Sister Irene Boughosn

Dearest Parents, Students and Visitors,

I welcome you to our website. As you browse the site, you will hopefully learn more about our College. I will share with you the ethos of the College as well as my hopes and aspirations for the welfare of our school community.

Saint Maroun’s College is a Catholic school of unique and distinctive features. We are special in that our student population comprises of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Our students come from a diversity of religious faiths which includes predominantly Maronite Catholics. I believe the school represents a microcosm of our multicultural Australian society. Our students learn to appreciate and be sensitive to different beliefs, traditions and practices of different cultures. Valuing others for their integrity and respecting all peoples is a strong focus of our school environment. I believe this helps prepare our students for the society they will enter as adults.

Another unique feature of Saint Maroun’s College is that it is operated and administered by the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family. As Sisters, we aspire to serve in life with the Holy Family as our guide.

My foremost focus as Principal at Saint Maroun’s College is the academic progress of our students. The College continues to upgrade resources, equipment and technological facilities in order to further enhance the education of our students.

We have spent considerable funds on literacy and numeracy resources in order to continue raising the academic standard and to facilitate learning. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the highly professional, competent and talented staff at the College. Our staff is skilled in catering to students with special needs as well as the gifted and talented at the College. The latter extends to both the Primary and Secondary divisions of the school. Our staff attends professional development activities in order to both maintain and advance their teaching skills.

My second focus at the College pertains to discipline and pastoral care standards. At Saint Maroun’s College, our aim is to foster self respect which I believe naturally leads to respect for the feelings and beliefs of others. We are firm, yet our care and nurturing aspect is also present.

As a Catholic College in the Maronite tradition, we work to instill spiritual and Gospel values in our children. The school is built on the heritage of the Carmelite nuns, which is an Order of sanctity and peace. We are very fortunate to have a chapel on our grounds which the students can visit and spend time in thought and prayer. I see our chapel as a refuge and peaceful place, where regardless of their faith; students can find solitude and reflect.

At the College, we encourage our students to pray according to their faith. I believe that prayer helps to calm the spirit and thought, especially in a world that is moving at such a fast pace.

We are very fortunate to have the services of a chaplain at the College. Father Geoffrey Abdallah provides spiritual support and guidance to our school community.

I believe that a school can only function and thrive when there is a strong partnership between the parents and the staff of the school. We cannot achieve our goals nor fully cater for the needs of students without the help of parents and friends. In working together, we are indeed akin to the Holy Family, working with love and support for one another.

Should you wish to raise any concerns or to make suggestions to the College, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration and make an appointment to discuss matters.

I pray that the school community is guided by the Holy Spirit. May we all be inspired to our patron Saint Maroun, to live life with humility and love for one another. May Saint Maroun protect you and your children.

I wish you all success and peace in you endeavours.

God bless you all

Sr Irene Boughosn, mshf

Principal