Deputy Principal

ANZAC Day Commemoration

At our assembly yesterday, we commemorated ANZAC Day. As Franciscan people, while we honour those who paid the ultimate price in the defense of our country, we commit ourselves to the cause of peace everywhere in the world. As part of our reflection on the Gospel reading, John 14: 23-29, we contemplated Pope Francis’ Easter message and blessing "To the City and the World." He spoke of the joyous hope that Christ's resurrection brings and encouraged Christians to rediscover the joy of serving God, working for peace, and helping our brothers and sisters in a world marked by so much suffering. 

The Pope praised those who are doing all they can to offer assistance and welcome to people fleeing war and poverty. He also prayed for peace in our world, especially, Ukraine, Syria, Israel and Palestine, Myanmar, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He prayed for consolation for victims of international terrorism, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Nigeria. Such a litany of countries and peoples afflicted by violence highlights for us that the call to peace is one of our world’s great needs, perhaps its greatest need. In this Easter Season, may we embrace the call to be peacemakers in our world by embracing the Gospel as Saint Francis did: through our love of God and our love of neighbour. 

I extend my thanks to our special guests who were able to join us for this service: Sr Catherine White and the Missionary Franciscan Sisters; Mr Darren Mitchell representing Mr Jimmy Sullivan, State Member for Stafford; Ms Caroline Minton representing Councillor Fiona Hammond, Marchant Ward; Ms Kate Eggar, Ms Ally Hannon and Mr Michael Skinner, Directors, Mount Alvernia College Board and Mr Peter Saxon, Representative of the Kedron Wavell RSL Sub Branch, who delivered the Commemorative Address. In his address, Mr Saxon spoke about Australia’s role in World War Two and its legacy that still resonates in the geo-politics of our region and for the roles of women in the defence forces and in our nation. He emphasised that the values demonstrated in times of war – such as courage, endurance and mateship – have stood the ultimate test and continue to be celebrated today. May we prove worthy of their sacrifice. 

RSL Liaisons, Canberra Tour

Our service yesterday also gave us the opportunity to farewell our 2023 RSL Student Liaisons – Ella Falzon and Isabella Kasparian – and Mrs Amanda Bopf, who are participating in the RSL Canberra Tour. For a number of years, the Kedron Wavell RSL Sub Branch has been most generous in sponsoring school students to travel to Canberra for the National ANZAC Day services. The group will also tour the best that Canberra has to offer: the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House (Old and new), the National Archives, the Australian Mint, CSIRO, the list goes on! We extend our best wishes to Ella, Isabella and Mrs Bopf for a safe trip. We hope they find it informative and memorable. Thanks also to the Kedron-Wavell RSL Sub Branch for giving students and teachers from our local secondary schools such a valuable experience. 

ANZAC Day Services

The Kedron-Wavell RSL Sub Branch has extended an invitation to our College community to attend its ANZAC Day services on Tuesday 25 April 2023. 

5.00am: Assemble for the Dawn Service at War Graves Section, Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road, Kedron. Students are to enter via the gate opposite Glentanna Street and check in with Mr Rogusz for roll marking purposes. The Dawn Service begins at 5.30am and concludes around 6.30am.7.45am: Assemble on the oval near the Chermside Historical Precinct, 61 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside, for the March. The March begins at 8.00am. 8.30am: ANZAC Day service at Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside. Concludes around 10.00am. Students and families are welcome to participate in any or all of these services. In order to register, please complete the registration form that was emailed to all parents/carers at the end of Term 1 (Friday 31st March). It is important that this information is completed by a parent/carer, specifically the consent for students to participate. Please ensure you indicate which services your child, or your child and family members, will be attending. Please complete a registration for each Mt A student from your family who will be attending these services. Students are required to wear their College uniform with hat and blazer. Students attending the morning service (8.30am) are encouraged to bring a water bottle. Please note: The College will not be providing transport for students on this day.  If your child is attending the Dawn Service and the March/Morning Service, transport must be provided or arranged by your family from the Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road Kedron to the Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive Chermside. 

