Liberating Education

The College motto Seek Truth reflects both the spirit of the College and the virtues of Blessed Edmund who lived these values every day in his life. Edmund Rice schools, since 1802, have always reflected a holistic approach to education, where students are provided with a quality, relevant and critical education which offered students formative experiences, aiming to nurture personal meaning, ethical living, upward social mobility that challengedthem to ask questions and explore social norms and existing social divisions. Edmund Rice was always sensitive to the needs of his students and knew thateducationwastransformative, byopeningnewdoors and possibilities. He stated, “Knowledge is the price of freedom”. His schools acknowledged the divine in each person and nurtured in his students a “liberationary” education aiming at personal and social transformation, through a culture respectful ofthesacred,andmediatedbycaringanddedicated teachers.

The education that Edmund Rice pioneered wasan initiative within the ‘evangelising mission of the Church’. It was distinguished by the following characteristics and their expressions:

Presence - leading to a respectful sense of the sacred • Aprofoundbeliefintheequaldignityofpersons • Nurturing a culture of faith • A scholarly approach to education of the spirit

Compassion - nurturing authentic community • Honouring of a caring family spirit • Solidarity with the unimportant, the poor andthe neglected

Liberation - underpinningtheprovisionofeducation • Relevant, quality and critical education

Our curriculum today reflects a Ricean Education whereourCollegeisavibrantcommunityoflearning,faith and life, dedicated to academic excellence, fostering quality interpersonal relationships, with a strong sense of belonging and safety. Liberating Education is one of the key touchstones of IgnatiusParkCollege.Itcalls usto openourheartsand minds through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better worldforall.ForourCollege,thismeans encouragingour students to achieve their best academically, by providing each student with excellent teachers, a broad curriculum choice, appropriate technology and innovative, collaborative classrooms. But wealso recognise that not every student is an academic at heart and, above all, we hope to produce well-balanced, accomplished graduates, whatever their strengths.

Our ultimate aim is to help our students think critically, be hope-filled and leave us feeling determined that they can make a strong positive contribution to their chosen profession and to the broader community.

Loving God You remind us in John’s Gospel that you desire the fullness of life for all creation Help us to open the hearts and minds of the young people in our school To the vision of compassion, justice and shalom That you desire for all creation

May our school use education as a tool for liberation Not just for our students but for all who desire to live life to the full Live Jesus in our hearts: Forever!