The College Co-Curricular

Co-curricular activities supplement the formal academic curriculum by offering students chances to delve into their interests, acquire fresh skills, and expand their perspectives. These activities go beyond the traditional classroom setting, encompassing a wide range of experiences that contribute to the holistic development of students.

Year 6 Canberra Trip

STAFF TESTIMONY

Rabeeh Khoury (Stage 3 Coordinator, KLA English Coordinator): 

I am thrilled to share how wonderful the Year 6 Canberra camp was!

The students were incredibly well-behaved throughout the trip, making the experience enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved. We visited several iconic locations including Questacon, the Parliament House, Canberra's National Museum, and the Old Parliament House.

 

Each visit was not only educational but also sparked a sense of curiosity and excitement among the students. Their enthusiasm and impeccable behavior were a testament to the excellent preparation and supervision provided by our dedicated teachers, who did an exceptional job looking after the students and ensuring their safety and engagement at all times.

 

Additionally, the students had a fantastic time watching the Parramatta versus Cronulla game, even though I must admit I am still a bit upset the Sharks lost! Despite the outcome, it was a great bonding experience for the students and added an extra layer of fun to the trip.

 

The students made Maronite College of the Holy Family very proud, consistently demonstrating respect and positivity. I am pleased to report that the venues we visited have given us excellent reviews and have warmly invited us to return any time. This camp truly highlighted the outstanding character and conduct of our Year 6 students and the unwavering commitment of our teachers.

STUDENT TESTIMONIES

My name is Eleny Joukhadar, and I am in 6 Topaz. Last week, Year 6 students went on an amazing trip to Canberra! We visited lots of nice places. At Old Parliament House, we learned about Australia's government history. The National Museum showed us the history of Canberra and Australian life. At the New Parliament House, we found out how the government works today and saw some amazing things, like 2,700 clocks and 4,500 rooms! The War Memorial taught us about Australia's wars and had lots of interesting war items. At Questacon, we had fun on the slide and had the opportunity to shop. It was such an exciting trip where we learned a lot about our country's history and government. The memories we made with our teachers are unforgettable. We are very thankful to our teachers for making sure we had a safe and fun time in Canberra! 

World Environment Day  

Wednesday 5th June 2024 was World Environment Day. To commemorate the day students from the MCHF Environment Club assisted Mr Stillen with a tree planting on the Weston St side of the College. The tree will be cared for by these students.

It was great to see some enthusiastic new members joining the club and assisting on the day. The Environment Club will meet fortnightly on Wednesdays to plan and conduct activities involving caring for the environment.

I would like to thank Mr Elias Matouk from Absolute Plumbing (NSW) for his kind donation of $350 towards the club. These funds will go towards materials and resources for the activities.

Youth Night

There was lots of visible joy and excitement amongst the 134 high school students who registered to share in the games, music and prayer time organised for the ‘Connected with Christ’ Youth Night on Friday 31 May. The Parish Youth & Recreation Centre was a great space for everyone to socialise, enjoy a warm pizza dinner, develope their friendships and receive a faith talk on belonging to Christ eloquently presented by College Chaplain Fr Charbel Dib. Year 11 and 12 students of MCHF did a wonderful job preparing the evening and leading the small group discussions. Amidst all the excitement there was a time of silence and awe in the Cathedral during Eucharistic Adoration which concluded the evening. 

We hope, God willing, that a similar evening can be organised for later this year.

Year 11 2025 Subject Selection Evening 

On Monday evening, 3rd of June 2024, the Year 11 2025 cohort attended the Subject Selection evening. 

The evening allowed for students and their parents/guardians to get as much information as possible to allow them to make informed decisions regarding their subject choices for Stage 6 2025. 

Each KLA had a stall set up, as did TAFE NSW to allow for students to ask questions about possible subject choices and pathway options. Ms Dalla and Mrs Kumar also presented vital information on the night,

The next stage will involve students meeting with their allocated mentors and having 2 attempts at selecting their subjects. The final stage involves a formal meeting with their parent/guardian as well as their mentor to select their subjects. From there, Ms Dalla will review and make final decisions. 

Students will be advised of their final subjects in early Term 4 2024.

TAFE NSW initiative- Girls Can Too!

Tatijana Tannous: "I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Girls Can Too Program at Meadowbank TAFE for a week. During those five days, I explored a variety of trades, including plumbing, signs & graphics, carpentry, and painting & decorating. The experience was incredibly enjoyable and eye-opening, as it allowed me to consider different career paths I hadn't thought of before. Many of the activities, like welding, were things I never would have tried on my own, but I ended up loving every one of them. This program not only opened my eyes to a career path in trades but also equipped me with valuable new skills. I'm truly grateful for the experience, and any girls confused about what to do in the future should definitely take part."

