Student Leaders for 2021

Congratulations to the following students who were elected by their peers to lead our school committees, houses, music and VCAL. Year 7 Leaders will be elected at the end of Term 1 2021.

We have reached the end of this extraordinary year. How do we celebrate?

We look to our faith and our multicultural connections. Finding ways to enhance our mood, foster closeness, remember what we’re thankful for, and savour the positive to help preserve the wonder of this Christmas season.

Use ritual to enhance connections and emotions

Many families have traditions that make the holiday special. Maybe you gather with extended family, make special dishes or travel to your holiday home by the beach or in the country.

Whatever rituals you’ve developed over the years, try to preserve them. Performing rituals together goes beyond sentimentality or nostalgia: They imbue the holiday with meaning and help us feel closer to others.

A ritual can take many forms, whether it’s lighting candles and making a wish for the holiday, putting up your Christmas tree, singing a song or saying a prayer before dinner, or watching a great, uplifting movie after the feast is over. The key is that the experience has meaning and is emotionally engaging so that it bonds you to others.

Savour the sensory experiences of the holiday

One thing that makes Christmas so special is its sensory richness. The smell of fresh roasted turkey or the BBQ, the sight of a candlelit table, the taste of your favourite multicultural dish. All of these sensory experiences can be a real pleasure, enhancing the joy of the holiday.

The joy of making it to the end of this year and celebrating the opening up of Melbourne make us pause and reflect with our family to recognise how grateful we are to be together. Slowing down and deliberately tasting each bite of food. This involves turning your attention to your food as you eat it, letting the tastes linger on your tongue, and noting the variety of flavours and textures.

You can also take a moment to reflect on how the food got to your table—the people who grew it, delivered it, and prepared it for you, or the earth, water, and sunshine that made the food possible in the first place. A little mindful eating can really enhance your Christmas pleasure.

Expanding our sense of community

At this time every year, our school community finds ways to give back to our community and the most vulnerable. Students and their families have donated food and toiletry items to support the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Network. We continue to practice generosity and kindness, helping to create a sense of community beyond the walls of our homes.

Put “thanks” at the center of your Christmas

Many of us are feeling gratitude to be in the place we are today, especially when we see the effects of this pandemic around the world. Many have experienced worry about jobs and finances and experienced loneliness because of the isolation during the lockdowns.

Gratitude provides several benefits, even in hard times. For one, it makes us feel a deeper sense of well-being; when we tap into gratitude, we feel a welling up of warmth and love. Expressing gratitude helps us feel closer to others, and that’s what we really want as we reflect on 2020.

Our experience this year has reminded us to not forget the small things you might otherwise take for granted, like the smile on your daughter’s face when she returned to school, the warmth of the first days of summer, or your sense of taste that allows you to enjoy your Christmas lunch with your family.

We have much to look forward to – for new beginnings in 2021 when we can gather again. In the meantime, I hope that by imbuing Christmas with a little gratitude, kindness, ritual, and savouring, will be a joyful occasion for you all.

This is my last Wellbeing message to all our families. After 21 years as Wellbeing Leader I have decided to focus on going back into the classroom where my true passion lies and where I began my blessed journey at Killester – teaching our wonderful students. I have always watched in awe our dedicated staff as they come to work each day with one aim in mind – to offer the best education and support the wellbeing of our students. I wish Peter Harte – Senior Student Leader and Emma Neville – Junior Student Leader all the best as they continue to develop the area of Wellbeing at the College.

May this holiday season bring peace and joy to you all.

Luana Doko

Wellbeing Leader

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