Around our schools: inspiring hope for the future

With the Jubilee Year encouraging us to approach the future with faith and hope, we look at a few of the ways our Catholic schools are accompanying and equipping students on this journey, through inspiring teaching, special celebrations and creative approaches to caring for our world.

Daughters of the Church: Avila College celebrates 60 years

Avila College celebrated its Diamond Jubilee with an inspiring school Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday 27 May, bringing together students, staff, alumnae and families to mark 60 years of Catholic girls’ education in Mount Waverley.

Bishop Anthony Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, presided at the Mass, reflecting in his homily on the college’s motto, Ecclesiae Filia—‘daughter of the Church’. He encouraged the students to see this not merely as a motto but ‘a calling … to be someone who listens to the Word of God, who allows it to shape her choices, her dreams, her future.’

Bishop Ireland drew inspiration from two holy women with ties to the Cathedral—St Mary MacKillop and Dr Mary Glowrey—reminding the congregation that ‘you sit not as tourists in a historic place but as pilgrims in the company of saints-in-the-making.

What you do today—how you live, how you love, how you serve—will ripple into the future.

Bishop Ireland paid tribute to the Presentation Sisters who founded the college in 1965, describing them as ‘women of vision, strength and deep faith’.

‘Their mission was not just to teach young women, but to form each one as a daughter of the Church—Ecclesiae Filia—capable of leadership, wisdom and love.’

Bishop Ireland encouraged the young women of Avila to embrace their role as the Church’s ‘vibrant present’ and to live out the school’s 60^th-anniversary theme, Be the Legacy.

‘What you do today—how you live, how you love, how you serve—will ripple into the future,’ he reminded them.

Reflecting afterwards on ‘a wonderful celebration’, Kelly Bunning, Director of Faith and Mission at Avila commented on ‘how fabulous [it was] for our students to get a glimpse of what it means to be part of Catholic Melbourne.

After the Mass, the anniversary celebrations continued back in Mt Waverley at the Avila College campus.

Celebrating inspiring teachers

Students thanked their favourite teachers in a heartwarming and hilarious video ahead of News Corp’s 2025 Australia’s Best Teachers series launch.

The students from schools in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) network described their teachers as ‘patient, kind and trustworthy’, and thanked them for having empathy and always being approachable.

Some of the country’s most innovative and inspiring teachers will be recognised as part of News Corp’s annual Australia’s Best Teachers series.

Now in its third year, Australia’s Best Teachers has celebrated hundreds of educators making a positive difference in the classrooms and communities they serve.

It is not an awards program but a purposeful series aimed at showcasing the passion and impact teachers have on young Australians and their future pathways.

Seeing our teachers recognised and celebrated by their students is deeply rewarding, and reinforces the passion and dedication they bring to their classrooms every day.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said last year that campaigns like Australia’s Best Teachers would be crucial to recruiting and retaining great teachers as the nation continues to tackle a workforce crisis in our schools.

MACS Executive Director Dr Edward Simons said the organisation was ‘delighted’ to be part of the series for a third consecutive year.

‘We have witnessed firsthand the impact it has made in our school communities’, he said.

‘Seeing our teachers recognised and celebrated by their students is deeply rewarding, and reinforces the passion and dedication they bring to their classrooms every day.

‘Equally, the growing number of nominations year on year reflects how engaged and eager students are to show their appreciation for their teachers.

‘We are proud to continue supporting a campaign that shines a well-deserved spotlight on the passion and dedication teachers bring to their classrooms every day.’

[This is an extract of an article originally published on the Herald Sun website on 19 May 2025.]

The Rising Star awards given by The Educator are another opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate inspiring teachers—teachers like Samantha Warren from Aquinas College, Ringwood, who was one of only 50 teachers from across Australia to be named a Rising Star this year. Samantha was recognised for her effective leadership as English Learning Area Leader, a role she took on recently after nine years at the college.

Now she’s leading a team of teachers, Samantha is determined to help both students and staff at the college to flourish. ‘My goals are simple: to keep growing, keep learning and keep contributing to a culture that supports people to thrive—staff and students alike.’

The rapport we build and the belief we show matter just as much as the content we teach.

