“It is good people who make good places,”
“It is good people who make good places,” wrote Anne Sewell, author of Black Beauty, and as I reflect upon the warmth of my welcome at St Mary’s College, I can see that she was on to something. The first couple of weeks of my tenure has been a whirlwind, but with each day and the vast array of events that launch a new academic year, I find myself being drawn into a community that wants to connect. It has been a pleasure to meet students who are confident and articulate, willing to share their time with you; parents and caregivers who have been quite deliberate in their choice of school because of its unique attributes; and staff who are passionate about Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition.
I was humbled by the honour bestowed upon me at our Commissioning Mass. With an array of special guests, including Mr Andy Kuppe (EREA Director of Victorian Schools), Mr John Sinisgalli (School Advisory Council Chair) and led by Father Jerome, the ceremony held gravitas and the students listened intently. Our Prefects were also commissioned with me, and I congratulate each on their willingness to commit to the service of their peers and the College community.
It was an opportunity to talk to the students about bringing about positive change in our world, something that I am sure is as overwhelming for them as it is for us adults. In the fable I shared, an elderly man is seen throwing starfish back into the sea following a violent storm the previous night. The beach is strewn with the stranded starfish as far as the eye can see and a cheeky observer mocks the old man on the enormity of the task. He says: “Fool, how can you think you are making a difference?” With that, the old man picks up another starfish, checks that it is alive and throws it back into the sea, “Made a difference to that one,” he replies. It’s a story about changing our world one person at a time.
We welcomed our Year 7 students and their families last Thursday. Following their Formation Day in which the students learnt the founding story of the College that shapes our values, they returned for mass in the beautiful St Mary’s Church. It was a pleasure to be able to meet several families during the evening to hear something of their aspirations for their young person. There were interesting observations being shared about the journey to and from school and the diversity of the communities from which our students originate. It was clear to me that this was seen as a source of “richness” and an acknowledgement that learning is not cloistered behind the school gate. Our youngest community members have had the benefit of an amazing team of Transition Assistants, selected from last year's Prefects, to guide them as they navigate the first weeks of secondary school. These young leaders are about to depart for the next important stage of their lives and go with great thanks and best wishes.
In a busy couple of weeks, we have also managed to stage our House Athletics Carnival at Lakeside Stadium which was conducted in great spirit; we had a great turn out at the first Parents and Friends meeting for the year and commenced our preparations for Easter with Ash Wednesday liturgies. We also had our Prefects lead the first Talk and Tour for 2024 on Tuesday. It is so important that prospective families get to hear about our school from our students as this adds a human face to what is otherwise bricks and mortar. Similarly, your recommendation is incredibly powerful in raising awareness of what we are offering and bringing us to the attention of those seeking Catholic co-education for their children.
Finally, our School Advisory Council met on Monday night, and it was a pleasure to welcome back Mr Michael Lee, Acting Principal in 2023, as a member. The School Advisory Council is chaired by Mr John Sinisgalli and includes Ms Annabelle Scanlon (Deputy Chair), Ms Anne Boyle, Mr Phillip Soumilas, Mr Marc Dixon and Mr Brian McAdam. In attendance are staff members Mr Shaun Lancashire, Mr Tristan McGlade and Ms Juliet Cerolini. The council is strongly committed to supporting the leadership team of St Mary's College as we work to create a place where young people can flourish. I look forward to keeping you updated on progress at the College in future editions including the exciting capital redevelopment of the Edmund Rice Campus in preparation for our uniting in Term 4.
Darren Atkinson
Principal
