Bulletin

Saturday/Sunday 30/31 April:  Mothers' Weekend in Orange.

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Tuesday 03 May:  St Vincent's College Festival Day - celebrating the College birthday on 01 May 1858.

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Thursday 05 May:   Class of 2023 Year 11 Social - 7.00pm-10.30pm - InterContinental Sydney, Double Bay.

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Friday 06 May:  Mother's Day Liturgy and Light Breakfast - 7.45am-8.35am - College Chapel and Caritas Christi Courtyard.  
                       (see details in Mrs Jo Kenderes' article in this issue "Faith and Mission")

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Friday 06 May:  Mother/Daughter Dinner - 6.30pm-10.30pm - Dockside, Balcony level, Cockle Bay Wharf.

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Sunday 08 May:  Mother's Day

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Boarding School Regional Visits:

• Dubbo 13/14 May.
• Wagga Wagga 03/04 June.

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2022 Foxford Days (Students are actively engaged in online learning based at home):  23 May; (27 October to be confirmed).

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Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term 2.

It has been wonderful this week to look out my window and again see the College full of life and activity.  The students are particularly to be commended for their excellent presentation in their winter uniforms.  The navy and white combination of pinafores/trousers make a very comfortable, smart uniform.  The Year 7 students seemed to look ten years older than they looked in their summer uniforms last term!

We gathered on Wednesday to commemorate ANZAC Day, and I offer my sincere appreciation to the Year 11 History class for their poignant retelling of the role that Australians have had in International Peace-keeping Missions (this is the 75^th anniversary of the first of these in the Dutch Indies).  The rain came again to try to thwart our best efforts to gather as a community, but the assembly was still deeply moving for all.  We again will, with optimism, celebrate next Tuesday (3 May) the College’s 164^th birthday with a festival of Liturgy, House activity and College Spirit.  Please God it will not rain, but we have become so very good with contingency planning that all will be well regardless of the weather.

The holidays have provided the much needed disruption to the transmission of COVID, which had been causing significant absenteeism at the end of the term.  I will only report absentees once a week now while the numbers are relatively low. 

Our key messages for Term 2 will be:

• VACCINATE      against COVID and influenza
• MITIGATE         use of masks (at the discretion of teachers; and, good hand and cough hygiene)
• HYBERNATE    stay home if symptomatic
• VENTILATE      fresh air is a priority

I am looking forward to the Inaugural Mothers’ Weekend in Orange, which is a great initiative of the Boarding Parents Association.  We are so connected to Regional/Rural NSW through our Boarding community and it will be lovely to be out in the bracing fresh air of Orange.

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

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

Ava Hogan (Year 9) - Beloved Grandmother.

May she rest in peace.

Our teachers commenced the week on Tuesday with a day of truly rigorous learning.  As educators it is refreshing to be able to immerse ourselves in learning that has clear intention, the investment of time to explore deeply and the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues as co-learners.  I commend the Heads of Department who are leading their Faculty teams in cycles of collaborative Inquiry into deepening our learning.  It is great to ask questions and not be expected to have solutions yet.  We ask students to identify targets in their learning and then learn their way to new insights and practice.  Educators must also be both learners and teachers to be effective practitioners.  Within each Faculty we strive to deepen the learning of our students and have thus identified Faculty Goals for 2022.  This day provided opportunity for teams to assess what they are seeing in our student learning, to ask how we know and to design the inquiry actions that deepen our own learning as teacher practitioners, and consequently deepen the learning experiences for students.  It was an energising start to a new term.

This was followed by the students’ return to school on Wednesday and our hope-filled Anzac Commemoration ceremony which was so beautifully led by our Year 11 Modern History students, recognising Australia’s 75th anniversary of engagement in peace-keeping operations.  This particular focus aligns with our appreciation of the value of Hope in our lives and invites us to be people of peace through actions.  I was impressed to listen to the knowledge our students have of peace-keeping operations, rather than confine such recognition to wars.  The respect and appreciation with which they reflected upon such service for others I hope inspires our community to consider our role in activating hope in our local and global communities.

