Issue 17 - 05June 2020

Above: Lunchtime Virtual Athletics

Below: Year 12 House dress up for Virtual Athletics

Below: Including House Captains

Below: More Virtual Athletics Events (see more photos in Sport Report)

Below: Beep Test

Reminders

Monday 08 June: Queen's Birthday Public Holiday.

Saturday 13 June: Reminder: See Mrs Kenderes' Faith and Mission article in last week's issue - 29 May - "Winter Sleep Out Has Gone Virtual"

Monday 15 June: Edible Book Festival (see LRC article).

From the Principal, Mrs Anne Fry

Dear Parents and Carers

We have been back together as a College community for two weeks, and there is now only 14 days remaining of our first (and very eventful) semester. Our observations of the students since their return would lead us to believe that while there has been some disruption to learning, that has not been as universal as we might have thought after eight weeks away. What we, however, had possibly underestimated were the variety of trauma responses we are seeing in the students. Whether they are even conscious of the origin of the angst they are feeling, many of the students are feeling tired, worried (anxious), unsettled, unfocussed and 'out-of-sorts'. All very classic responses when we feel overwhelmed. While the issue is global, their reaction is local. It might be showing up in their behaviours as irritability with parents, siblings or peers; it might be changes in sleep or appetite; it might be a change in attitude to particular subjects, aspirations or previously enjoyed co-curricular activities; it might be a dis-ordered sense of themselves or others; it might be showing up as risk-adverse behaviours or the complete opposite as higher risk behaviours. We are seeing trends that are probably very proportional to the students' age, and I commend Mrs Brooks, the Heads of House, College Counsellor and the teachers, who are showing patience and understanding during this period of transition.

Perhaps associated with this phenomenon, or perhaps more truthfully they are just the target audience of the sophisticated markets who are finding new ways to develop a nicotine addiction in young people, but we are receiving reports of "vaping" occurring on the way to and from school, and sadly also at school. The packaging and flavouring of vaping is styled and disguised to look rather benign, but there is plenty of research out there now that shows it carries comparable, if not higher risks than smoking. We will be addressing this with all the students, but I also want you to be on the look out at home for the vaping sticks and refills. My message to very young women here will be, "you are better, wiser and more empowered than that!". Together we can ensure our students and daughters see through the glib, false promises of the nicotine industry.

I hope that this long weekend gives you time to rest and relax. That extra day makes all the difference to our minds and bodies. I will be spending much of mine trying to tame our new puppy! I think it was my trauma response to let my guard down and agree to this new addition to the family. She is a classic Vinnies' girl already - full of spirit and personality!

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

In Sympathy

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

Lucia Porteus (Year 11); Georgina Porteus (Year 7) - Grandmother.

From the Director of Teaching and Learning

As Sydney prepares for a long weekend with increased lifting of restrictions, as part of the government’s 3-step response to emerging from COVID 19 lockdown, many of us are positive yet guarded about this long-awaited recovery. Like any recovery, the process must be measured and constantly monitored. So too our students and teachers navigating their own wellbeing and learning life in the ‘new normal’ requires measure and monitoring. Our return to face-to-face this term, in a term that is notoriously short and busy, feels for all intents and purposes as if nothing has changed. The classrooms are buzzing, the staff rooms are sparsely populated yet busy places where assessment and report writing are nearing completion. Our teaching and learning paradigm at the College is palpable as all in the learning community are doing their best to ensure that learning matters every lesson, every day, yet we need a new lens from which to view this paradigm. Like any significant global event, the post-event trauma can shift ways of thinking. We continue to think at the College. We think everyday as educators about the young women who are looking to us for knowledge and understanding. We are offering it in spades through our curriculum delivery and assessment activities preparation. Even more importantly, we are offering the academic care necessary to learn optimally.

