Principal's Address

Dear Chevalier Community, 

Welcome to the end of Term 2, 2025. At the beginning of this term, we invited our students to take up a simple but powerful challenge, “Make life much happier for others, because of you.” 

This invitation was grounded in five guiding principles: 

• Be a good person to be around 
• Be pleasant 
• Be a good friend 
• Bring your best self 
• Be someone who lifts others up 

Throughout the term, our students responded with heart and commitment. Nowhere was this more evident than in the extraordinary efforts of the cast and crew of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Their performance was more than a theatrical triumph - it was a celebration of teamwork, courage, and creativity. From the first rehearsal to the final curtain call, these students brought their best selves, reminding us that magic happens when we work together with passion, purpose, and joy.

This same spirit was alive and well on Sacred Heart Day, held on Friday 13 June. It was a day that truly reminded us all at Chev that “Ours is a Spirit of Family.”   From the reverent singing during Mass, to the laughter shared during Home Room games in the afternoon, the day was a living expression of our values. The hospitality of a shared BBQ lunch, the joy of friendly competition, and the celebration of talent at the evening Mission Concert all contributed to a deep sense of connection and belonging. 

As I shared in my address to students, staff and guests at the end of Sacred Heart Day Mass, “Sacred Heart Day is not just an event, it’s a homecoming of sorts. A reminder that we are not just a school, but a community formed in love, called to compassion, and committed to kindness.” 

And now, we look ahead to Term 3 and Winterfest, a celebration that brings together past, present and future members of the Chev family. On Saturday 2 August, the College will come alive as all Saturday sport is played at home. The campus will be full of energy as students compete with pride, cheered on by families, friends and staff. It’s a rare and wonderful opportunity for our community to come together on a Saturday. 

As the sun sets on the sporting endeavours, the celebration will continue. Food trucks will offer culinary choice, music will fill the air, and fireworks will light up the night sky. Past students will return, future families will visit, and current students will shine. It will be a time of reconnection, reflection and joy, a day when the warmth of our community glows bright in the heart of winter. 

When students are joined by their families, each bringing their best selves to Winterfest, we will be a community that will ‘make life much happier for others, because of you’.  

Sacred Heart Day Awards 

At the conclusion of Mass on Sacred Heart Day, the College introduced a new tradition that honours the spirit of contribution and quiet leadership exhibited by members of staff, by presenting the Provincial’s MSC Awards. These awards, endorsed by the Provincial of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Father Stephen Hackett, recognise staff who embody the MSC spirit in their everyday lives. They are not awards for achievement in the usual sense, more so they are recognition of how four current staff “share their part of the Sacred Heart.” 

Please find below the criteria and citations for awards presented to four members of staff. 

The Sacre Coeur Award recognises an experienced Teacher or Teacher’s assistant who is known for teaching with Heart. The recipient of this award: 

• Has made a significant and sustained contribution to MSC education over a number of years. 
• Engages in life-giving relationships with students, colleagues, and where possible, parents. 
• Witnesses to the mission of MSC education through lived example. 
• “Makes a difference” in the lives of students, colleagues and/or parents through their personal and professional manner. 

In recognising this person, it is with deep gratitude and admiration that we recognize their extraordinary 33-year commitment to MSC education. This individual is MSC through and through, and their unwavering dedication, initiative, and sustained contribution have profoundly shaped the lives of students for more than three decades at Chevalier. Their influence extends across generations of students, colleagues, and community members, consistently inspiring others through a lived example of “being MSC”. Their professional journey is marked by continuous growth, a generous spirit, and a passion for nurturing life-giving relationships. Whether in the classroom, among peers, or in partnership with families, their presence has made a lasting difference. They embody the heart of MSC education — compassionate, committed, and transformative. The Sacre Coeur Award was awarded to Mr Mark Fitzpatrick. 

The Treand Award recognises an early career teacher/teacher’s assistant on the journey to finding Heart. The recipient of this award: 

• Demonstrates excellence in teaching which leads to improved educational outcomes. 
• Makes a contribution to improving life within Chevalier College. 
• Displays potential to become an even more outstanding educator, including an initiative in educational programming. 
• Engages in life-giving relationships with students and colleagues, and witnesses to the mission of MSC education through lived example. 

We are proud to acknowledge this recipient’s outstanding contribution to MSC education over the past six years. From their beginnings as a pre-service teacher, this educator has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching, leading to meaningful educational outcomes for students. Their creativity and initiative in educational programming have enriched the learning environment, while their positive presence has significantly enhanced life within the College. Their ability to form life-giving relationships with students and colleagues reflects the heart of MSC values, and their lived witness to the mission of MSC education is both authentic and inspiring. The Treand Award goes to Mr Josh Higson. 

