Principal

Dear Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community,

VCE Exams

VCE exams commenced earlier this term with performance and language oral component exams, and on Tuesday this week, the written examination period commenced for our students with the English exam. 

Exams will continue over the next few weeks, with the last exam, Theatre Studies, on 18 November 2024. Over the coming weeks, most will sit another four to six exams, depending on their subjects.

Therefore, I ask that we all please remember them in our prayers through this important period.

A Prayer for Students Undertaking Exams

Loving God, 

We ask for Your peace and guidance for our students taking exams. 

Calm their minds, strengthen their focus, and help them to recall all they have studied. 

Grant them the wisdom to understand and the confidence to express themselves clearly. 

May their efforts bear fruit and Your will be done.

Amen

Thank you to Di Malloy and her team for all the work they have done so far to ensure that this is an extremely well-organized examination program.

Finally, I ask that you pray for our students to achieve their best.

Year 5 Discovery Days

Last week and this week we held three Year 5 Discovery Days and we hosted over 170 students from our regional Primary Schools – St Laurence O’Toole Primary School, Leongatha; St Joseph’s Primary School, Korumburra; St Joseph’s Primary School, Wonthaggi; Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Cowes; St John the Baptist Primary School, Koo Wee Rup; as well as many state primary schools in the region.

The days were very successful, with students from these schools participating in classes and activities that provided an understanding of what we offer as a Catholic Secondary College serving the South Gippsland and Bass Coast regions.

Accordingly, I want to thank Claire Cassidy, Jackie Van Dillen, and Jess Stein for their work and all who supported them, including teachers, administration staff, and our students who helped during the days. 

World Teachers and Support Staff Day

Today is World Teachers and Support Staff Day. On behalf of everyone in the Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College community, I thank all our staff for your work and dedication.

I ask that everyone take a moment to reflect on the important role our wonderful classroom teachers, leaders, and support staff play, and all that has been achieved over the last 12 months. 

Thanks to all staff in all schools for all the work that they do every single day.

Day for Daniel

Now in its 21st year, Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day. Day for Daniel honors the memory of Daniel Morcombe and aims to raise awareness of child safety, protection, and harm prevention. This year, Day for Daniel will take place on Friday, 31 October. 

The objectives of Day for Daniel are: To educate children regarding their personal safety (including abduction). To assist victims of crime, particularly where it involves children.  To remember Daniel through appropriate child-safety community awareness events. To support the families of missing persons, particularly where it involves children. 

To support this vital project, Chris Spencer organised homeroom activities to promote child safety, including the following prayer:

Loving God,

Today, we remember Daniel Morcombe and all children who have been harmed or missing.

We pray for their families and for all who work to keep children safe.

Please help us look out for one another, speak up with courage, and show kindness in our words and actions.

May our school be a place of safety, respect, and care for every student.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Positions of Leadership ((POL) 2026 to 2028

After a rigorous process, I am pleased to advise the POLs for 2026 to 2028. They are:

Congratulations to you all.

You will note that four positions are yet to be announced. These will be advised in our next Newsletter.

Staffing News 

This week, we welcomed Michele Sorby as our new Student Receptionist.

Congratulations to Nia and David Robinson, who welcomed Leonard (Lenny) Atticus Ocean Robinson to their family on 22 October 2025. Both Nia and Lenny are home now and going well.

Currently, the following staff have advised that they will be leaving Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College at the end of the year to take up opportunities.

Nicole Buccilli

Pat McCarthy

Ben Stein

Bryan Smith

We thank all of these people for their dedicated work and efforts to ensure our students achieve the best in their education. We wish them the best of success for the future.

 Sapientia Domini Docet Nos