From the Leadership

Year 8 Grandparents Day

Last week we welcomed the grandparents of Year 8 students to the college. It was a pleasure to hear about the wisdom and support they offer their grandsons as key people in their lives. The Year 8 Music enhancement students performed a concert that showcased the various talents that exist at this year level. The students were able to take their grandparents on a self-directed tour of the college. Some grandparents enjoyed reminiscing on their experience as parents of old boys to the college, serving as a great reminder of the generations of people in our wider community profoundly impacted by their experiences at Mazenod. 

Internet Safe Education

Yesterday our Year 7 and 9 students participated in an Internet Safe Education seminar with former child exploitation detective, Brett Lee. Brett drew upon his previous experiences working in the cyber-crimes divisions of the Australian Federal Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security in the United States. The students' mindsets and assumptions about the online world were challenged. Topics discussed included cyberbullying, identity theft, sexting and the associated legalities in this space. The students were empowered through education to act responsibly in the online environment. 

Junior School Leadership

Our Year 9 Leadership team attended a conference at Whitefriars College to network with the Middle Leaders of 10 other Catholic secondary colleges in the Eastern Region. The team will present their leadership goals to the same group of schools at the Term 3 conference at Catholic Ladies College, Eltham. 

This term we have run two forums with our Junior Student leaders collaborating with the leaders of Year 7, 8 and 9. The most recent forum involved the students evaluating our strengths and opportunities in the areas of fostering an inclusive community, ensuring student safety and maintaining high standards.  

Here are some reflections from our leaders:

Setting high expectations for our behaviour means embodying qualities such as active participation, empathy, and collaboration. It means showing up to class with a positive attitude and a genuine eagerness to learn. It means treating our classmates and teachers with kindness and respect, creating a supportive and inclusive community. So, let's set high expectations for us, bringing our best selves to the classroom, actively participating, showing kindness, and supporting one another. Let's also take pride in our uniform, using them to uphold the values the college embodies.  Angus King (Year 8) 

We could extend the sense of community beyond students by involving families in school activities. Organise family-oriented events, to encourage interaction and collaboration between families and the college. We could promote a diverse range of clubs and extracurricular activities that cater to various interests and talents of the students. This allows us to explore our passions, meet like-minded peers, and foster connections across different grade levels. Akshar Maragani (Year 8) 

Jamie Davin

Dean of Junior School