Monday 24 February: Year 9 Dance 5.00pm-7.00pm - St Mary's Cathedral School
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 25 February: Shrove Tuesday
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing College Production Rehearsals - Strictly Ballroom - 3.05pm to 5.15pm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 26 February: Ash Wednesday
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 28 February: 7.45am-8.30am - OBrien and Williams House Mass (Chapel)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 29 February: ACER Scholarship Test Day 8.30am-12.00pm.
Scholarship Audition afternoon - 12.00pm-3.30pm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 02 March: Year 7 Meet the Tutor - 3.15pm-3.45pm
Year 7 Parent Teacher Night - Tarmons - 3.45pm-7.30pm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Parents and Carers
Last Saturday evening the P&F hosted a wonderful parent gathering here at the College. Over 400 parents gathered to enjoy each other's good company. The journey of parenthood is sacred and exhilarating, but also can be challenging. The ability to share the good and tough times with other parents is so important, and Saturday night provided such an opportunity to make new friends and reconnect with established friends. The weather wasn't entirely co-operative, but luckily the Atrium provided an easily accessible alternative venue when an 'uninvited' thunder storm rolled across the City. I commend the great work of the P&F and our Advancement team in facilitating such an enjoyable evening.
This week we gathered for our first whole school assembly. We had already had Year, House assemblies but this was our first opportunity to gather in the tight confines of our College Hall. Continuing their strong student leadership our College Co Captains Mia and Ellen, powerfully addressed how we can "serve the poor" through prayer. In my long career as a Principal, I do not remember being as profoundly moved by the delivery and content of a student address to an assembly. I will share it with you to read (below), but in brief, they addressed the ministry (or service) of prayer. The willingness to pray for another person is the ultimate act of service. They took as their inspiration the faith of the Abdallah and Sakr families who lost their beloved children in a senseless incident of culpable driving. the prayerful support of these families through prayer from their families, communities and total strangers has inspired many to reconsider the role of prayer in our lives. Next week we begin our 40 day season of Lent. This is a liturgical season when we are all asked to be more attentive to our prayer life alongside other acts of service and generosity. Ellen and Mia have set this context for us through the authentic voices of the young. I am in their debt for sharing their faith and wisdom in the lead up to this very sacred time of the year.
This year the College will introduce a change to the winter uniform. Almost all corporate wardrobes now include trousers, and our students will now have that same option for the winter. If there is sufficient interest we will further explore what a summer alternative might be to the dress. The trousers and over-shirt blouses are now available to order/buy in the uniform shop in readiness for the winter terms.
Today we farewell Ms Fairfield as she leaves to have her baby in early March. We wish her every blessing of health and happiness during these final weeks of pregnancy, and the joys of motherhood.
Yours sincerely
College Co Captains Address at Assembly This Week
Good Morning! We hope you have settled into the year and are back in the swing of routine, early morning wake-ups, seeing familiar faces and of course getting back onto that study grind!
On 2 February, Sydney experienced a tragic incident on a Saturday evening. Seven children, from the Abdallah and Sakr family, were walking from their house to get ice cream, when a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle, mounted the curb, taking four young children's lives; three siblings and their cousin, and injuring the other three. A beautiful memorial has been set up at the site of the incident, with flowers, teddy bears, rosary beads, and candles and images of the saints and Jesus. The parents of six of the children, Leila and Danny Abdallah, have found comfort in their faith, returning to the scene and praying on a countless number of occasions with the members of their community and Leila has even forgiven the man who committed the accident.
In an interview with Leila the news reporter asked her, “Is there anything you could ask for from the community?” And Leila simply responds with, “I need as much prayer as I can get, not only for my kids but for all your own souls". This couple’s strength and commitment to their faith during this time of mourning is something that has taken the country and the world by surprise.
Listening to this story provoked Ellen and I to delve deeper into understanding the support that can be provided through faith. The reality is, in many circumstances, we cannot provide physical aid and support which is able to make a visible difference. Our ability to serve, in this conventional way, is depleted. If we manage to broaden our perspective of service, however, to recognise that sometimes the greatest act of service is in the spiritual, a whole new approach comes about. Showing respect towards people, holding them in our thoughts and in our hearts can be the greatest act of service humanity can offer one another. This kind of service can extend beyond this incident. In a country that is still being affected by bushfires and extreme drought, the smallest act of service towards the communities which have been impacted is to keep them in our prayers and in our hearts, as realising the compassion and care of those around us can be the most rewarding service to each other. While we are on the topic of the bushfires - we also thought we should recommend to everyone, if they haven’t already, to watch ABC Four Corners, ‘Black Summer’, to see some extremely raw footage of the fires and gain insight into the true devastation that was felt over the summer and to keep these people in rural Australia in our thoughts.
