From the Principal Mrs Antoinette McGahan

Welcome back girls, we missed you!

It was with great delight to welcome our students back last week! The College was again filled with energy and enthusiasm as well as laughter and chatter filling the corridors and the playground. The girls, whilst a little nervous, greeted each other and their teachers with excitement. The newsletter is filled with wonderful pictures and stories of the reunion. 

2022 Student Leaders Induction

Simultaneously our Year 12 began their final week at the College, hence we took the opportunity to induct our Year 11 Student Leaders. Our outgoing Year 12 Leaders passed on the light of leadership to our incoming 2022 Student Leaders.

The Induction ceremony began with the Gospel passage “Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet” (John 13: 3-17). This scripture passage reminds us of the quality of leadership through the example of Jesus.  Through His actions,  Jesus teaches us to love unconditionally, to place the needs of others ahead of our own, and to humbly serve.  The choices we make and how we live each day help shape our world.  Those called to lead are often ordinary people who dare to trust God’s intervention in their lives.  Performing simple acts of compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, and love have a tremendously positive effect on the lives of others as well as their own.

These young women are to be commended for demonstrating significant leadership qualities and for having the courage to take on such prominent roles within the school.  We place a great emphasis on student leadership as it gives all students the opportunity to have a voice, to influence decisions, and to actively participate in every aspect of College life.  This role of leadership is not exclusive to the elected leaders but is the essence of being a Year 12 student.

Jesus humbled himself and washed the feet of the chosen disciples.  He informs us that we should also serve one another.  We call on our new College Leaders to take up the challenge of Christian leadership and follow Christ’s example.

Our 2021 leaders have brilliantly led the College during a time of adversity.  I sincerely thank them for their dedication and outstanding leadership, and the legacy they have left behind.

Farewell to Year 12 – The Class of 2021

We also farewelled our Year 12 students last week as they commenced their STUVAC in preparation for the upcoming HSC exams. The Class of 2021 is the class to continue the change our world needs. A change that focuses on courage, appreciation, collaboration, and leadership. They are the class that showed a heightened awareness of what it means to show “When we spread our wings, we create a flutter”. While it has not been easy but together, with Vincenza Treeves, our College Captain, Olivia Farish, and Sophia Kouknas, our College Vice Captains, the girls stood tall, maintained their strength as a group, showed determination and resilience to look after each other. What’s more, they still continued to build school spirit. The Class of 2021 will be remembered for all that they have endured whilst still shining a light!

Finally, thank you to everyone involved in making their goodbye both memorable and magnificent! Our prayers and thoughts are with our Year 12 girls. May the power of our prayers guide, nourish, and keep them safe and focussed during this time.  We look forward to the Graduation Assembly and Graduation Mass scheduled to take place on Monday 6 December.

World Teachers Day 2021

Friday 29 October was World Teachers Day. It is a day that celebrates the efforts of teachers who play such an important role in our lives. 

Children influence society by using what they have learned or are taught at a young age and teachers are the critical point to make a child ready to become a leader of tomorrow. Teachers are the solid foundation upon which any quality education is built and they are perhaps the few people in our lives who rejoice when we, their students, outdo them.

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

November begins with a double feast, All Saints’ Day, 1 November, followed by All Souls’ Day, 2 November.

All Saints Day is in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. This feast day is immediately followed by All Souls Days which commemorates all the faithfully departed. Both these feast days are about every one of us being called to holiness as God’s children. These feast days inspire us with tremendous hope. All the saints lived on earth and had lives like our own.

Both these Feasts give us consolation that, as saints and sinners, God welcomes all. On these Feast Days, we especially recall the Church as a community of saints who are sinners, sinners who did saintly things. All Saints and All Souls are living proof that ‘God never gives up on us no matter what; God loves us all so much!’

Finally…

We have begun our planning for 2022 with respect to staffing and the 2022 College timetable. Hence, it is imperative that families give the College notice if they intend on withdrawing their daughter’s enrolment from the College for 2022 and beyond.

I remind all the girls to remain focused and prepared to do all they can to make a difference in their final semester report.

Blessings on you and your families,

Mrs. Antoinette McGahan, College Principal