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College Newsletter - 23 May 2025

Principal’s Report

Dear Students, Parents, Staff and Marist Friends

Mother’s Day Mass and Morning Tea

Last week, our College community came together in a spirit of gratitude and love to celebrate the Mother’s Day Mass and Morning Tea. It was truly heartening to see the Marist Centre filled to capacity, a testament to the deep bonds that unite our families and the special place mothers hold in our hearts.

The mass was a moving tribute to the beauty of motherhood, honouring the selfless love, strength, and grace that mothers and mother figures bring into our lives each day. Through prayer, reflection, and song, we gave thanks for the nurturing presence of mothers in our homes and in our community, and for the many ways they embody the love of Mary, our Good Mother.

Following the mass, the morning tea provided a joyful opportunity for connection and celebration. The warmth and laughter reflected the very essence of what we were honouring—love, care, and community.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to making this event so special - Fr Yacub, Mr Ward, our staff with catering, planning and decorations, and students, who prepared the mass and hospitality, and most importantly, the mothers, grandmothers, and carers who joined us. Your presence made the morning truly memorable. May the spirit of this celebration continue to inspire us to show appreciation and love for the incredible women in our lives—not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.

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Celebrating Champagnat Day: A Journey of Faith and Service

As we approach one of the most significant events in our school calendar, we look forward in anticipation to celebrating our Champagnat Mass on Wednesday, 4th June. This whole-school mass honours the legacy of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers, and deepens our connection to our Marist spirituality.

The Champagnat Day Mass is more than a tradition—it is a moment of reflection, unity, and gratitude. It reminds us of our shared mission to live out the Marist values of simplicity, presence, love of work, family spirit, and following in the way of Mary. Through prayer and celebration, we reaffirm our commitment to being a faith-filled community that serves others with compassion and humility.

Following the mass, on Friday, 6th June, our students will participate in the annual Walkathon, an energetic event that brings our community together in support of a greater cause. This year, the Walkathon continues its proud tradition of raising funds for Marist ministries across the globe. These ministries (Marist Solidarity, Marist 180) provide vital support in areas such as education, healthcare, and community development, particularly in regions affected by poverty, conflict, or natural disasters.

Your support truly makes a difference. Every step our students take on Walkathon Day is a step toward hope, dignity, and opportunity for those in need. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all parents, carers, and students for your ongoing commitment and generosity. Your contributions— through donations, and or encouragement—are a powerful expression of our Marist spirit in action. Let us walk together in faith, service, and solidarity.

Supporting Student Success During Assessments

As we move deeper into Term 2, students from Years 7 to 12 are entering a period of heightened academic activity, with many assessments scheduled across a range of subjects. This is a crucial time for students to engage deeply with their learning, consolidate their understanding, and demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have developed throughout the semester.

We encourage all students to approach this time with a spirit of commitment and collaboration, working closely with their teachers and peers to seek clarification, refine their understanding, and act on feedback. Teachers are providing valuable insights and guidance to help students strengthen their learning outcomes, and we urge students to make the most of these opportunities.

To further support students in their preparation, we remind families of the College Tutor Program, which runs from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the College Library. This program offers a quiet, structured environment where students can:

Receive one-on-one or small group support from tutors.
Revise content and prepare for upcoming assessments.
Develop effective study habits and time management strategies.

We strongly encourage students to take advantage of this valuable resource as part of their assessment preparation. We thank our parents and carers for their continued support in encouraging positive study routines at home and helping students manage their time effectively during this busy period. Together, we can ensure that every student is equipped to achieve their personal best.

Agents of Peace: Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s Message

In a historic moment for the global Catholic community, we welcomed the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, who began his papacy with a powerful and heartfelt message: “Peace be with you all.” Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV called on all people to be builders of peace, echoing the first words of the Risen Christ and inviting the world to embrace a peace that is “unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering”.

