From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I trust that you all enjoyed a restful Easter Break with loved ones, recognising that for many of our families there are many who have continued to work during this time. Whatever your individual context, we do hope that you have been able to carve out for yourselves a slower more peaceful pace and some time for rest and rejuvenation. Our lives are so busy, and it is so important to claim a balance once in a while! 

Filling our Cups

In the second week of the Easter Break I was extremely blessed to travel, this time, to the Northwest of Tasmania. I have decided that Tassie is my happy place - a pristine wilderness with little internet connection! It fills my cup every time I ‘come down for air.’ This precious time spent in nature, walking amongst Tassie’s breathtaking landscapes, allowed me to reconnect with the beauty of our world and reminded me of the wonder of our country. It was an important reminder also, of how vital it is, for all of us, to take moments of pause in our busy lives – so that we can be our best selves for others. 

Another great blessing of this holiday was the enormous privilege of visiting the ancient and sacred petroglyphs and middens of the Palawa people -Indigenous history that reflects 38,000 years of living culture. As an undergraduate studying a major in Archaeology at UQ back in the 90’s, I had heard of these sacred sites and had longed to see them in person. Sadly, due to acts of vandalism, many of these sites are now heavily protected and require special permission from the Indigenous elders and custodians of the land. I was extremely fortunate to be able to spend time with an Indigenous Ranger who granted permission and gave me information to locate these incredible sites. Some of these sites are extremely hard to access and require hours of walking, navigating the high swells, wind, and tides of the West Coast. Below I have included a couple of photos of this magnificent coastline but respectfully have not included images of the petroglyphs or middens themselves.

Reflecting on this incredible week in the wilderness, and with the recent passing of our Papa Francesco, I was reminded of his words: “We were not meant to be inundated by cement, asphalt, glass and metal, and deprived of physical contact with nature” – it is perhaps why my cup feels so very full at the moment, a reminder that we are as one with our natural world.

This week, the entire world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, not only our Catholic community. Pope Francis was a true man of peace and love and his unwavering commitment to compassion, understanding and dialogue has left an indelible mark on our global community. We mourn his loss and celebrate the legacy of love and unity he leaves behind, inspiring us all to strive for a more harmonious world, a world which cares for its poorest, and its common home. It has been so moving to read the reflections of global leaders, of faith leaders, humanists, of atheists and agnostics, and everyday people who have all witnessed his love, compassion, and commitment to peace. This is a testimony to the man and leader Pope Francis was, a Pope of the People. I particularly loved this image below (there have been so many wonderful photos shared) which was captured in an Italian bus shelter. It is a simple reminder of who we are called to emulate in our broken world. The world still needed our Pope Francis for a little longer, but we must not forget, he has provided all of us with an invitation: like St Francis of Assisi before him to “preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” We thank God for the life of Pope Francis.

Principal’s External Review and Feedback

I also take this opportunity to thank those families who have received today a survey from MMG to provide feedback in relation to my Principalship. On behalf of our Board Chair, Kate Eggar, we are extremely grateful for the time taken to complete this survey, as it will continue to guide me in my ongoing leadership of our wonderful College community. 

The Term Ahead

As we move forward into this term, I encourage our students to continue in the engagement, effort and magnificent school spirit seen to date. It continues to be a year of JOY for us here at Mt A. We also look forward to continuing working in partnership with all our parents and carers for the benefit of all students. It is a long-worn expression, but a true one. It takes the village! Together, we continue to create an environment that fosters growth, kindness, and academic excellence for our girls. Let us continue to honour the values of peace and joy as we support one another in our shared journey.

ANZAC Day

I thank all our students and community members who participated in this morning’s ANZAC Day Assembly, with a particular thanks to Mr Peter Saxon (Kedron-Wavell RSL Sub-Branch) who once again this year, gave a poignant and resounding commemorative address for our students.

I look forward to joining Mount Alvernia College staff and students tomorrow for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service and march. Such a deeply significant time of year, and one that is felt personally – miss you Dad!

Lest we forget.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to Term 2!

Peace and all good,

Samantha Jensen