Principal's Post

Welcome Back

We hope that you have had the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break and are feeling refreshed and recharged, especially after a busy Semester 1. With the new semester commencing, we are looking forward to the many opportunities to enjoy the holistic learning experiences offered by the College. 

Year 12 Formal

This week, I wrote directly to Year 12 Parents and Carers as their six-year journey with their son at Mazenod College is nearing completion. I have had over 30 years’ experience in boys’ schools and never in my time have I experienced a more thoughtful, friendly, collaborative group of young men. This was particularly evident at the Year 12 Formal in the last day of Term 2, and I wanted to congratulate and highlight how exceptional they have been this year. Below is an extract from the letter.

The truth about your son is that he has relational capabilities that include the capacity for thoughtful self-reflection, empathy, and compassion. He craves personal relationships characterised by trust, understanding, and care. Mazenod is full of boys who are self-aware, considerate of others, and responsive in their relationships. Yet we are likely to view these boys as exceptions rather than representative of boys as a group. As a society, we tend to overlook boys’ relational capabilities and underestimate their vulnerability.

 

A lot of disruption has been packed into our lives over the past few years, and schools are absorbing the impact of these disruptions. Media coverage of boys’ schools’ defaults to a deficit model that portrays boys as “less than” or somehow innately socially and emotionally deficient. So how can we know that what we’ve come to believe about teaching boys is true?

 

Common sense beliefs about gender and masculinity are well established for many people, and in some cases deeply entrenched in their worldviews. These common-sense beliefs don’t seem to be helping boys much now. But they are stubbornly adhered to by teachers, parents and members of the broader community. Nostalgia about the good old days, when men were men and children did what they were told, has led some to call for a return to basics, including stricter disciplinary practices and authoritarian regimes. There is no doubt that the behaviours of some boys and young men is super challenging. The question is how to respond. Is a return to past practices likely to solve the problem?

 

Mazenod has a responsibility to liberate boys from this stereotype and create a culture within our community where warmth, tenderness, vulnerability, empathy and compassion are the norm. Finishing secondary schooling is a very significant stage of one’s life and the staff looks forward to celebrating this time with our students in a positive and affirming way. The good relationships and pleasant memories built up over the years are important to maintain. More than anything we do here at Mazenod, our best work is to produce graduates who are compassionate, caring, thoughtful and who dare to make a difference in the world. 

Fr Harry’s Ordination Anniversary

Yesterday marked the 33rd Anniversary of the Ordination of our College Rector, Fr Harry Dyer OMI.

Now in his third year as Rector, he is loved and cherished by all members of our community, and we thank him for his continued dedication and contribution to the Mazenod College we know and love today.

Congratulations, Fr Harry.

Freaky Friday, The Musical

One of the most exciting and hectic weeks of the year is Musical week. A culmination of months and months of preparation, designing and building sets, making costumes, and rehearsing for performers and musicians resulting in an outstanding display of talent and great fun. This year the Mazenod-Avila Annual Musical will be held from Thursday July 13th to Saturday July 15th at The Alex Theatre, Monash University. Freaky Friday, The Musical will be played to a packed auditorium of guests who will be stunned and elated with the colour and action of the performance. Thanks to all involved, especially our friends from Avila College, who have led the team of staff and students to prepare a wonderful community event.

Junior School Assembly

At the Junior School Assembly on Friday students from Years 7 to 9 were acknowledged for their attitude and performance during Semester 1. The awards reflect the values to which we hope all our students aspire, Academic Excellence, Christian Leadership, Commitment and Perseverance. Our celebration of academic excellence has been a long-standing tradition at the College and the semester-based awards are one of our customs that promotes and challenges our students to shine. Christian Leadership is the essence of who we are. How we demonstrate and live the Gospel message can be recognised by contribution to liturgy, social justice and leadership. The Commitment and Perseverance Award is particularly significant in our contemporary learning environment, the prioritised attributes in the modern workplace and the societal challenges faced by all of us now. 

Congratulations to all the recipients, the parents, carers and the staff for their contribution to their achievements.

All the best, 

Dr Paul Shannon

Principal