Year 9 Reflection Day

Thank you to the Year 9 families who have finalised permissions for the Year 9 Reflection Day on Monday 24 April. As this is a compulsory school day, I remind parents/carers who have not completed the permission request, to do so as a matter of urgency via the Igloo portal. Please refer to the reminder that was emailed yesterday, Thursday 20 April. Students are required to wear their College sports uniform with their school or sports hat. As we will be based at the Parish Hall for the day, students will need to bring their own morning tea, lunch and water bottle. Students will need to bring a pen. These items can be packed into the College excursion bag.

Thank you Mrs Conway

At our Liturgy Committee meeting this week, we had an opportunity to thank all students involved in our Easter Liturgy. It was the culmination of a term’s planning and a week of rehearsals. I extend my sincere gratitude, in particular, to Mrs Maria Conway. Mrs Conway called in some of her Year 9 Drama students to take on significant roles in the liturgy and generously committed her time to our planning meetings and rehearsals. Mrs Conway’s expertise in directing the dramatic movement contributed invaluably to the pathos of the liturgy that juxtaposed the Passion and the challenges faced by students today. Thank you Ms Conway! 

Z Club 

Following the success of the Z Club’s fundraising efforts last term, we were able to host our first birthing kit packing day during our Club meeting on Tuesday during Break 1. In partnership with Zonta International and the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia, Z Club members volunteered their time to assemble 200 birthing kits. These kits contain basic items to support a more hygienic and safer birth for women in rural communities and low-resource settings around the world. Kits are given to mothers through community outreach programs, supplied to health facilities for use by doctors, midwives and nurses, or distributed to traditional birthing attendants. Thank you to all of the students who turned out to assist. Our major packing day will be held in October. 

Elizabeth Hayes Week

On 6 May, the Missionary Franciscan Sisters and their associated ministries will celebrate the anniversary of the death of Mother Mary Ignatius (Elizabeth) Hayes, the founder of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC). She is an extraordinary woman and a wonderful role model for our students. From Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 May, our College community will celebrate Elizabeth Hayes Week. 2023 is a very special year as it marks the 200th anniversary of Elizabeth Hayes’ birth and the 150th anniversary of the founding of her ministry at Belle Prairie. We have a number of events planned and look forward to sharing with you in our next newsletter and on social media, photos of our celebrations.

Ponytail Project

Thank you for your support of the Ponytail Project. Together, we have raised $12,820 for the Cancer Council and donated a large quantity of hair that will be made into wigs for people with cancer or alopecia. An amazing effort! We will recognise the fundraising efforts of all sixteen members of Team Mount Alvernia at our assembly on Thursday 4th May. Thank you for your generosity. 

Project Compassion

Thank you also to everyone who contributed to our dress down day at the end of last term. We raised over $900 for Project Compassion, the annual Lenten appeal for Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s official international aid and development agency. The money raised will support long term development programs in partnership with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities for whom poverty and injustice is a daily reality. 

Easter Prayer Resource

Please find attached the Easter to Pentecost Discussion Series, “Voice Crying in the Wilderness.” It is a prayer resource published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane that invites us to reflect on what the Uluru Statement from the Heart is asking of all Australians. These discussion sessions are an opportunity to find out why the Voice to Parliament is important to First Nations people and why the Catholic Bishops are supporting the Call for a Voice to Parliament. 

Encounter Youth

Please see the attached flyer for information about the Encounter Youth program for this term. Encounter Youth meets every Thursday from 6.30 – 8.30pm in the Parish Hall, Little Flower Church, Turner Road, Kedron. All students in Years 7 - 12 are welcome. The Encounter program is an initiative of the Archdiocese of Brisbane designed to mentor students and build stronger connections between schools and parishes.