Last week we farewelled our Year 12 cohort

Last week we farewelled our Year 12 cohort at the last whole-College assembly of the year. The assembly, run by the Year 12 Leadership Team, was a fitting tribute to the six-year journey of these students, as it was presented with maturity and pride.

As 2026 College Captain Issy Byrne mentioned in her speech, the Class of 2026 has had over 2,500 days of schooling between Prep and Year 12. However, nearly 200 of those days occurred during lockdowns, which significantly impacted individuals in different ways.

The Class of 2026 is to be congratulated on their resilience, not just for navigating a difficult start to secondary schooling during lockdowns, but also for the way they have managed other challenging events over the past few years. They have continuously supported each other and shown great maturity.

In the year of our sesquicentenary, celebrating 150 years since the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy to begin their ministry in Bendigo, it is fitting that this cohort has so powerfully lived the Mercy Values, which would have made Catherine proud.

The VCE written examination period is now well underway, with both Year 12s sitting their VCE exams and a large number of Year 11 students, who have accelerated one or more subjects. In addition, it was pleasing to see that the full cohort of VCE Vocational Major students have finished school with full-time, part-time or casual work.

Congratulations to the members of the Year 12 Student Leadership Team for 2027, who were announced at the Assembly. Each year, the ceremony of current Captains passing their roles to the incoming leaders is one that evokes pride and admiration in the College community. Congratulations to the 2027 leaders and thank you for choosing to serve the school in leadership with your time and talents.

Earlier this month, the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi was observed, and his famous prayer for peace, which is still very relevant today, was a fitting prayer to share with the Class of 2026 and College community.

St Francis Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.