From our Principal

Our Commitment to Action: Catholic Identity

We activate identity and mission through Catholic Social Teaching and affirming the dignity and inclusion of all.

Spirit of Marist-Sion Award – Ms Caroline Liebelt

At Presentation Evening, Ms Caroline Liebelt was announced as the winner of the 2024 Spirit of Marist-Sion Award.

Caroline models a pedagogy of encounter. She is attentive to others, and fosters identity and belonging. Caroline’s calm nature and patient guidance ensures her students feel safe, understood and valued, whether they are seeking help with a lesson or simply need someone to lean on. Caroline’s dedication to her students’ wellbeing and growth is evident in the countless ways she affirms their dignity as people worthy of her time and care, even when balancing the many demands of her role.

Congratulations Caroline!

Teaching Excellence Award – Mrs Hannah Smith

At Presentation Evening, Mrs Hannah Smith was announced as the winner of the Teaching Excellence Award. Hannah Smith is a dedicated and innovative educator whose teaching practice embodies the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Her approach inspires students to engage thoughtfully with food, teaching them to use, consume, and appreciate it with care and responsibility.

Hannah’s passion for Home Economics has had a profound impact on student learning and achievement. As a trainer for Home Economics Victoria, a VCAA Chief Examiner and Assessor, and an author of the VCE Food Studies textbook, she has developed high-quality teaching resources that extend well beyond her own classroom. Hannah’s outstanding contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Home Economics Victoria and National Teacher of the Year awards. 

Congratulations Hannah!

Positive Parent Commendation – Marist Cricket Carnival

I always love receiving feedback like this from parents, and we are receiving it more and more. Thank you for the feedback:

“I had the pleasure of watching the boys Marist Cricket team represent our school at last week’s carnival. My son, Joel, was part of the team and was named Vice Captain, an honour none of us expected given he has only been part of the Marist Sion community this year. Being fortunate enough to attend most days, I wanted to share with you my thoughts after witnessing how the school you lead was represented in the wider community.

I was really proud of the sportsmanship and conduct demonstrated by the team. The camaraderie amongst all players was palpable from the boundary. They were consistently respectful to their opponents and officials, demonstrating an ability to compete, have fun, and embrace Marist values along the way.

I watched your team of young men work diligently with their coaches in the pouring rain to move covers into place to protect a pitch for a game that had basically already been decided.”

Christmas Wishes

Marist-Sion College is an incredibly special place for so many reasons but mainly it is because we are a Catholic school. Being Catholic inspires us to be a welcoming and inclusive community. It inspires us to adopt an attitude of gratitude (and this was especially evident in the Christmas hampers full of your generous donations). There are many families whose Christmas will be better because of your generosity. Thanks to all of the families who contributed to the St Vincent de Paul Giving Tree.

Advent – What star are you following now?

“The function of Advent is to remind us what we’re waiting for as we go through life too busy with things that do not matter to remember the things that do. When year after year we hear the same scriptures and the same hymns of longing for the life to come, of which this one is only its shadow, it becomes impossible to forget the refrains of the soul.

Advent relieves us of our commitment to the frenetic in a fast-paced world. It slows us down. It makes us think. It makes us look beyond today to the “great tomorrow” of life. Without Advent, moved only by the race to nowhere that exhausts the world around us, we could be so frantic with trying to consume and control this life that we fail to develop within ourselves a taste for the spirit that does not die and will not slip through our fingers like melted snow.

It is while waiting for the coming of the reign of God, Advent after Advent, that we come to realize that its coming depends on us. What we do will either hasten or slow, sharpen or dim our own commitment to do our part to bring it.

Waiting – that cold period of life when nothing seems to be enough and something else beckons within us – is the grace that Advent comes to bring. It stands before us, within us, pointing to the star for which the wise ones from the East are only icons of ourselves.

We all want something more. Advent asks the question, what is it for which you are spending your life? What is the star you are following now? And where is that star in its present radiance in your life leading you? Is it a place that is really comprehensive enough to equal the breadth of the human soul?”

From The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister (Thomas Nelson)

Our Commitment to Action: Learning and Teaching

We build expert teachers, adaptive teaching teams and collaborative expertise.

The Sionian Award – Maci James (Year 12 – Sion House)

The Sionian Award is presented to a student who has displayed characteristics that embrace the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in seeking reconciliation, unity, justice and tolerance within our community. Congratulations Maci!

The Marcellin Champagnat Award – Tess Steenholt (Year 12 – Joseph House)

The Marcellin Champagnat Award exemplifies the philosophy of Marcellin Champagnat and the gifts he displayed – family spirit of love and care for all; simplicity of life and approach to problems; joy and fun; love of work; faith in Christian values; humility and modesty. Congratulations Tess!

Our Commitment to Action: Child Safety

We commit to sustaining and improving our child safe practices and culture.

Scyne Child Safety Review

On Friday 5 December 2024, we welcomed two auditors on-site to review our Child Safe practices. The Child Safety Review focused on the key elements of Ministerial Order No. 1359, including the new requirements covering:

• a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
• involving families and communities in the College’s efforts to keep children and young people safe to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
• greater clarity on the governance, systems, and processes to keep children and young people safe
• A Report for each School (following the completion of each Review) that indicates areas of good practice and areas that require improvement and/or further support.

Sending all members of our community love, light, and peace of God at Christmas time. May our loving God bless you and keep you and your loved ones safe this Christmas. 

Ms Lisa Harkin

Principal