Bulletin

See Mrs Fry's article 'Principal's Message'.

(Mentioned in Principal's Message). 

First Place - CATER

Second Place - DE LACY

 Third Place - AIKENHEAD

O'Brien          

Williams

Cahill

Friday 24 June:  Last day of classes Term 2.

Friday 24 June 6.00pm:  Boarding House closes.
Monday 18 July 4.00pm:  Boarding House opens.

Tuesday 19 July:  First day of classes Term 3.  

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Teaching and Learning Important Dates:

Tuesday 19 July:  Year 8 face-to-face Parent/Carer Teacher Meetings and Year 9 (2023) Elective Information Session.

Monday 25 July:   Year 9 Online Parent/Carer Teacher Meetings.

Monday 01 August:  Year 7 Online Parent/Carer Teacher Meetings.

Monday 01 August - Friday 12 August:  Year 8 Elective Preferences Submission.

Monday 01 August - Monday 15 August:  Year 12 HSC Trial Examinations.

Wednesday 24 August - Tuesday 06 September:  Year 11 Final Blocked Assessments.

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Friday 22-Saturday 23-Sunday 24 July:  Boarders' IN-Weekend.

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Dear Parents and Carers

The semester finishes today and for many this signals a further return to normalcy with the chance to travel interstate or internationally.  For others, it might be the simple joys of a 'staycation' with time to relish in our own beautiful city.  Whatever your plans are, I hope they are fulfilled without interruption or delay.  I am off myself overseas for a couple of weeks and am feeling a little daunted at the thought of navigating airport delays and the British rail strike.  It will be a novelty to be away from Potts Point and the daily routines of school.

Yesterday the College erupted with colour and movement as the much anticipated return of House Dance.  After two years of government restrictions that did not allow for dancing, the joy and freedom was very visible on the Caritas Christi Courtyard.  I was grateful not to be on the judging panel as each of the six routines exceeded my expectations.  I would have awarded equal first place to each!  Congratulations to Cater House, who was awarded first place for their routine.  Thanks to our Year 12 House Leaders who managed all aspects of the performance.

Last night I attended the 100th anniversary celebration of IGSA Sport.  It was a wonderful celebration of how women's sport has evolved over the last 100 years, and while there is room for further parity with men's sports, there was much to celebrate.  St Vincent's College has a proud record of participation in Sport since our foundation in 1858 through to the current day.  IGSA has provided strong competition and a pathway to representative sport.  At the dinner there wee many Olympians and Para-Olympians whose love of sport were nurtured through IGSA and school-based individual or team-based sport.  St Vincent's College has Olympians in our Alumnae and emerging Olympians currently at school.  You might have seen them in action during the busy Term 2 Sport program.  Congratulations to Ms Jacinta Jacobs (Sports co-ordinator), Ms Elyse Harmanis (head netball and basketball coach), Ms Hayley Boatswain (head water polo coach), Ms Tonya Hetreles (head tennis coach), Tash Stenberg (athletics/fitness coach), Mr Joseph Hekeik (co-curricular co-ordinator), Dr Kirsty Soles (Head of PDHPE), Ms Karen Astrom and Mrs Belinda Peoples, who each have contributed so much to the Sport program at St Vincent's College.

Today is snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug day and despite the mild weather, staff and students have worn multi-layers of clothes to enjoy passive warmth without need for heating.  We were a splendid sight in our oodies, onesies, pyjamas, beanies and dressing gowns - that might have given our uniforms a head start on that trip to the dry cleaners to be ready to resume active duty on 19 July!

Happy Holidays,                                                                                                                             

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

We started this term with our St Vincent’s College Festival Day - singing with the joy of being able to gather as community.  We ended the term in high-spirited zest as each House literally kicked their heels in the air celebrating our long-awaited House Dances.  It had been three years since we danced on Caritas Christi - having had a rainy day postponed in 2021 only to be cancelled due to Lockdown, and the preceding year of 2020 we viewed our Dances via video.  The volume pitch of Thursday morning’s cheers of delight was testimony that there is indeed much joy in being physically together and able to engage in activities that generate positive emotion - amplified when shared.  Years 7, 8 and 9 were delighted to experience this for their first time, Years 10,11, 12 were delighted to claim this ritual back.