Upon arrival home last evening I caught a glance of myself in the mirror and wondered what the brown spots resting upon the rim of my eyeglasses could have been.  Upon closer inspection I realised they were biscuit crumbs.  I am not usually quite so messy with my eating habits but at lunch that day I had taken on the Orio challenge with a group of Year 10 students to see if I could roll an Orio biscuit from my forehead into my mouth within 9 seconds.  Why 9 seconds?  They informed me it signifies the frequency with which a woman is subjected to domestic violence.  Whilst I failed at the seemingly frivolous task of securing the biscuit, the tangibility and counting of seconds makes you wonder at the feelings of vulnerability experienced by those who find themselves as victims of abuse and injustice.  Today I was challenged to respond to questions picked from a jar asking my perspective on the degree to which Australian society has progressed towards closing the gap on the socio-economic targets set by the National Agreement on Closing the Gap striving to impact on life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Big questions elicit big thinking.  What a way to spend our lunchtimes in the first week of school.  Here I was in our beautiful Atrium surrounded by a buzz of intelligent and creative 15 year olds, advocating for awareness of the social justice issues they have been researching in their Religious Studies classes.  I asked many questions about what they had learnt.  The Year 10 students had identified real challenges and injustices for asylum seekers, those subjected to human trafficking and children forced into labour to name a few.  These students were animated in sharing the actions being taken by the community groups they had chosen to research and were able to elaborate upon how public support enables particular impacts for those who require support.  I now plan to have House of Welcome cater for my next extended family event and by so doing support this social enterprise in enabling refugees to experience self-determination and pride as they engage in their community.  Yet just as pleasing was observing these young but passionate minds of our students galvanized to action as a community themselves.  Their learning has been relevant and clearly made an impression on their sense of being able to contribute to make a difference to the lives of others.  What a great start to a new term! 

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

"Discipline is remembering what you want" - David Campbell

This week at our College Assembly Elyssa Chaaya and Reeves Hancock, our College Captains, encouraged students in all Years to start the new term with high expectations of what they can achieve with application.  The start of a new term is certainly a strategically poignant point to stop, re-valuate progress with learning intentions from Term 1 and move forward.  The true barometer of this evaluation is to honestly answer the question ‘have I achieved the goals I set myself?’  If not, am on track to achieve them or is a reset in order.

Hope-filled learning based on both resilience and rigour relies on a high degree of honesty with one’s own reflection and an intelligent use of liberty in one’s choices.  As David Campbell neatly phrases it, it is about revisiting what you really want and then actioning it.  If distractions have side tracked your efforts, then it is reasonable to conclude greater discipline is required.  If genuine impediments beyond one’s control have caused significant impact, then resilience to persist and keep going to one’s best ability is success in itself.  The discerning of which of these two scenarios are accurate for oneself (and often it is a combination of the two), is an essential investment midway through the first semester for Years 7-11 and the midpoint of HSC courses for our Class of 2022.

I encourage students to seek assistance from their class teacher in the first instance, with any questions about their learning in a particular course.  Their class teacher is best placed to fully understand the nuances of the context of the materials and skills required and is readily available immediately at the point of need.  It is also vital for students to actively engage with their learning in and out of class time to fulfill the learning goals that they have set for themselves.  This requires the “third R” of responsibility of making their own choice to apply themselves with rigour and resilience.

During the first term I have encouraged students not to be alarmed by struggle in their learning, as this is where the real gains are made.  This does not underestimate the difficulty of the struggle experience or the effect on one’s emotions at the time, but is central to the hope component of our learning that recognises the climb out the other side is to a higher place.  Learning is in stark contrast to teaching in that it is a personal experience within oneself, whereas teaching is something external that is offered to you to assist you with your learning.  It is individual choice whether you choose to reap the benefits teaching that is offered to you.  My hope for this new term is that it will be an effective time of engagement with all students' learning.

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning and Education Administration

I didn’t write anything for the last Bulletin.  I feel very remiss, but we have been so busy doing good things that there was no time to write about them. 

This is an image of our Crosses which were the focus of our reflection for the last week of Term 1.  Each Day 3 new words appeared on the crosses; each word a reminder of the ways in which we, our society, our community can destroy hope.  Indeed they may be seen as ways in which we crucify the most vulnerable.  “Greed”, “entitlement” and “gossip” were much talked about as our students passed by.

