Wonder - Clonard College

The Kildare Ministries core value of ‘wonder’ inspired our College theme for the year, ‘Wonder – seeing beyond’. We commenced our year with staff exploring the notion of liberation and justice through the lens of ‘wonder’. This session facilitated by Renee Oberin, took us beyond our first read of scripture to consider how the gospel message of Jesus challenged prejudices and systems of his day, and how we can bring this message to our own times challenging unjust structures. 

In our Opening of the Year Mass, Principal Luci Quinn addressed staff and students calling them to embrace ‘wonder’ in three ways. Firstly to ensure we allow time for the pause to let the grace of God work within us, secondly to accept the invitation to ‘see beyond’ what the moment first brings and ask ‘what else?’, then finally to respond in a life giving way to self, others and our earth.

In Religious Education classes our theme is bringing multiple perspectives to topics. Asking students to see beyond their own experiences, to see what our faith tradition is offering, to look inwards but also outwards like a concave and convex lens. Our Year 8s are studying an interdisciplinary unit that explores our sense of place. ‘Wonder’ has been a core driver of this unit as students consider the aboriginal story, the importance of sustainability and the beauty of where we live. 

In Learning Leader meetings and our Professional Learning Community meeting teachers are considering ‘where has been the wonder in learning this week’ sharing stories that ignite passion and energy for our work and the successes of students.

Currently our community is reimagining our master plan with the first stage being a redevelopment of our Science and Technology areas. The Project Control Group is working towards creating the story of the new building and believes ‘wonder’ will be the essence of the heart of the development of this narrative. The cosmic walk at Ballygriffin experienced by participants of recent Kildare Ministries pilgrimages to Ireland will form part of this inspiration. 

Good News

Our Year 12 VCAL class was awarded third place in the Rerum Novarum Awards for their submission to create an interactive installation that uses QR codes and art to tell the story of the College’s history of working for social justice in the areas of first nations peoples, sustainability and refugees. We look forward to seeing this project come to life across the year.