Deputy Principal

Year of Joy

2025 will be another significant year of celebration.

For the Church, Pope Francis has declared 2025 a year of jubilee, a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate crisis. The theme for the year, “Pilgrims of Hope” highlights Pope Francis’ intention that this sacred time of prayer, pilgrimage, and conversion will “contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”

For Franciscan people, this year marks the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures, the beautiful prayer to God and celebration of creation attributed to Saint Francis. 

For our College community, 2025 is the year we celebrate our fourth guiding value: Joy. 

In the Old and New Testaments, the word “joy” is used in a wide variety of ways to describe physical, emotional and spiritual happiness.

In the Christian tradition, joy is understood in the spiritual sense. Spiritual joy is not an emotion but a choice to place one’s happiness where it belongs: in finding our meaning and fulfilling our purpose in life.

In John 15: 9-13 we are told that the foundation of spiritual joy is in the love of God. Through our relationship with God, our joy deepens. Through our relationships with others, we give it expression. 

In the Franciscan tradition, Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi experienced joy through their deep faith in God and their experience of God’s presence in all things. All that they did, sought to reveal the presence of God in the world and to make God known to others. For them, God was the source of truth, their life’s blessings and their consolation. 

Here at Mount Alvernia, we believe that young people need a hope-filled and optimistic future. Saint Francis was a man of deep and abiding joy because he believed that joy could be found by recognising the presence of God in all things. By boldly seeking our aspirations with purpose and meaning, we too can live life fully and joyfully.

In this spirit, it is my hope that, this year, we may:

• seek to deepen our relationship with God, the Christian source of joy; 
• be mindful of God’s presence in our world, especially in creation;
• cultivate joy in our relationships with one another; 
• continue to discern our meaning and purpose. 

Parent Workshop, The Brain Calming Method

Last year, Mr Paul Jarvis facilitated a number of workshops with staff and students in Years 7 and 10 about what neuroscientists call “cognitive overload” - a state of feeling stressed and overwhelmed - and the evidence behind how best to address it. Drawing on his extensive career in education, Paul teaches a brain-calming method - without screens - that is effortless and a very effective way to promote mental rest. 

Feeling overwhelmed impairs our ability to think clearly, solve problems, learn new things easily, make decisions, be patient, and control our emotions. In short, it impairs what staff, students and parents need to function in a given day. I am sure many families are well aware of this feeling of being overwhelmed and how this affects our capacity to main our wellbeing and positive relationships. 

This year we would like to offer an information session for parents to share the work we have commenced with staff and students. The workshop will explore the cause of cognitive overload and the evidence from medical science about how we can reduce its effects. It is our hope that with parent awareness of the growing problem with screens and strategies that can minimise their impact, we can continue to support the positive mental health and wellbeing of our students.

The workshop will be held at the College on Tuesday 18 February from 6.00 – 7.00pm. Parents are asked to RSVP using the link below. Students are encouraged to attend also. 

Date: Tuesday 18 February

Time: 6.00 – 7.00pm

Venue: iCentre

RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/jKMi1AkwmU   

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.