Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In this newsletter I would like to provide an insight into some of the ‘behind the scenes’ work Monivae’s wonderful staff have put in place to make your child’s Remote Learning experience a positive one.

Firstly, we need to acknowledge that we are still learning and improving on what we have done and currently do. In this second period of Remote Learning the College has a stronger focus on supporting the wellbeing of our students. We supported wellbeing very well the first time, however after evaluating feedback we have learnt what worked well and identified areas for improvement. 

As educators, we know the critical importance of wellbeing and how it is inextricably linked to good learning. The Student Wellbeing Group (SWG), which includes the Director of Students, Year Level Coordinators (YLC), Learning Support and Counsellors, have in place strategies and procedures to monitor every student at Monivae. Some of these include:

• Individual catch up ‘Meets’ between your son or daughter and their YLC
• Weekly meeting between the Deputy Principal, Director of Studies, Director of Students and College Counsellor to discuss students’ adjustments to their timetables and wellbeing
• Learning Support Officers delivering intervention programs and one-on-one support online to those students who require it
• Weekly Homeroom ‘Meets’ specifically focused on student care

Monivae staff know and care for your child exceptionally well. As an MSC school, relationships underpin everything we do. All of this translates to better learning and engagement. We know, through our data, the large majority (approximately 90%) of our students are online and connecting with their teachers daily. This is a remarkable achievement and one the College is very proud of.  We do ‘Remote Learning’ very well.

Yesterday, I attended an online meeting with the other three MSC Principal’s. Our focus and conversations were very much about our communities and the impact of COVID-19. Our students have missed out on so much this year already. I thought I would share the prayers , from each school, directed to our students.

Daramalan College, Canberra (ACT)

Dear young people,

Our hearts are heavy for you at this time, as one after another, all the rites of passage and high moments of your school years are disappearing. The aspirations you have held to have a place in firsts’ teams, in musical and dramatic extravaganzas, in retreats, leadership opportunities and eucharists, for formals and post-school revelry will not come to fruition at this time. The stories you have heard of carefree university years or post-school possibilities will be impacted by economic downturn and national debt. You may never be able to see the wonders of this beautiful world in the same way we have.

The world will not return to the way it was before. There are profound lessons for us all to learn and you will be the ones who will have to chart a course into the future.

We pray for you. We have faith that you can read the signs of these times and respond to the ills of our world. We remind you to draw deeply on what you have seen and heard in our schools to help you on your way, and we hold as our responsibility, the obligation to offer you this wisdom.

For ourselves – we ask for the grace not to get in your way as you draw from your experience of the world to find a way through.

We pray: Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in you.

Monivae College, Hamilton (Vic)

Dear young people

We are not as young as we once were, and while we trust you to chart a course to the future, we do have some wisdom that might be helpful.

Firstly, for you – 

Be brave enough to take hold of your life with both hands and live it to the full. Ask yourselves: How can we survive, stay alive or even flourish in times like these, when the world goes dark and we are overwhelmed by what is happening.

When the world goes dark – seek the light within …

And there are some simple ways you can do that:

Pay attention to what is around you and to what is happening to you and in you. This is a part of what we mean when we say your hearts are important.

Do not underestimate the soothing power of the ordinary. In dark times, cultivate a simple and well-lived life. Take pleasure in the predictability of the here and now. Don’t always chase the next thing, seek contentment in what is happening in each moment.

Seek awe and nature, daily. They are the heartbeat of God and can offer heart to you.

Lastly … well so many things: show kindness; practice grace; eschew vanity; be bold; embrace friends, family, faith and doubt, imperfection and mess; and live deliberately.

We pray for you – as you adjust your expectations about your life, that you never lose hold of the truth that your life is a gift that can bring happiness; a happiness that does not depend on what happens around you but rather, a happiness that comes from within.

We see this in Jesus and we pray: Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in you.

Chevalier College, Bowral (NSW)

Dear young people

If we are to survive these Covid times we need to co-operate as a global family. All good religion grows out of a deep and fundamental belief in the common good, by which all are responsible for all. This is a very important value to follow, especially in these times when there are those in power who seek self-interest over the well-being of all, and they will destroy your future if you follow them. 

You have been educated in schools that seek to offer hope for humankind and point to solidarity with each other and the right to equality and dignity for all human life, as the way of hope. In Jesus, we see what this way of life looks like when it is fully embraced. You will need to be strong in your commitments; sometimes you will need to stand against popular opinion and to challenge powerful interests, wherever they obstruct the common good. This includes caring for our common home and all that it contains.

This path will not be easy. There are wonderful guides to this in Jesus, in Pope Francis,   the Dalai Lama, and many others.

We pray for you, that you will have the courage to participate in our MSC vision of the creation of a new world and we commit ourselves to work with you, towards this vision.

And, we know that we are not alone and we pray: Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in you.

Downlands College, Toowoomba (QLD)

Dear young people

Don’t forget, you belong to a wonderful religious tradition even though many of you may be disillusioned with some aspects of Catholicity at present.  Our Catholic tradition has much to offer humanity at times like these. We gaze upon the broken body and heart of the one, hanging on a cross and we see God’s Heart in him and in every other person whose heart is broken. This reminds us that whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to him. It calls us to do what we can.

It reminds us that our God never leaves us – resurrection always follows crucifixion.

Three-quarters of a million people have lost their lives from Covid-19, and countless more will suffer and die from the consequences of the pandemic.  We all have work to do. 

Our spirituality highlights this:

In the poor and the little ones,

in all the victims of injustice and violence, we will discover the face of Jesus.

He asks us to bring his love into their lives.

In answer to his call,

we will show our compassion towards them.

By working courageously

to guarantee their human rights 

and to change the hearts of their oppressors.

Our call, as followers of Jesus, is to do what we can do, where we live, with the resources we have, and with faith and hope and love to place our trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Take care and stay safe

Kind regards,

Jonathan Rowe

Principal