Bulletin

Monday 15 February:   Year 12 Parent Teacher Google Meets - 4.00pm-7.30pm.  (Please see Mr Anderson's reminder email/letter sent to all Year 12 parents this morning 12 February.  Bookings remain open until midnight Sunday 14 February). 

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2021 P&F Meeting dates (via Zoom):  Tuesdays - 23 February; 11 May; 03 August; 02 November - 6.00pm.

(For any questions, thoughts or suggestions please contact Katherine Aitken, P&F President, on 0400 583 677).

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Wednesday 17 February:   Ash Wednesday

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Please see the Sport and Health Report article in this issue for training and competition dates/timings. 
Information is also on the College website in Sport

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REMINDER:  Masks are compulsory on public transport - and all students must have a valid OPAL card to travel on buses and trains.

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As we go to print, we acknowledge the five day shut-down of Melbourne due to the Holiday Inn cluster.  This has implications for people travelling through Terminal 4 at Melbourne Airport.  If you or your primary contacts have recently travelled to Melbourne and have been asked to isolate, please follow all Health Department advice.  A reminder also for us all to:

• stay home if unwell
• test at first and mildest symptoms
• practice excellent hand and cough hygiene.

Dear Parents and Carers

Next Wednesday is named in the Liturgical Calendar as Ash Wednesday.  This name is given to the commencement of Lent, which has been for thousands of years a period of fasting, prayer and charity.  During this time, the early Christians often covered themselves with ash and sacking as signs of repentance.  Symbolically, On Ash Wednesday, we accept a cross drawn on our foreheads in ash to make a public commitment to our Christian beliefs.  Like many practices, this too will be modified to be COVID safe, and Mrs Kenderes and the student charism team are working on a creative, liturgical alternative.  Lent is also the time that Project Compassion is supported by Catholics all across Australia.  This year the theme is "be more" for the world.  This is a wonderful fit for our College value for the year which is "generosity of spirit".  I hope that as we commence Lent next week, we all take the opportunity to demonstrate faith, love and generosity.

Already in the early weeks of our new school year, I have seen plenty of evidence of these attributes in our staff and students.  In their hospitality and welcome to new members of our community, their response to the initiatives our student leaders have underway (see the Pony Tail Project and donating books to a small library for the St Canice's Kitchen), the concern showed by our senior students to our newest still finding their way, and our prayerful and practical support of members of the community who are sick and grieving.  These are the ways we are "being more" and living out the charism of Mary Aikenhead Ministries, which is primarily an expression of LOVE.  Their Ministries of Education, Health Care and Aged Care, provide a myriad of opportunities to exercise the love of Christ in every day of the year, but particularly so during the 40 days of Lent.

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal 

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

Penelope Larkin (Year 9) Grandmother. 

May she rest in peace.

I love teaching Year 7 English. It is a joy to welcome students into high school learning, to establish a new learning environment for a group of young adolescents from many different primary schools that will strive to support and grow each other’s learning.  Relationships matter.  Identifying one’s strengths matter.  As I have done so for many years, students were invited to write me a letter of introduction about themselves and their learning.  I had written my own, placed in an envelope and invited a student to read this out to the class.  I offered paper for students to write back to me.  They looked at me quizzically, asking if they ought write to me via email to make it a ‘real letter’.  I was bemused by this perception that a ‘real letter’, in the minds of these 12 year olds, needed to arrive electronically into an inbox.  They were most impressed to learn that my grandfather wrote me a letter on the day I was born to introduce me to the world and describe for me my two elder brothers, and that that letter sits in my bedside table with my Poppa’s cursive writing reminding me of the care he took to craft that letter.  I was reminded that these young people have known technology their entire lives.  When I ask for examples of persuasive texts, they list online shopping and celebrity endorsements.  Year 7 keep me ‘in the know’ as an educator so that I am aware of the world for those who we are educating and what I am discerning about what we are educating for - striving to develop the values and capabilities to navigate this world with optimism.

