‘By educating the whole person, Catholic schools support the development of well-rounded individuals who will succeed and be happy and confident in the world during and after their schooling, whatever path they choose through life.”
This quote by Professor Elizabeth Labone Chief Executive Officer Victorian Catholic Education Authority captures the good news story of recent research commissioned by the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) which found ‘positive average Catholic school effects’ for many of the post-school outcomes that were analysed in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey data.
The research found that compared to people who attended government schools, Catholic education graduates were found on average to:
- Be more likely to be employed
- Earn higher wages
- Be more likely to be working in an industry or sector that directly benefits the public
- Have higher life satisfaction
- Have better general health
- Be more likely to donate to charity
This is the good news story of Catholic education. We provide a viable choice for families seeking an holistic education for their daughters. This has been the strong message we have shared with prospective families throughout our Open Day sessions which concluded today. To read the research report click here. A short video about the research can be found here.
We have welcomed over 1300 people to the College over the past two weeks. We are most grateful to our students and staff who have taken time out of their programs to welcome and host our visiting families. Parents have been impressed by the confidence and knowledge of our students.
Beth, Ava, Piper and Jorja from Year 8 also stepped up to the challenge of being interviewed in front of our Open Day audiences. They have been outstanding in articulating how they have grown as both a person and a learner and sharing the process of their Growth Day projects.
Earlier this week I attended the CaSPA Board meeting in Hobart. This is the peak national body for Catholic Secondary School Principals. I represent the Victorian Principals as the Victorian Board Director. It is evident that ongoing advocacy for funding for Catholic education will be critical as we approach a federal election.
In the latter part of the week we welcomed Nicole Mangelsdorf Acting Executive Director Kildare Ministries, Peter Houlahan Executive Officer Kildare Education Ministries, Angela Romano Principal of Marian College and Mark Murphy Principal of Whitefriars College. This panel conducted my summative appraisal. The process included interviews over two days with myself, staff, students, parents, Stewardship Council and feedback from a staff survey. In preparing my self-reflection I was humbled by what has been achieved at the College over the past six years despite the challenges of the covid years. The panel affirmed that we have a coherent and shared vision for the College that is known and being brought to life through our new strategic plan ’One Pace Beyond’. Whilst this appraisal has been focused on my leadership, I acknowledged to the panel that it has been a shared endeavour and I am grateful for the team that leads with me. I look forward to receiving the report which will outline commendations and future growth opportunities.
Next week we will hold our annual Athletics Carnival. Our swimming Carnival this year had the highest student attendance recorded since covid. We remind parents that this is a scheduled school day and the expectation is that students attend and join in where they can, engaging in the sense of community and house spirit that these days engender. Our House Leaders have strongly promoted this aspect to student’s and we look forward to all that the day brings.
This week we celebrated the feast of St Patrick and St Joseph.
St Patrick influenced the development of Celtic spirituality from which our own Brigidine and Kildare Ministries tradition is drawn from. Celtic Christianity expresses itself through the following:
- Ministry as a team
- A holistic faith and spirituality including the connection to the natural world
- Mission within community connecting to the traditions of the people
- Christian hospitality
This is how we approach mission through our Kildare Ministries values.
It is said that St Patrick spent his time in prayer and fasting during Lent in the County of Mayo where Croagh Patrick is situated. This mountain is a place of pilgrimage for many people from all around the world who make the journey to the summit. I walked this path back in 2019 with other Kildare Ministries leaders as part of our pilgrimage to Ireland. It was one of the most difficult walks that I have ever done. For a significant part of the walk clouds covered the summit and it was unclear of how far was left to travel. So many times, I felt like turning back and yet the strength and encouragement of my companions gave me the courage and somehow the physical and spiritual will to make it to the top.
Hospitality is not just about welcoming people into our schools or homes, it is also about welcoming the gift of the other at the most unexpected times. Hospitality reminds us that together we can be more than we can be one our own. During Lent we take the time to renovate and refurbish our heart spaces, creating spaces for God to speak to us, to walk with us, to comfort us through those we encounter each day.
St Patrick’s beautiful Prayer for Protection speaks to his belief in this:
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Blessings
Luci
