The Exec Address

From our Executive Principal 

 Dear MCHF community,

 As we travel through term 1, we have had a number of important initiatives take place. With the Season of Lent, we had our Lebanon container appeal and the response has been overwhelming. Through the generosity of our MCHF community, we will be sending a large container filled with food, medical supplies, clothing, toiletries, cleaning supplies and stationary, to help families in need. The container is set to arrive in Lebanon around early July. I thank you for supporting this appeal.

This term we have commenced our parent lounge, an opportunity for parents to gather and hear from professionals on various topics. We have also been encouraging our students to participate in external events and our student leaders have participated in events at Parliament House more recently.

Our staff in Secondary have undergone sessions in better understanding AI and how best to use it in subject areas. Every Monday afternoon all staff undertake professional development in areas of literacy and programming.

We had our Open Day on 26 March and the turn out was the largest we ever had. Over 100 guests attended and were very impressed with the College.

We continue to meet with Board members, the architect and project manager regarding our Master Planning. We hope to finalise the design and lodge it by end of the year. From there it will be a twelve to eighteen month wait before approval is given. We hope to commence Stage 3 in late 2026. This will involve constructing 2 level under ground carpark and a massive auditorium seating 1560 people, along with drama, music, art and science rooms. As this is major works, we will be looking for financial donations throughout the coming years to assist in realising the Masterplan.

As we approach the Federal elections, I ask you to think carefully about who to vote for, as different governments provide varying amounts of funding to independent schools. We ask that you vote for a Party that values the contribution Independent schools make to the educational sector.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a beautiful Lenten journey and a hopeful Easter. May you and your families feel many blessings as we celebrate the Resurrection.

Sr Margaret Ghosn

Executive Principal

Head of College Address 

Dear MCHF Community 

 As we approach the end of Term 1, I am excited to reflect on our progress this year under the theme "Together We Achieve", which emphasizes the value of Collaboration. It’s been a busy and rewarding start to 2025, with many highlights I’d like to share. 

 Living the Season of Lent 

Throughout Lent, our students have embraced the spirit of giving by participating in charitable works, including donating to the Container for Lebanon, raising funds for the Lebanon Appeal, and praying the Stations of the Cross. We have also celebrated Masses, deepening our faith. 

 Embracing AI in Education 

We are currently developing an AI policy to guide the integration of AI tools into teaching and learning, preparing our students for the future of education. 

 Data-Driven Decisions 

In partnership with AIS’s Effective Schools Service, we are developing key data sets to inform future decision-making, ensuring we are meeting the needs of our students. 

 Primary Department 

Our Years 1, 2, 4, and 6 students participated in the Learn to Swim program, while Kindy, Year 3, and 5 students participated in Gymnastics. Additionally. Year 4 is currently preparing for their First Holy Communion on Saturday 3rd May at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral.  

 Collaborative Events & Achievements 

The Year 11 Collaboration Day with St Maroun’s College was a valuable experience for our students. 

We also celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday 6th March, with female student leaders attending a conference at Parramatta Town Hall. We also celebrated Harmony Day on Friday 21st March with various activities held on the day. 

 Focus on Learning 

It has been terrific to see the high level of student engagement in their learning. Our students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 completed their NAPLAN tests and the process this year was a success with students completing the tests online.  

 Community Engagement & Events 

Our Parent Lounge on March 19th provided insights on online safety, and Open Day on March 26th saw a fantastic turnout of 150 attendees. The Secondary Swimming Carnival on March 28th was another highlight of the term. 

 Sporting Achievements 

Congratulations to our U14s Boys Rugby League team for winning the Parramatta Rugby League 7s competition! Our U16s Boys team also represented the College with pride falling just short of making the final. Well done to the students and staff involved.  

 Parent Association Support 

Our Parent Association continues to play an active role in the College life. They did an amazing job with the Easter Raffle and the support they provided for the K-2 Easter Hat Parade and Harmony Day. 

As you can see Term 1 was a very busy and successful term. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to achieve great things in Term 2 and creating memories so that together we can achieve.  

