Reflections

Christmas is a favourite time of year in the Wholley household. It’s the one time that I go out and buy magazines to plan for the year’s Christmas menu. My daughters and I plan what decorations will go, while my husband starts making a list of all the “jobs” he is going to have to do to make our requests a reality. I have to admit we started the decorating a week early this year on the Feast of Christ the King. However, it is this Sunday that we begin the season of Advent and celebrate the Church’s “New Year”. 

For the second year, the Merici community has participated in a comprehensive survey, capturing feedback across many dimensions of College life. Whilst there is no formal benchmark provided against other schools, Merici enjoys a very high rating across most of the measures. Across all surveys, participants repeatedly commended the school on the positive culture, sense of faith and community, teacher engagement and caring attitude and the diversity of the student body and inclusive culture.

INQUIRERS

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Friday 26 October celebrates World Teachers’ Day in Australia. Interestingly it is celebrated on 5 October in the northern hemisphere, but as the dates always fall into school stand down period, we celebrate it on the last Friday of October each year. The day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1994 to recognise the role of teachers in society.

MERICI IB THEME FOR THE WEEK

We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

Since starting my position at Merici College I have endeavoured to be a strong advocate and spokesperson for the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

October is the perfect time to raise aware of mental illness, reduce the stigma of people living with or caring for people with mental illness and promote positive strategies and activities, along with agencies that are there to help mental health and wellbeing in our community.