Assistant Principal — Religious Identity & Mission

Identity and Mission Activities 

Over the past fortnight, our students across both the Junior and Senior Schools have engaged in a number of meaningful faith and formation experiences that have encouraged reflection, understanding and action. 

Extended Prayer: Magnifica Humanitas — What Kind of World Are We Building? 

Students participated in an Extended Prayer centred on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. This provided an important opportunity to introduce students to the purpose of an encyclical as a teaching document of the Church, while unpacking its message in an accessible and age-appropriate way. 

Through a series of tailored resources, students explored key themes of Magnifica Humanitas — particularly the dignity of the human person, our shared responsibility for one another, and the call to contribute to a more just and compassionate world. Students were encouraged to reflect on how these ideas relate to their own lives and the choices they make each day. 

In the Junior School, students responded with great enthusiasm to the question, 'What kind of world are we building?' Through writing and creative activities, they expressed thoughtful and heartfelt commitments to kindness, inclusion, and care for others. It was particularly pleasing to receive feedback from a Junior School class who created a vibrant classroom display showcasing each student’s response. The display is a powerful reminder that small actions, lived daily, contribute to building a better world. 

Senior students engaged more deeply with the concept of Catholic Social Teaching, reflecting on how the themes of human dignity, justice and responsibility challenge us to think critically about our role in shaping the future. 

This Extended Prayer initiative highlights the importance of bringing contemporary Church teachings into the life of the school in ways that are reflective, relevant, and action-oriented. I thank staff for their support in facilitating these meaningful classroom experiences. 

National Reconciliation Week: Learning, Listening and Walking Together 

In addition, our College community actively participated in National Reconciliation Week through experiences designed to deepen understanding and promote respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

On Thursday of Reconciliation Week, our First Nations students generously shared damper with the wider school community. While damper is widely known as a simple bush bread associated with Australian history, it also connects more deeply to stories of life on Country. Aboriginal peoples have long prepared forms of bush bread using native seeds cooked in hot coals and, today, damper continues to be a way of bringing people together through shared experience and storytelling. In this context, sharing damper became a meaningful symbol of connection, hospitality, and learning.  

Following this, students participated in guided yarning circles within their classes. These experiences were thoughtfully differentiated across year levels and created safe and respectful spaces for students to listen, reflect and share. 

In the Junior School, discussions focused on kindness, fairness and caring for others and the environment. Older students explored key moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey, including Mabo Day, National Sorry Day and the story of Mannalargenna, deepening both their understanding and empathy. 

The yarning circles reinforced important values — listening respectfully, acknowledging different perspectives, and recognising the importance of truth-telling in building a more just future. Students were supported by their teachers to engage in these conversations with maturity and care, developing a greater awareness of both the richness of First Nations cultures and the importance of acknowledging past injustices. 

These experiences remind us that reconciliation is an ongoing journey, one that calls each of us to listen, learn and act with respect. 

We thank our students and staff for their contributions in fostering these meaningful learning opportunities for our community.