Tuesday recognised Safer Internet Day - created with the vision to make online experiences better for everyone.  The Office of eSafety Research has released a February 2021 report The digital lives of Aussie teens.  Whilst continual safeguarding and learning of protective behaviours is needed, there is much to be gladdened by for our digital generation of teens.  A surprising finding was that Australian teens are active in helping build positive and inclusive online relationships, which could help others when dealing with similar issues online.  This was even more apparent with teens who had previously had a negative online experience.  This is a heartening result and something to be further nurtured to help build a safer and more positive online world.  This is particularly important when the downsides of online engagement are often the focus of attention in the media.  I invite you to read the report and, like me as teacher of Year 7 English, ask questions of your adolescent children so they educate you about their online world and you remain informed and able to support.  Our collective building of trusted relationships and affirming young people of their worth will provide the foundation for their actions online that safeguard themselves and others.

Years 10, 11 and 12 enjoyed their workshops with Paul Dillon today.  His return each year allows an ongoing relationship where students trust in his genuine care for them as young people - supporting them to make wise choices that can save lives.  I include again the titles of each workshop and resources parents/carers may like to access so that you too may engage in dialogue at home about what was discussed.  Know that Paul focuses on the positive choices young people can make and his research reflects that many young people are indeed making these positive choices.

Year 10 - ‘Young people, alcohol and risk taking: Looking after your mates’

Year 11 - ‘Alcohol and cannabis: What if something goes wrong?’

Year 12 - ‘Last year at school: What do I need to know about alcohol and other drugs?’

Fact Sheets on topics raised during the presentations:  http://darta.net.au/factsheetsparents/
Paul’s blog for parents:  http://doingdrugs-darta.blogspot.com/ .

I hope the weekend brings time to gather as family.  My Year 7s shared much in their letters about what makes them happy - and every one of them spoke about family!  Perhaps an old-fashioned Valentine’s letter can make its way to your daughter’s hand, reminding her she is special and loved.  My Poppa’s letter remains my most cherished letter - he had not even met me and yet he loved me for all the potential that awaited me.

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

Yesterday was International Day of Women and Girls in Science - an annual event that was declared by the UN six years ago, in order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in Science for women and girls.  Congratulations to our Year 12 Science student Ellie Singleton, who successfully participated in the prestigious National Youth Science Forum; an event which is held annually for budding Australian scientists.  This international day of recognition yesterday, prompted me to outline our STEM program at the College for our newer families or those of you who would like to know more about our SVC STEMinists in action.  STEM is an acronym that describes research and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  Our STEM Coordinator and Science Teacher, Ms Gemma Thompson, runs a STEM Club every second Tuesday lunchtime and any of our budding STEMinists are more than welcome to attend from Years 7-12.  This academic year as we prioritise our commitment is to create and respond generously to opportunities to learn and growboth our STEM coordinator, Ms Thompson and our High Potential (HP) Coordinator, Ms Donna Ginzburg, are collaborating to engage students in a myriad of STEM opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.  Designed to activate the essential twentieth century learning capabilities crucial for our graduates to succeed in their lifelong learning, our Heads of Department, particularly in Mathematics; Mr Nick Garben, Science; Dr Chris Reynolds, TAS; Mr Graeme Colman and PDHPE; Ms Sheenagh Doran, are collaborating together to find new ways to engage our budding STEMinists into creative STEM learning as part of their mandatory curriculum in Years 7-10.  

As new fields of STEM employment continue to emerge and Universities continue to advertise financially attractive and competitive course entry points, it’s important for our Vinnies graduates to be agile and able to adapt their skills to this fast-changing global economy.  Empowering 21st century learning prepares our students for the future world of work and arms them with critical life skills.  It supports students to be critical and creative-thinkers, communicators and collaborators - all essential attributes of a STEMisnist in action.  The academic team; the Heads of Department, our STEM and High Potential Coordinators, are very excited by our planning of authentic STEM learning opportunities that will be on offer for our students in the coming months, as cross-curricular learning opportunities arise throughout the year.  Inspired by the project led last year by the PDHPE and Science Departments focusing on disease, a very appropriate topic given the year we had, Year 9 were challenged to choose a lifestyle disease that is a burden on the health of Australians, and as a result, the Australian healthcare system.  In groups, they developed a social media campaign, aimed at the St Vincent’s College community, to promote awareness of this disease and encourage students to make choices in their lives to improve their health now and into the future. Based on the success and enjoyment of learning gained from this authentic STEM learning experience, we are looking for more dynamic learning opportunities to allow students to make cross-curricular links to their learning.  We will keep your daughter and you as parents/carers abreast of these learning initiatives as they unfold. 