I could see many stories of triumph and kindness in these moments.  Students for whom I have been aware of their struggle - whether that be navigating peer relationships when we spent more time apart or for whom they had found motivation to re-engage in schooling, or those who may have felt moments of overwhelm or stress - the faces matching those dancing bodies were full of delight and pride.  Allegiance to House is strong at Vinnies - it nurtures a sense of belonging and invites students and staff to share their gifts.  We acknowledged again the generous and enthusiastic leadership of our Class of 2022.  In particular our House Captains - Ella Kelleher, Mika Singh, Evie Wightwick, Chloe Korbel, Sofia Dermody and Leilani Egan - who were ably supported by their Year 12 peers - it was indeed their turn to shine.  This Year group has truly defined themselves by their actions that are inclusive and nurturing of everybody’s strengths and this was clearly evident in the choreography that showcased all Year groups and with their musical prowess combined their mesh of melodies into one amazing performance.

I do hope your daughters have come home from this week, ready for a deserved rest from busy school routines, but thankful for the moments of happiness that are experienced within their Vinnies’ community.  I hope you as parents and carers can also take some time to spend with these wonderful adolescents and discover again in your release from school routines, the humour, kindness and joy within each of us.

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

”When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action taken” - Confucius

The life of schools is dynamic and cyclic with different cohorts at different points in the cycle at any one time.  As our first semester concludes, marking the halfway point of the 2022 calendar year, students in different year groups have different priorities and a unique focus.  I have had the privilege of meeting with different year groups over recent weeks to speak with them about their particular priorities at the end of Term 2.  One common element has been the foundational truth that hard work and persistence is how they will achieve goals that are significant.  This has been expressed as ‘resilience’ and the pursuit of genuine ‘rigour’.

For our Years 11 and 12 students, halfway through the calendar is more than halfway through their courses.  In Term 3, Year 12 will return for their final term of lessons which will include their Trial examinations starting in Week 3.  The Trial exams will signify the conclusion of school-based Assessment, leaving only their HSC exams in Term 4.  Once the Trial exams conclude, teachers will engage with the Class of 2022 to utilise the fact that collaboration and working together benefits everyone.  The idea that all lift on a rising tide.  Year 11 begin their final term of their Preliminary courses, with their Assessment Block commencing in Week 6.  Term 3 offers the opportunity to bed down productive study habits and practices to carry them into their HSC year which begins at the start of Term 4.

Year 10 having completed their initial subject preferences for their senior years, will return to individual interviews with senior and experienced teachers to consolidate their choices and do a final sign-off in readiness for the construction of the 2023 College Timetable.  Proven specialist software is used to ensure the greatest number of students receive the greatest number of their preferences, in what is authentically a student-driven timetable that is unique each year.  Given this, I emphasise to students and parents, that it is just a reality that no school timetable anywhere can accommodate every selection of every student.  Understanding the disappointment to those few who have to make difficult choices later in the process, please be assured that the College spends great time and effort to find the best possible solutions to such circumstances.

On Wednesday I explained to Year 9 the importance of establishing sound work habits and discipline in Years 9 and 10 to prepare for their learning journey in the second half of their learning journey at the College.  Experience and research underscore the positive effect of bringing established work practices in one’s learning from the start of senior years, as opposed to commencing senior courses and developing practices that reflect a solid work ethic.  When these practices are developed and become routine in Years 9 and 10, a solid foundation for senior success is laid down.

Year 8 have commenced the process of discerning their Elective choices for Years 9 and 10.  This process continues at the start of Term 3 with a face-to-face Parent/Carer Teacher Meeting and Elective Information Session on Tuesday 19 July.  The evening will have the opportunity to have teacher meetings before and after the Information Presentation between 6:00pm-6:30pm.  As Year 7 concludes their first semester of learning at the College, they have had the opportunity to reflect on the role of Assessment and in particular, the feedback it brings as part of learning.  The common message that developing the self-discipline to consistently put effort into their learning will enable Assessments to be the opportunity to demonstrate new skills and knowledge, rather than become the contrary view of ”a test of what they can't do yet”.

The mid-year break allows all students, regardless of their point in their learning journey, to pause, engage in honest self-reflection and reset or consolidate their priorities and learning habits as required.  I am reminded of the American self-made entrepreneur and motivator, Jim Rohn, who reflected that “discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”.  The most effective discipline of all in the long run is that which comes from within - self discipline.  I encourage all students to take full advantage of this and use it to pursue rigour and resilience in their studies.

