Woven together in Mercy: Farewell, Class of 2024
Mercy Light: Leading
Across Australia, Year 12 students鈥� countdowns are dwindling to 鈥榸ero鈥�; their long-anticipated final day of school. Though they may not realise, by this point in their lives, they鈥檝e spent roughly 2,500 days learning and growing in formal education settings. If you multiply that number by the 134 Year 12 students graduating from SAC this year, you find that between them, they鈥檝e accumulated 335,000 days worth of memories, connections and lessons across these 13 years of schooling. Although a significant chapter draws to a close, students can take inspiration from British pop singer-songwriter, Natasha Bedingfield, who penned these words: 鈥淟ive your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins鈥� the rest is still unwritten.鈥� While these are the Year 12s’ final days of school, they are of course not their final days of learning.
There are several celebrations for SAC鈥檚 Class of 2024 within the next month. The first of these, the Year 12 Liturgy ritual, was held on Wednesday 23 October in the historic Cunningham Memorial Chapel. Its walls have stood for over 100 years, providing this Mercy community with a place for peaceful reflection. A long-standing tradition is for the cohort to write their names on colourful ribbon, which during this moving liturgy, is woven around a wooden frame. Year 12 Coordinator, Ms Nicoletta Romanelli, explained to the Year 12s how, 鈥渢his ritual symbolises two things: the act of weaving, and carefully choosing colours and threads that at the time make little sense, but in the end, produce a beautiful work of art. It also reflects that God is the weaver, leading us in mysterious ways and drawing together the many strands of our lives. Each student鈥檚 name on a loom represents how we are woven together in Mercy.鈥�
SAC鈥檚 Class of 2024 includes the largest number of students in a single cohort 鈥� precisely 26 鈥� to have journeyed all the way through from Reception to Year 12. 2,500 days is a long time to spend in a particular place. One of these students, Daniela B, recited a poem written by English Coordinator, Ms Genevieve Pelekani:
鈥淎 girl stands in a doorway
ready for her first day of school
uniform perfect
bag packed
excited and afraid.
A young woman stands in a doorway
ready to step into the school beyond school
robed with compassion
carrying lessons learned from experience, as well as textbooks
excited and afraid.
Young woman
Be courageous as you take your place in the new world.
Strengthen yourself with all that you know
the importance of justice
and friendship
and love.
Be strong as you take your place in your new world,
for you have been taught well.鈥�
Reflecting on her schooling, Daniela shares how, 鈥渢he SAC community has guided me to become the best version of myself. From my primary school studies to being able to develop my subject-specific interests in secondary school, I do not know where I would be without the incredible staff and my peers. Of course, there are many iconic memories over my time at SAC. I will never forget about our school camps, particularly our Year 7 Canberra trip and the infamous Year 9 Camp to the Flinders Ranges. These experiences put me out of my comfort zone and taught me about perseverance and leaning on others in times of need.鈥�
Daniela says, 鈥淟eaving SAC is hard. SAC is my home. But I know that I have been equipped with the amazing skills to pursue the future that I want to. Thank you to everyone I have come across in my schooling journey. Every interaction with staff, students and SAC鈥檚 wider community has helped me become the person I am. While it might be goodbye for now, it is not goodbye forever.鈥�
Mischa W, Grace S and Elli P, who have also attended SAC since their earliest years, spoke of how their schooling has shaped them.
鈥淪AC has provided us with such a positive environment and since so many of us have been through school together since Reception, we feel very close. This community is so inclusive and despite differences in backgrounds, we treat each other with respect, compassion and equity,鈥� Elli explains.
Mischa, who is looking forward to decorating her Christmas tree with an ornament she still remembers creating during her Reception orientation day many years ago, feels similarly.
鈥淭he Mercy values are embedded in our learning and so now they are a way of life. They come first-nature to us. We will carry these always.鈥�
Reflecting on how her education has informed her future, Grace spoke of wanting to become a primary school teacher.
鈥淚 want to be a teacher mostly because of the impact amazing teachers have had on me at SAC. They inspire me to serve my community, to give back, I want to go on and do the same for other children. Here at SAC, we have learnt respect and compassion: for our friends, teachers, and for our environment. We have learnt the importance of being present for people.鈥�
On this point, Mischa chimes in: 鈥淲ith SAC being a Reception to Year 12 school, you feel like you have family around you. That is a great gift, to feel that well-supported. Wherever you go, you feel welcomed and cared for. You feel loved.鈥�
Like Grace, Mischa and Elli echo that 13 years of an SAC education has equipped them with a passion to be of service to others, with both young women working towards careers in the legal profession.
鈥淚 want to be able to help people who are disadvantaged, and I know that I can use my learnings from SAC,鈥� says Elli.
Mischa shares, 鈥淚t鈥檚 in little interactions that you can see a big impact and even if you can鈥檛 remember specific moments from school, you will remember how they made you feel and how the Mercy values shine through.鈥�
Mischa鈥檚 words are reminiscent of one of Catherine McAuley鈥檚 famous quotes that impels us to, 鈥渂e shining lamps, giving light to all around.鈥�
We look forward to seeing how the Class of 2024 illuminates their paths of life. While separate now, their stories still 鈥渦nwritten鈥�, as the famous song says, are woven together in Mercy.
Ms Maddie Kelly
Marketing & Communications Team
