Deputy Principal

‘But none of my friends are going!’ Why Every Moment at Mt A Matters.

Schools do their best to hold communities together. We carry the hopes of families and the futures of our young people. It is an enormous privilege to do so.

For those hopes, dreams and aspirations to manifest to reality, every layer, nook and cranny of our college needs exploring. Our offering goes beyond the curriculum we teach. Through our Franciscan charism and commitment to educational wellbeing, our goal is for every girl to achieve their best results that lands them in their chosen career pathway, supported by the traits of a good human: confident, capable and self-assured. It is also our hope that our girls take on the characteristics they have observed in their patrons, St Francis and St Clare: that they live a life serving others with their faces firmly fixed on Christ and gospel values.

Therefore, Mount Alvernia College is not a smorgasbord to pick and choose. It’s a degustation! Every intentional course on offer gives our girls an opportunity to explore the woman they are becoming.

Our 70th Anniversary Mass on Tuesday has been a standout of my core memories of Mount Alvernia College. It was joyous to have present our two Clare School year levels – 8 and 9 – along with our seniors as custodians of the College and the Year 11’s as emerging leaders, with staff and invited guests at St Stephen’s Catholic Cathedral. Our Years 7 and 10 were seated in Sam Damiano, supported by staff, for the livestream. These days do not just happen. There have been months of preparation, bus bookings, logistics, choir practise, cathedral liaison, invitations, printing response booklets and creating a run sheet for the mass that pays homage to the determination of our Missionary Franciscan Sisters to bring Mt A to fruition, and the life of St Clare on her feast day. What better role models could we put in front of our girls?!  

It was a privilege for us that Father Stephen Bliss, Provincial Minister for the Franciscan Friars (OFM), flew from Sydney on the day to lead this celebratory mass. It was uplifting to hear from our students how much they enjoyed the mass with many never having visited the cathedral prior.

So, it was with great sadness that I viewed the many rows of empty reserved seats for students at St Stephen’s, and staff advised of the many empty rows in San Dam. Our attendance data from the day shows that despite being a regular school day with classes happening in periods 4 and 5, while many girls were ill in this prevalent flu season, many absentees on this day were a choice to opt out. Especially so in the senior year.

When students choose not to attend these important events that shape our college and shape our girls, it is not an individual choice.  It is a choice that impacts our community. It slowly erodes the important partnership between families and schools and the cohesiveness of a cohort. So, if your daughter says, ‘none of my friends are going’, it is our hope that you will ensure your daughter puts her uniform on and makes her way to school to celebrate every gathering we offer. It is our commitment to the formation of the whole student and to fostering a thriving community.

Every blessing,

Michelle Licina

Deputy Principal Student Development and Wellbeing