Term 3, Week 2

From the Principal

Our Marist Tradition

In the publication, ‘Water from the Rock’, Marist spirituality is described as consisting of the qualities of simplicity (humility, modesty), presence, family spirit, love of work and in the way of Mary. Br Michael Green fms has further extrapolated other related elements of Marist Spirituality. At the Marist National Assembly, delegates and long-time interested parties of Marist Education and ministries similarly reflected and made comment on the elements they deem as quintessential to Marist spirituality. Key to these qualities is the example of Mary, the mother of God (Marist). I share this reflection with you, from the delegates.

Marist is:

• People of encounter and relationship – positively moving forward together – listening – as modelled in the Gospel of “The Visitation”.
• People embracing the message of love from the Gospels - ‘I leave you in the hearts of Jesus & Mary’ (St Marcellin Champagnat).
• People who are Jesus-centered like St Marcellin.
• People who bring Christ to birth in their lives – make Christ present – through the example of Mary.
• People who live in joy and are alive with faith values at the core – ‘Eucharistic people’.
• People who gather - belong to family – where all are welcome – accepted as you are – have no need to prove themselves – “I am enough” – find the best in people – forgive and move on – can challenge – share deeply.
• People who have the betterment of young people as their focus – especially the soul / spiritual.
• People of personal faith, leading to relational / belonging and ministry / service / action / empowerment.
• People living in the way of Mary – practical work – working quietly (simple / humble / modestly) & pondering things in our heart, as Mary did.
• People aware of those at the margins – the poor.
• People who are active within the Catholic Church.
• People who are vulnerable and humble, willing to say ‘YES” as Mary did – expressing generous generativity.

The delegates held the Gospel of the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth as a key story in unpacking these Marist qualities. I share with you the words of Mary expressed to Elizabeth (“The Magnificat”) and the statue depicting this encounter between the two women which today lies in the picturesque village of Ein Karem, just west of Jerusalem.

And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever” (Luke 1:46-55).

God of the journey may all members of the Marist College Penshurst family aim to live and emulate the words and example of Mary, our role model and guide as Marists. Amen.

Starting Strong

We are now 2 weeks into Term 3. Students and teachers have had the opportunity to stop, rest, re-create and renew their body, mind and spirit in preparation for the journey ahead. A new term and semester provides the opportunity to begin anew and hopefully our students have embraced this opportunity by honestly reviewing and renewing their commitment to classwork, homework and study based on the recommendations gained from their teachers at parent/teacher interviews at the end of last term and more importantly, by acting on their own reflections and commitment to personal betterment, as a person and as a learner.

It was my great pleasure to present academic and aspiration awards to students at our 7 - 10 Semester 1 Awards Ceremony. The ceremony was a fitting celebration of their academic achievements and an opportunity for our music students to showcase their talents to our school community. Congratulations to all students who performed or received an award. 

On Monday, Year 12 will commence their Trial HSC examinations. These exams form a very important part of the formal assessment program and give students vital examination practice as they prepare for the public HSC examinations in Term 4. I know that our Year 12 students are working diligently to consolidate their study notes, finalise their major works or performances and completing as many practice questions and past HSC papers as possible. I wish our Year 12 students all the best and pray that they will have the self-belief, determination and grit required to achieve their very best. 

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Staff Retirements

Mrs Dianne Lehane has been the smiling face of Student Services at the Mortdale Campus for the last 6 years and done an incredible job supporting students, staff and families. Today was Mrs Lehane’s last day at MCCP and I know she will be greatly missed by our community. I wish her all the best as she embarks on a new and exciting chapter in her life.

I also extend my appreciation to Mrs Sandra Neilson for her 23 years of dedicated service to our College. I acknowledge her commitment to our community and the positive impact she has made on students and colleagues alike, particularly in teaching Mathematics at MCCP. I offer her our best wishes for a well-earned retirement. The College is currently in the recruitment process to replace Mrs Neilson.

