1
THE
MANDEVILIJAN Registered by Australia Post Publication No. VBH 7636, Vol. 6, No. 3, 1991
FROM THE
SISTER CYRIL MOONEY: A WOMAN IN
JUNIOR
THE MARY
SCHOOL
WARD
TRADITION
By SR. HELEN MURPHY IBVM Head of the Junior School
A feature of the winter months in the Junior School has been "Growth". This is evidenced at alllevels of school life.
Over the past term every child in the school
By SR. MARGARET CALLAGHAN IBVM
Occasionally a Loreto sister frc,m another IBVM Province comes to Australia and is
available to talk to the students ofour schools.
Such was the case recently when Sr. Cyril Mooney IBVM from the Indian Province came to Melbourne and to Mandeville.
Sr. Cyril's story of her Loret,0, Calcutta school and its outreach programme was heard by almost every girl in the school, both senior and junior. And what an inspiring story it is!
Sister Cyril Mooney IBVM
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
In her Loreto, Sealdah school, girls from
school community to make a very real commitment to assist those who are less ft)rtunate
help in the small-group teaching of village
than themselves.
children whose normal class size consists of
We could not but be somewhat over-
150-120, taught by one teacher in a room even
whelmed and humbled as Sr. Cyril described
less than the size of one of our n()rmal class-
the working conditions and relative lack of
roonth. As well as this, pavemelit dwelling
resources in her school in comparison with could not but wonder what Sr. Cyril thought
children from the streets and railway stati,n at Sealdah are encouraged to come into the school, when they want to, for a meal and
of Mandeville? Somewhat tentatively, one
some basic teaching from these same girls.
our privileged situation at Mandeville. We
By ANNE HUNT
Grade 5 up to Grade 12 go out each week to villages on the outskirts of Calcutta. They
The recent visit of Sr. Cyril Mooney,
member of staff asked the question. With
Sr. Cyril's programme is based oil the firm
IBVM, to Loreto just a few weeks ago was a
great warmth and affection, Sr. Cyril replied
belief that. we have no right to an education
very precious time for the school. To describe
that she marvelled and rejoiced in all the op-
when others go without, and we should do
Sr. Cyril as a remarkable lady is a terrible
portunities that were offered to our students
everything in our power to use the gifts we are
understatement. The trouble is that no words
here at school, opportunities that her stu-
could do justice to her; and no time would be
dents would not even dream of having. A fter a
enough to take in all the wisdom and the in-
slight pause, she added, "But I would ask one
privileged to receive in order to help others. Keep in mind too that of the 1,200 students in Sr. Cyril's school, up to 800 are subsidised by
spiration that she had to offer us. Sr. Cyril,
question of you at Mandeville: cio you build a
the more well-off students, and 500 of these
originally from Ireland, has spent some 35
little hardship into your programme? After
years of her life working in India and is cur-
all," she explained, "it is important to learn a
rently Principal of a large Loreto school in
little hardship, in preparation for the hard-
Calcutta. She is one of the few principals in
ships of life; important too, to learn the dif-
the world to ride a motor cycle to school!
ference between our needs and our wants."
even receive uniforms, books and a daily breakfast for the barest of offerings. As a resuit, they know what it is to be poor and, paradoxically, they know why it is important to give to others. These are the very children who are often t,he most willing to be involved
has taken part in a stage production, and all students in Years 4,5 and 6 have had the
opportunity of playing sport for their House Teams. It is rewarding to note the growth that has occurred in confidence, skills and team
spirit.
Exciting people have visited the school, such as Peter Pavey, Sister Cyril. "Catherine Sefton" and others. Excursions have been
arranged to stimulating places like the Art Gallery, Dromkeen, Northcote Pottery, the Concert Hall and the Market. These excur-
sicins enhance growth in knowledge and a wide range of skills including language skills and social skills.
Many Junior Schoc,1 staff members have just finished writing reports for girls in Years 3 to 6. This is a time to once again reflect on
and celebrate the academic and personal growth of each person involved. The expansion of the physical aspect of our
school has amazed us. We expect to be in the upstairs section by October, and the downstairs section by November. Third Term has indeed been a time of con-
siderable growth and it is with pride that I watch the students accept challenges, overcc,me failure, try new ideas, seek ft)rgiveness and move onwards with enthusiasm and vitaltty.
In her few days with us, Sr. Cyril spent time
It is as important a question fur parents as
with the students at various year levels and
it is for teachers! Do we build a little hardship
in the outreach programme.
also conducted a twilight seminar for staff.
into our children's lives? Do we make sure
Staff were particularly interested to know
there's a little measure ofdisappointment and
about Sr. Cyril's school in Calcutta, and in
denial? We need, even as children, to learn
Rather than just raising money for her work, which is already being clone, we hope to use Sr. Cyril's account to reflect more deeply
particular about the school's extraordinary
how to deal with disappointment, discourage-
on our own situation at Mandeville and how
commitment to the student work programme
ment, with lack of resources. with lack of
in which the students take responsibility for
assistance. We need to learn how to cope
perhaps we can give more practical help to the disadvantaged in our own society. It is by no
the education o f local street children and chil-
when we do not, get our own way! Strength of
means the same culture or situation but the
dren in outer-lying villages. The project is a
character is built precisely in this way. It is
call to reach out to others is a universal (,ne
French enjoying ''le petit dojeuner'',
powerful example of what it can mean for a
vital to our education for life.
and one we need t.o heed.
croissants et pains aux chocolats!
Earlier this year, after deciding to run the Appeal Office without incurring the cost of a
thc,n whereby families were contacted by volunteers regarding the Appeal.
$1 Million Appeal: Geraldine
Croagh Joins Appeal Staff
Fundraising Consultant, Mrs. Geraldine
These activities have resulted in an iii-
Croagh volunteered to act as Appeal Direc-
crease of the Appeal total sum raised to $513,214 with $889,()15 pledged to be paid by
tor.
As a current member of the Advisory Board, a past President of the Mothers' Association and as a mother of a daughter at
Mandeville, and of a past student, Geraldine was ideally suited to take on this important role.
Year 5 Gold and Year 6 Gold students of
school families over the life of the Appeal in these difficult times, a splendid result.
"I am amazed and humbled by the generosity of Mandeville families, both by the sac-
rifices some donations have obviously caused, and also by the time and efforts of our many volunteers , said Geraldine. "The interest
This year Geraldine has successfully up-
shown by our parents gives testimony to the
graded and fully computerised the Appeal
acceptance of the Appeal by the school cominunity and gives me confidence that we will achieve our target. It also demonstrates that our parents are willing to support. our school
records, ensuring future easy access to all donors' details, volunteer reports, donor pledge details and sums donated. In addition she has
also organised an Appeal information night,
even in these difficult times."
for 1991 new parents at Mandeville, managed a volunteer visitation programme in which
Geraldine attends at t,he Appeal office on two days in every week and welcomes contact
some 120 f'amilies were visited by Mandeville
from anyone wishing to inquire on any aspect
parent volunteers and supervised a phone-a-
of the Appeal.
Mrs. Geraldine Croagh