Principal

Principal’sReport

So much can change in a year. At the time of writing an article for the 2019 Mazenodian we had just returned from our Language Tour to Japan and I made reference to the biennial AHISA Conference, which adopted the theme “Forging the Future” reflecting on workplace structures and skills students will need to tackle the next decade. How pertinent one year later.

At the beginning of the year we proudly acknowledged the achievements of our VCE cohort, highlighted by the fact eight of our students achieved study scores of 99 or above. This caught the eye of the media who also recognised Mazenod’s outstanding performances in the areas of Science and Humanities. Victoria Police circulated information about Ryan Dean’s efforts to promote the Blue Ribbon Foundation and Phil Ryan’s work with the Mazenod Panthers All Abilities Football Club was being endorsed by the Victorian Community Sports Awards.

Our year then proceeded with great uncertainty and a sense of vulnerability. After being shocked by the devastation of the bushfires over the summer holidays, we were confronted with the coronavirus pandemic. Our community spirit and resilience were about to be challenged.

We nearly made it to the end of Term 1 with conventional face to face teaching and we managed to complete all the scheduled camps and Outdoor Education activities for the term. We commenced lockdown and our new Learning Management System, MazCom, was about to be tested. Thankfully, we had updated our infrastructure and spent considerable time training staff and students to use this new medium.

The development of the online classroom evolved and evolved rapidly. Assessment tools and video conferencing became a new art form. The students’ resilience and capacity to support the necessary changes were amazing. A significant number of students reached out for support during the year, whether for reassurance with their studies, vocational direction, or moral support, to keep motivated and on track.

By the second wave, routines were established, students and teachers were becoming quite innovative and several activities continued despite the isolation and lockdown restrictions. Debating and public speaking, Chess competitions, food technology, home fitness activities, social justice programmes, trivia competitions, Performing Arts festivals, music performances, virtual assemblies and award presentations all continued utilising videoconferencing. Parent Teacher Interviews proved quite successful, even to the extent many families stated the new format was preferred to the traditional mode.

In 2019 the College completed its NSIT (National School’s Improvement Tool) Review. The College Executive met in January to establish a clear and explicit agenda to respond to the Review and establish a Strategic Plan for 2020 to 2024. That plan is multi-faceted and was circulated throughout the community. Titled, ‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow’ the document reflects on our traditions and history with enormous pride, appreciates the rapid rate of change that is occurring in our community, and portrays a clear vision for the future.

The Review is designed to critique current practice and provide an improvement agenda so the College can continue to develop. The reviewers were stunned by the community relationships and networking. The College is truly blessed with the associated organisations that link our families and Old Collegians. The de Mazenod Family was introduced in Fremantle in 2019 and is designed to reach out to all who associate themselves with the Oblate Ministry across the country. We are poised perfectly to nurture and develop these communities and relationships as part of the de Mazenod Family.

As part of the Strategic Plan the College has developed an explicit learning agenda that incorporates ‘Visible Learning’ and ‘Visible Wellbeing’. Based on evidence-based research, the College has established a Visible Learning Framework utilising Professor John Hattie’s research that is designed to make a positive difference to maximise learning outcomes for students. Similarly, our Visible Wellbeing Programme complements all our existing structures, but also uses evidencebased research, in this case, the work of Professor Lea Waters from Melbourne University, who is an expert in Positive Psychology.

A strategic plan would not be a strategic plan if it did not feature plans to build. Initially planned to start work in April 2020, the eight-stage redevelopment of the original buildings called ‘Middle School Works’ has been postponed until a financial assessment can be made in early 2021. This step allows for the potential impact of the economic slowdown due to the implications of the coronavirus pandemic. The College is determined to refurbish and revitalise current facilities including the Learning Centre, classrooms, Science laboratories, Language facilities, staff room and Canteen area.

Last year the College farewelled many iconic figures who have served the community for years. This year staff have resigned from their positions of leadership after years of dedicated service. I would like to thank Alan McAlister, Kaye Williamson, Joe Moore, Jacinta Girolami, Ian Steel, John Wright, James Tranter, Liz Duyvestyn and Josh Rajasingam for their tireless and amazing contributions to so many aspects of College life in their roles of leadership. We are still blessed to have their continued support of our students and our programmes, but it does indicate clearly, we are entering an exciting new period with so many current staff stepping up to new positions starting from 2021.

It is also a new era for Catholic Education with the new Governance model for the Archdiocese incorporating the governing entity, MACS, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd. Many new members of our College Board have been inducted and the new Chairperson will be elected on the resignation of Mr Peter Le Grand. Peter has served the community on the College Board for 30 years and for the last 29 years as Chairman. His contribution to Mazenod and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate has been outstanding and the College is indebted to Peter’s direction and support.

There are new appointments for our Oblate Community for 2021. Fr Harry Dyer OMI is appointed College Rector for 2021. Fr Giancarlo Iollo OMI and Fr Kevin Davine OMI continue to serve the community as members of the Chaplaincy team, but Fr John Sherman OMI has been appointed Chaplain to Burpengary Queensland. Fr Christian Fini OMI, remains the Provincial of the Oblates and will continue his important relationship with the College.

The leadership of the Oblates, present and past, is why the College is so extraordinary, and on behalf of the de Mazenod Family I would like to thank them for their witness and service to us all.

Thank you for all your support throughout the pandemic year of 2020.

The care and professionalism of our staff, the understanding and support of our parents and the brilliant way our students have accepted and coped with the conditions, have been extraordinary. I would like to wish all the students who have graduated and are embarking on tertiary studies or employment opportunities every success for the next phase of their lives