Bulletin

Monday 23 May:   Foxford Day (Students are actively engaged in online learning based at home). 

Reminder that the canteen is closed on Monday 23 May.

(Foxford Day 27 October - to be confirmed).

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Boarding School Regional Visits:

• Wagga Wagga 03/04 June.

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Information for the following events was sent to all students and parents/carers in Year 10 by Mr Anderson:

Monday 30 May:  Year 10 Parent/Carer and Student Teacher Meetings.

Tuesday 31 May - Tuesday 14 June:  Online Subject Preferences Submitted.

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning

Extended Day has returned for Term 2.  Please use this link to sign up your daughter on a Tuesday and/or Thursday for Term 2.  Our esteemed, retired English teacher, Ms Suzanne O'Connor, runs Extended Day and she thoroughly enjoys helping the students with their homework, particularly pointing them in the right direction of which book or series to read depending on their tastes. 

A few reminders please for Extended Day:

• The sessions are strictly either 3.30pm-6.00pm OR 4.30pm-6.00pm, if the student has sport/co-curricular commitments.
• The students MUST be collected from Rockwall Crescent gates at 6.00pm sharp.
• Registrations for the coming week close on Sunday evenings at 8:00pm.
• If the student is sick/unable to attend on the registered day, please either call Student Services on (02) 9368 1611 or email Ms Francine Shanahan collegesecretary@stvincents.nsw.edu.au  before 9.00am, so that Ms O'Connor is updated on the number of students attending.

Ms O'Connor is highly diligent in her role and will follow up any absent students, so it would be helpful please if she can use her time wisely with the students and their homework during Extended Day. 

This program can be used to strengthen the learning of students and help them with how best to use their time for homework and study.  Ms O'Connor taught English here at the College for many years and her knowledge and expertise in education and learning would be of great benefit to those attending Extended Day.

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Extended Day Co-ordinator

Dear Parents and Carers

On Wednesday, something extraordinary happened.  We had our first whole school assembly where we were able to gather together in the beautiful surrounds of the Caritas Christi Courtyard.  Sheltered between the sublime beauty and heritage of the chapel and the contemporary facade of the Aikenhead Building, we really did express our College motto, Scientia cum Religione (Faith and Knowledge). The theme of our assembly was celebrating diversity in our community and each of our student leaders spoke with great insight into how diversity is celebrated in the College.  Through the Boarding School, our House Groups, our Performing Arts program, our student leaders highlighted how important the heritage of the Sisters of Charity was in establishing a commitment to diversity from our earliest foundation.  This was a particularly strong theme from our Social Justice and Charism Captains.  Everyone there felt the spirit and energy of the occasion and came away humming the College song, Flowers n' Sunshine, that we had not heard en masse for over two years.

It is National Boarding Week across Australia and we have delighted in sharing the richness of diversity that our Boarders' bring to St Vincent's.  The chance for students from Bourke to become life-long friends with students from Bondi and students from Woolloomooloo having the chance to spend time with friends in their homes in Wagga Wagga, creates a rich tapestry that is treasured by current and ex-students, and it always is a draw card for families when enrolling at St Vincent's.  Our recent Mothers' weekend in Orange was a wonderful immersion for our city Mothers into the lives of our regional Boarding families.  In National Boarding Week, it is appropriate to thank our Boarders', Boarding staff and families.  Unfortunately, because of Covid/influenza we have had to postpone the much anticipated sleep-over, but it will return soon!

It has been a relief to see so many of our Year 11 students return this week after the cluster of Covid impacted their cohort.  There is still plenty of Covid and influenza cases circulating across the community and unfortunately, heavily impacting 12-24 year olds.  We fit into this demographic, and schools and colleges are bracing for further waves as winter settles and we are outside less.  This will also cause higher than usual staff absences.  We are doing our very best to manage the staff absences, but inevitably teachers are vulnerable.

Monday is a scheduled Foxford Day to allow for our teachers to participate in some very important Professional Learning.  We are commencing our two year professional partnership with Professor Lea Waters on Visible Wellbeing.

Last evening on the news, there was coverage of planned industrial action in Catholic Systemic Schools.  St Vincent's College is an Independent Catholic School and as such, will not be impacted by this industrial action.

BREAKING NEWS!  Congratulations to our winning team in the Shakespeare Festival.  See article further into the newsletter ('Performing Arts News').

