Women's 48!

This year, the Academy community again celebrated Women’s Wellbeing alongside International Women’s Day on Friday, 7 March. For 48 hours we looked at opportunities to accelerate change for Women. On Thursday, 6 March, nine past students came back to the Academy to talk to our Year 10, 11 and 12 students about how their education has provided them with opportunities. These past students spoke about their time at Academy and how the importance of continuing education is further accelerating their success in the future. At lunchtime we witnessed the students versus staff volleyball game. It was a fierce competition where we saw dives from both teachers and students to win points.

Throughout the week the Senior Student Leadership team were enthusiastically raising money for our March for Women’s event for Project Compassion where we raised over $1200 as a school community. This surpassed the total from last year. Well done to everyone for their contributions.

Thank you to the Senior Student Leaders and Ms Jodie Muller for all their help during Women’s 48!

Ms Tanya Vajda

Learning Leader Health Science

Sharing our Talents

During this lenten season, I have been reflecting on many things, but in the forefront of my brain I continually ask myself, what is it that I bring to the Academy community? How am I of service to others? How can I be a good role model to those around me? I think these are questions that come up frequently, at all stages of life, and can be difficult to pin down an answer for. I think I have the start of an answer with no end in sight. Talents. That is how you can start to find your community, purpose and service. Everyone has a talent, everyone has something they LOVE to talk about, everyone is the best at something, it’s just about finding the niche. We had some students from St Kevin’s visit Academy recently and I asked for some help from some Year 11 & 12 students to lead the afternoon activities. I was frequently asked by the students “Why? Why are we doing this? Why are they visiting? Why do they want to know about the Academy? Why would their teachers choose here and not somewhere else?" It’s very easy to brush off this line of questioning, it’s for fun, you get to collaborate, you can meet someone new, but when it gets down to it, that is just not a good enough answer. Again the answer is talents. We have a rich history here at Academy that all of our students know like the back of their hand, it is a talent to share with others something you have a wealth of knowledge on. The great thing about sharing information is that once you get the ball rolling, it is hard to stop, more and more information floods to you, and you get a good feeling knowing that you had something meaningful to contribute. When the students began their tours they were hesitant, by the end they pleaded to show “just one more thing before they go”. The students and staff of St Kevin’s were very impressed by our history and felt welcomed by the students who were willing to serve others with their talent. Sharing a piece of our heart to others is what creates an initial community, continuing to show how our talents can be helpful or kind to others solidifies the connection, and becoming a person who encourages the unique talents of everyone around them makes a role model within the community.

My challenge to you this lenten season is to reflect on your talents, not hide them. You may be a wonderful baker, know everything there is to know about bugs, be a keen astrologer or the best list compiler in the world. Lean in and feel the light it brings to you, tapping back into your passions will also realign your compass to where you want to go in the future and who you want to share with. But also be a talent spotter, look out into your friend and family groups and see if you can spot the passion. Point it out, ask more questions, feel the joy radiate from those around you as they share what they are best at. Soft skills such as this are what make the world a better place to be a part of for all. Give others the recognition they deserve for nurturing who they are in an increasingly confusing world.

Humans are built for community, we thrive when we are around others and build purpose from passions we share with others. Groups are easy to find, but sharing who we are can be a challenge within them and making real connections can be scary, but I will get you started; my name is Hannah Hale, my talent is reading and I read 80 books last year and I am more than happy to recommend something to you. What do you think your talent could be, and how can you serve others with it?

Ms Hannah Hale

Learning Leader Religiious Education

MRC

The MRC celebrated “International Women’s Day” with wonderful displays and resources for the students to become fully immersed in the week. The outside area was used to promote inspiring women and was visited by many.

This week we are highlighting “Harmony Week” and all the related themes and characteristics.

A reminder that “Book Club” is held every Monday lunchtime in the Fiction Library, it’s never too late to join, lots of great activities all about books and our “Knitting Club” is on Thursday lunchtimes, also in the Fiction Library.

Happy Reading!

Ms Cathy Bennett

McAuley Resource Centre Learning Leader

Upcoming Events - Careers

Year 10 Morrisby assessment - Thursday, 3 April
VCE and Careers Expo 2025 – Thursday 1 – Saturday 3 May
Academy/Simonds Careers Expo - Thursday 8 May
National Careers Week - Monday 12 - Sunday 18 May
Victorian Careers Show 2025 – Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 May
Law Week 2025 – Monday 19 – Sunday 25 May

During the UK National Careers Week earlier this month, David Morgan, Chief Executive CDI, spoke of the importance of quality career guidance during secondary schooling and the collaborative role parents and guardians play. As we head towards our Australian National Careers Week in May, his article in the National World (4 March 2025) provides some helpful ideas.

9 Things Parents Should Do...

(to Help Their Kids’ Careers)

Parents are one of the most influential forces in shaping their children’s career paths, yet many feel unprepared to navigate the maze of modern qualifications and career routes.

Today’s job market is evolving rapidly, and it can feel overwhelming to keep up, especially with lots of different emerging pathways like apprenticeships, VCE VM, or careers in digital and AI. Research shows that over two-thirds of parents would engage more if prompted by schools or colleges, which highlights the need for better collaboration.

Ultimately, it’s about starting early, encouraging exploration and focusing on transferable skills like problem-solving and adaptability—qualities that prepare young people for any future.

Parents don’t need all the answers; they just need to be a supportive guide as their children navigate their options.

Start Career Conversations Early - Begin talking about careers as early as possible. Discuss their interests, strengths and what excites them. Early engagement builds confidence and helps children explore possibilities without pressure.

