Dear Colleagues,
As we welcome in the New Year and make preparations for the commencement of school, the scale of the tragedy of the recent bushfires in southeast Australia is still being realised. As our school communities return and the needs of families who have been impacted upon is assessed, we will identify in the coming days ways in which our family of schools might best support one another.
Please keep the victims of these tragic fires in your prayers, and the generous people who are caring for them in so many ways. May God especially keep safe from harm the brave volunteers who are still fighting the fires.
Please also read this message from the Superior General Brother Ernesto to all Australian Marists.
Yours sincerely,
Frank Malloy
National Director, Marist Schools Australia
In 2019, the Council for the Marist Association of Saint Marcellin Champagnat made the decision to establish a National Schools Council. The purpose of the National Schools Council is to provide advice to the Association Council about matters relating to Marist Schools Australia in fulfilling its mission, vision and overall objectives in service and leadership with the 54 Marist schools across Australia. In effect, the National Schools Council is a standing committee of the Association Council and will fulfil its role in support of good governance for the largest Marist ministry in Australia, our schools. The National Council will receive regular reports, data and analysis from the Marist Schools Australia Leadership Team, which is ably supported by the existing three Regional Councils, who provide invaluable advice and guidance to the MSA Regional Directors.
It is hard to recall commencing a school year with such a pall of widespread calamity. The ongoing drought and bushfire crises have impacted families and communities across the country and the recent developments with the deadly new coronavirus have in the last week swamped the media. Such has been the intensity of disaster coverage, some mental health professionals have advised people to moderate their exposure to the 24 hour news feed.
