From our Principal
Our Commitment to Action: Catholic Identity
We activate identity and mission through Catholic Social Teaching and affirming the dignity and inclusion of all.
Emmaus – Publishing Monthly
Did you know that Emmaus, our College Newsletter, is making the move to a monthly publication schedule? The decision follows feedback from the College Advisory Committee around readership of the publication.
Executive Formation Experience – Marist Charism
Over the holidays, the Executive Team will participate in a full day formation experience with Mr Darren McGregor (Marist Regional Director – Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia) and Brother Tony Clark (Marist Brother). This is a fantastic opportunity for us to consider leadership through the lens of St Marcellin Champagnat.
Frankie’s Kitchen – Staff Volunteering
Recently, staff have begun volunteering as a part of Frankie’s Community Kitchen. Frankie’s Community Kitchen was born out of a desire to save quality ingredients which would usually be thrown away and make nourishing meals to feed people in need. In the food industry there is a lot of waste. Perfectly good food is discarded every single day because it does not meet the high standards expected for sale. To learn more about Frankie’s Community Kitchen click here.
George Collins Kokoda Award – Leith Metcalf
Leith Metcalf was successful in his application for the George Collins Kokoda Award.
Leith will travel to Kokoda later in the year.
Youth Ministry Reconciliation Workshop
Students from Marist-Sion College will be participating in the Youth Ministry Reconciliation Workshop at St Joseph’s Primary School, Warragul on Wednesday 20 March 2024. This is great example of our community partnerships in action.
Year 12 Retreat and Year 12 Jackets
Recently, the Year 12 Jackets were presented to the Class of 2024 in a short ceremony in the Marist-Sion Chapel. The Year 12 Jackets are a symbol of presence, responsibility and influence in our community. I am very much looking forward to spending time with the Year 12s on their Retreat next week. They are a brilliant cohort to work with.
Commencement Mass
The Commencement Mass provided us with an opportunity to warmly welcome the Year 7 students (and other new students across various year levels). The Marist-Sion Heart was presented to the community and two scrolls were placed inside – one with the names of our students and the other with the names of all staff. We were fortunate to have the presence and positive support of esteemed guests: Fr Antony Santhiyagu, Sr Mary Reaburn, Sr Angela Bayliss, Mrs Carmel Crawford and Mr Mark Walsh. Thank you, Fr Antony for celebrating Mass with us.
Seasons – 2023
I trust you enjoyed reading Seasons, our College Yearbook, when it was distributed last week. I commend and thank Mrs Brooke Hollier (Public Relations Manager) for leading this project and developing such an outstanding documentation of our year’s work.
Marist Basketball and Marist Netball
The Marist Basketball and Netball Teams have been training hard over the course of Term 1. The Marist Basketball Carnival will be held this month on the Gold Coast and the Marist Victorian Netball Carnival will be held in Kilmore in April to join in a program of games, camaraderie and community living.
Our Commitment to Action: Learning and Teaching
We build expert teachers, adaptive teaching teams and collaborative expertise.
Benefit Mindset Challenge
Stephanie Rogan (Wellbeing Learning and Data Leader) has introduced us to the Benefit Mindset Challenge, a mindful way of being and becoming that recognises we belong to a massive global ecosystem – the community of life – and everyone has a unique role to play in co-creating healthy life conditions in our community.
Learning and Teaching Professional Learning and Development Day
The Learning and Teaching Professional Learning and Development Day sought to build expert teachers, adaptive teaching teams and collaborative expertise. Martin Keogh presented as did various staff. The presentations built an understanding of our priorities and the sharing of practice at the end of the day was positive.
Smash Maths
Smash Maths commenced last week. During lunchtime, students can come and get one-to-one assistance with anything math related. Students can bring their lunch with them and stay for as little or long as they like over the lunch break. I am heartened by the number of students who are taking up this opportunity.
College Production – High School Musical
Rehearsals are well underway for the College Production, High School Musical. We are looking forward to delivering another high-quality production for the College community.
Year 10 Health Around the World – Egg Baby Parenting Task
As part of the Year 10 Health Around the World unit on human development and milestones of the human lifespan, Camille Cabarubia has organised for students to parent a boiled egg for a week. They are required to treat their egg as if they were a baby and during their PE classes, they are asked to obtain a babysitter.
Our Commitment to Action: Leadership
We are impactful leaders, building capacity and driving school improvement.
Senior Leaders Workshop
Through a series of Senior Leaders Workshops, we will focus on building the capacity of our senior leaders ensuring they lead as a high performing team. To be at our best as a team, we have considered how we can have a positive impact on the teams and colleagues we lead. Consequently, we have invited The Table Group Principal Consultant, Matt Lashbrook to work with us.
Diocese of Sale Leadership Program 2024
Two staff, Tonderai Harawa (Head of House – Marcellin) and Jenna Dore (Director of Senior Learning) are participating in the Diocese of Sale Leadership Program. As a part of the program, they will complete a Leadership Reflective Action Inquiry (the Inquiry). The Inquiry involves a self-reflection process that builds meaning and endeavours to provide opportunities to create understanding around leadership actions and behaviours. The emphasis of the Inquiry will be each participant’s reflection on their learning as a leader and an opportunity to apply the learning from the program to a school improvement priority identified as part of the School Improvement Plan, and in consultation with the Principal.
Our Commitment to Action: Child Safety
We commit to sustaining and improving our child safe practices and culture.
Year 10 Immunisation
The Public Health Unit visits secondary schools in the Baw Baw Shire throughout the year to administer the vaccines included in the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
Child Safety Risk Register
We are making steady progress with our Child Safe Culture. Staff meetings have a focus on building our professional culture ensuring staff understand their obligations and take individual responsibility for their behaviour and actions in line with Child Safe Standards.
Our Commitment to Action: Stewardship of Resources
We provide a vibrant and sustainable future for generations to come.
College Master Plan
Our first Master Planning Meeting was held with Williams Ross Architects. We look forward to working with Williams Ross Architects to introduce creative and forward-thinking design concepts that align with the College's vision. Currently, we are working with the architects to complete a site analysis; documenting external influences (traffic, neighbours, environmental, planning controls); completing an analysis of existing accommodation & resources; undertaking a review of existing buildings – fitness for purpose and analysing the constraints and opportunities.
Update of the College Café
Shane Stiles (Business Manager) worked with Helen Sibley (Café Manager) to update the internal and serving spaces of the College Café. We are still in the process of working through the most effective means for the student traffic flow in the College Café. This will be further improved with the addition of MunchMonitor, an easy-to-use online ordering system for parents and students. MunchMonitor will increase the efficiency at our College Café, and this will be implemented in the coming weeks.
AFS Audit (year-end)
Auditors, Grant Thornton were on-site last week undertaking a review of our Financial systems and reporting. The audit took four days and later a report will be submitted to the College and to DOSCEL. The College is in a good place financially and this will ensure upgrades to existing facilities can continue to take place.
Ms Lisa Harkin
Principal