Principal's Report 

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we conclude Week 7 of the term our attention turns to exams in the coming weeks and before we know it the year will be over. This Friday we acknowledge and farewell our Year 12 Cohort with their Graduation Mass at St Mary’s Church and dinner at the Hamilton Exhibition and Conference Centre. This event we have not been able to hold in this way since 2019. Along with their parents and carers, we have watched these students grow and mature into wonderful young adults, ready to take on the world and navigate their paths in life.

Last week we welcomed our 2023 Year 7’s and their parents to Monivae. Our recently appointed School Leaders organised fun House activities, parents were provided with some important information and had an opportunity to ask questions and network among themselves and staff. In my address I thanked parents for getting their child’s enrolment in early and in fact we now have a waitlist for any other enrolments. This now applies to all Year Levels from 7-10.

Staff Appointments

Mr. Dale Minney has accepted the role of Assistant Senior School Coordinator in 2023. Mr Minney will provide great support to the Senior School Coordinator, Mrs. Sophia Vearing, as well as being an excellent role model for our students.

Ms. Nyah Bester will take on the role of Mitchell House Coordinator and I thank her for enthusiasm and wish her well in this role.

Arts and Technology Exhibition 7-10

On Wednesday the official opening of the Years 7-10 Arts and Technology Exhibition was held. Old Collegian, James Watt presented a painting of Mt Sturgeon he recently completed and was invited to speak at the event. The College is extremely grateful to Mr. Watt for his generous donation to the school and support of the Visual Arts. We have some extremely talented students, it is great to see them shine in this forum.

School visits

In recent weeks we have welcomed a number of guests. Ibu Nellie, a Teacher from our Indonesian partner school, SMA Kusuma Bangsa in Palembang, was able to visit through the BRIDGE program (Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement). Ibu Nellie spent three days with our students observing and teaching several Indonesian classes. Her visit was delayed due to Covid-19. Thank you to Ms. Jane Shearwood, Indonesian teacher, who at short notice facilitated Ibu’s visit. The school is hoping to provide an opportunity for students to visit Indonesia and SMA Kusuma Bangsa in 2024.

Chevalier College Bowral, newly appointed Principal, Mr. Greg Miller, visited Monivae as part of his initial induction process. Mr. Miller has not worked in an MSC school previously and has cherished this and other opportunities to better understand the MSC ethos and how it is lived in our school communities. We wish him well in his new position next year.

Teen Mental Health First Aid (T-MHFA) training

Over the last two weeks our Year 8 and 10 students have received TMHFA training. The School has provided this opportunity to students for the past 7 years. The Teen MHFA Course teaches High school students how to provide mental health first aid to their friends. The course was developed in response to research indicating that young people have a preference for sharing problems with peers. This is an important initiative that has a very positive impact among our students. I encourage you to initiate a conversation with your child about the course and what they have learned.

11/11

Last Friday was Remembrance Day – we remembered all those whose lives have been torn apart by war and those who have served their country. Monivae and St Mary’s Primary school combined to mark this solemn occasion. I was impressed by the respect our students displayed during the ceremony and the way in which they conducted themselves.

God of Everlasting Peace

We bow to the sacred in all creation.

May our spirits fill the world with beauty and wonder.

May our minds seek truth with humility and openness.

May our hearts forgive without limit.

May our love for friend, enemy, and outcast be without measure.

May our needs be few and our living simple.

May our actions bear witness to the suffering of others. 

May our hands never harm a living being.

May our steps stay on the journey of justice.

May our tongues speak for those who are poor, without fear of the powerful.

May our prayers rise with patient discontent until no child is hungry.

May our life's work be a passion for peace and nonviolence.

May our souls rejoice in the present moment.

May our imaginations overcome death and despair with new possibilities.

And may we risk reputation, comfort, and security to bring this hope to the world.

Amen.

Kind regards,

Jonathan Rowe

Principal