From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to everyone who has supported our wonderful College over the past several weeks, from our record-breaking attendance at Open Day to the recent FCIP Rock Symphony concerts last weekend, we are beyond grateful for your ongoing support and advocacy of our community. What a truly, breathtaking experience it was to see the 150+ students and past pupils of Mt A, Padua and St Anthony’s combine together for exceptional music making. I extend my congratulations to all of our FCIP students who continue to showcase their exceptional talents. In particular, we commend the outstanding performances of Mt A vocalists; Niamh Halfpenny and Mariana Campo (& 2023 alumnae Jessica Chripczuk Morales) who really stole the show! Our gratitude and thanks also go to the FCIP staff Daniela Curcuruto, Richard Twedell, Meg Jamieson, Debbie Martin and Acting Director Trevor Beyer for their continued dedication and support of all our FOTH musicians. 

Similarly, we commend the brilliant efforts of our CaSSSA Cross Country Team who were valiant in their efforts at the recent CaSSSA Carnival. As a team, they have demonstrated considerable growth and commitment to their craft in 2024 and we cannot wait to see them in action in 2025. Our sports staff (aka Wolfmothers) Ms Ferguson, Ms McMain and Mrs Boswood continue to be a powerful motivating force and support for our students, and we are ever thankful for the exceptional work they do. Keep up the great effort #wolfpack!

Important Information: Traffic Safety - Parent and Student Drivers

I wish to also take the opportunity this week to remind parents and carers of the utmost need for safe driving and parking practices whilst in and around our precinct. In the past week, I am distressed to report that we have had a student ‘near miss’ in the Franciscan precinct. Worryingly, I have also had reported to me this week, examples of very dangerous driving behaviours of (unidentified) Mt A students who, in one example were seen disembarking from a moving vehicle! In addition to crossing dangerously in front of cars outside of the pedestrian crossing. If that was not enough, today, I witnessed from a distance an incidence of ‘road rage’ by a parent and one of our CaSSSA buses. These practices of speed, risk taking, rage, abuse and lack of consideration for the safety and wellbeing of others is not acceptable. The college will be taking steps to remind our student cohorts of their responsibilities and obligations as pedestrians and drivers and we would also ask that you assist us and model this in partnership with us. We thank you in advance, for the safety of all in our community. 

Principal’s Book Corner

I wish I could report to you all (and the wonderful iCentre team) that I am voraciously devouring a novel for pleasure - maybe in a couple of weeks I can! Like many busy people, I do find myself reading books that inform my professional growth in my area of work. Currently, I am reading Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” which is certainly being publicised extensively in the media right now. I am hoping many of you might also be reading it. It is indeed a fascinating, distressing, and provocative read for parents and educators alike. It is in essence a call to action, for all who care about the wellbeing of our young people, to consider more deeply the damaging impact that our ‘smartphone centric’ world is having on our children. Specifically, he writes of the ‘rewiring of the brain’ and the devastating impact devices are having on the mental health of our adolescents. In his conclusion, Haidt offers four foundational reforms to arrest the burgeoning mental health crisis of young people and they are:

1. No smart phones before high school
2. No social media before 16
3. Phone-free schools
4. Far more unsupervised play and childhood independence

For those who came to Dr Justin Poulson’s presentation last month, you will recall his plea for a critical mass of parents to enact and join in this approach. I look forward to seeing further public debate and community dialogue in this area. I believe that together, in partnership we could really make a positive impact on our students’ health and wellbeing, who knows, maybe our Mt A community could really be a leader in this.

It is a beautiful serendipity that Reconciliation Week (27 May – 2 June) and “Green Week” this week, follows on from Laudato Si Week (19 - 26 May).

As this time of year approaches, I am always reminded of the profound connection that exists between our First Nations People and our Franciscan Spirituality. A connection that values contemplation and deep listening “Dadirri” and an innate relationship with country and creation. 

“We are not God. The earth was here before us and was given to us…..Nowadays we most forcefully reject the notion that our being, created in God’s image and given domination over the earth, justifies absolute domination over other creatures” (Laudato Si, 67)

It is indeed a blessing to have a Pope who is committed to the immense responsibility we humans have, to care for our earth. It is perhaps an even greater privilege still, to be living in a country who can proudly claim the oldest continuous living culture in the world. What might be achieved locally and globally if we were open enough to hear their wisdom? To share in their ancient knowledge and care for country? In Reconciliation week 2024, I recognise the sorry business of the last 12 months and seek to continue to walk in partnership alongside our indigenous brothers and sisters. We all have so much to gain from this, for each other, for justice, for our beautiful country and for our earth – “Now more than ever”.

Peace and all good,

Samantha