Wednesday 03 April to Friday 05 April - Camps and Retreats (see details of departure/return times in Mrs Fry's article)
SVC Uniform Shop - Orders Now Online
(See articles with information and links in this Bulletin - and a flyer with April school holiday trading times)
Monday 8.00am-2.00pm
Wednesday 12.00pm-5.00pm
Friday 8.00am-2.00pm
Phone: 02 9161 7979 Email: SVC@noone.com.au
Dear Parents and Carers
Our staff, students and in particular our Boarders' have been saddened this week by the news that Ms Sue Crossley died on Monday after a very short period of illness. Sue worked as a valued member of our catering team and was a very familiar face around the Boarding House and canteen. We extend our deepest sympathies to Peter, Lisa and Aidan. A beautiful liturgy of remembrance was held by the Boarders' on Tuesday evening. The chapel was illuminated by individual candles lit from the Paschal candle. We are people of the Resurrection and we commend Sue to her loving creator with hope of eternal life. May she rest in peace.
Next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the entire College will embark on camps and retreats. We are, I believe, quite unique in our scheduling of camps and retreats. We do it deliberately to avoid disruption to teaching and learning time. I want to acknowledge the extraordinary work that has gone into the planning of the camps and retreats by Mrs Brooks, Ms McLean, the Heads of House, Mrs Williams and Ms Peoples. Dealing with the individual pastoral, physical and dietary needs of our 800 staff and students in over eight locations is quite challenging! I also acknowledge and thank the staff who are leaving their families to facilitate these wonderful experiences for the students. Departure and pick up times are staggered to try to avoid the worst of the congestion in Victoria Street on Wednesday 3 April and Friday 5 April.
Departure (sharp) Return (approximately)
Year 7 8.00am 3.00pm
Year 8 7.00am 4.00pm
Year 9 7.00am 4.00pm
Year 10 8.00am 3.00pm
Year 11 8.30am 3.00pm
Year 12 8.40am 3.00pm
Congratulations to our Tildesley tennis team for a stellar performance during the week. Our team shared (with PLC) the Most Improved Team award, the Splender Cup, for the 2019 tournament, which is an impressive feat given the outstanding level of competition.
I again bring your attention to the absolute need for every student using the train through Kings Cross Station to have a valid means of payment - a student OPAL; a personal (child/youth) OPAL or, a single use cash OPAL ticket. Station staff have been instructed to not let students commence a trip without a valid way of payment. If a student has no means of getting home she may borrow $5 from Student Services which must be repaid the next day.
Yours sincerely
Each week I have the privilege of engaging in dialogue with parents and carers in the care of your daughters. I take the opportunity to thank you for your willingness to be open and enter into a relationship of trust with our pastoral care team. I am most appreciative of the work of our College Counsellor, Ms Sophia De Prendegast, who brings a professional therapeutic lens to adolescent psychology. Please know that in times of challenge and vulnerability we are always appreciative of this partnership and welcome your communication.
In the spirit of good partnership and support, I am proud to be a part of next week’s initiative by many of Eastern Suburbs School Leaders for Youth (ESSLY). Our purpose is to partner with you in the care and safety of your children, with particular focus on safe partying. We aim to provide a range of experiences, factual information and strategies to equip you on your parenting collectively. The evening is targeted at parents of Years 8-10, but please know that parents from other Year groups are welcome.
Wednesday 3 April 2019 7.00pm
Waverley College, 131 Birrell Street, Waverley
Tickets are $10 pp - All proceeds go to Headspace.
Get tickets HERE and please see further details in the flyer below.
I end by emphasising the importance of next week’s camps and retreat experiences. These are indeed opportunities for a young person to meet challenges, experience success, learn the strategies that enable her success, enjoy time with her peers and enjoy the revitalising environment of the outdoors de-cluttered of technology and usual routines. The Pastoral Team is most appreciative of the conversations we have had with families to ensure we are well positioned to best support your daughters on this valuable experience.
