Principal

Dear Members of the Academy Community,

This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, one of my favourite Feast Days, where the Church celebrates the coming of the Spirit - the outpouring of the sudden power of God to transform a wounded and disillusioned band of stragglers into a community that changed the world.  God's power is potentially overwhelming, like the natural forces of wind, fire, storm and flood.  It is power to break down what is corrupt in the world's patterns of thought and dominance.  But the Spirit is also seen as the breath of love, the giver of life, the remaker of community, the waker of the oppressed, the one who sings in the hearts of the poor.   

Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious!  Perhaps this word best sums up the performances of Mary Poppins.  Over the past days we have all been treated to stunning performances of this much loved musical and were privileged to hear  magnificent voices and witness acting that brought to life the story of a “tricky" governess and the family with whom she worked her magic.

We look forward to the final two performances on Saturday.

I extend many thanks to all involved in the production of Mary Poppins, staff and students alike.   For the past six months students have rehearsed each week and this has involved giving up their Sundays and Monday evenings, renegotiating their external working arrangements and ensuring that their involvement in the musical did not adversely affect their studies.  This was particularly important for the Year 12 students who were involved in the musical.  The discipline demonstrated by students was admirable.

I also want to highlight the spirit of camaraderie and support that was so obvious with students supporting and encouraging each other.  Teachers have shared that this was particularly noticeable backstage both during and after the performance.

Thank you to the students involved and special thanks to our gifted staff in the Performing Arts Department – Ms Olivia Hamilton, Ms Melanie Malakunas, Mr Alexander Wilton-Reeves and Ms Mirelle Morris and all who assisted with the production.   

The last weeks have been busy ones for the Academy of Mary Immaculate community with a myriad of activities and opportunities for students including sporting events,  activities in the Justice area, Spirit Days, numerous offsite learning experiences and also  a number of Talk and Tours for potential new students.  The Talk and Tours have provided leadership experiences for some of our students who have presented at the Talk and Tours speaking of their experience at Academy and then taking our potential students on  what has been described as the “fun” tour of the Academy while their parents undertook the usual tour.  

All our Talk and Tours for the months to come are filled to capacity which is very affirming, enabling us to showcase this remarkable College  - a College that was founded in 1857 (thus celebrating 170 years next year) and which  looks to the future with hope and confidence. 

May the Spirit of God transform and empower our lives.

Every blessing,

Sr Mary Moloney rsm 

Principal

Prayer for Pentecost

Wind of God, keep on blowing,

Sail over the barriers that we build

to divide ourselves from each other.

Pick up your seeds of freedom and truth

wherever they flourish,

carry them across frontiers

to be planted in other soil,

to begin fresh growth and new forms.