Bulletin

NSW Health has advised that the scheduled second vaccination, originally set down for Year 7 in October 2021, as part of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination program, will take place on 17 February.

The Health Department will conduct the vaccinations in a COVID safe environment.  If your daughter is unwell, she will be unable to receive her vaccination. However, a second catch-up vaccination will be scheduled at a later date in 2022.

Kindly let me know by return email - hekeikj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au  if your daughter has already had her second vaccination externally.

Mr Joseph Hekeik
Head of Administration

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you for your ongoing support with the Covid-smart strategies we are using to help us navigate through Omicron.  I am exceptionally grateful fore the co-operation and communication with families regarding Covid-positive students.  So far, the numbers of students and staff who have been impacted is below the projected numbers, and with the support of our wonderful emergency teachers we have been able to remain fully operational.  The 'normalcy' of seeing classes in action and our co-curricular resume in earnest, hospitality (being offered off-site) and the calendar filling up, is a source of hope.  Alleluia, Amen!

As the new school year settles, I am asking for everyone's support with compliance issues around punctuality, uniform, attendance, jewellery, school bags.  Yes, one can argue each of these on its own can be a small issue, but the mindset around not meeting expectations can be in the long term very significant.  As parents, each of you has made an informed decision around sending your daughter to a College with high expectations about how the students present and behave, both at school and while representing the College.  This week I have dealt with complaints about behaviour of students at Bondi Westfield (specifically around McDonalds), public transport - not standing, not wearing masks and how the students are occasionally oblivious to the requirements of those with whom they share the narrow footpaths of Potts Point.  Overwhelmingly, the majority of our students are making good decisions every day, but there are a small minority who generate negative energy between themselves, their teachers and the general public.  Our College commitment this year is to make small changes to create a big difference.  We are asking for small changes in the morning routines so students are at school ready to start the day.  Small changes to laundry routines so the girls' socks, dresses etc are not 'in the laundry' - a common lament!  Our teachers want to be able to greet the students with positive energy every day, rather than have to ask for jewellery etc to be removed.

Parents NSW Vouchers

The NSW Government has launched NSW vouchers to thank parents and carers for their support of home-based learning in 2021.  Each household can apply for 5 x $50 vouchers.  This online application process can be accessed through your My Service NSW account, or call 13 77 88 or by visiting a Service NSW Centre.  The vouchers can be used at Discover NSW businesses and Stay NSW businesses.  I hope these vouchers can be enjoyed by your family this year, once the Omicron surge passes and you have the time and confidence to be out and about in our beautiful City and State.

In hope,

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

I am looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow morning to read the morning papers and catch up on my Twitter and media feeds so I can give the time to pondering upon the political debates of the week.  The care and respect we afford our children must be our highest priority as a society.  Listening to the voices of young women advocating for more positive change is demonstrative of the hopes we have for our young women.  As educators and carers - both parents/carers and teachers - we are privileged to listen to the voices of our adolescents who share their values and aspirations with us.  Schools are communities, a microcosm of the world we all live in - students, families, staff - and we are reminded of the values we impart through our own words and actions. It is helpful to seek opportunity to be reminded of the purpose of education in our schools in which we invest our hopes.

In the Christmas holiday break, two members of our Year 12 Student Leadership Team - Olivia Mitchell, Charism Captain, and Georgie Gallagher SRC Co-Captain, attended a Leadership summit with the Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia of which St Vincent’s College is a member.  As educators we enjoy access to current research in education and enjoy professional learning and networking opportunities.  In 2021, St Vincent’s College included material from American author and feminist Peggy Orenstein in our Professional learning about respect, consent and healthy relationships.  We have listened to award winning author, speaker and journalist Madonna King speak about how schools can be champions of change in our communities. The Alliance extends this learning and networking to our students - offering opportunities for students from all over and beyond Australia to network and in doing so identify the issues that most affect them and seek ways to be agents of hope and positive change.  Olivia and Georgia addressed their St Vincent’s College community of student peers and staff at our first College Assembly last week.  Today I share this with you.  In it I see the wisdom of youth, inspired by peers, taking up the reigns of leadership that is compassionate and attainable.  I hope you too may cherish this opportunity to listen to the voices of our students as they remind us of their hopes - as aspiraction and action - to be the best of who they can be for themselves and others. 

