Mary MacKillop Newsletter

Principal

Welcome back to Term 3.

 

My Leave

Thanks to John Ryan and all the Leadership Team for their work in the first week of the term whilst I was on Long Service Leave. I greatly appreciate that I can be away and know that the College is in competent hands.

 

Staff Professional Development Day

Thank you to Chris Spencer, John Ryan, and Laura Higgins for their leadership and input for the Professional Learning Day we had on Monday, 21 July 2025. This was a valuable day that provided information and insight into the well-being of students and our programs, including The Resilience Project. Thanks to Cade Maskell, Kate Dwyer, and Sally Newton for their workshops.

 

Other presentations from Edson Letendrie on the SIMON Learning management System and the Epilepsy by our Health Officers, Sharnee Allan and Claire Vagg.

 

Additionally, our Education Support Staff undertook professional development led by Kaila Hutchinson.

 

Year 11 Retreat

I was fortunate to participate in the Year 11 Retreat at the Bayview Adventure camp in Grantville last week. The students who attended engaged enthusiastically and authentically, and this is no small part due to the work of Nicole Dudman and Kate Dwyer in preparing the students. These programs work best when everyone engages and is truly present to each other. Therefore, thanks to our Year 11s, the staff: Scott Blencowe, Gerard Gordon, Lisa Hogan, Michael McManamon, Mary Tye, and Beth Winterhalter, for their work. 

 

Also, thanks to John Ryan, who came down on Monday night, simply to assist with settling the students in the evening.

 

Walkathon Launch 

On Tuesday, 22 July, we held a Whole College Assembly to launch our annual Walkathon, which is our annual fundraiser that contributes to worthy charities. Two of the Charities, Trinity Families and Mary MacKillop Today, receive annual support. The other charities are selected by our student leaders, supported by Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe in their respective roles.  

 

The charities we will be supporting this year are:

  • The Movember Foundation
  • Refugee and Migrant Homework Club Program
  • Trinity Families
  • Mackillop Today

There has already been a tremendous amount of work done last term regarding determining the charities we will be supporting this year, and there is still much to do. Accordingly, I thank Nicole Dudman, Scott Blencowe, and all the members of the committee for the work done so far, as well as our student leaders.

 

Please see the catholic Identity and Mission page of this Newsletter for more details.

 

Feast Day of Mary of the Cross, MacKillop, and Walkathon

On Friday, 8 August, we will celebrate Mary of the Cross, MacKillop’s Feast Day. Mass will commence at 9.15 am and families are welcome to attend.

 

The Walkathon will commence from 10.30 am.

 

This will be, as always, a great community day, and my thanks to all involved in the organisation, notably Scott Blencowe and Bekk Anthony.

 

Year 10 and 11 2026 Subject Selection Expo

Well done to Laura Higgins, Bekk Anthony, Learning Leaders, and teachers involved in the Expo on Tuesday, 29 July. Speaking with Laura, the opportunity to visit displays and talk to staff was a good experience for the students. The 'Starting VCE Information Evening' for parents was well attended, with over 50 in attendance.

 

SSV State Cross Country Championships

Thanks to Travis Newton and Aliesha Wriggley for accompanying the students who competed in the first week of Term 3. These days are long events, particularly for us who have to travel about two hours each way just to compete. However, the benefit is seeing the kids able to participate in an event that provides them with a deeper understanding of who they are and an engagement with other students from all over the state.

 

Year 7 2026 Interviews

This week, we will commence enrolment interviews with 94 students and their families for 2026. 

 

If you or anyone you know has not yet completed an application for a place in 2026 for their child, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. We are now in the planning phase for 2026 and will make many decisions about next year over the next five weeks.

  

Staffing News 

At the start of this term, we welcomed the following new staff:

Kevin Ladd joins us as a teacher working in the Humanities and Maths Faculties. Kevin 

Jenny Canning joins us as a teacher working in the Technology and Arts Faculty. 

Samanatha Florence joins us as a teacher working in the English faculty. 

Sharon Kraehenbuehl joins us as our new Finance Officer

 

Additionally, Amanda Bibby commenced this week as the Learning Adjustment Administration Assistant.

 

We also welcomed back from leave:

Claire Cassidy has returned from leave as our new College Registrar. 

Anna Patterson has rejoined us, working in the Learning Resource Centre during Term 3.

Nicole Dudman has returned after taking a leave of absence.

We also welcomed back from leave:

 

At the end of this week, Nicole Buculli will be taking a period of leave for the remainder of the year.

 

Condolences

Finally, please keep in your prayers the family and friends of Peter Cox, who passed away last week. Peter is the father of Zac Cox, the father-in-law of Bec, and the grandfather of Hudson.

 

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen

 

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

 

John M Freeman