As a Catholic school grounded in Gospel values, we are deeply moved by Pope Leo’s call to action. His words remind us that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but a way of living—through dialogue, compassion, and unity. He urged us to “build bridges through dialogue and encounter,” and to be a Church that is “open to welcoming all those in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love”

Let us take this opportunity to reflect on how we can live out Pope Leo XIV’s vision in our daily lives. Whether through acts of kindness, respectful conversations, or community service, each of us has the power to make peace real and present in our world.

May we continue to walk together, hand in hand with God and one another, as a school community committed to peace, justice, and love.

Parent Survey

The annual Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey is now open. This survey provides a valuable opportunity for all members of our community to share their feedback on various aspects of College life. Your insights are crucial in helping us shape our plans for school improvement. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and working together to enhance our school environment.

To complete the survey, please use this link. The survey is anonymous and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. The survey will be open until Friday, 13 June.

Finis Coronat Opus.

Mr David Forrester
College Principal

Assistant Principal’s Report

College Walkathon

As part of the Champagnat Day celebrations, on Friday, 6 June 2025, the College will once again be holding its major fundraiser for the year - the College Walkathon. Details regarding raising sponsorship and student participation on the actual day are outlined below.

Fundraising

We are using an online donation system, trybooking. Please click on this link to access the online donation system. Families will be able to access trybooking from today until Friday, 6 June 2025.

Each student is encouraged to raise a minimum of $30. There will be a 5km "dash" (running the Walkathon course) to start the event. Students wishing to compete in this event will be required to raise a minimum of $50.

When using trybooking please ensure all donations are listed under your son/s name. For example, if your son is Joe Black, please enter First Name as Joe and Last Name as Black. If you have more than one son, enter First Name as Joe and Josh and Last Name as Black. If you are unable to use this system, sponsorship cards will be available from Student Services.

Walkathon Details

What to Bring: Students are required to wear an appropriate hat and sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Bags are not to be brought on the day.

What to Wear: Students are permitted to wear mufti clothing, provided it is appropriate. No singlets or t-shirts with inappropriate images or language will be acceptable. All students must wear covered shoes appropriate for walking i.e. thongs are not to be worn and jewellery is not permitted.

Transport: Students will be transported by bus from the College to Bestic Street, Kyeemagh to commence the walk and finish at Peter Depena Reserve, Dolls Point. Students will then be transported by bus, back to the College and provided a barbeque lunch. Students will not be permitted to leave from Peter Depena Reserve. Dismissal from the College will take place at approximately the times listed below:

Year Group	Walkathon	BBQ	Approximate Dismissal time from the College
RUNNERS	9.45-10.30 am	11.00 am	11:30 am
12	9.45-11.00 am	11.30 am	12.00 pm
11	9.45-11.00 am	11.30 am	12.00 pm
10	10.00-11.30 am	12.00 pm	12.30 pm
9	10.00-11.30 am	12.00 pm	12.30 pm
8	10.30-12.00 pm	12.30 pm	1.00 pm
7	10.30-12.00 pm	12.30 pm	1.00 pm

Please ensure you have provided consent for your son to attend the Walkathon via Compass.

If your son is absent from the College Walkathon, he will be required to have a Doctor’s Certificate to explain his absence.

The College is extremely grateful for your continued support.

Respect

As we are almost halfway through this term, it is important to recall the College's high expectations regarding engagement in learning, behaviour, and appearance.

Students are reminder of the importance of:

wearing the full College Winter Uniform, including the College blazer to and from school
follow all hair and grooming guidelines
attendance and punctuality to class
continued engagement in class work, and
respectful behaviour towards all in our community.

The College is committed to providing a quality learning environment for all students that will encourage successful and active participants in our world.

Mrs Catherine Roebuck
Assistant Principal

Religious Education Coordinator

Marist Solidarity

As we begin our preparations for our annual Walkathon in celebration of the Feast of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, students are reminded of the communities that greatly benefit from their generous donations.

Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) is the agency for the aid and development work of the Marist Province of Australia throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands. AMS works with the people in this region on a combination of long-term and short-term development projects. These projects aim to develop, or support, locally sustained education opportunities for the young people in these regions.

