Bulletin

Reminders and Upcoming Events:

2019 COLLEGE PRODUCTION:  'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'

In the College Hall

6-9 May  7.00pm    /   11 May  2.00pm and 7.00pm.

Ticket sales via TryBooking will open very soon.

SVC Uniform Shop - Orders Now Online  

Flyer with April school holiday trading days and Orders Online information are in this Bulletin.

Monday     8.00am-2.00pm  /  Wednesday   12.00pm-5.00pm  /  Friday   8.00am-2.00pm           

Phone:  02 9161 7979  Email:  SVC@noone.com.au  

Boarders' IN Weekend  06-07 April - Saturday/Sunday.  

Last day of classes Term 1 - Friday 12 April.

First day of classes Term 2 - Tuesday 30 April.

FULL COLLEGE WINTER UNIFORM MUST BE WORN STARTING TERM 2.

Dear Parents and Carers

This week the entire school has been away on camps and retreats.  As a result, we are not publishing a full newsletter.  Next week we will share with you reports of each of these exciting experiences.  I hope that you enjoy discussing your daughter's camp or retreat experience with her over the weekend.  I am sure that she will be able to reflect on the opportunity the camp or retreat gave to extend herself in a new direction.

I particularly commend those students who pushed past the fears and anxieties they held prior to the camps and retreats.  The easier option would have been to not participate, but it was wonderful to see many of our students confront those fears and say "yes" to the new experiences of the week.  Resilience is an essential attribute for young women, and the camps and retreats were all designed to provide the measured degree of challenge required to develop resilience.

Next week is the last week of our first term of the year.  There is much to look forward to with purposeful learning continuing right through to Friday afternoon.  For many the high point of the week will be the inter-House Dance on Thursday afternoon.  I look forward to being in the audience.  I have retired from my judging role - it is just too stressful!  May the best House win. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

 Spirituality and Retreat

Today we return from our Year 11 and 12 retreats with hearts full of hope and love.  The retreats were led by wisdom figures from the College and I thank them for their generosity and care in being witnesses to their faith.  This is a great gift that we can provide our youth; the opportunity to be still, to disconnect and then reconnect with something bigger - a spirituality and way of being that is beyond our iPhones and social networks.  The Years11 and 12 retreats are designed in such a way to allow students to reflect on how our young people make meaning of themselves within relationships (Year 11) and then develop their sense of self within the cosmos and all the humanity that this holds (Year 12).

I encourage parents to engage in conversation with with Year 11 and Year 12 daughters about these experiences and their learnings.  Sr Anne and I offer Twilight Spirituality to students in Years 9-12 (Year 12 already completing their program in Term 1).  Information about signing up to these sessions will be emailed to students next week.  Please note the dates in your diary to see if they will work for you and your family.

Twilight Spirituality

Held every Wednesday from 3.00pm-4:30pm

Year 11 - First Spiritual Exercise

22 May - 12 June (our last session held at the Cardoner Project - Two Wolves Cantina from 3.00pm-8.00pm)

Year 10 - Meet Iggy

7 August - 4 September (our last session a dinner held at the College until 8.00pm)

Year 9 - Ignatian Spirituality

16 October - 20 November (our last session a dinner held at the College until 8.00pm).

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

Year 12 Retreat

A reflection on Luke 15: 1-32

What if we changed the characters in the story of the prodigal son and wrote it in such a way that it reflects our own relationships with our mother, father, siblings and each other? We chose the story as the forgiveness of the mother is symbolic of our journey on this retreat.  The act of asking or receiving forgiveness takes courage and a perseverance in the recognition that we deserve love; an idea initially mentioned in Jeremiah during our first reading where we hear from the prophet that God ‘will listen to you'; both your love and your fears.

Initially the daughter felt afraid of seeking forgiveness because she felt that she had made herself unworthy in the eyes of her mother.  This duality is explored through Michael Leunig’s poem Love and Fear; where fear and love are presented as as stark alternatives.  The daughter felt trapped in the fear of no longer deserving love as she ‘has sinned against heaven and against you”.  The other daughter, who questions the forgiveness of the mother in welcoming the prodigal daughter back into the community, is reminded of the agape love and our desire to include everyone who has made mistakes.  Sitting in the company of the communion, each formed by the same elements we are enriched by each other's right relationships supported by our dreams.  To forgive and to love one another can take a kind word or a hug as a small sign of appreciation; a big sign of love.

