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News &Views Issue 8, 17 May 2018

Contents Quick Dates Fri 18 May NAPLAN (Years 7 & 9) Conventions of Language

Year 10 Drama workshop

pm Bill Turner Trophy (Ferny Grove SHS)

pm UQ Cross Country Meet

Sun 20 May 10.00am-1.00pm College Open Day

Mon 21 May Year 7 Athletics Enhancement Day

Year 10 TAFE visit

NAPLAN (Year 9) Numeracy

Tue 22 May QC Cup Netball

NAPLAN (Year 7) Numeracy

3.30pm Time’s Up Discussion Forum

(All Hallows’)

Wed 23 May Fighting the Kaiser (Year 9)

Thu 24 May 7.30pm The Wiz Opening Night (San Damiano)

Franciscan value this term: COMPASSION

From the Desk of the Principal

Deputy Principal Mission &

Community

Mission & Community

Year 12 Study of Society

Homeless Immersion

Public Speaking

Where Are They Now?

World Challenge Vietnam

Experience

The Wiz—Mt A/Padua Musical

Careers

P&FSN

La Cucina

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from the desk of Kerrie Tuite, Principal

Thought for the Week:

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have

roses.

Abraham Lincoln

Pax et bonum Kerrie

tuitk@mta.qld.edu.au

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students, and Friends of Mount Alvernia College

As the term races on, it was really satisfying to spend last Saturday after-

noon with our delightful young women and their mothers, grandmothers -

and we were even blessed with the presence of several great-grandmothers.

I was particularly pleased at the opportunity this function afforded to talk to

our mothers and get to know them better. There was a palpable sense of

community, and I am really pleased for the work and planning undertaken by

our Parents and Friends Support Network Executive, who were

instrumental in the success of this activity. And it was lovely to see our

young women, dressed up and looking so grown up.

In a similar vein, I hope you managed to read Parent Corner last week. The reflections from staff and

students about the important women in their lives were both inspirational and extremely moving. It is still avail-

able on the app and website if you haven’t had time to read it just yet.

All is in preparation for our Annual Open Day on Sunday. The gardens are looking superb and are a credit to

our team of gardeners. The classrooms and the grounds are beautiful, and I know that we will all be proud to

have another opportunity to show off our particular style of education, which is deliberately designed to enable

our students to flourish. The looks on the faces of our potential students, when they see everything we can offer,

are delightful, and the commitment of our students who assist in guiding our visitors around the College makes

me feel very proud. Of course, it goes without saying that nothing happens without the support of staff, who are

selfless in giving their family time to support the College.

After Open Day is over, the College Alumnae gather for a reunion. Each year, the Alumnae comment on just

how much the College has changed and also just how much it is the same. I am grateful for the loyal support of

these women and their ongoing commitment to all that is Mount Alvernia College.

At the end of next week, Friday 25 May, I am travelling to Belgium to complete a two-week intensive course in

Catholic Identity at the Catholic University in Leuven. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn in a

university in a European country. I have spent some time at Boston College some years ago and I am hoping that

this experience will be as rich as my time in Boston.

We are in the process of organising the next World Challenge expedition to Vietnam at the end of 2019.

The initial meeting was very well attended by parents and students. Last year’s Cambodia trip was a big success

and we have extended the trip to three weeks to include a trekking component. There was an error in the flyer

handed to the girls at assembly last week – the trip is not four weeks, but three. Because of this error we will

have another parent information session if it is needed. This is an amazing leadership opportunity for our young

women.

Thank you as always for your support of all that we do at the College.

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From the Deputy Principal:

Mission and Community

Generation Hope

Pope Francis speaks of five great signs of holiness: inner strength, joy, boldness,

community, and constant prayer. Our young women demonstrate these five great

signs daily and are rising to be the generation of hope in the world.

This week I had the privilege of reading 33 applications from Year 12 students who seek

to be a companion at the 2018 Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp in September.

Now more than ever I am convinced that together we are raising young women who

demonstrate and articulate clearly these great signs of holiness.

I include a few short extracts from several of the applications so that you can be assured

that our Year 12 students live these signs of holiness.

I believe this program is a great initiative as it exposes us to the wider community.