Mrs Connie Frino - Principal

Religious Education News

In our Church

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

On Wednesday 6th August, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. It is rich in material for reflection. There is always something awe-inspiring about mountains. On the top the air is clean and crisp. The panoramic view of the surrounding country-side lifts us from the hustle and bustle and raises our mind and heart to God.

The top of a mountain is a natural place for encountering God. It is small wonder then that in the Bible God often chooses a mountain top to reveal Himself and His plans. It was on Mount Sinai that God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. Jesus gave his first teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. He often retired to the mountain at night to pray. He was crucified on Mount Calvary and ascended to heaven from Mount Olivet.

For Jesus the Transfiguration was the turning point in his life. Until now all was onward and upward. He was captivating the people with his preaching and miracles. Now he must descend to the valley, to the road to Gethsemane and Calvary. The Transfiguration gave Jesus a foretaste of his glory, and in the strength of that joy he could endure the cross and despise the shame. But most of all the Transfiguration gave Jesus another affirmation of his Father’s love.

We can all identify with the apostles because in our mountain-top experiences of joy and consolation we also want to stay. We want them to go on forever. And then in the moments of trial we want to flee. We forget that our Lord did not promise us a rose garden, but a garden of olives and a crown of thorns. “If anyone will come after me let him pick up his cross daily and follow me.”

The Transfiguration was the mountain-top experience of the apostles which prepared them for their future trials. The Mass is our mountain-top experience which prepares us for the trials of our day.

"Holy God, mighty and immortal,
You are beyond our knowing,
Yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ,
Whose compassion illumines the world.
Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ,
Who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity,
The same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
(The Transfiguration - A Homily: Fr Rodney Kissinger SJ)

"Mary Our Good Mother…pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop…pray for us.
St Marcellin Champagnat…pray for us and bless our school".

In Our Community

Term 3 Religious Life

Our College holds the Gospel of Jesus Christ at its heart. As a Catholic community, we seek to live out our response to the Gospel with the same faith, hope and love as Mary, the Mother of God. Our mission calls us to seek the truth, know deeply and love intimately: God, oneself and other people. There are a number of ways that all students can continue to live out our mission and our motto Agnoscere et Diligere- To Know And To Love, by actively participating in faith formation and outreach opportunities available to them.

St Declan’s Family Fun Day

On Saturday, 19th July, over 20 Marist students assisted at the St Declan’s Community fun day volunteering their time to support our local Parish and school community. These students had a range of responsibilities from running the popcorn machine, serving food and drinks as well as performing their musical talents, playing a range of instruments and singing. It was fantastic to see Marist students representing our College and participating in such a wonderful community day. Thank you to Miss Gilchrist and Miss Chaaban for organising these opportunities for our students and for being there to assist on the day.

Purpose Conference

On Wednesday 2nd July, our students attended the Purpose Conference at Rosebank College in Five Dock. The Purpose Conference promises an array of dynamic and engaging evangelization elements designed to create a truly memorable experience. Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has warmly welcomed this initiative, stating, "The intention of this conference is to offer young people an encounter with Jesus Christ. To engage in an inspiring experience of the Catholic faith, helping them to discover their purpose as children of God and leading them towards intentional discipleship". The day included guest speakers, an outdoor festival and a celebration of the Eucharist. Thank you to Miss Chaaban for organising, and Mrs El Gawly for attending with our students.

Book Week Charitable Works Fund - Friday 22 August

The Charitable Works Fund supports a range of agencies which do incredibly good work for the most vulnerable in Sydney, which includes single mothers, the homeless, people struggling with mental health challenges, the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as our seminarians, catechists, and many more. As the Scriptures remind us: “Faith without works is dead”. Under the leadership of Ms Chaaban and the English department we will be running a Mufti Day Fundraiser for all students to celebrate Book Week and all money raised will go towards ‘The Charitable Works Fund’, who provide ongoing support in the area of education, with a specific focus on developing young people experiencing poverty’s literacy skills. Gold coin donations will be collected at the College gate on Friday morning.

As you can see there are a wide variety of opportunities for all students at MCCP to get involved in the Religious Life of the College and to truly make Jesus known and loved to all.