Read by Stella Wailes and Emily O’Brien
and created by a team of Year 12 students and wisdom figures

The 2019 Premier's Reading Challenge Launch

The 2019 Premier's Reading Challenge has been launched in March.  The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature.  It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

The College registers all our Year 7 and Year 8 students.  If you have read any books since 1 September 2018, these can be included.  The completion date for students is 30 August 2019, and the list is validated in September by the College.

Students can come to the LRC to obtain their username and password, and then they can enter their books online.  If you have completed the Challenge every year in primary school, you should consider continuing on to achieve medal status.

Please contact the library staff with any queries.

Mrs Jody McDonnell
Head of Library and e Learning

2020 France and Italy Study Tours

Thank you to those who attended the recent information evening for the ITALY and FRANCE Languages Tours 2020.  A reminder to please return expression of interest forms to Ms Manitta by Monday 8 April. 

If you were unable to attend the information evening and would like further information or an expression of interest form, it is not too late.  Please contact me at the College or email manittam@stvincents.nsw.edu.au.

Ms Maria Manitta
Head of Languages

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

Head of Tennis  -  Ms Therese Taylor    0408 711 881
Head of Touch  -  Ms Elyse Hermanis   0434 610 870
Head of Water polo  -  Ms Steph El Safty    0419 950 164
Head of Swimming/Cross Country - Ms Jacinta Jacobs   0418 416 663.

SPORTS DRAW:  For all draw and venue information go to:   https://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport/

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

TERM 1 SPORT 

IGSSA Saturday and Tildesley Tennis

Congratulations to SVC 3 who have qualified for the IGSSA tennis final this Saturday.  Good luck for your matches to Jemima Gooch, Sylvie Kwasniuk, Isabella Quinn, Maeve Collis and Scarlett Antico.  It was a shame the semis were washed out last weekend, as I’m sure that our two other teams had a good chance of beating the higher placed team.

We are still in awe of the Tildesley team who did so extremely well last week and we congratulate them again for their fine efforts.  Ms Young and I are already getting excited in anticipation for training for next year! 

Below:  SVC 3

Below:  Hannah and Alex at Tildesley

Touch

Congratulations to SVC 5 and SVC 9 and Lyne 1, who have won pocket authorities for their hard work and efforts this term.  Coaches Hattie and Jen are very proud of you, and even though you didn’t get to play the final because of the weather, we are confident you would have won.

A special congratulations must also be given to Kate Giannkouris, Year 7, who was awarded the Best and Fairest in the Year 7D competition.  This is voted by the referees each week, and the trophy will be awarded at our College assembly next week.

Thank you to all coaches for your efforts with our teams this season.  Despite the weather, we have made good progress and Term 4 touch is looking promising!  

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Coach of Touch 

Below:  SVC 9 Touch Winners

Below:   SVC 5 finalists

Water Polo

Congratulations to SVC 8 and SVC 9 who both played tough semis last weekend in inclement weather.  They were very hard matches, but both sides played with true Vinnies' spirit and fought until the very end. 

Thank you to all coaches for your hard work this season.  Water polo is looking good for the Term 4 IGSSA competition.  This is my last season as coordinator of water polo after seven years with the College.  I am handing over to Jasmine Shires, who I know will do an excellent job.  I wish all the Vinnies' girls a great future in water polo.

Ms Steph El Safty
Head Water polo Coach

Below:   Team 8 narrowly lose final

Below:  Water polo poolside

TERM 2 SPORT

St Catherine’s Netball

Please make sure you read the information on the Sports pageof the College website as most questions can be answered there.  Once we have the draw it will also be uploaded there.

Netball Trials - SVC Courts

Year 7:  No trials.  First session will be the first Thursday back in Term 2.

