From the Desk  of the Principal

As we conclude Week 5 of Term 1, it is hard to believe that we have now celebrated the grace and glamour of our Year 12 Formal, welcomed home our Year 7s from camp, and have begun our season of Lent.  At this midway point and amongst the busyness of family life, assessments, and co-curricular commitments, it may be an appropriate time to embrace moments of stillness and quiet contemplation. 

 

This practice has been captured beautifully in an excerpt recently shared to schools by the Mercy Partners.  So enticing was this invitation, that I found  myself late on Friday afternoon in La Foresta heeding its call.

 

The habits of silence and stillness are an invitation to back away from the noise and chaos that the world praises and into a more attentive and responsive life.  Perhaps in this Lenten season our habits can be defined not by what we give up, but what we pay more attention to. 

Andy Scott (https://washingtoninst.org/lent-and-the-lessons-of-silence/)

 

Commencing last Friday, students also have the opportunity to engage in a few moments of stillness in their home rooms during the Franciscan Five, led by our Liturgy leaders.  I am confident that this will become an important ritual in enhancing our connectedness, gratitude, and wellbeing.

 

Celebrating Academic Improvement

 

Last Thursday we welcomed back members of our Year 12 2020 cohort to celebrate and acknowledge their outstanding achievements in our Academic Improvement Assembly.  At this ceremony, students who achieved an improvement of one GPA point in their academics at the conclusion of 2020 were also congratulated.  What a wonderful occasion to celebrate and share in the success of our students and to reflect on Ms Little’s message on the importance of cultivating a mindset of agency and stoicism in our learning.

 

Below is a cohort summary of the Class of 2020, including impressive details of significant improvements made in our ‘value add’ in the measures of OP/ATAR achievement.

 

Cohort Summary 2020

OP to ATAR Comparison: an Historical Analysis

We are so incredibly proud of our students, their teachers, and the collective belief that we share in recognising that each one of our students possesses the ability to make small improvements each day. 

 

I look forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming P&FSN Welcome Event tomorrow  evening.

 

Peace and all good

Samantha Jensen