Principal’s Blog – 10 June 2022
Reconnection
Following the past two years, reconnecting is an important focus considering who we are as a welcoming and inclusive community. During the past weeks we have celebrated and embraced our personal and community connections that enrich our lives. Underpinning our relationships is a common experience or story – a Catholic education that is enriched by the Salesian charism.
The College has hosted or participated in key events at the school and in the community to reconnect people. These events include our Hall of Fame Dinner, the Autumn Concert and re-establishing a relationship with old collegians through the amateur football club.
Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame evening was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contributions of Salesian College Chadstone Alumni who have achieved significant success in their chosen fields of service. Each challenged themselves to use their God given talents for further growth to achieve excellence in their pursuits.
Over 85 people enjoyed the evening with inductees being interviewed by master of ceremonies Sasha Lawrence (Class of 2007) and current student leaders.
I offer my congratulations to our Hall of Fame inductees:
Young Achiever Inductee
Adrian Li Donni | Performing Arts – Ten Tenors member and vocalist
2022 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dr Salvatore (Sam) Berlangieri | Medicine – Senior Specialist in Nuclear Medicine and Positron emission tomography (PET)
Dean Rice | Sport – Former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and St Kilda in the VFL/AFL
St Francis De Sales wrote, “Be who you are and be that well.” Each of these past pupils have achieved this.
It was wonderful to be part of the evening attended by past pupils, staff, students, parents, Sacred Heart College and Avila College leaders, Primary School principals, and family and friends of those inducted into our Hall of Fame.
Click here to see previous Hall of Fame inductees.
Autumn Concert
Our Performing Arts team were able to present a wonderful afternoon and evening of music performance to parents and our community. Music and theatre have been impacted by the pandemic so it was well appreciated by all who attended that we were able to listen to live music, some for the first time in over two years.
The Year 7 performances were highly entertaining, especially considering that the students had only been studying an instrument for five months. Likewise, Year 8 to Year 12 students showcased their musical talents to a large audience in the evening who were engaged in the concert.
St Mary’s Salesian Football Club
Between 1970 and 2007, Salesian College Chadstone had a vibrant old collegian football club in the Eastern Suburban Church League (ESCLA) and the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The club was competitive in the games played at Chadstone and afar, winning the 1996 VAFA premiership. In 2008, the Salesian Old Collegians Football Club merged with St Mary’s with the school ground at the time considered unfit for football.
Today the club has men’s and women’s football teams in the VAFA competition and play out of Ferndale Park, Glen Iris.
In 2022, the Salesian College and the St Marys Salesian Football Club have reconnected, opening up opportunities for our students to play and coaches to contribute to the club. We look forward to rebuilding the relationship between the two local entities.
Further information about playing, supporting or volunteering for St Mary’s Salesian Football Club click on the link: https://www.stmaryssalesianafc.com.au/
Mark Ashmore | Principal