To mark this milestone anniversary, a special logo was designed to honour the rich history of the Seirei Peace Exchange. Drawing inspiration from the existing Seirei and MSJ Partnership logos, the design brings both college emblems together in a harmonious illustration. Acacia (wattle), native to Australia, and cherry blossom (sakura), native to Japan, are paired to symbolise friendship, unity, and the blending of our two cultures. A heartfelt thank you is extended to Takahiro Hayashi for his input and support from the initial concept to the final design. Reflecting our college identity, the logo incorporates MSJ’s primary colours (blue, green and yellow) along with our official font.
The logo was printed on tote bags for the Japanese students and featured on premium keepsake sets for key personnel, containing a limited-edition photo album. Created to mark the milestone anniversary, the album celebrates the generosity and dedication of those who have nurtured the partnership, offering a curated look at memorable moments of hospitality, learning, and cultural connection over the past three decades.
A sincere thank you is also extended to Concetta Pignatelli, whose assistance in reviewing archival albums and our digital database was invaluable in bringing this publication to fruition.
This album captures the warmth, joy, and lasting friendships built across generations of MSJ students, families, and staff - a testament to the enduring impact of the exchange and the many moments of connection that continue to unite our two communities.
Caroline Russo - Marketing, Events & Communications Officer
The Supportive Friends Leadership Team is a group of driven Year 11 students who work towards supporting the culture of kindness, acceptance and wellbeing at MSJ, which allows students to develop their leadership and organisation skills.
This year, the Supportive Friends have been responsible for organising events such as R U OK Day, fundraising for Vinnies, supporting new Year 8-12 students as they started at MSJ, attending conferences, as well as taking part in the Catholic Mission Launch.
As a Supportive Friend in 2025, I’ve been able to work alongside my peers and brainstorm events and initiatives that support both MSJ and the broader community. We’ve worked closely with staff and students alike, developed our interpersonal skills, embraced every opportunity we’ve been provided and had the opportunity to present our achievements to students in the same position from other schools. Being able to give back to and empower a community that pours everything into the wellbeing of its students is a powerful dynamic, and one that has been beneficial in giving us real life experiences that will help us as we further our education, both at MSJ and across our future pathways.
Being part of the Supportive Friends has been an incredible experience and I’d strongly recommend for students in younger year levels to take on this opportunity.
Also, a huge thank you Ms Simcic, who has worked tirelessly to make our ideas a reality. We would not have been able to do this without you and your positive “You can do this!” attitude.
Amalia Brocas-Reti - Year 11
As a VPC class, we carefully considered the design of our dollhouse to ensure it would be engaging and appealing to children.
We began with a discarded, well-worn dollhouse and thoughtfully selected sustainable materials to give it a complete remodel. Through this process, we were able to repurpose the dollhouse, transforming it into a renewed and charming toy that we hope will bring joy to another child.
Our project was guided by a strong environmental focus, influencing every decision we made. By recycling and repurposing existing materials, we aimed to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices within our community.
To share the results of our work, we chose to donate the refurbished dollhouse to Vinnies Altona, where it can serve as an affordable and meaningful Christmas gift for a family. Vinnies’ research has found that 89% of people are open to receiving Christmas gifts that are pre-loved and 57% of Australians feel like they overspend at Christmas. In addition to this, 74% worry about Christmas waste, and 67% received an unwanted gift last year. This has prompted Vinnies to run the Gift Good campaign and we are proud that our dollhouse actively supports this campaign.
We hope the family who receives our dollhouse will continue the spirit of sustainability by passing it on and recycling preloved gifts for future families to enjoy.
Jenny Jones - Learning Diversity Leader
