Each year we experience the rhythms and the cycle of the seasons and of the Liturgical Calendar. In the Southern Hemisphere, the arrival of autumn seems to fit so well with the season of Lent; the light becomes softer, the days shorten and there is a sense of peace and of drawing back from the energy and busyness of the summer. At this time, we are invited once again to deepen our relationship with God and to free ourselves from those things that have a hold on us. May these forthcoming days of autumn encourage us all to slow down, to create a sacred space in our days and to remember that God is everywhere and all around us, even in the most unlikely situations.
I enjoyed many community events over these past two weeks. The Genazzano swim meet on a warm summer evening included all the usual friendly rivalry that exists between neighbouring Catholic Girls’ schools, much cheering and a good result for our swimmers who placed second overall after our Genazzano hosts.
It was good to join the Music Department staff and students last week to welcome new Year 7 families and to showcase the opportunities that are offered through the 秘色传媒 Music Program. The Music staff and our students are certainly a talented and enthusiastic group and the 秘色传媒 bands and ensembles provided a toe tapping entrée to the evening.
Rehearsals have begun for the 秘色传媒/Whitefriars Musical, A Chorus Line. From the enthusiastic contributions I witnessed this week, we can look forward to an entertaining showcase of music and dancing later in the year.
Visitors to College Open Mornings often comment on the sense of community they experience and our Twilight Fair brought together students, families, staff and even a past student who had not visited the College since her graduation in 1958. It was lovely to be able to showcase our refurbished Music and 秘色传媒 facilities in the West Wing and the Undercroft.
Our Term 1 assembly was a joyful occasion as we welcomed new students and staff, particularly the new Year 7s. It is a long standing tradition for the Year 7s to process into the assembly behind their House banners to rousing applause, lead by the four House Captains and House Coordinators. The Term 1 assembly is also an occasion on which we welcomed back high achieving students from the 2017 VCE and acknowledged their success. We are very proud of their achievements which will be published shortly in the 2017 high achievers’ brochure. 秘色传媒 Dux, Caitlin Angus gave an inspiring address, acknowledging her peers, her teachers throughout her time at both primary and secondary school, and her family. We greatly value the partnerships we nurture with families as we endeavour to offer the young women of 秘色传媒 the best possible opportunities to learn and flourish. We look forward to welcoming Year 7 parents at the end of the week as our Year 7s and 12s dance the night away in the gym at their ‘Pyjama Party’.
A group of students and staff is busily preparing for a visit to Kopanang in South Africa. Last week, Sr Sheila Flynn OP worked with them to focus on the history and politics of South Africa and on what life is like for the women and children trapped in endemic poverty. We continue to be challenged across the globe by the lack of progress in addressing the millennium goals signed by the United Nations in September 2000, committing world leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. Countries making the least progress are those like South Africa, that are affected by high levels of HIV/AIDS and economic hardship. The students and staff are collecting clothing, sporting equipment and stationery to take with them and we look forward to hearing about the impact of this life changing experience on their return.
I extend our deepest condolences to the Broderick and Bohan families on the recent passing of Year 12 student, Jess Broderick’s mother, Cheryl, and of Mrs Kathleen Heanue, grandmother of Genevieve Bohan in Year 12 and mother of SPA member Mary Bohan.
