Principal’s Welcome

MARY FARAH, PRINCIPAL

As I write ‘winter’ I can’t help but think how quickly 2022 is passing by, and how publications such as Always Aloysius perhaps allows a few moments to reflect and let our minds wander.

Welcome to the Winter Edition of Always Aloysius! Hopefully, as an alumna of St Aloysius, when your mind wanders fondly back to student days in North Melbourne you remember the amazing people you met, the friendships you formed and the fire that was lit in your belly to strive for higher things. Whether it was five years ago, or fifty, chances are the memories warm your heart and make you wonder ‘whatever happened to…?’ or better yet, spark an urge to reach out to an old friend you’ve not heard from in a while. It’s your alumni so feel free to reach out.

This year marks the 135th anniversary of the founding of our wonderful school. Next year, 2023, is another pivotal point in a proud history of learning and teaching when we return to co-education, just as the school first began educating girls and boys in the 1880s. In preparation, we will launch a new uniform and new curriculum, and we are making significant investments to our infrastructure and grounds. Fittingly, our theme for 2022 is Respect, a core value at the heart of Mercy Education. More on all this in the pages to come. Also, in this edition of Always Aloysius, you will find articles providing more information on our amazing student outcomes, our new staff, sports and more! In celebration of our 135 years, I gave a speech on St Aloysius Day which reflected upon significant moments in our history. Below are a few paragraphs from the speech: On this very special St Aloysius Day, we can in fact celebrate three acts of founding, which in themselves provide the key themes that are central to the history of the school and still resonate in our lives and our work here today.

The first act of founding, our first story if you like, is that of St Aloysius himself. Aloysius de Gonzaga was born into a wealthy Italian family in 1568. He was the eldest of seven children. The name Aloysius is Latin, the Italian version of his name, and the one his family