Message From the Principal

“We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.”

Catherine McAuley

Welcome to the 2021 school year! I hope everyone enjoyed some rest and relaxation over the break, spending quality time with family and friends. The staff and students have certainly returned with renewed energy and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead. This year, I am thrilled to announce our College focus will be on harnessing our positive energy in a more intentional way, bringing greater depth to our relationships with others through our thoughts, words and actions. The College Leadership Team spent days together in early January reflecting on how we could ‘Lead with Intention’ continuing to strengthen our community and set goals and action plans in line with the Towards 2015 Strategic Plan.

I launched this theme at our Welcome Assembly and reminded everyone that intention is the force that comes from our heart and lies behind everything that we do, whether good or bad. I suggested that as a community we could all work towards being more:

Intentional in our relationships with others by investing in knowing and understanding others better, building stronger and more respectful relationships.
Intentional in our understanding of what it means to be a member of this community. We can all bring the Mercy Values to life more intentionally in our actions and words, inspired by the practical example of Catherine McAuley.
Intentional in our learning journey by setting goals and taking real action towards achieving these goals.

I was able to share that our College continues to experience strong growth and coupled with internal staff promotions, we needed to find more expert teachers and great teacher aides to join our team from this year. These staff members will be featured on our digital media as part of the rollout for our Twilight Open Evening on Wednesday 17 March 2021.

Later in this Newsletter, Ms Byres has provided information on our Scholars’ Assembly. We are immensely proud of all of our graduates from 2020, and wish them all the very best for their futures. We know they will always remain closely connected to the College and the sisterhood of incredible Alumnae. In the Director of Mission’s report, Ms Costopolous, covers the Beginning of Year Mass and the Year 12 Student Investiture. Presided over by our Parish Priest, Fr. Siby, these were a truly beautiful occasion.

In Queensland, schools are required to adhere to all COVID-19 operating guidelines. As a Boarding school we also have additional requirements to follow. I would like to thank our College community for continuing to play our part in ensuring the health and safety of students, staff and the broader community remains the priority. This includes not sending your daughter to school if she is displaying COVID-19 symptoms, and to seek medical advice and subsequent testing if required. We also thank you for understanding that if your daughter develops COVID-19 symptoms that you will be asked to collect her immediately from the College. We continue to take advice from the Chief Health Officer and Queensland Health in making decisions regarding the operation of our College at this time. We are looking forward to the year ahead and our team is committed to finding safe ways to hold more events within our College community, whilst adhering to the COVID-19 Guidelines for day and boarding schools. Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

May God bless our College community in the year ahead.

Amber Hauff

College Principal