Educating The Future

Principal Marina Ugonotti shares how loreto normanhurst draws from a long tradition of educating women to transform today’s students into “compassionate warriors” of the world.

- Julie Cooper

Predicting the future is hard. Impossible even. Yet, for those in education, this impossible task often comes with the job description. They must anticipate what the future of the world will be in order to best prepare their students, arming them with the skills necessary to achieve flourishing lives.

At Loreto Normanhurst, a Sydney independent Catholic day and boarding school for girls, the educators meet this challenge and take it one step further. Instead of envisioning what the world may be, they take it upon themselves to craft the future of the world into what it should be by moulding students into what Principal Marina Ugonotti calls, “compassionate warriors”.

“The education of women is fundamental to achieving peace and justice in our families, in our society and in our world,” she says. “The multidisciplinary approach to learning that we have here assists our students in developing the skills and the disposition of heart they will need to go on and serve the world, making it a better place while leading long and flourishing lives.”

BUILDING ON FOUNDATIONS

Marina became principal in January 2019. As the school’s former deputy principal, she gained a deep understanding of Loreto Normanhurst, including its purpose, strengths, weaknesses and foundation. That meant, going forward, she knew just what to do to keep Loreto Normanhurst on the right track for its ongoing success, as well as the success of its students.