What is the Stella Maris Leadership Award?

The Stella Maris Leadership Award is designed to cultivate the habits and virtues necessary to be a fully rounded person able to meet the challenges of the 21st century. These include the development of good sense, or practical wisdom, and the capacity to choose between alternatives. The aim holistically is to develop students who reflect and act on how to ‘be my best self’ Integrity in Action.

To lay the foundation of a good character we believe we need to create an arena in which students gain virtue literacy through both the teaching of virtues such as respect, perseverance and responsibility and the opportunities to practise and apply these skills in college, at home and in the community. Each student through the teachings in PTE will learn about the virtues and how these can be acquired through deliberate acts. 

There are three levels of the award: bronze, silver and gold. Each student will be expected to gain at least the bronze level by the time they leave College. Each award will be recognised by a star shaped badge, and certificate.

The Stella Maris Leadership Award underpins the college's commitment to Catholic Social Teaching through the development and acting out of virtues. 

Intellectual Virtues

Temperance/ Self-Control
Love of Learning
Humility
Sense of Humour
Attentiveness

Moral Virtues

Justice
Gratitude
Honesty
Respect
Compassion
Forgiveness

Civic Virtues

Courtesy
Responsible Citizenship
Service
Integrity

Performance Virtues

Courage
Confidence
Perseverance
Resilience
Determination

Practical Virtues

Reflection
Deliberation

Bronze Award

Spes – Hope
To achieve this award students must have achieved in PTE a certain level of attendance as per student agreement, and completed the required assessed written elements, plus commendations and/ or evidence for two virtues. One virtue to develop them personally and one that develops them as a person for others e.g. Responsible citizenship or service that are evidenced by contributions to College charities, helping at the ‘Forever Young Party’. Students must also have reflected on their progress slips, challenges and successes.
Award focus - service

Silver Award

Fides - Faith
To achieve this award students must have achieved the Bronze award plus commendations and/or evidence for two additional virtues (different to the ones evidenced for the Bronze award). In addition they must have shown further progress in the virtue of service to others and responsible citizenship, not just contributions but regular active participation showing leadership in one or more activities. These could include assemblies, open events, sport, drama, extra curricula activities, departmental charities, and involvement in social action led by College, e.g. Lourdes / homeless sleep-out etc. Students must also have reflected on their progress slips, challenges and successes.
Award focus - leadership

Gold Award

Caritas - Love
To achieve this award students must have achieved both Bronze and Silver. Plus they must show they have made progress in all four virtue classifications as well as shown initiative and leadership (e.g. led and developed something themselves) such as organising an event to raise money or awareness for a charity, a social action project. They may have overcome or be dealing with extreme circumstances (e.g. carer, bereavement) and have evidenced the virtues in these circumstances. Students must also have reflected on their progress slips, challenges and successes.
Award focus - innovation