Deputy Principal

Ash Wednesday 

Wednesday 22 February was Ash Wednesday. This day marked the beginning of Lent and calls us to reflect upon our lives – both what we do well and what we could improve. The season of Lent itself, is a preparation for the most significant event of the Christian calendar: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Mount Alvernia College community marked Ash Wednesday with a liturgy during Homeroom. During the liturgy, ashes were distributed as a symbol of our mortality, humility and sacrifice.

Going Meat-Free during Lent

Every Friday during Lent, La Cucina will be meat-free. Abstaining from meat on these days is an old tradition within the Catholic Church. It is like fasting or not eating particular types of meat common to other religious traditions (such as Judaism and Islam). Franciscan people are also aware of the justice dimension of going meat-free for one day per week. For some years now, we have heard that foregoing meat one day each week minimises our carbon footprint and our impact on the planet. In addition, abstaining from meat is an act of solidarity with the poor majority world. Firstly, the global poor simply cannot afford to consume a meat-based diet and experience hunger when they cannot afford or access food. Secondly, it is the global poor that is the most affected by the effects of climate change. Reducing food waste is another behaviour that can allow us to walk more gently on the earth.

Project Compassion

Ash Wednesday also marked the official launch of Project Compassion. Project Compassion is an annual Lenten appeal for Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s official international aid and development agency. The money raised through this appeal is used to develop long term development programs in partnership with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities for whom poverty and injustice is a daily reality. During Lent, each student is asked to consider what they can give up and to donate the money they save in going without to people in need. It is a small action that makes a world of difference, and indeed, a difference in our world. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future  generations. All donations can be made through the Mount Alvernia College Project Compassion online portal: https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/o/mt-alvernia-college. The link will also be shared with students by email. For more information, visit the Caritas website: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/.

Ponytail Project, Thursday 30 March

This term we will also be raising funds for the Cancer Council and people living with cancer by participating in the Ponytail Project. Every year an estimated 4000 ponytails are needed just to make enough charitable wigs for those suffering from cancer or alopecia. One wig requires 20 ponytails and can cost thousands of dollars. Sustainable Salons collects all ponytails 20cm or longer, both coloured and uncoloured, and sends them to charitable organisations and wigmakers. Uncoloured ponytails 36cm+ are the holy grail for charitable wigs. We have about eight intrepid students willing to donate their hair to this worthy cause. Our event will take place on assembly on Thursday 30 March.  You can donate to Team Mount Alvernia via the Ponytail Project website: https://www.ponytailproject.com.au/fundraisers/teammountalvernia. If your child would like to join the team to #RockTheChop by donating their hair, they can register via the link: https://forms.office.com/r/yPnME7pSGW.  

Galentine’s Day

On Monday 13th February, our College Captains brought the Galentine's Day spirit to Mount A. The concept of Galentine’s Day will be familiar to all of you who enjoyed the television series Parks and Recreation. It is a celebration of female friendships and family relationships. A big thank you to the Captains for their coordination of the event, and to the Z Club for running the Bake Sale. We raised over $1000 from the day in support of the Z Club’s Birthing Kit project. Each year, the  Z Club works in partnership with the Zonta Club of Pine Rivers to assemble 500 birthing kits. These kits are distributed to developing communities around the world to provide a more hygienic and moderately safer birth for women and babies. You can read more about this program via Birthing Kits Foundation Australia, https://www.bkfa.org.au/.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families 

If your daughter identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student, please contact me at the College by phone or email, rogur@staff.mta.qld.edu.au. While the College seeks this information from families at enrolment, it does not always reflect the most up-to-date information. Accurate information will assist the College in ensuring communication of events for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students reaches our students and their families.