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

Hello everyone, 

During the holidays, we attended the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Conference.  The event ran for three days in a hybrid format, two days online and one in person at Pymble Ladies College.  Over 300 leaders joined us from all over Australia and the rest of the world.  We attended workshops, talks given by keynote speakers, team bonding initiatives and many more activities.

Over the course of the three days, we attended four workshops; The Authentic Leader, Creating Change, the Mindset of Leaders and Leaving a Legacy. Each of these workshops provided us with invaluable insight into what it means to be a leader of our school community.  We were taught that a good leader must be a good person first.  To be a good person is to have strong values that dictate our decisions and actions.  We were encouraged to get to know ourselves, examine our values and consider ways that we can best serve our community.  The workshops taught us that we really are all leaders in some way.  Whether you're influencing your friends to finish their homework or setting a positive example for your siblings at home.  Leadership is not based on status but rather on personal qualities and development. 

All 300 of us would agree that the highlight of the experience was the keynote speaker, Rachel Simmons, an American bestselling author, educator and executive coach.  Rachel’s key message was reminding us of the enormously high standards we set for ourselves.  Competing with others in an unrealistic way that only leads to our unhappiness.  Look around, the person next to you is not competing with you, the person on your other side is not comparable to you.  You are you.  Your only competition is with yourself and that competition is to work out when you go to bed tonight whether you're a better person than you were when you woke up this morning.  That might mean you've learnt something new, you've helped someone out or it could be as simple as you treated others with respect and kindness.  Her message was that if you can respect yourself, you can share your best self with those around you. 

Rachel’s key quote was “Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm”.  For us this means that we need to set boundaries and recognise when a break is necessary.  Similar to the saying “you can't pour from an empty cup”, we cannot be the best students, teachers, friends or leaders if we neglect our personal wellbeing.  I’m sure most of us can agree, the more pressure we put on ourselves the quicker we start to burn out.  Rachel, who described herself as a “recovering overachiever”, told us that sometimes we need to lower our standards.  We are growing up in a system where we are told there is no room to make errors.  We don’t expect everyone around us to be perfect 100% of the time, so why would we set that expectation for ourselves?  She gave us a powerful reminder that our “self-worth is not tied to succeeding” and our kindness, sense of humour and the way we make others feel is how we will be remembered. 

At the closing of the conference we heard from two conference alumni.  Both young girls like ourselves.  Lily and Sandra left us with one final message before signing off. 

Lily inspired us - “Do things that scare and excite you equally”. 

And, Sandra reminded us of our capability - “You're going to get there irrespective of what happens”.

Georgie Gallagher and Olivia Mitchell
Year 12 Class of 2022

In last week’s Bulletin I outlined the major themes that our hope-centred learning would be based around this year:  Rigour and resilience.  They have quickly gained recognition and promoted thought and conversation amongst our community.  For these two pillars to become more than rhetoric they need to be taken up personally.  This involves the addition of a third “R” - responsibility.  The great theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, encapsulates this connection eloquently and succinctly: 

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The powerful thing about people exercising personal responsibility in a community such as Vinnies, is that when each person takes responsibility for their actions, the net result is more than the sum of the parts.  When classmates around us are putting in the extra effort we are also inclined to be inspired to also make the extra effort.  When those around us get back up and keep trying, we are inclined to join them in showing resilience too.  Essentially everyone lifts on a rising tide.

The return of students and staff to the College site this year continues to bring a buzz of joy, as we have learned how valuable it is to be in community each day.  The last two years have shown us what a wonderful privilege it is to be interacting with others in our learning in a school such as St Vincent's.  Such providence behoves us to make the most of this opportunity and apply ourselves fully to our learning.  This is lived out in choosing the more challenging options in set work, putting in the extra effort and time with learning a skill to become proficient and persistent in achieving our goals.

In 2016, the American songwriter and poet, Bob Dylan, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, for which the iconic songwriter was deeply humbled.  In an interview in 1985, Bob reflected that “a hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with their freedom”.  Whether we have a taste for his haunting singing style, or the deep thoughts of his poetry, we can all admire the personal and collective impact of taking responsibility.  As students pursue rigour and resilience, it will only be through taking personal responsibility that they will gain traction. 

