Bulletin

REMINDERS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

2019 College Production:  'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'

In the College Hall.  06-09 May  7.00pm    /   11 May  2.00pm and 7.00pm.

Ticket sales via TryBooking  HERE   (see the flyer inside this Bulletin).

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MOTHER'S DAY LITURGY AND BREAKFAST

Friday 10 May 7.45am in the Chapel.

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MOTHER'S DAY DINNER

Friday 10 May  6.30pm at Dockside, Cockle Bay.

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NAPLAN Online

14-17 May  Years 7 and 9. (see article from Director of Teaching and Learning)

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SVC Uniform Shop - Orders Now Online  

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

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

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Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to the new term, and a particular welcome to the Morgan-Smith family in Year 7.  Also, I welcome new staff members:

Mr Steven Rosenstrauss (replacing Mr Tan)
Mr John Fry (replacing Mrs Matthews)
Ms Jacquie Hilmer tandem teaching with Mrs Anderson
and staff members taking up new responsibilities.
Mrs Joanne Anderson - replacing Mrs Elizabeth Brooks as Director of Pastoral Care (Term 2)
Ms Mariann Barkho - replacing Mrs Anderson as Cahill House Co-ordinator (Term 2).

On Tuesday each Year 12 student was invited to plant a bulb in the College garden in memory of Elisabeth Carey.  Elisabeth's anniversary occurs on 1 September, the first day of spring, and each year these bulbs will represent the joy she brought into this school community.  Elisabeth died in Year 8, but will always remain an important member of the graduating class of 2019.

The excitement is mounting as our College Production is nearly ready to 'open the curtains' for the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.  Don't be discouraged by the name of the show - Ms Johnson and her incredibly talented cast and crew have added the spectacular staging, great costuming, wonderful dancing and superb acting that will bring this classic tale to life!  I strongly encourage you to come along and appreciate the talents and commitment of our young thespians.  They have been hard at work since last October, and I am very confident that this season will be held in the same high regard as our recent productions of The Wizard of Oz,, The Tempest and Grease.  It is an intimate theatre experience and you will feel very close to the action.

Many of our students that same week will be performing in the St Joseph's College production of "The Wedding Singer".  We also wish them well as they participate in this well known musical.

This is always a short but busy term at St Vincent's.  With our Year 10 students in particular, we will be working with them in their selection of their Stage 6 subjects.  The work habits, attitudes and their attributes and achievements will all come into focus as we provide the structure through which we hope they will make wise choices.  The appropriate selection of subjects is one of the biggest determinants of whether the HSC years will be enjoyable and successful.

I look forward to sharing the term ahead - there is plenty on the horizon.  The Production, Mother's Day Liturgy and Dinner, Boarding celebrations for their 135th year, the Boarding Expo in Dubbo, the Elisabeth Carey Dinner in June, the Athletics Carnival - will all be occasions to showcase this amazing College and community.

Happy 161st birthday to St Vincent's College (1 May).

Yours sincerely

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

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

Ms Sana Issa (Staff) Mother in Law.

Mr Alex Scott (previous staff member) and the Scott family, on the death of Mr Max Scott, long term electrician for the College.

The unseasonably warm autumnal weather provided the perfect conditions for us as a community of learners, to recharge and relax over the April holidays after a busy and productive start to our Year of Respect.  I personally enjoyed reconnecting with my loved ones and I think my ‘fur-baby’ also particularly enjoyed having me around more for ‘walkies’ and couch cuddles.

On Monday, as a staff we gathered for a whole day of departmental planning to ensure that we were on target for another productive and successful term of learning for the girls, with our focus now deeply entrenched in our College goal to improve quality assessment and feedback processes.  We look forward to future opportunities where we can showcase examples of your daughters reflective feedback on their own learning as we are very proud of the students’ tenacity and determination in closely examining marking feedback and setting goals with their teachers to improve and grow. Students thus are epitomising what it means to be ‘courageous women of action, as despite the newness of the common assessment reflection process, the students are being very compliant in not only partaking in the reflective process but focussing on the constructive feedback from their teachers.  Students are recognising the gains that can be made in learning when students can see what they know and be guided and inspired to find out what they don’t know.  As teachers we will continue to explore ways to challenge students to be proactive, resilient and determined in their learning, heed powerful assessment feedback from teachers, set goals and master learning.

