Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this message finds you and your family well, enjoying the VERY warm spring air and the steady pace of life as we move deeper into our final term. I write today with a spirit of optimism and gratitude: optimism for all that lies ahead as we finish this year strongly, and gratitude for your partnership in helping our students (your daughters) thrive. We are continually in awe of the growth and achievement they have realised in 2025; it has been a stellar year to date!

Maintaining Momentum

As the calendar advances and the finish line of the year comes into view, it’s more important than ever that we keep our standards high; attendance, application, engagement, and demeanour all remain vital. Every day of learning matters: arriving consistently, giving one’s best effort in class and homework, and participating positively all contribute to the strong college culture we value and have all worked extremely hard to cultivate. Your encouragement and support at home makes all the difference. When students know their families are behind them, they are more likely to stay the course and rise to the challenges that are a natural part of school life. Let us finish with energy and pride.

This week I want to extend a sincere congratulations to our Year 12 cohort for their outstanding and ongoing efforts during the external examinations, we are almost there. Their perseverance, commitment and integrity during this critical time have been exemplary. We extend our thanks to the core team; Mrs Mansfield (Dean of Senior Years), Mrs Wren Ramierez (Teaching and Learning Administrator) and Mrs Simone Roche (Deputy Principal of Teaching and Learning) for their support of our cohort during this period. We have much to celebrate together on 20 November, when we come together again for our Graduation Mass and Dinner.

Some Staff Appointments for 2026

The planning for 2026 has well and truly commenced - we have been in recruitment mode! We take this opportunity to announce the following key new/ongoing appointments:

Ms Michelle Licina who will continue in the role of Deputy Principal Student - Development and Wellbeing.
Ms Simone Roche who will continue in the role of Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning.
Mr Sam Yeats who will take up the position of Dean of Middle Years. Mr Yeats comes to us from All Hallows’ College (Currently Head of Year 7 & 8).
Ms Jane Martens our current Head of Digital Pedagogy and Innovation will take up the position of Director of Information Technology and Innovation.
Ms Tamara Richardson who will continue in the role of Head of House – Greccio.
Julie Tazzyman has been appointed to Head of Faculty – Mathematics and Numeracy and has been a Maths Teacher at the College since the beginning of 2024.
Jessica Parry has been appointed Head of Faculty – Health & Science. Jess is an experienced leader, including working as Head of Faculty – Science, across various schools and colleges, currently Head of Science Faculty at Runcorn State High School.
Madeline Coyne – Maddy will continue as a valued member of our Arts, Humanities, RE and English teams in 2026. Maddy has been part of our community since 2019, so it is wonderful that there is now the opportunity for Maddy to be with us in a permanent capacity.

In very sad news for our community, Mr Richard Rogusz – Deputy Principal Identity and Religious Life of the College will conclude his 6 years of dedicated service to Mt A at the end of 2026. I am not sure I have fully come to terms with this departure yet - I will have more to write about Richard’s contribution in a later entry.

Mr Bobby Bracken will take up the position of Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission. Mr Bracken is currently the Assistant Principal Religious Education at Our Lady’s College, Annerley.

These appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to strengthening leadership and excellence across all areas of the school. We are confident that each appointment brings valuable experience, fresh perspective and a genuine commitment to our mission. I look forward to you meeting them and welcoming them into our community in 2026. Further information regarding further departures and appointments will be shared in upcoming communications.

Important Update: Social Media & Minimum Age Legislation

You will no doubt have heard about the significant upcoming legislation around social media use for young people in Australia. Under the eSafety Commissioner’s “Social Media Minimum Age” framework, from 10 December 2025 it will be mandated that Australians under the age of 16 will not be able to create or retain accounts on certain social-media platforms. It is important to remember that this legislation represents a ‘delay’ not a ‘ban’ for young people.

At Mount Alvernia College, we are wholeheartedly in support of all efforts to minimise harm to young people and see this move as a positive step in supporting and protecting young people more broadly.

The resources below may be helpful for families at this time:

Social media 'ban' or delay FAQ | eSafety Commissioner

Raising Children Network “Social media ban: FAQs” – a family-friendly explanation of what the changes mean and how to support young people. Raising Children Network

https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/entertainment-technology/media/social-media-ban-faqs?utm_source=chatgpt.com

In light of this legislation, you might consider having a short conversation with your child: what online habits they already have, how they might build healthy alternatives, how you can set expectations together about device and screen use. While we know students increasingly connect online with peers, the delay in account creation until age 16 offers a valuable window for building strong digital-literacy, resilience and balanced screen habits. It may even help encourage greater “IRL” encounters and connections – and this would be a positive thing! This transition is very much a team effort, and we thank you in advance for helping your young person navigate this change.

Let us move into these final few weeks - buoyant and positive, determined to finish the year in high gear, celebrating what we achieve together.

Introducing... The Human Edge

At Mount Alvernia College, the future of learning is deeply human.

Introducing The Human Edge - our philosophy that celebrates what makes us irreplaceably human in an age of technology. This is a campaign that reflects the genuine programs and experiences of our Franciscan education.

As AI and automation transform the world, we’re shaping students who lead with creativity, empathy, curiosity, and connection.

Discover more about The Human Edge here.

Our recent season of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day draw us into a spirit of remembrance, hope and grace.

Lord of all Life,

We give thanks for the bright lives of the saints whose faith and love shine on through time.

We remember with gratitude those who have gone before us—family, friends, teachers—whose memory inspires and sustains us.

May we carry their legacy of kindness, courage and compassion into our daily life.

As we journey together through this term, bless our community with unity of purpose, strength of heart and gentleness of spirit.

May we finish well, support one another lovingly, and shine a light of hope in all we do.

Amen

Peace and all good,

Samantha Jensen

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