In light of the massacre in New Zealand, State and Federal political debates on First Nations sovereignty and Refugee Policies, confusion around Brexit and escalating military intervention in the Middle east and Asia I continue to ponder the question - who is our neighbour? The story of the Good Samaritan was a central part of my growing up and a formative part of my early teaching career. As a student of a small central school, we would regularly listen, dramatise and represent the story of the Good Samaritan, often recasting the story through the lense of the ‘other’ in our society which during the 1980s in a less than cosmopolitan country town, was often people from ‘overseas’. When I began my teaching career with the Good Samaritan Sisters in Wollongong, the story became our story. We would be constantly looking at ways in which we could walk with, learn from and dream anew people who had previously been excluded from society and left to dwell on the fringes. I was blessed to develop my sense of Social Justice with the sisters and lay supporters of the Good Sams who helped me in my ministries of working with First nations peoples, homeless, women and refugees.
This week I have spent time with students and staff preparing and providing hospitality for the Refugee Community at Blaiket House, a ministry of JRS. Students from Year 8-11 prepared a bountiful feast which was then shared by Ms Parish and I on Tuesday. The privilege of sitting with men who have no one here is profound. Their heartache is palpable as you see the yearning in their eyes to be with those who know them best. I thank the students for the way in which they shared their cooking talents (like those who prepared lasagnes on Open day to share with St Canice’s Kitchen) so that others could feast on their ministry of love. I encourage students to keep an eye out for future invitations to prepare meals for our broader community.
I have also spent time over the last two weeks with the First Nations students as they start to prepare the commemoration ceremony for Sorry Day which will be held this year at the College on 24 May at 8:45am. As I listen to the hopes of the these young women and see the generosity of our students in Charism and Social Justice committees who belong to different faith communities I found great resonance in the writing of Fr Brian McCoy:
New Zealanders are our geographical neighbours and there is something special between us - a relationship we acknowledge at Anzac Day. We share a history not only in war but in a culture shaped by English colonialism. Both societies are multicultural too, contending with the impacts of colonisation upon Indigenous peoples, while also being enriched by the migration of people from many parts of the world. The dead in Christchurch remind us that ‘neighbour’ is a word which we narrowly define at our peril.
Our definition of neighbour is radically broad at St Vincent’s and I am grateful for the support of staff, students and parents who encourage the rest of our society to be as open and giving as we are.
To read more of Brian F McCoy SJ reflection, you can view the article here.
Yours in neighbourly love,
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT 7 April 2019
Salma was just 18 years old, pregnant and fearful for her life and that of her unborn child, when she featured in Project Compassion 2013. In Bangladesh, maternal and infant mortality rates are still tragically high. According to a recent World Bank report, nearly 30 in 1,000 newborn babies die, while still more are born suffering malnutrition and low birth weight. Salma sought the help of a midwife trained by Caritas’ Safe Motherhood Program - and more than six years on, Salma is thriving and the mother of two healthy children.
On Sunday 3 March 2019, a group of Year 11 and Year 12 students joined with Ms McLean and Ms Jacobs to host the first of our four Vinnies Buddies Days for the year. Buddies Day is a one day activity coordinated by the St Vincent de Paul Society that allows children aged 5-15 years old from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in recreational or educational activities such as sports, craft, movies and ice skating with older mentors (us!). All of the activities organised are at no cost to the families or volunteers.
Our Buddies Day theme was ‘all around the world’. We were responsible for the planning, preparation and shopping for the day; we really enjoyed preparing a Tanzanian curry, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, muffins and fruit. When the children arrived we had morning tea with them before splitting into two groups, one of painting and one of cooking, with approximately 15 kids, assisted by a SVC student and a Vinnies leader in each group. The group painting flags had a choice to either paint a flag based on their nationality or be creative and design their own flag.