A reminder that in Week 3, Year 7 and Year 9 students will complete the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Online.  The tests will be conducted from Tuesday 14 - Friday 17 May.  Year 7 students will sit their tests during Periods 1 and 2; Year 9 students will sit their tests during Periods 3 and 4 each day.  Provision will be made for students who are absent on a test day to sit a catch-up test within the week of testing up to and including Tuesday 21 May.  Students will be reminded to bring a fully charged laptop each testing day and lessons as per usual will continue after the NAPLAN tests each day.

On Wednesday 8 May the official launch of ‘Subject Selection Season’ for our Year 10 students will occur when I meet with students to discuss the process of Selection of Stage 6 Courses at their Year 10 Assembly.  To ensure that you as parents as well as our students, receive detailed and specific information of the course requirements and your daughter’s suitability for certain courses, we have arranged a Subject Selection Information Evening on Monday 27 May from 3.30pm to 7.00pm.  The evening provides opportunities for you to meet with the individual Head of Departments and some of their staff to ensure that you have a full understanding of the demands of each course, so that your daughter’s interest in studying the course is matched by specific advice from these experts to ensure your daughter’s suitability for each course.  More specific information about this evening will be published shortly.

The Year 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews are scheduled on the College calendar for Monday 3 June from 3.30pm.  Soon you will be invited to book Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews online to receive valuable feedback about your daughter’s learning thus far.  You will also have an opportunity to ask specific questions about HSC curriculum requirements to assist your daughter’s discernment of her Stage 6 courses by booking in a timeslot with myself on this evening. As we at SVC pride ourselves in knowing our students, each teacher knows your daughter’s specific strengths and talents.  You as parents know her best, so we invite you to instigate conversations at home with your daughter regarding her aspirations for her Stage 6 courses and her dreams for her future.  In particular you may wish to consider asking her what I like to refer to as the three wise questions:

What do you like studying?  Where do your natural talents lie?  Where would you like to challenge yourself?

We look forward as a teaching community to continuing to support your daughter to reach her fullest potential as we embark on another positive term engaging and challenging her into the St Vincent’s College curriculum.

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

Faith Formation

This is one of my favourite times in the year.  The days are bright and the nights are cool; nature finds new ways of surprising me through kaleidoscopes of colour; and the autumnal food that I prepare for meals with family and friends bursts with flavour.  It is also the time in the Church's calendar when I feel a deep solidarity with Mary Magdalene, the woman who perhaps sat outside Jesus’ tomb from Good Friday and heard him call her name on Easter Sunday.  For me, the days before Pentecost are filled with hope, light and a deep sense of discernment as I sift through my life to see where God is calling me to be a witness to Jesus’ life.

This term we have plenty of opportunities for students and families to join this discernment, beginning with the Easter Liturgies that are being held in House groups during regular prayer time in the Chapel.  Yesterday student leaders in Williams House began our celebration of the Easter season by leading students through a reflection on the resurrection and how we can be people who ‘let the light in’.  Students have been asked to share these experiences with family members; please encourage them in their discussions.

I would like to thank Sr Anne, Ms Maria Manitta and Ms Hannah Waters who accompanied six SVC student leaders on the most recent Kairos at the start of the April holidays.  Sr Anne’s reflection follows in the Bulletin.  I would also like to thank in advance Mrs Jo Kenderes and Mr Robert Weaver, who are working with student groups to prepare and animate three significant Liturgical events in the College calendar:

• 10 May 7:45am  Mothers’ Day Liturgy
• 24 May 8:40am  Sorry Day Commemoration
• 20 June 2.00pm  St Vincent’s Day and celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Mary Aikenhead Ministries.

