Issue 01 - 01 February 2019


Reminders

Upcoming Events Reminder

Thursday 07 February:  Paul Dillon - Years 10, 11, 12 Parent Meeting - 6.00pm in T6.51
(please see Mrs Brooks' article in this Bulletin)

Friday 08 February:  College Opening Mass at St Mary's Cathedral - 9.00am  

Saturday 09 February:  P&F Parents Welcome Cocktail Party - 7.00pm - College grounds

Monday 11 February:  Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews 3.30pm-7.30pm (Mrs Mano emailed a letter to Year 12 parents today).

 

 

 


Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers

It has been a very warm week and that warmth has been felt also in the welcome provided to our new students, staff and parents.  It was a wonderful sight indeed when we gathered for our first school assembly on Wednesday.  It was quite a challenge to fit the 734 students and staff into the Hall but thanks to the logistical/spatial flair of Mr Hekeik we did gather to hear our student leaders welcome in the Year of Respect.  Respect as a word comes from a Latin concept of "to see, to regard, to consider".  As a value and virtue it asks us to be conscious of our treatment of ourselves and others.  Respect is a manifestation of LOVE because it allows us to see the whole of a person - their rights, dignity and needs.  When we lose awareness of the wholeness of a person our relationships with them or even ourselves, can get distorted thinking.  When we compartmentalise others or ourselves, we can dwell on that that is different, irritating or perceived as a threat to our own interests.  In this year of Respect our student leaders have asked for the commitment of the students to respect themselves, each other and the environment.  I very much look forward to working with this value throughout the year as it is an interesting lens to look at the academic, pastoral, spiritual and physical care of our students and community.

The particular context I spoke to the students about at our first assembly was respect for learning.  Learning is first and foremost the reason for their being at St Vincent's College.  Learning comes in a myriad of ways - part of our formal curriculum, our co-curricular program and our commitment to social justice.  As we start this Year of Respect, I want to make it abundantly clear to every student that having high expectations for her capacity as a learner is respectful - to not have high expectations would be to undervalue her ability to grow and develop competency.  In Ignatian pedagogy, competency is highly valued as it means readiness for life.  I want every student of St Vincent's College ready to live her life abundantly every day.

We have so much to look forward to this year.  I look with confidence at the capacity of the St Vincent's College community to grow our respect of learning.  We will ask God's blessing on our new school year at our Opening Mass on Friday 8 February 9.00am at St Mary's Cathedral.  A separate email will be sent with the details and I hope you will be able to join us.

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

French Exchange

I have been approached by two French families looking for opportunities for their daughters to spend 4-6 weeks in Australia.  There is also the offer to provide a similar experience for the 'host-sister' to go to France for a period of exchange.  If interested, please contact Mrs Fry.

In Sympathy

The College community offers its condolences to the following who has lost a loved one recently:

Mrs Mary Cartmer (staff member) on the death of her niece, Mahli.  May she rest in peace.


From the Deputy Principal, Pastoral Care

I extend my welcome to new and returning families and say what a joy it has been to have your daughters with us again these last four days. Despite the heat, the buzz around school has been one of joy and friendship in reconnecting and making new connections. As we give our attention to the theme of Respect in 2019, we have commenced the year in discussion of what it means to show respect to ourselves and others – in our learning and growing for all in this community and beyond. I thank the students for their warmth and many acts of kindness in welcoming the new students to our community. I thank the staff for their commitment and hard work in preparing for a robust engagement of the students to start the year.

I thank you the parents and carers of your daughters, as you have readied yourselves to partner with us. The opportunity to dialogue with you at the Parent Information Nights throughout the week certainly affirms the benefit of our working together in shaping the lived values of a St Vincent’s College education for your daughter. Please know that a copy of the Powerpoints shown at these Information Nights will be placed on the College website next week for your reference.

I extend a particular welcome to our new families joining us this year – two in Year 11, thirteen in Year 10, two in Year 9, three in Year 8 and 131 Year 7 students. Our Year 7 students have experienced an orientation to the learning at the College with our Year 7 Learning Boot Camp. The aim of which was to set the students up for positive wellbeing and learning success through familiarisation with the context of our SVC community, develop effective organisation and introduce the students to the learning dispositions and attributes that will inform, transform and empower students in their learning. The focus of the learning experiences introduced students to the thinking skills and aptitudes to ready themselves for learning across subjects – ‘Innovate and Create’, ‘Thinking critically to problem solve’, ‘Me, Myself and Learning’.  Today they experienced Charism Day, ending with a celebration of Liturgy as a cohort.  The feedback on the week from students and parents of Year 7 has been very positive, and now the students are well ready to get into their classes on Monday.