Having prayer and faith does not have to be only an act of service to others, it can be a service and act of care to ourselves. Often, dealing with tough situations requires tremendous amounts of courage, strength and resilience, and having faith, prayer or some sort of spirituality can be a rock to lean on. As we begin the season of Lent next Wednesday, we should all, as a community, start to think and explore the idea of - what we can give rather than go without. How we can use the season of Lent to pray for others in our own school community and the wider community. When Mia and I say ‘pray’ we don’t just mean in the Catholic context - prayer can mean, look and sound like whatever you want it to - not following a religion definitely does not mean you can’t pray. Prayer could simply look like walking down Victoria Street in the morning, writing a creative piece in English, painting in the art rooms or physical activity like yoga in PE class. If you are in some way in a still and reflective state, that is prayer. Although Mia and I have discussed using prayer in times of great struggle and hardship, prayer can also be used in times of great happiness and joy - like pregnancy and new life. We would like to take this formal opportunity to wish Ms Fairfield and her partner the best of luck for their new baby. The Vinnies' community will keep you in our thoughts and prayers and we are so excited to meet the little one!
To finish, we would like to encourage everyone to take a moment of reflection and stillness today and help to serve and support the Abdallah and Sakr family and bushfire survivors, through the simplicity of our thoughts and prayers.
Mia and Ellen
This week I address the College expectations of mobile phones and use of technology in an effort to support parents in understanding the rationale underpinning our policies and procedures. In all we do at St Vincent’s College, learning and respect for self and others is at the heart. We do not develop rules for their own sake, but rather engage students in expectations of agreed behaviours that support the values and interactions within our community that enable positive learning and respectful relationships. Our SRC have been a student voice in the creation of expectations and consequences.
Conversations with students unpacking the values and attitudes that lie beneath these expectations have occurred in various assemblies, tutor groups and pastoral care lessons as we have started the year. Essentially our policies and procedures exist to promote purposeful behaviour based on personal responsibility and care for community. Together our actions create a safe school and a community that nurtures respectful relationships and a positive learning environment.
Our Mobile Phone Policy requires students in Years 7-10 to leave their mobile phone locked in their lockers from before Tutor at 8.40am until after Period 6, 3.00pm. If they wish, they could leave their phone, turned off, with their Head of House. The keeping of a phone on their person presents a huge challenge to most adolescents who are vulnerable to distraction. We see evidence of greater self-regulation in Years 11 and 12 and are aware of their growing independence in managing their own commitments by way of leadership meetings, part-time work, travel. Senior students may keep their phone, but usage must be directed by the teacher in a class and must be purposeful rather than recreational in break times when seated, never moving around the school.
Social media is very much a part of adolescents’ lives. Creating Tik Toks or posting on Instagram are not inherently bad or good. The particular choices made in the content of their social media posts can be clever, fun and certainly bring friends together. But they do not belong in learning time. And there is certainly no place for them in class or playground environments where they position other students or staff susceptible to being filmed. No student has the right to post an image of another person without their consent nor to ridicule, harass or demean another. Nor do they have the right to post an image of the College when the focus ought be in learning. I am confident that our students engage in relationships of care and kindness; while there is more often than not no malice intended in the creation of social media posts - we adhere to a clear and consistent policy to ensure this safety and respect.
School is a community for learning. A school community is a place where young people need to feel respected, not vulnerable to being judged. Our mantra this year is ‘every lesson every day’ - this requires sustained attention on learning without distraction. We wish to develop in our students the self-motivation for sustained purposeful learning and to engage in relationships that allow for the respect of each individual. Safe and inclusive learning environments enhance the capacity of students to take initiative and risk mistakes to maximise their learning. Adolescents too are very able to articulate the benefits of being safely off-line to immerse themselves more fully in their present. Your support by not messaging your daughters and speaking from the same page at home about the benefits of respecting college expectations is greatly appreciated. We only want the best for your daughter’s learning, safety and relationships. Each student matters - every lesson every day.
This week I would like to acquaint our new families and reacquaint our existing families to the academic support service on offer to assist your daughter’s homework and study. Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, the Extended Day program is held in the Diverse Learning Centre supervised by a member of our teaching staff who supervise, support and guide your daughter's homework and study, to resonate and extend the learning she has engaged in every lesson, every day.
This initiative is designed to support optimal learning opportunities for effective learning so that all learning experiences, including independent study, are possibilities for student growth. The quiet supportive space in Extended Day offers students an opportunity to complete their homework and study so they can go home to spend time unwinding with their family before bedtime.
