A Word from the Principal
This time last year the College had completed the required validation of its programs and was preparing for the Registration assessment. During this time, the College was also undergoing a renewal of its Strategic Plan. Under the tutelage and support of Glenn McLachlan our students, parents, staff, board and alumnae were surveyed and interviewed. This process of discovery was valuable. Ultimately we (the Leadership team) wanted to know what it was about the College that made us unique and the right place for your daughter to be educated. The information we discovered was multifaceted and showed the diversity of needs the College fulfilled.
For some parents, the decision to send their daughter/s here is about the education and the outcomes that the students attain. For others it was our strong charism and acknowledgement of social justice and the difference it makes to the world we live in. For some, it was around the nurturing and intimacy the small community provided - to have their daughters known and cared for by the staff. For all respondees the decision was mostly a positive one. The survey results acknowledged that together in partnership - families and staff make a positive difference to the lives of our students. When it came time to formulate our goals and vision for the future, the survey results again reminded us that Mount Carmel College is a great school - a small school providing academic excellence for female students.
Research continues to show us that girls do better in an all girls educational setting (Fitzsimmons, T.W., Yates, M.S. & Callan, V.(2018). Hands up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys, Brisbane, QLD: AIBE Centre for Gender Equality in the Workplace - USQ) but the Leadership Team and the Board wanted to hone in on what makes Mount Carmel a better place to educate your daughter than its close competitors. This Strategic Plan gives us the opportunity to hone into what it is about Mount Carmel that is unique and precious. It provides us with a path to strengthening our educational opportunities whilst embedding positive education and our service to the community. We delved into our history and took time to marvel at our founders - this is what we want from our students - to be strong enough to make a difference, to know what it takes to pursue your dreams and to be supported to do it.
The end result of the year's work is Illuminate our Path, a plan for the College to embed our programs of excellence and to push us into continued exploration of improvement.
The joint introduction to the plan highlights the process and the purpose for this plan. This term, each newsletter article will focus on elements of this strategic plan and together the team of families and staff will build a stronger and focussed College.
Staff News
On Monday afternoon, Virginia Jacobs was laid to rest. Virginia was a long standing staff member, who after 35 years of service to Mount Carmel College retired in 2016. The staff and students who knew Virginia, speak of her with tremendous respect and love. Her commitment to the College community was inspiring. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. May God hold Virginia in the palm of His hands and forever in His care.
We welcome Laila Mavis Beven, born on July 14 to our community. We know Imogen and Jeff will be enjoying this first addition to their family.
Next week Mrs Susan Foster joins our staff as a replacement for Ms Imogen Gray. Susan is on loan to us for the remainder of the year, and as a former student, we welcome her back to the community. We thank Mrs Cathie Kidd for her care of these classes during the interim.
Welcome
Fiona Nolan
Principal