St Vincent’s College has on many occasions identified itself as being environmentally conscious and committed to promoting the education of sustainable living and practice as both a school and a workplace.  The Environmental Committee, led by Ms Sophie Robson, who meet every Thursday Day 4 lunchtime on the rooftop terrace, are planning two significant projects this year with the assistance of our generous P and F Association funding the project. One is the contribution to the establishment of a recycling program (currently non-existent) as well as the beginning of a greenspace on the rooftop terrace. Their idea is to transform a ‘Dream Position into a Dream Oasis’ and true to the philosophy of our Learning Framework, this initiative will provide our students with an opportunity to make a difference - spreading our environmental wings beyond the College gates. 

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

Charism, Social Justice, Caritas Christi, Environment Committee and Vinnies@SVC are off and running.  On the Charism front we are preparing for Lent, with Ash Wednesday next week being celebrated in House Groups.  We have a few hurdles to get over:  At present we are holding in tension the need to have an outward sign of an inward knowledge that we are people who have accepted that death is part of renewal, and the difficulties that our traditional symbolic ‘ashing’ presents in Covid world.  We will find a way. 

Our Charism team have suffered an identity crisis.  Everyone it seems, has heard of Charism, but few seemed to know what it meant.  Lucia Holt and Sophie Parawa put together an info-mercial on what Charism actually is.  Community interview bites suggested some confusion, and some fair attempts to put a finger on it.  Theologian and friend Mr Anthony Reilly helped us out.  He says that Charism is a ‘gift’ - it is a particular aspect of Jesus’ way of loving, that we bring to the world as ‘gift’.  That particular way of loving expects nothing in return.  For the Sisters of Charity their Charism is Service of the Poor.  Jesus loved in many ways, but the way the sisters have focused their way of loving others in the world, is in loving the poor by serving them.

Jesus certainly loved the poor.  He seemed to enjoy being with the poor more than anyone else.  Like the Sisters of Charity, our Charism at the College is focused on how Jesus loved - Service of the Poor, Justice, Respect, Hope and Generosity of Spirit.  Jesus is our model of these values in attitude and in behaviour. 

Social justice is off to a flying start with the Ponytail Project.  Charlotte Patchett has launched the ‘chop for change’, and our girls are signing up to lop off their locks and sponsor others.  The funds go to support the Cancer Council and our hair goes to make wigs which help many people in cancer treatment feel more positive.  But what about those who have short or ‘rejected’ hair?  What of them?  Charlotte has arranged that our excess hair will be given to 'sustainable salons'. This group provides human-hair matting which is deployed in clean-up operations for oil spills in waterways.  Amazing, but true.  The Environment committee is on board with this initiative too. 

Our Environment committee is planning big things this term in recycling and sustainable gardening.  More on that later.  Vinnies@SVC will kick off the year with Zooper Doopers next week.  They are looking at adopting a special project for the year to address a really pressing need to the north of Sydney.  More on that later.

Caritas Christi will focus their energies on the International issue of human trafficking.  They plan to join with local initiatives to learn more about the problem locally and how awareness raising can have a genuine impact on the lives of the vulnerable.  Ella Wise will keep us up to date on what is happening there.