Junior (Years 8 and 9):  If you missed the first trial or Ms McGrath has asked you to come back, the second trial is on Monday 08 April - 3.15pm-4.15pm.

Senior (Years 10, 11, 12):  Anyone who could not make the first trial or Ms McGrath has asked you to come back, a second trial is on Monday 08 April - 3.15pm-4.15pm.

SEHA Hockey

St Vincent’s has entered three teams in the SEHA hockey competition for next term.  All teams will train on Wednesday afternoons at David Phillips Field at Daceyville from 4.00pm-5.00pm.  All information can be found on the College website and the draw will be uploaded there once we receive it.  Please make sure that you all have shin pads, hockey stick and mouthguard for your first session back next term, on Wednesday 1 May.  The bus leaves at 3.15pm from Victoria Street and will return to the College at approximately 5.30pm.

Ms Laura Wiggins
(New) Head Hockey Coach

IGSSA Basketball

We have entered seven teams in the IGSSA competition next term - three senior, two junior and two Year 7 teams.  All information can be found on the College websiteand once we have received the draw it will be found there as well.

All teams will have training the first week back after the holidays.  Please make sure you have a numbered SVC singlet and College shorts ready for the first game back on Saturday 4 May.  All players are required to be at their matches 30 minutes before start time for warm up.  Full SVC Sports uniform must be worn, and any non-SVC items will be confiscated. 

(Note:  Uniform Shop trading days/hours can be found in a separate article in this Bulletin).

Head Basketball Coach
Ms Molly Macqueen

IGSSA Football

St Vincent’s has entered two senior and two junior teams in the IGSSA football competition next term.  All information can be found on the College websiteand the draw will be placed there once we have received it.

Training will commence the first week back at Rushcutters Bay with the first matches on Saturday 4 May.  SVC 1 is training Wednesday mornings 7.15am-8.15am; SVC 2 and SVC 3 are training Thursday afternoons 3.15pm-4.45pm; and SVC 4 is training Friday afternoons 3.15pm-4.45pm.

Head Football Coach
Ms Vanessa Brown

IGSSA Cross Country and Fitness Training

Fitness training with Tash continues on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, as we prepare for the IGSSA Cross Country Carnival at Frensham on Friday 17 May (Week 3).  We can enter up to ten competitors in each age group and this event will act as the St Vincent’s Cross Country Championships.  The first girl in from each age group will be awarded Age Champion.  We would like to have a minimum of three per age group for the relay point scores.  We are looking for more 12 year olds and senior competitors.  12 and 13 years age groups only run 3km, with all other girls doing 4km except 18 years who are required to run 6km.

Tash will leave a holiday program for the girls to collect from my office next week and we will commence the first Wednesday back in Term 2 on 1 May.  This training is not only for girls wishing to do cross country - anyone is welcome to come to training to improve their fitness.  However, girls must attend at least one session per week with Tash in Term 2 if they wish to compete at the IGSSA Carnival, unless you are already training with a coach outside of school more than twice per week. 

Below:   16 years team

SPORT STARS

Congratulations to Peggy Schell, Year 9, who has been selected to trial for the Open IGSSA basketball team at Pymble on 30 April.  We wish Peggy all the best of luck!

Congratulations to Aneesa Abrahams, Year 11.  Aneesa will be competing in the touch State Cup finals during the school holidays in Wollongong.  Aneesa is part of the Roosters Easts u18 representative team.  The girls played in the Junior State Cup Southern Conference in Wagga Wagga at the end of February 2019, finishing first in their pool for round games and then third place overall for the weekend, qualifying them for the State Cup.  Good luck Aneesa! 

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

MS JACINTA JACOBS
CO-ORDINATOR OF SPORT

INTRODUCING CLICK AND COLLECT

Uniform Shop Now Online

A fast and convenient way to shop for your St Vincent’s College College uniform online.  

Shop online - collect next trading day.

Online store link:  https://www.noone.com.au/school/st-vincents-college/shop

HOW IT WORKS:

Discover click and collect, the convenient and quick way to shop from Noone Shop Online.  Place your order and your order will be ready to collect on the next trading day.  We’ll get everything ready for you, so all you need to do is come in store to collect your order, or, home delivery is also available for your convenience.