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning and Education Administration

Each weekend in Boarding the staff will take the junior Boarders on an activity of some sort, ranging from Barangaroo, Art Gallery of NSW to activities on-site with baking, sewing or craft.  Eliza Mudford reflects:

Sunday’s activity was going to Barangaroo to see the Biennale of Sydney.  This included watching ‘The Great Animal Orchestra’, walking through the Cutaway exhibition and doing activities at The Waterhouse.  We started by walking through The Cutaway exhibition which was filled with a variety of amazing things.  There were eels made out of hand-blown glass, a meditation spot, a short film that you can watch and lots of sculptured artifacts.  Then whilst one group went into The Great Animal Orchestra, the other group went to The Waterhouse and added to the weaving walls, wrote quotes on a card to hang up, and wrote and drew pictures about our time there.  At The Great Animal Orchestra there was a big screen with an installation view of the animals making noises in different areas of the world.  There were elephants, wolves, birds and animals of the ocean.  It was a completely dark room that only showed the sound waves of what we were listening to on the walls around us.  There was a walk around the top level going down to the ground level. Along the walk there were a series of colourful poles that symbolised Vivid and would light up at night.  We all got a photo in front of the poles.

Eliza Mudford, Year 7, Gilgandra

These activities are really important to our building of community in Boarding and the more that are involved on the weekends, the more fun it is!

The first weekend in Term 3 (22-24 July) is an In-Weekend, with the annual Boarders’ Got Talent competition judged by the Year 12's.  This talent show always brings out the competitive side in each and every Boarder!

We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable long break together.  As always, it was lovely to put the Boarders on the bus early this morning (even though Alfie and I don’t really enjoy the early wakeup!) - but the joy of going home was palpable.

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

The library would like to thank all the students who made this year's festival the best ever!  We had 38 cakes baked this year. 

Crow Country Incursion by Julia Ko

A few days ago, three English classes (including ours) met Kate Constable, the author of the book Crow Country, the book that we were assigned to study in Year 7.  Through a Google Meet, she had many interesting aspects of her book to introduce to us!

Firstly, Ms Constable told us about her experiences and journey to becoming a writer and how she became interested in literature from a young age.  Born in Melbourne but growing up in Papua New Guinea, she was surrounded by books of fantasy and adventure found in her local library at Mt Hagen.  After visiting England, Constable's family moved back to Australia permanently.  She immediately assumed that Australia was no place for a fantastical book to take place and later found herself believing utterly the opposite.

Ms Constable began building a strong passion for Australian and Aboriginal history.  It was some of this research that led to her wanting to write a book set in the plain but extremely ancient lands of Australia.  She began gathering information about Indigenous people in history and how there were only around 1,300 Indigenous people fighting in the World Wars.  They were, after a long battle, treated like equals on the battlefield and in the trenches but it was a very different experience coming back.  Once they were back in society they were considered flora and fauna, not real people.  They weren’t promised land after the war, nor were they allowed into RSL clubs or permitted to be served alcohol.  They were only allowed these things on one day of the year - Australia Day.  This is the way that Aboriginal people were treated in 'olden day' society.

Ms Constable then went on to describe how the Aboriginal people considered time to be a cycle, how they passed down their stories and knowledge and how they used their natural resources as tools.  She also described how she researched and came to write the book and how she used inspiration from actual Australian and Aboriginal heritage to incorporate important information about Indigenous heritage.  She met with many Aboriginal people to help her contain the right information in her book.

One of the most significant people in the making of Crow Country is Gary Murray, a Dja Dja Wurrung elder, who checked and edited the manuscript for Crow Country.  He identified the stories tied to the small rural town Constable had used for her book.

We were given the chance to ask questions about the book, its characters and plotlines, and Ms Constable introduced us to many intriguing elements of Crow Country.  Overall, the incursion that Year 7 experienced was very enlightening and broadened our sense of the themes and ideas of Crow Country.

University News

UNSW

Girls in Engineering (GIE)

GIE is running an electronics workshop in the school holidays.  High school girls in Years 7-12 are invited to join the UNSW Electrical Engineering Society (ELSOC) online workshop to learn about circuit design, in the afternoon of Monday 4 July.  Places are limited to 30 and are filling up.  Please note the morning in-person session is waitlisted.  More information can be found here.

