St Marys Newsletter – St Marys Online Newsletter

COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

January 2026

Message from the Head of College

Dear College Community,

Welcome back to the new college year! It’s a great opportunity for us to learn, grow, and continue our journey toward a brighter future.

We have many events coming up. Last Friday, we celebrated the Feast of St. Anthony, one of the most significant feasts in the life of monks. He taught Christians worldwide how to live a consecrated life dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Monday, we had something special: the three days of fasting known as the Fasting of Nineveh, or the Fasting of Jonah. This fast typically occurs two weeks before Lent.

The significance of this fasting is rooted in the story of how the Lord cared for a city called Nineveh. Nineveh, still located in modern-day Iraq, was a city filled with people who did not worship God but rather served idols. Despite their wrongdoings, the Lord cared for them deeply. He saw their sins and was understandably upset. According to the norms of that time, such behaviour would warrant severe punishment. Instead of punishing them, the Lord commanded Jonah, one of His prophets, to go to Nineveh and warn the people of their impending destruction due to their sins. Jonah was puzzled.

Why would the Lord care about a city filled with people who didn’t worship Him? They were outsiders, not part of His chosen people, and Jonah felt they didn’t deserve a warning.

Attempting to flee from this responsibility, Jonah boarded a ship going in the opposite direction. However, the Lord had a plan, and a great storm arose, threatening to sink the ship. The sailors, in panic, discovered Jonah sleeping below deck. When he awoke and realised the situation, he understood that the storm was a consequence of his disobedience to God.

Jonah confessed to the sailors that he was running away from the Lord and suggested they throw him into the sea. Reluctantly, they did, and the storm calmed. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, where he spent three days praying. Eventually, the fish brought him back to Nineveh, where he delivered God’s message.

To Jonah’s amazement, the people of Nineveh listened. They felt remorse for their sins and declared a fast, hoping to seek God’s mercy. The Lord, in His compassion, spared the city, showing that He cares for all, even those who seem far from Him.

This story teaches us that the Lord loves everyone, regardless of their actions. Even those who do not worship Him are special in His eyes. We should not dismiss anyone as unworthy of care. The Lord desires us to love and pray for everyone, especially those going through difficult times.

The Fasting of Nineveh is not unique to the Coptic Church; it was taught to us by a Syrian patriarch who became a Pope for the Coptic Orthodox Church. It is a fast for repentance and renewal. I hope you are all engaging in this fast and finding its purpose meaningful.

May the Lord grant you understanding and a renewed spirit. Glory to our Lord, now and forever.

Blessings,

Father Tadros Sharobeam

Head of College

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, Students and our SMCO Family,

I pray that you all enjoyed a safe, restful and rejuvenating break, and that you have returned to the new academic year renewed in spirit and ready for the journey ahead. As we begin 2026 together, my prayer is that this year will be one filled with blessings, growth, and success for every member of our St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College community.

This year will be a significant and exciting one for our College. We are in the final stages of constructing our new Foundation to Year 2 Learning Centre; a purpose-built, contemporary space designed to support high-quality pedagogy and learning through advanced resources and thoughtfully designed environments. We are on track to complete the build by May 2026, with our youngest students moving into the new learning centre during Semester Two. This will be a milestone moment for our community and a powerful investment in the future of our children.

In parallel, master planning for our Fraser Rise campus commenced late last year. We are now working closely with architects and consultants as designs are refined and prepared for Board consideration and approval. We look forward to sharing more as this exciting vision continues to take shape.

We have also taken a meaningful step forward in formalising a partnership with St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox College in Sydney. This collaboration will open new opportunities for our students and staff, including joint mission trips to Fiji and Egypt, student and teacher exchange programs, and shared learning experiences. Further details and updates will be communicated with families and students as plans progress.

As our College continues to grow; now serving more than 1,000 students, we are pleased to welcome 15 new teachers to our community this year, seven in Primary and eight in Secondary, along with three additional Learning Support Officers. Their expertise and commitment will further strengthen the care, learning, and support we provide to our students.

A key focus for 2026 will also be the professional development of our Middle Leadership Team. We are intentionally investing time, professional learning opportunities, and resources to strengthen leadership capacity and collective efficacy across the College, ensuring our leaders are well equipped to support staff and students with clarity, consistency, and purpose.

I am deeply excited for the journey ahead; trusting that our Lord Jesus Christ continues to guide and lead us as a community. I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ guides us as we work together to create the best possible conditions and environment for our students to flourish, grow in faith, and reach their God-given potential.

I look forward to another year of partnership, learning, and shared purpose with you all.

With warm regards and prayers,

Germaine Saad

Principal

Welcome to all students, staff and the SMCO community - First college assembly for 2026

Promoting Water Safety as We Enter the Summer Season

Water Safety Awareness

This is a reminder to promote swimming and water safety awareness in our

College community. We encourage all parents, carers and students to follow and promote the following water safety advice during this summer season.

We pray that you all keep safe and enjoy swimming and activities around water.

Information supplied by: Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia

التوعية بالسلامة حول المياه

هذا تذكير بتعزيز الوعي بالسباحة والسلامة حول المياه في مجتمع الكلية.

نشجع جميع أولياء الأمور ومقدمي الرعاية والطلاب على إتباع وتعزيز النصائح التالية المتعلقة

بالسلامة حول المياه خلال موسم الصيف هذا.

تنصح منظمة رويال لايف سيفتج أستراليا ومنظمة إنقاذ الحياة السرفية أستراليا الناس بالتالي

دائما أشرف على الأطفال بالقرب من الماء

إسبح على شاطئ مراقب بين الأعلام الحمراء والصفراء

تعلم مهارات السباحة وإنقاذ الأرواح

إرتد سترة النجاة على القوارب أو عند الصيد على الصخور أو على اليات مائية

تجنب الكحول والمخدرات حول الماء

إعرف حدودك وظروفك.

ندعو أن تحافظوا جميعا على سلامتكم وتستمتعوا بالسباحة والأنشطة حول الماء.

Hanan Khreish

Policy and Compliance Leader

Foundation First Day at SMCO!

On January 29th, excitement and anticipation filled the air as the college's foundation class convened for their first day. The atmosphere buzzed with energy, welcoming students, all ready to embark on their educational journey at SMCO.

Teachers warmly greeted the new students, sharing inspiring words about the myriad of opportunities ahead. As the day unfolded, early friendships were formed, establishing the foundation for a supportive and enriching academic community.

Students participated in engaging activities that highlighted the college's values of collaboration and innovation, fostering a sense of belonging.

By the end of the day, they left with not only a schedule of classes but also a shared excitement for the adventures and challenges that await them in the coming months.

Welcome, Foundation 2026!