A Word from the Principal

It is hard to believe that we are almost half way through our final term of 2019. Preparations have already begun for both the end of year festivities and also the commencement of 2020. At the beginning of this year parents and the community were asked to rate the College on how well we met our Mission and Vision statements. It was an interesting result. Many of the survey respondents stated that they weren’t aware of what these statements were. This in itself wasn’t the interesting part. I would assume that for many people who lead busy lives, reading the Mission and Vision Statements for the College wasn’t a priority. What was interesting and reassuring was that whilst many weren’t aware of the wording of either the Mission or Vision, as a whole, you were confident that we were fulfilling these statements of intent. You were able to paraphrase elements of what you thought might have been included in these statements and were able to articulate the intent of the statements.

So what are our Mission and Vision statement. This year, in reviewing our strategic plan, we were also able to refresh and review our statements of intent. Glenn McLoughlin (Consultant working with us on our Strategic Plan), took us on a wonderful journey of discovery. He unpacked the heritage of Mount Carmel College for us and weaved the magic required to look at what we do and why we do it – from the lens of the founding Sisters of Charity. As we walked through the journey of the first Sisters, one of the key attributes that was really evident was the courage they displayed and the faith they had in God, themselves and each other. I know we offer the care of community that the Sisters were so capable of. This is predominantly because we are small enough to know each other and to be present to each other. What does this look like for us as an educational organisation – what would the Sisters see as our purpose and our reason for existing.

As you are all valued parts of our community – I invite you to share feedback on the proposed refresh of the statements. Have we honoured our heritage, at the same time naming up what we hold as integral to what our students will become? Please email your thoughts through to principal@mountcarmel.tas.edu.au

Our Mission needs to define our fundamental purpose – why we exist. Our draft statement reads:

With Christ as our guiding light and in the charism of the Sisters of Charity, we educate individuals to develop their potential, live their faith and contribute to shaping a socially just society.

Our Vision statement needs to be about what we hope our students will become – what will the impact be of our College. The draft Vision statement reads:

We aspire to develop courageous learners who act with justice and are embodied with a strong sense of empathy and compassion.

Staffing Changes

It comes to this time of the year when we know that we will be bidding a sad farewell to the following staff at the end of the school year:

Amanda McGarrigle: Amanda continues to do amazing work overseas in Myanmar and will remain in her current placement. This will open up the position for an ongoing Drama teacher at Mount Carmel.
Chao Li: Chao is moving interstate and we wish her all the best.
Emma Jenkins: Emma has been granted a year's leave to work interstate. As an Alumnae of Mount Carmel, I know that Emma has brought passion and commitment to the College. We wish her all the best for the year.
Kim Schade: Kim will be moving closer to home and will be working at St Patrick’s, Launceston.
Anne Crawford: Anne will be taking leave at the commencement of Term 1.

Thought of the Week:

Courage doesn’t come from an absence of fear, but an abundance of faith.

Fiona Nolan

Principal