Term 3, Week 4

Student Wellbeing

Taking a Stand Against Bullying: A Week of Action and Reflection

This week, our school participated in Bullying No Way Week, a crucial time for our community to reinforce our commitment to a safe and inclusive environment for all students. We believe that preventing bullying is a collective effort, and this week's activities were designed to empower every member of our school community to make a positive impact.

Throughout the week, our student leaders shared daily messages during morning notices that aligned with our Marist values of presence and compassion. Each day focused on a different aspect of building a supportive community:

• Be Bold: We encouraged students to embody the Marist value of courage by stepping up to help others.

• Be Kind: This message emphasised the importance of compassion through small, positive actions that can make a big difference in someone's day.

• Speak Up: Taught students the importance of using their voice, a key part of our Marist identity, to advocate for themselves and others.

• Together We Can Stop Bullying: During pastoral care, students discussed scenarios on exclusion, physical and verbal bullying and cyberbullying to highlight the collective responsibility we all share in creating a caring community.

• Think Before You Post or Speak: This message encouraged students to use discernment, a cornerstone of our Marist education, in their digital and in-person interactions.

Odd Socks and Tie Day: Wednesday 13 August

All students and staff were invited to participate in Odd Socks and Tie Day on Wednesday, August 13. This Day of Action against bullying and violence was a fun and visual way for our community to show their support for anti-violence and celebrate our theme, “Everybody Belongs.”

Our MCCP Anti-Bullying Plan: Fostering a Culture of Respect

At Marist Catholic College, we are dedicated to creating a safe and positive learning environment where every student can thrive without fear. Our comprehensive Anti-Bullying Plan is designed to prevent, address, and support students in all aspects of bullying. This plan is built on the foundation of our Marist values, which guide our approach to building a compassionate and respectful community.

Our Plan Includes:

• Explicit Teaching for Students: We empower our students with the skills they need to recognise and respond to bullying. In 2026, The Resilience Project will provide all students age-appropriate lessons, engaging activities, and discussions that teach the importance of empathy, kindness, and assertiveness. We believe that by giving students the tools to understand and address bullying, we can prevent it from taking root.

• Professional Learning for Staff: Our staff is committed to continuous improvement. They participate in ongoing professional development to stay current on the latest research and best practices in bullying prevention. This ensures our educators are equipped to identify and address bullying with a proactive and effective approach.

• Helping to Equip Parents and Families: We recognise the vital role parents and families play in this effort. Parent information evenings provide you with valuable strategies for identification, prevention, and intervention. In 2026, we are expanding this to include The Resilience Project’s online parent and carer hub with a suite of digital content to help families develop wellbeing and resilience at home. Further information is to come.

Your Partnership Makes the Difference

Your partnership is essential in fostering a safe and inclusive community. We encourage you to talk with your children about bullying, listen to their concerns, and reinforce the values of empathy and kindness at home. When we work together, we create a positive ripple effect that benefits everyone.

At Marist, we are here to support you and your child. Please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated staff if you have any concerns or questions about your child's wellbeing. We are always ready to listen, support, and guide.

Together, let's continue to stand united against bullying and promote an environment where every child feels valued, safe, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in helping us create a safe, supportive, and compassionate school environment for every child.

May God bless you and your families.

Mrs Marie-Anne Maakrun - Leader of Character Education

Religious Education News

In Our Church

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Last week on the 8th of August we celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross Mary MacKillop. It was lovely to see all students engage in a prayer service in their RE classes to acknowledge this special day in our Church. Mary MacKillop was born in Melbourne and worked as a governess and a teacher to support her family. In 1866, she founded St Joseph’s School, the first free Catholic school in Australia. With Father Julian Tenison Woods, she founded an order of nuns, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. They opened many schools and other charitable institutions which continue to this day. She was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on the 17th of October 2010 and became the first Australian Saint.

From the novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop we pray:

Lord God, with grateful hearts we remember the power of goodness that Mary MacKillop is in our world. On her Feast Day may we be touched anew with her spirit of prophetic charity and generous participation in mission. We ask this in the name of Christ our Lord.