In order to achieve this, we facilitate partnerships with communities focused on overseas aid, education and community development activities of the Australian Marist Brothers. To better fulfil this role, and to maintain the highest standard of transparency, AMS became a signatory organisation to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct in 2008.

Through the extensive network of Marist Schools around Australia, AMS is supported by current and former students and their parents, associates and the wider Marist Community. Through this network AMS presents a national forum for awareness and fundraising campaigns for the development work we support.

MARIST SOLIDARITY PRAYER

Always to have your ears open
To hear another’s cry of pain
And to listen to their call for help….
That is solidarity.

Always to have your eyes open
Sweeping over the sea
Looking for a ship in danger…
That is solidarity.

To feel as your own the suffering
Of a brother or sister, whether near or far;
To make your own the anguish of the poor….
That is solidarity.

To be the voice of the humble,
to uncover injustice and evil,
to denounce the unjust and evil person…
that is solidarity.

To let yourself be transported by a message
charged with hope, love and peace,
until you clasp your brother and sister by the hand…..
that is solidarity….

Mary, Our Good Mother, pray for us.
St Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us.
And let us remember, to pray for one another. Amen

Walk with Christ

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney warmly invites all schools and families to take part in the upcoming Walk with Christ Festival and Eucharistic Procession in celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi.

The Walk with Christ annual Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Sydney exists to make a joyful public proclamation and act of worship towards the person of Jesus Christ (as King), and to invoke His blessing upon the city.

The presence of Eucharist in this joyful liturgical act invokes the benevolent spiritual blessings of Christ onto the city and all who live there. The blessing is derived from He who has been “anointed to proclaim the good news to the poor …to proclaim freedom for prisoners and sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” It is in this way that the Walk with Christ is part of the spiritual and civic life of the city and Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Location: Martin Place, Corner of Pitt Street and Martin Place

Program:
1:00 pm - Music festival, featuring special guest performances
2:30 pm - Procession commences, walking to St Mary’s Cathedral. A liturgy will be then held at the Cathedral forecourt.
5:00 pm - Event finishes.

Year 7 Reflection Day

On Friday, 2 May, Year 7 students embarked on their first Reflection Day at the beautiful Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre in Mulgoa. This special day was not just a break from the usual school routine, but a meaningful journey into the theme of 'service,' allowing our students to learn, reflect, and grow together.

The day was structured around three impactful workshops, each designed to deepen the students' understanding of global poverty and the importance of service. Representatives from Vinnies and Catholic Mission led two of the workshops, providing invaluable insights into the poverty crisis affecting millions around the world. Through engaging discussions and interactive activities, students gained a greater awareness of the challenges faced by those less fortunate and the vital role that organisations like Vinnies and Catholic Mission play in alleviating these struggles.

In one of the day's most hands-on activities, students participated in packing food parcels for the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP). This task was not only a practical way to help those in need but also a powerful reminder of the impact that small acts of kindness can have on someone's life. As students packed the parcels, they worked together harmoniously, fostering a sense of teamwork and shared purpose.

Beyond the workshops, the day provided ample opportunities for students to bond with their peers. Away from the regular school environment, they were able to build stronger relationships and develop a deeper sense of community within their cohort. Whether during a reflective session, a group discussion, or simply sharing lunch together, the students connected in ways that will undoubtedly enrich their school experience.

Thank you to the dedicated MCK staff and volunteers from Vinnies and Catholic Mission for making this day possible. It was a day of learning, reflection, and growth that will be remembered by all.

YMC Events

Please see below a flyer for an upcoming Youth Night that will be run at St Michael’s Parish in Hurstville.

If you would like any further details or would like to attend, please see Mr Ziegenfusz in Room 17.

Mr Mitchell Ward
Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Leader of Teaching and Learning

Upcoming Years 9 and 10 Assessment Block

Next week students will complete their Semester 1 Assessments. During this time students will undergo a series of assessments designed to examine students' understanding of the curriculum and skills covered throughout the semester.

Importance of Study and a Growth Mindset

The upcoming assessments are not just a measure of what students have learned; they are an integral part of the learning process. Regular study habits reinforce knowledge, improve retention, and develop critical thinking skills that are essential for academic success.