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning and Education Administration

We’ve had some great meetings and planning sessions in the Faith and Mission office.  We will be ready to launch our 2022 Social Justice program next week, with opportunities for the whole community to get involved and make a difference.

It’s been an interesting week in our Parliament, and it is sure to get more worrying as we grapple with the details of the Religious Discrimination Bill.  My Year 11 Studies of Religion class is well placed to navigate the stormy seas ahead.  They know that the line from Genesis 1:  “God created them male and female” has and will be used to justify challenges to the dignity of others.  And they know that the next line is the important one, “In the image and likeness of God, God made them".  They know that it is the part in every human which is ‘of God’ that matters:  The limitless capacity to love, the creative energy which solves problems of fear and moves mountains of hatred, and the forgetful heart which forgives and forgives, remembering only the good, not the destructive selfishness which drags us down and others along with us.  In the discussion which will follow over the next months and years, my Year 11's will be keen to see evidence of politicians, leaders and all people displaying more keenly the likeness of God within them, reflecting in actions and words, God’s image of love in our community and ensuring that it remains ‘very good'.  

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

With the start of the new year, the Boarders have enjoyed introducing our new Boarders to some loved activities within the Boarding House.  Melted Monster, a nearby cafe, is adored by many in the Vinnies community and many groups of girls from every Year group can be found indulging in their burgers and milkshakes throughout the entire weekend.  Another loved place for us is Arthur McElhone Reserve, better known as 'The Fish Pond' - it's a beautiful place where Boarders enjoy the sunshine while watching the fish and stepping out of their busy schedules to relax and reset before the week starts again.

This term in Boarding we have been able to return to some more traditional routines in the Boarding House, our mixed-Year group dinner settings and overnight stays at friends houses on the weekends have been welcomed back enthusiastically by all.

Just a reminder to some of our Boarding parents to sign up to Orah, our student engagement platform, which supports all of your daughters leave, allows you to communicate with staff, as well as allows the girls the freedom to street and sports leave throughout the week.  Please check your emails for a reminder email from Orah, and please fill out the form as soon as possible.

Madeline Speer, Boarding Co-Captain

On Thursday 3 February, the Class of 2021 celebrated their graduation.  This Year group was particularly poignant because we started our St Vincent's College experience together in 2016.  I am so proud to be a part of their journey to adulthood and watch them graduate as young women.  To Grace Kelly, Clare Lienesch, Janda Collins-Widders and Tahlia McCormack, who I have had a six year journey with, we have had our ups and downs (as a normal household does!) and I am honoured to have walked the walk with you.  To Mia Cluff-Freemantle, Tameka McGlashan, Zara McPherson, Monique McCormack, and Emerald Clements Lee - our journey has been shorter, but wow, we fitted a lot in!  Thank you all for being a part of our community and we look forward to hearing about all of your successes in the future.

We would also like to welcome back Ms Linda McCabe from her absence in 2021.  Linda is working on the weekends and has thoroughly enjoyed being back with the Boarders.  This year we also welcome Morgan Twigg and Jemima McNeill to our Year 10/11/12 staff.  The Boarders have started the year with vigour and enthusiasm and after a week of daily rapid antigen tests, we are resilient too!

In order to plan, there will be an 'In Weekend' in Week 8 - 18/19/20 March - where all Boarders are required to be in the Boarding House for lots of bonding and community spirit building.  There will be a Boarders’ Travel Day on Friday 8 April, the last day of school for Term 1.  Transport will be organised in the next couple of weeks if you would like your daughter to catch the bus home.

Inaugural Mothers' Weekend to Orange

Mothers and female carers are invited to the inaugural Mothers' Weekend to Orange on Saturday 30 April 2022 - Sunday 1 May 2022.  To book please click here

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

We are thrilled to have all students back in the LRC again with access to borrow for reading.  We would love to have every junior student borrow at least one book.

14 February - Library Lovers day - have a Blind Date with a Book!  They say "Don't judge a book by its cover", choose your next read based on a short description alone.

The girls are encouraged to bravely borrow based on the description and other fun activities in the LRC.  If your daughter is a great reader and you are having trouble keeping her supplied with new books this opportunity might be for you:

The Reading is looking for new members for their Teen Advisory Board, see this link The Readings - Teen Advisory Board

Watch out soon for the new audiobook service recommended for our students who travel to come to school, and those who like to lose themselves in an audio book.