In the cooking group, the children followed a recipe with pre-measured ingredients to make ANZAC biscuits to go along with our Australian cultural theme, to take home to their families. The children then swapped so they could partake in both cooking and painting. For lunch, the children created their own rice paper rolls as well as had curry and croque monsieurs. Then we all went out to the courts and played some games such as murder wink and pac man. After this, we all participated in a talent show, where we showcased our abilities based on the ‘all around the world’ theme. Then we gave out prizes to all the children, donated by the Higgs family. Then the children went home with their ANZAC biscuits and flags.
Everyone who participated in Buddies Day found that it was a great experience. As we had to lead different groups we developed our skill of leadership further and collaborated with the children and the group leaders in the talent show and day activities. It was great to see all of the children smile, knowing that you are helping them for a day to forget about any hardships they are facing.
Isabeau Gallardo Walker and Madeleine Higgs
Year 11 members of the SVC Vinnies Buddies Day
This week in the Boarding House we have struggled with the passing of Sue Crossley who worked in the dining room kitchen. The Boarders’ were informed on Tuesday afternoon of Sue’s passing, and Mrs Fry and I held a small liturgy for the Boarders' where they were given the opportunity to light candles and write condolences to Sue’s family which will be passed on to them at her funeral. Each Boarder has their own way to grieve, and we have worked together for each other to get through the tough times we each have. Sue loved working with our Boarders' - they made her laugh, they made her cry, they frustrated her (particularly when they regularly asked for more avocado or lemon!), but she loved them. We will miss her smiles, her laughter, her dry sense of humour and her strong work ethic. I had the blessings to work with Sue at Riverview as well, and she will be missed deeply.
On Wednesday night at the end of dinner we decided to play 'Heads Down, Thumbs Up', to liven up the atmosphere and show that games can be fun and enjoyed by all!
With camps and retreats next week followed by an In Weekend, the countdown is on for the end of term and travel details are being finalised. If parents/carers could please send through the required travel details to their relevant Boarding coordinator this coming week - that would be fantastic. The Boarding coordinators are still here during camps/retreats, but I will be on Year 11 retreat.
Our Boarding girls also did very well at the Tildesley tennis tournament this week (see details in Sport Report and Mrs Fry's article also). Well done!
Yours in Boarding
The 2019 Premier's Reading Challenge has been launched in March. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.
The College registers all our Year 7 and Year 8 students. If you have read any books since 1 September 2018, these can be included. The completion date for students is 30 August 2019, and the list is validated in September by the College.
Students can come to the LRC to obtain their username and password, and then they can enter their books online. If you have completed the Challenge every year in primary school, you should consider continuing on to achieve medal status.
Please contact the library staff with any queries.
Yesterday the SRC held its first forum for 2019. This was a great opportunity for students to share their ideas and opinions about a range of topics that had been raised in our online suggestion box. The girls engaged in very respectful and insightful discussion with great ideas that the SRC is hoping to take on board in our new initiatives. It was fantastic to have so many Vinnies' girls who understand the importance of student voice.
We are also in the final weeks of sign ups for the SRC tutoring program. This is a free tutoring service from older girls in Years 10-12, for girls in Years 7-9 who are struggling with homework and assessments. Our new format of smaller groups that will meet for one hour a week, allows for more flexibility and the option to sign up with a friend. We have many talented older students who have committed to giving up an hour of their time, but we are short on interested younger students. So please register using the links below. Sign up registrations close next week.
For students (for Years 7, 8, 9): Students Years 7, 8, 9 Google form
For tutors (Years 10, 11, 12): To be a tutor (Years 10, 11, 12) Google form
With thanks,
Please ask your parents or carers to email Mrs Cartmer if you are interested in attending the College Ski Trip this year.
Bus departs at 5.00am on Sunday 30 June and returns approximately 8.00pm on Friday 5 July.