1. Shop Online

Type the school link into your browser:  https://www.noone.com.au/school/st-vincents-college .  

Sign up to create your own account and then log in to commence shopping.  Add the items to your cart that you would like to purchase via Click and Collect.

2.  Choose Click and Collect Options

Choose Click and Collect options or choose Australia Post option for home delivery.  Click and Collect next trading day from the on-campus shop, or via Australia Post - 5-10 working days for delivery.

Our retail staff are available to assist you with your uniform requirements at the location listed below:

On campus trading hours (during terms):

Monday     8.00am-2.00pm
Wednesday   12.00pm-5.00pm
Friday   8.00am-2.00pm

Phone:     02 8324 6622
Email:      SVC@noone.com.au  

St Vincent's College, Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point

The students and staff of St Vincent’s College are very well served by Catering Industries who manage the Boarding House and School Event Catering; they also provide a comprehensive daily menu through the canteen.

In an attempt to “improve” service, from Term 2 onward our canteen will be cashless.  This means every student wishing to purchase from the canteen will need a My Student Card (MSA).  Many students already have these activated but for students yet to set up one, these are the simple steps involved:

• Go to College website
• Go to Menu
• Go to right-hand column of options
• Click My Student Account
• Follow Set up instructions

In the event of difficulties in setting up the account or for adding/topping up funds, please telephone 1300 369 783 for support.

BOARDERS’ THE LONG LUNCH - SATURDAY 25 MAY 2019

Please join us on Saturday 25 May for 'The Long Lunch' to celebrate 135 years of Boarding.

All Boarding families, past Boarders' and families and staff are most welcome.

$65 all inclusive:  Two course lunch and drinks.

Click here to book

Ms Jane Palin
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager  

palinj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

MOTHER DAUGHTER DINNER - FRIDAY 10 MAY

Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts and significant other mother-figures, are warmly invited to this special evening.

Venue:  Dockside, Cockle Bay on Friday 10 May 2019 from 6:30pm-10:30pm.

Includes:  Two-course dinner.  Champagne on arrival and mocktail for students.  Drinks on consumption.

Reserve your tickets by Friday 03 May HERE .

Year 8 Parents/Carers Social Evening

A great night was had by all at the Year 8 Parents social evening at the Bellevue Hotel on 29 March, with over 70 parents enjoying the evening.

A big thank you to Peter Tate (Georgia Year 8) for his very generous hosting of this event.  Fantastic venue, food and service.

Michael Laing  (Sophia Year 8)

(Our Book Reviewer, Ms Suzanne O'Connor, is now living in Timor Leste working in a volunteer capacity with the Loreto Sisters).

The Keeper by Graham Norton

After Marcus Sedgwick’s Mexican novel, I searched out some comfort reading in the shape of The Keeper by Graham Norton, who I knew as a not very funny camp comedian.  The book is set in the past and present, mainly in Ireland.  An Irish-born, American academic lives in New York with her son.  She has to return to Ireland to settle the affairs of her recently dead mother.  Her mother had been an almost too devoted single parent, part of the reason Elizabeth had fled from her loving home, first to university and then to a prestigious college in New York.  The house where her mother died is shabby and full of nothing desirable as far as Elizabeth is concerned.  However, she does discover some letters that suggest information about her father about whom Elizabeth was told almost nothing, except that he had died at a very young age.  We then learn the origin of these letters and through them the story of her parents’ meeting.  As well, Norton tells us how that relationship really developed with the help of a really sinister character, the mother of Edward.  In splendid Irish Gothic fashion, she first seems to be kind and warm if somewhat garrulous, but beneath the apparent charm lurks a much more sinister person.  Coming to know her, we suddenly realise there is a darker meaning to the title of the book.  Moving back and forth between the two times enables us to understand all the intricacies of the plot and be unprepared for the series of revelations at the end.  It seems that even comfort reading has its traps!  This was an accessible book and would be good for those who enjoy psychological thrillers.  Graham Norton may not appeal to my sense of humour, but he is an interesting observer of people and their many quirks.

By Suzanne O'Connor