Deputy Principal 

House Spirit and Representing the Mary Rice Centre

Our annual futsal competition began last week, with each House testing their skills in a round robin competition amongst the four houses. The top two houses compete in our Grand Final on Mary Rice Day. This year we have Hessian and Joyce going head to head in the final. I would like to commend all of the young men who participated and or viewed the games. It was done so in a really positive spirit. 

A special thank you to Mr Isaac Lucas for assisting in the refereeing of all games in his break times.

Mary Rice day symbolises acknowledging the other in our global community and banding together in solidarity. From our College Mass, Soccer final, shared lunch and walkathon we are putting into practice what our values should look and feel like. Donations are inevitably an important part of how we support the students of the Mary Rice Centre. However, appreciating their situation and applying an empathetic lens is even more significant. In our modern world we can become consumed with our own interests and concerns. Generating an appreciation of how others experience life will inevitably have an impact on our appreciation for our own circumstances. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our community for their positive contribution on this day. 

Matthew 25:40-45

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Looking Out for Each Other and Stepping Up

Bus duty is part of my routine at the end of each day. On one particular afternoon, I witnessed a Year 8 boy get off the bus just after getting on. I asked if he had gotten on the wrong bus, but the boy explained that his Metro card was 14 cents short of the required fare. I then walked onto the bus with the Year 8 boy and before I could even speak to the bus driver, a Year 10 leader Ethan McCleod approached the front of the bus and handed over the fare. Without question, without being asked, he simply saw the need and stepped up. Ethan then asked the younger student to come and sit with him as the bus was already quite full at this point. 

Young men tend to focus on the times when their interactions are not positive, but what we should never lose focus of is those positive moments when we are supporting one another. Our young men are posed with so many opportunities to step up and support their fellow classmates. The list of small things we can do is endless and the impact is enormous.  Knowing you have someone willing to watch out for you and step up is something we should exercise more frequently and be proud of when we do.

The End of Term 2

As we approach the end of yet another busy term it is important to note how we aim to finish. As the old saying goes it doesn’t matter where you start but rather how and where you finish. There are lots of achievements to acknowledge and celebrate. Reflecting on what you have worked for and what your goals have been is important in working towards successful outcomes. In particular, with reports around the corner it becomes even more significant the manner and attitude we bring towards not only our studies but to school life. 

 I plan to communicate to our parents and carers at the end of next week, regarding how we intend to start.