Have a blessed Easter and safe holidays.  

God Bless  

 Mr Elie Asmar 

Head of College  

Head of Curriculum: Ms G. Dalla

Dear Parents & Guardians, 

Term 1 2025 is almost over and what a term it has been in the world of curriculum. It has been extremely busy, and each day brings about so much new learning for both students and staff. 

Assessment tasks are well underway and I want to congratulate all students form K-12 for their efforts in working on these tasks, and seeking feedback from their teachers to ensure they achieve the best possible result that they can.

This term has also seen the successful completion of NAPLAN for Years 3,5,7 & 9. Year 7 were extremely mature when the fire alarm went off during 2 separate exams. They followed all instructions and managed to evacuate the hall and still complete their tests with no further issues or time lost. 

NAPLAN results will be sent through to the College at some point in Term 2. They will be distributed as soon as we receive them. I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents, staff, and IT for their assistance and support during the NAPLAN period.

On the 5th of March, the College underwent a random NESA inspection of curriculum documentation for Stage 4 LOTE (Arabic) and Stage 6 Science (Biology). The results were very positive and I thank all LOTE and Science staff for their efforts in maintaining their documentation. A special thank you to Ms Douaihy and Mr Stillen for ensuring all required documentation were ready to go for the inspectors.

Finally, some friendly curriculum reminders:

• All information in relation to assessment and curriculum issues can be found in the Parent Handbook (K-6) and the Student Handbook (7-12)
• Half Yearly exams for Years 7-10 are in Term 2. Please check the last 5 pages of the Student Handbook for dates. These are also recorded on Sentral Calendar
• Year 12 parent teacher interviews are on Monday 7th April in the Secondary Hall. Please ensure your appointment times are booked in with each teacher. Instructions on how to do that was sent earlier in the term.
• Year 12 HSC personalised timetables will be issued to your NESA student Online Account in April
• For students in Years 3-12, if you are absent on the day of an assessment task, the illness misadventure form must  be filled in within 48 hours of retuning to the College from absence. This form can be found in any assessment task notification issued to you. A medical certificate must also be provided in the form. A note from home will not be accepted; please see policy in the Stage 3 Parent Handbook and in the Student Handbooks (7-12). 
• Students in Years 11 and 12, if you are absent the day before an assessment task, a medical certificate must be provided and the illness misadventure form must be filled in within 48 hours.

I am really looking forward to working with parents, staff and students to ensure that all students are meeting their educational goals.

Please feel free to contact me at the College at any time.

Regards

Ms Dalla

Head of Curriculum

Head of Teaching & Learning: Ms. E. Dettling

To the learning community of MCHF,

We have already come to the end of the first Term. For some, it has been the first ten weeks of learning at school, for others, it has been two and a half months in high school – all big changes in one’s life. With all ‘firsts’ comes new worlds, and these new worlds lead to questions and new ways of thinking and being, and new ways to see ourselves within our position in the community, and the greater world.

Parents and caregivers, your loved ones may come home with questions, and this is wonderful. However, what we must look out for is when our loved ones don’t open up about their new learnings and wonderings.

At MCHF, our data has told us that the students here are fairly strong when it come to their fluency with reading. However, the area we must work on, as a community of learners, is our ability to question what we are reading and learning. Questioning and inquisitiveness is at the base of all comprehension and understanding.

We each play an important role in helping those in our care to comprehend what they are reading and learning. At the end of each day, whether it is a school day or not, I challenge you to ask those around you open-ended questions. These are questions which require more than a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ answer. Ask people in your family what they learned, what they found challenging or interesting and where they would like to go next on their learning journey.

By asking others to recall facts and use their reservoir of language to express their understanding and reaction to things, you are building the essential foundations of comprehension. This can be done in any language, or in a combination of languages, the discussion is the most important thing.

So, between Terms 1 and 2, I challenge you to ask questions, to listen to answers and to challenge those responses. This is a piece of homework that will increase the power of students in our community to understand and better interact with the things they learn.

Have a blessed Easter.