There are particular moments in the life of a school that invite us to pause and take stock, and our recent Year 12 Graduation at St Mary鈥檚 last week was certainly one of those.听
It was a wonderful celebration of our graduating students and all that they have contributed to 蘑菇视频. Watching them mark the end of their secondary schooling, surrounded by their families, friends and staff, was a reminder of just how much growth takes place across these years. We are enormously proud of the young people they have become and of the courage, generosity, determination and spirit they have brought to our community.听
My sincere thanks to the many staff who worked behind the scenes to make Graduation such a beautiful and memorable occasion. Events such as these require an enormous amount of organisation, care and attention to detail, and I am very grateful to everyone who contributed.听 Particular thanks to Angela Battaglia, Ali Van Uijtert and Paul Skippen for their organisation.听 Thank you to Marcia Howard, Darren Sobbiech and Billy Binedell for their technology.听 Applause for the staff band: Daniel Millie, Andrea Power, Chris Scanlan, Eoghan Brownen and singers, Rachael Congues, Karen Kershaw, Gab Rogers and Jen Collins.听 Thanks to Livinia Ryan and Jac Kolar for their brilliance on the violins. I have included my Graduation address in this edition for those who were unable to be with us on the evening, or who may like to revisit some of the reflections shared with our graduating class.听
The beautiful spring weather we have been enjoying has also brought a lovely energy to these final weeks of the year and provided the perfect backdrop for another wonderful community event, the Geelong Show.听 Congratulations to our students who achieved terrific success at the Show, particularly in cake decoration and photography. Jasmyn D won first prize for her beautiful Dolly Varden Decorated Cake. 蘑菇视频 “scooped the pool” for the Year 9 and 10 Decorated Cupcakes with and Annie H 1st, Violet B 2nd and Amber C 3rd. Millie H came second with her Decorated Cupcakes in the Year 7 and 8 section. Meredyth W is also to be congratulated on her Art award 鈥� placing first and second.听 鈥�听
It is always a pleasure to see the creativity, skill and commitment of our students recognised beyond the College. Whether behind a camera or creating something intricate by hand, these achievements speak to the many different ways our young people discover and develop their gifts.听
There is much to celebrate moving forward 鈥� two Music Nights (27 October and 27 November) so I look forward to seeing you there! Thank you, as always, to our families for the many ways you support our students and contribute to the life of 蘑菇视频.听
Jo Ryan听
Acting Principal听
Graduation Mass address: Jo Ryan听
Over the course of the next weeks, many will tell you that your life is about to begin鈥ut that鈥檚 not true 鈥� this is just the next step for you all 鈥� the next chapter in a life that has already seen around 6,570 days.听 Living is not new to you鈥ife without school, though, is. What will that way of living be for you?听 How do you navigate a world where some of the guardrails you have known for 18 years are removed?听 Simply: you make good decisions.听听
The path of life is one that is characterised by crossroads 鈥� moments where you will need to make decisions without knowing, at the time, what the possible unintended consequences will be of the turn you choose to make.听 At each of these crossroads you are creating the life that one day, you will look back upon and see where your decisions have led you.听 Will they lead you to the greatness of which you are capable?听 Will they lead you to contentment and even joy?听 Will they tell you you have lived a good life?听
That is entirely up to you.听听
In relationships, engage in only those founded on mutual respect and regard.听 Anyone who loves you will want the best for you.听 They will not seek to diminish you, belittle you or ask you to compromise who you are.听 They will want to see you flourish.听 They will accept your foibles and encourage your gifts.听 They will gently shape you in beautiful ways, giving your life brightness, hope and warmth.听 They will be a place of soft-landing and soothing grace. They will be people with whom your spirit settles in peace, your way of being in the world is accepted and even cherished.听 They will laugh at your jokes鈥ven when they are not very funny.听 They will see your effort and applaud it; they will grow with you and be happy that you are growing too.听 A good life is one where others鈥� lives are improved by the fact that you are in the world and yours because of their existence.听
In experiences, take those that offer challenge, promote development and potentially lead to new perspectives.听 The mind and spirit, like the body, require rigour and exercise to be at their best.听 Do not live small in this great world.听 Do not be afraid to test your mettle against others 鈥� their example can show you what you can do too.听 Keep your mind open to the new, because we learn so much about ourselves from moments of great challenge 鈥� how we manage our fears鈥ow we problem solve, how we exert our independence, how we protect others.听 Life should be full of thoughtfully mitigated risk that draws you ever forward.听听听听
This world, this troubled Earth, needs young people of courage and conviction; open minds and hearts; who are thoughtful, considerate, discerning.听 This world needs you to be engaged in its processes, critical thinkers who will not be duped or manipulated by the techno feudalistic structures that seek to control, to mislead, to divide and reduce humanity to less than we are.听 In each of your decisions, you have the potential to impact others for better or for worse; to make this world a better place for you and for others 鈥� to be a good citizen.听听听
But for now鈥n this moment鈥ll you need do is just do the next right thing. And then, the next right thing after that.听 If, at every crossroad you remember to do that, your life will be wonderfully good鈥�听
And that is what we want for every one of you.听听
Thank you.听听