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

COVID cases reported for the Week 16 to 20 May are:

Year 11:   3 students

Year 9:     1 student

Year 8:     1 student

Staff:       2 members of staff

This week we have been relieved to see the dramatic reduction in COVID cases reported to the College.  There is, however, evidence that many students and staff are experiencing the symptoms of Influenza A.  The Health Department’s advice for mitigating Influenza A is identical to COVID - vaccination, hygiene (hand and cough) and stay home if symptomatic. 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Last week I wrote of the privilege of working closely with the Year 12 Student Leadership Team as they develop their vision and initiatives to lead and support their peers in being the community whose values seek everyday expression through words and actions.  This week's College Assembly served us with an exemplary invitation from our student leaders to contribute to a community that values the diversity of each unique individual in a climate of respect and dignity, and in so doing celebrating the bond that binds us as a community.  The seemingly simple but long missed opportunity to gather as a whole school assembly by sitting outside under the sunshine in the Caritas Christi courtyard, alongside our House flags and the beautiful buildings in which we learn, play and pray together.  So many students and staff commented upon the joy and inspiration of the Assembly, culminating with the singing of our College Anthem ‘Flowers and Sunshine’.  Today I include the words of our Co-Captains, Elyssa Chaaya and Reeves Hancock.  I encourage you to find opportunities to ask similar provocations of your daughter/s - why Vinnies and how does she contribute her unique gifts to add to the richness of our community and to broaden her perspectives to grow in the fullness of who she is?

As a staff community, we are very much looking forward to the launch of our partnership with Professor Lea Waters as a Visible Wellbeing school.  All that we do in a community holds people at the heart - nurturing understanding and capacities to be well is fundamental to learning well through positive relationships and with healthy mindsets.  The evidence-based research that combines the science of psychology with the neuroscience of learning, embedded within the values and mission of our College offers opportunity to clarify our purpose for a contemporary St Vincent’s College education as well to enhance our practices within our many learning environments.  We appreciate your partnership in supporting staff with this investment in such a deep professional learning experience.  Know that students will access their learning on Monday from their Google Classrooms; there will be no Google Meets this day.

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

Assembly Address by College Captains - Elyssa Chaaya and Reeves Hancock

The theme for today’s assembly is Broadening Horizons, it's about celebrating diversity through building and nurturing our community.  It’s about looking out into our wider community and recognising the abundance of life and culture that surrounds us and then looking inwards, into our College,and recognising who we are at our core and the plethora of unique individuals that make up this community.

We are blessed to be situated in such a diverse and rich area of the city.  On our way to school, we walk by some of the most and least fortunate people side by side, but how well do we recognise this diversity in our wider community? Throughout history, Kings Cross has been known to be a home for all, a place where there is no distinction, no exclusion.

Every day most of us walk up and down Victoria Street, but how attentive are we to our surroundings?  As you cross the alleyways along Victoria Street, not too far before Melted Monster, have you ever looked up and noticed Wayside Chapel?  Perhaps you’ve heard the name before, but do we really know what it is?  Since 1964, Wayside Chapel has provided care and support for some of the most disadvantaged members of our society.  It supports people from all walks of life who are at risk, living on or around the streets of Kings Cross, providing essential services and skills for living.  As a Chapel, it has become a place to gather and connect. And so, at its core, it has recognised the diversity within our community and embraced it. 

Kings Cross is also uniquely steeped in rich maritime history.  With troops landing in the nearby Garden Island naval base during World War II and the Korean War, Kings Cross became a popular area for soldiers from overseas to spend their time.  Different cultures coming together during these times of peril has had a lasting impact on our neighbourhood and contributes to the melting pot community we are privileged to be a part of today.

This diverse community is even evident here, within our school:  Look at the student or the teacher next to you.  What do you know about them?  What don’t you know about them?  What’s special about that person?  Every single one of us here today is part of the Vinnies community and every single one of us here today has a responsibility to nurture our community, so that we don’t foster feelings of separation and isolation.  And so we ask you to consider how do we, EACH OF US, contribute to this?  Is it through our words:  Are our words enriching our community or are they restricting the expression of our diversity?  Do we use terms of inclusivity and acceptance or do we speak with ignorance, using racist, homophobic, gender-bias or culturally insensitive slurs?  How often do we absentmindedly say certain comments or slang terms that hinder our ability to connect with each other?

These are all questions that invite us to reflect on ourselves, our decisions and most importantly, our language, and allow us to recognise the importance of inclusivity, acceptance and diversity that will ultimately allow us to be a loving, dynamic community.  This term’s College Assemblies are a celebration of the richness of diversity that unites as a place of welcome allowing us to express the fullness of who we are as individuals and as one community.