My team of colleagues - both in the Diverse Learning Centre and the Heads of Department, are always available to listen to any concerns you may have about your daughter’s learning and how we as a College can respond to ensure that we have in place the strategies and support that will assist your child to feel emotionally safe in her learning. This is done in a myriad of ways, including close conversations with the teachers of your daughter, and if necessary in the adjustments to learning we make to cater to the individual needs of each of our students’ unique learning disposition. Please do contact your daughter's teacher or Tutor teacher if you have any concerns about her re-navigation to learning post-Foxford, and do not hesitate to contact me if your concerns about your daughter’s learning are more holistic. This week NESA, who are traditionally known best as the providers of regulations and Curriculum ‘law’ have refreshingly adopted a more pastoral approach to academic care by initiating a campaign advocating the importance of the message here to Stay Healthy During the HSC. This message aligns with the pastoral and academic care of all in our community, and more exclusively, the Class of 2020. One would be forgiven for thinking that NESA may have ‘borrowed’ our own Vinnies philosophy that promotes the wellbeing of all students to become courageous women of action who are ‘independent in thought’, ‘compassionate in attitude’ and ‘confident to act’. Either way, the Class of 2020 do indeed ‘have this’ and their digging deep to find the stamina and the focus to give of their best in the final internal HSC Trial and external HSC assessments, will reward them well and buoy their hopes and dreams for their future vocational pursuits on a dynamically evolving planet.

Our Year 10 students are highly deserving of commendation for the mature ways in which they are responding to the conversations being had in assembly and Tutor time, as they continue to discern their HSC pattern of study for 2021/2022. Parents and carers are reminded that in the first instance our Subject Selection site remains an excellent ‘one stop shop’ for all of the expert advice - from both staff and students. Ms Karen McConnochie, our Acting Careers Adviser, is also a wealth of knowledge, and is located in the Heads of House area for careers advice and University Admissions Centre (UAC) guides. A reminder that the first round of selections are due on Friday 19 June, but these are only preliminary ideas about subject choice. The final decisions will be arrived at after a formal Subject Selection meeting with a member of the College Leadership Team in Week 1 of Term 3. Finally, our Year 10 students will complete the NESA HSC Minimum Standard Practice Tests on Wednesday 10 June for Writing and Numeracy and Thursday 11 June for Reading.

I wish you all a relaxing and warm June long weekend with your families.

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

World Environment Day

Our news bulletins are lurching from one disaster to the next, each one crowed with possibility for more sadness and destruction than the one before. The brilliant Environment Committee lead by Ms Sophie Robson, have managed to find the link between all these issues and point us in the right direction for positive action. Ms Robson’s wisdom is that if you consider bushfire, floods, land degradation, the taking of land from our First Nations people, protests here and around the world, and now the racially fueled riots in the US, they are all wrapped up in the need for racial justice. If humankind can be just to minority groups, the disenfranchised, the conquered and the vilified, then it will inevitably involve environmental justice. We can’t say that we are treating the people of the South Pacific justly, if we watch their fresh water supplies become inundated with saltwater and their homes slip into the rising seas, we can’t talk about the treasures of 100,000 years of indigenous occupation of this land, and then destroy 40,000 year old cave art in the Pilbara to accommodate a mine, and we can’t talk about the importance of environmental justice if we don’t make change. Environmental justice is a worldwide need.

The Environment Team along with Ms Robson’s class put the ideas for this video together. They reflected on where in the world their families are from, and what the Environment concerns of that place are right now.

Have a look at the results:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RMGe9NX0zEQHqRw0snYRL9nRIGPP7FFx/view?usp=sharing

Year 12’s video response to Senator McCarthy’s Sorry Day interview has been sent to Parliament House, and the challenge it raises has been placed before all our students:

Where in Australia were you born?

Who are the traditional owners of that land?

If you were born outside Australia, on whose country are you living now?

Are there sacred sites near your place?

What do you know about the land, the native animals, the totems, stories and culture of the place where you live?

Is there a site near you that is under threat?

Is there a site near your place that is sacred or special to the traditional owners?

I live on Gamaraigal country. There’s a 3,000 year old midden just down the road from me, on the river, near where we put canoes in the water. You have to know what you’re looking for, but whenever I am there I look out for it, and it feels important to acknowledge that where I am walking others walked and put canoes in the water and fished and raised their children long before Jesus was walking around Palestine, or Alexander the Great was not so great in his lessons with Aristotle. Tomorrow I’ll be in Wiradjeri country, just near the rock overhang where hundreds of handprints adorn the granite. I’ll look way up, on the north eastern face and see if I can spot the rainbow serpent painting that terrifies me. How did they get way up there 15,000 years ago to paint it? So much to learn.

Next weekend all families are invited to join in our VIRTUAL SLEEPOUT. Tonight about 330 people will sleep rough in the City of Sydney. Many thousands will sleep with their families in cars, in tents, and in crisis accommodation.

