From the Desk  of the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers

 

I trust that you have been able to enjoy some precious family time over the recent Easter break, and that your daughter has returned to school feeling refreshed and ready for the term ahead.  How beautiful it is to return to such gorgeous autumnal weather.  Suffice to say, La Foresta is looking particularly stunning at this time of the year - we could almost imagine we were in Umbria on vacation!

 

In the days leading up to the return of our students I was thinking of how grateful we can feel knowing that we can attend school safely this term, unlike many parts of the world, including our nearest neighbours in PNG.  It is truly a blessing that we must not take for granted.  Instead of thinking, "We have to go back to school", it is a healthy reminder for us all to adjust our thinking in terms of, "We CAN go back to school"!  As the students and staff already know, I have a deep interest in the way in which language is a powerful tool in creating our emotions, our mindsets, and our reality more broadly.  We must choose our words carefully and wisely.

 

As the College continues in its commitment to ongoing improvement and the strengthening and lifting of standards in some areas, we thank our parents for their continued support in helping us to ensure that students are wearing the correct uniform at the appropriate length, with attention to high standards of grooming, attendance, and punctuality.  As staff we will continue to uphold these expectations but, like all things in the domain of educating the whole child, we need your help and reinforcement at home also.  I am reminded of the famous quote attributed to Lieutenant General David Lindsay Morrison: "The standard you walk by is the standard you accept".  At Mount Alvernia College, we will continue to stop our walk mid-stride where necessary, and we encourage you to join us.

 

This week we will pause to remember our servicemen and women in our ANZAC day Commemorative Ceremony, and draw connections with our Easter tradition.  The connection that we hope to convey in this ceremony is that we must never give up on life - our own life or the lives of others.  In accepting that our life is a gift to be received and lived fully is instrumental to the human condition and our faith.  Only then, we can hope to respond generously and without fear to the needs of our world.  As the daughter of a Naval Commander, who sadly passed away ten years ago due to the health impacts of his time in the Vietnam War, it is certainly a time for pause, for thanks, and for hope.  Similarly, I wish to acknowledge the current Defence Force families of Mount Alvernia College who continue to serve our country with great courage and with hope.  I know many of you will also be observing this important day on Sunday 25 April.

 

Finally, I wish to thank the P&FSN for the preparation underway in hosting our upcoming Mother Daughter Celebration to be held on Saturday 8 May.  I have no doubt it will be a wonderful evening.

 

I wish you a peaceful and productive couple of weeks ahead, as together we begin Term 2.

 

Peace and all good

Samantha Jensen