Assembly Address by Charism and Social Justice Captains - Olivia Mitchell and Ella Wise

In August 1838, Venerable Mary Aikenhead sent five Sisters from the Irish congregation of ‘The Sisters of Charity’ to Australia.  Their first work was to visit the ‘Female Factory’ in Parramatta, a jail for female convicts, cementing themselves within the community as women who were willing to work at the intersection of faith and mission, the poor and the vulnerable and at the very margins of our society.  Today, Mary Aikenhead’s vision, commitment and inspiration lives on in her Sisters who now live and work in four continents throughout the world - Australia, Europe, America and Africa. 

The challenge for the sisters was not identifying those in society who were less than or without, the challenge was to find in each person an equal humanity. This is Social Justice.  This is what led our five sisters to come under the extremely harsh conditions of a four-month boat journey to Australia, to establish the first St Vincent’s Hospital in our Tarmons building right here in Potts Point, and later what is now the oldest Catholic girls’ school in NSW and the oldest registered girls’ school in Australia, St Vincent’s College. 

As a College, it is our goal to keep the mission and spirit of the Sisters of Charity alive in our broadening school community and within each of ourselves, as individuals of faith and mission.  As people of faith, we understand that there is no difference in each person, that we are all equal and must be respected as human beings.  This is irrespective of anything that we could use to define us, whether it's our skin colour, our hair colour, our talents, our strengths, who we like, or who we don't like.  We are all to be respected equally.  We know this from the gospels.  When Jesus says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or “love one another as I have loved you”, he is calling us to care for others as we would like them to care for us. 

At the simplest level, social justice is the act of giving or donating.  However, this isn't the real demand.  The real demand is to see in every person, an equal person.  Even if somebody is poor in wealth, education, doesn't come from the same upbringing or is simply not our type of person, we are to try to see within them ourselves.  This is exactly what the sisters did.  As people of faith, we are called not to simply identify when a person is poor in some way and choose the easiest course of action, but rather to share equally with them and understand that we are all human beings who suffer from varying difficulties and problems.  We are all deserving of the same love, care and respect from each other and we are to strive every day to look within ourselves and realise we are equal with all others. 

This essence is captured in the Halls Creek NAIDOC Ball, a yearly initiative for the children in Halls Creek to have the simple luxury of a community dance. This ball relies heavily on donations from those, like us, who have the convenience of living with access to department stores and online retail.  Whilst we see this as a mundane commodity, the formal season is a privilege out of the reach for many in rural communities and by giving, sacrificing and seeing the dignity in one another, we can ensure that such a joyous experience can be shared across different contexts.  The dance is not just an event, it provides an opportunity for shared community and celebration.  It can be a place where each person can join together with others to show care - exactly what we are called to do as people of faith, wherever we find ourselves. 

At Vinnies, our faith-based activities, Masses and Liturgies, formation and prayer experiences, as well as our various social justice initiatives, work hand in hand.  It is our Catholic faith that is the foundation of social justice, inspiring one another in the pursuit of continuously fostering understanding and a diverse culture, together as a community, keeping alive the spirit of the Sisters. 

“There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your name in might”.  Jeremiah 10:6 

The French King Louis XIV, reigned for 72 years, longer than any other monarch in French history.  Understandably during such a long reign, he became incredibly powerful and wealthy.  At his death in 1715, it is believed he was probably the most powerful and richest person in the world. Louis’s funeral was presided over by Jean-Baptiste Massillon in Notre Dame Cathedral, filled with the most important and influential citizens and other royalty from all over Europe.  It was renowned to be one of the most prestigious gatherings of world leaders of that century.  In the darkened cathedral there was only a single candle alight above Louis’s coffin.  As Jean-Baptiste rose to give the eulogy, he snuffed out the candle and proclaimed, “only God is great”.

An essential launching point to engage in learning in a hope-filled way is to begin with an honest reality check.  It is from an honest starting point, with an appraisal of strengths that are going well, and areas that need more work, that we can strategize and design the best approach to achieve our learning goals.  There is no value in being unreasonable critical of our skills and talents with a perfectionist prism.  Equally unhelpful is an overinflated opinion of what we have achieved or are capable of.  Whilst our reality check may not be of the magnitude of Louis’s, openness to oneself is an asset far greater than the alternatives.

Hope-filled learning is built around recognising strengths and weaknesses and engaging with learning, taking full advantage of every resource available, to improve and build our skill and knowledge base.  Learning by its nature is defined as a process with hope hard-wired, as it relies on the premise that something will be gained by the process - a new skill or a new understanding.  As students approach assessments in a variety of forms in all subjects, I have encouraged them to view these as opportunities to demonstrate their learning and all that their hard work has achieved.  The underlying premise with this approach is that they have applied themselves with some rigour to their work.