Sacramental Programs

Throughout Term 2 and the beginning of Term 3, Sr Anne Talyor rsc will be running a sacramental program for students who would like to receive any of the initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Holy Communion.  Students will explore the sacraments and their context within our Catholic Faith. The program will culminate for the students when they receive their sacraments at either their Year Mass or at St Canice’s Parish (depending on the Sacrament that the student wishes to receive).  If you would like to discuss the program or register your daughter, please contact Sr Anne via email taylora@stvincents.nsw.edu.au   

Twilight Spirituality

Twilight Spirituality will again be offered for students in Years 9-11 in Terms 2-4.  These programs meet students where they are at and then invite them to deepen their relationship with God, themselves and each other through a series of spiritual experiences and exercises.  Information about signing up to these sessions are emailed to parents and students in each Year group.  Please note the dates in your diary to see if they will work for you and your family.

Reflection by Elizabeth Tax after her experience of Year 11 Twilight Spirituality

Over the past few weeks, Twilight Spirituality has brought me a great sense of reassurance and support, as it has allowed me to organise my own thoughts through Ignatian Spiritual Exercises after the non-stop busyness of a school day.  The experience has been very refreshing as I was able to hear the fascinating ideas of other girls in the group, as well as Ms McLean and Sister Anne.  Our visit to the Two Wolves Cantina was an awesome opportunity that opened up many doors of how I can explore service and social justice in the future.  

Twilight Spirituality

Sessions 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).

While SVC provides lots of opportunities to connect students with faith through Twilight Spirituality sessions, College Liturgies and Masses, Kairos Retreats and Immersions, Social Justice and Outreach Experience, these moments of faith exist in a vacuum unless we connect with the broader sense Church.  Our job, as people who have said yes to Christ’s invitation to be radically inclusive and vessels of love, is to ensure that our local and national Church hears our desire to to be as radical and inclusive as Christ.  Over 220,000 people engaged in listening and dialogue circles through Stage One of the Plenary Council.  The next stage is where the discussion on the themes that have emerged through the discernment process takes place.  It will be launched on Pentecost - 9 June.  I encourage you to continue to reflect on what God is asking of us in Australia at this time...perhaps God is calling you to make some change.

Yours in Christ, 

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

Kairos Retreat - another wonderful ministry opportunity

Kairos is a Greek word for time - it is Lord’s time - the opportune time and is judged, not by its succession or duration of time but by its value, the intensity of the experience of God’s presence in the midst of the Christian community.  The Kairos Retreat aims to create an environment away, a moment in God’s time in which the retreatants may awaken to the ever present love of God - to find God in all things.

At the beginning of the April holidays, a group of 37 retreatants from Years 11 and 12 at St Vincent’s and Loreto Kirribilli, led by ten student leaders and five adult leaders were invited into a journey at Peter Canisius Spirituality Centre, Pymble.  The key themes were - knowing oneself, discovering Jesus in a personal way, recognising and responding to Jesus’ call and living in community.  Each day of the Kairos experience began and ended with prayer.  There were two Eucharistic celebrations and a Healing Liturgy with the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Talks permeated the day.  These were delivered by the amazing group of student leaders who in the talks shared personal and powerful witness about their lives.  There were opportunities to be still and reflective, to sit in quiet contemplation with others and come to know that we are not alone on our pilgrimage on earth.

Strong friendships were also forged and which will help the students as they move back into ordinary daily life.  The retreat ended with a challenge to live Kairos on a daily basis and as St Ignatius says - we are challenged to be people whose shows itself more in deeds than words’.

Sr Anne Taylor
College Companion

 Kairos 7

National Boarding Week occurs in Week 3 of this term and the Boarders took the opportunity to present to their House at Assembly on Wednesday to showcase ‘A day in the Life of a Boarder’.  The life of a Boarder brings about many questions from a day student and this gave the opportunity to ask questions about leave, routines, study, but most importantly - the food!

