Good morning, Salesians, students and staff,
A warm welcome to today’s Term 3 Assembly, an important event to review the term and celebrate achievements.
Acknowledgement to Country
I acknowledge the First Peoples and the Traditional Owners and custodians of the Country, the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin nation.
Anchored in Hope
Imagine logging into the biggest multiplayer game ever—Life Quest. You don’t get to choose the levels or the bosses, but you do get to choose how you play.
Sometimes the game throws curveballs—storms, tough enemies, confusing maps. But you’re not alone. You are part of a team, walking this quest together.
Our 2025 Salesian Strenna calls us to be anchored in hope—our steady power-up—and to be pilgrims with young people—a team journeying side by side.
Today, I want to talk about how we’ve been playing this game together this term, choosing hope as our anchor and each other as our teammates.
Overcoming Challenges for the Common Good
The real world can feel like one tough game level after another.
Global conflicts? Those are the bosses that challenge humanity’s best skills.
Social struggles and local issues in Melbourne – religious discrimination, racism, family violence, and community safety? Those are the tricky side quests testing our patience, courage and our shared values.
Unfortunately, many players in the world’s game try to win by pushing others down or going it alone – fighting to be the strongest, loudest, or fastest.
Hate, isolation, and discrimination all reduce energy levels.
But that’s not our playstyle.
As a Catholic community, we choose a different game strategy – one anchored in hope.
This is our Salesian game strategy. Hope.
Hope is like a special shield – it keeps us steady when the screen darkens.
And we’re pilgrims – players who don’t just run the quest solo but travel together, helping each other through every challenge, sharing power-ups of kindness, reason, courage, and faith.
That’s countercultural. In a world that often rewards selfish moves, we choose teamwork and respect.
Our strength comes when each of us welcome, include, care and respect everyone in our school and the community.
This is role we must play. We must be the voice that promotes the common good.
Epic Plays
Let me celebrate our community’s epic plays.
This term, our school team has had some incredible moments of leveling up in this quest:
- In the musical production, players stepped onto the stage with courage—showing that real strength is about vulnerability and creativity. They unlocked new skills in confidence and teamwork. They were respectful to other players from Salesian and Sacred Heart.
- Our debaters and public speakers used words like ultimate power-ups—calm, respectful, and truthful—changing the game from conflict to understanding. Congratulations to all players in the Mary McKertich Public Speaking Awards
- The scholars grinding in studies have shown that hope is active—each assessment and exam is a step closer to unlocking future quests. All students have reviewed and taken action to progress to the next level of the game during subject selection. Our senior students are currently navigating their final quests before examinations.
- Year 8 students lived their Life Quest level in community at Phillip Island. Salesians are renowned for living in community and building positive relationships. This was evident in games and actions.
- Year 12 footballers tried at every level to win without a result, until the very last moment, sparking joy by winning the Salesian Cup.
- Community service has been demonstrated by legendary teammates—offering healing power-ups to others through generosity and care. Thank you to our Tour Ambassadors, Time and Space facilitators, canteen volunteers, information evening panel members, our vocational major students leading the Salesian Cup, selling hot chocolates, and students facilitating public speaking or Be a Salesian Kid lessons.
- With each quest presented, our Year 7 boys responded at every level winning the inaugural ACC Spelling Bee.
- The boys in child safety committee roles have been guardians—protecting every player on the team by creating safe spaces where everyone can respawn and grow. Their service was recognised in the state Child Protecting Awards.
Buffing to boost another player’s power makes us a more joy-filled and dynamic community.
Even the little things—the smiles in the hallways, the friendly words, the helping hands—these are the ongoing power-ups that keep our team strong and hopeful.
I stand here today proud of each of you, the players in the game, demonstrating our Salesian spirit to improve yourself, to take on opportunities, and to foster a strong sense of community.
I too stand here with a great sense of gratitude to our senior students leading our community that embodies our values, and our teaching and professional staff who work very hard to create a warm and inviting learning environment for everyone. Thank you.
Conclusion – Keep Playing, Keep Hope Alive
So as this term closes, remember:
You have a unique power-up—hope—anchoring you through every tough level.
You’re not solo players—you are pilgrims on a shared quest, walking side by side, passing power-ups of kindness, courage, and faith.
The game isn’t always easy. The bosses get harder. But hope and teamwork keep us alive and winning.
Let’s keep playing this game well. Let’s keep our hope anchored and keep journeying together.
We win when each player demonstrates our college values and are “good Christian and honest citizens”.
Let us live out the Beatitudes and be like St Carlos Acutis in being people for others.
Because the greatest win is a community built on faith, respect, and love.
Game on. Enjoy a relaxing and safe holiday. Thank you.
Mark Ashmore
Principal
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