FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Academy of Mary Immaculate

ESSAY SKILLS WORKSHOPS
To be held at Academy of Mary Immaculate
FOR YEAR 9 to12 STUDENTS
The ICS Learning Group will be presenting two valuable workshops for students attending Academy of Mary Immaculate.
As class sizes are limited, early enrolment is advised to secure a place.
Essay Skills: for year 9 & 10 Students
This course is for students who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. It will provide a step by step approach -
from reading and interpreting an essay question to the final draft. Students will learn how to organise their knowledge
and understanding of a topic into a well structured essay.
Course Dates: Tuesdays 22, 29 March & 5 April
Times: 3.30 to 5.30 pm
Effective Essay Writing for year 11 & 12 Students
This is a short and intensive 6 hr program designed to familiarise students with the core requirements of essays for each area of study: text
analysis, creating and presenting and analysis of media issues. This course offers a step-by-step guide to assist students in understanding the
elements of producing the required responses for English Expression, SAC’s and Exams.
Dates: Monday 28 & Wednesday 30 March & Monday 4 April
Time: 3.30 to 5.30 pm
Class size is limited to 18 students – early enrolment is advised.
To enrol – book on line www.skillscentre.com.au
Or phone the ICS office on 9818 3888 for further information
College Captain’s Address – Investiture Mass
Opening School Mass Address
Good morning Sister Mary, Mr Fuller, staff, parents and students. I chose to write this speech today about how, sometimes, we can
let the world envelop us in its details and intricacies, and about how we sometimes forget to see the world as it is, a truly wonderful
place.
Have you ever caught yourself so wrapped up in the world you forget to see the big picture I constantly find myself stressing about
things that are of little to no consequence most of the time. I have to admit, a lot of it is worrying about what’s happening on the
next episode of Glee.
One of the hints that was given to me when I started year 12 was to keep perspective and I think that this isn’t something that only
applies on year 12, I think we lose track of this throughout life. Shouldn’t we be thankful for everything around us
Once I got to thinking about this I realised that we have a lot to be thankful for. We go to a school where so many opportunities are
available for us - were you can carry around a ukulele and people just give you the “that’s cool” nod, where talent – in any area,
whether it be sport, art, dance or music – is admired, where the teachers care about the students and want to see us succeed,
where we can see several senior male teachers cross dress for Mercy day.
But it’s not only perspective about Academy. But what about where we live We have the right to freedom of speech, we have
crazy cultural rituals, like going to the beach on Australia Day, we have clean air, beautiful beaches, no filters on our internet
access and we have a wonderful multi-cultural society. We can love whoever we want, choose when we want to marry and have as
children in the hundreds if we want.
What about ourselves We are healthy, and I speak for all of us when we say that we are incredibly beautiful and incredibly
talented. We don’t have to conform to any stereotype: we can be boisterous, or quiet, or crazy, or emo, or indie, or alternative or
Justin Bieber obsessed. We have the opportunity to create an identity that is singularly our own.
We have a lot to be thankful for - for the fact that someone had the ingenious idea of Glee, for the freedom that we have – as
young people, as women and as Australians, for the beauty of our country, for our creativity. We can be thankful that we are
ourselves, different from the next person, yet linked nonetheless.
I’m not saying don’t stress. Stress is healthy in small amounts. It keeps you working and moving. What I am saying, however, is
that the next time you catch yourself losing sleep over a test mark, or crying because you haven’t finished homework, or
complaining to classmates about how badly you did on your SAC take a time-out. A deep breath. And put it all into perspective. At
least you are alive, at least you go to an excellent school, at least you have the support of your classmates. At least the Earth is still
rotating. Then look around. There are miracles all around us. Miracle: Breaking Dawn will be out soon and the last instalment of
Harry Potter. Miracle: We can look up at stars – stars that are millions of light years away and billions of years old. Miracle: that
Justin Bieber hasn’t been kidnapped by a crazy fan yet. Miracle: that you right here, right now, existing.
So, keep perspective, and look for the miracles around you.
Sylvia Rienks, College Captain 2011
Academy of Mary Immaculate
Mercy Secondary Education Inc. A0035660B
88 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au