A reminder please to organise leave for the June long weekend as we need to coordinate travel plans by the end of next week.

Yours in Boarding

MS MARYANNE O’DONOGHUE
DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

REMINDER:

56 Year 12 students spent a day of their holidays engaged in skill development for their final HSC exam.  Yes!  Nearly half the cohort!  What a studious bunch!  We looked at Paper 1 Section 1 in some detail.  This section requires students to be widely read, to think on their feet and to engage with the big ideas of the human condition that all quality literature explores.  Easy!  Thanks to these many students for their good humour and hard work on the day and thanks to those teachers who supported them:  Ms Sue Thomas, Mrs Alexandra Hunter and Ms Josie Rune.

At the beginning of the year, the English Department welcomed three new teachers:  Ms Josie Rune, Ms Anita Playoust and myself as Head of Department. We have been well looked after by our colleagues and are enjoying contributing to the life of the Department and the College.  During our professional development day at the beginning of Term 2, the Department shared our deep principles about teaching as a supportive group.  I am very grateful to my colleagues for their inspiring words about meaning, universality, transformation, electricity, best selves, vocation, connection, relationships, flexibility, surprise, and collegiality.  The discussion then turned to the future of the Department, which naturally fell into a discussion of those texts that we feel students simply must experience during their time with us.  Fortunately, or unfortunately depending upon your taste, Game of Thrones will not be making an appearance on your daughters’ reading lists!

Year 10 will soon be making important decisions about their English courses for Years 11 and 12.  This is a crucial, but in some respects, easily made decision.  First and foremost, students need to consider their enjoyment of this subject.  If students are passionate about reading, writing, communicating, critical thinking, creative and analytical thinking and generally exploring words, language and ideas, then they should consider studying Advanced and even Extension English.  Many, if not most students, are at best, lukewarm towards English and these students should consider studying the Standard course. Taught well, as it is at SVC, Standard English is still a demanding course in terms of workload and content.  There is no advantage in studying Advanced English unless students are thoroughly personally engaged by their studies and confident in their success.

Students and their parents/carers will have many questions about their course choice for English.  I will be available during the upcoming Year 10 information evenings.  However, if further information is required, please do not hesitate to email me jarmanm@stvincents.nsw.edu.au .

Some upcoming creative competitions:

• Whitlam Institute: What Matters Writing Competition due 10 May - https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters
• Young Journalist Award due 24 May - http://australiancatholics.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38218
• Mosman Youth Awards in Literature due 31 May - https://www.mosman.nsw.gov.au/news/2019/02/22/youth-awards-in-literature/
• The John Marsden and Hachette Australia Prize due 30 June - https://expressmedia.org.au/programs/john-marsden-prize/
• Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards due 30 June - https://www.dorothea.com.au/How-to-Enter-awards

If students would like any assistance with their entries, please see Ms Jarman.

Ms Monica Jarman
Head of English Department

What the English Department has been reading/viewing/listening …

Cadetships

Engineering and Technology Cadetships

Applications are now open for the Engineering and Technology Cadetships (ETCAD) program.  Engineering cadets combine university study in engineering or technology with paid work at Cubic Transportation Systems.  Applications close on 21 June. 

A reminder that applications for the Business Cadetships Program close on 15 May.  Year 12 students apply online at http://www.professionalcadets.com.au
Information Evenings.

Study in USA Fair

The Study in USA Fair will be held at Redlands School on Monday 6 May 2019 from 5.30pm-7.30pm.  All students and parents welcome.  RSVP essential:  https://www.trybooking.com/BBOVC.  The fair will feature presentations, including from the College Board who are visiting for the first time.  Twenty five universities will be there including NYU, University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley and Boston University.

