Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui atawhai.

‘Our Mercy values are not just framed words on a wall’. This is an assurance that I often share with prospective parents when we meet for our Welcome meetings.

Living our values was brought to mind in a particular discussion with some parents last week. It was a discussion about the additional learning support that a new student would require. We were able to assure the parents that we see the provision of this extra learning support as part of living our values.

And I was able to point to several examples of how our Learning Hub lives our values – that it wasn’t just words but Mercy in action. Both now and in the recent past, this team has devised and provided very individualised learning plans for students who require them. Rosie Shanks, who leads this department, role models our real commitment to providing inclusive learning programmes. She has shared her knowledge of strategies to provide equitable learning opportunities with regular PD sessions with staff and encouraged student agency by supporting the students themselves to deliver PLD to staff at these sessions.

Along with the dedicated teacher aides, the Learning Hub provides the much needed personalised and differentiated learning that some of our students need to ensure that they are able to leave Carmel with worthwhile qualifications.

“The true measure of any society (or college) can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”  Mahatma Gandhi