From the Principal – Issue #7, 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians, Friends & Students of SAC,

Staff gathered in the Catherine McAuley Auditorium last Monday to continue our work on the SAC Staff Wellbeing strategy. Under the expert guidance of Sue Chandler from Transformative Schools, we learnt more about the concept of strategic pruning and how it can create space for innovation and promote a supportive staff culture. Rebecca Kane and Rachel Gould, on behalf of the Staff Wellbeing Working Party, led staff discussion and feedback on a draft of the framework. As we articulated in the Mercy Lights Strategic Plan, we aim to be a school where teachers love teaching and students love learning. Attending to the wellbeing of staff is an essential part of working towards this goal.

Last Friday, families and friends of Margaret Moses (Class of 1956) and Gyoparka (Lee) Makk came to SAC to honour these two remarkable women on the 50^th anniversary of their untimely deaths in Operation Babylift. Margaret and Gyoparka were inspired to support the work of SAC old scholar Rosemary Taylor (Class of 1955) in Vietnam, to save children who were unlikely to survive the chaos of war. Year 12 students and some secondary JAM students also attended the memorial, and we were all deeply moved by the stories of courage and compassion that were hallmarks of Margaret and Gyoparka’s tragically short lives. The final message shared was in Margaret’s inspirational words, a message that resonates powerfully today as we do what we can to bring peace to our world:

‘…our work depends on us not seeing the whole problem – we have to see the few children in our care and limit our attention to them…if we started to see what we are not doing, we would be able to do nothing at all. As it is, we are doing something…This has the curious effect of making people think that they can do something too’. Margaret Moses

The Year 11 Drama students performed their group production this week. It was a realistic play about how lives interconnect and the audience appreciated the powerful performances. The play explored some challenging themes but without losing sight of the joy of human connection. Congratulations to Ms Dilger and the cast, each of whom contributed their energy and insight to bring their roles to life. Thanks to the many parents and friends who attended, as having an audience really lifts the performance. 

Thank you to the many Mums and significant women in the lives of SAC students who attended our Mother’s Day Blessing this morning. For those of us whose Mums are no longer here to celebrate, it is a time to remember them and give thanks. My Mum, Catherine (or Kitty to some), taught me everything I know about God’s love at work in the world. With five daughters and three sons to educate, choosing SAC as the school for their girls was an important decision for my parents. Mum worked tirelessly to care for us all, cooking beautiful meals, knitting jumpers, attending every parent-teacher interview, tuckshop duty and school play and so much more. On Mother’s Day, and every day, I am grateful to have grown up in the warmth of my mother’s love. I hope that Mother’s Day this Sunday is a special one for our students and their families.

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

Happy Mother’s Day!

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