Cost for 2019 will be $2,000 per student. This includes all transportation, ski/snowboard hire, lift tickets, full-day ski lessons, national parks entry, teacher supervision, accommodation, breakfasts and dinners.
email: cartmerm@stvincents.nsw.edu.au
If you would like to find out which universities score best in terms of students' overall satisfaction with the quality of their educational experience, please use this link: https://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/university-ratings-rankings/2019/overall-quality
Medical Program is comprised of two sequential degrees:
- Bachelor of Medical Studies (B Med St)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The Medical Program is designed to equip graduates with the foundational knowledge, skills and attributes required to safely and effectively practice medicine in today’s complex healthcare environment. With small class sizes, students learn in a highly personalised environment with state-of-the-art equipment. https://bond.edu.au/program/medical-program
Applications open in April and the engineering school is held on 18-19 July 2019 for students in Years 9-10. Through this two-day intensive workshop on campus, students will discover more about the range of disciplines and careers available in engineering. They will experience the latest technologies while participating in hands-on activities, visiting laboratories and industry sites such as Google. Places are limited.
For more information go to Explore Engineering Winter School
Skills shortages, advances in machine technology and a shift in attitude are just some of the factors that have led to the acceptance and encouragement of women taking part in traditionally ‘male’ trades. Some key industries that now persuade women to get involved are Automotive, Building and Construction, IT, Manufacturing, Engineering, Mining and Rural and Farming. For more information: http://www.skillsone.com.au/category/women-in-trades/
New South Wales Health Nursing & Midwifery Scholarships
South Australian Premier’s Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship
Department of Health Western Australia – Nursing and Midwifery Office Scholarships
Australian College of Nursing Emerging Nurse Leader Program
Edith Cavell Trust Scholarship
HETI Undergraduate Clinical Placement Grants
Nurses can have a massive and lasting impact in the lives of those they treat. Registered nurse Laurie Bickhoff expands on that beautifully here. The scope of what people are doing with a nursing degree is expanding, and Australian College of Nursing CEO Debra Thoms speaks about nurse leadership from the ward to the boardroom .
Your Free Guide to Making Your Nursing Career
Co-ordinator of Sport: Ms Jacinta Jacobs: 0418 416 663 / jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au
Head of Tennis - Ms Therese Taylor 0408 711 881
Head of Touch - Ms Elyse Hermanis 0434 610 870
Head of Water polo - Ms Steph El Safty 0419 950 164
Head of Swimming/Cross Country - Ms Jacinta Jacobs 0418 416 663.
SPORTS DRAW: For all draw and venue information go to: https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport/
Website details: https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport/
Congratulations to SVC 1, SVC 3 and SVC 5 who have qualified for the IGSSA Tennis semis this Saturday. Good luck for your matches and we hope to see some of you in the grand finals next weekend.
Congratulations to all players in the Tildesley team. After a long two days of competition we placed 17th, after coming 24th last year. We were announced joint winners with PLC (who won the singles final) of the Splender Cup for most improved school.
The squad has been training hard for five years under the guidance of Ms Liz Young, Ms Fran Taliano and Ms Therese Taylor, who are all very proud of the team. A huge thanks also to all the teachers who gave the girls extra practice at lunchtimes.
Our stand out results were: Stella Holt, Charlotte Murray-Nobbs and Isabel Murray-Nobbs, who made it to the 3rd round. Emma Collins who made it to the 4th round. All of our doubles players also fought hard to win as many games as they could. Congratulations to the whole team. Go Vinnies!
Singles Players
Emma Collins
Stella Holt
Charlotte Murray-Nobbs
Mia Sorensen
Lucia Holt
Isabel Murray-Nobbs
Isobel Spies
Scarlett Antico
Doubles Players
Alex Barclay / Hannah Quinn
Hannah Gabriel / Charlotte Patchett
Salome West / Jemima Gooch
Bronte Gooch / Ruby Spies
Res: Rosie Secombe / Harriet Schmude.
Below: St Vincent’s Tildesley team (further below please see more photos from Tildesley)
Congratulations to SVC 5 who won their semi final in an exciting drop-off last week and have qualified for the grand final this weekend. Joining them will be SVC 9, who finished on top of the ladder and went straight through to the final.
