Merici College Awards Ceremony Semester 2 2017

As students at Merici you are called to be independent learners who take risks, challenge yourself and try new things, think about how you learn and enjoy the learning journey.

On Monday 19 February the Merici College school community celebrated the academic achievements of students in Semester 2 2017.

Mrs Wholley welcomed all parents, carers, students and staff to the ceremony. She spoke to the community about the College’s theme this year, Year of Youth and Spreading Joy and congratulated all students on giving their best effort to reach their full potential and reiterated the importance of recognising the efforts of all students. “As students at Merici you are called to be independent learners who take risks, challenge yourself and try new things, think about how you learn and enjoy the learning journey. These are not new things I am talking about. These words are our words. These goals are found on our posters around the school, they are our Principles of Powerful Learning, and link in perfectly with the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile”.

Merici College is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Years Program. The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the organisation works with schools, governments and international organisations to develop challenging, programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. Mrs Wholley alerted parents to a feasibility study which will be sent out to the community regarding an application for the IB Middle Years program and detailed how that linked together with the Diploma and would benefit all students at Merici College. 

“These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. The expectations of your parents, your teachers and my expectations of you are high. We all want you to be the best you can be. Do things that push you out of your comfort zones, have a growth mindset: I can’t do it … yet! Stand up for the values you believe in, act with integrity and have a strong sense of justice. Take responsibility for your own actions and the consequences that accompany them. This will be a life long journey of understanding yourself and others.” continued Mrs Wholley.

Mrs Wholley also spoke to the students about her career choice and the friendships she has formed over the years and how she has continued contact with many of her school friends.  “I recently caught up with some of my friends from my graduating class of 1988. They described themselves as a mother, grandmother, wife, manager, traveller, performer, teacher, musician, mentor, explorer, educator, athlete, business owner, secretary, caterer, charity supporter, lawyer, carer, survivor, aunt, parent, friend, counsellor, comedian, chef, coach, diving instructor, wildlife warrior, flight attendant, designer, volunteer, farmer, doctor, photographer.” They offered some advice and words of wisdom to our students:

  • Travel (through communication, caring, reflection, open-mindedness we learn about our global society);
  • Remember your family, or a trusted adult that has cared for you, they will be a constant in your life.
  • Never let being a woman hold you back from anything in life.
  • Believe in yourself. You are capable of doing anything – use your emotional intelligence.
  • Be kind to others and be respectful.
  • Never limit yourself to learning only one thing in life – learn a trade not just a uni degree.
  • You never know what is going to be through at you, life is tough and can be cruel. However, you cannot have rainbow without a little rain.
  • Everything passes, you just need to be brave enough to hand in there until it does.
  • Be willing to give 100% to what you do.

Mrs Wholley concluded her address to the community, "I want you to realise that each one of you has a role, each one of you has been created by God to live a life full of truth and love."

 

For a full copy of Mrs Wholley's address, please follow the link http://merici.college/go/principaladdress

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