There are four distinct sessions for students to attend, held each Tuesday and Thursday during the term:
Session 1 - 3.30pm to 6.00pm: Students who attend the first session must be collected at the Rockwall Crescent gate at 6.00pm sharp.
Session 2 - 3.30pm to 8.00pm: Students attend the first session until 6.00pm, share a meal (this will be billed to your daughters account at the end of term) in the Borders' Dining Room with the supervising teacher, then continue with an evening study session. They must be collected at the Rockwall Crescent gate at 8.00pm sharp.
Session 3 - 4:30pm to 6:00pm (After Sport/Co-curricular): Same as option 1 with a delayed start so that students can complete their co-curricular activities of sport training prior to attending Extended Day.
Session 4 - 4:30pm to 8:00pm (After Sport/Co-curricular): Same as option 2 with a delayed start so that students can complete their co-curricular activities of sport training prior to attending Extended Day.
Please know that your child is in our care for the duration of the Extended Day program and we ensure that students are motivated and proactive in their study and homework. If you have signed up for your child to have dinner, supervising teachers join your child for a meal in the Boarders' Dining Room. The cost for the meal is $12 and will be billed to your account at the end of term.
In partnership with you as parents, please know that students will only be permitted to leave the College grounds at either 6.00pm or 8.00pm via the Rockwall Crescent gate, depending on the session signed up for. The supervising teacher will wait at the gate for each child to be collected. Under no circumstances will we allow a student to make her own way home via public transport, taxi or Uber, and we ask that you please arrive promptly at the Rockwall Crescent gate to collect your daughter at the designated time. Please email collegesecretary@stvincents.nsw.edu.au or call Student Services directly on 8324 6630, or the College main line 9368 1611 before 9.00am on the day of your daughter’s booking if there is any change to the person responsible for collecting your daughter that evening, as we will only hand over your child to an alternate family member, if we have written permission to do so.
Extended Day for 2020 is open and if you would like to register your child please use the application form on the College website - here is the link. Please note that registration for each Tuesday and Thursday session, closes on Sunday evening prior to 8:00pm.
To change or cancel your original Extended Day booking, please complete this form. Due to staffing and dining room reservations, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible. Further, please note if your daughter is not booked in via the website by 8.00pm Sunday evening, unfortunately she will not be able to attend.
We hope that you consider the possibility of your daughter joining this vital academic support service as we partner with you to optimise your child’s capacity and confidence to take ownership of her independent learning time.
Pope Francis has had a challenging week. He’s actually had a challenging Pontificate. It’s been many hundreds of years since we’ve had two popes - not since the 14th century. Actually, there were three men claiming to be Pope by the 15th Century so that must have been confusing.
Pope Francis has been in the news this week over comments about his view of the celibacy laws. Those of us who claim an interest in the Plenary Council that is happening now in Catholic parishes and groups right across Australia, will expect that the recommendation to the Vatican of many groups will be to allow priests to marry. Our people are thinking about the lack of priests, the increasing age of our priest who love and serve us so well, their growing workload, the changes in understanding of the call to married life and of course the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the sex abuse scandal. Allowing priests to marry may indeed increase numbers of men considering the priesthood as a vocation. Welcoming back priests who left their priestly duties to marry may for many be a solution to the crisis of lack of priests to lead us in our sacramental life. In the past 20 years my parish in North Sydney has gone from having 15 great and good men serving a huge community of some 7000 parishioners, to just 3 and a part-time helper. Something needs to happen.
Pope Francis is in a strange situation. He is being asked to respond to a book co-authored by Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI on priestly celibacy, published recently. Benedict does not support any relaxation in the celibacy laws. Pope Francis says he believes celibacy is a gift to the church. It’s a comforting way to think of it. It works for Francis. It’s hard to imagine that Francis does not grasp the depth of our crisis here in the Antipodes. He has suggested that the laws might need to be relaxed in extraordinary circumstances and ‘pastoral necessity’ like in the Pacific Islands where married clergy seems to be the only solution to the problems they are facing.
Some of us will be wondering if Australia might not be included on Francis’ list of Pacific islands.
Pope Francis did hang this extraordinary cross in the Vatican this week.
It is to remind us of the asylum seekers who lost their lives in the Mediterranean; plastic bags and a failed life jacket. Our Pope is not shying away from the big issues. The Church in Australia is hopeful.
Welcome to STEM at St Vincent’s College! STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and has been a popular buzzword over the past few years. However, more than just an acronym, STEM is an important part of a 21st century learning environment, with the main aim being that students are given the opportunities to use skills and knowledge they have learned in various subjects and apply these to real-world problems.