Defence Force Recruiting Information Sessions

Find out about the variety of roles and opportunities on offer with the Australian Defence Force. Current serving personnel will be available to answer any questions about career paths and entry requirements for the Army, Navy and Air Force.  Information sessions will be held throughout the ACT and NSW.  To find out more please visit www.defencejobs.gov.au/events or email CPTNSW@dfr.com.au

Soar Aviation Open Evening

On Thursday 9 May, 6:30pm at Bankstown Airport (4 Rearwin Place, Bankstown Airport), Soar Aviation will be hosting an evening for students interested in finding out about a career in Aviation.  Attendees will get an understanding of the AVI50215 Diploma of Aviation course (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane), employment pathways and tour the facility including a close-up inspection of the training aircraft.  For more information please go to  http://www.soar.edu.au

Cabin Crew Information Sessions

Aviation Australia’s Cabin Crew Career Information sessions offer interested students the chance to learn about more about what courses you need to complete to become a flight attendant.  As well you will be provided with an opportunity to tour the flight safety training facilities.  Register for this event at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sydney-cabin-crew-career-session-tickets-60384358241

University News

Macquarie University

On Tuesday 7 May Macquarie University will be holding their Year 10 Subject Selection Evening.  On the evening the following topics will be addressed:  How subjects for the HSC can impact university studies as well as adjustment factors, assumed knowledge, university admission and scholarship processes.  The evening will feature a series of short talks on the importance of subject selection and how foundation subjects can help students at university.  Registration is essential at  https://www.mq.edu.au/about/events/view/year-10-subject-selection-evening/ .

University of Wollongong

Experience It!  For girls in Years 7 to 10 there is a one day immersive introduction into engineering workshop being held on 5 July at the University of Wollongong.  If you enjoy designing solutions to problems and you want to contribute to society and make a difference to the world, this is what engineering is about!  Apply: Bursaries for accommodation/travel are available for students travelling at least 120 kms.  If interested please register at  https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/event/2019/03/experience-it-student-conference-july-2019

Australian Catholic University

ACU North Sydney - Mid Year Open Evening

ACU North Sydney mid-year Open Evening is in on 20 May 2019 from 4.00pm-6.00pm.  For more information go to www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/news-and-events/events/2019/may/midyear-open-evening-north-sydney

ACU North Sydney - Parent Information Session

ACU North Sydney Parent Information Session on 20 May 2019 is an opportunity for parents to receive information useful in assisting their children navigate tertiary pathways.  The information session allows parents to have any questions answered by faculty staff and the Future Students team.  Register at www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/news-and-events/future-students-parent-information-sessions

ACU Strathfield - Mid Year Open Evening

ACU Strathfield Open Evening is on 27 May 2019 from 4.00pm-6.00pm.  For more information www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/news-and-events/events/2019/may/midyear-open-evening-strathfield

ACU Strathfield - Parent Information Session

ACU Strathfield Parent Information Session on 27 May 2019 is an opportunity for parents to receive information useful in assisting their children navigate tertiary pathways.  The information session allows parents to have any questions answered by faculty staff and the Future Students team. Register at www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/news-and-events/future-students-parent-information-sessions

Ms HELEN MARSHALL
CAREERS ADVISER

BOOK at  TryBooking.com/492371

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

Ms Vanessa Brown:    0412 979 599 – Football
Ms Jacinta Jacobs:      0418 416 663 – Athletics/Cross Country
Ms Kat McGrath:        0411 697 195 – Netball
Ms Laura Wiggins:     0418 329 929 – Hockey

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

For all draw and venue information visit this website. 

Welcome back to Term 2 of Sport.  Despite the busy start to the term with the College Production, all teams were off to a good start with training this week. We would like to wish all teams the best of luck for the term and please remember to turn up to training and games on time and in the correct Sport uniform.  Any non-St Vincent’s uniform will be confiscated. 

All girls performing in the Production are still expected at their games next Saturday except for the 11.00am timeslots.  Please make sure you have told your coach if you cannot attend your game on Saturday. 