Maths Olympiad #2

The second Maths Olympiad was held this month. The very talented Khoury girls from Year 8 shone, as usual. Angelina achieving 4 out of 5 and Annalise 3 out of 5. A special congratulations to George Merheb from Year 7 who achieved a 3 out of 5 also. A wonderful effort from all participants. We are looking forward to next Olympiad in July.

Matt Cogin: Communication Master Class

Selected Year 11 and 12 Students are at the mid point of their Master Class in Public Speaking and Communications. This is run by international key note Speaker, Mr Matt Cogin, founder of Levelling up. Our students have been able to apply their skills so far in outstanding Mock trial competitions and the Inter College Public Speaking competition. 

"Matt Cogin is truly inspiring! His Levelling Up program deeply investigates all aspects of self improvement, assisting in strengthening my communication skills in personal and general settings. As well as provision into insight of life lessons which are realistically applicable. He has honed in extensively on how to improve relationships with surrounding people, building my confidence to present to crowds and individuals of higher authority.

-Jonathan Seman Year 11 - Master class student 

"Matt is a Master in his Class. His ability to unmask an individual's true potential in a most upfront and genuine manner is what hooks you from the beginning and encourages you to come back for more. I personally have witnessed the rise of my "Class" mates during our journey of self-discovery in pursuit of improving how we communicate to the world, much like this very message you are indulging in. An all-around enlightening experience where the skills taught are bound to last a lifetime." 

Anthony Samson Year 12- Master class student 

Marielle Khoury Year 11 Published a book!

Marielle Khoury, a dedicated Year 11 Enrichment and Duke of Ed student, has achieved a remarkable milestone by publishing her first book, an anthology of poems titled to feel. This compelling collection is an intimate journey from dark times to hope and joy, showcasing Marielle's profound ability to capture raw emotions and transform them into an optimistic narrative. Her work is not only a testament to her literary talent but also an inspiration to her peers. 

From the author:

I originally wrote it during Year 9, for the Enrichment Project. This combined my love of writing and my childhood dream of writing a book myself. After I presented it at the Enrichment Showcase at the end of the year, almost everyone who read the book told me I should look into publishing, so I did. I spent almost a year and a half talking to different publishers but noticed they all wanted more money than I could give. So, I decided on self-publishing, and now I’m here. My book, ‘to feel’ is coming out on the 30th of June – this month! – and is being sold on Amazon, Booktopia, Fishpond, Barnes and Noble, The Nile, James Bennett, and will be distributed to some public libraries, and of course, MCHF Learning Centre!

Student Spotlight

"I go to the nursing home every morning and every afternoon because my mum works their full time. I’m not a volunteer because you must be over 18 but I still enjoy being in the residents presence and assisting them. Things that I do for the residents are like folding their clothes in their rooms and packing them away for them, making sure their rooms are neat and tidy. I also assist in making them toast or getting them a drink. I water their plants in their room and have been watching them grow which has made the residents so happy. I also just sit next to them and talk about anything they like. I go around and check on the residents that can’t walk or are bed ridden. I play board games like scrabble, cards and bingo. I ask all the residents if they need anything, I like making sure they are all well. All the residents know and love me. They get so happy every time they see me. I am always their and love spending my time with the residents."

MCHF Photography Club Message: Meet "MC'S MOMENT MAKERS" 📸

If you didn't know, MCHF's Photography Club was established in 2022 🙌

They're known as "MC's Moment Makers" and they have been working hard all year! 💪

They've been behind the scenes on big and small events during the last 6 months, including:

• Swimming Carnival
• Anzac Day Assembly
• World Environment Day
• Food Tech Practical Lesson
• HSC Music Showcase
• Wellbeing events such as Harmony Day & Mr. Whippy's Ice Cream van onsite
• Every single Mass! 

and much, much more.. including the upcoming Athletics Carnival and End of Semester One Awards Assembly.

The College calendar is full of amazing events happening around the College and they have captured moments that you might not have ever known were happening if it wasn't for the work of these students 📸

If you see them with the camera, please wave, say hi, and of course, smile for the camera.

New recruits will take place in term 4 so watch this space!

MCHF Choir

We'd like to take the time to thank the amazing student voices of the MCHF Choir.