We have delivered our last batch of lasagna to St Canice’s in its present form. We will have an opportunity next week to sign up for their new Covid-relaxed food service.  It’s great to be part of the work of the vibrant team there.  Our book collection continues to help their latest work - a library for clients.  Thank you to all those who have cleared out their home libraries.  Your books are already being read and enjoyed by our friends.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

In the year of Generosity of Spirit, the Boarding House has spent time thinking what this value means to them.  In the picture below you can see that the word ‘others’ is the largest word.  That is because it was the most commonly used word out of over 100 words used to describe what they believe Generosity of Spirit means to them.  ‘Others’.  This year we will spend time throughout the week and during our activity planning to reflect on how we make others feel, how we can include others and how others can make us feel.  I am excited that the Boarders have used such beautiful synonyms to describe the College Value for 2021 - now we will put it into practice.

On Sunday the Boarders had a Cake Bake Off with a cartoon theme.  We had Finding Nemo, Cookie Monster cupcakes, The Princess and the Frog, Frozen and Maleficent.  Wow, talent was definitely discovered!!!!!  A huge thank you to Hannah, for her organisation of the event and to Chef Josef and Mrs Fry, for the judging.  We definitely need to use these skills more often….

A reminder please, that all medical appointments are to go through the College Nurse at health@stvincents.nsw.edu.au.  We will do our best to organise transport to and from, but please be aware that appointments during the day are more difficult to plan, so Fiona will need to be a part of the planning of appointments. 

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

On Thursday 11 February, we celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science - an annual event that was declared by the UN six years ago, in order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, something that we are very passionate about here at St Vincent's College.  This day focuses on the reality that science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of internationally agreed upon goals. Last year we were proud to hear that Ellie Singleton, Physics and Chemistry student, in Year 12, had been selected for the prestigious National Youth Science Forum; an event which is held annually for budding Australian scientists.  Ellie has kindly shared her experiences here for us all to enjoy. Congratulations, Ellie!

Ms Gemma Thompson
STEM Coordinator | Science and Physics Teacher

The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

Throughout January this year, I attended the National Youth Science Forum, which is a two-week live-in program at your choice of university (within the options).  I was originally planning to attend the program at the University of Queensland, before COVID stopped interstate travel and the program was moved online. 

Throughout the program we were introduced to a number of researchers, professionals, Nobel Laureates and NYSF alumni.  We attended lectures, tours, Q&A sessions and practical demonstrations.  These took us across multiple areas of science and introduced me to careers I had never even considered. 

We met and heard the journeys of Nobel Laureate recipients, performed at home experiments and attended specialist lectures which focused on varied areas of science.  Through these specialist lectures, we met people in all fields of science across Australia and learnt about their careers and the pathways they took to get there.  We were encouraged to ask questions and were given the email or Facebook pages of people for further questions we may have. These questions also took us across Australia, and in some cases to Antarctica.

My favourite lecture was about the ‘Homeland of Modern Humans’.  In this lecture, Professor Vanessa M Hayes talked about her work into discovering the birthplace of the first modern humans.  She was doing this by looking at variances in genomes, which revealed the intersections of different groups of people that made up a person’s DNA.  Genomic research, which is a field I find incredibly interesting, is also used in Antarctica to see the intersection of microorganisms in the ice throughout history which reveals the different climates of the time.  My favourite experiment was making bioplastic out of starch. This plastic was strong and flexible, but was environmentally friendly and could be used as a good alternative to our current plastics.

But this course wasn’t just about the learning and development of ourselves and our interests.  We were asked a number of questions before the beginning of the course and assigned an ‘interest group’.  These groups brought together a number of like-minded students and gave us time to discuss our ideas, as well as build our friendships.  I was in the Carson group, which was sustainability, ecology and the environment.  In my group we discussed philosophical questions, riddles, politics, controversial topics and our hobbies.  We made group chats to keep in contact and became close to each other as the program progressed.  We also did whole group activities where we met other students outside of our interest group, in a more relaxed setting than the lectures we attended.  We had a trivia night, where we worked as an interest group to answer science trivia questions without the use of Google.  My group didn’t place, but we all contributed where we could.  There was a games night where breakout rooms were created for different multiplayer online games.  I played among us with the majority of the students and we played in groups of 6-10.  We also attended a ‘formal dinner’ during which we watched musical talents other students had sent in, and then moved into breakout rooms to do a meet and greet with other people attending the program.