Samantha is passionate about teaching and has learned the importance of positive teacher–student relationships. ‘I genuinely love seeing students who are convinced they “hate” English or believe they can’t do it start to find success. That’s a powerful moment—when something “clicks”—and they realise they’re capable. Those kinds of moments remind me that the rapport we build and the belief we show matter just as much as the content we teach.’

When reflecting on her leadership style, Samantha explains the type of culture she aims for to help her team thrive. ‘I think one thing I’ve done differently is lead with vulnerability and honesty. I’ve tried to create a culture where staff successes are noticed and shared—whether that’s a brilliant lesson, a breakthrough with a student or something innovative they’ve trialled. It’s a small thing, but it builds morale and trust. People feel seen and appreciated—and I think that matters in leadership.’

Samantha’s reaction to being on the Rising Star list perfectly sums up why she deserves this recognition. ‘I was genuinely flattered—and honestly surprised. It’s really heartwarming to be recognised by my peers. It made me pause and reflect on how grateful I am to be part of a team that values growth, collaboration and impact, even in the everyday moments.’

Garden superheroes inspire students to care for Creation

Displayed along the Southern Drive of this year’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show were the school entries for the Sustainable Scarecrow Competition. The Garden Superheroes theme ‘encouraged participants to design scarecrows that embody heroic figures protecting gardens from pests and promoting plant health’.

Among the 50 entries from Victorian schools—showcasing superhero scarecrows made from repurposed, recycled and reused materials—were creations from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) schools that were awarded second and third place, as well as the People’s Choice Award.

In second place was ‘Texta Robo Bob’, created by students from ResourceSmart School St Joseph’s School, Sorrento. Sustainability student leaders and participants in a lunchtime art club made their scarecrow from only recycled materials, including cans, textas, bread tags, knitting needles, sauce bottles, foam from packaging and an old watering can, which was used for the head.

‘Brigitron’ from St Brigid’s School, Gisborne, came in third place with students showing their passion for sustainable living, creating, nature, gardening and outdoor learning.

‘I loved making Brigitron with our team and sharing lots of my ideas to make her so great. Our best idea was using the natural items, like the bark we found, to make Brigid’s eternal flame and her flame crown. St Brigid loved nature and she is our school’s superhero. We loved visiting her at the flower show and seeing all the other schools’ creations’, said student Beau.

MACS schools are fostering creativity, sustainability, teamwork and community to enable students to flourish and enrich the world.

The general public cast their votes at the show for their favourite superhero scarecrow, with Emma Vulin MP awarding the People’s Choice to ‘Captain Defender’, the creation of St Augustine’s Primary School, Keilor.

An enthusiastic team of students representing the three 3/4 classes worked on building a scarecrow that fit the brief of being a superhero made using recycled products. Many of the students willingly gave up their lunchbreaks to work on the project.

‘Captain Defender’ represented the bees who, the students felt, are the real superheroes of not only the garden, but the planet. The students and teachers all felt incredibly proud, and have been encouraged to look at other opportunities to integrate their sustainability knowledge and help make a difference for our planet. Captain Defender will now take pride of place in the school’s garden.

Through opportunities like these, MACS schools are fostering creativity, sustainability, teamwork and community to enable students to flourish and enrich the world.

Kolbe’s house competition for sustainability success

As a secondary school finalist in this year’s ResourceSmart Schools Awards, Kolbe Catholic College in Greenvale Lakes has combined environmental action and social justice, as well as a healthy dose of inter-house competition, to create the Containers for Charities program.

The student leadership team (SLT) came up with an initiative to help the college reach its ambitious goal to reduce landfill and increase recycling by 12 per cent over four years through implementation of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).

The SLT devised a plan to encourage students and staff to change their recycling habits by providing bins with the six house colours throughout the schoolyard and introducing the Sustainability Shield. With each container earning a house point, the bins quickly filled, reaching over 1250 deposits by the end of Term 1.

At the end of the year, the funds raised through CDS Vic will be donated to a charity that will be selected by the SLT. The Containers for Charities program has enabled student leaders to educate and engage the school community about decreasing waste and increasing recycling.

‘Our students are committed to making a difference in the community and creating a more sustainable future. The Containers for Charities program is a fantastic way for everyone to contribute positively, one bottle at a time’, said Principal Nick Scully.