Cross Country

The IGSSA Cross Country Carnival will be held in Week 3 on Friday 17 May at Frensham.  Training sessions continue with Tash on Mondays and Wednesdays 3.15pm-4.30pm from the College.  We still need some more girls to compete in the 15, 16, 17 and 18 years age groups.  If you are interested, please see Ms Jacobs to be given a permission note. All runners competing in this event need to have the correct running singlet (Number 21), navy blue shorts or leggings/bike pants and good running shoes to compete at this event.  Touch/basketball singlets can be worn as long as we add the number 21 to it. After the College Athletics Carnival on 30 May, training on Wednesdays will change to E S Marks Field and Mondays will remain at Rushcutters Bay.  All IGSSA Cross Country permission notes must be returned to Ms Jacobs by Friday 10 May. 

SEHA Hockey

St Vincent’s has entered three teams in the SEHA Hockey competition for this 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 all training sessions and matches.  The bus leaves at 3.15pm from Victoria Street and will return to the College at approximately 5.30pm.  If students are being picked up from the field, it must be at 5.00pm otherwise they will have to go back to the College on the bus, as we cannot leave any students unattended. 

Ms Laura Wiggins
(New) Head Hockey Coach

IGSSA Basketball

We have entered seven teams in the IGSSA competition this term - three senior, two junior and two Year 7 teams.  All information can be found on the College website.

Training is compulsory.  Please make sure you have a numbered SVC Singlet and the College shorts ready for the first game back tomorrow, Saturday 4 May.  All players are required to be at their matches 30 minutes before start time for warm up.  Full SVC Sport uniform must be worn and any non-SVC items will be confiscated.

Training times

SVC 1, 2 and 3 - Wednesdays  3.15pm-4.30pm

SVC 4, 5, 6 and 7 - Wednesdays  7.15am-8.30am.

Ms Molly MacQueen
Head Basketball Coach

IGSSA Football

St Vincent’s has entered two senior and two junior teams in the IGSSA football competition this term. All information can be found on the College website.  Training commenced this week at Rushcutters Bay with the first matches tomorrow, Saturday 4 May.

SVC 1  training Wednesday mornings  7.15am-8.15am

SVC 2 and SVC 3  training Thursday afternoons  3.15pm-4.45pm

SVC 4  training Friday afternoons 3.15pm-4.45pm.

Ms Vanessa Brown
Head Football Coach

Below:   Juniors with Mrs Fry

St Catherine's Netball

The invitational competition commences next Wednesday at St Catherine’s at Waverley.  Good luck to all 11 teams!  Because of the College Production being performed that evening we may need some girls to double up and play two games.

All the information you need for netball this term is on the College website.  Players are reminded that training is compulsory.  The netball uniform of navy skirt and sleeveless polo shirt is available from the uniform shop on Wednesdays or Fridays.  

TERM 3 SPORT

Registrations have opened on the College website for next term's Sport.  In addition to IGSSA netball and IGSSA hockey which are played at all venues across Sydney, we will be entering a few teams in a local Five-A-Side soccer competition being run at Moore Park Synthetic Field by Ascham.  This will be a fun competition which will be good for the soccer girls to participate in between the outdoor comp and futsal.  If you are interested, please see the College website for more details. These registrations will close at 3.00pm on Friday 17 May.  Please make sure you have checked all other commitments before signing up, as we have had many late withdrawals this term, which is very frustrating and has left some of our teams short of players.

SPORT STARS

Congratulations to Peggy Schell, Year 9, who was selected in the Open IGSSA Basketball team to compete at the CIS Carnival on 9 May.  This was not surprising as Peggy as recently also been selected in the u16 NSW State team to play in the Nationals in Darwin in July. Well done, Peggy! 

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

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 onwards 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.

Year 9 Parents and Carers Social Evening

Year 9 Parents and Carers are invited to a social function being held on Friday 31 May 2019.

The event will be hosted by Arabella Joseph, Katrina Skinner and Penny Wright.  The cost of $25 per head includes light finger food.  Drinks for purchase at The Bellevue.

