St Monica’s has a strong focus on supporting and engaging with our community.
Our community is made up of our parents, our parish, our local Footscray community, surrounding suburbs and the broader world we live in. This engagement extends on and enriches the student experience at St Monica’s, and supports our Vision and Mission to Make A Difference.
Social Justice
Social Justice is a big part of our everyday lives. We are fortunate to have the resources available to us, but we are conscious that not everyone enjoys the same benefits.
St Monica’s elects Social Justice Captains from the Senior Team each year. These Captains work with the Senior teaching team and Social Justice Group to coordinate and focus social justice activities across the year.
To this end we are discerning about which organisations we support through our fundraising efforts. Our focus over the past number of years has been:
- Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray – So many of the families who belong to our school community arrived in Australia as refugees. They understand the importance of a good support network and are always generous in giving of their time, talents and material goods. We generously contribute to the annual fundraising programs of ASRC.
- Caritas Australia – Caritas are the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church in Australia. They work in 27 countries across the world, delivering long term development programs. St Monica’s supports its annual Project Compassion fundraising campaign to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
- Local charities chosen by the Social Justice Group throughout the year, such as the Cancer Council of Australia.
Community
- The 100 Story Building has been an incredible source of inspiration for our students and professional development for our teachers. Our first engagement with Lach and the rest of the 100 Story Building team had our Preps and Year One’s writing and drawing complex story maps on paper sourced from ‘Darkest Peru!’. They arrived at school to be bemused by ‘The Door of Confusion,’ and excited to meet and speak with author Sally Rippin (author of popular children’s books such as the Billie B and Hey Jack! series).Since then all of our classes have enjoyed the mystery and magic of the 100 Story Building programs. Our Senior students have had their writing pieces published in the 100 Story Building’s ‘Early Harvest’ magazine, as well as being on their editorial group. We look forward to strengthening our relationship again this year.
