From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

What another fabulous week here at Mt A! The chilly August mornings have in no way dampened our energy or appetite for engagement and success in all dimensions of college life. One could never take for granted the dynamic and thriving community that we are all a part of - it is invigorating!

We hope that families were able to enjoy a mid-week pause for connection, rest, and recreation on Wednesday’s EKKA holiday and that this has provided you all with a ‘re-charge’ for what will be a fast moving second half of term 3. With our Year 12’s celebrating 100 Sunrises until Graduation on Tuesday, the reality of external assessments and final assessments for our seniors is now a firm reality! Based on the camaraderie and cohesion of our class of 2025, we are confident that there is absolutely nothing that this cohort of young women, could not achieve together.  As we embark upon the final phase of selection and instalment of our Senior Leaders for 2026, we can once again feel very confident of the calibre of human beings we are shaping at Mt A. I encourage you to read this week, Michelle Licina’s (Deputy Principal of Student Development and Wellbeing) reflections on this process.

As a further testimony to the quality of our graduates at Mt A, members of the CLT alongside Emma Velthuis ( Head of Engagement, Marketing and Communications) enjoyed the company of 80 Alumnae from the graduating classes of 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005, 2015 on a rainy Saturday evening in the Assisi Room. The night was a brilliant evening of reconnecting and reminiscing, many of whom had travelled from interstate to attend. The life journeys, personal stories and accomplishments of these women were varied and impressive. It was our most successful and well attended reunion to date - we look forward to our 70th Year celebrations in 2026.

On Monday we celebrated the Feast Day of St Clare of Assisi and remembered the significant role that St Clare has played in our Franciscan tradition, for us as educators, her inheritance is dynamic and energetic. We remember St Clare especially for her courage and determination to challenge the conventions of her day. Miller and Peterson (1994) note:

… She (Clare) refused to be defined by culture or the Church in traditional roles for women. She held fast to her inner truth … Clare of Assisi persisted so that her spiritual descendants could live as she had lived, in the spirit of the Gospels (Praying with Clare of Assisi. 1994. 14).

It is an important hallmark of our Franciscan education to be infusing this courage and determination in all that we do, and in all that we stand for. It is in our educational DNA you might say.

At the Year 12 Formal this year, our seniors awarded several ‘Oscars’ to their peers, in a variety of categories. One category winner was the effervescent, Chelsea Blake (also our Liturgy and Outreach Captain for 2025) who won the award “Most Likely to be Principal of Mt A”. In announcing this ‘Oscar’ on the evening, I promised Chelsea that I would install her as Principal for a Day this year. On Monday, 11th August (Feast Day of St Clare), Mount Alvernia College was led by Principal Blake. Some of her notable contributions and decisions during the day included, leading the Staff Briefing for the week on Monday morning, the provision of delicious carrot cake for all of the staff at morning break, input into our Project Control Group with our architects, a presentation to 50 prospective parents during our Principal’s Tour and a proposal from staff for a Professional Learning Experience in Bora Bora (approval still pending!). She even parked in the Principal’s car park and I enjoyed the scramble for a piece of Cremorne Road! It was a fabulous day, and Chelsea did a brilliant job leading the College – she will be receiving a glowing reference from me. Stay tuned for a “Day in the Life of a Principal” on our social media platforms coming soon.  

This week we wish our FCIP Musicians and Choristers the very best for their performances in the Queensland Catholic Music Festival this year, the CLT and members of our community are looking forward to hearing you perform! 

As we pass the midway point of Term 3, may we continue to embrace our sense of purpose and joy in all that we do. In the busyness and pace of modern life, it is easy to lose perspective, slipping into stale thinking or even negativity.  As human beings, we are naturally wired to identify problems - a trait that has served us well, making us skilled problem-solvers and innovators. Yet, when this tendency tips into a deficit mindset, it can limit our ability to recognise strengths, foster collaboration, and experience hope and joy.

Amid the ongoing public debate about the role of Generative AI in our lives, I was particularly struck by the recent wisdom of Pope Leo XIV, who reminds us of something profoundly human:

“No algorithm can ever replace a hug.” – Pope Leo XIV

This coming weekend, let’s focus more on the hugs and less on the algorithms!