Good Counsel College is an active member of the Marist Schools Australia Association. Imbued with the Marist charism, the essence of who we are and the ways we engage with one another as a community draw inspiration from the Five Marist Characteristics. These Five Characteristics also underpin our Positive Relationships for Learning framework:
1. Presence:
- We care for students personally
- We know each one individually
- We seek relationship founded on love
- We are attentive and welcoming
- We earn trust, we foster openness
2. Simplicity:
- We are genuine and straightforward
- We say what we believe and show it
- We are honest before God and ourselves
- We seek humility and modesty, ‘to do good quietly’
- We use simplicity in our teaching
- We encourage simplicity as a value in our lives, not seduced by possessions and fame
3. Family Spirit:
- We relate to each other and to young people in our care as the members of a loving family
- We undertake to build community
- We offer a warmth of welcome, acceptance and belonging
- We share life’s successes and failures
- We set clear standards of honesty, mutual respect and tolerance
- We believe in each student’s innate goodness, not confusing the person with their actions
- We give preferential attention to those whose needs are greatest
- We encourage leadership based on collaboration and shared responsibility
4. Love of Work:
- We are people of work, ready to ‘roll up our sleeves’
- We work with total confidence in God
- We are generous of heart, constant and persevering in our daily work
- We prepare classes, being visionary and decisive in meeting the needs of our students
- We encourage our students to discover the dignity of work, a source of self-fulfillment
- We view work as a way to bring purpose and meaning to life
- We seek to develop strong character and resilience, balanced moral conscience and solid values
- We foster motivation and teamwork
5. In the way of Mary:
- We see Mary as a perfect model of the Marist educator – as an exemplar of the Christian life, as mother, as one who praised God
- We see Mary as a woman on a journey of Faith
- We believe Mary had a difficult life and ‘dust on her feet’
- We consciously bring a Marian dimension to our teaching by prayer, imitating Mary’s tenderness, strength and constancy of faith