Encourage Exploration - Support your child in trying out different experiences like weekend or summer jobs, internships, volunteering, or job shadowing. These opportunities provide hands-on insights into what they enjoy—or don’t—and help them develop valuable transferable skills like problem-solving and adaptability.

Focus on Skills, Not Just Jobs - Talk about the skills your child can develop, such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking, rather than pushing them toward specific careers. These skills are essential across industries and prepare them for a changing job market.

Be Open-Minded About Modern Pathways - Stay informed about emerging qualifications like VCE VM or apprenticeships and careers in fields like digital technology or AI. If you feel unprepared, resources like the Talking Futures (UK) or My Future (Australia) websites can help you understand these options better.

Leverage Your Network - Use your personal and work connections to create opportunities for your child. Whether it’s inviting colleagues to share career insights or helping them find mentors, your network can be a powerful resource.

Link School Learning to Real Life - Ask your child how what they’re learning in school connects to real-world careers. This can be anything from how Maths calculations are useful for building/construction to the way science and technology are used in healthcare or engineering careers. This helps them see the relevance of their education and sparks curiosity about future possibilities.

Take Advantage of School Resources - Engage with career fairs, workshops, or school-organized events where professionals speak about their industries. If your school offers career-related homework or projects, use these as opportunities to have meaningful discussions at home about your child’s interests and aspirations.

Help Them Think About Lifestyle Choices - Encourage your child to consider how their career might align with their desired lifestyle—whether they want to live in a big city, travel frequently, or stay close to home. Lifestyle preferences can shape career decisions in meaningful ways. Support your child in making their decision and resist the urge to push your child to a decision you would prefer. Instead, act as a sounding board, offering encouragement and advice while letting them take the lead in making decisions about their future path.

Ms Lauren Sach

Careers Practitioner

DAV Debating

The DAV Debating season for Academy of Mary Immaculate commenced on Wednesday the 12 March, with teams entering the Melbourne City Competition for the first time this year.

The debates are hosted at the Haileybury City Campus in West Melbourne. The new location brings the Academy closer to neighbouring city schools and will provide healthy competition throughout the year! This new competition did not phase the girls, with three of the four teams recording excellent wins.

The Year 12 A-Grade Team represented by Olivia Leahy, Alisa Sanelli and Alice Portz debated successfully for the affirmative on whether all pharmaceutical research should be funded and conducted by the government, defeating University High in a close debate.

The Year 11 B-Grade Team represented by Kayla Hanley, Kate Chesterton and Freddy Goddard lost a brave debate against Melbourne Grammar on the topic of open book exams, debating on the affirmative side.

The junior teams both Year 10 C-Grade and Year 9 D-Grade recorded strong wins, with the Year 9’s showing great poise in their first ever debate. Well done to Alice Moffat, Sophie Teo, Michaela Xenoyiannakis at Year 10, winning their debate for the affirmative on the topic that all tickets for sporting events should be free. The Year 9 students, in their first ever debate, rallied to argue successfully that the government should prohibit businesses from being cashless.

Well done to Ruby Mills claiming best speaker in her first ever debate! Beating Haileybury on home ground was a spectacular introduction to debating for the D-Grade team. The girls are no doubt preparing for their next fixture in Term 2 on Wednesday, 14 May.

Well done to all!

Mr Stefan Odachowski

Public Speaking Coordinator

Class Captains

Year 7

7 Green - Captain Mia Naidoo, Vice Captain Halle Hitch

7 Red - Captain Estella Mu, Vice Captain Adhya Niranjan

7 Blue - Captain Elizabeth Nardo, Vice Captain Ava Balart

Year 8

8 Green - Captain Ivy Marriott, Vice Captains Sara Mizzi & Freya McGlone

Justice Captain Emma Hutchinson

8 Red - Captain Sandella Vu, Vice Captains Dakota Ayton & Alessia Carnovale

Justice Captains Tanya Ho & Olivia Nikolarakos

8 Blue - Captain Angela Matic, Vice Captain Brigid Govan

Year 9

9 Barak - Captain Nefeli Kakolyri, Vice Captain Josie Vergis

9 MacKillop - Captain Meredith Susanto, Vice Captain Romy Peuser

9 Melba - Captain Renata Rojas Julian, Vice Captain Mietta Senserrick

9 Monash - Captain Izzie Dinnen, Vice Captain Georgina Diep

Year 10

10 Silver - Captain Grace Healey, Vice Captain Monica Di Paolo & Chloe Hope

Justice Captain Amelie Norton

10 Green - Captain Eloise Pola & Mia Garcia, Vice Captain Zarah Cataldo

Justice Captain Sophie Nikolarakos

10 Red - Captains Clio Dinnen & Ivana Matic, Justice Captain Sophie Teo

10 Blue - Captain Maddison Richards, Vice Captain Sunday Lomas-Mee

Justice Captain Tessie Do

Year 11

11 Silver - Captain Grace Tull, Vice Captain Pia Galvez Justice Captain Priya Senserrick

11 Green - Captain Georgia Kneebone, Vice Captain Eloise Robinson

11 Red - Captain Mira Russo, Vice Captain Zara Fox

Justice Captains Zoe Dafnias & Charlotte Berryman

11 Blue - Captain Bella Brockman, Vice Captain Estelle Postiglioni

Justice Captains Siona Sharma, Freddy Goddard & Chiara Patruno

11 Puple - Captain Genna Zaba, Vice Captain Wyn Raphael

Justice Captain Melody Zhang

Community

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