A special congratulations must also be given to Kate Giannkouris, Year 7, who has been awarded the Best and Fairest in the Year 7D competition. This is voted by the referees each week and the trophy will be awarded on Saturday after the finals.
Thank you for your patience with the weather updates on Saturday mornings, fingers crossed that there is no rain for this weekend, and only sunshine.
Good luck to both teams!
Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Coach of Touch
Congratulations to SVC 8 and SVC 9 who have qualified for the semi finals on Saturday. We wish you all the best and hope to see you in the grand final next Saturday!
It has been a hard competition and all teams are to be congratulated on their efforts each week. Teams SVC 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 all have a playoff game this Saturday, with SVC 1, 2 and 3 finished for the season.
Ms Steph El Safty
Head Water polo Coach
Netball Trials - SVC Courts
Year 7: No trials. First session will be the first Thursday back in Term 2.
Junior (Years 8 and 9): Monday 01 April - 3.15pm-4.45pm. If you miss this trial or Ms McGrath asks you to come back, there is a second trial on Monday 08 April - 3.15pm-4.15pm.
Senior (Years 10, 11, 12): Was held on Wednesday 27 March - 3.15pm-4.45pm. Anyone who could not make it then or Ms McGrath has asked to come back, a second trial will be held on Monday 08 April - 3.15pm-4.15pm.
Please keep the Sport staff informed of any good sporting results held outside of the College. Information and photos can be emailed to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to Bronte Blackmore Cram, Year 10, who won a silver medal for the College in the single solo at the Girls Head of the River Rowing Championships in Nepean recently. Well done, Bronte!
Congratulations to the whole St Vincent's College swim team (pictured below) who made a record 15 finals at the IGSSA Swimming Championships last Friday - and placed 6th in Division 2 and 13th overall. This is our best result at IGSSA to date and the whole team should be very proud of themselves.
A special mention must go to Sports Captain Frances Shires, Year 12, who placed third in the 200m individual medley, and had qualified for the CIS Carnival on 2 May at Homebush in the 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle.
IGSSA SWIM TEAM
| Evie Ellis | 7 | |
| Ruby Etherington | 7 | |
| Annika Wende-Dunstan | 7 | |
| Apanie Pow | 7 | |
| Zoe Evans | 7 | |
| Gabrielle Austin | 8 | |
| Siara Ortolani | 8 | |
| Charlie Bennett | 8 | |
| Emilie King | 8 | |
| Alexandra Tait | 8 | |
| Sarah Fitzgerald | 8 | |
| Amy Anderson | 9 | |
| Clare Lienesch | 10 | |
| Maddison Neill | 10 | |
| Gemma Fitzgerald | 10 | |
| Molly Whitely | 10 | |
| Matilda Emery | 10 | |
| Francesca Lewis | 10 | |
| Stella Holt | 11 | |
| Ricci Long | 11 | |
| Alexandra Schacht | 11 | |
| Charlotte Leedham | 11 | |
| Frances Shires | 12 | |
| Emerson Lewis | 12 | |
| Piper Robson | 12 |
This week is a very exciting one with many new events to look forward to. On Friday 29 March, Vinnies@SVC is running a pasta stall. This is a very successful event every term and is popular amongst all the students! There will be plenty of garlic bread, pesto pasta, napolitana pasta and zooper doopers available for lunch. All profits go to the St Vincent’s College Social Justice Fund. On the same day is "earth hour", which promotes small changes throughout the day to better the planet and environment. We encourage teachers and students to turn off the classroom lights and make use of natural sunlight by opening the blinds. We also prompt students to reduce the amount of plastic and waste in their lunches.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered for Red Cross last Friday. We raised $4,859.50, which will go a long way to helping people in need.
By Marnie Gomes, Year 11
Mothers, Grandmothers or Aunts are warmly invited to this special evening.
