Rights way to learn about social justice
THESE days there seems to be a week devoted to every known condition and cause, but there is one that MacKillop Catholic College will always embrace — Human Rights Week — and last year’s was one to remember.
To cap off Human Rights Week 2017, Tasmania’s Governor Professor Kate Warner presented the college with a Tasmanian Human Rights Award at Government House.
The award was a nod to the college’s ongoing commitment to social justice through its campaigns and fundraising, but most notably its support for education and teacher training programs in East Timor.
This culminates each year in the college’s Timor-Leste Immersion, which sees a number of senior students spending 10 days in the developing nation, visiting schools and orphanages.
“The Immersion experience frequently awakens and draws out of students their compassionate orientation to the world,” said MacKillop principal Eamonn Pollard.
Students describe the trip as life changing.
Former student Meg Francis said: “Immersing ourselves in the culture of Timor-Leste, learning the rich history and forming relationships allowed us to not only learn the immeasurable importance of education, but the value of forgiveness, gratitude and, above all, love.”
“In faith and hope and love’’ are the words on the college crest, and the Immersions allow students to truly connect with that motto.
The college also fosters a strong culture in other areas, such as vocational education and training.
The school’s awardwinning program, which is part of the Southern Tasmanian Catholic Colleges Trade Training Centre, was the winner of the Australian Training Awards Schools Pathway in VET Award for 2017.
To see the highly engaging VET program in action, a short stroll across the college grounds reveals a stylish demountable house built by Year 10 construction students.
It was recently sold to the highest bidder and is an impressive group project for a team of high school students.
MacKillop’s hospitality course, open to Year 9 and Year 10, is equally robust in preparing students for these growth industries.
The school creates an environment where students can flourish academically, and NAPLAN results for Year 7 and Year 9 have historically been above average at MacKillop.
Students shine in state and national competitions, with history and mathematics yielding outstanding results last year.
A wide range of sports beyond the mainstream are offered, and the sports culture is strong.
In 2017 alone, teams from the college took out titles in basketball, equestrian, tennis, surf lifesaving, soccer and other sports.
Wherever a student’s interest lies, it is the holistic Catholic education in faith and hope and love that makes MacKillop students the very best they can be.
It is initiatives such as the Timor-Leste Immersion that set our students on a path of gratitude and a lifelong quest for equity and excellence in all they do.