Badano Corner
Our Year 7 students have begun the year in the Badano Program by developing important learning and digital skills, while also exploring the history and identity of St Monica’s College.
Students worked on strengthening their IT skills, learning how to confidently use programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as how to navigate and organise their work using OneDrive. These skills are essential in helping students manage their learning across all subjects.
Alongside this, students explored the foundations of St Monica’s College. They learned about the important role of the Good Samaritan Sisters, who established the College and provided the founding staff for the school. Students also examined key moments in the College’s history, including the development of the Davisson Street Campus in the 1960s, and the naming of the College by Archbishop Justin Simonds (Archbishop of Melbourne from 1964–1967), who named the new regional school St Monica’s College, Epping.
Students reflected on the opening and blessing of the College in 1967, the leadership of Foundation Principal Sister Patricia Thame, and the early school community of three Good Samaritan Sisters and 108 students. They also explored later developments, including the leadership of Sister Therese Quinn (1977–1985), the transition to a coeducational dual-campus school in 1978, the establishment of the Davisson Road Campus for Years 7 and 8, and the move to lay leadership in 1991 under Principal Mr Hanley OAM.
Through this learning, students gained a deeper appreciation for the history, faith, and community values that continue to shape St Monica’s College today.
Year 8 students focused on the theme “Setting Yourself Up for Success”, exploring how developing a positive mindset can support both learning and personal growth.
Students reflected on how the way we think about challenges can influence our ability to succeed. By developing a positive and resilient mindset, students are better equipped to approach challenges with confidence.
Key ideas explored included:
Turning Challenges into Opportunities - Seeing difficulties as opportunities to learn and grow
Boosting Creativity and Problem-Solving - A positive mindset supports creative thinking and new ways to approach problems
Staying Strong in Tough Times - Developing resilience and the ability to bounce back when things do not go as planned
Keeping Motivated - Believing in your ability to succeed encourages perseverance and effort
Building Stronger Relationships - Positivity helps students work well with others and build supportive relationships.
Year 9 students have been exploring the theme of identity and reflecting on the many factors that shape who we are.
Through the Badano Program, students examined how identity can be expressed in meaningful ways through poetry, art, and music. These creative activities encouraged students to reflect on their experiences, values, culture, and personal perspectives.
By engaging with different forms of creative expression, students were able to explore questions about who they are, where they come from, and how their beliefs and relationships influence their sense of self.
This work supports the development of self-awareness, empathy, and respect for the diverse identities within our College community.
Year 10 students have been exploring how habits shape our behaviour and how these habits are often underpinned by our values.
Students learned that a habit is a behaviour repeated regularly, often without conscious thought. Habits form because the brain seeks efficiency, allowing certain actions to become automatic over time.
Students reflected on how small habits may seem insignificant in the moment, but their impact grows over time. In other words, success is not simply about what we hope to achieve, but about the actions we consistently take each day.
Students also explored how developing positive habits can support their learning and wellbeing.
Good habits can:
Reduce stress
Minimise last-minute panic
Help students stay organised
Build confidence in their ability to manage their learning
Year 10 is an important time for students to begin reflecting on their habits, particularly as they prepare for the increased demands of VCE in the coming years.
Through this learning, students are encouraged to develop positive routines and behaviours that support both academic success and personal growth.
Ms M Theodosis
Wellbeing Coordinator
Mr B Schubert and Ms N Ilsley
Badano Leaders