It is vital for students to approach their studies with a growth mindset. This means understanding that intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Encourage your sons to view challenges as opportunities to grow, and to persist even when the material is difficult.

Effort and Practice: Reinforce the idea that effort and practice lead to improvement. Every mistake is a chance to learn and get better.
Positive Attitude: A positive attitude towards learning can transform how students handle their workload and exams.
Resilience: Building resilience is key. Remind your son that setbacks are temporary, and that perseverance will lead to progress.

Preparation Tips

Create a Study Schedule: Encourage your son to allocate specific times for studying each subject.
Review Materials: Ensure your child reviews class notes, and any additional resources provided by their teachers.
Practice Past Papers: Encourage your son where relevant to practice sample questions.
Healthy Habits: Remind your child to get adequate sleep, eat nutritious meals, and take regular breaks during study sessions.

We encourage all students to approach this assessment block with confidence and a positive mindset. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their hard work and dedication.

Enhancing HSC Success: Teacher Professional Learning on Multiple Choice Skill Development

In our continued commitment to academic excellence and evidence-informed teaching, staff have recently engaged in targeted professional learning focused on improving student performance in multiple choice components of the HSC. This area of assessment, often underestimated, plays a significant role in determining overall student outcomes and requires a distinct set of analytical and inferential skills.

Professional learning at our recent staff meeting with SCS Teaching and Learning coach Kristy Partridge, explored the structure and cognitive demands of HSC multiple choice questions across various subjects. Teachers examined the types of skills these questions assess, such as cognitive demands of questions, critical thinking, data interpretation, and application of knowledge under time constraints.

Drawing on performance data and past HSC trends, continued professional learning aims to collaboratively develop strategies to explicitly teach test-taking skills that go beyond content recall.

Key areas of focus include:

Diagnostic Use of Data: Analysing multiple choice results to identify patterns in student misunderstanding.
Question Deconstruction: Teaching students to dissect stem wording, distractors, and embedded assumptions.
Cognitive Strategy Instruction: Embedding metacognitive approaches such as elimination techniques and time management.
Low-Stakes Practice: Using frequent formative assessments to build student confidence and familiarity with HSC-style questions.

This professional learning initiative reflects our College’s broader culture of continuous improvement and our goal to empower students with the skills and strategies necessary for HSC success. In coming weeks staff will work with SCS HSC Specialist Teachers in relevant Key Learning areas. By refining our collective practice, we aim to make a measurable impact on student achievement and equip learners with tools to think critically and respond with strategic reasoning.

Mrs Gina Stavropoulos
Leader of Teaching and Learning

Year 12 Visual Art – SCS Artist in Residence

On Friday, 16 May, Year 12 Visual Arts students participated in a practical workshop facilitated by the SCS Artist in Residence Joshua McPherson and the SCS Art Educator Anne-Maree Wells. Students had the opportunity to discuss their HSC Bodies of Work with two experienced artists, with Joshua being an Archibald Prize finalist. He guided the class with their material practice discussing compositional elements and demonstrated practical skills, mark making and colour mixing to each student. It was an enriching session that has positively contributed to the students’ material and conceptual development of their art making.

Miss Sophie Kirk
Visual Arts Teacher

Leader of Student Wellbeing

“Getaway”- Good news!

At the end of last term, we entered an application to the Ramsgate RSL Schools Matter Grant program for a wellbeing project. In some great news, we have won $2000 to go towards new resources for “Getaway”. This program is designed for students to have a space to interact via board and card games. It is specifically an opportunity for students that struggle with noisy, crowded areas on the yard to have some space and an opportunity to develop social connections. “Getaway” is supervised by the Leader of Student Wellbeing and the College Counsellor Amy Drury to further develop relationships with students that may require support.

A representative from the RSL attended the College to deliver the giant cheque last week. Many thanks to Ms Karen Gambian for the work in putting together the application.

