Deputy Principal

The importance of rites of passage and ‘What If?’

Over the past week we have welcomed our newest students and their families into their College Houses and farewelled our senior cohort on their journey to external exams and graduation.  Last Friday at our Year 7 2025 Transition Twilight, incoming students met their Home Room Ambassadors who will partner with them in their first year (my, what a great job our Year 10 students did!) and all the 2025 Captains welcomed and escorted our newest families to registration and refreshments on the College Rooftop. Our families were so impressed with our captains for their enthusiasm and the ability to engage in the art of conversation. Parents from each House connected and exchanged phone numbers as friendships formed. On Tuesday, our entire student and staff community farewelled our seniors in a heart-felt College Assembly allowing them to reflect on their Mt A journey and for staff to share their own memories and words of wisdom. We released them to the arms of their families waiting at the hat toss and joining us for refreshments after.

These events are mutually beneficial to our college and our families. We know firsthand how important formal rites of passage are in the positive shaping of young people. Andrew Lines from The Rite Journey advises that when there are no ‘rites’ initiated by the grown-ups around our young people, they will create their own and often inappropriate ones. Rites that focus on appropriate behaviour, respectful relationships and boundaries of what is expected of them as a young adult are vital. When they feel part of a community, there are far more willing to serve within it.  So, Mount Alvernia College places a great deal of time and energy into the many formal rites of passage and reflection days we offer because it is good work.  It is such a pleasure to work with Richard Rogusz, Deputy Principal Identity and Religious Life of the College, to ensure our programs are faith-based and steeped in the values and traditions of our Franciscan heritage.  

What If? What if Mountt Alvernia was truly valued as a place where young people are enough as they are? What if all the expectations from social media feeds, retail outlets and fashion/beauty editorials were left at the school gate to allow young people to be themselves? What if our young people were valued for the gifts and talents they bring to our community – not the value of their jewellery, smartphone and water bottle - and our college played a part in nurturing those talents to allow our students to thrive? 

I write these ‘what if?’ statements as I reflected on a recent article – ‘Show Them Your Badge’ - by Justin Coulson where he challenges the notion that our authority should automatically command respect. Young people need more. Real authority comes from building trust and understanding, not just showing our badge. This trust and understanding is important in maintaining positive and respectful relationships.

You see, these ‘what if?’ statements lie deep at the heart of our uniform policy, which, at the moment, is becoming more and more difficult to manage. Our uniform policy that is formed by the Franciscan value of simplicity, is purposeful to ensure our students know that they can walk through our gate free of the fear of not being enough. This was explicitly explained to our Year 10’s as we briefed them on their role as a ‘big sister’ to the incoming Year 7’s at the Transition Twilight.  They were reminded of our uniform policy – no makeup, lashes, nails, extra piercings – for the message it would offer our newest cohort…we do not value material things, we value each other as we are. 

These pre-adolescent years are perilous as young people transition from the influence of parents to the influence of peers as they navigate life and connection. Last Friday evening, having a cohort of Year 10 with a greater understanding of our uniform ‘why’, we were able to assure their ‘little sister’ that they are good enough as they are. I thank our Year 10 cohort for their good work in this regard. May it continue.

Should a student choose to get a helix piercing, wear extra piercings or apply makeup, artificial nails or lashes, we will challenge them. These students should expect conversations and potential consequences from their Head of House, Homeroom Mentor Teacher and any Mt A staff who notice. These choices affect the harmony and validation of our community that upholds the notion you are good enough as you are.  This year, we have noticed piercings and make up are plentiful. We ask for your assistance in delaying extra piercings and ensuring your daughter comes to school upholding our uniform values.  We also ask for your support when consequences are applied for uniform infringements, for the flow on effect their individual choice may have on our wider community.

I affirm the work of our six Heads of House – Ms Jeni Barlow (Belle Prairie), Ms Tamara Richardson (Greccio), Ms Erin Moffat (Perugia), Ms Courtney Daniec (Rieti), Ms Chanel Humphries (Spoleto) and Ms Sacha Carney (Villa Spada) - who are instrumental in the development and execution of the formation experiences we offer our students. Upholding the values of our college and uniform policies with our students is not about ‘showing a badge’ and the punitive consequences. It lies within the importance of boundaries for our young people and the high expectations we have of the students in our care. 

Every blessing,

Michelle Licina