All students received a College Diary upon her return to school. To ensure you and your daughter are familiar with College Policies and Procedures please read this information and sign page 46.  The student responsibilities and expectations we have of our students enables respectful relationships and respect for learning for all.  Your support of all College procedures is greatly appreciated.  The students have returned from the holidays looking impressive in their uniform; please do acknowledge the expectations regarding jewellery and piercings.  A reminder that hats are a compulsory uniform item and must be worn to and from school as well as Recess and Lunch.  Page 22 of the Student Diary outlines the Mobile Phone Policy - please ensure you are familiar with the expectations so that we have consistency of understanding and practice.

Wednesday morning we gathered in our Hall for our first College Assembly of the year. As always, our Year 12 Leaders had collaborated to give student voice to the tone of welcome and expectation for the year.  I include below the Opening Address shared by our Co-Captains Rosa Blakemore and Emily O’Brien.

Next Thursday 7 February, the College welcomes back Paul Dillon, Director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, who will conduct workshops with Years 10, 11, 12.  That evening we offer a Parent Workshop which I strongly urge you to attend.  It will be held at 6.00pm in T6.51 which is at the top of Tarmons building - lift access is available. The topic of this workshop will be:

Teenagers, alcohol and other drugs 2019:  What’s happening, what’s out there and how much influence do parents really have?

Using the most recent data available, will examine the use of alcohol and other drugs by school-based young people. It will have a particular focus on the changes in patterns of alcohol use that have occurred in recent years, as well as any particular concerning trends around illicit drug use. There will be a close examination of the positive influence that parents can have on their child’s drinking behaviour, as well as the barriers that they may face during adolescence. It aims to empower parents with a positive message and assist them in having open and honest family discussions in this complex area.

The vertical House structure of Tutor groups within House enables a continuity of care and communication for students and parents. Please be advised of the following avenues for communication with the College:

Classroom teacher is the first point of contact when students or parents have a concern or query that is subject specific.  The Head of Department is also available to offer guidance.
Tutor teacher is the first point of contact for communication in areas that are more holistic.
Head of House and College Counsellor are also available for support and advice where necessary.
Executive Cor Team and College Companion welcome communication in our various portfolios.

My very best wishes to you and your families for 2019.

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal, Pastoral Care

 

Assembly Address by College Co-Captains 30 January 2019

Good Morning and welcome staff and students

How exciting it is to have everyone here for 2019, in our 161st year of St Vincent’s College with all 731 students and many new members of staff.

To those who we haven’t yet met, we are the Co Captains for 2019, the Year of Respect.

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From the Director of Teaching and Learning

As I reflect on this past week, the newest and freshest week of the 2019 academic year, I have much joy in my heart as I have once again begun teaching and interacting with our girls who breathe life and purpose into everything we are committed to achieve at the College. There has been much positive anticipation for 2019 as a year where we as a school community prioritise the focus the fullness of our College life, through the lens of learning.  Planning for the return of our students started well before Tuesday with my colleagues and I participating in class construction late into 2018 and more recently at our Learning Colloquium in January.  The College Leadership Team through much collaboration and reflection, established two simple yet achievable goals for the SVC year - quality assessment and feedback.  This year as a united group of highly talented newcomers and established, experienced practitioners, teachers will work together to commit to these agreed shared pedagogical practices.  Students in turn will be challenged to do better and work harder as respectful learning is a reciprocal entity that harnesses success.  As such, feedback will be modelled to students through our Ignatian pedagogical paradigm where returned assessment is not just something to read and forget about, but instead becomes a powerful tool for transformational growth in learning.

At St Vincent's College we promote lifelong learning with our teachers modelling the essential 21st century learning attributes of:  Creativity - Critical thinking - Collaboration.  We achieve this by promoting balance between pastoral and academic care, where each student enjoys right relations with her teachers as they interact together to inform and transform her learning.  Feedback is powerful in learning and our new common assessment template empowers the learner informing each student of the outcomes they have achieved on the activity transforming the students’ learning through concrete, skills-specific advice about how to improve on areas of weakness and finally empowering our students to reflect and action this feedback for growth.  You will see more evidence of this new initiative later this semester as your daughter completes her first summative (formal) assessment activity.  Incidentally, all students will receive their Assessment Handbooks for 2019, inclusive of our College Assessment Policy, in Week 4 and Assessment Schedules Years 7-12 will be visible on the new College web from Week 3.

In all that we do at the College we aspire to promote a learning culture that supports your daughter to achieve her fullest potential as a whole young woman.  To help us get to this destination is a talented team who I have the pleasure of working with every day to ensure that your daughter’s learning needs are met and her learning flourishes.  Please do not hesitate as we establish a solid foundation in the year of respectful learning, to contact us as it is very important for our newest as well as our existing families to know we are here to listen to you.  In the first instance, an email to your daughter's teacher and then from there the Heads of Departments oversee bigger picture learning priorities with myself.  I always welcome any questions or conversation about your daughter’s learning at the College, and the best way to access me is via email at manoj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au or call Reception on 9368 1611. 

MRS JASMIN MANO
DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING


Boarder Lines

The beginning of an academic year is always exciting in the Boarding House with new families joining our community.  We welcome new boarders' to Year 7, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12.  I am also delighted to welcome a new boarding coordinator to our team on the Year 9/10 floor – Ms Anette Cooper. Anette has many years of experience in boarding across Australia and will be an asset to our team.

 

The College has also employed a new College nurse, Mrs Fiona Culligan.  Fiona brings with her numerous years of nursing experience and maturity that the boarders have already taken full advantage of, welcome Fiona.

 

In this, the Year of Respect, our first In Weekend will focus on how we look at respect in our community and also within ourselves.  The BRC who were appointed last year will lead the workshops, and the Boarding House thanks them in advance for their preparation and leadership.

 

There have been some changes this year in staffing:

Years 7 and 8 – Hannah Waters and Naomi Wells

Years 9 and 10 – Liza Bergantino and Anette Cooper

Years 11 and 12 – Janette Gaffney, Linda McCabe and Susan Turner.

We look forward to a strong and positive 2019.

 

Yours in Boarding

 

MS MARYANNE O’DONOGHUE
DIRECTOR OF BOARDING


Sport Report

Co-ordinator of Sport: Ms Jacinta Jacobs: 0418 416 663 / jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Saturday 02 February - two touch teams start - all other Sport commences Week 2.

TOUCH - Head Coach - Elyse Harmanis - 0434 610 870

SPORTS DRAW:  For all draw and venue information go to: www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport/weekly-sports-draw/  

Website details: www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport . 

MS JACINTA JACOBS
CO-ORDINATOR OF SPORT


P&F Association News

Welcome back! What a great year 2019 is going to be for the College and the Parents and Friends Association. 

Towards the end of last year the P&F allocated a considerable amount of funds for improvements around the College and the changes have begun. The new library furniture in particular has made a huge difference the learning environment for the girls.  Stay tuned as we will keep you posted on other projects as they happen.

Our first P&F meeting is on 19 February at 6.30pm and it would be great to see some new faces.  It will be held in the LRC (library) to showcase the new furniture purchased with P&F funds. If getting to the meeting is difficult you can dial in from home, or feel free to send me any questions, thoughts or suggestions for the coming year.

One of our most popular social events of the year is the P&F Welcome Cocktail Party on Saturday 9 February.  This is a great night and a fabulous opportunity to connect with other parents you already know, or to meet some new ones, so don't miss out.  Sadly, I won't be able to make it this year as I have a previous commitment out of Sydney, however, I'm sure someone can have a glass of champagne for me!

Obviously any event takes a lot of time and effort to put together and many hands make light work. If any parents or carers would be able to help us with set up in the afternoon or pack up, any time you have to assist would be greatly appreciated - please just let me know.

Katherine Aitken   kgray_kudoss@hotmail.com / 0400 583 677

Looking forward to a great 2019.

Regards

Katherine Aitken
SVC P&F President

SVC Canteen Menu and Price list