Last Sunday, 8 March, was International Women’s Day. This year’s theme was “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. This theme is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the Beijing Platform for Action is recognised as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls, everywhere.
The United Nations 63rd Session on the Commission on the Status of Women on 11 March 2019 in New York reported the following statistics:
In faith and love
Sharon Volp
Principal
On Friday 14 February, the Mt St Michael’s community was thrusted into a world of love. Inspired by the Mary Aikenhead Education Colleges’ Theme for 2020: Compassion, the Year 10 students, with the branding #LoveIsCompassion, showered the College in a range of Valentine’s Day Fundraising market stalls, with all proceeds going to Caritas. A big thank you to the College Community for attending this festivity of love and all the Year 10 students and Home Room teachers who organised and ran the various stalls during lunch. We also wish to acknowledge the support of our wonderful Year 10 parents who kindly assisted the girls in the purchase of products.
Our 2020 Year 7 and 11 students have been participating in our inaugural buddy program. The program began last year when the girls first met as Year 6 and Year 10 students during the Year 6 testing day. This first session involved introductory activities to allow the buddies to become familiar with each other and, for our incoming students to become comfortable in their future surroundings.
At the end of last year Mt St Michael’s College hosted Associate Professor Peggy Kern as part of a PESA QLD event where she addressed staff from our College and local schools about school belonging. Research shows that adolescents seek belonging from peers and that, in a school environment, teachers play a key role in fostering a sense of belonging. The buddy program provides both sets of students with an opportunity to belong to a group of likeminded peers as they are together for a united purpose.
The buddy program allows the senior girls to develop their leadership skills; become role models and demonstrate their commitment to our community. Year 11 students have risen to the challenge of the new program, approaching each event with enthusiasm, excitement and compassion towards their buddies. For our new students beginning their involvement in the program the year before entry aims to enhance their sense of connectedness to their new environment. Research indicates that high levels of connectedness are a significant predictor of academic and health outcomes. (Walters, Cross & Shaw 2010)
The buddies have enjoyed a shared lunch together this term, the buzz in the Sophia Centre was an indication of the strength of relationships and sense of belonging that have already been formed. The girls will continue to meet and work together throughout the year with some exciting events already being planned for next term. The partnerships will continue into the peer mentoring sessions later in the year which form part of our Positive Education program. Keep a watch on our social media pages for updates on the program.
Congratulations to the Year 10 students who were presented with their Principal’s Awards for Academic Excellence and Excellence in Commitment by Ms Sharon Volp at the recent Year 10 Year Level Assembly.
‘Gratitude’ is one of the MSM Positive Education program constructs. Students are given many opportunities to engage in gratitude activities throughout the College. The Year 9 students are creating a ‘Gratitude Wall’ in which they will continue to add to and reflect on throughout the year.
Thank you to staff and friends who made our Open Day on Friday 28 February a great success. The constant flow of visitors was certainly a strong indicator that our reputation in the community is held in high regard. A big thank you to the many students who gave up their time to guide prospective families around the College. Feedback was very positive indeed.
Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice students are currently creating glass jewellery and platters in the Glass Studio. The students had an enriching opportunity to learn from Visual Artist Ms Pettina Bateman in a series of artist talks and demonstrations within the Glass Studio. Ms Bateman's experience and knowledge was so valuable for our students as she shared her journey within the creative industries and her conceptual processes.