make them feel so welcome. In particular, thanks to Jessica Stein, Jasmine Jones, Erica Masters, Kaila Hutchison and JohnRyan, along with Jackie, Alison and Cl for being there all three evenings.

We have been delighted by the strong interest in joining our College community for 2027. While enrolments have been exceptionally strong, a small number of places are still available. Families who are considering Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College for Year 7 in 2027 are encouraged to contact the College Office as soon as possible to discuss enrolment opportunities.

Subject Selection Expo for 2027

Our College was a hive of activity recently as students, families and staff came together to celebrate learning, achievement and future opportunities. Highlights included the Year 7 and 8 Learning Showcase, the 2027 Subject Selection Expo, the Starting VCE Information Evening for Year 10 families, and the Applied Learning Café, where our VCE VM students showcased their enterprise and hospitality skills.

The evening reflected the strength of our College community, providing families with valuable opportunities to engage with their child's learning while supporting students to make informed decisions about their future pathways.

A sincere thank you to Laura Higgins for her outstanding leadership in coordinating this significant event, and to the many staff and students whose enthusiasm and commitment ensured its success. Read more about the evening in Laura's article later in this newsletter.

Catholic School Parents Victoria Newsletter

We encourage all families to read the latest Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) Newsletter (link below). It contains useful information, practical parenting resources and updates on matters affecting Catholic education across Victoria. We hope you find it both informative and valuable.

Staff News

Congratulations to Georgia Townley and her husband Anthony on the birth of their second daughter, Paige, over the term break.

Next Tuesday we will farewell Belinda Cetnar who will embark on her next career as a Barrister. We thank Belinda for her work over the last few years and wish her and all her family the best of success.

Next week we will welcome Wilma Peeters, who will join us as a Maths teacher. Wilma is a highly experienced educator and will be a great addition to the College staff.

At the start of this term, we welcomed staff member Sue into our Learning Adjustment and Differentiation Teacher role. Sue comes to us with extensive experience in both schools in Melbourne and in the UK, and she will be located in the Learning Support area. 

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

John M Freeman