From the Desk  of the Principal

Thought for the Week:

The Road Less Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students, and Friends of Mount Alvernia College

As I write this, I have one eye on the US elections.  To say that 2020 has been different is an understatement, and these elections are like no other I have seen.  Last night I watched an alarming moment in the history of American democracy via the ABC News, where President Trump announced victory in spite of evidence to the contrary.  Nothing like this has happened before.  I have been observing American elections since the time JFK was elected, and this is the only time that we have had reason to fear that the outcome might be tampered with. 

I know that our students have been following the process.  We had an interesting moment when Ms Little and I were watching the progress of the election during First Break and there were at least eight students standing by the window of the Admin Boardroom.  We invited them in to watch with us and I was pleased by their interest in this whole process. This bodes well for the future of our democracy if young people understand and participate in the democratic process with which we, as a country, are blessed.

Over the last few weeks, I have had some lovely moments at the College as I move towards the end of the year and on to a life where full-time work is not a part.  I have received lovely gifts which I will treasure.  I am also packing up my office and realising that one accumulates lots of stuff – some lovely, others (such as notes and diaries) which are needed to be kept for obvious reasons.  While my office is emptying, my garage is fast filling up, and I suspect that will be one of my first jobs in the New Year.

I have also had some lovely moments with colleagues in other schools.  People are very kind and I know that I am grateful for the wisdom that has been given to me by others.  I can only hope that I have contributed as well.  Connection and networking are two essential elements for a successful and purposeful career.

In spite of the year that we have had, I am pleased with the way the Year 12 students have handled themselves in so many ways and I am really looking forward to their Graduation Ceremony that is coming along in two short weeks.  In the meantime, however, life goes on and there is still work to be done.

Thank you as always for your support of all we do, and I would ask you to keep me in your prayers as I negotiate an unknown path.  Lots of tissues are being used at the moment.

Pax et bonum

Kerrie Tuite

tuitk@staff.mta.qld.edu.au