As we conclude Week 4 of this term, students who have been applying themselves in a systematic fashion are encouraged to maintain their resilience and continue as they have started.  To any students, who upon honest reflection, now realises that a reality check is in order, immediate action is required to complete this term strongly.  Assessments are designed to give honest feedback and allow students to demonstrate their genuine learning gain.  At the time, feedback is the catalyst for reflection and insight into the work just completed and in a hope-filled learning approach, feedback is the springboard into future learning.  

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning and Education Administration

We have had so much fun today.  We refused to allow the rain to dampen our spirits.  Coffee Queens was a hit this morning.  We started serving coffee and hot chocolate early because we were ready to go.  Why not?  It feels like we have fine tuned our organisation at Coffee Queens.  Everyone knows their job and we get stuck into it.  The music was ambient today as there was an English assessment and we didn’t want KC and the Sunshine Band to distract Year 12 from Mrs Dalloway.  Not quite the same genre.  We still managed to have a bit of dancing while we waited for our hot chocolate.  I didn’t burn the banana bread today.  Another win!  Maddie Speer was our super barista today.  My long black was life changing.  Thanks, team.

At recess time the Vinnies@SVC crowd sold hot chocolate to support the Vinnies Winter Appeal.  It was perfect weather for hot chocolate.  The whipped cream on the top was a little moment of joy for us all. 

Then at lunchtime the Atrium and the Paved Area went berserk.  The Boarders' had their BBQ in recognition of National Boarding Week and we had Speed Life Drawing in the Atrium.  We had ten models and fifty artists who lined up for a go at speed life drawing.  It was hilarious.  Each artist had the duration of ONE song to complete their masterpiece.  A few Year 7's managed to get more charcoal on their faces than they did on the paper, but they were headed to the bathroom to wash it off before class.  Our onlookers enjoyed the music and the art and the fun.  Alice Marden, our PR & Communications Captain, was there to support and find ‘insta’ moments.  I’m pleased to say some of our models had trouble standing still.  It gave an extra level of challenge to our artists and resulted in a number of Picasso-style pieces. 

Alice has proposed that we now call the area the ‘Art-rium’.  I think it’s got merit.  All artists are welcome to claim their masterpieces from my office next week.  Perhaps we will display them somewhere…

The Night Patrol roster was more popular than One Direction tickets on Ticketek.  How can it be that it filled up seemingly before I posted it?  Our girls are amazing.  There will be another opportunity to do Night Patrol, and I will get information to those students who missed out on the first round.  Likewise the Sandwich Roster is full.  Our next sandwich afternoon is Tuesday next week.  We need to do egg and mayo sandwiches.  They are really popular and we didn’t do any last time.  I’m on it.  If you would like to contribute to our Sandwich Project and Fund-a-Filling, we’d be grateful for the help.  A voucher from Woolies works perfectly.  Simply email a voucher to me at kenderesj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au and I will put it to good use.  We have enough funds to cover the next three weeks of fillings.

Truth, Lies and Sensation was a bit of a hit.  The conversation got very deep indeed.  I went into the afternoon really liking Damien Hirst’s For the Love of God.  Now it does not appeal at all.  Look it up and see what you make of it.  I used to like the idea of it and what I felt it was saying about life and beauty and value and desire.  Now, I’m repulsed by the exclusivity of it.  Who else could have such an opportunity to have this idea?   Ella Wise changed my mind about the whole thing.  We all decided that Alex Seton’s marble life jackets tugged most profoundly on our hearts and minds.  Alex said, ‘Somebody died trying to have a life like mine’.  The work is a reminder of those lifejackets that washed ashore on the Cocos Islands in 2013; empty life jackets, without the lives that they were intended to save. 

The work asks us to consider our national character and screams the question of the value of human life across the ocean.  The image looks so soft and gentle, lifejackets washed up on the shoreline, but they are cold and hard - marble like tombstones.  We don’t know the names of the souls they were intended to save.  But we need to remember them.  Alex Seton has a background in Ignatian spirituality.  I like to think that it helps him question the world, the decisions we make about the value of each other and the consequences of those decisions. 

The PonyTail Project has a new date - Friday 3 June.  If your daughter would like to sign up for the chop, she needs to get information from the Student Life Classroom.  Here’s a link that might help her The PonyTail Project .