The big news is that Vinnies Night Patrol is back.  It starts next week and our first rostered night is 5 May.  Our newest initiative, the 'Vinnies Old Girls' van team, is covering this one.  Charlotte Patchett has a team ready to go and I’ll join them to make sure they are OK.  Our staff rostered night is the following week.  We will get back into our sandwich making project for the van.  Students will be invited to join a team of sandwich makers from 3.15pm until 4.15pm on our rostered van afternoons.  We need to make and individually bag 200 sandwiches ready for the friends we have not seen in so long.  I hope they remember us.

I will put a link on the 'Student Life Classroom' for students to sign up to make sandwiches.  Last year we ran the “Fund a Filling” fundraiser and it was a huge success.  If you would like to help fund a filling for our sandwiches, please purchase a Woolworths voucher and email it to me, or if you prefer the card variety, Mrs Dianne Forster in Reception is happy to pass them on to me.  We would be very grateful for whatever you can spare - $5 will provide a couple of loaves of bread and $20 will help us out with ten ham and cheese sandwiches.  I still have a few vouchers from last year which I will use to kick us off next week.  The money will run out of course, so if you can spare something for us, that would be super.

Our Ponytail Project is a hair cut in search of a new date.  Hold off on those visits to the salon for a couple more weeks.  More on the new date when it is firmed up. 

Tuesday will be a HUGE day.  It is full of surprises and will be a great celebration.  I’m sure the Sisters' who founded our College could never have imagined what we would become.  I’m sure they are proud.  Mass will be a highlight.  The musicians had a practise at lunchtime.  Wow.  They are amazing.  It is sure to be an amazing and surprising day.

Next Friday morning 6 May,  we will hold our Mother's Day Liturgy in our College Chapel.  I can’t wait to get back there.  This is our chance to come together to celebrate being in loving relationship with our daughters.  If that’s not worth praying about and giving thanks for, I don’t know what is.  We breathed new life into the Chapel space with our Prayer Vigil for Ukraine and Lenten reflection mornings last term.  There was a constant stream of students and staff into that extraordinary space.  It is a beautiful space.  It is our sacred space and the blessed sacrament is indeed there, but it needs people.  Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, special women in the lives of our students and the many men who nurture and mother their girls, are very welcome to come along to our Liturgy.  We begin at 7.45am, followed by a light breakfast and a cuppa.  The weather looks like it will be generous.  Our gathering will be energetic and over far too soon.  You will be on your way to complete your day by 8.35am.  Do remember that finding parking is not known to bring much joy in this part of town.  Kings Cross Carpark is your best bet.

I have so much more to tell you.  Next time.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

Welcome back to Term 2 - a term that is always very busy in terms of career opportunities.

University of Sydney

Year 10 Information Evening

Interested Year 10 students and their parents are invited to select from either the in person session on Wednesday 4 May from 6.00pm-7.30pm or virtually on Thursday 5 May from 6.00pm-7.00pm.  Topics covered in each session include:  What is the ATAR?  How does scaling work?  What should you consider when making subject selection choices for Years 11 and 12?  What are the differences between prerequisites and assumed knowledge?  Registrations for these events are essential using the links provided.

Creative Arts Special Admissions Scheme (CASAS)

CASAS is now open to Year 12 students who are looking to gain an early offer of admission to either Visual Arts or Music at USYD.  Eligible applicants will be assessed based on a combination of academic performance in Years 11 and 12, and audition or portfolio requirements.  For more information about Music requirements go here and for Visual Arts requirements go here

Publications and Resources

USYD has released their latest publications.  Use the links here to download a copy of the Undergraduate Guide 2023 and the Year 10 Guide 2023

UNSW

UNSW Sydney

UNSW Year 10 Subject Selection Evenings 

3 and 12 May online.  Please register here:  UNSW hopes to see you there.  Topics covered include:  How is the ATAR calculated? How does scaling work? What is assumed knowledge and what students should consider when making their subject selection choices for Years 11 and 12?

