The Exec Address

Principal Address

Dear MCHF community,

As we draw to a close of term 1, we give thanks to God for a productive and enjoyable term.

This year, the focus is on improving our academic rigour and on implementing behavioural expectations of students. Academic excellence and wellbeing were our priorities in term one and will continue to be throughout the year. 

This year, several new initiatives include the introduction of an excellent program into Kindy referred to as InitialLit, which will strengthen students’ literacy capabilities. We have also been liaising with external consultants to deep-dive into our HSC and NAPLAN data to identify where students can improve and to use strategies to encourage our senior students to outperform their expectations.

On the wellbeing side, we have reviewed the Student Behaviour Management Policy and are ensuring all students are aware of the expectations. We are celebrating their wins and encouraging extra-curricular activities. 

The Masterplan launch took place on Friday, 13 March, in the presence of:

• The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education

• His Excellency Antoine-Charbel Tarabay – Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania

• The Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Federal Member for Parramatta and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy

• Ms Julia Finn, Member for Granville

• And other special guests 

It was an opportunity to show our local community and governments at all levels, the future vision of MCHF and the benefits of building the proposed Masterplan.

MCHF/ OLOL Reunion Night

We look forward to our first annual alumni gathering on Friday, 29 May at the Renaissance, for all past students and staff. It is a night to socialise, network and be entertained. A great way to reconnect with our friends from long ago. So please join us for a fantastic night of memories.

📆 When: Friday, May 29

🕐 Time: 7.00 pm-11.00 pm

📍 Where: The Renaissance, Lidcombe

👔 Dress: Semi-Formal

With great food, music and entertainment (including performances from past and current students), throwback photos from our archives, a photo booth, networking for our savvy business owners in the community, and more! 

We really want to share memories and good times, show you where the future of our College is headed, and bring back our cherished students from over 50 years of Maronite education - because MCHF is a place for us all.

TICKET LINK: https://events.humanitix.com/mchf-olol-reunion-night-2026 

Term 2 will be a busy time with three-way interviews for all teachers, parents and students. To consolidate the semester’s learning, there will be assessments, marking and reporting. Once again, I remind all parents to support their children by ensuring they complete their homework and dedicate time each evening to studying, and, most importantly, reading and writing. 

May the God who knows suffering, comfort all those who are passing through difficult times. May the God of eternal life, resurrect hope in our hearts. Wishing you all a very blessed Holy Week and a wonderful Easter with your dear ones.

With gratitude and partnership

Sr Margaret Ghosn                                                  

  Principal                                                                     

Deputy Principal: Teaching and Learning

Dear MCHF Community

A Term flies by very quickly, but the academic standards of MCHF are continuing to increase because of the consistency of approach and because teachers and students are setting the bar high in terms of expectations.

Three-Way Interviews

Parent/Guardian and Teacher interviews are now referred to as Three-Way Interviews. This is to reflect the involvement of the key stakeholders in an individual’s education: parent/guardian, student and teacher. This is an opportunity to discuss the results and progress of your child’s education. Parents/guardians must attend these interviews (as stated and signed in your child’s Enrolment contract). It is expected that your child attends the interviews with you, in full school uniform.

Three-Way Interviews actively involve the student, parent/guardians and teachers in reflecting on student progress, setting future targets, and strategising how to achieve said goals. Three-way interviews recognise 

• The importance of student voice in articulating their perspective of their learning 
• The expertise of the teacher as the content specialist and the pedagogical authority to be able to guide the student in how to attain their goals 
• The parent/guardian is a responsible guide for the student to achieve these targets. 

It is an expectation for parents/guardians and students to attend. It is in everyone’s interest that the allocated time (5 minutes) for appointments is observed by all parties. If a longer discussion is required, please arrange a follow-up meeting.  

If parents and students do not attend the scheduled Three-Way Interviews, this may impact the school’s ability to effectively support the student’s learning and wellbeing. As these interviews form an essential component of the partnership between home and College, failure to participate without a valid reason may result in a review of the student’s ongoing enrolment at the College. This is part of the Enrolment Contract, and compliance is expected. 

