Deputy Principal

A Week That Captures the Heart of College Life  

There are some weeks that remind you exactly why schools are such remarkable places. The first week of Term 3 has certainly been one of those.

As Deputy Principal of Teaching and Learning, much of my week has centred on our Year 10 SET Planning conversations. It has been a privilege to meet with students and their families as they begin making important decisions about their senior pathways. These discussions are always thoughtful, hopeful and, at times, challenging, as students consider where their interests and aspirations might lead them. I would also like to acknowledge the wider Extended Leadership Team who have generously given their time to these meetings. Their care, expertise and commitment to each student are invaluable, and our families benefit enormously from their guidance.

The week also saw Homeroom teachers meeting with students from Years 7 to 11 for their Mentor conversations. These one-on-one discussions are an important part of our Educational Wellbeing program, providing dedicated time for students to reflect on their learning, celebrate successes, identify challenges, and set goals for the term ahead. They are a quiet but powerful reminder that genuine relationships sit at the heart of student growth.

Stepping back into my own classroom has been another highlight. This term, my English students are exploring changing representations of Australian identity through poetry and music. There is something deeply rewarding about hearing young people question long-held ideas, draw connections between texts and the world around them, and discover that our national story has never been a single story at all.

The learning extended well beyond the classroom this week. I had the opportunity to debrief with some of the students who recently represented the College at the Australian Economics Conference in Canberra. Listening to them speak with such confidence and enthusiasm about the ideas they explored was inspiring. Their curiosity, willingness to challenge thinking and pride in representing the College were evident.

And, of course, no week at Mount Alvernia would be complete without cheering from the sidelines. Watching our Captains take on Padua at the seniors’ basketball game reminded me that resilience, teamwork and determination are developed just as readily on the court as they are in the classroom. It was a fiercely contested match that had many of us invested until the final whistle. So close, girls; you made us incredibly proud.

Looking back over the week, I am struck by its variety. Conversations about the future. Rich learning in classrooms. National representation. Meaningful mentoring. Fierce sporting competition. Each experience was different, yet together they tell the same story.

Mount Alvernia College is so much more than a place where students achieve academically. It is a community where they are known, challenged, encouraged and celebrated. I feel incredibly fortunate that my role allows me to experience so many different facets of college life, and every one of them reinforces just how special this community is.

Kind regards, 

Ms. Simone Roche

Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning