Vol 4 2012 Merici College Farewells Catherine Rey

From Our Principal…The best of times, the worst of times…As I write this final article for BuildingFutures, I am reminded of those famouslines from Charles Dickens: “It was thebest of times, it was the worst of times”.It is indeed the best of times as I reflecton the very privileged time that I havespent in the Merici community; theworst of times as I contemplate leavingthis community where I have been sohappy and felt so professionally andpersonally fulfilled.Merici culture….In 2003, when I arrived as principalof Merici, I was welcomed by all andimmediately felt very much at home.From the start, I was aware of the veryspecial culture of Merici – welcoming,positive, inclusive and friendly. Thiscomes from the commitment of all tothese values and, I realised very early on,from the unique pastoral care systemwhich creates mini families within theCollege, enabling a natural developmentof leadership, nurturing caring andproductive relationships betweenstudents across the year levels and withtheir teacher and assisting individuals toexplore their talents and gifts in a safeand supportive environment.Over the years, I have often recountedto people my immediate reaction to thisgreat culture that I had encountered: Iwarned myself to ensure that, coming asI did with lots of ideas and enthusiasmon things to “improve” and develop,I do nothing to jeopardise this uniqueculture. I am happy to say that I wassuccessful in this! The culture of Merici,is one of its greatest assets, the reasonpeople feel attracted to the communityand settle in quickly, the glue that bindsus together and the catalyst that bringsabout positive change.Support through hardship…Ten years is a large part of anyone’s life!During that time at Merici, there havebeen many happy and exhilarating timesbut, equally, there have times of greatsadness and grief: where individualsand the community have facedhardship, sickness, tragedy and death.It has indeed been a measure of thecommunity to see its reaction to thesetimes. People have shown each othercompassion and care; they have workedtogether to support those in need andhave supported each other through griefand troubles. As principal, I have oftenbeen in the privileged position to witnessmoments and situations that may notbe obvious to others. Time and again,I have seen members of our community– students, staff, parents – be the face ofChrist to those in need. It has indeedbeen a very humbling and uplifting partof my time at the College.A time of community growth….These ten years have also been awonderful time of growth for thecommunity. I am so proud of the manythings that have been accomplished.Beautiful buildings and updatedfacilities spring to mind but these arenot the essence of our growth. Ratherit is in programs and improvementsthat come about through the greatleadership shown by so many studentsand staff in so many different ways.I am incredibly proud of our healthycanteen, our Sustainability initiatives,the growth in the number of Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander families whochoose us as a school and the greatinitiatives of the Narragunnawali group.Equally proud of our partnershipwith Black Mountain School and thementoring program, the growth in thenumbers of students with a disabilitywho come to us and the way we lookafter them, the innovations in teachingand learning that teachers bring tothe classroom in order to improve theeducational outcomes for our students.I could speak of so many more… Inthese times when change can be sothreatening, our community has beenable not only to adapt to change butto thrive and grow through periodsof uncertainty. This says everythingabout the selflessness, the optimismand the resilience of all, not to mentionthe sheer hard work that people areprepared to put in to make a difference....and of personal growth…Not surprisingly, growth for me too!At the completely unexpected andbeautifulgift to mewhich was thethanksgivingMass onAngela MericiDay, I saidto the girlsthat AngelaMerici had certainly changed me as aperson during my time at the College.Angela’s example is at the heart of allwe do. Her wisdom and love are withus constantly, made concrete throughher writings and through the actions ofthose around us. She encourages us tosee the preciousness of every individualin our care, to love them and to care forthem. Indeed, “love your daughtersequally, do not have any preference forone rather than the other, because theyare all children of God, and you do notknow what he wishes to make of them”has become the personal benchmarkfor me in all of my dealings in thecommunity – not always reached butcertainly aspired to.Thank you all…And so, having just welcomed theYear 10 students to the TransitionsForum where I urged them to take thistime to embrace the possibilities andopportunities that come to them, I canbut take my own advice. It is not at all“the worst of times”; rather a time ofopportunity for further growth for me –a time to leave the comfortable and thesafe and “put out into the deep” in myown life’s journey.Thank you all for your care and supportof me over these years. I have beenoverwhelmed by the kind words andthoughts from so many in these lastweeks. Thank you to the students andstaff for the recent “surprise party” –the assembly that was so beautiful, soaffirming - and a complete surprise!I wish all of you every blessing. Restassured that Merici will remain a part ofme always and that I will keep all of youin my heart and prayers.Catherine ReyPrincipal3

Opening ourHOUSEheartsCHARITIESto the worldNINGIL BRESCIA SEIWAThis year marks the 25th anniversaryof Red Nose Day, which raises moneyfor SIDS and Kids. SIDS and Kids is acharity dedicated to saving the lives ofbabies and children during pregnancy,birth, infancy and childhood throughresearch and prevention of SuddenInfant Death Syndrome, as well assupporting bereaved families.On Tuesday 5th of June Ningil Househeld a combined cupcake and tombolastall involving a raffle and guess-thelollycompetition, raising over $800for SIDS and Kids. There was a secondcupcake stall on Red Nose Day, Friday29th June. Representatives fromeach Ningil PC sold Red Nose Daymerchandise throughout the month ofJune.Brooke DeaneActing Ningil House CoordinatorBALGOBrescia House’s charity for 2012 isUnited Nations Women Australia. Thishas been our charity since 2010 and wehave been lucky enough to gather thesupport of the Merici community to getbehind this great cause. United NationsWomen Australia is an organisationthat stands for gender equality; one oftheir main objectives being to empowerwomen.This year Brescia House has raisedfunds for our charity by comingtogether to run a bake sale for theMerici students while also taking partin a cupcake drive at Marist with PenolaHouse. These fundraisers have helpedraise awareness about UN Women whileraising sufficient funds that we proudlydonate back to the charity.United Nations Women Australia hasallowed Brescia House to become a partof their worldwide known organisationwhile fulfilling the duty to make theyoung ladies of Merici College aware ofthe impact this charity has upon them.Hanna Darmody and Farrah MaroltBrescia House CaptainsCanTeen - The Australian Organisationfor Young People Living with Cancer- is a national support organisationfor 12 - 24 year olds who are livingwith cancer. The inspiration behindCanTeen is the belief that youngpeople are better able to cope withthe uncertainties of a cancer diagnosisthrough meeting and talking with otheryoung people who have had a similarexperience and understand exactly whatthey are going through.CanTeen organises recreational daysand camps for sufferers of cancer andtheir siblings. They help young peoplewith cancer come together to havefun and form friendships. With manyCanTeen members stating they havemade friends for life. “It is just great tohave fun with people who understandwhat you are going through. CanTeenhas been invaluable for my recovery.”Seiwa House raises money for CanTeenvia our annual cupcake and ice-blocksales which occur on the 28 th October,CanTeen’s Bandanna Day. In additionto raising money for CanTeen, SeiwaHouse also offers their ‘people power’by volunteering our time to helpwith the packing of merchandise inpreparation for CanTeen’s majorfundraiser Bandanna Day.Balgo House raised approximately $800at the Biggest Morning Tea by makingand selling cupcakes at a stall at recess.Our next event will be in Septemberwhen we sell the daffodils that weplanted in March. We will also be sellingfresh daffodil stems on that day, inaddition to other merchandise from theACT Cancer Council.4Maureen AdamsBalgo House CoordinatorCatherine AmesburySeiwa House CoordinatorTULLOWTullow House proudly supportsTikondane Community Centre.Tikondane Community Centre wasregistered as a CBO (CommunityBased Organisation, a small version

OpeningHOUSEourCHARITIEShearts to the worldof an NGO) in Lusaka in July l999. It isa grassroots venture started by Zambianswho adopted the mission of fightingthe poverty in their home town, Katetethrough education, especially targetingwomen. The initiative is structuredaround the fact that every person inKatete is either infected or affected byHIV/AIDS and the fight against thisdisease must be fought on a multidimensionalfront that incorporates bothcommunity and individual development.Tullow will be raising funds to help theTikondane Community during the lastweek of Term 3.Bridget BandleTullow House CoordinatorCan Linecollects over 2,700 cans forSt Vincent de PaulWe would like to thank everyone who contributedand/or encouraged the students to contribute to theCan Line. The St Vincent de Paul representatives wereamazed with the generosity of the College. We collectedover 2700 cans, a fantastic effort! We would also liketo thank the students and staff who help load five carsand a trailer with cans. Special thanks to staff memberAnne Curran and Year 12 student Sarah Sowry forcoordinating this most worthwhile event.PENOLAPenola House has for years, in variousways, put all its fundraising effortsinto raising money for Marymead.Marymead, situated at Narrabundah,is a community based not-forprofitorganisation with a 43 yearhistory of supporting vulnerable anddisadvantaged children and families.Recently Penola House ran a successfulTrivia night, raising hundreds of dollarsto help support this worthwhile cause.The night was impressively run byPenola House Captains Amy McAuliffeand Charlotte Egli.Liza LairdPenola House Coordinator5

Love LifeSt Angela Merici DaySt Angela Merici Feast Day - A Time of Celebration and ThanksgivingOn Thursday 24 May 2012, Merici College staff, students andinvited guests celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Angela Merici.This year was cause for both celebrating and thanksgiving.Father Dave Callaghan celebrated Mass with the schoolcommunity and staff and students were delighted that hecould join them, as Father Dave was the College chaplain atMerici for a number of years.The Ursilines came to Australia in 1882, to continue thework of their founder Angela Merici and it is believed thatas they set out from Sydney to Armidale they vowed theywould, challenge people to love life, have hope, be faithful andbuild futures more wondrous than you dare to dream. Today,Merici College continues to live by their motto.“To encounter God requires onlyone thing. Not intellectual prowess,worldly excellence, or sophisticatedachievements, but simplicity.”At the Mass, staff and students prayed especially for theirPrincipal, Mrs Catherine Rey, who has been a true leader,offering herself to the service of all at the College, showingcare and compassion to all in the Merici community. For thelast ten years, Mrs Rey has been an inspirational driving force,challenging all staff and students to move forward in all areasof life in the College. As the Offertory gifts were brought tothe Altar, Danielle Farrell, the College’s Spirituality Captainpresented Mrs Rey with a bouquet of flowers. Student leadersfrom the each of the College Houses also presented to theschool community, beautifully painted canvasses which, whencombined together, affirmed the College’s 2012 theme “befaithful”.The readings chosen for the Mass were based upon the Bookof Sirach 4: 11-18; St Paul to the Corinthians 1: 18-25 andthe Gospel was from Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14. Sirach andCorinthians teach us about the value of seeking wisdom, agift that the Spirit of God imbues us with and if we remainfaithful to wisdom, our decisions will lead us on the rightpath. In Matthew’s Gospel, we all reflected upon the need tobe ‘like children’. “To encounter God requires only one thing.Not intellectual prowess, worldly excellence, or sophisticatedachievements, but simplicity. The mark of children is notinnocence; most often they are quite mischievous. It is notignorance, for they often surprise us with their insights andthoughtful questions. Nor is it helplessness, for many of themare street wise survivors, as often seen in situations of povertyand war. The mark of a child is trust. If we put our trust inGod, and not in ourselves, we will find God.” (Unknown source)It was wonderful to gather as a united community at the Massand afterwards staff and students shared a meal together inPastoral Care groups.May we all continue to be inspired by the words and actionsof Saint Angela Merici.Colette DavisonLiturgy and Ministry CoordinatorMerici College6

Community ForumCharacteristics of a genuinely inclusive schoolWhat is inclusion and what does it look like in the classroom???The Mericicommunity cametogether on Monday12 June to discuss,brainstorm anddeliberate whatInclusion in Actionlooked like at MericiCollege. All membersof our community were invited to attend the event –parents, students and teachers.Our afternoon began with an inspirational presentation fromDr Rhonda Faragher. Rhonda is the mother of Ruth, a Year 9student at Merici College. Rhonda’s theme for the afternoonwas “The Gift of Ruth” and she took us on her family’sjourney of the joy and challenges of having a child with specialneeds and the role that an inclusive education played in thisvoyage. Rhonda’s important message was that having childrenwith disabilities in mainstream classrooms not only benefitsthe child but also has positive educational outcomes for all thestudents in the school.As a community we then discussed and brainstormed threekey questions about Inclusive Education.• What are the essential characteristics of a genuinelyinclusive school?• What do we see, hear and feel in a classroom whereinclusive education is taking place?• What are the attitudes and skills that the Mericicommunity should demonstrate as an inclusivecommunity?The community then voted on the ideas that werebrainstormed and these responses will be used to devise theMerici College’s vision and mission for Inclusion.The key ideas that come out of our forum where -An inclusive school was one that -• Caters for a full range of needs.• Values differences and accepts all people regardless of whothey are.• Is warm and welcoming.• There is an openness to change.• There is challenge and growth for all.• Support and resources are available for teachers.Our community thought that an inclusive classroomwould have -• Students working together, no student isolated.• Engaged learning, diverse teaching methods.• Students feeling safe in an accepting environment whereall opinions were respected and valued.• Teachers being positive role models.The attitudes and skills that should be demonstrated in aninclusive school were -• Understanding student’s needs and catering for them.• Healthy relationships between students and teachers.• A growth mindset allowing opinions and experiences ofall to be heard.• Open mindedness, patience, and a sense of humour.• Being adaptable.• Non-discrimination and staff trained in the requiredlearning areas.It was reaffirming to see so many positive sentiments beingexpressed through the Forum and these ideas are the startingpoint for future discussions.Stephanie O’MearaLanguages and Learning Support Coordinator7

Inform,YearEmpower,9 EnlightenInspireDayEnlighten educationAs part of the Pastoral Care programa Year 9 Enlighten Education Daywas organised and run by EnlightenEducation. Enlighten Education’sprograms help teenage girls decodethe mixed messages they receive fromthe media and society. It helps themdevelop self-esteem and confidence.The purpose of this day is to informand educate girls about important issuesthat affect them as young women andempower them to make appropriatedecisions as they move throughadolescence. The workshops deliveredare designed to help girls discover theirown inner beauty, manage friendships,encourage them to be discerningconsumers and critical thinkers and tofind their own voice and power in acomplex world. Rather than telling girlswhat to do, the focus is on informing,inspiring and empowering them. Thisday not only educates the girls butallows them to have time with theirpeers and have some fun.8

YearInform,9 EnlightenEmpower,DayInspireYEAR 9 ENLIGHTEN DAY WAS STRUCTURED INTO SEVERAL WORKSHOPS ON FRIENDSHIPS,PERSONAL SAFETY, GIRL POWER, RELAXATION AND SELF-DISCOVERY. SOME OF THERESPONSES FROM STUDENTS WERE:I liked learning to listen to my body and today Ifelt like I learned ways to stand up for myself inways I feel comfortable. I learnt about good bodyimage and girl power. Thanks. I love EnlightenEducation.I liked the part ‘Wake Up Sleeping Beauty’because it was fun, engaging and very insightful.I loved the whole day. I learnt how to keepfriends and how to deal with arguments, waysof protecting my personal space and the truthbehind the intention of advertising products towomen. It was amazing.I liked the 10 steps to apologising or sortingproblems out with friends the best. The wholeday was so much fun and really interesting.I loved all of today. It was so inspiring. I want todo something like this when I am older. I love theEnlighten Education programs.The best thing about today is how it is so relevantto us and how we talk aboutreal situations.I learnt to not place myself in vulnerablesituations, to be more aware of my environment,that beauty is not everything and that there arevery good ways I can relax myself when needed. Ilove this workshop!9

Band CampDistance& TheLearningMiddle EastMusic Camps and National Eisteddfodactivities and must acknowledge the extradriving involved”.For the Band camp we had a numberof parents who helped us with variousorganisational requirements: Mrs Sue leQuesne, Aska and Paul Moir and JanetHanratty. We are all most grateful fortheir helpfulness.Our bands have been particularlybusy lately: They recently went to“The Pines” in Tuross for a three daymusic camp which was conductedover Friday to Sunday May 18-20.Fifty musicians were trained intenselyby visiting music specialists and ourstaff, to build up a repertoire for theremainder of this year and to finalisetheir National Eisteddfod pieces.On the next weekend our Juniorand Senior Bands participated in theNational Eisteddfod, the Junior Bandwon a Silver Trophy and the SeniorBand won Gold. The Senior Bandbeing the only 18 years and undergroup to win a gold in the 18 andunder Band sections all weekend.Last year it was the other way around,juniors won Gold and Platinum andSeniors won Silver. So it seems we aretaking turns!Mr John Thompson would like to thankyou the young musicians and theirparents for their hard work over the twoweekends: “we appreciated that parentsare closely involved with their daughtersMerici College has now become aMusic Centre of eminence because ofthe hard work of our full and part-timestaff, our students and parents.On the 28th June we are taking ourJunior Band, Merici Strings and MericiChoir on a Safari to Goulburn andCrookwell. This will be a one daytour and our students will demonstratetheir instruments and musical skills tosecondary and primary students.John ThompsonMusic TeacherOf Moses, an earthquake, mud and Zu-ZuIn April this year, I was in Jordan on athree-week intensive course of ArabicLanguage and Culture. Languageclasses were held for 3 – 6 hours eachday, 5 days a week with several hoursof homework each night. In between,there was time to visit some memorableplaces.Across the River Jordan, about 100metres away, is Israel – rows of pilgrimsin white, snake down to the water’s edgeto the spot where Christ was baptized byJohn. Some bathe in the sluggish water,10grey like putty. In the afternoon, I standwhere Moses stood with the Israelites onMt Nebo and pointed to the PromisedLand: a hint of green in the light browndistance. How could anyone survive inthe long stretch of semi-desert betweenhere and there?The flat, shiny key, partly wedgedunderneath the 2000 year old massivestone pillar shudders and then starts arhythmical shiver up and down; deepunderfoot, the earth is restless. In 726AD it moved with such force that athriving Roman city was completelyburied under what had been a steephill. Eventually grass grew over thenew landscape and fed herds of wildgoats until the 1800s when excavationsbegan. As I step on the brilliant-whiteslippery stones of Gerasa’s main street, Ihope that the earth will stay calm.On a stony beach, I hold a clump ofwarm, black, gooey mud, the size of acricket-ball; not sure if I want to covermyself in it like everyone else. However,to throw it away would be impolite,so I say ‘thanks’ to the man who gaveit to me and start smearing it over myarms and legs. My skin will be as ‘bornagain’, a woman tells me. As the mudcakes and wrinkles in the Dead Sea sun,I wonder.The camel-handler in Petra helps mescramble into the saddle. In threemovements, Zu-Zu is up and starts topad along the rocky, dusty path - back tothe Treasury. After a few minutes, therope lead is put in my hand. ‘To Aqaba!’I want to shout like Lawrence of Arabiain the film, but – who knows – the beastmay take me at my word; and I need tobe back in Amman tonight. So I relax,gently swaying with the camel’s walk asrock-walls sculpted by sandstorms of amillion years glide by.Dr Irena Svilans-DennisTeacher of French

Powerful Learning in the PHABS DepartmentPowerful Learningimprove their own abilities, we continually review ourexisting methods and find innovative ways to inspire studentsto ‘be active for life’. In the Health component, we aimto embrace technology and provide values and skills forthe young women we teach whilst preparing them for theexperiences they may face in our rapidly changing world. Westrive to provide learning initiatives through communication,decision-making, interaction, movement, planning andproblem-solving, empowering students to adopt healthylifestyle practises.Our future focus includes refining some programs tofollow our Mission and Vision statements. This will assistus in promoting our Term 3 Foci of the Colleges Principlesof Powerful Learning; ‘Independent and Collaborative work’.During our Athletics unit, students will have three weeks toself-motivate and work together to improve their skills in arange of dynamic situations. Then in a mini Olympics set-up,students will have the opportunity to challenge themselvesand show how they have improved their individualperformance. Students will monitor their own results andparticipation over the duration of the unit. They will beresponsible for collaborating with peers and staff to ensurethey strive to give their best and feel empowered throughtheir personal achievements.Robert HigginbothamPHABS CoordinatorPierre De Coubertin Awards“The most important thing in theOlympic Games is not to win but to takepart, just as the most important thing inlife is not the triumph but the struggle.”Baron Pierre de CoubertinOn June 22 nd , I had the privilege of attending theannual Pierre De Coubertin Awards. The awards werecreated to acknowledge those students who have madea significant contribution to Sport whilst maintaininggreat links within the College Sporting environment.The Merici College 2012 award recipient is LeighKalsbeek. She is a Year 11 student who has been namedas an invitee in the Australian Under 17 Netball team.Whilst balancing these commitments with tertiarystudies, Leigh has also represented the College in severalsporting teams; Netball, Basketball, Athletics and TouchFootball. To her credit, Leigh also plays for the Collegein the Division 2 Women’s Netball competition so shecan contribute to the school program and maintain abalance of fun and enjoyment.Leigh Kalsbeek, proud recipient of the Pierre DeCoubertin Award13

Reduce, SustainabilityReuse, RecycleFacilitating a dialogue between the entire school communitygives everyone a chance to shape the projects so that they willbe effective. Furthermore, the crucial role the students havein leading this change ensures that they have ownership andinterest in the projects which are then integrated into theircurriculum.Costa Georgiadis, with Fiona Buining and Eliza HopkinsBuilding a Bright and Sustainable FutureBegins in the SchoolThe staff and students of Merici College have created ashared vision for an environmentally friendly school. As thesustainability officer I have the pleasure of facilitating thisdialogue and helping the school community to plan andimplement projects which will ensure that such a vision becomesa reality.Our VisionOur vision is that the school will become environmentallyfriendly and that the projects designed to achieve this aimwill provide an opportunity for learning and will also createcommunity. The school follows the framework provided by theAustralian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), but within thisit creates projects that are tailored to the unique culture of ourschool. Our projects aim to create systems which will reduce theconsumption of energy, water and waste and encourage studentsto learn about biodiversity through a kitchen-garden program.Creating an Environmentally FriendlySchoolThe students from the Sustainability Elective and the volunteergroup, the Environmental Sustainability Team (EST), play acrucial role in designing and implementing the projects aimedtowards making our school environmentally friendly. One ofEST’s focuses this semester has been to establish an effectiverecycling system.The students in EST have thought about the type of recyclingstations that will be easy to use and where in the school theyshould be placed. They also know that information andpromotion is the key to creating behavioural change. In orderto facilitate this they are creating many fun videos, dancesand posters. In August, they are going to swap roles with theirteachers and use a whole of staff meeting to inform their teachersabout the new recycling system!A Hub for LearningMerici College recognises that sustainability relates to everysubject and therefore must be taught holistically. Furthermore,the school is committed to adopting the new Australiancurriculum’s expectation that sustainability will be incorporatedinto every class. The projects which make our school moresustainable are also a hub for learning. They complement atheoretical understanding of the environment with a practicalapplication of how it can be restored and protected. ClaudiaKeski Nummi-Wilson reflected that “I have learnt things thatI otherwise wouldn’t have.” A primary example of this style oflearning is the school’s Kitchen Garden Program.A Case Study: The Kitchen Garden ProgramOver the past year Merici College has worked hard to establishits Kitchen Garden Program. We have many large garden bedswhich are used to grow produce for our canteen. The canteenoffers students and staff healthy, cheap, locally sourced, freshlycooked meals and snacks on a daily basis.The Kitchen Garden Program has also become a key teachingresource. The sustainability elective spends time working in thegarden each week and back in the class room they relate it toconcepts around local sustainability and food systems. Year 10Hospitality classes use the produce to cook meals which are soldat the canteen. Science students use the green house to propagateseedlings which are later planted in the garden. Finally, we arecreating an Indigenous Garden to encourage a cross-culturalunderstanding of land management and food production.Creating CommunityCreating a community which has a shared commitment tosustainability is the key to the projects’ success. One student,Sammy Mayne remarked that “being part of EST and thesustainability elective has been an amazing experience….I havemet a lot of interesting people and see the world in a differentway”. At Merici College, an interest in sustainability stretchesbeyond these two groups to a commitment from the entireschool. It is because of this that there is change in the wholeof-schoolsystems, such as the canteen and recycling. But inaddition to this Merici College has found that its experience insustainability can be used to create a community which stretchesbeyond its walls.Merici College is always eager to share their experiences insustainability and learn from those of others. We engage in avariety of inter-school exchanges, such as the Eco-Bus Toursand the Kids Teaching Kids local and international conferences.We also have a buddy system with Marist College’s environmentgroup and we share with other schools involved in Carbon Kids14

Reduce, Sustainability Reuse, Recycleand Healthy Food at Schools. Reaching further afield, the ESTgroup has a pen pal system with Prosperity Girls High School(PHGS) in Sierra Leone. They are also raising funds for solarpanels so PHGS has electricity. One student, Abby Smith,reflected that a community is formed because “we present andshare ideas with people our age who have common interests”.ConclusionPerhaps the most exciting thing about the community whichhas formed at Merici College is that it is full of young peoplewho realise that they can begin to create a bright and sustainablefuture, right now. One student, Karina Horvat reflected; “ESThas changed my life….it sounds corny but it actually has. Nowwhen I look at my surrounding I see the problem and how I can fixit, rather than ignoring the dilemma.”Eliza HopkinsSustainability Officer15

Merici momentsMerici celebrates St Angela Merici Day