The Mazenod Gazette

Principal's Post

Dear Parents,

 

Today was a day of rolling Year Level Assemblies which included the acknowledgement of award winners in the categories of Christian Leadership and Commitment and Perseverance. The Academic Awards will be presented at the commencement of 2022. The following explanations were presented to the students at the assemblies to clarify the intent and criteria for the two categories of awards.

 

The Christian Leadership Award is designed to recognise any student who through their actions has lived out the Gospel values of Jesus Christ in being a positive role model for others in the community. There are many ways that students can demonstrate their eligibility for a Christian Leadership award including the following;

  1. Participation in liturgical ministry
  2. Witness in participation in social justice activities
  3. Witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in their social interaction

The Commitment and Perseverance Award is for those students who enthusiastically embraced the Mazenod Guiding Principle of “Be a burning flame not a smouldering wick”. 

 

Award winners were nominated by Mazenod Staff for dedication and commitment to their studies in a number of subjects. It has been an extremely challenging year so far and remote learning requires a great deal of independence, organisation and especially persistence through this difficult time. The award winners made a genuine attempt to do their best and reach their full potential in all aspects of the School Community in Semester 2, despite the challenges they faced.

 

Congratulations to the students that have received these awards for Semester 2.

 

The ACC Leadership Evening was held on Thursday at St Joseph’s College Geelong. After listening to the students present on their College’s Charism and Identity, students and staff leaving the function were appreciative of the respective stories and histories, but also mindful of the common purpose and themes that permeate through the thirteen-member Colleges that educate over 16,000 students. St Patrick’s Ballarat was welcomed to the Association, in fact, welcomed back to the Association. It was noted that the first Athletics Carnival in 1911, held at the MCG and attended by every student from the member Colleges, was won by St Patrick’s Ballarat. Their participation in 2022 will include all the carnivals and cultural activities, but not the fixture sports held on a weekly basis.

 

Themes and open discussion about building masculinity that benefits and serves men and women in our society; the prominence of Social Justice Programmes; the continual need to empower young men to understand and respond to Respectful Relationship Programmes; the desire to proactively address the issues of sustainability; the openness to reflect on the shattering consequences that can impact families, friends and young people if mental health issues become overwhelming, all featured in the sensitive and thought-provoking student presentations. Of course the most common theme central to the presentations was the congregational founder of the respective Colleges, who demonstrated leadership to address the social injustices of his time and spread the Gospel message to those in their communities.

 

During the week we were informed of the 2021 recipients of the ACC Service Awards. The following Staff Members were acknowledged for their dedicated service to the Association for longer than 10 years in Sport, Music or Cultural Events. Congratulations to Mr Adrian Connolly, Mr Phil Becker, Mr Ben Phibbs, Mr Michael Miller (Mazenod and Parade College) and Mr David May. 

 

Congratulations to all our musicians who performed at the Music Recitals during the week. It was very encouraging to have families able to attend these important events and the feeling that we are returning to our conventional programmes.

 

Congratulations to Miller Bergman and Jake Soligo for being drafted to North Melbourne and Adelaide in this year’s  AFL Draft.

 

Reports from the Year 9 Outdoor Education activities have also been favourable; students having the chance to be challenged beyond the classroom, but most importantly being given an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company in activities designed to be fun.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Mr Tony Coghlan

Principal