It challenges us to be bold and to step outside of our regular comfort zones. I understand

this program is extremely demanding, but I would not be expressing my interest if I wasn’t

willing to work hard and give back. I have the strength to not only assist the children and

families, but to also strengthen my capacity as a young person.

~ another sign of hope.

There is not a single day of my life where I am unaware of, or don’t notice the need to,

reach out and help those in need. I cannot begin to imagine the sacrifices that some of the

parents of the children who are developmentally delayed must make. What I have in life is

such a privilege, and to be able to share my privilege and joy with those surrounding me,

whether in need or not, is something I aspire to do every day.

~ yet another sign of holiness

These children whom I assist when I volunteer in the kids’ room, and my cousin, who

has no words but speak volumes to me, have been my inspiration. They challenge me

to go beyond the ordinary and to accept challenges that others may not even consider.

Each day they are doing the extraordinary in their everyday. This gives me much joy to

witness.

Our Catholic and Franciscan tradition calls us again and again to go to the broken and brokenness in

our world. Pope Francis says ~ "What we need in these times is a culture of encounter!" We need to aim

to build a transformative culture. This means building a culture of 'more' - more God, more love, more

of an experience of 'the other'. This is important to us as we build a generation of hope and

compassion in the world.

This fortnight I pray that we live these five great signs of holiness: inner strength, joy, boldness,

community, and constant prayer.

Let us seek ways to action them with COMPASSION.

Blessings and peace.

Alison Stone

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Mission and Community

COMMUNITY DATES OF INTEREST:

ADVANCE NOTICE

#Time’s Up Student Forum: Tuesday 22 May, 3:20- 6:30pm, All Hallows’

School – only for Years 11 and 12 students.

Considering the recent media stories around sexual harassment in high profile industries it

is time to open the discussion about what constitutes harassment and how we are treating

our peers with respect. Students in Year 11 and Year 12 only should have registered

already through Moodle >Mission and Outreach for this important forum with other

Catholic schools and colleges in Brisbane. See Mrs Stone for more details.

Year 12 Retreat Day – over three days!

Wednesday 20 June (Belle Prairie & Greccio), Thursday 21 June (Perugia & Rieti), and Friday 22 June

(Spoleto & Villa Spada). This compulsory Year 12 Retreat Day is a very special day where the girls are afforded

the opportunity to immerse themselves further in the Franciscan way of action and contemplation. Adventurer

and advocate for unity in the world, Sam Clear, will inspire our ladies to make a difference in the world. This day

is held at the beautiful setting of Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre at Ormiston. Buses are provided, but the day is

a little longer than normal. Buses depart at 8:30am and the students return to the College by 3:40pm.

Desperately seeking wool … Our highly

industrious Tuesday Crochet Club still needs

eight-ply wool.

Can you assist? Any colour will do.

Our 2018 rosters for our Outreach programs and other Justice events are posted on Moodle.

We welcome volunteers from all year levels to action the call of being Christ in the world.

(continued next page)

Our new Outreach opportunity for Years 10 and 11 students continues – Holy

Cross Laundry Outreach – six students served hospitality and conversation,

and then worked in the dry fold area of the laundry for a short while with

employees who are part of HCL’s assisted program. This ministry runs most

fortnights on a Thursday 9:30am to 12:00 noon.

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Mission and Community

The Unknown Project will be at Open Day this

Sunday: A Brisbane-based initiative by young uni

students, The Unknown Project sells wrapped second-

hand books to buy school resources for young people

seeking asylum. The initiative hopes to teach Australians

not to ‘judge a book by its cover’.

All proceeds from sales go towards buying school resources for child asylum seekers learning English at the

Brisbane Romero Centre. They will also be at our Open Day on Sunday 20 May so bring along $5 or $2 and

purchase a book. Look for them in the Undercroft near the P&FSN Bake Stall.

Can you assist? We are collecting quality pre-loved books in excellent condition or new books for

YA or adults, brown paper, and string.

There is a green collection bin in the iCentre for these goods.

Food Friends & Faith: Our Mount Alvernia and Padua Youth Group will meet again next

term with dates yet to be confirmed. This is a great way to live The Year of Youth and join

other young people for some fun, food, and fabulous conversations about faith. All students in

Years 10, 11, and 12 are welcome.

