From the Principal

GALA DAY – Our Marist Spirit in abundance!

Today, the College community celebrated GALA DAY with enormous enthusiasm. The excitement and House spirit was so evident as well as the friendly rivalry between each of the Houses. I congratulate Year 11 who prepared the other Year levels, demonstrating both their leadership and their persuasive ability to set House goals in preparation for such a successful GALA DAY. It was our Marist compass inaction!

Congratulations to the following Houses:

Gala Day Cup:

1st Chanel House

2nd Jaricot House

3rd Colin House and Perroton House

House Spirit Cup:

1st Colin House

2nd Chavoin House

3rd Marcellin House and Perroton House

Stage 4 & 5 Awards Assemblies

Congratulations to all the students who were acknowledged this week for their successes in academic subjects and co-curricular activities, each receiving Academic Excellence, Academic Achievement, Merit Certificates or special College Awards. As Principal, it is extremely satisfying to present these awards to students who applied themselves to studies with consistent discipline, often topped up by some intense effort and discussion time with others. These girls personified the Marist spirit.

The highlight of each of the Award Ceremonies is our Marian Award. The Marian Award is awarded to a student in each year group for their commitment to living in the “way of Mary”. This has been witnessed by many staff, each noting how the girls have been living each day with a joy and gratitude for all that she has been given; who commits to prayerfulness; who shows steadfastness in faith; and who has committed to the service of God and others.

Congratulations to the 2024 recipients:

Year 7: Ruby Joseph	Year 8: Sasha Davidson	Year 9: Sophia Saoud	Year 10: Jessica Turri

A special edition Newsletter next week will feature our Award recipients.

Year 12 HSC results

We eagerly await next Thursday the HSC results of our Class of 2024. We look forward to their hard work and commitment being acknowledged.

With Gratitude

This is my final Newsletter as I conclude my tenure as Principal of Marist Sisters’ College, a very satisfying role, happily punctuated by many significant events throughout the 10 years of my appointment. I’ve had many blessings as a Principal, but none better than the beautiful Thanksgiving Mass last Friday. It was a wonderful surprise and very uplifting.

In my 17 years as Principal, 10 years at Woolwich and 7 years at my previous school, it’s been my personal ‘philosophy’ that the two players on the education stage remain unchanged. It’s the teacher and the student. Despite the gimmickry of computers, the best facilities, the latest technologies and curriculum methods, the real recipe for education is the rich interplay and connection, and inspiration between 2 players – the teacher and the student – I call it: “the enriching of one mind with the personality & values of the other”.  There is no teacher here at MSCW who does not believe in the existence of this unique magic. That sounds a bit Shakespearean but, it’s powerful and very empowering. I really believe its enduring.

In other words, we craft learning from inspiration, curiosity and imagination. We craft love & empathy from heartbreak, we craft compassion from shame, grace from disappointment, and we build courage from our failures.

Over many years in education, I have learned one important thing: That history has always recognised the qualities captured in the songbook of St Matthew’s Beatitudes, Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’. Human beings will always reward those talents and gifts of the heart & mind.

As you know, I have spoken regularly about each of these qualities, particularly at our annual Year 12 Graduation Assemblies. They include:

1. Discovering Genuine happiness – the Socratic version
2. Respect and Humility
3. Volunteering for charities
4. Community Justice and Peace
5. Everyday Gratitude
6. Courage in adversity and for Others;
7. And, this year’s topic Everyday Kindness.

MSCW girls and young women are exceptionally good at living out these themes. They resonate strongly our college motto: “Virtus Super Omnia” – Goodness Above All.

Throughout my time at Marist Sister’s College, I am delighted to say that the real heroes in the College’s improvement journey have been the teachers. Our talented staff appreciate the clarion message of Maya Angelou, perhaps America’s greatest female human rights activist, poet and author: Her beautiful message:

“People might remember what you said

People may remember what you did

But People will NEVER FORGET how you made them feel”.

Thank you all for such a satisfying and blessed 10 years at Woolwich. While it is far too difficult to single out those many people to whom I owe much gratitude, I do wish to thank my Leadership Team for their regular courage and determination to continually strive for constant improvements; my Personal Assistant, Narelle Camroux, for her “everyday kindness, care & support”; and my Assistant Principal, Melinda Alvarez, for her friendship, loyalty, capacity and …in Marist terms, “being my sister”.

Thank you again for the last 10 years and I wish many continued blessings on the MSCW community. Wishing all families a very happy Christmas and New Year season.