Macquarie University

Watch on-demand sessions online that cover important topics such as Macquarie University's Year 10 Subject Selection session, Year 12 Information session and How to Apply to Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme workshop.  Register to watch these sessions on demand here.

Australian Catholic University

ACU Guarantee

Guarantee your place at ACU before your Year 12 exams.  ACU Guarantee offers eligible Year 12 students a place at ACU based on their Year 11 results. Applications open Monday 18 July 2022.  For more information use the link found here.

TAFE NSW

Information Sessions

These information sessions help students explore their career options, connect to industry expert teachers and tour state-of-the-art facilities.  Registrations are mandatory using the link found here  

MedEntry

Final UCAT Prep Events

Dr Ray, Gastroenterologist at Monash Health, delivers a four-day UCAT workshop commencing 3 July, which covers all five UCAT subtests, interviews and entry process etc.

Intensive UCAT grinds begin 25 June.  For more details go here

HSC July Trial Preparation Lectures

Held at UTS and Macquarie University.  Lectures are delivered by experienced HSC teachers in NSW in 18 of the most popular subjects.  Read more here.

Agricultural Careers Expo

The Scots College:  Scots Agricultural Careers Expo will be held on Monday 18 July between 4.00pm and 8.00pm at Scots College, Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill.  Students interested in food, agri-economics and protecting the environment, may like to attend the expo.  Exhibitors include:  Domestic universities, Agri-Webb, Paraway Pastoral Company, Hay Inc Recruitment, Anna Brown Recruitment, New GAP Year. 

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Congratulations to Year 11 Drama Class for The Witches

Over the last few weeks, the Year 11 Drama class have been promoting their production of The Witches, by Roald Dahl, in the College Hall.  Tickets sold out fairly fast and after many parents and friends begged for more tickets, we added a row for each night and these tickets sold out within the hour!   Luckily the show was completely worth it for audiences, with some comedy aimed at the adults and lots of scary witches and lighting, music, costumes and sets that honoured the original children's story for younger viewers.

Every Drama student in Year 11 worked hard to source costumes, sets, props, design lighting and sound, promote the show, get sponsors, direct the show and act in the show.  As a learning experience, this project is a huge learning curve for students giving them challenges and agency over their creative process and product.  So much of life and school is dictated by NESA and the curriculum, that students sometimes say to me that their learning feels like a shopping list for a cuisine they never want to eat in the future.  I hope that by having to pitch a play of their own choice, vote for it, cast it, direct it, promote it, do all the design and act in it they will grow and learn about their capacity to problem-solve and work with others in a creative and practical way.  Hopefully after all the wigs, false eyelashes and set malfunctions and last minute fixes, every student is as proud of themselves as I am of them.

A big round of applause needs to be extended to the students who volunteered to assist the Year 11 Drama class - Polly Grindrod, who was on sound, Marnie Kenderes who was on lights, Asha Morison, Sophie Slee and Charlie Bennett, who were on front of house.  I would also like to thank the staff who helped - Mr Ken Devlin for Hall preparation, Mrs Cherie Tucker for help with ticketing and programs, Ms Emily Dennis for her expertise in sound, and Mr Jim McCrudden for filming the show so Boarder parents can see their daughters successful project. 

Workshop with fresh new skills from WAAPA with ex-student, Ellen Ebbs

The Year 12 Drama class has now completed their course content having performed their Group Devised Project for a progress assessment last Friday.  Therefore, this was the perfect time for this class to enjoy and stretch themselves with a workshop with Ellen Ebbs - one of our very talented graduates.  When Ellen was at SVC, she was our College Co-Captain and a talented, hardworking Drama student who had main roles in our College Productions and was selected for Onstage.  Ellen has been studying in Western Australia at the prestigious WAAPA, and has just returned to Sydney after playing the main role in the musical ‘Evie May’ at Government House, in the ballroom.  In her workshop with Year 12 Drama, Ellen concentrated on exercises that highlighted the importance of breath work  for all performance, theatre games that use different energy levels and creative team work.  Year 12 Drama worked hard during the workshop but also laughed a lot, which felt like a great way to finish a term.

I would like to thank Ellen for her time and fantastic skills that she shared with our students.  It is always exciting to work with new people, with new theatre games and exercises, and these experiences stretch students to work harder to produce better performance outcomes for their HSC practical exams.

