Earlier this week our Proprietor Board, Carmel College Auckland Ltd (CCAL), farewelled Mr Marko Simunac, who has been a director since 2019.  Our Proprietor Board holds responsibility for supervising, preserving and safe-guarding the Special Character of the school, as provided in the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act 1975 and the Integration Agreement for the school.  The Proprietors are also tasked with the policy and planning of the school’s capital works and buildings.

During Marko’s time on CCAL he brought and shared a wide and varied range of experience and expertise, and was a truly valued and respected director.  Whilst the work that occurs around the board tables at Carmel between CCAL and our Board of Trustees can often go unseen, it is the work in this governance space that ensures our college community is looked after and cared for so our everyday core business of learning and teaching can happen seamlessly.

When reflecting on Marko’s departure from CCAL, I am reminded that we cannot overlook, or take for granted that it is our community, the support and involvement of parents, grandparents, whānau who have either been associated with the college for generations, or who are new to our community that is the special ‘something’ that makes our school what it is. 

We are a community where our faith has brought us together in a space that seeks to provide opportunities for young women through a Catholic education in a Mercy tradition.  As a community as we continue to explore and seek opportunities that will lead to our young women to be empowered to challenge and shape the future, I want to take this opportunity to thank all who contribute and support our college.  Just this week during summer tournament week we have seen parents and caregivers travel the country to support our teams, and earlier in the term we had many parents volunteer and participate in camps.  To all who contribute and support our community, thank you.

It seems fitting to share some words from Catherine McAuley that were read during Marko’s acknowledgement ceremony;

There are three things the poor prize more highly than gold, though they cost the donor nothing: among these are the kind word, the gentle and compassionate look and the patient hearing of sorrows.

As we head into the final two weeks of term, we know that there are pressure points for our young women with due dates and assessments being set, and on top of this students are balancing extracurricular activities which includes managing results from tournaments and naming of sports teams following trials.  As we reflect on how we navigate challenges and in managing potential disappointment, during assembly I aligned this with our lenten journey and shared Pope Francis’ words on fasting during lent as reminder that we have a choice in how we act and behave.

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.