From the Principal
Foundress’ Feast Day Celebration
On Friday 30 June, we will celebrate our College Feast Day, the Feast Day of Jeanne–Marie Chavoin, Foundress of the Marist Sisters. On this significant and special day, we will begin with Eucharist as a community at St Mary’s Cathedral followed by House activities. The College’s staff and I are really looking forward to this day where we commemorate all that our College stands for: history, origin stories, values, virtues, goals past and present, strong young women and thousands of generous contributions to our many communities over the 115 years. House activities will be led by our student House Co-Captains as well as House Coordinators with fun House activities and Tutor group shared picnic lunches. The new Chavoin Cup will be up for grabs in each House through competitive games and competitions. A great community spirit day!
Presentation of new Student Leaders 2023/2024
During the Foundress Day Mass, we will invest and present badges to our thirty new student leaders who were announced today. Student leadership at MSCW is an opportunity for students to action their commitment to ‘service’ and strive to make significant changes through their daily and weekly contributions, first in our MSCW community, then beyond in local and global communities. It is through their daily and weekly example, they become a voice for all students, promoting regular goal-setting, and communicating the potential impacts of positive change. This opportunity also equips students with important life skills to utilise and further enhance beyond school.
These thirty formal positions of leadership represent one of the opportunity available to students. In past years, the staff and I have often seen other students determinedly growing their confidence drawing on their courage to step out of their comfort zones, try new things and put themselves ‘out there’ into positions where all types of leadership skills are built throughout their journey at MSCW. Our recent student interviews in preparation for these appointments were very uplifting. The process revealed immense pride, gratitude and love of their school when listening to each of the girls speak of their leadership aspirations.
At Marist Sisters’ College, our model of leadership is seen through the values and life that both Jesus and his mother Mary lived. Jesus, as a young man, showed us leadership by service, which often means sacrifice, although it is always accompanied by other intangible rewards. As Marists, Mary too is our role model, showing us through the love of her son, that servant leadership often comes in the form of recognising someone’s need, then stepping up to help. Additionally, Jeanne-Marie Chavoin was inspired by this example and with confidence, tenacity and determination founded our religious order, the Marist Sisters’, to be of service in the “way of Mary”. By thinking, judging, feeling and acting as Mary did, Jeanne-Marie has provided the opportunity for us as a Marist family to live our responsibility and nurture an obligation to reach out in service to others.
As our Feast Day is a significant community day, it is expected that all students are part of this special day. Parents are very warmly welcomed to attend our Feast Day Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Academic Progress Awards
The end of the Term, 27 June, we will acknowledge our students’ hard work and application through Progress and Merit Awards at the Stage 4 and 5 Academic Assemblies. Students can receive an award for progress in a course so far, or improvement/consistent application in their studies. More formal assemblies which recognise academic, cultural, sporting and personal efforts will be held at the end of the year. At this formal Assembly in December, we look forward to all parents joining us. A full list of recipients will be included in the final Newsletter of the term. The staff and I look forward to presenting certificates to the girls. For many, it represents the achievement of some of their 2023 goals.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
This term concludes with Year 10 Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday 28 June. The opportunity for Year 7 – 9 Parent/Teacher Conferences, is at the beginning of Term 3, Monday 17 June. Both are conducted via Zoom.
I request that parents take this vital opportunity to book appointments to discuss their daughter’s progress and level of commitment with each of her teachers. We expect that students prepare for these interviews by completing their own reflection on their progress, thereby leading the conversation with parents and their teacher. Your presence and interest in your daughter’s commitment to her academic work supports the research that parent engagement in these processes is one of the key factors behind ongoing student success, achievement and wellbeing.
Principal Renewal Leave, Term 3
Next term, I will be taking Principal Renewal Leave, 17 July – 2 August. During these two weeks, I will be completing a course at Harvard University in Boston. The course in Executive Leadership focuses on contemporary Parent/Family Engagement in Education and how meaningful relationships, as well as stronger partnerships between school and home, can make a significant difference to student engagement and achievement. I was delighted to be invited to complete this Course and the opportunity it provides in my continued development as Principal of MSCW.
During these two weeks, Mrs Melinda Alvarez will be Acting Principal and Mr Justin Hodges will be Acting Assistant Principal. I thank them in advance for supporting this opportunity for me and acknowledge the significant opportunity of leadership this provides for them.