Mr Shane Duff
Leader of Student Wellbeing

Sports Report

Term 2 MCK representative teams are a couple of weeks into their seasons and most have started with a bang! This term we have teams competing in Football, Rugby League and All Abilities OzTag. Along with this, we had a number of students recently compete at the Conference 3 Table Tennis Gala Day. Let’s hear from our coaches.

Rugby League

Opens

The first round of Opens Rugby League kicked off two weeks ago where MCK took on St John Bosco, Engadine. MCK took the lead early with a powerful run ten metres out of Bosco’s try line from Joshua Gauci opening the scoring. With a lot of ball possession, more tries came MCK’s way from Oliver Perez-Rook, Lachlan Toshack, Deyan Bugaric and a double for Angus Tsougranis. Makaiden Illevski was also putting on a class act with a 100% conversion rate, including 4 kicks from the sideline. Well done to all involved.

Mr Jake Gallagher and Mr Marc Vassallo
Coaches

Under 15’s

A tough start to the season for the Under 15’s League team, going down 31-0 to De La Salle Caringbah. Playing in their first game for points, the boys came out firing early in the first half and showed great determination in defense, only to be down 12-0 at half time through a couple of lucky tries to the competition heavyweights. Anthony Stapleton and Logan Thompson were terrific on the edges (especially in defense) and Charlie Koroibuliu made some big runs through the middle in his first game for the College. De La Salle showed their class in the second half however, running away with a 6 try win.

Mr James Stirton and Mr Klayton Kilpatrick
Coaches

Under 13’s

The Under 13’s Rugby League team has made a strong start to the League season. In week 2 Marist College Kogarah played St John Bosco Engadine at Scarborough Park. In windy conditions MCK had a comprehensive victory 32-16, however, it wasn’t without some nervous moments the team made numerous errors and gave away penalties. Led by Leo Ndaira with his brilliant running game, Samuel Taufateau with his line breaks and long range tries and Jack Said dominating with his defence in the middle of the field. Lucas Di Meglio also had some barnstorming runs playing in the middle of the field like Payne Hass. Overall, a gritty performance which a season can be built upon.

In Round 2, the Under 13’s Rugby League team faced a great battle against De La Salle Caringbah. In wet and slippery conditions, the team put in a great performance playing to the conditions. There was an emphasis on ball security and tight defence to force errors out of the opposition. Anthony Aghabi led from fullback scoring a 50m try up the middle, outpacing the opposition. Ethan Adams took strong carries coming out of our own half throughout the match. Kogarah ran out 18-10 victors. Late in the game Austin Bradley came up with a crucial one on one strip to turn the momentum of the match. After 2 rounds, Kogarah are sitting on top of the 13’s League table.

Mr Chris Raptis and Mr Kevin Pham
Coaches

Football

Senior A

The Senior team started the season with an impressive 10-1 win over Cronulla. The team dominated possession through the midfield and our forwards had multiple shots on goal. Oliver Chrisimos scored a hat trick and looked dangerous every time he received a through ball. The backline was also impressive, but the standout players were Alexander and Anesti in the midfield. Round 2 washed out. Round 3 was a very different game as Revesby fielded a formidable team. They dominated the midfield despite a wonderful set piece by Jake who scored just outside the box. Revesby replied just before half time to level the score 1-1. The second half saw Revesby pull ahead 2-1 after some intense attacking raids that were mostly neutralised by some good defending by James, Evan and Mark. However, another set piece late in the second half saw MCK level the score. A very tight game.

Mr Simon FIsher and Mr Brad Gillieatt
Coaches

Intermediate A

The MCK Intermediate A football team kicked off their season in style with a commanding 2-0 victory over De La Salle Revesby. From the opening whistle, MCK asserted their dominance across the pitch, controlling possession, dictating the tempo, and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The breakthrough came courtesy of Sam Gregoriou, who slotted home a well-placed finish to give MCK a deserved lead. The team’s cohesion and relentless pressure kept Revesby on the back foot throughout the match. MCK continued to press their advantage, and it wasn’t long before Anthony Skanavis doubled the lead with a composed strike that sealed the win.