For more details, please direct enquiries to Katrina Skinner on 0438 933 319 or email mackinnon-5@bigpond.com, or Arabella Joseph on 0409 845 558 or email arabella_joseph@bigpond.com.

Venue:  The Bellevue Hotel, 159 Hargrave Street, Paddington

Come and join in the fun! 

Book by 28 May by clickingHERE.

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

You've come a long way, baby - or maybe not so far..

This patronising phrase comes from the 1970’s when cigarettes could be advertised.  The slogan was directed at female smokers - it was no accident that the brand of the cigarettes was Virginia Slims!  I have been binge-reading while on holiday on an island paradise and then in a Darwin hotel room, after I fell at Dili Airport and had to take two days bed rest to allow my badly sprained ankle to heal and my embarrassment to evaporate.

The beginning of the binge was Book of Colours by Robyn Cadwallader.  The author lives in Murrumbateman, outside Canberra, but this, her second novel, is set in England in 1341 and 1342.  No matter how aristocratic, very few women were literate because their major function was the production of healthy male children.  To ensure their weak minds would focus on prayer, noble ladies were given a Book of Hours, an illustrated prayer book with pictures of all kinds to assist in their understanding.  The book begins with Lady Mathilde being presented with such a book.  Her husband has recently been killed in an uprising against the King.  Lady Mathilde is also branded a traitor and she quickly leaves her beautiful home with her two daughters to hide in a lesser home in Wales.  The other half of the story is about a group of illustrators or limners who actually created the incredible book after the prayers have been inscribed on the vellum.  Cadwallader was allowed access to a fourteenth century Book of Hours in the British Library, and along with her academic study of the time, makes us very excited about the genius of these artists.  The wife of the man who leads the atelier is a creative artist, but her work must be credited to her husband.  Their guild would not accept female members.  Again, we become involved with a woman who is stifled by her times.  Oho, we think, reading this lovely book, aren’t we lucky to be living now!  Not so fast, sister.

The second book I read was Women Talking by Miriam Toews who was brought up as a Mennonite, an experience that has influenced most of her books.  She uses actual events from the early twenty-first century in a very secretive Mennonite community in Bolivia.  There, the women began to complain of being assaulted while asleep.  At first, these complaints were dismissed as female hysteria until outside investigations disclosed that the women were being sedated by belladonna and then sexually assaulted by some of the men and boys in the community.  Toews uses this case study to write her heart-wrenching novel told to us by August, a despised man because he is a mere teacher rather than a farmer.  He takes minutes while the women try to decide what to do about their situation.  They are illiterate, totally dominated and very frightened, but also outraged about how they and their young children have been abused.  This relatively brief book shows how they grow to make decisions for the first time in their lives, how painful this is for them and how the outside world is terrifying but how courageous they are in reaching a final decision.  I knew many Mennonites when I lived in Canada and admired their commitment to pacifism in all aspects of their lives from the words they chose to use to the actions they did or did not take.  However, like any closed group, there is the danger of corruption and Toews writes with particular authenticity about this:  Both her sister and father killed themselves because of their despair at being expelled as being unworthy of belonging to the communities in which they were born.

The final novel is genuinely shocking and distressing.  Asking for It by Louise O’Neill is set in twenty-first century Ireland.  The main character, Emma, is eighteen, privileged and indulged because she is physically beautiful.  However, she is also hollow because her life is about making every male desire her and every female, especially her “friends”, envy her.  She is raped by a group of boys who record their “conquest” and load it onto social media.  Emma is not believed - she was a willing participant and the boys are her victims.  Although the novel is set in an apparently idyllic small town, it could be set anywhere in the world.  Emma is an unpleasant character, in a way a victim of Instagram mentality and rabid consumerism.  However, that makes the book even more compelling and relevant.  Louise O’Neill has received many complaints about the ending of her book.  However, she has a valid point to make about how victims of alleged sexual assault may be treated by the justice system.

Reading these books in this order made me wonder just how much actual progress has been made and to think a great deal about what needs to be done.