Matilda Rehearsals

We are now more than halfway through the rehearsal process for the College Production of Matilda, scheduled to run in November.  Students have been rehearsing songs, learning dances and creating full characters for nearly two terms now, the result being some scenes are fully blocked and will not be revisited until the full-day final Sunday rehearsal, just before the dress rehearsal.  Some of our older students are accustomed to doing some production homework, but new students and juniors are now realising they need to do a little practise at home to ensure they do not forget their parts. Singing, dancing and acting all at once is much harder than people imagine and I commend everyone for all the work they have been doing this term - it is going to be a really fun show!

Ms Catherine Johnson
Head of Department Performing Arts

Invitation from the Principal:  Boarding Open House  

Friday 8 July 2022 - 1.00pm to 2.30pm.

I am delighted to invite any student who may consider Boarding in the future to a school holiday Boarding Open House on Friday 8 July at 1.00pm.

As a Boarding College, we are well resourced to provide students with opportunities to develop good routines, positive study habits, resilience and independence.  Students across all Year Groups are encouraged to come along to this event and gain further insight into the benefits of our Boarding program. You will also have the opportunity to tour the Boarding House, dining room, student accommodation, and meet other families who are also considering Boarding.

Our Director of Boarding, Ms Maryanne O’Donoghue, will be at the event and available for any questions you may have.

To reserve your place, please contact our friendly Registrar, Mrs Robyn Pedley.

Mrs Robyn Pedley
Registrar

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

Head of Netball and Basketball - Ms Elyse Harmanis - 0434 610 870
elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au 
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

We have finalised the teams for next term as there have been a few minor changes to some teams, mainly in netball, where we have struggled with commitment to teams.  These are now on the College website.  Training times for next term will stay the same.  Training commences the first day back on Tuesday 19 July.  Senior netball teams and junior football teams will train on Friday morning (22 July) for the first week (as they miss the Monday).  A reminder that there will be more travel required with sport this term for netball, as more teams join the competition in Term 3.

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/ .  Please do not call the IGSA office - please always call your head coach or Ms Jacobs if you have any questions about sport.

Below:  Football Firsts with coach Liz Grey

IGSA Netball and Basketball

Congratulations to the following teams who finished on top of the ladder in their divisions this term.  They are senior teams SVC 2, SVC 5, SVC 7, junior teams SVC 15, SVC 16 and Year 7 team SVC 20 in netball and SVC 1 in basketball.  You will be given your ribbons at your first training session next term and Pocket Authorities have been loaded onto Edumate.

Below:  Netball SVC 17 Winners

below:  Junior netball

Fitness and Cross Country/Athletics

Fitness training continues on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and will now concentrate on more athletic events in preparation for the IGSA Carnival.  All levels of fitness will be catered for at the training sessions and are not just for those wanting to do athletics.  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!  First session back next term will be on Wednesday 20 July.

SVC and IGSA ATHLETICS CARNIVALS

From the Inter-House events we ran at school, the athletics squad has been chosen and they will train for the IGSA Carnival.  If any students who train outside of school for athletics missed the trials due to illness or injury, please email Ms Jacobs to be added to the list.  However, we will be using the IGSA twilight meets on 5 and 12 August in Term 3 as the final selection of the College team for the IGSA Carnival on 19 August.  

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 our winning teams from this term.  Netball Teams 2, 5, 7, 15 16, 20 and Basketball Team 1.  Let's hope that our football and hockey teams can give you a run for your money next term!

Below:  Netball SVC 20 Winners

Congratulations to SVC 5 (Year 7 soccer) for a great game last Saturday to finish the season (pictured below).  Please collect your SVC beanies from Ms Jacobs next term.

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

View CANTEEN SPECIALS for Term 3 Week 1 - 19-22 July:    HERE

TERM 2 - CANTEEN REMINDER:   NO CARD - NO PURCHASE 

• Students MUST bring their ID card to the canteen to purchase any food/drink. Please note that putting your student number in only is NOT accepted.
• Remember:  ONLINE ORDERING is also available.
• GLUTEN FREE products are available - only when purchased through online ordering. 
• You need to refill money onto your cardAT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE you intend to use the card (as it takes one hour to generate funds onto the card).

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Social night for St Vincent's Year 8 parents and carers.  Book tickets via the Try Booking link below.