From the Directors
Welcome to the beginning of the 2026 school year. We hope all families enjoyed a joyful Christmas celebration and a restorative holiday break, and that the weeks ahead bring renewed energy, optimism, and a strong sense of purpose.
At St Monica’s College, we take great pride in the strong traditions and respected reputation we have established throughout the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne. This reputation has been built over many years through care, consistency, and a shared commitment to high standards, and it is one we are committed to maintaining. We hold clear and high expectations for our students because we believe that when young people are supported and challenged, they rise to the occasion. By setting these expectations, we encourage students to take pride in themselves, to expect more of one another, and to strive for their best in all that they do.
We hold high expectations for our students, and we work in close partnership with parents and carers to support them in meeting these expectations. Through sustained engagement, arriving each day ready to learn, persisting when work becomes challenging, and taking pride in completing tasks to the best of their ability. We believe It would strengthen our shared commitment to your child’s education if these expectations are discussed at home, helping to set the scene for a positive, purposeful, and effective start to the academic year.
A few key areas as we begin the 2026 academic year:
Uniform – It is an expectation that all students wear the correct uniform at all times and take pride in wearing it correctly. This simple approach can assure students are ready to learn, engaged in the school community and maintaining high personal standards.
Punctuality – It is important that students understand the importance of arriving to school and class on time. As a college, we want to support our students to achieve success, arriving to class on time and being prepared with all the necessary equipment is essential to achieving our best
Positive Learning Environment - All students have the responsibility to be a positive influence within their classrooms. This includes submitting work on time, completing tasks to the best of their ability, and participating in class discussions positively. This is an expectation we have of all students
Respectful Relationships - It is important that students treat each other with respect and role model this behaviour in the school and wider community. Our staff are committed to forming important professional relationships that continue to enhance students’ sense of belonging and allow them to achieve academic success.
Campus Directors and Year Level Leaders regularly meet to provide College information and remind students of daily expectations. As a reminder to all families, please read below our daily expectations of all students:
Students need to arrive on campus by 8.50 am and be in homeroom by 9.00am
Students who arrive after 9.10 am need to sign in at the Campus reception
Students should wear their uniform correctly and with pride. This includes appropriate black school shoes, no visible t-shirts under school shirts, and hair tied back
If jewellery is worn, it is to only be silver or gold stud earrings and/or a necklace for religious purposes only
Phones should not be seen or used during the school day
Students should arrive ready to learn each day, with a charged laptop and all school materials for the classes scheduled throughout the day.
To further support the College, it would be beneficial to discuss these areas with your child. This will ensure there is a collective approach between home and school, which we believe is necessary for a student to achieve at their highest possible level.
Class Placement
We would like to take a moment to share the process that informs the formation of classes across the junior levels at St Monica’s College.
Friendships play a vital role in the lives of adolescents. They shape how young people see themselves and how they relate to others, influencing their social, emotional, and even physical development. One of the most significant impacts of the remote learning periods in recent years was the loss of the natural, everyday social interactions that occur within the school environment. At St Monica’s, we understand that schools provide more than academic learning . We are a community in which students practise empathy, respectful collaboration, and connection.
Our approach to class placement reflects this understanding. We are firmly committed to ensuring that our students are supported not only academically but also socially and emotionally. We believe that young people thrive when they have the opportunity to learn with a broad range of peers. For this reason, our College deliberately reshapes classroom groups each year. This process encourages students to develop flexibility, teamwork, and confidence in meeting new people and learn skills that are invaluable both within and beyond school life.
While it is natural for students to wish to remain with close friends, remaining in the same groups year after year can sometimes limit social growth and learning experiences. Our experience shows that genuine friendships are not lost through class changes. We know that strong bonds endure and continue to flourish during recess, lunchtime, co-curricular activities, and outside of school.
It is also important to recognise that being able to work productively with a diverse range of people is a key life skill. Whether in the classroom, workplace, or community, the ability to connect respectfully and collaborate effectively with others is essential. Each new class offers a chance to practise this skill in a safe and supportive environment.
Ms A Xerri
Assistant Principal (Campus Director DRC)
Miss N Meade
Assistant Principal (Campus Director DSC)