Next week is Reconciliation Week.  Our First Nations students are working on the ceremony for Thursday’s Sorry Day commemoration.  The big news is that we now have a copy of the Uluru Statement from the Heart on display in our Vincentia foyer.  Our First Nations students are working on individual responses to the ideas and dreams the Uluru Statement sparks in them.  They will be displayed alongside our poster in the foyer.  Next week, we will have an Indigenous Style Art workshop on Tuesday, a movie screening (with popcorn) on Wednesday and Thursday, and of course our famous Kangaroo Burgers will be served for a $2 donation.  These proved delicious last year, and we hope to sell out again this year.

Bring it on!

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

University of Sydney

Conservatorium - Music Theatre Taster

Saturday 18 June 9.30am to 1.00pm.  During the session participants will be given insights into the art of musical theatre including stagecraft and presence, vocal technique, characterisation, ensemble work and more.  They will have the chance to dance, act and sing in this hands-on workshop giving a taste of the fascinating but always hard working world of music theatre.  For more information and to register your interest use the link found here.

ANU Canberra

ANU Applying Direct for 2023

Direct applications to ANU will close 23 May 2022.  If a Year 12 student applies directly for study in 2023, their application covers admission, scholarships and campus accommodation.  Early offers made on 5 September 2022 are based on Year 11 results.  ANU will honour these for study in 2023 as long as you complete Year 12 and receive an ATAR.  If a student’s Year 11 results don't meet entry requirements, they will be put on ANU Canberra’s waiting list and automatically considered again in the December/January offer round, based on your ATAR.  Use the link here to apply for ANU’s direct entry scheme.

TAFE

TAFE NSW student support helping students focus on studies and training.

When you study at TAFE NSW you can get help and assistance with nearly every aspect of your study life from study support and student resources, to counselling, guidance, and help finding jobs or accommodation.  Whatever your needs or circumstances, TAFE has the people, the resources, the counselling and the facilities to help you focus on your studies and training.  For more information about the Student Services available at TAFE go here.

2022 Apprenticeship / Traineeship and Jobs Expo

On Tuesday 9 August 2022 - 3.00pm to 8.00pm, The Concourse, Civic Pavilion, Chatswood.  For more information go here.

Sydney Design School (SDS)

Information Sessions:  On campus Wednesday 1 June 2022 at 6.00pm.

Find out everything you need to know about SDS's flexible courses and career support.  Amanda Grace, College Director, will introduce you to SDS’s educators and industry focused approach to learning.  Use the link here for more information.

Holiday Workshops at SDS

Interior Decoration Workshop

6 and 7 July - 9.30am-4.00pm.  If you love interiors, magazines and beautifully styled spaces, this two day workshop is for you.  Perhaps you’re considering a career in interiors?  This beginner's workshop will give you a taste of the Certificate IV in Interior Decoration course and you will get a ‘feel’ for SDS.  For more information and to register your interest go here

The Creative Business Workshop

6 and 7 July - 9.30am-4.00pm.  This intensive two day workshop is centred around key actionable steps designed to help you create, shape and accelerate your own business.  You’ll work with Interior Designer and Business Coach Diane Fernandes, from Designative, to develop the practical skills required to formulate an effective business model.  For more information and to register your interest go here.

Designer for a Day Workshop

7 July 2022 - 9.30am-4.00pm

If you’ve been considering a career in interiors, join us on campus for a day of exploration and creativity.  Our Designer for a Day workshop has been developed for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 who want to find out more about a career in interior design.  Participants will get hands-on experimenting with colour, materials and 3D rendering tools.  This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded students.  For more information and to register your interest go here.

Taronga Zoo

Certificate Courses at Taronga

The Taronga Training Institute provides accredited training that gives participants the unique experience of studying on site at the Zoo.  Taronga Training includes:

●       Independent and online study

●       Practical onsite days at the zoo

●       Opportunities to participate in Taronga special events such as VIVID at Taronga, as well as conservation programs such as tree planting and release.

For more information use the link found here.  Taronga Training would be a good way for interested students to show ‘commitment to care of animals’ that is a requirement for most undergraduate veterinary science courses.

Discover your Path to Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists play an important role in keeping people moving, whether it be for maximum performance in athletes or for people with chronic health conditions.  Physios also have an impact on patients who require rehabilitation after events such as surgery or an accident.  For more information use the link found here.

