School Advisory Council Report

Mazenod College is operated and governed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS), the Board which has the responsibility for the strategic direction and oversight of College operations and management. The role of the College Advisory Council is to support the governance of the school and to “give consideration to, and advice on, important matters in order to support the principal and the strategic interest of the school” (School Advisory Council Terms of Reference – Secondary Schools – v1.0 –2021, pg1).

The members of the Advisory Council for 2022 were: Michael Curtis (Deputy Chair), Jane Cowan, Herb Fischbacher, Laurie Langford, and Brendan Welsford, who brought vast experience across education, finance, law, engineering, construction, OH&S, risk and compliance, and project management. The ex officio Council members were Dr Paul Shannon (Principal), Rev Fr Harry Dyer OMI (Rector), June Stewart (Finance Manager), Michelle Symss (Development Manager), Joanne Noone (Dean of Staff), and the Executive Assistant role this year were Aylene Robinson and Kate Oberg. Providing wise counsel to the Council in 2022 was Fr Christian Fini OMI, who in his role as Provincial represented the Oblates. We also welcomed Fr David Francis OMI (St John Vianney’s) as the Canonical Representative. I thank all members of the Council for their hard work, dedication, and support this year.

The Council enjoyed working with Dr Shannon in his first year at the helm of the College and went to work on providing support and advice on several new MACS documents and policies including a Communications Policy, Child Safe Standards Policy, School Fee Collection Policy, and Staff Diversity and Inclusion Policy. In July, the new National Child Safe Standards came into effect, with 11 new standards replacing the previous seven Victorian standards and principles. These impart new requirements:

• To involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe

• For a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people

• To manage the risk of child abuse in online environment

• For greater clarity on the governance, systems, and processes to keep children and young people safe

The new Standards provide greater clarity for organisations on the actions required to meet minimum standards. The Council provided feedback to consultants from Moore Australia who are assisting the College with developing policies to meet these new compliance standards. These and other policies are all now available on the new College website. In addition, Moore Australia conducted National Child Safe Standards Awareness and Training for Council members during the year.

For much of the year, parts of the College have been construction sites due to the commencement of building works stage 1 and 2. This includes works for new RE classrooms, new canteen, dining hall, staffroom, work area and deck, and a footbridge. Stages 3 to 6 are also in development, so the College is being renewed and refreshed before our very eyes. It is a worthwhile and necessary investment that will help the College maintain its current high standards for both students and staff. The College Council has been engaged with many aspects of the capital works program, from the development last year to the commencement of construction this year.

Although 2022 was only the second year of operation for the revamped College Advisory Council, it was important for the further development of the Council’s team dynamics. Working together now for two years has allowed the Council to better provide the College with the different perspectives that we bring as Mazenod parents, community members, and professionals from a variety of disciplines and industries. This is important because the Council provides a forum where parent voices and community perspectives are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and College leadership team.

Dr Eugene B. Fredericks Chair of the College Advisory Council

Catholic Identity and Mission

Goals & Intended Outcomes

Mazenod College has been served by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in partnership with the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne since 1967. It sees daring and commitment to Christ as essential central elements in its character. We are reminded of this daring in our College motto, 'Leave Nothing Undared for the Kingdom of God'. It requires us to seek, find, share and celebrate the presence of God among us. Mazenod College is named after the Founder of the Oblates, St Eugene de Mazenod, and he asks us to do this as a community. St Eugene de Mazenod called the people of post-revolutionary France (19th Century) back to a relationship with God. He was especially interested in supporting those that are marginalised.

Mazenod College seeks to foster in all its students, the development of their knowledge and love of God. Through deepening their faith in Jesus Christ, Mazenod College seeks to develop persons who are responsible and inner-directed, capable of choosing freely in conformity with a well-informed conscience. Mazenod College seeks to promote a moral consciousness in its students, in accordance with Christ's teaching and the mind of the Church, and enable them to relate it to their own lives.

Mazenod College seeks to provide a suitable Christian atmosphere that encourages the growth of the whole person; provides the opportunity to integrate culture and faith through the acceptance of Christ and his ideas, attitudes and values. Mazenod College seeks to provide a critical and systematic account of the teaching of the Gospel and the Catholic Church in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Archdiocese whilst at the same time enabling students to experience a sense of Christian Community. It will also put students in touch with their unique Australian Catholic heritage.

