From the Principal
The start to the 2018 academic year has been very positive and energetic. I welcome back all our previous students and extend a very warm welcome to our new students and their families.
Our theme for 2018, ‘Let Joy Ignite Us’ presents us with many opportunities to rejoice in God’s love and to show joy to others through our love of God. Our words and actions throughout the year need to reflect the joy that has been ignited in us.
Throughout 2018 students and staff will work together to promote this theme through classes, masses, liturgies, pastoral lessons, retreats and community events. On Friday 23rd February we celebrated our opening school mass. My thanks to Fr Antony Santhiyagu led our Eucharistic celebration so beautifully. Following mass we acknowledged and celebrated our incredible diversity with a Harmony Day shared lunch and activities that highlighted the many cultural groups that make up our community. Thank you to the many staff and students who participated so enthusiastically.
In light of the recent media coverage of allegations of sexual assault and the #metoo campaign, I addressed the issues that this coverage has raised at our first College assembly. It is important for our students to know that sexual harassment, assault, intimidation and discrimination is wrong and needs to stop. As a school, we also acknowledge that this behaviour is wrong and we need to talk about it, and continue to highlight that every individual needs to be safe and be treated with respect and dignity.
I assured the students that they have a voice, that we will listen to them and we will support them, but most importantly we value them. We will, as part of our pastoral care and the Respectful Relationship programs be addressing these issues and providing workshops that are age appropriate and carefully planned and facilitated.
A new initiative for 2018 has been the introduction of Year 8 to 12 Student Led Conferences that are held between students, their parents/carers and a teacher. In the first two weeks of term the students have spent time in their learning mentor class reviewing their end of 2017 report and discussing their future aspirations with their Learning Mentor. From these discussions a learning plan has been developed which was shared with their parents/carers and teachers at a Student Led Conference on the 22 February.
At the conference the students discussed their plans and the strategies that would assist them in achieving their goals. They also outlined and discussed the support they feel they would need from their parents/carers and teachers. Throughout the year, during learning mentor classes and at parent/teacher/student interviews students will have the opportunity to discuss their progress and review their plans.
On Tuesday 5th February the 2017 VCE/VCAL Awards Assembly was held in the Mary MacKillop Centre. This was a great opportunity for us, as a community to acknowledge and congratulate the many students who achieved exceptional results. Congratulations to Britney Lloyd, our College Dux who achieved an ATAR of 98.75. A full list of our high achievers and analysis of the 2017 VCE/VCAL results can be found further in this newsletter.
During 2017 the College, as part of the School Improvement Framework, was involved in an extensive review. A result of this review has been the development of a four year School Improvement Plan. This plan provides us with goals and targets in five crucial areas; education in faith, learning and teaching, student wellbeing, leadership and management and school community. From this plan we have developed our 2018 Annual Action Plan. Please feel free to access a copy of the Annual Action Plan overview.
Finally, I wish all our students and staff a very productive and joy filled year.
Kate Dishon
Principal
Congratulations
The College Community wishes to acknowledge and congratulate Sr Jeanne Dwyer rsj. Sr Jeanne has been awarded the 2018 Maribyrnong Citizen of the Year Award.
This award acknowledges Sr Jeannne's tireless work as the volunteer Chief Executive Officer of Joseph’s Corner, a registered charity and not-for-profit community organisation which provides free counselling for families affected by substance abuse.
Sr Jeanne established Joseph’s Corner 17 years ago and has been a driving force behind the success of Joseph’s Corner since its inception. With no government funding, Jeanne has worked tirelessly, fundraising to keep Joseph’s Corner operating.
Sr Jeanne’s efforts in promoting Joseph’s Corner has had the effect of increasing community awareness about the impact that drugs and alcohol have on the families of those with a substance abuse issue.
We are very proud of our connection with Sr Jeanne and I assure her that the MSJ community will continue to support her in the great work that she does for Joseph's Corner.
If you wish to donate to this worthy organisation, please click HERE
Kate Dishon
Principal
New Staff for 2018
The college welcomes the following new staff in 2018.
Scott McNulty
Mr McNulty is the Faith & Identity Curriculum Leader at MSJ. Mr McNulty also teaches Religion, Religion and Society and Religion Ministry.
Maree Read
Ms Read is the Integration Learning Leader. She also teaches language and literacy to years 7 and 8.
Jacinta McMahon
Ms McMahon joins the College as a Social Worker in the Wellness Centre. Ms McMahon works closely with the College Wellbeing Team.
Rebecca Pantalleresco
Ms Pantalleresco is the executive assistant to Ms. Dishon.
Helen Simsic
Ms. Simsic teaches food technology and Unit 1 food studies.
Sarah Thompson
Ms. Thompson is the Wellbeing leader for years 10-12 McCormack and Providence. She also teaches history and psychology.
Natasha Feore
Ms Feore is the VCAL Leader. As well as leading VCAL, Ms Feore also teaches Science and Religion.