Year 12 TWIs occurred in T1, and information about the K-11 interviews will be disseminated via Sentral to families in Week 1 of Term 2.

ICAS

Within our school community, some students shine brightly, displaying exemplary dedication and academic talent. They deserve to be recognised, and this year we are continuing to do this by allowing them to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition. 

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students in Years 2-9 the opportunity to challenge their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science and Digital Technologies. On Monday, 9 March, parents of students would have received correspondence which details the ICAS competition codes and procedures. Please let me know if you have any queries regarding this.

NAPLAN preparation sessions

NAPLAN is done and dusted for another year, and we thank you for your support of students as they undertook these essential tests. Although it may seem redundant at times, NAPLAN tests are very important in helping teachers to identify any gaps in student learning, when compared to standardised levels, and to assist with differentiation and future planning.

As we await the results in April, we want to acknowledge that all NAPLAN classes and Homerooms (Years 3,5,7 and 9) took part in a competition on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, to win a coveted prize of a bag of lollies per day, per Year group, in the 4 weeks leading up to NAPLAN. The involvement of all was infectious, and it generated some great conversations about the styles of questions that can be asked in NAPLAN and strategies of working out the best answer. Well done to all class teams who participated.

Parent Lounge

A reminder that the Parent Lounge is held on the first Wednesday of every month from 2.30-3.10 pm. All parents are invited to ask questions about IT, wellbeing, academia and school life. Thank you to the parents who came to our inaugural session, and we look forward to more parents coming to school to connect with members of the Executive and the teaching and non-teaching faculty, to assist you with your concerns.

I wish all families at MCHF a blessed and safe Easter break. May the joy of Christ’s resurrection fill your heart with hope, peace, and renewed faith this Easter. We look forward to a wonderful Term 2 together, filled with positivity and learning gains for all.

Many thanks

Ms Emma Dettling

Deputy Principal: Wellbeing 

Dear Parents and Carers of our MCHF community,

Thank you for the continued care, time and support you have provided your children throughout Term 1, as your encouragement, guidance and partnership with the College have played a vital role in supporting your children’s learning, wellbeing and growth. 

As we approach the Easter season, I would like to wish all of our families a safe, restful and blessed Easter, and hope the upcoming holiday break provides a well-deserved opportunity to recharge, reconnect and enjoy time together.

As we look forward to Term 2 with continued shared responsibility, please take a moment to read the following articles, which highlight the importance of continuing to work together to support student wellbeing, online safety, and open communication between home and the College.

Social Media and Student Safety

Social media is changing quickly, and one of the newest developments is the rise of AI‑generated and digitally altered images, which are created or modified using artificial intelligence and can look very realistic, even when they depict people or situations that are not real.

While some AI‑generated images are harmless or creative, others can be misleading or distressing, particularly for children and young people who may not realise what they are seeing is not authentic.

Why this matters for families and our College community.

When an image is circulated within our community, students may:

• Believe AI‑generated images are real
• Share images without understanding their origin
• Feel uncomfortable or upset by content they see online
• Be unsure how or where to seek help

The importance of open communication

As a College community, we encourage our families to have regular, open conversations with children about their online experiences. Listening, asking questions, and reassuring students that they can speak up without fear of getting into trouble helps build trust and confidence.

If a parent or carer becomes aware of online content that may impact student wellbeing or safety, please contact the College through your child’s Leader of Wellbeing, as early communication allows us to support our students and respond appropriately.

The College’s Role

All schools and Colleges have a responsibility to support student wellbeing and respond to online safety concerns. In some circumstances, schools also have mandatory reporting obligations under child protection laws.

This means that when information raises concerns about a student’s safety or wellbeing, the school may be required to take further action, including making reports to relevant authorities. Wherever possible, schools aim to work in partnership with families while ensuring students are protected.

Parents’ role in reporting concerns

Parents and carers are often the first to notice concerning online activity at home. If you come across content that is harmful, distressing, or involves misuse of images, you can report these concerns directly to the eSafety Commissioner through the following link; However, please note that reporting to eSafety does not replace contacting the College, as both steps can work together to ensure students are supported.

Working together

Keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility. 