Miss Daniella Chaaban - Youth Ministry Coordinator

Ms Samantha Ison - Religious Education Coordinator

Marist 180 NAIDOC Celebration

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It is a celebration held across Australia that recognises and honours the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is an important time to acknowledge the strength and resilience of First Nations people and their ongoing connection to land, language, and community.

On the 25th of July, a few students and myself had the opportunity to travel to Emerton in Western Sydney and participate in the Marist 180 local community's NAIDOC Week celebrations. We were warmly welcomed by members of Marist 180, and the day began with a Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony, performed by a local Indigenous group. This was followed by an engaging cultural performance where we were invited to join in a traditional dance, the girls learnt the emu dance, while the boys took part in the kangaroo dance.

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to connect more deeply with Aboriginal culture. We met representatives from various local Indigenous organisations, interacted with native wildlife, and took part in cultural activities including dance and boomerang painting.

The event was extremely meaningful, as it allowed us to engage on a personal level with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions. Taking part in the shared experiences of dance, art, and storytelling helped us feel more connected to our culture. It was an enriching experience that made me feel proud, inspired, and excited to learn more.

Overall, it was a memorable day, and I look forward to participating in NAIDOC celebrations again next year.

Mrs Marie-Anne Maakrun - Leader of Character Education

Science News

Year 9/10 Physics Excursion

On Tuesday 22nd July, a group of Year 9 and 10 girls went to the University of Sydney for Physics Unboxed, an excursion focusing on empowering women in stem fields. On this day, we were lucky enough to be spoken to by a variety of physicists, as well as watching interesting physics demonstrations by the USYD students. We enjoyed talks about how physics can be used in many STEM jobs, such as astrophysics, neurology, nanorobotics and the medical field. 

This day was a valuable opportunity to show us how physics can be used across many disciplines, and how it includes many more ideas and purposes than we may have originally thought. It was very inspiring, and we were able to meet an amazing array of female physicists.  

Mrs Julie Barone - Science Teacher

Technological and Applied Studies News

Innovation in Action: Year 10 Students Dive into Mechatronics with Prime Hub Kits

This term, our Year 10 Computing Technology students have embarked on a journey into the world of mechatronics—an interdisciplinary field that combines mechanical engineering, electronics, and computing. As part of their curriculum, students are engaging hands-on with LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Hub kits, a platform that brings robotics and coding to life.

The unit is designed to introduce students to real-world applications of automation, control systems, and sensor-based interactions. Through a project-based learning model, students explore how hardware and software work together to solve practical problems by building and programming their own functioning robotic systems.

Each student group was issued a Prime Hub kit, which includes smart motors, various sensors (such as ultrasonic, color, and force), and LEGO Technic components. Using the SPIKE Prime software and block-based or Python code, students learned how to design and program their robots to perform tasks ranging from detecting the edge of surfaces to obstacle avoidance and interactive feedback through LED displays and sound.

The mechatronics unit began with foundational lessons in computational thinking and input/output systems. From there, students progressed to the assessment task based on an agricultural context (also called agritech). These involved more complex activities involving loops, conditionals, and sensor feedback. The modular nature of the kits allowed for creative exploration, enabling students to iterate on designs, debug code, and understand the trial-and-error process that mirrors real engineering workflows.

This unit has been a game-changer in terms of student engagement - students aren’t just writing code in a vacuum - they’re seeing immediate, tangible outcomes from their programming, which helps deepen their understanding and boost their confidence.

Collaboration has also been a core focus of the unit. Students work in small teams to design, prototype, and present their agritech solutions. They practice not only technical skills but also essential soft skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. The culmination of the unit is a mini mechatronics showcase, where each team demonstrates its robot’s abilities and explains the thinking behind its design. These presentations offer students an opportunity to articulate their learning journey and take pride in their achievements on Tuesday (29th July).

By integrating tools like the Prime Hub kits into the curriculum, the school continues to empower students with future-ready skills. The mechatronics unit not only teaches the fundamentals of robotics and coding but also encourages curiosity, resilience, and critical thinking—skills essential for tomorrow’s engineers, inventors, and problem-solvers.

