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Congratulation to Our 2018 Graduate Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to Sofia Catalano (Class of 2018), Sophie Rich (Class of 2018) and Ruby Mavrick (Class of 2018) who were named recipients of the Year 12 Catholic School Graduate Teacher Education Scholarships for 2019.

Recipients of this scholarship were selected on the basis of their:

  • High achievement in their Year 12 studies
  • Suitability to the vocation of teaching
  • Leadership and participation in their school community
  • Understanding and commitment to the objectives of the University of Notre Dame, which provides university education in the context of Catholic faith and values.

We asked the girls about their plans for the future and what advice they would offer to Sana Maria College girls preparing for their final year at school.

 

Sofia Catalano

What are your goals following the completion of your degree at Notre Dame?

My goal after graduating is to gain employment in a Catholic primary school. I hope to graduate feeling prepared and confident due to my many weeks of practical work as part of my degree. I hope to impact the lives of many young students and encourage them to be enthusiastic about learning.

How did your time at Santa Maria motivate you to pursue a career in teaching?

My time at Santa Maria has motivated me to always try my best, work hard, be flexible and resilient. It taught me readiness for my university journey, professionalism and organisation; qualities that I believe are of high importance.

Which one piece of advice would you offer SMC girls preparing for their final year?

One piece of advice I would like to offer Year 12 students is, to make their final year memorable and at the same time less stressful. To have a healthy balance between work, study and fun.

 

Sophie Rich

What are your goals following the completion of your degree at Notre Dame?

I aspire to find myself in a classroom of Years 4, 5 or 6, encouraging young children to be the best individuals they can possibly be. I look forward to building relationships with my future students and learning innovative ways to motivate, challenge and teach the younger generation.

How did your time at Santa Maria motivate you to pursue a career in teaching?

Throughout my time at Santa Maria I was fortunate enough to have some unbelievable teachers, who encouraged and challenged me. As a high school student, you are faced with many different hurdles and I believe that the teachers I was fortunate enough to have had aided me throughout the journey. They pushed me to become who I am today, including my values, beliefs and interests. From having such wonderful relationships with my teachers,  and having seen the fundamental role teachers play in facilitating the growth and development of each student, I am motivated to follow in their footsteps and become a primary school teacher myself. My hope is to instil knowledge and challenge my students’ moral being.

Which one piece of advice would you offer SMC girls preparing for their final year?

I believe that Year 12 is the year in which memories are made, which will be cherished forever. I strongly encourage all SMC girls to participate and get involved in as many co-curricular activities as possible during their last year. Whether you’re testing each other on the Religion and Life essay coming up next week as you’re making your way to a netball game, or simply talking to a friend you maybe haven’t been that involved with before, whilst organising your very last Mercy Day stalls, these memories are what make your time so special at Santa Maria.

 

Ruby Mavrick

What are your goals following the completion of your degree at Notre Dame?

My goals for the future once completing my degree are to go travelling and complete a summer camp with Camp America. Then, hopefully become an early childhood teacher in a primary school.

How did your time at Santa Maria motivate you to pursue a career in teaching?

I have always had a dream to become a teacher but my time at Santa confirmed that dream. This is due to the constant exposure to high-quality teaching, allowing me to experience first-hand the lasting impact teachers can have which is something I would like to pass on to students and hopefully make a difference in their lives.

Which one piece of advice would you offer SMC girls preparing for their final year?

My advice for current Year 12s would be to take part in everything Year 12 has to offer with an open mind and optimism. It won’t be long until you find yourself graduating and you’ll look back and realise that Year 12 is a wonderful time where friends come together, and memories are made. Nevertheless, it’s a busy time filled with studying or finishing off assignments, but in the end, all your efforts will pay off and you can enjoy the freedom of being a graduate!

 

Congratulations to all girls on their achievements so far and we can’t wait to see what their futures hold.

What A Term! So Many Opportunities – Jennifer Oaten

As I look back on the past nine weeks, I am so grateful for who we are as a community and what we have achieved. Through the dedication of our staff and the enthusiasm of our students, we have established new connections, immersed ourselves in opportunities and worked through challenges.

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