St Vincent’s College will support the St Canice’s Parish virtual sleepout on 13 June. We are inviting students, ex-students, brothers, sisters, friends, mums and dads, to ‘sleep rough’.

A flyer with detailed information, a signup form and a series of challenges will be arriving in your inbox soon. To prepare, you will need a sleeping bag, a beanie, a sleeping mat or some cardboard - but my daughter tells me that this helps very little with creeping cold - so get those ready. Start working on friends and family to join you in the challenge. Dig deep to find your inner courageous person of action, and be ready to support our homeless.

Information at the St Canice’s Winter Sleepout can be found here:

Backyard Winter Sleepout.

Homelessness. Can I be part of the solution?

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

Boarder Lines

The Boarding House has now been reopened for four weeks, with staggering of Year groups over this time. With routines now back in place, the Boarders are getting used to boarding COVID-style. It is difficult to adapt to this new routine especially knowing what life used to be like, but always hopeful that one day eventually things can change. With this long weekend upcoming, we normally have all Boarders travelling today. It was a bizarre feeling not putting the girls on a bus at 6.00am, but that is the current normal.

This long weekend will see a flurry of activities being hosted by the staff - from singing in the chapel with Mrs Kenderes, a mixture of physicality with Mrs Brooks, Anette, Naomi and Liza, or Greek dancing with Mrs Mano - it will be fun! Mrs Kenderes and I would spend hours at singing practice at a previous school we were at...and we are excited about belting out a few hymns in the chapel this afternoon. Let’s hope the Boarders sing along with us...!!!!

We know that this time in the world is tough, each and every day. There are so many things that every person misses. I miss being able to hug my parents and my niece and nephews. Some miss being able to go to their favourite restaurant for dinner. Some miss flying home for the weekend. Some miss their grandparents hugs and kisses. We all crave normalcy in our lives, and during this time, it is much more important to focus on what we do have and what we can do. Having a voice is important, and we encourage our Boarders to speak up appropriately and respectfully. This week and next, Mrs Brooks and I, along with our College counsellor, Ms Sophia De Prendegast, will spend time with all Boarders to give them a chance to express how they are feeling, to voice their opinions and to listen to each other in a safe space. We will get through this period and hope that we can get through it together.

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

Edible Book Festival

Edible Book Festival - 15 June - students fill in the form HERE to participate.

ISO Reading Challenge Winner

Congratulations to all the readers who took part in the Iso Reading Challenge.

The name drawn who wins a $50 Potts Point Voucher is….Monique Plint, Year 11.

Mrs Jody McDonnell
Head of the LRC

Year 7 Technology - Robotics Challenge

Year 7 Digital Technology

This week, Year 7 students have been working collaboratively to plan and code their Lego EV3 Robots to complete their first robotics challenge. In preparation, students have been testing their code using Makecode Mindstorms. This is an online platform that allows students to work in Block Coding or JavaScript (see the images below for a simple example). Some students have also begun exploring the use of the digital colour sensor which distinguishes between seven different colours and can also detect the absence of colour. In the images below you can see class 7G are testing the Line Follower code to make their robot follow a simple black line.

Students felt accomplished during this lesson as they attempted to make their robots synchronise to follow each other at the same pace. We look forward to sharing the outcomes of the robotics challenges with you over the next few weeks!

Ms Priscilla Laliotis
TAS Teacher

above: Block code example
below: JavaScript code example

English Department: Year 12 English Standard class - Poems

Year 12 English Standard have begun the study of their last module: Module A Language, Identity and Culture. We will be studying the poetry of Ali Cobby Eckermann, an award-winning Indigenous poet. As part of our immersion in this unit, students began by writing haikus and explaining their inspiration. Here are some of their poems.