The Issoudun Award recognises a support staff member who contributes to the operations of the College to fulfill its mission. The recipient of this award: 

• Has made and continues to make a significant contribution to Chevalier College going beyond the expectations of the role. 
• Engages in life-giving relationships with students, colleagues, and parents. 
• Witness to the mission of MSC education through lived example. 
• Makes a difference in the lives of students and/or colleagues and/or parents through their personal and professional manner. 

 With over 15 years of dedicated involvement — as a staff member, past student, and past parent — this individual has consistently gone above and beyond the expectations of their role, contributing significantly to the smooth and mission-driven operations of the College. Their active participation in the life of the College and their ability to foster life-giving relationships with students, colleagues, and parents reflect the very essence of MSC values. Through their personal and professional manner, they have made a lasting difference in the lives of many, bearing daily witness to the heart and spirit of MSC education. The Issoudun Award goes to Mrs Anna Rieber. 

The MSC Provincial Superior Award recognises leadership at any level and is open to all who show leadership. This person: 

• leads through word and deed, supportive and growth-orientated relationships with students, colleagues, and parents. 
• Demonstrates a lived example and bears witness to the mission of Catholic education in the MSC way. 
• Displays leadership that has positively impacted the lives of the College community. 
• Has a leadership style which is informed by and aligns with Spirituality of the Heart. 

It is with profound respect and deep gratitude that we bestow this award for Leadership. In every sense, this individual is Chevalier — a living embodiment of the charism that defines our mission. Their life is a testament to the heart of MSC education: a life lived in service, humility, and love. Over the course of a remarkable vocation, they have provided unwavering witness to the mission of Catholic education, not only through words but through the quiet, powerful example of daily presence. Their leadership is not confined to position or title, it radiates from their being, influencing all who encounter them. They have shaped the spiritual and communal life of the College in ways that are immeasurable, enduring, and deeply transformative.

Their contribution to MSC education is both considerable and sustained, reaching far beyond the expectations of any role. They lead with a heart attuned to the needs of others, forming life-giving relationships with students, staff, and families alike. Their leadership style, deeply rooted in the Spirituality of the Heart, reflects the very essence of MSC Constitution #34 — gentle, inclusive, and profoundly human. They make a difference not only in the lives of individuals but in the very soul of our community. To be in their presence is to be reminded of what it means to live with purpose, compassion, and faith. In honouring them with this award, we honour the spirit of MSC itself. The MSC Provincial Superior Award goes to Father John Mulrooney MSC. 

The deep respect, spontaneous full applause and standing ovations shown by students, staff and guests in attendance was truly memorable and a fitting tribute to the occasion. 

Artificial Intelligence – Pockets of Practice

The rise of Artificial Intelligence tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT has presented a significant challenge to traditional assessment practices in schools, particularly for take-home tasks that can now be completed in moments with minimal student input. At Chevalier, this shift has prompted deep reflection among staff about how we assess student learning in meaningful and authentic ways. Teachers are increasingly aware that conventional approaches, especially those relying on extended written responses completed outside the classroom, are vulnerable to automation and no longer provide a reliable measure of a student’s knowledge and understanding.

In response, Chevalier teachers have begun to reimagine assessment, not as a static endpoint, but as an evolving process that values student voice and encourages critical thinking. This is especially evident in Year 12 Standard English and PDHPE, where staff have embraced AI not as a threat, but as a tool to enrich the learning experience. By integrating AI into classroom discussions, drafting processes, and formative feedback loops, teachers are helping students develop the skills to critically engage with technology while maintaining academic integrity. These innovations are not only enhancing student learning but also ensuring that assessment remains a fair and accurate reflection of individual achievement and growth.

To see this in action, we invite you to watch this short video where our Year 12 English and PDHPE teachers share how they’ve used AI to value-add to their teaching and assessment practices. 

In conclusion, I offer my best wishes to students and staff for a safe and enjoyable break over the Term 2 school holidays. I also offer my best wishes to all for a great start to next term, as I will be on leave for the first four weeks of Term 3. I am fortunate to be accessing Renewal Leave, and will spend some of it visiting sites of religious significance in Portugal and Spain, part of which will be embracing the Camino. Mrs Rebecca Graham will be the Acting Principal during that time, Ms Kelly Walker will be the Acting Senior Assistant Principal and Mr John Hargreaves will be the Acting Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning. I know all three will ensure the College continues, as a learning community, to ‘Be on Earth the Heart of God’. 

Your sincerely  

Greg Miller 

Principal