In conjunction with the traditional owners of the land, Mazenod College, through its curriculum in Religious Education, promotes unity by marking important times and history of the First Nations people. The Religious Education department, through Faith and Charism, will endure to mark important ritual celebrations in the Catholic Tradition and in the traditions of the First Nations. Through the Faith and Charism structure of the College Elders and leaders of the First Nations, people will be invited to the school to celebrate rituals in their culture and partake in educational instruction furthering the knowledge of our students and staff.

Achievements

The presence of Oblate Priests of a missionary tradition and a beautiful Chapel with daily Eucharist are great blessings. Mass is offered at 8.10am Monday to Friday in the Mazenod College Chapel, and the whole school celebrates the Eucharist together at important times during the year. The Priests are always available pastorally for students. Reconciliation is formally made available to all students during Lent and before Christmas.

Each morning all Homerooms begin with our daily prayer where students from individual homerooms are invited to lead the prayer further deepening our rich heritage in Catholic tradition. This homeroom prayer can also be an opportunity for an offering of prayer for a particular need within the homeroom drawing students into a community spirit as St. Eugene emphasised the importance of support within the community.

Each day after recess the College Student Leaders lead the daily College prayer over the intercom calling all our community to stop and reflect on our Catholic faith and Oblate charism.

Mazenod College aims to foster the faith of its students and to build upon this positive practice of faith and the example set by their families. Mazenod College is proud to provide a very distinctive atmosphere, which is caring, friendly and cooperative.

Value Added

• Our Year 12 students, along with our Year 11 VET Christian Ministry & Theology 3&4 students, took time to volunteer with Rosies Oblate Youth Mission where each Friday night, a team offer their friendship and hospitality through the simple gesture of a free hot or cold drink to the homeless.

• Our Year 12 students attended an overnight retreat on the theme “From childhood to adulthood”. The students were accompanied by their homeroom teachers, retreat leaders, our Oblate priests and our two Oblate Youth Ministers.

• Students, staff and families donated in solidarity generously to the Oblate Missions Christmas Appeals and to our local St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal bringing in food items, toiletries, blankets, children’s books and toys for our brothers and sisters in need in our neighbouring communities

• 50 Year 10 students opted to study Youth Ministry in Semester 1, where they explored the topics of “What it means to be a Christian Leader today”, “Apologetics: Is God real? How do we know? Evidence for our faith and how to defend it confidently, passionately and respectfully”. Our two Year 10 Youth Ministry classes then ran retreats for all Year 7 classes.

• Students were welcomed to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, formally made available to all students during Lent and before Christmas.

• Our Year 8 students participated in their Reflection Day where they explored the theme “Knowing God” lead by YMT Melbourne

• Our Year 7 students enjoyed their Reflection Day exploring "Relationships & Belonging” with the Gen Bryant Band

• Years 7-9 students in the lunchtime ‘Alpha Club’ discussed their faith in small groups.

• Year 12 students were fully engaged by David Kobler in “Unpacking Love and Responsibility”, reflecting on the topics of positive sexuality, relationships and future family life.

• Year 12 students really enjoyed listening to Melbourne-based Catholic priest and X Factor musician Fr Rob Galea, and his story from “Addiction to Jesus” as he performed and gave testimony to his faith, encouraging the students in their own faith.

• Year 7 students participated in many faith development workshops organised and facilitated by our Oblate Youth Ministers.

• Year 11 students attended a voluntary retreat on “Friendship with Jesus through the Eucharist: Deepening our relationship with God” – 25 students took up this invitation.

• Year 12 students were invited to a "Faith and Pizza" evening with Mr. Tighe.

• Over 150 parents from our Junior School attended our annual online presentation with Mr David Kobler from YourChoicez on the pertinent topic of “Raising Teens in a Hyper-Sexualised Society". This was our first time running this event online and the feedback from everyone who attended in our school community was very positive.

• Current and past students were invited to share an evening reflection and Adoration called “Empowered”.

• Students had the opportunity to be involved in National Reconciliation Week activities recognising our journey to reconciliation with our First Nation peoples.