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.

Feast of the Assumption

On Thursday the 15th August we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption, where we commemorate the assumption of Mary's body and soul into heaven. On this holy day of obligation we are reminded of the important role of Mary in our lives. Pope Francis encourages us to learn from Mary’s example saying that the “Blessed Mother takes each of us by the hand, and invites us to rejoice as we follow her trusting, faithful and ‘radical’ example”. Mary is the model disciple for us today, exemplifying compassion, faithfulness, perseverance, dignity and respect in her relationships with God and others. Mary’s unwavering belief in God was expressed through her acceptance of His call to be the Mother of the Saviour. Let us pray that we too may faithfully respond with our own ‘Yes’ to God’s invitations in our lives.

From the novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary we pray:

Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul in heavenly glory, grant, we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, you Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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

Year 11 Leaders Mass

The College encourages students to engage in the liturgical life of the Church and continue to live out their faith, build partnership with their Parish community and participate in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.  As part of the College’s Religious Education Formation Year 11 leaders and students participated in class Mass on Wednesday morning. Thank you to Fr Josh for leading our community in this Eucharistic Celebration

Ms Samantha Ison - Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Year 10 and Year 6 Grade Mass

On Tuesday, Year 10 students joined the Year 6 students at St Declan’s Penshurst for a special grade mass. We thank Father Josh and Deacon Michael for leading this Eucharistic celebration and the staff at St Declan’s for assisting in the organisation of this beautiful celebration. We look forward to continuing to build partnerships with our local parish and school communities and we hope that these experiences continue to foster a sense of community as well as nourish the faith of our students beyond the classroom.

 Miss Lauren Gilchrist - Assistant Religious Education Coordinator

Vinnies Winter Appeal

This term, our college launched its annual Vinnies Winter Appeal. The focus is on the increasing number of older people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. The Vinnies Winter Appeal is crucially important in enabling our services and members to support people experiencing disadvantage and hardship, particularly the concerning number of older women experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Each year groups were assigned a specific category with a list of items that can be donated for this initiative and asked to bring it in during Week 3.

Through your donations we were able to collect winter woolly items for men, women and children and donate them to our local Vinnies store. I would like to thank every single one of you for your support, generosity and enthusiasm in participating with all our initiatives. It was most pleasing to see our Marist solidarity shine through whilst raising items for this year's Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Year 7, 8, 9 Evangelisation Day

Representatives from Years 7, 8 & 9 represented the College at the Sydney Catholic Schools Evangelisation Day.  Our representatives joined students from across the Archdiocese of Sydney where they engaged in prayer, reflection, guest speaker talks and music based on the theme “May we always seek what is good, true and beautiful ” The students had a wonderful time and are very grateful to Mrs Lee for accompanying them on this faith-filled day.

Miss Daniella Chaaban- Youth Ministry Coordinator

Curriculum News

NAPLAN 2025

We are pleased to provide an update on our school's performance in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for 2025. We are delighted to share that our students have once again demonstrated strong results across all year levels and learning domains. Initial analysis indicate high levels of student achievement, reflecting the dedication of our students, the hard work of our teaching staff, and the strong support from our parent community.

As can be seen in the following table, students in Year 7 are achieving considerably stronger results in every domain compared to students across the State. The College also celebrates the excellent results Year 9 has achieved this year, outperforming the state in all domains.

Overall, it is a very pleasing result for our students and school community. The College is analysing this data to infuse targeted teaching strategies into literacy and numeracy programs. Students needing additional support are placed in the STAR Reading, Writer’s Studio, YOUcubed³ Numeracy or Focus Group programs  in order for all students to build a strong foundation for success in their future academic studies.

Individual student reports have been distributed to families. We encourage you to review this report and discuss your child's results with them.  This data, combined with classroom assessments provides a comprehensive picture of your child's learning journey.

We extend gratitude to our dedicated teachers and support staff for their unwavering commitment to student learning. We also appreciate the partnership with our parents and carers, whose support at home plays a crucial role in our students' success.  We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to provide the best possible educational outcomes for all students.

