Principal's Report
Jonathan Rowe
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to Semester 2, l hope you and your family have had an opportunity to enjoy some of the school holidays together. We welcomed our students back to the College three weeks ago and were pleased to hear the energy and excitement of our young people and staff who were genuinely pleased to see one another and to engage in another term of learning and faith. Social connections and relationships are at the heart of a MSC education.
Term 3 is a particularly important time for our Year 12 students as they prepare for their areas of study and assessments. Our Unit four students and Senior VM students have entered the final chapter of their secondary education. Our young people need your support and guidance to help them balance the demands of study, work, and recreation. I encourage our students to maintain their leisure and appropriate downtime to preserve their wellbeing. As parents and carers we need to help students balance the demands of part time work and study. Preparation, organisation and regular review will support our learners to be their best and to achieve the outcome that they deserve. This will position them to access TAFE and or university pathways. I urge all students to regularly touch base with our Careers Coordinator, Michael Harms, to explore their future pathways and to explain the many Early Entry pathways to many of our universities and TAFE providers.
House name change
In this, our 70th year, the opportunity presents itself to change House names to better reflect contemporary Australia and our MSC identity. This will deepen the knowledge of our Founder and our identity, values and distinctiveness as an MSC School. Furthermore, we plan to extend the concept of Houses, so that each House have a story referencing their own set of values, an alignment with notable Old Collegians (chosen for their virtues), Indigenous links etc.
Names for Houses include those that honour the memory of the people recognised as important co-founders, with Jules Chevalier, of the MSC. All belong to a particular time in MSC history; all were people of great virtue and were Fr Chevalier’s most faithful and constructive collaborators during the vital years of the founding of the MSC. They were also his oldest and most trusted friends. One name references the birthplace place of the MSC.
- ISSOUDUN (PLACE) – Located in the centre of France, about 200 kilometres south of Paris, Issoudun is the site of a Basilica and first chapel (a barn), the birthplace of the MSC. Jules Chevalier lived here for over 50 years.
- PIPERON (FRIEND) – (pron. - piperrong) is named after Fr Charles Piperon MSC. Fr Piperon was a loyal friend to Fr Chevalier all his life. During his 60 years as an MSC he held positions of significant responsibility. These were - Novice Master 1880-1889, Assistant General 1869-1905 and he was for a time Chaplain to the hospice and prison in Bourges, near Issoudun.
He was a perfect ‘second’ to Fr Chevalier, never aspiring to lead, but always ready to help and give what he believed was very little, but in fact was so much more. Fr Piperon is remembered as man who was a model of MSC virtues; everywhere, in all things and with everyone he was meek/gentle and humble of heart. In all difficulties, Fr Piperon always showed moral strength, force of will and strength of character. He was known for his charitableness to others, his zeal, goodness, affability and devotedness in dealings with both superiors and students. He was never seen angry, impatient or ill-humoured.
- TREAND (AUSTRALIAN MISSION) (pron. - trayon) is named after Fr Pierre Marie Treand MSC, b. Hermance, Switzerland 1856 - d.1926. Known as ‘The Father’ of the Australian Province of the MSC.
Fr Treand was a contemporary of Fr Chevalier. He was ordained in 1882 and after a time in England he came to Australia in 1891. The Australian Congregation of MSC had continued to grow and by 1905 a separate MSC Australian Province was established with Father Treand as the first Provincial. He continued as Provincial until 1913. To this day, the Provincial of the MSC resides in Treand House, Sydney. Fr Treand was a man of great humility; he was spoken of with awe and reverence by all who knew him. He is remembered as an excellent retreat giver, spiritual director and counsellor.
- HARTZER (first Superior General, of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart)
Mother Marie Louise Hartzer, was born in Alsace, France in 1837 and died in Thuin, Belgium in 1908. She first married, had two sons, and later as a 45 year-old widow, joined the young congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Her two sons became Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. For 26 years (1882-1908), she led our congregation, faithfully passing on the founder’s charism and spirituality to the sisters. She saw the congregation expand from Europe to the Pacific, becoming a truly international congregation.
“As Father Chevalier, by the exercise of his spiritual paternity, has given life to the Congregation, so Marie Louise Hartzer, by the grace of spiritual maternity bestowed up her, for the purpose of fostering that life, may be called and is, its venerated Mother.”
After an entertaining process of bursting balloons and musical chairs, the New House names and symbols from the College crest were allocated. The changes are:
Ffrench – Red – New House Name, Treand – (Symbol) Southern Cross
Mitchell – Yellow – New House Name, Piperon – (Symbol) Battlement
Glenelg – Green – New House Name, Issoudun – (Symbol) Sword
Lonsdale – Blue - New House Name, Hartzer – (Symbol) Shield
A Graphic design company has been engaged to develop the branding of the new houses. The new House names will take affect from the start of 2025.
Palumpa NT, crocodile attack
You may have heard on the news over the holidays of a tragic accident that occurred in Palumpa NT, where a little girl was taken by a crocodile. This is the community of Nganmarriyanga where one of our students Kirsty Narjic (Year 7) and past student Delena Dumoo are from. Unfortunately, Kirsty and her mum Lynette were witness to this terrible event. The little girl is a cousin of Delena. The whole community are receiving crisis support as it has been an extremely traumatic event. Please keep Kirsty and her community in your prayers at this time.
G5 Day
Last Thursday we welcomed over 100 Grade 5 students who experienced some of the engaging, fun and unique offerings we have at Monivae. Photos of this day can be accessed via our socials. The College is now accepting Year 7 enrolment applications for 2026 and we expect, like the 2025 intake, a high demand for limited spaces. Information and application enquiries can be accessed via the College website - monivae.com
Performing Arts Centre
Progress on the Performing Arts Centre is nearing completion. The internal fit out is nearly complete with the new lighting, sound system, curtains and seating to come. The Performing Arts are an integral part the fabric of our school and this new facility will provide numerous opportunities to showcase the many talents of our students. I look forward to welcoming you all to the official opening later in the year.
We welcome the following new staff:
Ms Megan Holmquest – PE teacher
Mrs Dana Smith – English/Humanities teacher
Mr Ethan Knight – Learning Support Officer
Olympics
In my address at our assembly this week I played a clip of an Australian Boxer, Harry Garside, who was interviewed moments after he was knocked out of the Olympic competition. To date, this is without doubt my favourite moment of the Olympics. Not because he won a medal, but rather by the way he handled himself during his bitter disappointment. In his interview Harry talks about the hard work to get there, his enormous self-doubt, his failures and picking himself back up. A story not too uncommon with many of the athletes at the Olympics. I would like to share with you a quote from his interview.
“Twenty years ago, he said, when he'd started chasing his Olympic dream, he had thought a gold medal would bring him fulfilment."
But he'd since realised happiness was built of other things.
"The way you get self-worth and the way you get self-respect, is how you treat other people," he said.
"It's the little moments in the day when you help someone carry their shopping or you shake someone's hand or you say hello in public or you do something kind for someone, that is how you build your self-worth, self-confidence and self-love."
An insightful message and one I shared with our students. The link to the whole interview is provided below.
Mr Jonathan Rowe
Principal