Mission
As reported last newsletter, we recently presented the Champagnat Awards of 2020 to students of the Senior School. This is an award which recognises young men who demonstrate a strong mind and gentle heart in their interactions with teachers and peers. Whilst one student from each year group is chosen to receive the Champagnat Medallion, the students who receive the certificates are also recognised by their teachers and other staff of the College as fine young men. To be chosen from a cohort of up to 180 students indicates a student who is most worthy of recognition, and often a student who goes about his business quietly and respectfully, without asking for recognition. Today we recognise the Year 11 and 12 Champagnat Certificate recipients, all men of humility, modesty and simplicity; men who act in the Way of Mary.
The recipients of the Champagnat Certificates for 2020 are listed below with citations written by their respective Year Coordinator:
Year 11
Rohan Chretien
Rohan is a quiet achiever who truly embodies the qualities of Marcellin Champagnat. He conveys his love of hard work through his diligent dedication to his studies. Rohan possesses a pleasant and positive disposition and an exemplary level of respect for staff and other students. He is honest and unfailingly polite and demonstrates modesty and humility in all that he does. He demonstrates love, compassion and joy in his relationships with others.
Rohan is a credit to his school, his family and, most importantly, himself. He is an excellent example of what it means to have a strong mind and gentle heart.
Lachlan McInerney
Lachlan is a young man who emanates exuberance in all that he does. He has a passion for life that is evident in and out of the classroom. Lachlan is honest, hardworking and well respected by staff and students alike. He leads by example and is of service to others. In doing so he displays qualities of humility and modesty and does not at all expect anything in return. Lachlan demonstrates values such as leadership and teamwork in the many areas of the College life of which he is involved.
Lachlan is a friendly, honest and reliable young man who, through his actions, relationships and sense of family, epitomises the spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat. He is a young man of strong mind and gentle heart.
Jack Rule
Jack is a friendly and polite student who strives to achieve his best in all endeavours. He is engaged and hardworking and regarded by all as a quiet achiever. He makes the effort to thank his teachers after the lesson and displays a maturity beyond his years. Jack demonstrates love, compassion and joy in his relationships with others and as such has gained the full respect of both staff and students.
Jack embodies many of the Marist characteristics, none more so than Family. He takes pride in his school, in the classroom, on the football field and in the yard. He strives to foster the family culture amongst his peers.
Jack is a young man who is a credit to his family, his school and, most importantly, himself. He is in every way an excellent example of what it means to have a strong mind and gentle heart.
Jack Stewart
Jack is a young man of outstanding character. He is a likeable and reliable person who is quick to help others. He displays modesty and humility and in being of service to others he does not expect anything at all in return. Jack has a willingness to learn and a desire to do well. He demonstrates pride in himself, his school and his family. He has a trustworthiness that can always be relied upon. Jack is empathetic and considerate in his dealings with his peers and epitomises what it means to have a strong mind and gentle heart.
Jack is well respected by staff and students alike. His humility, compassion and trustworthiness make him a well-deserved recipient of the Champagnat Award.
Year 12
David De Vecchis
David is a young man of integrity and faith. Through his selfless actions and sense of responsibility, he has gained the respect of all within the St Gregory’s College community; staff and students alike. He is mature, respectful and a positive role model to students of all ages.
David’s modest demeanour is aligned with a genuine dependability and dedication towards many aspects of life at St Gregory’s. He is a friendly, honest, influential and conscientious young man who displays a true sense of commitment to all he does. Quite often making sure that all behind the scenes work is done and done well.
As this young man strives to live in the mould of a true member of a Marist community, many would suggest he epitomises the unique spirit that is held by a genuine young man of St Gregory’s.
Lindsay Munro
Lindsay is an honest and dependable young man who can always be relied upon to give his best. He is compassionate and constructive and truly embodies the spirit of our College Community. He is accepting of others, and as a result has an outstanding capacity to relate to not only his peers in Year 12, but with many students in the younger grades.
Lindsay’s maturity, humility and generosity for others is well-grounded in the strongest of principles and clearly reflect his beliefs and willingness to live out his faith.
Lindsay is a credit to his school, his family and most importantly, himself. He is an excellent example of what it means to have a strong mind and gentle heart.
Martyn Phan
Martyn is a friendly, polite and good-natured young man who strives to achieve his best in all endeavours. He is generous, always willing to assist others by sharing his enthusiasm and passion and has played a significant role in fostering the sense of pride and family spirit here at St Gregory’s.
Martyn has demonstrated respectful and positive interaction with all people, which has benefitted many within our broader community. His level of humility and compassion for others is well-grounded in the strongest of principles, obviously instilled in him from a young age.
Martyn is a credit to his school, his family and, most importantly, himself. In every sense, Martyn epitomises the aim of the College to present young men of strong mind and gentle heart.
Jake Quodling
Jake is, in every sense, a quiet achiever. He is held in high esteem by both staff and students alike. Through his selfless approach to life at St Gregory’s, Jake is able to accept responsibility well and instils confidence and co-operation in others. He is a modest student who applies himself diligently and achieves with great consistency in every aspect of College life.
A young man of integrity, Jake treats everyone with equal respect and dignity and is willing to assist and support his fellow peers. Whilst many may consider him a quiet achiever, this young man is an individual whose company many people enjoy.
Jake clearly demonstrates in his everyday life the qualities of acceptance and respect for others that were evident in the life of St Marcellin. He is truly a Marist Gentleman.
Cathie Clarke
Director of Mission
Marist Solidarity Conference
On Thursday 20 August we were given the opportunity to be involved in a Marist Solidarity Australia conference with teachers, students and lay Marist people from the Australian Marist community. The session was attended by three St Greg's students and other members from St Louis High School in Kiribati. They joined to share their experience of Marist Mission and Spirit through their adversities. Marist Solidarity funded a new toilet block that provides dignity, health and hygiene for students in the Junior School. The students spoke of the challenges they face daily, including the impact of climate change with torrential rains that pose significant risks to the school. Leaking roofs and waters that reach the classrooms and damage the vastly limited and valuable resources. This opportunity allowed for a greater sense of global community and awareness among our Marist schools.
By Emanuel Aquilina (Year 10), Liam Mozayani, Christopher Seton and Declan Price (Year 12)
Marist Youth Ministry Super Connect (MYMSC)
On Friday 21 August, the Marist Youth Ministry Super Connect (MYMSC) was once again put into an odd environment, where students from a wide range of Marist Schools across NSW and ACT participated on Zoom. The theme of the evening was ‘fan or follower’, where students were able to represent their favourite sports team.
This theme connected to the idea of being a full follower of Christ rather than just a fan. During the Zoom conference, students and schools were split into breakout rooms to discuss the five key aspects of a follower of Christ and how, as Marists, we can uphold these in our own lives.
We then participated in a Kahoot on Australian Sport, where Miss Kent had an immense comeback to secure the win over a hundred other students and teachers. Overall, this was another interesting and unique experience to be involved in during present times.
By Christopher Seton and Jack Stewart (Year 11)