Dear Parents and Guardians, 

It was wonderful to see and speak with so many of you at our recent Parent-Teacher evenings. The feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive, particularly from some of our recently enrolled families who shared how much their child has grown since joining Marist and how supported they feel by our staff. We greatly value the strong partnership we share with families, as we know that when school and home work together, students are given the very best opportunity to flourish and achieve success. Thank you for your ongoing support of the College and for the many positive conversations throughout the evenings. 

We are incredibly proud of our Girls Basketball Team, who recently represented the College at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Melbourne. Simply receiving an invitation to compete at this qualifying event for an international competition speaks volumes about the talent, dedication and commitment of the team. The standard of competition was exceptionally high, and our girls narrowly missed a place in the Grand Final, ultimately finishing third nationally. This is an outstanding achievement, and we are immensely proud of the way they represented the College both on and off the court. My sincere thanks also go to the staff who dedicated so much time and effort to preparing the team and ensuring this remarkable opportunity could take place. 

It was also fantastic to see a group of our students representing the College at Agfest last week through showing cattle, where they achieved outstanding success and brought home many ribbons. Events such as Agfest provide valuable opportunities for students to develop confidence, responsibility and practical skills, while also highlighting the strong connection many of our families have with agriculture and rural industries across our region. Our students represented the College exceptionally well and should be commended for their efforts, professionalism and commitment throughout the event. A very special thank you must also go to the parents and families who generously gave up significant amounts of their own time to organise, coordinate, transport and support students throughout Agfest. Opportunities such as these would not be possible without the expertise, commitment and generosity of our parent community, and your support plays an important role in providing these valuable experiences for our students. 

It is common for principals to communicate about school uniforms, as this is often an area where students test boundaries. I am pleased to say that the vast majority of students have returned this term wearing the correct uniform, and I sincerely thank families for your support in reinforcing these expectations. School uniform is an important part of our identity at Marist, reflecting who we are as a community while also helping to prepare students for life beyond school, where standards of dress and presentation are often expected. Learning to meet these expectations is an important life skill that will support our students well into the future. 

This week, I had the opportunity to participate in a principal panel discussion at the AI in Education Conference in Hobart. You may recall that last term I spoke about the growing presence of artificial intelligence and the need, now more than ever, for our students to be critical thinkers. We can no longer take everything we see online at face value. It is a timely reminder of the importance of being discerning, seeking truth, listening to one another and showing compassion for differing viewpoints. This does not mean we should avoid AI; rather, it means we must ensure our students first develop a deep understanding of the real world before navigating the online one. By teaching young people to question respectfully, to think critically, and to accept that others may hold different perspectives, we are preparing them well for the future. 

Over these past weeks of Easter, the Gospel of John has repeatedly reminded us of Christ’s call to love one another. This love is not simply about kindness or affection, but about choosing truth, showing respect, acting with compassion and placing the good of others at the centre of our decisions. At Marist, our values of hospitality, respect, compassion, responsibility and empathy, together with our motto Love the Truth (Diligite Veritatem), provide a strong foundation for this work. In a world increasingly shaped by technology and rapid change, these values will ensure our young people are not only capable learners, but thoughtful, discerning and compassionate people who are well equipped for success.  

Warm regards, 

Shayne Kidd 

Principal