As our second week of schooling draws to a close, we acknowledge our newest community members, the Year 7 students, who have embraced high school with true spirit, learning and experiencing first hand what makes us who we are here at St Vincent’s College.  All things considered, the year has started smoothly, with the girls settling into their new surroundings and enjoying the opportunities to be involved in community, academic and co-curricular programs.  Many teachers have commented on the number of girls trying out for dance, debating, sports, ensembles and choirs…opportunities we are now so grateful to be involved in once again. 

A key part of their transition to high school, Year 7 students are learning and establishing habits around organisation that will support them as challenges and responsibility increase.  Use of the College Diary, timely morning arrival to commence their day (around 8:20am or before is ideal) and mindfully preparing for learning success (packing bags the night before, reading the daily messages on the Student Life Google Classroom) all assist with positive emotions and a calm sense of being as the new day commences. 

Mindful of the need as parents to read so much information, particularly at this time of year, I hope to share small tips that I come across, or may have tried myself, of particular relevance to our Vinnies adolescents.  Tip: run through some ‘what ifs’, working through different scenarios together that may occur in their day.  Try not to answer for them and allow them time to think of some strategies around solving problems - make it light hearted with role plays.  This is something that I put into practice often (much to my children’s horror at times) as they, like many of our students here, took on the responsibility of taking public transport to and from school.  Roleplaying getting lost, being approached by strangers, losing their phone, missing their stop were all things that we discussed in a non threatening and safe environment.  It definitely came in handy when the unexpected happened.  Roleplaying real life situations can be applied to many things including friendship problems, asking for help and allowing your voice to be heard.

As a Year 7 Tutor with our teaching team and extended staff, we are looking forward to working with our students, in partnership with you, to make the most of their time at St Vincent’s College.  Parents and Carers are reminded that communication in relation to your daughter should be directed to their Tutor teacher or myself as Dean of Early Secondary, at dorans@stvincents.nsw.edu.au .

Mrs Sheenagh Doran
Dean of Early Secondary

The Pleasures of Reading

Poet and activist, Maya Angelou once said “When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature.  If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.”

As we reset expectations of rigour and resilience in the English classroom, there is no better way than to start the year by encouraging our students to read widely and more regularly.  For me, one of the benefits of the COVID context was that life slowed down a little, offering more time and opportunity to immerse myself in the world of literature. Thanks to technology, reading in the 21st century has also become a collective experience, allowing us greater access to reading across a variety of forms and mediums. We want to encourage students to capitalise on these opportunities this year.

In English, we will be asking our students to set themselves the SMART goal of reading at least 15 to 30 minutes a day and to borrow at least 1 substantive text from the library a term. We encourage parents to support their daughters’ in achieving these goals at home.

If we can foster a love for reading from an early age, our students will never be alone.

What the English Department is reading/listening to/viewing:

Ms Anita Playoust
Head of Department English

Medicine

Study Medicine

Did you know that there are 56 Australian university degree paths to becoming a doctor?  To  identify and understand key requirements to gain a place at available medicine degrees and pathway degrees that lead to medicine at Australian universities use the link found here.

UCAT 2022

The UCAT ANZ was established to help universities achieve greater fairness in selection.  Around 14,000 candidates sit the test each year as part of their application to courses in medicine, dentistry and clinical sciences.  The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a computer-based admissions test, used by the UCAT ANZ Consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand to help select applicants for their medical, dental and clinical science degree programs.  The UCAT ANZ replaced the UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test) in 2019.  Details of the 2022 UCAT ANZ can be found here.

Dubbo Medical Program

On 2 Mar 2022 at 4:30pm, interested students are encouraged to find out about USyd’s Doctor of Medicine delivered entirely at USyd’s Dubbo campus. Learn why a regional and rural medical career could be for you.  Registrations are essential using the link found here.

University News

University of Sydney

University of Sydney Pathways to Studying Law

On Wednesday 16 February 2022 from 4:00pm-4:30pm, registered participants will join online to hear from a panel of current USYD students who have joined the law community at USyd through alternate pathways, transferring or studying graduate entry law.  Registrations for this event are essential here.