Chloe Conway	A sea of fear, Surges through the nation, Ripples across the world.	The inspiration behind my haiku was the current atmosphere surrounding the unprecedented times. The reference of water is constant throughout my Haiku, as like water, fear can transcend geographical boundaries.
Charlotte Gallagher	Silence on the plain Travelling up and through my veins As I await the rain.	The inspiration behind my haiku came from the drought at the beginning of the year that brought devastation to many families and owners of farmland. The drought would have resulted in countless hours that many people would have spent in silence, praying for the miracle rain to revitalise their land.
Madeleine De Bortoli	An old fertile vine Smoked filled grapes begin to fall Betrayed by nature.	This summer, the smoke produced from the fires across Australia had quite a significant impact on the quality and growth of vineyards. Many vineyards across the country were ready for harvest, however greatly impacted by the smoke. It is evident that nature has had a negative impact on the lives of many individuals including my own, as all of the hard work and effort that went into the growth of a vineyard, is suddenly all gone.
Tiah Payne	Thunder in the air Ripples form with every drop The storm has arrived.	Storms are like sadness and anger filling up inside you as life brings both good and bad memories. But after a storm, there always is a bright sunny day. This is explored in the significance of a rainbow which brings happiness and joy to people's lives.
Holly Mulligan	The eclipse is high Tomorrow the moon conceals Shadow over us.	The inspiration behind my haiku is the moon. Many people regulate their actions, beliefs and behaviours upon the moon and its cycle. The eclipse is one of the most powerful lunar events in the year and is a time of change and escape from the things in life that casts a shadow over us and as the moon continues to progress through her cycle, the light shines on us casting away the shadows of the night.
Olivia Burrows	The world is still Quiet winds brush past my face Until the music begins to play.	This haiku is about how much I treasure music and the ability it has to completely switch my mood and take away reality
Ella Eizenberg	Born with a brother Separated by gender 'Till death do we part.	This haiku is symbolic of the relationship I have with my twin brother. Although we are only two minutes apart, we are completely different people and often conflict arises from that. But that has enforced and strengthened a range of characteristics I have. But we will always be siblings and grow to like each other.
Aneesa Abrahams	Where do I belong Near and far from everywhere All colours are my home.	My haiku explains my cultural diverse family, as I have family from far away, and family here. Yet I do not fully belong to one race or colour, I am from all colours.
Catherine Fassilis	Together we start The memories we will make Forever with me.	My haiku represents how our year started school. Together as naive kids and throughout our schooling we have all grown together, and made some amazing memories that will never be forgotten.
Tarli Mason	Here, there, everywhere It is the land and people That have made me, me.	I am of four different tribes so I belong to four different ‘countries’, lands and people. This haiku is about the complex relationship with the land and people from literally here, there and everywhere that have shaped my identity and culture.
Erin Griffin	Goodnight lullabies Faraway days of a child No more simple days.	This haiku represents the days of being a child and how far away they are. It highlights how our days now are not as simple as they used to be.
Emma Graziano	Identical me, The same face, younger, smaller Passed down from mother.	This haiku is about how my mother and I look very similar. My grandmother, my mother and I all look scarily similar, that we often get confused with one another.

English Department: Creative Competitions and Resources

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust:
Shakespeare Shorts is back for 2020! Shakespeare Shorts is a short film competition brought to you by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Submissions are welcomed from film-makers of all ages and abilities, anywhere in the world. Submissions for our 2020 competition are open now via Film Freeway. Categories include: Best interpretation of a passage from Shakespeare (up to 10 minutes); Best film inspired by Shakespeare (up to 10 minutes); Best Shakespeare themed Animation (up to 5 minutes). The winners of each category receive feedback from their patron, Kenneth Branagh. More details - here. Submission by 21 September.

Bell Shakespeare: Bell Shakespeare is excited to announce a film festival where students are in the director’s seat. A national festival of short films about and inspired by Shakespeare that reflect unique Australian communities. Create a film in one of two categories: Retelling — films using Shakespeare’s original text and story and Reimagining - films that adapt, rework or are inspired by Shakespeare’s works. Details www.bellshakespeare.com.au and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbxicXfx9m . Submissions close 3 July.

The Story Factory has an online after school program for young writers, focussing upon poetry and the novella. The aim is publication. Details here: https://www.storyfactory.org.au/year-of-poetry-year-of-novella

Education Perfect: Byte Sized Competitions: The Byte Sized Competitions are a series of mini competitions (20-30 minutes) hosted by EP. These competitions are a great way for students to learn in a fun and engaging context, as well as work alongside other students. The English Competition is held on Monday afternoons. Details here

Poetry in Action: Is on the hunt for Australia’s next generation of poets, and they want to see your poetry! Their monthly poetry challenge opens on the first and concludes on the final day of each month. The winner for the year will be chosen from all the monthly finalists and announced towards the end of the year. Details here: https://www.poetryinaction.com.au/poetry-comp/

Kill Your Darlings: The KYD School Writing Prize gives a voice to young people writing about the issues that concern them. They are seeking entries of up to 1500 words in either fiction and non-fiction, with students responding to a current social or political issue. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, editorial support and publication in KYD. The 2020 School Writing Prize will be judged by award-winning author Alice Pung and KYD editor Alan Vaarwerk. Entries are open now and close on Friday 3 July. https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au

Ms Monica Jarman
Head of Department English

English Department: Poetry and Short Story Submissions - Years 7-11

English Department: SVC Wide Reading - Years 7-12

Year 11 Drama Play

Sport Report

Term 2 Sport Staff Contacts:

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

Athletics and Fitness: Ms Natasha Stenberg: 0412 099 882.

