Bulletin

Tuesday 11 February: Year 7 Charism Day

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Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 February:  College Production Rehearsals - Strictly Ballroom - 3.05pm to 5pm

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Tuesday 11 February:  Staff Professional Learning Session - 3.15pm to 5pm

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Wednesday 12 February: Year 12 Twilight Spirituality - Bethania - 3.15pm - 5pm

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Friday 14 February:  Years 11 & 12 Dance Excursion to 'Callback" - Seymour Centre - 7pm - 9.30pm

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Dear Parents / Carers,

The Term 1, 2020 College invoices were emailed on 4 February 2020.  The due date for payment is 18 February 2020.  Please check your email for the invoice. 

Options for payment of the invoice include credit card payment via the College website  www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au .  

Please contact me by email if you have any queries via SVC Fee Administrator feeadministrator@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Yours sincerely

MRS PAULINE MARTIN
FEE ADMINISTRATOR

Dear Parents and Carers 

As I write, the sound of rain falling abundantly on our dry gardens is literally “music". I am sure that for our rural and regional families also enjoying this deluge, it is bringing even greater delight and a sense of hopefulness. 

I was slightly conflicted yesterday as I knew we needed to get the students to and from the Cathedral without getting drenched but also know that in solidarity with all who have suffered and continue to suffer from drought, we would have embraced the rain in the Vinnie’s Spirit! 

The rain did stay away until we were all safely back and now it is ours to enjoy. I do commend those students who have managed to locate umbrellas and raincoats to use today and as the forecast is for continuing rain, I would encourage every student to come to school with adequate protection from the rain. 

Yesterday’s College Eucharist at St Mary’s Cathedral was a wonderful, public expression of our Catholic Identity. The grand ambiance of the Cathedral, the exquisite singing and the participation of our young people in all aspects of the Eucharist were outstanding. Fr Jamie Calder really captured our year’s focus on “Service of the Poor” with his homily on how we can each serve the other with sensitivity and kindness. My congratulations to Ms Jo Kenderes and Mr Robert Anderson for their liturgical and logistical leadership of this major College Event. It was encouraging to see the large number of parents join us for the Mass and the blessing of the 2020 Student Leadership teams. 

Student Leadership Team

On Wednesday the distinguished scholars of the HSC 2019 were recognized at an Assembly. It was a joyful reunion for many of the students who had not seen each other since last year and with their teachers, who are so immensely proud of all of they individually and collectively achieved. It was a privilege, noted by many present, to hear Stella Wailes address the Assembly. With great humility she said that as she was only 18, she didn’t really have many insights to offer but nothing could have been further from the truth. With her permission I include her speech and I encourage you all to make yourself a cup of tea and sit down and enjoy her wisdom on much more than the HSC.

 Stella Wailes - Academic Assembly Speech

Over the coming weeks we will invite other recent graduates to come back and speak to the year 7 to 10 students as because of space restrictions, only the current year 11 and 12 students were able to attend. 

The achievements of the HSC 2019 students and their teachers have given us confidence and inspiration to continue the journey of strengthening the academic culture of St Vincent’s. Every lesson, every day is important on that journey and we know students, staff and parents together are responsible for creating the optimal condition for learning. 

Yours sincerely

MRS ANNE FRY
PRINCIPAL

Condolences

The College extends our deepest sympathy to the Martin family on the passing of Don. Don’s love of his family sustained him through his courageous battle against brain cancer. May he now rest in peace.

The College also extends its deepest sympathies and prayers to the families, friends and school communities grieving the loss of Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah and Veronique Sakr. May they rest together in peace.

A short one from me this week. Our students have kept us delightfully busy this week as the have thrown themselves into learning and setting meaningful and achievable goals for the academic year ahead. Years 11 and 12 were inspired and encouraged by the words of our 2019 College Dux at Wednesday’s Academic Assembly. Years 7-10 will be given opportunity next week to hear these words and the advice of other 2019 High Achievers as they reflect upon the privilege and responsibilities of an SVC education. 

Please may I direct your attention to the following letters that have been sent out this week:

• Head of House Welcome
• Year 9 Dance
• Years 10-12 Paul Dillon workshops
• Years 11-12 Early Leave

The presentations from last week’s Parent Information evenings are also available on the College website. 

We are delighted to be welcoming Paul Dillon back to speak with Years 10 – 12 next Tuesday. It is valuable for all parents and carers to know our investment in this ongoing relationship and education for the safety and care of our adolescents. We thank the P&F for their support of this initiative. Please know that this year Paul will work with Staff in a professional learning workshop and we will have him back to present with parents/ carers in 2021.

Enjoy this wet weekend - the beautiful sound of rain giving hope for our land. 

