The Mazenod College Newsletter

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and Friends of Mazenod College,

 

“With my people, I feel an obligation to be a preacher of hope, a hope that does not come from military power or from the possibility of diplomacy -  we don’t have those hopes yet - but a hope that comes from faith.” Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, Ukraine.

 

I read this amazing quote again recently, attributed to the Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, in addressing his community at the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. I think it speaks beautifully and centrally of the importance of the Easter message.

“…a hope that comes from faith”

 

Our faith tells us that Jesus died from this human life on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday. We are people of hope and the Easter story is the greatest example that, even in the darkest of times, we have hope for a brighter future. It is this mindset, prayer and gift of hope that the Archbishop wants for the people of Ukraine.

 

As we have journeyed through Lent and with Passion Sunday only days away, we are reminded and called, to revitalize our relationship with God and one another. We mark this special time as an opportunity to celebrate at Easter, the life, the death and the joyous resurrection of Jesus.

 

The end of another term has come and what an eventful, community filled time it has been and as always, a plethora of quality teaching and learning experiences for our young people.

 

It was a special privilege to be present and witness the engagement of our Year 7 and 8 students with their mothers, female mentors, fathers and male mentors in the respective Time & Space sessions this week. I extend my heartfelt thanks to those parents and carers who “showed up” with their young men. We very much value the program and what it offers and I am delighted by the numbers of those present as testament to its value. Thanks also to Mr Sam Dawson, who worked tirelessly in bringing it all together and to the staff and students who were on hand to facilitate and provide support.

 

Another highlight last week was the launch of our U-Bean Kitchen. This facility, refurbished in Oblate Hall, has seen a wonderful transformation into a space used by our Year 10 – 12 ASDAN and Year 12 Certificate Cookery/Hospitality students under the care and supervision of Mrs Helen Botica and Mrs Claire Hughes. We acknowledge and thank Mrs Daniela Tonon and the Parent Association for the financial grants to fund much of the upgrade works in the kitchen.

 

Last week, the students completed a Barista course and put their cookery skills to work in feeding and refreshing staff and guests on hand. Our heartfelt thanks to Mrs Botica and Mrs Hughes for their dedication, hard work and passion for this project and the boys in their care, and to Mrs Lauren Johnson for facilitating the endeavours of this program. 

This is a wonderful example of the work being done for and by our community, a combining of gifts and talents, for the benefit of others. As a Christian community in the Oblate tradition, let us continue to be present and supportive of all members of our community now and into the future.

 

Staff Farewells

Sadly at the end of each term, we farewell staff who have served our students and community with dedication and commitment. At this time, we are sad to be farewelling the following staff;

  • Mrs Janet Murphy, who retires from Mazenod College after 10 years of service. We thank Mrs Murphy for her dedication and commitment and wish her happiness and good health in retirement.
  • We thank Ms Sue Biffin and Mrs Fiona Williams, who both conclude short term contracts with Mazenod. We acknowledge that both Ms Biffin and Mrs Williams have been long standing members of our community and we look forward to continued associations with them into the future.
  • Best wishes to Mrs Kerry Gault and Mrs Teresa Bulich as they embark on well deserved periods of long service leave of 10 and 3 weeks respectively.

Staff Changes for Term 2

I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Ms Michelle Otway-Melvin, who will serve as the Head of Year 12 for the first 3 weeks of Term 2 in Mrs Bulich’s absence.

I will also be taking a short period of long service leave in Term 2, and I thank Mr Michael Anderson who will be serving in the role of Principal in my absence, and to Mr Michael King who will undertake the role of Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning, during that time.

 

The Sacred Season of Easter

On the cusp of this special and sacred liturgical season, I pray for all in our College community, that the upcoming Easter break is a holy, happy and healthy one.

 

“We must not only proclaim the Gospel, but also embody it in our actions” 

(St Eugene De Mazenod).

 

God bless.

 

Simon Harvey

Principal