This was an incredible experience which has opened my eyes to many more pathways and has opened the door to a world of opportunities and possibilities. I learnt so much and made friends with interests both similar and different to my own - all sharing a love of science and a belief of its importance in our world. 

The applications for this program open in Year 11 and I would highly encourage all Year 11's doing Science to apply for it.  I would also encourage students in younger Year groups to consider attending this program when they get to Year 12 as well.

If students would like to ask me any questions, my email is:  singe0121@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Ellie Singleton, Year 12

Western University

Western webinar series has some very interesting events going on, please use the link here for  more details.

Future Career in Music, Creative Industries and Communications

On Thursday 25 February, 5.00pm, all senior students and their parents are invited to find out more about Music, Creative Industries and Communication careers and degrees at Western University.  Registrations are essential using the link here.

NIDA

NIDA Courses for High School Students

NIDA focuses on practical, skill-based learning led by industry experts across a range of performing arts disciplines.  NIDA courses for Years 7-10 students are designed to support and inspire young people at any stage of their creative development.

Each term NIDA focuses on a specific area of performance practice to ensure students have a varied experience and learn a range of essential creative skills.  Students are able to join them at the start of any term during the year.

NIDA Open Drama courses are designed across a four term structure within the following learning framework:

Term 1:  Improvisation and Performance Craft

Term 2:  Voice and Movement

Term 3:  Devising and Contemporary Performance

Term 4:  Script Work and Staging

For more information use the following link.

AIE Information Evening - Games Design and Animation

On 18 March commencing from 6.00pm to 7.00pm.  AIE will be hosting an Information Evening for students interested in studying game development, 3D animation and visual effects.  The evening will include presentations on different areas of industry to get into, as well as information about AIE full-time and part-time courses and entry requirements.  Student work will be on display and AIE staff will be available to answer questions.  Registrations are essential here

Study Medicine

Deadline updates for university degrees leading to medicine.  See the latest listing of deadlines detailing information for medical programs in Australia by going to this link.

Medicine - Your Free Guide

Throughout the medical training pathway, medical students and doctors in training will be exposed to many different areas of medicine and thenchoose a speciality area that is of interest to them. To find out more about a career in Medicine use the link found here

UCAT

A compulsory step for students intending to study Medicine is that they undertake the UCAT exam.  Candidates taking the UCAT in 2021 for entry to universities in Australia and NZ in 2022 should note these key dates:

For more details about UCAT go here:

Careers of the Future

The world of work is changing.  The World Economic Forum (WEF) has declared that we are entering the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’:

“Developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing and biotechnology, to name just a few, are all building on and amplifying one another.  This will lay the foundation for a revolution more comprehensive and all-encompassing than anything we have ever seen".  To find out more about jobs of the future please read this interesting article, using the link found here 

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Dance ensemble is a great way to learn new skills and choreography while developing meaningful connections with other students in the College.  We are so very lucky to have so many talented students at St Vincent’s College.  The 2021 auditions took place this week where we had over 100 students audition for the ballet, hip hop and jazz dance ensembles.  The girls who auditioned showed a great display of talent, enthusiasm and motivation.  Congratulations to the students who were successful this year.  These students will be issued with a one year contract in our program, to allow them to continue to build upon their technique and performance quality while working towards our end of year concert. 

We welcome back Miss Laura Fishwick, our ballet ensemble teacher and co-curricular contemporary dance teacher, and Miss Thomasina Buchner, Miss Jamila Grace and Miss Kayla Jomaa, who will be teaching jazz dance ensemble.  We also have one new teacher joining our team this year, Miss Maddie Scott, who will also be teaching a jazz ensemble class.

We wish the Dance students and teachers all the very best in their classes this year and look forward to seeing all the groups perform at our annual concert on Saturday 6 November at The Seymour Centre.

We still have a few positions available to offer on various days, so if you are interested in enrolling your daughter please contact me  (email: santia@stvincents.nsw.edu.au ) to secure a placement.  All classes begin in Week 4.  

