Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Winter! The brisk mornings, though colder, provide such a beautiful start to our days. It was wonderful to finally see the rain falling, although we know we need so much more. 

I recently attended an MSC Education meeting at Daramalan College, Canberra. Our four school Principals, Business Managers, Faith and Mission leaders and Education Council members gathered to discuss how our schools are going and share ideas. Enrolments are increasing in all our four schools, indicating a desire for our communities to be part of our ethos and spirituality of the heart. Our schools are wonderful places of learning, engagement and belonging.

Next week I am taking our College Captains to Chevalier College, Bowral to experience their Sacred Heart celebrations. A week before our own. It is a long journey but well worth the effort. My hope is that we can develop and foster opportunities for our students enabling them to engage with the other three MSC schools. 

Year 12 Student Leadership change for 2025

I recently spoke with the Year 11 cohort to explain changes to the Year 12 leadership structure for next year and beyond. Our current structure incorporates 16 leadership positions who all receive a Leadership blue blazer. The revised structure has been developed due to the evolving opportunities for student leaders (Years 7 to 12) at Monivae. The College is growing. Areas such as the Sports Academy, increases in the Arts/Technology area, and an emphasis on Learning and Teaching have all had, and continue to have, an impact. Opportunities for students to represent Monivae are also increasing. With this in mind, the structure in 2025 will now be:

• 2 College Captains
• 5 Vice Captains each with a portfolio. Portfolios cover the areas of;  Academics, The Arts, Community, Social Justice and Sports.

The seven student leadership positions will all receive a Leadership blue blazer.

Students will have an opportunity to apply for House Captain roles however, these positions will no longer have a Leadership blue blazer. It will be the same for the Boarding Captain.

Each new leadership role will have a revised role description which will be made available to students’ early in Term 3.

Last week I attended the annual Principals' Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools' Conference in Melbourne where the theme of the two days was “Leading with Vision and Courage”. Dr. Barbara Reid from Chicago University was the Keynote presenter. The following prayer is adapted from one of the morning prayers.

Holy God, we gather, conscious of our responsibility for our schools and we thank you for calling us together.

It is our privilege to foster and advance the quality of Catholic secondary schools

 in Victoria, and we accept this task with total dependence upon you.

It is you who began this work, you who guides it and will bring it to fulfillment.

Send your creative Spirit among us:

Open our hearts to recognize your presence among us,

Open our minds to respond to your calling.

Enable us to draw upon the wisdom and experience of yesterday as we respond to the concerns of tomorrow.

Give us freedom to speak the truth boldly and with kindness;

Give us patience to listen openly, without prejudice;

Give us confidence to discover and explore new possibilities;

Give us wisdom to discern what is right and just;

Give us courage to participate in your ongoing work of creation. Amen.

Finally, I remind Monivae families of the public holiday on Monday. The school is closed on this day.

Mr Jonathan Rowe

Principal