Tourism and Hospitality

To find out more about tourism management, ecotourism, culinary management, international tourism, food studies and management of resorts, restaurants and hotels, use the link found here .  The increasing profile of niche trading sectors such as ecotourism, cultural tourism, wine tourism and sport tourism has created growth in the industry and new markets continue to emerge, including heritage tourism and Indigenous tourism.  Courses in this field are largely vocationally oriented, so many require students to work in on-campus training facilities and include compulsory periods of industry placement - often paid.  The Good Universities Guide's ratings look at specific strengths of Australian universities, giving insight to support and guide decision-making when choosing a university.

NSW Police Recruitment

Information and Practice PCT Session

Saturday 28 May 2022 - 10.00am-12.00pm (times may be subject to change).  Note:  You must be 18 years of age to attend this event.  Use the link found here for more information.

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Ella Humphries, our College Arts Captain, spoke at the College assembly this week about how studying any of the Arts subjects at the College or joining a co-curricular Performing Arts program “broadens your horizons”.   Ella is an exemplary student of senior Drama, a scholarship Drama student and has also been in all the College productions.  She has joined Theatresports and represented the College many times.  She speaks from personal experience when she encourages all students to try new things. Ella also reminded students “what is the worst thing that can happen - you make a new friend or create new memories!”.  Wise words from a wise, young person!

This week Year 10 Drama student and Drama scholarship recipient, Eleni Matsos, reports on her experience with her fellow Drama ensemble students who competed at the Shakespeare Festival. Congratulations to these students and their talented tutor, Ms Julia Robertson.  Watch this space for details of when these students will compete at the finals at The Seymour Centre, Chippendale.

Year 12 Drama student, Madeleine Spears, also a Drama scholarship student, reports on her recent experiences as a Griffin Ambassador.  It is very exciting to have our Drama students out in the professional world being extended by world-class theatre practitioners.  The experiences they bring back to the College are invaluable, not only for the individual but also for their peers.

Last week, the Year 11 Drama class began their promotions and publicity campaign for The Witches, by Roald Dahl.  Tickets will be available soon, and I hope both the young and the more mature in our community will join us for the fun on one of the nights of the performances.

Ms Catherine Johnson
Head of Department Performing Arts

Griffin Theatre Ambassador Program 2022

Update on the College's involvement in the program - by Madeline Speer

The Griffin Theatre Ambassador program is designed to bring young, passionate theatre-goers and theatre-makers into the bigger world of professional theatre.  Hannah, Molly and I all took part in this program of workshops, performances and events, allowing us to ask questions and learn about the journey of transitioning into the professional world after high school.

We have had one meet-up, consisting of a workshop and performance where we were joined by Shontelle Pratt and Elias Jamieson Brown.  Shontelle Pratt is an intimacy director, choreographer, performer, teaching artist, theatre-maker and award-winning web series writer.  She has also worked with some of the most prestigious theatre companies across Australia and she came in to work with us on intimacy in scenes and finding where we feel comfortable in unusually uncomfortable scenes.  We did a few small group activities on picking up body language and setting boundaries with the other actors regarding our own bodies.  Elias Jamieson Brown is a critically acclaimed playwright, recently premiering his mainstage play with Griffin Theatre in 2021.  He worked with us on developing our own playwright skills and how we can use them to develop our own pieces.  We did an activity where we were given obscure news articles and images, then we were to develop a storyline and some dialogue around our pieces and present them to the group. Both of these exercises opened our minds to different aspects that we could possibly explore within professional theatre and were extremely inspiring to see the real opportunities which could be achievable for us in the future.

Later on in the day, we all attended a performance of “Orange Thrower” written by Kirsty Marillier.  This play explored ideas of racism, young love and difficult family dynamics through a dark and comedic story involving Sadie and her sister against her neighbours, when an unexpected family member joins them while her parents are overseas in South Africa.  This piece was phenomenal in the way it manipulated its audience's senses piece by piece, in ways I have never experienced.  The lighting and sound articulated the deep pain of each of the characters and brought us into their story through some heartbreaking moments, leaving some of us in tears.  After the performance, we were offered the opportunity for a Q and A session with the actors themselves, asking all of our crazy and obscure questions about their journeys into the acting world and what it’s like to be there.

The whole experience was absolutely amazing and we are all so grateful for everything they have offered us.  Our next meet up is on 28 May, which is so exciting and we are all looking forward to what else this program has to offer. 

Madeline Speer, Year 12

Shakespeare Festival Update - by Eleni Matso

On Monday night, Polly Grindrod, Clare Tolhurst, Elsa Dayman, Henrietta Dermody, Harper Kroon and I competed in the regional Sports for Jove Shakespeare Festival at Sydney Girls High!  The competition involves schools all around Sydney competing in a variety of different Shakespeare scenes, in different categories including duologues, ensemble scenes, group devised and many other great categories.