Venue: Dockside, Cockle Bay on Friday 10 May 2019 from 6:30pm-10:30pm.
Includes: Two-course dinner. Champagne on arrival and mocktail for students. Drinks on consumption.
Reserve your tickets by Friday 03 May HERE .
A fast and convenient way to shop for your St Vincent’s College College uniform online. Shop online - collect next trading day.
Online store link: https://www.noone.com.au/school/st-vincents-college/shop
HOW IT WORKS:
Discover click and collect, the convenient and quick way to shop from Noone Shop online. Place your order and your order will be ready to collect on the next trading day. We’ll get everything ready for you, so all you need to do is come in store to collect your order, or home delivery is also available for your convenience.
1. Shop Online
Type the school link into your browser: https://www.noone.com.au/school/st-vincents-college .
Sign up to create your own account and then log in to commence shopping. Add the items to your cart that you would like to purchase via Click and Collect.
2. Choose Click and Collect Options
Choose Click and Collect options or choose Australia Post option for home delivery. Click and Collect next trading day from the on-campus shop, or via Australia Post - 5-10 working days for delivery.
Our retail staff are available to assist you with your uniform requirements at the location listed below:
On Campus Trading Hours (during terms):
Monday 8.00am-2.00pm
Wednesday 12.00pm-5.00pm
Friday 8.00am-2.00pm
Phone: 02 8324 6622
Email: SVC@noone.com.au
St Vincent's College, Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point
The students and staff of St Vincent’s College are very well served by Catering Industries who manage the Boarding House and School Event Catering; they also provide a comprehensive daily menu through the canteen.
In an attempt to “improve” service, from Term 2 onward our canteen will be cashless. This means every student wishing to purchase from the canteen will need a My Student Card (MSA). Many students already have these activated but for students yet to set up one, these are the simple steps involved:
In the event of difficulties in setting up the account or for adding/topping up funds, please telephone 1300 369 783 for support.
One of our families has asked if there are any St Vincent's families who would be interested in hosting an exchange student from Taiwan. The young student will attend SCEGGS Darlinghurst, but Sydney Cove Rotary Club are looking for four families to host students for approximately three months.
Please contact Ms Zoe Mahony at originalanguage@ozemail.com.au .
(Our Book Reviewer, Ms Suzanne O'Connor, is now living in Timor Leste working in a volunteer capacity with the Loreto Sisters).
I hesitate to recommend Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick because of its horrific subject matter. On the other hand, I totally recommend for the same reason. It is a relatively brief novel set in modern Juarez in Mexico. Arturo is living in a hovel. Like thousands of other women, his mother has been abducted by one of the many gangs that roam the town, untroubled by the police. His father has disappeared into alcohol. Arturo is closer to his two best friends from school than anyone else. He had loved school despite the fact that he went there for only eighteen months before outside pressures and poverty meant he could longer go. His two friends have formed a relationship and Eva is now pregnant. It is urgent to smuggle her into America where she has a minor chance of being safe. In Juarez, she has none. However, the father of her child has joined a gang and as a test of his loyalty, the head of the gang gave him a huge amount of cash to mind. A mere $1,000 will get Eva across the border. Now the boss wants his money back. Most of the novel is about the twenty-four hours Arturo has to save his friends by winning the money in a card game. For this reason, this book would be an excellent one to thrust under the noses of brothers who do not like to read - I defy anyone to put down this novel - and the plot twists are jaw dropping! The reference to Saint Death is the grim “saint”, the poor of Mexico worship the “skinny girl”, represented by an image of a skeleton dressed in black clothing. Arturo is a strong non-believer of this worship but he is pressured to go to one of her shrines where he commits a crime so dire that he knows he is doomed. The ending had me in tears. I knew this character was going to face extinction but it did not make it any more acceptable. I hated this story - I often turned over page after page of violence, but I loved this book because it presented us with the people President Trump wants to block - the desperate and the innocent.
Social Justice