Mrs Alana Santi
Dance Teacher

Sport Staff Contacts for Term 1 2021:

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 Harmanis:  0434 610 870   
Head of Water Polo:  Ms Hayley Boatswain:  0404 267 554
Head of Swimming/Cross Country:  Ms Jacinta Jacobs:  0418 416 663.

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

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

TERM 1 SPORT

As we are slowly being allowed to spectate at some of the sporting venues, please make sure you look up the rules at the different venues before you go. Some venues are allowing one spectator per player whilst others are open to all as long as you QR code in. It’s Dads at Sport Day next Saturday 20 February, so we are encouraging as many fathers as possible to go and support their daughter on the 20th! Or, at least have a photo taken with your daughter before she goes.

TOUCH

All training and draw information can be found on the College website under Sport/Touch.  Please make sure that all players arrive at the fields in full College Sports uniform, and at least 20 minutes before their scheduled start time for warm up.  Good luck to all teams for the term ahead.

The best place to check for Wet Weather Information is the Easts Touch Association website or Facebook page.  Especially this weekend as it is forecast again to be very wet.  Please remember that COVID-safety measures will still be enforced, such as no sharing of equipment and no hand-shaking.  No spectators will be allowed at this competition for the first two weeks.  This will then be assessed and we will let you know the procedures to watch some of the matches.  Hopefully Dads will be allowed next week for our 'Dads at Sport' day -  Easts website.  

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Touch Coach

 Below:  Dads at Touch

SANTA SABINA VOLLEYBALL

This year we are entering six teams in the popular Santa Sabina volleyball competition at Strathfield.  This competition commences Saturday 13 February, and is always played on the grass courts at the back of the College behind the pool.  Spectators are allowed at Santa Sabina this term, however, no dogs are permitted.  There will also be a coffee cart available.

All team information can be found on the College website and the draw will be placed there once it is finalised.  All players should now be aware of their training times and must let the head coach Elyse know if they cannot attend for any reason.  Full Sports uniform is to be worn to all training sessions and matches. 

Please note the Santa Sabina wet weather information is tweeted on:  https://twitter.com/santasports .

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Volleyball Coach 

IGSSA SATURDAY AND TILDESLEY TENNIS

Training sessions for these teams are held on the College courts from either 7.15am-8.25am or 3.15pm-4.30pm.  Players are to check the College website or Sports noticeboard for their team's training sessions and draw.  IGSSA is using our SVC courts again this year, so all teams should get at least one game at home.  All girls are 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.

If you are playing at the College, please use the Rockwall Street 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, Ms Gemma Thompson, if there are any problems.  Please remember that Covid safety measures will still be enforced, 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 view the link HERE for further instructions of COVID restrictions at various venues.

Training for the Tildesley Shield (which is held at Pennant Hills on 17-18 March), will be held on Monday 7.15am-8.25am and Wednesday 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 are to contact Therese for more information if interested.

Ms Therese Taylor
Head Tennis Coach

Below:  SVC 1 Tennis

Below: SVC 2 Tennis

WATER POLO

The ESSG 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 13 February, all of our nine teams continue competition and will no doubt be playing some more top-quality matches.  Good luck to all teams.

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.  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.  Some schools such as Queenwood and Danebank are not allowing any spectators this term.

Please view more specific venue COVID restrictions HERE .

Just a heads up regarding spectators at some schools due to COVID.  Below are the current procedures at PLC:

• Strictly, one spectator per player is permitted (exclusive of heads of sport, water polo convenors etc)
• Entry and exit to the College should be through the Boundary Street pedestrian gate (right next to the roundabout)
• Entry for players 20 minutes prior to the start of the game
• Entry for spectators 10 minutes prior to the start of the game and they will be required to sign on using the Service NSW QR code upon arrival.  If they cannot do this, unfortunately, they will not be able to attend the game. 
• Spectators will then be asked to remain in 'holding bays' outside the pool until they are invited into the pool area by the Convenor/COVID Marshall - after all players and spectators from the previous timeslot have vacated the building.

