As we quickly settle into Week 2 and back to school routines, I am sure that many have an eye on the Olympics.  Inspired by Mrs Kirstin Allen’s reflection at staff briefing this week, at our assembly I spoke about the goals and values of the Olympic Movement, as it provided an opportunity to reflect on how these resonate with our school’s vision to empower young women through a Catholic education in the Mercy tradition, to pursue personal excellence and to challenge and shape the future.

The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind.  This inspires individuals to pursue their best and contribute positively to society.  At its core, it emphasises:

• Excellence: Striving for personal and collective bests.
• Friendship: Building bonds and understanding among diverse communities.
• Respect: Valuing oneself and others, promoting fairness and inclusion.

Our vision for our young women to challenge and shape the future through a Catholic education aligns seamlessly with these values.

1. Personal Excellence: Just as athletes push their limits to achieve greatness, we encourage our students to strive for their personal best in every aspect of their lives.  Through rigorous academics, creative pursuits and spiritual growth, we hope to nurture their potential and celebrate their achievements.
2. Community and Friendship: The Olympic spirit of unity and respect mirrors our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community.  We embrace diversity and encourage our students to build meaningful relationships that contribute to a positive and collaborative environment.
3. Mercy Charism and Respect: The Mercy charism emphasises compassion, justice and respect for all.  This is reflected in the Olympic values of respect and fairness, guiding our students to act with integrity and kindness in all their interactions.

It was also important to highlight that the Olympic Games have grown to be the largest, gender equal sporting event in the world.  More than a century after women first competed, the number of women competing at the Olympic Games has increased significantly; from 34 per cent of the total at Atlanta 1996 to a new record of 48 per cent at Tokyo 2020, and a commitment to reach full gender equality for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Whilst we reflect on the Olympic Movement and what it represents, no Olympian has got there without support.  This is an important message to continue to remind our young women that although they are on their personal journey to success, there is a significant amount of support available to them.

At this time, I would like to draw to your attention that on 10 August Carmel Old Girl, Nina Brown, an artistic swimmer, will be competing in the duet event with Eva Morris.  We wish Nina and Eva all the very best, and hope that the message Sport Leaders, Eva and Lani, recorded at assembly gets to them and gives them a little extra boost.

Finally, I would also like to thank all who completed the survey for the Catholic Character Review that is taking place next week.  Your feedback is greatly appreciated and we look forward to reviewing the comments with the review team next week, as we continue to look for opportunities to improve the learning experience for our young women.

As we continue to support our students in their pursuit of excellence and personal growth, let us be inspired by the Olympic ideals and the Mercy charism, guiding them toward a future full of promise and opportunity.