Year 10 Reflection Day: Year 10 Reflection Day was a fabulous day full of rich learning experiences for

everyone. Connecting strongly with the Year 10 RE unit this term, students had the opportunity to explore the

words of MICAH – to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God – on their reflection day.

This day began with an immersive ‘refugee camp’ experience which was thought-

provoking and rich in lived experiences. Then it was time to experience justice as

we teamed up with Solar Buddy, to get MAD about energy poverty. Together

we constructed 140 personal buddy lights for children in Vanuatu who do not

have the ability to do their homework at night because their families do not have

access to electricity. Founder of Solar Buddy, Simon Dobel, and our own

Fr Mario shared personal experiences of living in and working in refugee camps

around the world. These stories and the experiences of the day motivated our

young women to seek ways to be the change in the world.

SEE SOLARBUDDY AT OPEN DAY ON

SUNDAY. Come to the Undercroft area

near the P&FSN bake stall and

introduce yourself.

(continued from previous page)

(continued next page)

Figure 2:Refugee support: Rory McGahan and Olivia Roney

at one of their book sales in Brisbane. Photo: Supplied.

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Mission and Community

(continued from previous page)

THANK YOU to all mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and young women who donated

generously to the Solomon Islands Education Fund at the Mother Daughter event last

weekend. The students who visited our partners in the Solomon Islands last year

initiated this project, and it was wonderful to have our community support the idea.

We know that all monies raised will educate four young women from rural

communities who attend the DIVIT Centre in Visale.

More information will come in Term 3 about the 2019 SOLOMON ISLANDS GIG – Years 11

and 12 students will have an opportunity to get involved globally as part of our commitment to justice

and solidarity.

The Romero Centre provides warm welcome and the right support for people seeking asylum.

We are in conversation with the Romero Centre about an exciting new ministry at the College next term.

Our gardens and warm community will be a place to share their journey and help make their life easier. Stay

tuned for more details.

This term, however, you can help: Romero’s Pantry is seeking donations of oil, rice, tuna and honey

(especially honey!) If you can assist, please send these items into College for delivery to Mrs Stone via

Reception, or come straight to her office.

People seeking asylum are struggling to survive.

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The Year 12 Study of Society Semester 1 focus is Who Gets What and Why, exploring social inequality,

stratification, disadvantaged groups in society, and homelessness. On Friday 11 May, the students were

engaged in an immersion - Footsteps: Exploring Homelessness on the Streets of Brisbane, organised and led

by Mrs Stone and assisted by Mrs Humphries. I would like to share with you a reflection written by

Sienna van Venetian, on behalf of the class. Thank you sincerely, Mrs Stone and Mrs Humphries, for

giving the students this outreach/social justice opportunity.

Mrs Farrow

Year 12 Study of Society teacher

Dear Mrs Stone and Mrs Humphries

I just wanted to say, on behalf of the Year 12 Study of Society class, thank you for giving and allowing us

the opportunity to be immersive within a very important issue found in our modern Australian society.

Personally, I found the experience amazingly eye-opening and, though the things we saw weren’t new

or hugely shocking to most of us, it is always different to see it in person and happening locally too.

I know a lot of the girls feel the same and it opened our eyes to the reality, as well as the diversity, of

the homeless situation. I know we will all pay a special close focus on our language when we put

people first by saying “people who are homeless”, rather than “homeless people”. I believe the

experience was one that will stick with us. We feel that it has certainly brought us a step closer to

standing in solidarity, developing a deeper understanding, awareness, and empathy with the people in

our society who find themselves in a situation of homelessness; regardless of whether it is primary,

secondary, or tertiary. It has broadened our horizons with action we can take to help and has

encouraged and inspired us to be the voice that educates, respects, donates, and volunteers. Hearing

real stories has fuelled our perspective of just how close, how easy, and how quick it is for one of us or

a loved one to become homeless. It has given us a new found respect and appreciation towards how

grateful and privileged we are to have strong and close support networks and excellent schooling that

prevent us from falling into—sometimes uncontrollable—trouble.

Thank you immensely.

Sienna van Venetien

on behalf of Tahlia, Amy, Grace, Caity,

Georgia, Morgan, Sandy, and Annalise

Year 12 Study of Society Homeless Immersion

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Public Speaking

38 students from Years 7 to 11 are currently benefitting from a series of

public speaking workshops. The initiative has been organised primarily to

provide an opportunity for girls to develop skills and gain experience to

apply for the Raise the Bar leadership program. However, many girls are

gaining generally applicable insights and confidence from working with

Mr Adrian Pauley, former teacher and convenor of the Toastmasters

International Youth Leadership Course.

