Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Last weekend, we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, often referred to as the birthday of the Catholic Church. I still remember, as a child, a priest encouraging the congregation to sing “Happy Birthday” at Mass, something that always stayed with me because it reflected the joy and hope associated with this important feast. 

For those unfamiliar with the story, following the crucifixion of Christ, the disciples gathered behind locked doors in Jerusalem, fearful that continuing Jesus’ mission may lead to the same fate for them. At Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and given the courage to go out into the world to share Christ’s message, to love one another as He loved us and to love God. 

At last week’s assembly, I spoke with our students about the importance of courage in our everyday lives. Not just courage in big moments, but the courage to do what is right, to show respect for themselves, for others, and for shared property, and the courage to speak up when others are not living out these values. 

When I reflect on what makes Marist such a special school, it is this shared commitment to living our values each day. We hold high expectations for both staff and students because we want every young person in our care to achieve their full potential, academically, spiritually, and personally. Importantly, we recognise this as a partnership with families, one that we deeply value and appreciate. 

You will have noticed that last week we distributed our updated Code of Conduct. This was done to ensure all members of our community are clear about the standards and expectations that help create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for learning. I encourage families to take the time to read through the Code of Conduct with their child and discuss the importance of upholding these standards. Thank you for your ongoing support in maintaining the high expectations that make our College community so strong. 

I am also pleased to share that interest in Year 7 enrolments for 2027 remains very strong. If you know of families considering a Marist education who have not yet submitted an application, I encourage them to do so as soon as possible, as places may become limited. 

Our young people never cease to impress me, and over the past fortnight I have witnessed many outstanding achievements from our students across a wide range of areas. This week, our young scientists represented the College proudly in the UTAS Science and Engineering Challenge, demonstrating teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills. At the same time, our sporting teams continue to perform strongly, with our MSA netball, football, badminton, and hockey teams all competing with great determination and achieving some excellent results. 

I have also been incredibly proud of the compassion and generosity shown by many of our students who willingly shaved their heads or waxed their legs to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation through the World’s Greatest Shave. Their willingness to support others in such a visible and personal way speaks strongly to the character of our young people. 

Last week, I also had the opportunity to listen to members of our Social Justice Group present on their upcoming clothing drive initiative. Our students spoke confidently and thoughtfully about the impact of fast fashion, the enormous waste it creates, its environmental impact on developing countries, and the poor working conditions often associated with the industry. Their initiative to run a second-hand clothing store, promoting the reuse of clothing while raising funds for St Vincent de Paul, is a wonderful example of our students living out the values of justice, compassion, and responsibility. I commend them for their leadership and commitment to helping others. 

These achievements do not happen by chance. They are made possible through the dedication of our staff, who continually provide opportunities, encouragement, and guidance for our students, and through the ongoing support of you, our families who work in partnership with the College. Together, we are helping to develop young people who are not only achieving success, but who are also making a positive difference in their community. 

Warm regards, 

Shayne Kidd 

Principal