DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Sometimes attributed to Mary MacKillop, the saying “gratitude is the memory of the heart” actually comes from Jean-Baptiste Massieu. A deaf educator, Massieu made the statement “La reconnaissance est la memoire du coeur”, striking such a chord that it is now considered a French proverb. I do not doubt that Mary MacKillop would have used this phrase to remind the Sisters and those with whom she worked that besides being grateful in the moment, we should also retain gratitude in our hearts.  Real gratitude, sincere and authentic gratitude, comes through not only the appreciation of the good in life but also the recognition that the source of this goodness is a place outside ourselves. It comes from other people and for us in a faith community, we also recognise that it comes from God. The French translation of the phrase includes the word “reconnaissance” meaning gratitude but also to recognise or even more literally to “re-know” something. When I look back over the last year, it would be easy to recall the challenges and restrictions that faced us; however I am choosing to follow the path of “reconnaissance”, the re-knowing of things I have learned, experienced and appreciated throughout the year. My gratitude is for the people in our community.

I am grateful for the unwavering leadership of our Principal, Mrs Michelle Haeusler, who guides our school with clarity and steadfast commitment.

I am grateful for our staff, all of them talented, all of them hardworking. I am grateful for the ways in which they connect with our students, the thought and time that goes into their preparation or their tasks for the day, the extra minutes they give throughout the day to make sure our students feel cared for and seen. I am grateful for the way they support each other, the encouragement they give to their colleagues and the obvious care that they have for each other.

I am grateful for our parents who have committed to entering into the educational journey with their children in new and sometimes very challenging ways. I am grateful for the phone calls and the emails that help us know our students better, the trust that parents place in our staff, the opportunities to welcome and be welcomed.

I am grateful for our students, for the joy they bring to our community, for their energy and their hopefulness. I am grateful for the students who smile at me in the morning when I greet them on Yard Duty and even those who smile at me, perhaps a little more begrudgingly, as I remind them to tie up their hair. 

I am grateful for all the little, sacred moments in our school day when I see our students look out for each other, care for each other, gaze steadily in concentration on a problem, lean in closer to share a quiet word or laugh out loud together in pure happiness. 

St Mary MacKillop College is a vibrant, diverse and energetic community of people working together, open to God’s presence and pursuing fullness of life for all. The goodness of our community comes through who we are to each other and for each other. It is this for which I am most grateful. 

May the Blessings of Advent Season be with you.