In the second half, defensively, MCK were rock solid, denying Revesby any clear chances and maintaining a clean sheet. It was a complete team performance that showcased both skill and determination, setting a strong tone for the season ahead. With this convincing win, MCK Intermediate A have made a bold statement in their opening fixture.

Mr Paul O’Brien
Coach

Junior A

The Junior A Team has won its opening fixtures in impressive fashion 5-1 against Aloysius and 5-0 over De La Salle Revesby. Filip Talevski has emerged as a top goal scorer whilst the Year 7 crew of Adam Hollows, Theo Kalibiakis and Nicholas Patsis have proven themselves as being able to hold their own amongst the Year 8s of the opposition team. This versatile team has enjoyed a lot of family support at games and has gelled well giving the Thursday games a sense of community that looks like it may lead to success this season once again.

Mr Frank Lauria
Coach

Intermediate B

The Intermediate B Football Team has made a strong start to their season, so far keeping a clean sheet. The boys secured a late 2-0 victory against a competitive Casimir side. With the game locked at a stalemate of 0-0 by half time and Casimir having many shots at goal, the boys stood their ground and held a tight defensive line. Francesco Genua was able to score the opening goal for MCK which was followed by a powerful header from Skevos Poniris to seal the victory.

Round 2 saw Kogarah play against Marist Eastwood in a solid performance of finishing goals, securing a 6-0 victory. The team displayed an immense improvement in teamwork and trust in one another compared to their debut game in Round 1, displaying quality football reminiscent of Pep Guardiola’s classic ‘ticky-tacka’ tactics. Goal scorers were Jensen Takats, Thomas Bazan, Eden Nikolovski, Lucas Panto, and Francesco Genua with two goals. With a strong start to the season the MCK Inter B’s have set a challenge for themselves- to maintain a clean sheet- which can be achieved through their determination, tenacity and teamwork.

Mr Dimitri Athanaseris
Coach

Junior B

The Junior B Football team has started the season with a double win. Round 1 was against another strong footballing school in Casimir College. The boys had a slow start conceding early in the game but fought back to win 5-1. Goals to Cruz Fernandes, Tyler Parnell and Joseph Parrillo. A double from Daniel Pencarinha earned him the MoM.

Round 2 saw the boys facing a strong Marist Eastwood team. We started strong but could only find the woodwork. Then the floodgates opened with Jake Kalinovski and Tyler Parnell bagging a double and Daniel Pencarinha snagging another goal. MoM went to Christian Makrigiannis for his solid defence and aiding GK Alexander Michael to his first clean sheet of the season.

Mr Robert Almeida
Coach

All Abilities OzTag

Intermediate Team

The Intermediate side had a rough start to the season, going down in both matchups in week one. De La Salle Revesby and Aquinas Menai proved too classy for our boys. Hopefully we can improve in weeks to come if the weather stays dry.

Mr James Drahalivas
Coach

Junior Team

The boys had a great start to the season with two nail biting draws in round 1. Scoring 7 and 8 tries respectively, against De La Salle Revesby and Marist College Penshurst, it was evident that every player was there to put in 100%. Everyone played their part to create cohesion amongst the newly formed Junior team. Our man of the match shout-outs go to Harry Mag and Dylan Jovcevski. Both players were very strong in both attack and defense, filling gaps and shutting down the opposition at every opportunity. Liam Le Hane and Levi Spasevski demonstrated determination with their perfectly timed tags and special mentions go to Carlos Jara-Gonzales for his hat trick against MCP and Jonathon Lahanas who ran the length of the field to save us from defeat. Well done team!

Mrs Cathy Crehan, Mrs Clarissa Cranney and Mrs Kristina Rodgers
Coaches

SCS Conference 3 Table Tennis Gala Day

MCK had 24 students compete at the Conference 3 Table Tennis Gala Day on Monday 12th May. Congratulations to all for their performance on the day but special mention to Oliver Sarar and Jacob Milloy of Year 11 who have both qualified for the SCS Championships which will take place in Week 6 of this term!