Our school had two entries:  An ensemble scene from Twelfth Night and a duologue from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Polly, Elsa, Clare and I performed a scene from Twelfth Night, Act 5 Scene One, ‘The Revelation of Cesario’.  In a nutshell, Viola (dressed as a man - Cesario) unveils herself to her twin brother, Sebastian (who she believes to be dead).  Olivia, who is engaged to Sebastian, discovers that Cesario and Sebastian are two different people.  Orsino, who is Caesario’s boss, discovers that Cesario is a woman, Viola, and proposes to her, and everyone is happily married! 

Harper and Henrietta performed a duologue from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, Act 2 Scene One, ‘Helena and Demetrius’.  Helena loves Demetrius, but Demetrius is in love with her best friend Hermia, who has run away with another boy, Lysander.  Helena follows Demetrius into the woods and begs him to be with her.  Demetrius is nasty and runs away from her.  It was Henrietta and Harper’s first time performing in front of an audience and they did an exceptional job.  We were really proud of them!

We had many rehearsals, both in private speech and drama lessons, to work more specifically on character and language and then in group rehearsals to stage the scene and tie it all together.  Ms Robertson taught us how to engage with the language in a contemporary way and ensured we knew what we were saying and how to express it clearly.  She made challenging material really fun and exciting and I felt the audience could understand us very well because of this.  I personally found understanding the language and communicating in a way that is accessible to an audience a bit difficult. It was also a challenge adapting our scene to a much larger theatre space, and keeping our voices projected and heard in such a large auditorium full of people.

I liked seeing different interpretations of Shakespearean scenes and the vast variety of entries from dance to short film.  The audience was really engaged, supportive and excited.  I felt a strong sense of community with all the schools that came to compete and everyone was very positive in their feedback, cheering for every group.

We won our category, Ensemble Scenes, which means that we go through to the finals which will take place at The Seymour Centre in the first week of June.  We will be working on improving our use of space and movement within our scene before we compete again!  (see some photos below)

Eleni Matsos, Year 10 Drama

Invitation to Apply for Mother Mary Aikenhead Scholarship, 2023

Year 10 students are invited to apply for the 2023 Mother Mary Aikenhead Scholarship.  The Scholarship is for a Year 11, 2023 student who demonstrates strong academic achievement, an ability to lead and a willingness to participate in social justice activities.

The Mother Mary Aikenhead Scholarship honours the founder of the Sisters of Charity and is made possible by the College Foundation and the College Ex-Students’ Union.  The scholarship covers 50% of tuition fees.  Applications close 30 May 2022.

Apply for the Mother Mary Aikenhead Scholarship here.  Further information can be found on the College website.

Invitation to Apply for Foundation Boarding Scholarship

Prospective Year 7 students from rural and regional areas are invited to apply for the 2023 Foundation Boarding Scholarship.  The Scholarship honours the College’s long standing connection with rural New South Wales through its Boarding program.

The Foundation Boarding Scholarship applicants will need to show strong character and justice attributes and demonstrate an appreciation of, and an affinity with, the College values - generosity of spirit, hope, justice, respect and service of the poor.  The scholarship covers 100% of Boarding fees.  Applications close 30 May 2022.

Apply for the 2023 Foundation Boarding Scholarship here. Further information can be found on the College website.

Mrs Robyn Pedley
Registrar

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

Head of Netball and Basketball - Elyse Harmanis 
elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au - 0434 610 870
Head of Soccer:  Mr Nick Schroeder - 0431 117 565
Head of Hockey:  Mr Liam Jepson - 0422 027 649
Head of Athletics/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/ 

TERMS 2/3 SPORT

IGSA Netball, Basketball, Hockey and Football

Well done to all teams who won their matches last Saturday - we had some great games!  The team lists, venue details and 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.  Please note, that NO jewellery is to be worn whilst playing and that earrings cannot be taped - they must be removed or you won't be able to play.

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.  DON'T FORGET THAT TRAINING IS ALWAYS ON - IF IT'S RAINING TRAINING WILL BE ON IN THE GYM OR HALL.

above:  Netball action

Fitness and Cross Country

Fitness training continues on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and will now concentrate on more athletic events in preparation for the IGSA Carnival next term - after the IGSA cross country.  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/athletics 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 and then head down to Rushcutters Bay.  If it is wet they will do a fitness session in the gym - so training is always on!  