New Pharmacy Degrees

On Wednesday 23 February 2022 from 4:00pm-4:30pm, registered participants can join online to discover more about the new Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)/Master of Pharmacy Practice and Bachelor of Pharmacy and Management (Honours)/Master of Pharmacy Practice being offered at USyd. Information being discussed includes details about required internship training hours so that graduates at the conclusion of their USYD degree will be  practising pharmacists.  Registrations for this event are essential here

Macquarie University

Macquarie Year 10 Online Subject Selection Session

On Wednesday 4 May 2022 at 6:00pm, Year 10 students and their parents are invited to join MU for a series of talks on the importance of informed subject selection, how your choice of subjects can help you at university and how admission to Macquarie works.  Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the session to ease any anxiety about university.  Registrations for this event are essential here.

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Dance, Drama and Music classes, co-curricular and ensembles provide our students enriching courses and skills, not only in their specific skills and subject content, but in the way they teach a lateral, adaptable, creative approach to problem-solving.  To that end, Dance, Drama and Music have begun projects that can be live or filmed or even multimodal.  We have adapted our approaches and projects giving even more scope to individual engagement and skill development.  It has been refreshing seeing and hearing all the discussion and developing of new skills and thoughtful approaches in the classroom and sometimes outside the classroom on the days when it wasn’t raining.  It has been a really exciting return to the Music classroom, the black room, the Dance studio and the keyboard lab.

Good News - SVC Drama students going to work with professionals!  Young Belvoir Theatre Club, Sydney Theatre Company’s 'Young Wharfies' and Griffin Theatre’s 'Griffin Ambassadors' program awarded.

What sounds more exciting than being allowed into rehearsals before a professional theatre show opens?  Being at the press opening?  And generally having a hands-on theatre experience from inside the process!  Every year I encourage, cajole and advise students to apply for the Young Belvoir Theatre Club, The Sydney Theatre Company’s Young Wharfies and Griffin Theatre’s Griffin Ambassadors program.

I am very excited to congratulate the following students on their success. It is the largest number of SVC students to ever be awarded these places and I am very excited for these students!

Congratulations to my Year 12 and Year 11 Drama students:

Madeline Speer - Griffin Ambassadors

Molly Barwick - Griffin Ambassadors

Hannah Feneley - Griffin Ambassadors

Molly Barwick - Young Belvoir Theatre Club

AND
Molly Barwick - Young Wharfies.

Performing Arts Ensembles - Dance, Drama and Music

Don’t forget to join an ensemble.  That has been the reminder all our teachers have been saying to all students, not only Performing Arts students.  The College has a number of excellent Performing Arts ensembles that enjoyed great success last year no matter what a student's personal goals were - ranging from making new friends through to progressing to compete and perform at The Seymour Centre for the Shakespeare Carnival, to actually WINNING Theatresports at the Enmore theatre!

To join an ensemble you can enrol here:

https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/performing-arts-ensembles-enrolment/

above:   Monday Ensemble

Performing Arts Co-Curricular Tuition

Our College has excellent peripatetic tutors with specialist knowledge and skills.  Students can learn at the College during the school day  and can work towards AMEB or Trinity College examinations, or they can enrol and learn to further their own skills and knowledge, or for the joy of personal creative fulfilment!  Any student who wishes to study Dance, an instrument, or vocal studies or study Speech and Drama class, should enrol in our co-curricular Performing Arts program as soon as possible to ensure they can access all the joys these extension activities can bring.

https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/performing-arts-co-curricular-enrolment/

Callback - Dance, Encore - Music and Onstage - Drama 2022

The HSC Showcases celebrate student achievement by reflecting on the creativity and innovation of HSC students across the state. Each year they feature a selection of the top HSC major works across performing arts - Dance, Drama and Music.

Last year our PA HSC results were excellent with Band 5’s and 6’s and nominations for Dance, Drama and Music! We congratulate our SVC nominated students - Dance - Eliza  Bokin and Allanah Joukhadar, Drama - Georgia Jones and Billie Monjo and Music - Bille Monjo. Bille was also selected and will be performing in the Encore Performances. Students who have seen Billie perform in our many College Productions over her six years at the College, Speech Nights in the Town Hall and Friday lunchtime social justice events, will remember she is a wonderful performer and it will be exciting to see her perform at the City Recital Hall.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to see examples of excellent Individual Projects, Performances and Compositions. This is also an opportunity to see how students across the state achieved their IP goals. I encourage students and their families to acquaint themselves with the venues covid policies before booking as the events are live events and covid safety risk assessments will vary from venue to venue.