MRS ELIZABETH BROOKS
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL, PASTORAL CARE

The first week has flown by.  There is excitement in the corridors in anticipation of our Opening College Mass on Thursday morning at St Mary’s Cathedral.  It promises to be a joyous celebration in prayer and song.  Our choir and orchestra are sounding positively ethereal. Mr James Paul, our choir master, manages to get our girls to sing and pray at the same time; this will help the rest of us to do the same.

All students have had a singing practice in preparation for the Mass, so that they can participate fully.  They sang tunefully and enthusiastically.  The choir and soloists will be singing a reflection from St Teresa of Kolkata, put to music by Christopher Wilcock SJ.  It is a very moving examination of how Mother Teresa struggled every day to get up, get out, and serve the poorest of the poor. There’s the challenge for us: every day.

Our celebrant, Fr Jamie Calder SJ, is a long-time friend of the College.  His enthusiasm, humour and deep care around the ideas and needs we are praying about always come to the fore.  His ability to encapsulate in simple terms, difficult concepts that challenge the heart and mind, are deeply inspiring for our staff and students.  He is sure to lead us to new ways of thinking and responding to the call to serve the poor.  He will couch ideas in real terms and get to the heart of the matter without fluff and ecclesiastical distraction.  We are so blessed to have him.

Next week Year 7 will engage in Charism Day.  This is a day with their Head of House, designed to lead them into the story of the Sisters of Charity, the story of St Ignatius of Loyola, and what his spirituality offers us in our daily lives.  They will be in touch with the continuing story of the sisters, finding out how these great women continue to serve the poor today.  They will learn, walk, talk, share and pray together.  It promises to be a big day.

More information will be coming your way.

JO KENDERES
DIRECTOR OF FAITH AND MISSION

The first In Weekend of a year is always a good way for new boarders to bond with others and get some bearings of our amazing city. Friday was organised by Hannah and Gabbie and focussed around the SVC theme of ‘Service of the Poor’. Each dinner table group was set a task of breaking the theme down and make it relevant to our community. The results were amazing! The voices of adolescents on how to help each other, each other’s families, other families and communities was profound. I was very proud to listen to their honesty and very proud of their courage to speak up. 

With the temperatures soaring here, we decided to gain some culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art, oh, and the air conditioning was also a bonus! Most boarders had never been to the MCA so it was great to introduce them to sculptures and paintings of a contemporary nature. This continued on through to the night where we all watched Little Women at Bondi Junction. It was fascinating to hear them speak so passionately about Jo and Meg and Beth and Laurie! Now to read the book. 

Sunday’s morning mass and pool party was a reflective and fun way to finish our In Weekend. Alfie even enjoyed his swim, thankfully having lots of lifesavers helped!! 

In Weekends are great opportunities for all boarders to spend time together no matter what it is, it doesn’t have to be events off site, it can be having a cup of tea in the common room or watching a TV show together or coming up with dance moves involving the whole year group. The next In Weekend for this term will be in Week 9 (27/28/29 March), the week before St Vincent’s goes on camps/retreats. 

Please remember to email/call your relevant boarding coordinator for any questions/queries related to boarding or just to check in, we are always happy to help. 

Year 7/9 – 0458 246 256 bcyr07@stvincents.nsw.edu.au or bcyr09@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Year 8/10 – 0417 681 112 bcyr08@stvincents.nsw.edu.au or bcyr10@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Year 11/12 – 0409 745 469 bcyr11@stvincents.nsw.edu.au or bcyr12@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Yours in Boarding

MS MARYANNE O'DONOGHUE
DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

Sport Staff Contacts for Term 1 2020:

Co-ordinator of Sport:  Ms Jacinta Jacobs:  0418 416 663 / jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au
Head of Tennis  -  Ms Therese Taylor    0408 711881
Head of Touch  -  Ms Elyse Harmanis   0434 610870
Head of Water polo  -  Ms Hayley Boatswain  0404 267554
Head of Swimming/Cross Country - Ms Jacinta Jacobs   0418 416663

Website details:   www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport
For all draw and venue information go to:   www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport/weekly-sports-draw/

TERM 1 SPORT

TOUCH

We had so many junior players wanting to play Touch this term that the Easts Comp couldn’t accommodate a few of the teams from some of the schools with large numbers.  So Instead of dropping these girls ASCHAM created another competition at Lyne Park for some of our Year 7 teams.

The girls are still getting the same excellent quality coaching during the week and then a match each Saturday plus Finals.  This will improve the girl’s skills and help them improve for the Term 4 competition.  They will also get to play with their friends and have fun.

Please check the Easts Wet Weather link below on Saturday mornings if it has been wet like this - Easts website:  http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=514 

All training and draw information can be found on the College website under Learning/Sport/touch. Good luck to all teams for this weekend!