Mrs Rosemary Rizk - Technology Teacher

Year 7 Textiles

After 5 weeks of learning and practicing their machine and hand sewing skills, Year 7 have started the fabrication of their cotton drawstring bags. The design brief calls for a 100% cotton reusable bag to assist in reducing the use of plastic bags. The design constraints specify that the bag must have a minimum of 2 colours, be no larger than 350mm x 450mm, have a drawstring closure, have a straight and zig zag seam finish and include a design of their choice that has been hand sewn to the front of the bag. Students have been eagerly designing their bags and have made samples for each of the stages of production for their bag.

This year, we will be having a People’s Choice Award for the most aesthetically pleasing bag that meets the design constraints. Each class teacher will select one bag from each class to display in the library. All students and staff at SHUR will have the chance to vote for their favourite bag with a prize for the winning bag.

We cannot wait to see the creativity and skill of our Year 7 students.

Mrs Tina Bongailas - Technology Teacher

Creative and Performing Arts News

Talent Show Winner’s Lunch

Last Friday, the winners of the Champagnat Day Talent Show were treated for a pizza lunch with Mrs Frino. A great afternoon was had by all and congratulations to all students.

The Overall winners were the Year 12 HipHop Dance group: Avaleigh Rock, Amelia Babb, Chanelle Wilson, Isabella Francis, Sophia Siamprakos, Daniella Puljic, Annabelle Fox, Bella Smith, Lily Jones and Laura Ramos de Macedo.

The People’s Choice winners were the Year 12 song/dance group who sang ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ performed by Alessandra Dilati, Kayla Sadowski, Lucinda Harrison, Ava Stirzaker, Jayani Witzke, Isabella Mumford, Valletta Gauchi and Sophie Lee.

Ms Melanie Fayd’herbe - CAPA Coordinator

Vocational Education and Training News

Year 9 Guidance Meetings – Setting the Course for Future Pathways

In Week 4, Year 9 students are taking a proactive step toward shaping their future through structured guidance meetings involving a parent or guardian, the student, and a member of staff. These 10-minute interviews form part of the newly extended Stage 6 subject selection process, now introduced in Year 9 to support long-term planning more effectively.

Designed to encourage reflection on academic progress, attendance, wellbeing, and future goals, the meetings help students connect their current learning with career interests and senior school pathways. The conversations provide a purposeful space for students to begin identifying directions that align with future employment, vocational aspirations, and further study - including university entrance, TAFE, and private colleges.

By starting this process earlier, the College aims to empower students with clarity and confidence as they move into Year 10 and beyond - turning small steps today into pathways for tomorrow.

Mrs Peggy Chandler - Head of Vocational Education, Pathways and Partnerships

Music News

Congratulations to Brendan Yung in Year 12 who during the Term 2 holidays won the Piano Grade 8+ Advanced Sydney Catholic Schools Eisteddfod. A fantastic achievement for an amazing musician!

We also congratulate the following Year 12 Gold award winners for Music for their outstanding and continued contribution to Music at the college. These are students who have been involved in music extra curricular activities including Musicals, eisteddfods Masses and other public performances and competitions since Year 7.  We thank them for their continued commitment to Music at the College.

Mr Matthew Smith - Head of Music

Years 7 to 10 Semester 1 Awards Assembly

Year 7 Awards

Year 8 Awards

Year 9 Awards

Year 10 Awards

Representative Sport

SCS Football Champions

Congratulations to the MCCP Junior Boys and Junior Girls Football teams on winning the SCS Championships.

Results:

Junior Boys 2 vs Rosebank College 1

Junior Girls 5 vs Rosebank College 0

Outstanding performance by our teams and coaches - many thanks to all the parents and families who gave their support!

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All Schools Cross Country

Congratulations to Isaac Aad (7-6) who competed in the All Schools Cross Country on 22 July at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Despite battling illness, he finished 52nd out of 97 competitors. We are extremely proud of Isaac's efforts and wish him all the very best in future competitions.

Elevate Education - Parent Support Series