Callback 2021

https://www.seymourcentre.com/event/callback-2021/

One program of Callback21 will be presented in the York Theatre from Tuesday 15 February to Thursday 17 February 2022. The program will feature a selection of exemplary dance performances from the 2021 Higher School Certificate practical exams including core and major studies in performance and composition.

OnSTAGE

https://www.seymourcentre.com/event/onstage/

One program of OnSTAGE will be presented in the York Theatre from Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2022. The program will feature a selection of exemplary group and individual projects from 2021 Higher School Certificate Drama students including performances, video drama and a moved reading of a script.

OnSTAGE Exhibition

Exemplary individual projects by HSC Drama students will be on exhibition in the upstairs foyer of the Seymour Centre from Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2022. Projects include costume and set design, promotion and program, and theatre review.

Encore

https://www.cityrecitalhall.com/whats-on/events/encore/

The annual Encore concert showcases the outstanding musicianship of HSC students from NSW schools as singers, instrumentalists and composers. Presented by the NSW Education Standards Authority in association with the Department of Education, Encore is an exciting opportunity for current music students, teachers and the general public to see and hear a selection of exemplary works presented for the 2021 Higher School Certificate Music examinations.

The program illustrates the range, variety and challenges offered by the three HSC Music courses across styles, genres and musical periods. Featuring solo and ensemble vocal and instrumental works, there is something for everyone - from the classics to jazz and contemporary music. 

Ms Catherine Johnson
Head of Department Performing Arts

We are receiving many enrolment enquiries from families who have heard good things about St Vincent's College!  Thank you to our lovely Vinnies' students and parents who have spoken so highly of the College. 

Enrolment is underway for Year 7, 2024 intake and a reminder to all of our families that while enrolment for siblings is automatic, we do require a completed online Application for Enrolment.  If you have a sibling entering Year 7 in 2024, please complete an online Application as soon as possible.  You can apply via the College website .

I look forward to welcoming all our new students and families.  If you have any enrolment related questions (or would just like to chat!), please feel free to contact me directly via registrar@stvincents.nsw.edu.au.

Mrs Robyn Pedley
College Registrar

ENSEMBLES

Week 3 is an opportunity for all students to experience Performing Arts Ensembles. Students are encouraged to use this week to try out as many ensembles as they would like and then register for their favourite groups via the College website.  If you have any questions please email Mrs Belinda Peoples peoplesb@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Performing Arts Ensembles Registration:  https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/performing-arts-ensembles-enrolment/

CO-CURRICULAR

Tuition is available in contemporary dance, speech and drama, voice and many musical instruments. Lessons are taught by qualified tutors during the school day, providing a convenient and enjoyable learning environment to SVC students. Lessons are available for beginners through to advanced students so everyone can have confidence that there is a suitable performing arts opportunity available. If you have any questions please email peoplesb@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Performing Arts Co-Curricular Tuition Registration:  https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/performing-arts-co-curricular-enrolment/

DEBATING

If you would like to register your “expression of interest” for debating please complete the form on the College website. More information will follow in the coming weeks including an invitation to attend the lunchtime debating meeting explaining what is involved in joining the SVC debating team.

Debating 'Expression of Interest' Form:  https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/co-curricular-activities/2022-archdale-debating-expression-interest/

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

Any student in Years 9 and above who is interested in registering for Duke of Edinburgh for the first time, please come to an important meeting in A4.24 at lunch time Wednesday 9 February.

Mr Joseph Hekeik
Head of Co-Curricular

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

Head Touch and Volleyball Coach - Elyse Harmanis elyse.harmanis@gmail.com - 0434 610 870

Head Tennis Coach - Therese Taylor - 0408 711 881

Head Water Polo Coach - Hayley Boatswain - 0404 267 554

Head of Swimming/Cross Country - Ms Jacinta Jacobs - 0418 416 663.

