From the Principal Leader

Dear staff, students, parents and friends of Chisholm,

FEAST DAY OF ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP

It is with great joy that we celebrated  the feast day of Australia’s first saint St Mary of the Cross Mackillop on 8th August. Students and staff across the entire college joined together during an extended homeroom time to pray as one. St Mary Mackillop has been influential to me as I was educated by the sisters of St Joseph at Our Lady of the Rosary Primary where we learnt about the need to be open to helping all othose within our community and beyond following in the footsteps of this courageous woman. At times of need in my life I will always pray for the intercession of St Mary Mackillop.

It was more than 150 years ago that Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph travelled through the heat of the outback to some of Australia’s most remote communities. They were willing to do whatever it took to set up schools, so overlooked children could pursue an education, reach their full potential, and flourish.

When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she set out right away to open a school in an old stable and teach children herself — regardless of their gender, race, faith, or wealth.

Mary’s faith and determination inspired the hearts of those around her with many other young women joining her ministry as Sisters of St Joseph. She and her Sisters went wherever the need was greatest. They gave up everything to live amongst the people they served and teach with love and compassion.

“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.”

– St Mary MacKillop

This Feast Day, let’s be Fierce for Fair!

This August, let’s walk in the footsteps of Australia’s most loved Saint. Just like Mary MacKillop, let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s be fair and act when we see injustice. Let’s give love to those we encounter each day. Together, let’s be Fierce for Fair.

Mary MacKillop Today is carrying on the work of Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph. Through the generosity of our faithful supporters, we work with communities to create change by teaching practical skills to women, men and children in Australia and in neighbouring countries.

The vital projects across Australia, Timor-Leste, Peru, and Fiji:

• Enable women to learn skills to earn a fair income and lead their communities
• Give children education opportunities in some of the most remote and disadvantaged areas
• Improve the skills of dedicated teachers in rural and remote communities
• Mentor parents so they can play an active role in their children’s learning at home
• Fight preventable diseases in schools
• Enable aspiring students to pursue higher education through a First Nations Tertiary Scholarship
• Give people in economic hardship the opportunity to become financially stable.

“So great is the strength we possess in our unity.”

– St Mary MacKillop

August is a special month to come together in solidarity and reflect on the impact Mary made and the place she still has in the lives of so many today. As people of faith, I believe we are called to walk alongside those experiencing vulnerability. In celebration of Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day on 8th August, I encourage you to be Fierce for Fair.

If you’re in a position to donate in honour of Mary’s Feast Day, you can know that your support will help people around the world to reach their full potential and flourish in the face of injustice and adversity.

Help continue Mary’s inspiring legacy this August. Donate today or find out more about the work of Mary MacKillop Today.

YEARS 7-10 SEMESTER ONE 2024, PRINCIPALS AWARDS CEREMONY

Today we held our first Year 7-10 Semester 1 Principal's Award Ceremony in our college Performance space acknowledging the outstanding achievements of our Chisholm girls with the presentation of the Principals Award and the Principal’s Academic Excellence Award.  

In my address I spoke about the following:

‘Today is a very important day for the college and for you the students who we acknowledge have achieved exceptional results. Since starting here as Principal, creating this opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our students Year 7-10 in a formal ceremony is something that I have dreamed about and longed for. As you will soon see, there is an abundance of talent here before us in our Chisholm girls. However I also know after many years of working with adolescent girls that it takes much more than simply talent. It has been said that ‘Talent is nothing without dedication and discipline, and dedication and discipline is a talent in itself’. 

To be able to achieve a Principal’s Award or the Principals Academic Excellence award, it requires a great deal of dedication through your personal hard work, effort and perseverance by each one of these young women who sit here before us. I know that doing this means giving up leisure time, sport  and other activities in the pursuit of personal excellence. 

Students, today is a day when you deserve to be incredibly proud of your efforts and achievements as a girl from Sydney’s west. I know at times it can be difficult to believe you are capable of achieving greatness, and today is the day we all applaud your outstanding efforts and well earned results through diligence, dedication and resilience. I hope through this experience you have learned that to achieve, it is important to be brave and courageous in your pursuit where you should be open to feedback from your teacher and class peers that enables you to also self reflect and consider ways that you can continue to grow even further and reach for the stars. 

As a Chisholm student grounded in the values of faith, courage and tolerance, this is the time now to dream big about your future, knowing that you can be all that you dream to be and make a difference in the world through the care and love that you extend in whatever role you pursue. Congratulations girls and thank you also to you the parents and families who are the support crew that empower your daughters to excel and achieve personal excellence’.

The Principal's Award is based on high level results in a students personal profile awarded for is awarded to those students for consistent commitment to their studies by managing their learning, taking opportunities to extend their learning and relating to others to enhance their learning. 

The Principals Academic Excellence Award is awarded to students for outstanding commitment to their learning demonstrating exceptional achievement across all courses.

Congratulations to all award recipients for your outstanding commitment to your ongoing learning and growth during the last semester.

I would also like to acknowledge the following students from Year 7-11 who engaged in the organisation of this important community event by reading, performing, assisting and supporting Ms Debbie White and Mrs Julie Petrovski (Assistant Principals) and our Year Leaders, Ms Weaire, Mrs Easterbrook, Mrs Harper and Mrs Roche.

Year 7 Award Recipients

Year 8 Award Recipients

Year 9 Award Recipients

Year 10 Award Recipients

Mrs Tania Cairns

Principal Leader