We have been busy developing a strategy to integrate this throughout the College, with Year 7 and 9 students completing surveys on their opinions and ideas around STEM this week. STEM is particularly important in the education of young women, and I have included a fact sheet at the end of this article that outlines some facts about the current STEM landscape, ways that students can be made to feel more included and more encouraged to engage with STEM topics.
In the next few weeks, we will advertise the meeting times for the Elisabeth Carey STEM Club - in memory of a beautiful, young St Vincent's student - a keen student of Maths and Science, whose life was tragically cut short. We look forward to developing in St Vincent’s students an understanding and appreciation of the value of STEM-based topics in solving some of today’s most pressing issues.
Important updates on how to apply, Scholarships, events information for the year. Click here.
Tour through UNSW on your mobile or PC. Explore the different departments and see what University life is like. Check it out here
Look at what university life is like at USYD across the lecture rooms, activities, research labs, sport and much more here
Achieve your academic and career goals with TAFE NSW Higher Education degrees or articulation and credit transfer from diploma study into degree programs. University isn’t necessarily the best pathway for everyone for more information on what TAFE has to offer as a pathway use the link here
If you are interested in volunteering in a gap year to gain career and life experience, use the link here to register for a Lattitude information session.
Achieve your academic and career goals with TAFE NSW Higher Education degrees or articulation and credit transfer from diploma study into degree programs. University isn’t necessarily the best pathway for everyone for more information on what TAFE has to offer as a pathway use the link here
Sport Staff Contacts for Term 1 2020:
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/sport
For all draw and venue information go to: www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport/weekly-sports-draw/
Well done to our teams who won last weekend - keep up the commitment girls. It’s important to ensure you get to training and communicate with your team mates, there is no “I” in “team”. IGSSA tennis only lasts for seven rounds (plus two extra weeks if your team makes it into the finals), so literally there are only five weeks to go, so please put in an effort every week.
If you are new to playing matches, I would like you to consider a couple of points that will assist in the timely completion of your matches.
Our Tildesley team are continuing with their weekly training, please girls, make sure you are attending each session. Your application to and attendance at training is the only way we are going to raise our rankings.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at training. Remember St Vincent’s girls are amazing, keep up the good work! Please allow for travel time and arrive at your venue 30 minutes prior to start time to get an adequate warm up.
Ms Therese Taylor
Head Tennis Coach
All training and draw information can be found on the College website under Learning/Sport/Touch. Students are reminded that they must attend training. If you are sick or absent for any reason on your training day, please send Ms Jacobs an email and try to attend another session during the week. We have had several players not show up to matches on Saturdays which has left teams short of players and puts a lot of pressure on the girls that are there. The new touch shorts with built in tights, are now available from the Uniform Shop and look fantastic!
The best place to check for Wet Weather Information is the Easts Touch Associations website or Facebook page. Especially this weekend, as it is forecast to be very wet. Easts website: https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=514
Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Touch Coach
Above: New Touch Shorts
Above: Junior Touch Below: Touch Theory
The new UNSW competition has some very high standard teams and we had some challenging games in our first few weeks. All teams are training hard and we should see some excellent progression throughout the season. Please make sure you have cut your finger and toe nails short and have removed all jewellery before entering the pool. Full College Sports uniform is to be worn to all matches.
Good luck to all teams for their matches this weekend!
Ms Hayley Boatswain
Head Water Polo Coach
Below: Senior Firsts
Registrations are now closed for Term 2 Sports.
Year 7 netball is organised by Ms Kat McGrath, 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. This will be held on Thursday afternoons at the College.
Trials for netball (no trials for Year 7), hockey, basketball and football will be held in Weeks 6 and 7 - please diarise these dates.
Basketball Trials - SVC Courts
Juniors (Years 7, 8, 9): Friday 6 March - 3.15pm-4.30pm
Senior (Years 10,11, 12): Thursday 5 March - 7.15am-8.30am.
Hockey Trials - David Phillips Field - Daceyville - David Philips Field
All teams: Wednesday 4 March - 4.00pm-5.00pm (bus leaves at 3.15pm and returns approximately 5.30pm).
Football Trials - Rushcutters Bay
Juniors (Years 7, 8, 9): Thursday 5 March - 3.30pm-4.30pm (walk down at 3.15pm)
Seniors (Years 10,11, 12): Wednesday 4 March - 3.30pm-4.30pm (walk down at 3.15pm).
Netball Trials - SVC Courts
Year 7: No trials. First session will be the first Thursday back Term 2.