SVC and IGSA ATHLETICS CARNIVALS

Unfortunately, due to the persistent rain we have had in Sydney, the renovations at E S Marks Field will not be completed in time for us to run our Inter-House Athletics Carnival this term.  Instead we will be having a similar inter-House competition that we had two years ago during Covid.  The modified athletics events will be run on the courts at lunchtime starting on 30 May.  Please sign up with the Google Form on your House Classroom by 25 May.

The events being held will be the Beep Test, 40m Agility Sprint, Turbo Jav and Standing LJ.  We will be awarding House points and Age Champions from these events.  However, we will also be running some trials for other events at athletics training later in the term, and will use the IGSA twilight meets in Term 3 as the final selection for the College team.

Inter-House Athletics Competition on the courts at lunchtime on the following dates:

Monday 30 May - 12 years and 13 years

Tuesday 31 May - 14 years

Wednesday 01 June - 15 years

Thursday 02 June - 16, 17 and 18 years

All Houses are encouraged to have at least two girls per age group competing, and others come along to cheer and support.  If for any reason you can't compete on your day, please let Ms Jacobs know and you can come on another day and be compared to your Age Group.

The Balmoral Burn:  We haven’t competed in the Balmoral Burn for a few years, but this year we would like to enter two teams in this very worthy Humpty Dumpty Fun Run which raises money for sick kids in hospital.  It is on Sunday 29 May and is a 450m sprint up Awaba Street at Balmoral.  For those who know this hill, you will know it feels more like 800m and requires great muscular endurance and speed.  Any students who are currently training for athletics who would like to join our team, must email Ms Jacobs by Monday 23 May.  We need four runners to compete in the ‘Head of the Hill Schools Relay”.  Other students can support this great cause and sponsor our athletes. 

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 the SVC 1 basketball team who had a great win on Saturday and are this week's Team of the Week!  This team is made up of students from Years 7 to 12 and are coached by ex student Andi Jarjoura!  The team works very well together at training and are undefeated so far!  Well done girls!

Congratulations to Sabine Winterburn, Year 8, who was awarded Competitor of the Year at Clovelly Junior Surf Life Saving Club.  The formal title is inaugural SRC under 14 Iron-person Competitor of the Year.  Well done Sabine!  Photo below is Sabine accepting the shield.

Congratulations to Jana Kowalski, Year 9, who swam the Bondi to Watson Bay 10km ocean swim last weekend.  She completed it in 3 hours 15 minutes and placed 5th in the females section and placed 11th overall.  Well done Jana, that is amazing!  We wish you all the best for the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships which are coming up soon, where she will compete in the 400m freestyle.  Joining her will be Ali Green, in Year 8, who will be competing in many of the AWD events.  Good luck girls!

Below:   Jana Kowalski

Below:  Ali Green

Congratulations to Alexandra Tait, in Year 11, who also participated in the Big Swim.  Lexie and another young girl from her swim club completed the 10km Bondi to Watsons Bay swim as a duo.  It was a challenging swim with a north east swell and a tide going out.  They won their category in a time of 2 hours and 56 minutes.  See attached picture of Lexie about to come around South Head. 

Congratulations to Ms Maria Geracitano (History teacher) for smashing the Sydney half marathon last weekend.  She ran the 21km in a great time of 1.56.14 finishing 4th in the 60-69 years age group and 514th out of the 2,439 female competitors.  Ms Geracitano believes that you can achieve anything you set your mind to if you put in a little effort...including reasonable HSC results.  Well done, we are all very proud of you!

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

View next week's CANTEEN SPECIALS:      HERE

Note:  As students are not on campus on Monday 23 May (Foxford Day - online learning based at home) - the canteen is closed for that day next week.

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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Calling all SVC Gardeners!

Please pot up some plants for the 2022 Spring Fair.

All sorts of plants are appreciated:  Succulents, bromeliads, perennials, annuals, indoor, outdoor, bulbs, herbs, flowers, natives, exotics - at the last Spring Fair, we even sold a hedge, potted up and looking for a new home.

Autumn is a great time to take cuttings and get some seeds in pots going - please get a few things going now to be looking great for spring!

If you would like further information, please contact Katrina on 0438 933 319 or email mackinnon-5@bigpond.com

Katrina Skinner
Plant Stall Co-ordinator

SPRING FAIR VOLUNTEERS 

Thank you so much for the wonderful response to our call out.  We will be in touch with our next steps.  There is still time to register your interest or donation  HERE.  If you have any questions or discussion, please contact Leisha on 0407 997 895 or email leisha@plentyofparking.com

Kind regards

Leisha Major 
President P&F Association