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

TERM 2 SPORT

Sadly we had to cancel our Inter-House Athletics Carnival this year due to physical distancing restrictions, but, instead, we have had lots of fun athletics events at lunchtimes and fitness challenges in Tutor time this week. The lunchtime events were conducted very competitively and the Age Champion titles were very closely contended.

The Athletics Age Champions for 2020 are:

12 years - Sophia Brokenshire - Aikenhead

13 years - Emilia Reed - Williams

14 years - Iyla Maguire - Cahill

15 years - Marla Falvey - Aikenhead

16 years - Chloe Korbel - De Lacy

17 years - Emma Iorfino - De Lacy

18 years - Ricci Long and Charlotte Gallagher both from O'Brien (They actually tied, as they really pushed each other in every event).

The morning fitness challenges were also very competitive with lots of House points up for grabs. We are also going to run these again next week as many groups missed out on doing them.

Fitness/athletics training with Ms Jacobs is on Mondays and Wednesdays. This caters for all year levels and all fitness abilities. It runs from 3.00pm- 4.00pm and incorporates jogging, stairs and circuit-style training in the College grounds. Please email jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au if you would like to join in on either days.

Practical Guide for Sport and Physical Activity

The following practical guide provides information for schools on the return to school sport and physical activity. As students return to full time face-to-face learning, sport and physical activity programs will initially focus on non-contact sports, with fitness being our main aim at St Vincent’s this term. Next term we are hoping to join back in our IGSSA and Eastern Suburbs competitions with the following guidelines.

Safety and Hygiene

The following hygiene measures will continue to apply to all sport and physical activities in schools regardless of the phase, including once full sporting participation returns:

All sports teachers and students must always try to practice good hygiene.
Staff and students are required to wash their hands prior to and at the conclusion of sport and physical activities. Encourage hand hygiene practices at regular intervals as required.
Maintain respiratory hygiene whilst participating in sport and physical activity, encouraging coughs or sneezes to be covered and tissues to be disposed of immediately. Always wash your hands after having coughed, sneezed or blown your nose.
Discourage spitting or clearing of nasal or respiratory secretions at all times. No shining of a cricket ball with sweat/saliva.
Do not train if unwell. Students are expected to stay away from school or be collected by a parent/carer should they become unwell during the day. Students should not be participating in sport if they are unwell.
Do not share items such as drink bottles or towels. Students should provide their own personal items such as water bottles, towels, clothing, mouth guards etc as required, for competitive sporting activities.
Avoid shaking hands. Students should not shake opposition hands at the conclusion of a sport activity. Instead, we will do three cheers for the opposition and three cheers for the umpire.

SPORT REGISTRATIONS FOR TERM 3 ARE OPEN

Please go to the College website - LEARNING/SPORT/TERM 3 REGOS if you would like to play IGSSA netball or hockey; Ascham 5-a-side soccer or basketball. We are still waiting to hear if IGSSA athletics will go ahead, but if you were in the team last year or did well at the lunchtime events this week, please also choose athletics.

These entries will close Friday 12 June at 5.00pm so we can organise trials and grading.

IGSSA

CROSS COUNTRY: The Carnival at Frensham will now be run on the last Saturday of Term 3 - 19 September. Any girls interested in competing are to please email Ms Jacobs, and they should also be attending Monday and/or Wednesday training sessions if they are not training outside of school.

SPORTS STARS

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

Congratulations to the energetic group of students who participated in our lunchtime athletics events this week. The Year 7's in particular were outstanding, with many new talented athletes on show. Emilia Reed, Year 7, and Lani Bresnahan, Year 11, 'smashed' everyone in the Beep Test.

The morning Fitness Challenges were also well done, with Mia Timbs the stand-out with her 10 minutes plank; Marley McCallum and Clare Tolhurst for their 30 minutes wall sits! and Vasiliki Kapsis for doing 89 sit ups and 50 push ups!