Mrs Lisa Ganderton - Head of Learning Innovation and Excellence

Creative and Performing Arts News

St George Eisteddfod

Last Tuesday, 5th August, our Representative Dance ensembles performed at the St George Eisteddfod at Hurstville Civic Centre. The results were:

• Junior Jazz (Yr7-8) 1st Place in 7-9 Jazz Section

• Senior Jazz (Yr10-11) 3rd Place in 10-12 Jazz Section

Both dances were choreographed by Samantha Aley and Rory Demanuele in Year 11. Congratulations to our Representative Dance Captains, Coaches and ensemble teams. All students danced beautifully and professionally together and these results are testament to their hard work and dedication during Sport each week. 

Our second round auditions are being held next week for Year 9-11 students, wishing to join the team for our new ensemble dances.

Melanie Fayd’herbe - CaPA/LOTE Coordinator

Nicholas Kolmac in Year 12 has made it to the state finals of the Oz Schools Instrumental Championships for guitar. The OSIC NSW State Final will be held at the University of New South Wales (Kensington Campus) on the 24th of August. We wish Nicholas all the best for this competition and congratulate him on making it to the state final. 

Mr Kieran Smith - Music Teacher

Vocational Education and Training News

Work Placement

Isabella Zampino and I attended work placement for our Business Services course at Winnings Appliances. During our time there, we gained valuable hands-on experience in a professional environment, learned practical skills, observed industry operations, and worked alongside other students with the same interests as we did. Our favourite part was visiting the Winnings Services warehouse and learning about their production process from start to finish. This opportunity helped us to build confidence and better understand potential career pathways.

Janelle Asal - 11-7

Representative Sport

Congratulations to Massimo Bottos in Year 11 who recently competed in the 2025 School Sport Australia Aquatic Games that were held at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre from 26 July to 1 August. He participated in the diving competition and achieved the following results:

• 3rd place - 17-19 Years Boys Springboard

• 3rd place - 17-19 Years Boys Synchronised

• 5th place - 17-19 Years Boys Platform

• 5th place - 17-19 Years Boys Knockout

We wish Massimo all the very best for future competitions.

Zoe Panagopoulos in Year 10 has been selected in the CommBank Junior Matildas Squad for the ASEAN U16 Girls' Championships 2025 held in Surakarta, Indonesia. The tournament will be held between the dates of Monday 18 August - Saturday 30 August 2025. We wish her all the very best as she continues on her sporting endeavors and for representing Australia in the upcoming tournament. 

Mr Kieran Smith - Year 10 Leader of Wellbeing

NSWCCC 7-9 Girls Football Knockout Competition

Congratulations to the MCCP Girls Years 7 to 9 Football Team for their participation in the NSWCCC Football Knockout Competition. They have already beaten Clancy Catholic College 4-1 and Marist Woolwich 2-0. The team now progress into the semi finals to be held on 10 September. This is an outstanding achievement. We wish them continued success in this competition.

Mrs Jillian Ferrari - Assistant Sport Coordinator

P & F Meeting - Tuesday 19 August

Parents and friends are welcome to attend the P & F meeting held on Tuesday 19 August at the South Hurstville Campus - 6pm. Members of the College Senior Leadership team will provide updates on what’s been happening at MCCP including; Year 9 Guidance Meetings, (feedback and future directions),  NAPLAN,  Cultures of Thinking Initiatives, Sports Coaching Working with Children (WWCC) requirements and facilities developments.

Mr Brian Vane-Tempest Stewart - Head of Strategic Planning & Communication

HSC Showcase '25

HSC Showcase '25 - Tuesday 2 September - Mortdale Campus, 5pm-7pm. Parents and friends are welcome to engage with the amazing works and performances from our HSC Class in Visual Arts, Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Music. This is a great opportunity to see first hand the outstanding talents of our 2025 HSC Class.

Mr Brian Vane-Tempest Stewart - Head of Strategic Planning & Communication