Principal's Update 5 December 2025

Dear Members of the Marcellin College Community,

As we draw the curtain on 2025, I want to offer my sincere thanks to every member for your support, patience and commitment throughout this very significant year. Our 75th anniversary has given us many opportunities to remember where we have come from, acknowledge the people who have shaped us and look forward with confidence to what lies ahead. Throughout the year, I have spoken often about the gift of being part of a story much larger than ourselves. This milestone has allowed us to pause, recognise our history and reaffirm the values that continue to guide us.

One of the most exciting developments this year has been the opening of our newly refurbished Library. This bright, contemporary space has already become a hub of learning, collaboration and inspiration. The boys have embraced the new amenities, from quiet study and research zones to flexible learning areas that support teamwork and creativity. Coupled with this, our new Chapel has provided the College with a sacred space that better reflects the rhythm, diversity and spirituality of our community today. Its contemporary design invites stillness and reflection, offering students and staff a calm centre within the busyness of school life.

Last week, we welcomed families, Old Collegians and staff to our annual Memorial Mass for the Deceased. It was a deeply moving occasion, as we honoured and prayed for the lives of past students who continue to hold a place in our story. We unveiled our new memorial wall, a place of remembrance, dignity, and hope and, with sadness, added the plaque of Connor Whyte. With Connor’s family and many of his friends present, it was a moment of both sorrow and love, a reminder of the way our community holds each other in times of grief.

Last Friday, we hosted our Alumni Reunion Night, which saw a strong turnout from Old Collegians across many year groups. Their genuine delight in seeing the changes to the College - the new learning spaces, the improved facilities, and the continuing vibrancy of student life - was wonderful to witness. Their pride in Marcellin College remains strong and their connection to this place endures.

Over the weekend and into Monday, I had the pleasure of attending the Marist Cricket Carnival to support our boys as they competed against Marist Tier 1 schools. Their commitment, sportsmanship and team spirit were exceptional and they represented the College with real pride. This week we also gathered as a community for our Night of Excellence, celebrating those students who excelled in their academic, cultural, and co-curricular pursuits. It was a joyful acknowledgment of effort, dedication and growth—a fitting way to conclude the year.

As we enter the Advent season, we are invited once again into a time of hope, waiting and gentle expectation. Advent reminds us that renewal happens in quiet ways: through compassion, through the courage to begin again, and through the small but meaningful choices we make each day. In our Catholic and Marist tradition, Advent calls us to prepare our hearts, to make space for gratitude and to look toward Christmas with a sense of promise. It is a timely message for all of us as we take stock of the year that has been and open ourselves to the possibilities of the year to come.

At this time of year, we also keep in our prayers our students and staff who have departed for the Cambodian Immersion experience, as well as those preparing to leave for the upcoming NASA STEM Tour in the United States. These opportunities are life-changing. They invite our young men to broaden their horizons, encounter new perspectives, and recognise the responsibility they carry as global citizens. As a Marist community, we pray for their safety, their openness to learning and their courage to engage wholeheartedly in each moment. Experiences such as these remind us that education is not confined to the classroom - it is about forming young men who are compassionate, curious and ready to be a hopeful presence in the world.

Introducing Thrive Week 2026: A Unified Approach to Formation, Orientation and Learning
In February 2026, Marcellin College will pilot an innovative whole-school initiative known as Thrive Week, running from 25 – 27 February. This initiative brings together three significant College programs - Year 12 Retreats, the Year 7 Orientation Camp, and a series of purposeful learning and wellbeing programs for Years 8 – 11, all delivered simultaneously for the first time.

Thrive Week has been developed in response to the increasing operational demands placed upon schools and the need to safeguard continuity of learning. In recent years, extended disruptions to programs, shifting staffing allocations and overlapping off-campus experiences have placed pressure on timetabling, curriculum flow and teacher deployment. By bringing these key experiences into one coordinated week, the College can maximise efficiency, ensure stability and offer students a richer, more coherent educational experience.

At its heart, Thrive Week reflects our commitment to fostering personal development, deep learning and spiritual growth across all year levels:

• Year 12 will undertake their Retreat, a dedicated time of reflection, community building and personal formation.
• Year 7 will begin their Marcellin College journey through the Orientation Camp, building confidence and developing strong relationships as they transition into secondary school.
• Years 8-11 will engage in targeted programs designed to enhance learning, wellbeing, and connectedness.

This unified model strengthens operational alignment, reduces fragmentation across the timetable and ensures staff can be deployed with greater purpose and clarity. Most importantly, it means every student, regardless of year level, will be engaged in meaningful learning or formation without the interruptions that often occur when programs run in isolation.

Thrive Week represents a significant step forward for Marcellin College. By piloting this model, we demonstrate our continued commitment to innovation, student growth and a high-quality learning environment for every young person in our care.

As we close 2025, I once again thank you for your trust, your partnership and your belief in the mission of Marcellin College. I wish every family a safe, restorative break and a joyful Christmas season. May the peace and hope of Advent find a place in your homes and in your hearts.

Blessings for the Christmas season, and I look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.

Marco Di Cesare
Principal