Dear Families, 

This week our Senior College students commenced their TASC exams. We wish them all the best, especially our Year 12’s who are completing their final year of school. 

With Remembrance Day this week, I took the opportunity during our College assembly to remind students that peace is not simply something we hope to see in the world; it is something we each have a responsibility to create. While international conflicts can sometimes feel distant and beyond our influence, peace begins much closer to home – in our classrooms, playgrounds, friendships and everyday interactions. I challenged students to be mindful of their words and actions, to treat others with dignity and respect, to stand up for those who may be excluded and to choose kindness over negativity. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, "Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world." It is a message worth reflecting on, and one that we can all put into practice within our own College community. 

As I reflect on our College uniform expectations, I am interested in understanding why something that is clearly established and agreed to can sometimes become a point of negotiation when it applies to us personally. 

Our uniform policy is not new, nor has it changed significantly over many years. It is an established part of College life and an expectation that students and families agree to when choosing to enrol at Marist Regional College. I wonder, therefore, whether we sometimes lose sight of the importance of these shared expectations and the role they play in contributing to our sense of belonging and community. 

It is also worth considering the position of our staff. When staff members remind students of uniform expectations, they are simply fulfilling their responsibilities and ensuring consistency across the College. How we respond to these reminders is just as important as the expectation itself. We should be able to have respectful conversations, even when we may not necessarily agree with a particular requirement. 

Moving forward, we will continue to uphold our uniform policy consistently. Students who are not wearing the correct uniform or who are not meeting the policy requirements will be reminded of the expectation and asked to rectify the matter. This is not about making things difficult for students, but about fairness, consistency and respecting the agreements that underpin our College community. 

For students with piercings that fall outside the guidelines, our Year Level Coordinators have clear silicone studs available to provide a practical alternative. 

I encourage students to reflect on what it means to be part of a community where expectations are shared and apply equally to everyone. We may not always agree with every expectation, and there is certainly room for respectful discussion. However, being part of a community also means accepting our shared responsibilities and showing respect to those who are entrusted with upholding them.  

Ultimately, our uniform expectations are about more than what we wear. They are one small but visible way in which we demonstrate our commitment to being part of the Marist Regional College community. 

We understand that family circumstances can change and that you may need to withdraw your child's enrolment, particularly for the 2027 school year. If this is the case, please notify us by emailing enrolments@mrc.tas.edu.au as soon as possible before your child's departure, allowing us sufficient time to process the withdrawal. 

Shayne Kidd 

Principal