Students at Merici College have been participating in the Mentoring program since 2010.
During this time, students have worked with volunteers from Black Mountain School as they undertake work experience at Merici performing tasks such as administration, working in the canteen and assisting with the kitchen garden.
The Merici students have gained great experiences out of this program and those who successfully completed the program also obtained a Certificate I in Active Volunteering.
In 2024, we have significantly increased the involvement with the community. As well as working with the Black Mountain students, our Mentors now also volunteer in the Introductory English Centre at North Ainslie Primary School and at St Vincent’s Aranda in the kindergarten classroom. Our students participate in reading and language activities, enabling invaluable time for reading for these learners.
Our girls are absolutely loving the opportunities that this program provides – it not only benefits the North Ainslie, Black Mountain and St Vincent’s students, it also provides great benefits for our girls as well. As well as learning about Catholic Social Teachings, the girls can enact these in a real and concrete way.
We have added a second Mentor class in 2024 and the students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate II in Active Volunteering. As girls in Year 9 are considering their elective choices for 2025 we encourage them to think about the Mentoring program and how they can contribute to its continued success.