Junior (Years 8 and 9): Friday 13 March - 3.15pm-4.30pm
Senior (Years 10, 11, 12): Thursday 12 March - 7.15am-8.30am.
* If you cannot attend your particular trial you must send a note to Ms Jacobs in the Sports office.
All Year 7's have now done their time trials in PE classes and some girls have been emailed by the Sports Department. There will be some swim-offs for the best Year 7 swimmers against the selected 13-year old Year 8's on Wednesday 26 February at lunchtime, and more information will be emailed to these girls. The 12-year old’s will also swim off for spots in the IGSSA team.
The IGSSA Carnival is being held on Friday 6 March at Homebush Aquatic Centre, and there will be a meeting/relay session for all squad members at lunchtime on Wednesday 4 March. Jesse, our swimming coach, is running sessions on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 7.00am to 8.00am for any keen swimmers. The enrolment form can be found on the College website under Sport/Swimming. All levels are catered for and you can come to one or all sessions. IGSSA squad members must be coming to at least two sessions per week unless they are already in a squad outside of school. Please let Ms Jacobs know if you are unable to swim at this meet due to Surf Life Saving commitments, or any other reason.
Fitness training with Tash commenced on Monday this week, and Wednesday afternoons, as we prepare for the IGSSA Cross Country Carnival at Frensham on Friday 15 May (Term 2 Week 3). 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 the 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 12 year old and senior competitors. 12 and 13 years old 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. Please email Ms Jacobs if you would like to sign up for these fun sessions with Tash!
Above: Touch Fitness
SPORT STARS
Please keep the Sport staff informed of any good sporting results held outside of the College. Information and photos can be emailed to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to Taffy O’Neill, Year 11, who will be representing the Open NSWCIS Water Polo team at the State Championships. Good Luck Taffy!
Congratulations to Alexis Graham, Year 10, who has been selected in the U16 Australian Water Polo squad. Well done Lexi!!
(Under Section 5M of Civil Liability Act 2002)
On Behalf of St Vincent’s College and AHIGS:
Sporting Activities 2020
St Vincent’s College organises many individual and team sporting activities during the course of a year. Some of these are organised in conjunction with the Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools NSW (AHIGS) Students participating in these sporting activities take part in practice and in competitions.
St Vincent’s Collegeand AHIGS expect students to take responsibility for their own safety by wearing compulsory safety equipment, by thinking carefully about the use of safety equipment that is highly recommended and by behaving in a safe and responsible manner towards team members, opponents, spectators, officials, property and grounds.
While St Vincent’s College and AHIGS take measures to make the sporting activities as safe as reasonably possible for participants, there is a risk that students can be injured and suffer loss (including financial loss) and damage as a result of their participation in these sporting activities, whether at training or in actual events.
Such injury can occur while the student is engaging in or watching a sporting activity, or travelling to and from the event. The injury may result from a student's actions, the actions of others, the state of the premises or equipment failure.
On some occasions, an injury can be serious (such as torn ligaments, dislocations, back injuries, concussion or broken bones). In very rare cases an injury can be life threatening or result in permanent disability. If a student has a pre-existing injury, participating in a sporting activity could result in an exacerbation of that injury.
Students could also suffer loss as a result of their personal property being lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
(Under Section 5M of Civil Liability Act 2002)
On Behalf of St Vincent’s College and AHIGS
Non Sporting Activities 2020
St Vincent’s College organises many activities such as debating, mock trial, orchestra, choir, dance troupes and other student clubs during the course of a year. Students participating in these activities take part in practice and in competitions.
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools NSW (AHIGS) administers and convenes inter-school activities (such as Archdale Debating and Festival of Speech) in which many students, including students of this school, participate.
While St Vincent’s College and AHIGS take measures to make the activities as safe as reasonably possible for participants, there is a risk that students can be injured and suffer loss (including financial loss) and damage as a result of their participation in these activities, whether at practice or in actual events.
Such injury can occur while the student is engaging in or watching a non-sporting activity, or travelling to and from the event. The injury may result from a student's actions, the actions of others, the state of the premises or equipment failure (eg a collapsed stage during a debating competition).
On some occasions, an injury can be serious (such as torn ligaments, dislocations, back injuries, concussion or broken bones). In very rare cases an injury can be life threatening or result in permanent disability.
Students could also suffer loss as a result of their personal property being lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
Dear Parents and Carers
The first P&F meeting for the year is on Tuesday 24 March at 6.00pm. All meetings for the year are held on Tuesdays in Bethania from 6.00pm:
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about our P&F.