These students are dedicated and passionate about sharing their musical gifts and talents.

They attend choir practice on a regular basis and are always looking to deliver the best they can, whether it be at extra-curricular College events, College Assemblies, or Mass.

We also take this time to acknowledge the year 12 members who will soon be departing the Choir as they get ready for the HSC and Graduation; they will be missed very much!

We will then be seeking new members to fill their spots in the choir.

Choir students:

Year 8: Mary Semaan

Year 9: Jonah Botros, Daneille Hobeiche, Jason Azar, Talia Sahyoun & Amber Fasavalu 

Year 10: Celine Mouawad, Josie Afram, Charbel Francis & Rafqa Dagher

Year 11: Marielle Khoury, Christine Sahyoun & Isabella Bou Melhem 

Year 12: Ella Marie Kalache, Melody Sleiman, Christian Abdul Ahad, Sayed Sleiman, Anthony Samson, John Bounasr, Raymond Constanton, Rebecca Hanania, Hannah Maalouf, Isaac Azzi & Omar Amoud.

Maronites Have Talent Fundraiser

A massive congratulations to all our students who performed today for the Maronites have Talent fundraiser. The audience were extremely impressed, as was Sr Margaret.

Secondary performed Lebanese Dabke, drums and flute and Primary performed a contemporary dance.

Public Speaking Competition 

MCHF were delighted to have hosted the 2024 Inter College Public Speaking Showcase, which saw an impressive turnout as St Maroun’s College, Holy Saviour School and St Charbel’s College (both of Primary and Secondary contingents) were warmly welcomed to the College for a night of celebrating the art of Public Speaking. This year’s edition saw the Showcase grow from the original two Colleges (MCHF and St Maroun’s College) to four competition institutions.

The evening commenced with Sr Margaret offering a heartfelt address, praising the visiting schools for their commitment to excellence in public speaking and fostering a spirit of camaraderie. Students, faculty, and guests were greeted with a delightful reception and hospitality, setting an amiable tone for the evening's spirited yet friendly competition.

The showcase proved to be an electrifying event, with each school bringing their top speakers to compete. The competitive spirit was palpable as students from Year 2 all the way to Year 12 delivered powerful, eloquent speeches on a range of thought-provoking topics, demonstrating their mastery of rhetoric and persuasive techniques. Adjudicators and audience members alike were captivated by the depth of passion and skill exhibited by the participants.

The night concluded with the awards ceremony which saw MCHF dominate in most Stages, but all schools should be highly commended for their outstanding performances. The event was a resounding success, celebrating the art of Public Speaking and fostering a sense of unity and mutual respect among all schools involved.

Share-A-Book Charity Drive

God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

This past term, students and families across the College have answered the call and truly lived the college motto – To Know, Love and Serve. Thank you to all who so generously donated reading texts; picture books, chapter books, box sets and more, so that children from less fortunate communities can experience the joy of reading! 

Seniors Morning Tea with Dr Andrew Charlton

Dr Andrew Charlton MP, Federal Member for Parramatta, invited our College to perform at a Seniors Morning Tea which he hosted on Thursday 20 June 2024 at The Salvation Army (Main Hall), North Parramatta. Select members of our Primary and Secondary Choirs, led by Mr Sedicol and Ms Sassine, represented the College and performed for the guests including singing the Australian National Anthem. These students represented the College with pride and were congratulated by Dr Andrew Charlton. Thank you to the students for performing and to Mr Sedicol and Ms Sassine for their efforts preparing these students. 

ACU Uni Step Up Program

Congratulations to Katia Akik in year 12 who graduated from the ACU Uni Step Up Program.

She completed two university level units in the Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery. 

ABOUT UNI STEP UP:

The program runs across four subject areas: business; criminology; nursing, midwifery and paramedicine; and sports and exercise science. 

Uni Step-Up is delivered in two formats at Australian Catholic University. 

An on-campus program is delivered during the winter and summer school holidays, and an online program for regional students. 

HERE ARE SOME OF HER WORDS:

Katia Akik, Year 12 student: "Participating in the Uni Step-Up program at the Australian Catholic University was a memorable experience that allowed me to get a head start at Uni in a major that I'm passionate about.

It was a challenge to complete the two compulsory university level units while still studying in Year 11 &12.  However, this amazing journey strengthened my resilience and time management skills.

It also offered me a unique opportunity to experience on campus university life, meet new people and gain an insight on the Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery. 

I encourage everyone in Year 11 to look into Uni Step up program as a pathway to get an early offer at ACU."