Celebrating the achievements of all our students!
On Monday 19 August the Merici College school community celebrated the academic achievements of students in Semester 1, 2019 with over 260 students receiving awards that highlight their effort and joy of learning.
Mrs Wholley welcomed all parents, carers and students to the ceremony. She spoke to the community about the central role of education. “As a nation Australia values the central role of education in building a democratic, equitable and just society— a society that is prosperous, cohesive and culturally diverse, and that values Australia’s Indigenous cultures as a key part of the nation’s history, present and future. Education equips young people with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to take advantage of opportunity and to face the challenges of this era with confidence. Schools play a vital role in promoting the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, moral, spiritual and aesthetic development and wellbeing of young Australians, and in ensuring the nation’s ongoing economic prosperity and social cohesion. Schools share this responsibility with students, parents, carers, families, the community, business and other education and training providers.
What I have just read is the preamble to the Melbourne Declaration – it was written in 2008 by the Education Council and is an aspiration Document.
There are two goals in the declaration
Goal 1: Australian schooling promotes equity and excellence
Goal 2: All young Australians become:
– Successful learners
– Confident and creative individuals
– Active and informed citizens
I am currently involved with the update and rewrite of this important document that will set the markers for success in education.
But what does a well-educated person of the future look like? According to by Tom Vander Ark, Mary Ryerse and their fellow researchers – the attributes in the image below meet the profile.
You will be a critical reader who can analyse and assess what you are reading. You will be able to express yourself in writing and speech. You will be understand mathematics and numeric thinking. You will be able to collect and use data and images.
But that’s not all!
A well-educated person will know a lot about the world – its history, cultures, sciences and nature. You will be keen to learn more. You will understand how democracies work and your role as a citizen.
But wait… there’s still more!
You will know how to use your brain to make sense of difficult ideas. You will be able to create your own ideas based on knowledge, you will be creative and see things in new ways. You will know how to work well with others and how to find the people who know what you need to know.
And they have kept the best till last!
A well-educated person will be a learner all their life, curious about themselves and the world, able to find and invent their own learning paths, careers and lives. You will know how to live a good life.
That’s a lot to learn.
And to then do this with a spirit of faith, hope and love, using Jesus as our role model and guide is a really big challenge.
What’s more it is something you are all capable of using your own gifts and talents.
Whilst today we celebrate the 260 students who will be receiving awards that highlight their effort and joy of learning. The remaining 400 of you have much to give. You all have the opportunity to be well-educated young women of the future. So use today to be inspired and embrace every moment. Be alert and inquisitive, make the most of everything this school and the wonderful teachers and students here have to offer and play your part so that you know you are doing what needs to be done to become a well-educated person ready to live well in the world that awaits you.” Loretta Wholley
Mrs Wholley also announced the scholarship recipients from the current Year 10 student group who are our scholarship recipients for Year 11 and 12 over the next two years as they embark on their Senior Secondary studies in 2020 and 2021. This year Merici has also included a Vocational Scholarship for a student progressing from Year 11 to Year 12.
We congratulate:
- Stephanie Brennan – Pentony Mathematics Scholarship
- Fey Etherington – Melissa Van Poppel Scholarship
- Ellen Rowe - St Ursula Scholarship
- Isabella Foster, Sophie Spice, Isabella Trimboli, Heather Bravo - Board Scholarships to cover part tuition
- Caitlyn Crick, Jia Li Norris - Full Board Scholarships
- Natalia Zielinski - VET Scholarship
Mrs Wholley proudly announced that Merici College has been successful in achieving authorisation to become an International Baccalaureate World School and in a few months time, hope to progress their way through the next stage of the Middle Years Program.
As the final part of the awards ceremony, the community welcomed a very special guest speaker, Sr Jane Keogh. Sr Jane is a past student of Merici, a Brigidine Sister, she was a teacher and school principal for many years. For the past 17 years, she has made friends with and championed the cause of Australia's refugees. Every day, she talks with them, cries with them, and pleads for them. In her words, “I make myself a nuisance to people in power, to politicians and church leaders telling them to put people first and not just money and to be kind rather than cruel. I am inspired to do this by the call of the gospels. The Christian message challenges and drives me. The way ahead for Australia is the way of love not of fear.”
Right now, she is working with the young male prisoners on Manus Island separated from their families and loved ones who are all very ill, both mentally and physically.
Sr Jane encouraged and inspired the girls in their studies and life choices. “A strong theme of mine is the call to each one to contribute to a kinder more responsible world. The most central gift that has been given to you is the gift of your life. Everyone is different, each one of you are unique and you are free to choose what you want to do with your gift. Listen to your parents, your teachers, they are much older than you, they have lived a lot longer and have gained much more life experience than you, they can help you, but it is your gift, they are not you and do not waste your gift. Be faithful to that wonderful gift of life that you have been given, the fidelitas motto, be true and be faithful to yourself and your call, be faithful to your God and your spiritual call.”
We congratulate all our students for their achievements and hard work and wish them well throughout Semester 2.