By staying informed, maintaining open communication, and reporting concerns when needed, we can help young people navigate online spaces safely and responsibly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the College directly, either via phone or email.

Life Skills Go - Supporting Student Wellbeing Through Connection and Communication

Student wellbeing plays a vital role in learning, engagement and overall success at school. 

When students feel emotionally supported and ready to learn, they are better able to focus, build positive relationships and manage challenges.

At our College, we use Life Skills GO as part of a whole‑college wellbeing approach, which gives students regular opportunities to check in and share how they are feeling, providing a safe and structured way for student voice to be heard.

What our wellbeing data shows

As a College, we have now been using Life Skills Go Check-ins over the past year, with our students having completed more than 61,000 wellbeing check‑ins. These short, regular check‑ins help us understand how students are feeling across the school day and over time.

Our data shows that:

• Most student check‑ins reflect positive emotional states and readiness to learn, highlighting strong engagement for many students.
• The most common emotions students report are happy and calm, helping teachers better understand student energy levels and learning readiness.
• When students report feeling worried, sad, angry or overwhelmed, this information allows the school to respond early and provide support before concerns escalate.

Students can also indicate where their feelings are coming from, such as learning spaces, friendships, online experiences or home. This helps staff support the whole child, not just academic learning.

Why regular check‑ins matter

Our students use our check-ins multiple times each week, not as a one‑off survey. 

Regular check‑ins help the school:

• Track wellbeing patterns over time
• Identify concerns early
• Support early intervention
• Ensure no student slips through the cracks

This proactive approach supports both wellbeing and learning outcomes.

The role of families

While wellbeing check‑ins at school are powerful, they work best when supported by open communication at home. We encourage parents and carers to:

• Talk regularly with children about how they are feeling
• Ask about worries, friendships or things that may be bothering them
• Listen calmly and without judgment
• Reassure children that asking for help is a strength

These conversations help children feel safe to speak up early.

Working together as a College community

Supporting student wellbeing is a shared responsibility. When the College and families work together, students benefit from early intervention and wrap‑around care that supports their emotional, social and academic development.

If something is impacting your child’s wellbeing, please contact the school. Sharing information early helps us provide the right support at the right time.

Together, we can ensure every student feels seen, heard and supported.

Best wishes,

Andrew Pearn

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing

Head of Risk and Compliance: Keeping Kids Safe Online

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

Please see the message below from the E-Safety commissioner regarding Roblox and the Social Media Minimum Age. 

Roblox

We recently notified Roblox—one of the most widely used online gaming environments for children—of our intention to directly test the platform’s implementation and effectiveness of the nine safety commitments it made to us last year.

This action follows growing concerns, including from the Australian Government, about online child grooming and sexual exploitation.

Our proactive testing aims to ensure platforms are meeting their commitments and doing their part to create safer online spaces for children and young people.

While regulatory action is vital, we also know families may need practical support to help children enjoy online games safely and confidently in everyday life. That’s why we’ve developed the gaming toolkit—a collection of easy-to-use resources designed to help you encourage your child to have these positive experiences, while helping to protect them from risks and exposure to harmful content.

Continued support for families navigating social media changes

We know families are continuing to adjust to the Social Media Minimum Age changes introduced on 10 December 2025, which means many social media platforms must prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts. Early results are encouraging. eSafety’s initial monitoring shows major platforms restricted or removed access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children under 16 in the first half of December. Implementing fair and accurate age check processes will takes time. If your under 16 still has access to social media accounts, you don't have to wait for the platforms to act. You can:

· Have a conversation with your child about the age restrictions, explaining they're designed to help protect people their age · explore the FAQ's, such as 'How can I help my child prepare for losing social media accounts?'

· Delete the apps with your child.

 

If your under 16 is feeling confused, overwhelmed or unsure about how to cope with the change, the 'I need help' page offers support just for them – including practical steps and direct links to 24/7 services such as Kids Helpline, Headspace and 13YARN.

 

It is important young people know they won’t get into trouble for seeking help if they experience something harmful online – even if it happens on a social media platform they’re not meant to be using.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter,

Ms Slattery

Head of Risk and Compliance