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

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

IGSA Sport Guide to Spawtz 

With the current weather forecasts looking less than ideal for tomorrow morning, please find attached the new IGSA Sport guide to Spawtz for students and families.  This guide provides all the information for students and parents to check their draws, upcoming fixtures, previous results and their table.  It also outlines how to use the new website to check the status of their venue and access venue-specific information such as spectator restrictions:   https://igsasport.spawtz.com/

TERM 1 SPORT

ESTA Touch

Welcome back to all players, especially our Year 7's.  The EAST's competition officially starts this Saturday 5 February, with the exception of our Year 7 teams who have their first game this weekend, Saturday 12 February.  Good luck to all teams!  Remember we have that big trophy we won last year for being the best school in the competition to defend!

Congratulations to those girls who checked the website or their emails and turned up to the first session back on the first day.  Please make sure that all players are at their training sessions next week as there were many missing this week.  All training and draw information can be found on the College website under Learning/Sport/Touch. 

The best place to check for Wet Weather Information is the Easts Touch Association's website or Facebook page.  Especially this weekend, as it is forecast to be wet.  Please remember that Covid-safety measures will still be enforced, such as no sharing of equipment and no handshaking.  No spectators will be allowed on the sidelines, however, they can watch from the ends of the fields at this competition for the first two weeks.  Please do not attend matches if you have any Covid symptoms.

Easts website:  http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=514

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Touch Coach

above:  Touch last weekend on the sidelines

above:  Junior Touch

above:  Senior Touch

Santa Sabina Volleyball

We have nine volleyball teams entered in the Santa Sabina competition this term, which should be a lot of fun.  Team lists and training times are on the College website.

Please arrive at Santa Sabina - 90 The Boulevarde, Strathfield courts, a good 20 minutes before your start time for warm up.  All players must be in full College Sports uniform and are to bring their own water bottle and hat.  Some Covid precautions will still be in place, like no sharing of water bottles and no handshakes or hi-fives.  Please do not attend matches if you have any Covid symptoms.  Spectators are allowed at games this term as long as they QR code in and wear a mask if they can’t social distance.  Any questions please contact the Head Coach, Elyse.

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Volleyball Coach    elyse.harmanis@gmail.com

IGSA SATURDAY and TILDESLEY TENNIS

Training has commenced this week for IGSA tennis and competition commences on Saturday 5 February for all teams.  Training sessions for these teams are held on the College courts from either 7.15am-8.15am or 3.15pm-4.30pm.  Players are to check the College website or Sports noticeboard for their team's training session and draw.  IGSA is using our SVC courts again this year, so all teams should get at least one game at home.  All girls are to get to let their coach, Therese or Tonya, know if they cannot make a session or match so that they can organise a substitute if necessary.

Please use the Rockwall Crescent gate entrance and allow adequate time to find parking so that you arrive 30 minutes prior to start time to sign in and warm up.  Please see our convenor Charlotte Patchett (ex student), if there are any problems.  Please remember that Covid-safety measures will still be enforced such as, no sharing of equipment and no handshaking.  Spectators are permitted, however, and they must check in with the QR code at the gate and wear a mask if not able to social distance.  Please do not attend matches if you have any Covid symptoms.

Training for the Tildesley Shield (which is held at Pennant Hills on 13 and 14 March, will be held on Monday mornings 7.15am-8.25am and Friday afternoons from 3.15pm-4.30pm on the College courts.  All girls are to get to let their coach, Therese or Tonya, know if they cannot make a session.  Any new tennis players to the College who are not in this squad, should contact Therese (0408 711 881) for more information if interested.

Ms Therese Taylor
Head Tennis Coach

Water Polo

The IGSA competition has some very high standard teams and we are going to have some challenging games this season.  All teams are training hard and we should see some excellent progression throughout the season.  This Saturday 12 February, all of our eight teams commence competition and will be playing some top-quality matches.  Good luck to all teams for the season!

Please check the College website or the Sports noticeboard for training times and draws.  Water polo does usually still go ahead regardless of weather.  It may only be cancelled if there is lightning or a problem at the venue.  Please make sure that you arrive at the venue 30 minutes prior to start time to sign on and warm up.  We are actually looking for a few more senior players.  If anyone would like to join a team please email Ms Jacobs as soon as possible.

Covid-safety measures will be used at all venues such as no sharing of equipment and no hand shaking.  Spectators are permitted at most venues, however, they must check in with the QR code with the convenor.  Please do not attend matches if you have any Covid symptoms.

Jordan, one of our elite water polo coaches, will be running a swim session on Monday and Thursday mornings from 7.15am-8.15am for any keen swimmers and water polo players.  All levels will be catered for - just turn up!