MS ELYSE HARMANIS
HEAD COACH OF TOUCH

IGSSA SATURDAY and TILDESLEY TENNIS

Training has commenced this week for IGSSA Tennis and competition commences on Saturday February 8 for all teams. Training sessions for these teams are held on the school courts from 3.15pm - 4.15pm. Players are to check to check the College website or Sports noticeboard for their teams' training session and draw.

IGSSA are using our SVC courts this year so all teams should be getting at least one game here. Please use the Rockwall St Gates for entrance and make sure you allow adequate time to find parking. Please see Mrs Thompson our convenor if there are any problems. 

Training for the Tildesley Shield (which is held at Pennant Hills on March 18 - 20) will be held on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3.15pm - 4.30pm and also on Friday mornings from 7.15am - 8.15am on the school courts. All girls are to go to at least 2 of these sessions and are to let their Coach Therese know if they cannot make a session.

MS THERESE TAYLOR
HEAD TENNIS COACH

WATER POLO

The ESSG competition has some very high standard teams and we are going to have some challenging games this season. All teams area training hard and we should see some excellent progression throughout the season. This week should see all of our nine teams playing some top-quality matches. Good luck to all teams! Please check the College website or the Sports Noticeboard for training times and draws. Water polo games usually go ahead in wet weather except in extreme conditions or if there is lightening or a problem at the venue. 

MS HAYLEY BOATSWAIN 
HEAD WATER POLO COACH

SWIMMING TRAINING AND IGSSA SWIMMING CARNIVAL

All Year 7PDHPE classes will be completing swimming trials over the next week, mainly to get times for our new students who missed the College swimming carnival in term 4. These times will give the sports staff an indication of who should be in the IGSSA Team, along with those who have already been selected from the Main Carnival. There will be some swim-offs for the good year 7s against the selected 13 year old year 8s ,on Friday February 26 at lunchtime and more information will be emailed to these girls.

The IGSSA Carnival is being held on Friday March 6 at Homebush Aquatic Centre and there will be a meeting/relay session for all squad members at lunchtime on Wednesday March 4. Jesse Clare, our Swimming Coach is running sessions on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 7.00am – 8.00am for any keen swimmers. The enrolment form can be found on the College Website under Sport/Swimming. All levels are catered for and you can come to one or all sessions. IGSSA Squad members must be coming to at least two sessions/week unless they are already in a squad outside of school. Please let Ms Jacobs know if you are unable to swim at this meet due to Surf Life Saving or any other reason.

FITNESS AND CROSS COUNTRY

Fitness training with Tash commences on Monday (February 17) and Wednesday afternoons as we prepare for the IGSSA Cross Country Carnival at Frensham on Friday May 15 (Week 3). We are allowed to enter up to ten competitors in each age group and this acts as the St Vincent’s Cross Country Championships as first girl in from each age group will be awarded our Age Champion. We would like to have a minimum of three per age group for the relay point scores so are looking for more 12 year olds and senior competitors. 12 and 13 years only run 3km, with all other girls doing 4km except the 18 years who have to do 6km.

All levels of fitness will be catered for at the training sessions and are not just for those wanting to do Cross Country. Any students wishing to improve their fitness are invited to come to one or both days. Please email Ms Jacobs if you would like to sign up.

TERM 2 SPORT REGISTRATIONS

Registrations open for Term 2 Sport are open. These online registrations are due by 3pm Friday February 21. Students can select from IGSSA Soccer, IGSSA Basketball, SEHA Hockey and Wednesday Netball at St Catherine’s.  Year 7 Netball next term will be a skills Development and mini games at SVC on Thursday afternoons.

Netball is organised by Kat McGrath our excellent coach and she really does run a great development program. Term 2 Netball is all about getting ready for the big IGSSA Comp in Term 3 and will concentrate on Fitness and Skill development. The girls respect that she expects a lot from them but in return everything is organised for them to enable enjoyment of the game.

To register you need to go on to the College website  http://www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au, Click on Sport, then click Term 2 Regos.  You will need to know your student ID and email address. If you have any problems doing this, please contact the Sports Department immediately.

SPORT 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 Taffy O'Neill in year 11 who will be representing the Open IGSSA Water Polo team at the CIS Championships at Danebank on Wednesday 12 February. Well done Taffy!

MS JACINTA JACOBS 
CO-CORDINATOR OF SPORT

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please get your RSVPs in for the Welcome Cocktail Party on Saturday 15^th February by Monday 10 February -  tickets available through the link in the flyer below. 

The first P&F meeting for the year is on Tuesday 24 March at 6.00pm.  Subsequent meetings for the year will be held Tuesdays on: 

• 24 March (AGM) 
• 19 May 
• 11 August 
• 10 November   

All meetings are held in Bethania, starting from 6:00pm.  

I look forward to a terrific year, please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about the P&F. 

KATHERINE AITKEN
PRESIDENT P&F