UTS Sydney

Engineering and IT Webinars

During the months of April and May, UTS Sydney is hosting a series of engineering and IT webinars with a team of academics, staff and current students.  The webinars will be an opportunity for interested students and their parents to learn more about UTS Sydney’s many undergraduate engineering and IT courses with a dedicated session for each course.  Please make sure to register in advance using the following links:  UTS IT UG Webinars and UTS Engineering UG Webinars.

If you want to know what studying engineering or IT at UTS is all about, take a look at the Faculty of Engineering and IT video.

Sydney Boarding Schools Rural Health Careers Forum

Registrations are open to ALL Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 students (boarders and day students) and their parents/carers for the Sydney Boarding Schools Rural Health Careers Forum.  This expo will be held in the Senior School Centre (Kate Mason Building) at Pymble Ladies’ College at 5.00pm on Thursday 12 May (parking will be through Gate 3 at Centenary car park).  The forum will encompass a wide range of health careers including medicine, nursing and midwifery, Aboriginal Health and Allied Health (including physiotherapy, dietitian, speech pathology, pharmacy, occupational therapy and exercise physiology).  The forum will provide students the opportunity to:

●       Speak one-on-one with health students, recent graduates and health professionals about their journeys

●       Participate in hands-on activities run by health students to give an insight into a day in the life of a health professional

●       Attend an information session with an interactive Q&A session and

●       Talk to universities and rural workforce agencies about study and career opportunities.

Registrations are essential using the link found here.  For students considering medicine in particular, please keep in mind that experience in a rural setting or a willingness to spend some time practising in a rural setting is looked upon very favourably in what is a very competitive application process. 

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

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

Head of Netball and Basketball - Elyse Harmanis elyse.harmanis@gmail.com - 0434 610 870
Head of Soccer:  Mr Nick Schroeder - 0431 117 565
Head of Hockey:  Mr Liam Jepson - 0422 027 649
Head of 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 Spawtz:  https://igsasport.spawtz.com/ 

IGSA NETBALL, BASKETBALL, HOCKEY AND FOOTBALL

Welcome back  to Terms 2/3 Sport!  Well done to all students who remembered their gear and trained on the first few days back at school.  The hockey girls in particular were excellent on Wednesday!  Games commence this Saturday for all Sport and the draws are on the College website.  This is always your first place to look for any Sport information.  Please also check the IGSA Spawtz page for any changes or wet weather updates   https://igsasport.spawtz.com/ .

All players are reminded to allow for Sydney traffic on Saturday mornings and allow plenty of time to get to your venues.  You need to arrive at your venue 30 minutes prior to start time for warm up and team talk, once you have signed on.  Your full Sport uniform must be worn and any NON SVC uniform will be confiscated.

If you cannot attend your training session or match for any reason, the head coach must be emailed by a parent/carer, preferably the week before so that we can organise any replacement if needed.

Above: Year 7 Netball

Fitness and Cross Country

Fitness training with Tash has commenced and is on every Monday and Wednesday afternoon as we prepare for the IGSA Cross Country Carnival at Frensham on Friday 13 May.  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 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 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.  Please email Ms Jacobs if you would like to sign up.  Students meet Tash outside the change rooms at 3.15pm.  If it is wet they will do a fitness session in the gym - so training is always on!  

There will be a meeting for all girls wanting to compete at the IGSA Cross Country Carnival on Monday 02 May at lunchtime down near the pool.

SPORT STARS OF THE WEEK

Please keep the Sport staff informed of any good sporting results outside of the College.  Information and photos can be emailed to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au .

Congratulations to Alexis Eckersley, Year 9, who participated in both the NSW Water Polo and Australian Youth Water Polo Championships during the holidays.  She achieved a silver medal at the NSW Water Polo Championships and then backed it up with a bronze medal in the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships that were held in Brisbane (Alexis is a member of the U16 team for UTS Balmain).  Well done, Alexis!

Congratulations to Siara McCreery, Year 7, who placed 8th in the 400m final at the Australian Athletics Championships in Melbourne.  Congratulations on running another personal best time! 

Congratulations also, to Zali Deep, Year 10, who has just been selected for the AFLW Futures Team at the Sydney Swans Academy.  Well done, Zali.

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

View next week's CANTEEN SPECIALS:      HERE

TERM 2 - 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).

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