Ms Hayley Boatswain
Head Water Polo Coach 

Below:  Water Polo Junior A's

Below:  Water Polo SVC 9

Below:   Year 7 A's and Dads at Water Polo

SWIMMING TRAINING AND IGSSA 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 IGSSA team, along with those who have already been selected from the main carnival.  There will be some swim-offs with the best Year 7 swimmers against the selected 13 year old Year 8's on Tuesday 23 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 IGSSA team.

This year we will be competing in the CGSSSA Swimming Carnival instead of IGSSA.  The CGSSSA  Carnival is being held on Tuesday 9 March at Ryde Aquatic Centre, and there will be a meeting/relay session for all squad members at lunchtime on Tuesday 2 March to finalise details. 

Jordan, one of our water polo coaches, will be running a swim session on Wednesday mornings from 7.15am-8.15am, for any keen swimmers and water polo players.  All levels are catered for and you can come to one or all sessions.  Any potential IGSSA squad members must come to these sessions unless they are already in a squad outside of school.  These swim sessions commenced this week, but if you would like to join in from next week please email Ms Jacobs.  There is no additional cost. 

FITNESS AND CROSS COUNTRY

Fitness training with Tash commences on Wednesday (17 February) and will be on every Monday and Wednesday afternoon 3.15pm-4.30pm, as we prepare for the IGSSA Cross Country Carnival at Frensham on Friday 7 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 in 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 we are looking for more competitors.  12 and 13 years only run 3km, with all other girls doing 4km except 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. There is no additional cost, so please please email Ms Jacobs if you would like to sign up.

TERM 2 SPORT REGISTRATIONS

Registrations are now open for Term 2 Sport and close on Friday 19 February at 3.00pm.  Students can select from IGSSA Soccer, IGSSA Basketball, SEHA Hockey and Wednesday Netball at St Catherine’s. 

Year 7 Netball next term will consist of skills development and mini games at SVC on Thursday afternoons, but is still called 'St Catherine's Netball' on the registration form.

Netball is organised by Elyse Harmanis, one of our excellent coaches, and she runs a great development program.  Term 2 netball is all about getting ready for the big IGSSA competition in Term 3, and will concentrate on fitness and skill development.

To register, you need to go onto the College website  http://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/Sport, then click 'Term 2 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 STARS OF THE WEEK

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

Congratulations to Alexis Graham, in Year 11, who was selected for the NSWCIS Open Water Polo team this week.  She will now compete at the NSW All Schools Carnival later this term.

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

CANTEEN REMINDER:   NO CARD - NO PURCHASE. 

-  You MUST bring your card with you to the canteen to purchase.

-  You need to refill money onto your card at least 1 (one) hour BEFORE using it (as it takes that long to generate onto the card).

-  There are GLUTEN FREE products available but only when purchased through online ordering. 

 View next week's CANTEEN SPECIALS: 15-19 February 2021  HERE

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Selina Richardson
Site Manager

Catering Industries Pty Ltd | St Vincent’s College
Phone: 1300 364 092 | Main Phone: 9361 2420

Dennis@cateringindustries.com.au  |  www.cateringindustries.com.au

A warm welcome to our new and returning families for 2021.

The St Vincent’s College Business Directory is a community initiative created to connect families, staff, alumni and supporters of the College in a practical and mutually beneficial way.  Our hope is that our community chooses to support other College families when doing business.

If you have not yet registered your business and would like to do so, please register here 

Jane Palin
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager 

For those new to our community or anyone that hasn’t had a chance yet to get involved in the P&F, it would be great to see you at one of our meetings this year.  We have one meeting per term and everyone is welcome.  At this stage our first meeting will be held via Zoom, and it is a great way to understand how the P&F works and how we work with the College.  

P&F Meeting dates for your diary:  23 February; 11 May; 03 August; 02 November in 2021 - 6.00pm.

I will be in touch with other news and events over the term and in the meantime, if you have any questions, thoughts or suggestions at any time, please feel free to contact me on 0400 583 677.

Katherine Aitken
P&F President