Ms Hayley Boatswain
Head Water Polo Coach

Swimming Training and IGSA Swimming Carnival

All Years 7-10 PDHPE classes will be completing swimming trials over the next week, mainly to get times for our Year 7’s and any new students who missed the College swimming carnival in Term 4.  These times will give the Sports staff an indication of who should be in the IGSA team, along with those who have already been selected from the main carnival.  There will be some swim-offs for the best Year 7's against the selected 13 year old Year 8’s on Tuesday 22 February at lunchtime, and more information will be emailed to these girls.  Any swimmers who train and compete outside of school who have official times for longer distances (eg 100, 200 or 400m), are to email these to Ms Jacobs for consideration for the IGSA team.

The IGSA Carnival is being held later this year on Friday 25 March at Homebush Aquatic Centre and there will be a meeting/relay session for all squad members at lunchtime on Tuesday 15 March to finalise details and practise our relays.

Jordan, one of our elite water polo coaches, will be running a swim session on Monday and Thursday mornings from 7.15am-8.15am for any keen swimmers and water polo players.  All levels are catered for.  Any potential IGSA squad members must come to these sessions unless they are already in a squad outside of school.

Fitness and Cross Country

Fitness training with Tash commences on Monday 21 February and will be every Monday and Wednesday afternoon as we prepare for the IGSA Cross Country Carnival at Frensham on Friday 13 May in Term 2.  We are allowed to enter up to ten competitors in each age group and this acts as the St Vincent’s Cross Country Championships, as first girl finished from each age group will be awarded our Age Champion.  We would like to have a minimum of three per age group for the relay point scores so are looking for more competitors.  12 and 13 years only run 3km, with all other girls doing 4km except the 18 years who have to do 6km.

All levels of fitness will be catered for at the training sessions and are not just for those wanting to do cross country.  Any students wishing to improve their fitness are invited to come to one or both days.  Please email Ms Jacobs if you would like to sign up.

TERM 2/3 SPORT REGISTRATIONS

Registrations have opened for Term 2 Sport and close on Friday 25 February at 3.00pm.  Students can select from IGSA Soccer, IGSA Basketball, IGSA Hockey and IGSA Netball. These sports will be played for both Terms 2 and 3 for the first time.  This is to allow for more development and improvement over the longer season.

To register, you need to go on to the College website  http://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au,Click on Sport, then click Term 2/3 Registrations.  You will need to know your student ID and email address, and have permission from your parents to play.  If you have any problems doing this, please contact the Sports Department immediately.

SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK 

Congratulations to SVC 4 who have won Team of the Week.  Not only did they have the most girls at training last week but they also had a great win on Saturday.  Coach Brooke is very happy with the way they have started the season and we hope many of our other teams follow in their footsteps. 

Congratulations to Ruby Smith, Year 9, (pictured below) who had a fantastic Branch Surf lifesaving Titles recently.  Ruby won a gold medal in the sprint and flags, plus a gold in the Cameron relay and bronze medal in the All Age relay.  Well done Ruby! 

This section is to make the College community aware of some of the exceptional athletes we have in the College.  If your daughter has represented her state or country recently in her chosen Sport, please send us any results, photos or blurbs on her performance to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au 

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

#SVC DADS AT SPORT

CANTEEN REMINDER:   NO CARD - NO PURCHASE 

• Students MUST bring their ID card to the canteen to purchase any food/drink. Please note that putting your student number in only is NOT accepted.
• Remember:  ONLINE ORDERING is also available.
• GLUTEN FREE products are available - only when purchased through online ordering. 
• You need to refill money onto your cardAT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE you intend to use the card (as it takes one hour to generate funds onto the card).

 View next week's CANTEEN SPECIALS: 14-18 February 2022  HERE

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P&F Cocktail Party

Parents and friends of the College are invited to the P&F Cocktail Party to welcome new parents and celebrate the start of the 2022 school year.  The P&F Cocktail Party will be held at the College on Saturday, 12 March 6:30pm-10:30pm.  This is always a very popular event; to book, please click HERE

Inaugural Mothers' Weekend to Orange

Ms Renee Payne
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager

The P&F AGM will be held online on Tuesday 1 March at 6.30pm.  Please click here to register.

Ms Renee Payne
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager