Year 12 Pastoral Guardian

Welcome, Parents and Carers of Year 12 students.  My name is Karen Farrow, and it is a pleasure to continue as Pastoral Guardian for your daughter’s final year of schooling in the Elizabeth Hayes School in 2020.  Our Year 12s have been looking forward to being Seniors for their complete high school journey.  There was such an air of excitement as they looked forward to their Commissioning Ceremony to mark the commencement of the College year.  At this ceremony, the students received their Senior ties and badges - symbols of honour, leadership, and responsibility - and recited their pledge:

As the 2020 leaders of Mount Alvernia College, we pledge to serve the college community by upholding the Franciscan and Gospel values.  We promise to serve with integrity, simplicity, and pride.

Our mission is to be role models for the college community, and to inspire and guide each student on their journey.  As women of resilience and ambition, we will strive to support the achievements and celebrate the growth of each student.  We will motivate others to flourish.

Our aim is to leave a legacy - not just one that will be remembered but one that encourages the spirit of the College to be celebrated.  We are honoured to be your 2020 Seniors and committed to the Mount Alvernia College community.

Our expectation is that thewhole Year 12 cohort leads with spirit and pride.  The pledge acknowledges their commitment to the College, and reveals their connectedness to the  Franciscan values of the College.  The ceremony also revealed their capacity to act with grace, respect, and humility, setting a high standard as role models for all students.  In our year level meeting, I praised the students on their self-discipline and maturity demonstrated at this formal occasion, and I have noticed that they are holding their heads up proudly yet humbly as our leaders.

As leaders of the College, it is expected that Seniors are visible and active leaders in the community. Every year, the Year 12s realise, sometimes sadly, that every event is their last at the College and their final opportunity to enthusiastically participate.  I am pleased to share with you that the students have launched into their final year with enthusiasm and teachers have commented especially on their positive attitude and readiness for academic work.  The 2020 Captains have started the year with valuable leadership opportunities over the holidays and meetings and mentoring with the College leadership team for the year ahead.  House Ccaptains have shown leadership in their organisation of the Big Sister Mentor and Little Sister Mentee afternoon activities this week and preparation for the upcoming Interhouse Swimming Carnival.

 This week is also filled with the excitement of the Senior Formal on Friday evening at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.  I look forward to meeting you and your transformed elegant young adults for this much-anticipated event.

The highlight for the cohort this week was certainly Jessie McMurray’s special creative presentation of individualised portraits to every student in the Year 12 cohort.  Jessie spent the whole holidays researching, designing, and painting 120 portraits that represented the uniqueness of every Year 12 student.  It was a very proud moment indeed when the whole cohort gave an overwhelming cheer of appreciation and respect for Jessie.  Congratulations and thank you, Jessie.

I wrote in the 2019 Yearbook that the students in this delightful, united cohort are joyful, dedicated trailblazers who consistently demonstrate leadership across college life.  So, I look forward to leading our spirited team as they enthusiastically launch into their final year at Mt Alvernia College in 2020.

Karen Farrow