In the three, weekly, 90-minute sessions, Adrian asks girls to step

outside their comfort zone in many ways, including practising

impromptu speaking, incorporating stories in a speech structure, and

exploiting pause and gesture. Small group activities and individual

challenges punctuate information, advice, and examples. Feedback

from the girls has been very positive and a second, advanced offering

is being considered for Semester 2.

Paula Egan

Teacher

My mother died as I was commencing my nursing training, which taught me to take care of myself at a much

younger age than most. I had a difficult adolescence (due to home and family circumstances), so I vowed that the

worst was over, and that the future would hold better things for me. I have carried this philosophy with me ever

since, and I endeavour to raise my daughter with the same positive outlook on life. We are the sum of our

experiences—good or bad—which we should embrace in order to fully love and accept ourselves. I am not

religious, but I still quite often recite to myself the Prayer of St Francis. The words are most powerful and

relevant for everyone.

The advice I would give young women leaving school is to never ignore your inner voice, telling you to believe in

yourself.

My teachers and my fellow students helped me through some very difficult times. I was not the best student I

could have been, but I think I gave as much of myself as I could. The highlight of my time at Mt A was music –

anything music. I still hold great friendships from this time, keeping up with quite a few ‘old girls’.

Emma Wallace

Lessons Learned at Mt A

Emma Wallace was a student at Mt A from 1994 to 1998,

and her mother, Elaine, taught here. Her goal at school was

to pursue a nursing career, and she continues to work in this

field.

Here Emma shares some insights from her time at school.

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Another fortnight, another Careers update!

Melissa Loveday

From the Careers Program Leader

See Careers News for information on the following:

Go – Graduate Jobs Directory

Is There a Test that Tells Me my Ideal Job?

Tertiary Education Experience (TEE)

Bond University Scholarships

Commonwealth Supported Places and HELP

Loans

Gap Year Program News

Overseas Studies

Job Info

Private Providers

QTAC and Tertiary Entry

Queensland Curriculum and Assessment

Authority

TAFE Queensland

Australian Catholic University (ACU)

CQUniversity (CQU) News

CQUniversity Online Chat Session

CQUniversity Upcoming Career Expos

Griffith University

Griffith Uni GUESTS Applications for

Trimester 2

Griffith Uni Queensland Conservatorium

Year 12 Experience Days

GriffithBUSINESS Ambassador Program

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Updates

University of Queensland (UQ)

UQ Auditions for the 2018 B Music (Honours)

Program

UQ Exercise and Nutrition Sciences as Your

Pathway to Medicine

UQ Facts and Myths

UQ Young Scholars Program for 2018-2019

What’s Up at the University of the Southern

Queensland (USQ)

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La Cucina Roster

Term 2

Friday 18 May

Jen Davissen

Monday 21 May

Kate Wilson

Tuesday 22 May

Anne-Marie Sams, Debra Dotto

Wednesday 23 May

Robyn Nicolle

Thursday 24 May

Jo Holmes, Kathy Leddy

Any enquiries: please contact the

College Office—3357 6000.

Open from 7.15-9.30am &10.30am-

3.00pm (3.15pm Wednesday). Staff,

parents and friends are very welcome

to drop in for coffee—$3.50; $3 in

own cup.

The Mount Alvernia College Open Day is coming up on

Sunday. The P&FSN will be running a barbeque and cake stall on

the day, and will be looking for volunteers to assist with the set-up,

barbeque, and baking scrumptious goodies!! Register to assist here.

Thank you in anticipation for supporting this important community

event.

Important Flu Facts from Queensland Health

Flu is dangerous for everyone, but particularly for children.

Flu strains change each year.

Flu spreads easily between people, particularly children.

If you (or your child) are unwell, stay home until better

Remember it is not ‘just the flu’, it is a serious disease. Having an

annual flu vaccine will help keep you, your family, and the

community healthy this flu season.

Visit: http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/

condition/14/217/82/Influenza-The-Flu

In 2018, Queensland Health is offering free influenza

vaccine to children aged six months to less than five