From the Principal

Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends of Mazenod College,

 

This marks the final edition of the College newsletter for 2024. It seemed like only a small fraction of time ago that we had started Term Four. So much happens in a school and Term Four is as exciting, if not more, than any other time which as we know, makes time fly!! 

 

It is a delight to see the bright, and often wide-eyed looks on our newest community members, the students at the Year 7/2025 Orientation Day, held on Friday 22nd November. This day was a wonderful day of excitement and activities, superbly organised by Mrs Kerry Gault, our Head of Year 7, ably assisted by many staff. It was a wonderful gesture by our Year 10 students to forgo study and revision time to assist with the program. 

 

It is important at the end of the school year to acknowledge the staff who are departing our College or commencing periods of leave.

 

I especially acknowledge Mrs Penny Worthington. Mrs Worthington retires at the end of this year after serving our College for 27 years as our Teacher – Librarian. 27 years shows great dedication, unwavering commitment and service to the College community for that length of time. It won’t be the same without Mrs Worthington’s calm, stable and welcoming presence in the Library and amongst our staff, students and families. We wish Mrs Worthington congratulations and a wonderful retirement.

 

I would like equally to acknowledge; Mrs Anna Scanlan who moves to Newman College after 18 years of service at Mazenod College, Mrs Haley Brand retires after a 16-year association with Mazenod, Mrs Marie-Clare Overton is moving to St Andrew’s Grammar after 11 years. After seven years of service, most recently as our Head of Learning Diversity, Ms Jessica Kift moves to Aquinas College, our Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning), Mrs Liana Angove embarks on a change of role in a move to St Brigid’s College, Mr Patrick Parker has been appointed to a Deputy Principal role at Mercy College next year and Mr Elliot Stone concludes 5 years of service in a move to Corpus Christi College in 2025.

 

Mrs Kerry Venus, Mrs Alessandra Hardwick and Ms Vicki Paterson have all completed temporary contracts at our College. We are most appreciative of their contributions during those times and wish them well at their new schools. 

 

Mrs Debra Needham, tendered her resignation earlier in the year as she spends more time with family in the UK.

 

We also extend our best wishes to staff embarking on leave in 2025 – Ms Janet Murphy, Miss Emily Wallis and Mr Dan Rogerson are taking long service leave in Term One.

I thank all staff for their hard work, efforts and contributions this year to again make Mazenod College the amazing community that it is.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish our very best to those students and families not returning in 2025. We thank them for the support and cooperation maintained between the College and home and wish them well in the future.

 

We look forward with great anticipation to 2025 on our way to celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2026. It will be a year of growth and development, of both ourselves and our community. Our College will grow and change, in a physical, structural and functional sense as we embark on capital development works around our campus and begin the program towards a new multi-purpose gymnasium. We hope that these projects, along with many more, will ultimately move us in a spiritual and emotive way, as we grow more aware of our ever-present Moments of Grace.

 

This time of the year is one of joy, wonder and happiness for Christians the world over. From the moment of Mary’s Immaculate Conception to the birth of Jesus, we are reminded of the challenges and barriers that we inevitably have to meet in our lives. More importantly, we reflect that God’s love for us is our strength in overcoming these obstacles.

 

I would like to wish all of our students, staff and families, the blessings of a happy and holy Christmas and a safe return in 2025. May God’s blessings of peace and love characterise your festive season.

"Jesus is coming, and the road to meet him is clearly marked: it passes through works of charity. Charity is the beating heart of the Christian: just as one cannot live without a heartbeat, so one cannot be a Christian without charity." (Pope Francis)

 

God bless.

 

Simon Harvey

Principal