Bulletin

St Ignatius could easily be considered the patron saint of lockdown and isolation.  After his encounter with a cannonball at the battle of Pamplona, he spent six months in lonely convalescence, confined to his bedroom in the Castle de Loyola.  He used the time well - not in writing a best selling novel or taking up crochet, but in finding within the depths of his interior life the surge of God’s love and the influence of the Holy spirit.  It was from this isolation that we have the gift of Ignatian spirituality.  May Ignatius inspire us in this time of lockdown and isolation to reflect; to find God at work in us and to plan for action which gives glory to God and serves others when we are once again on pilgrimage in the world.

Tuesday 03 August:  6.15pm-6.45pm - P&F Meeting Online - The link to register and join in is HERE .

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Tuesday 03 August - 7.00pm - Parent Education Seminar - Relationships and Consent Education - with Catherine Manning, CEO and Program Director of SEED (Self Esteem Education and Development). 

To register for the parent seminar please go HERE .

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Dear Parents and Carers 

I hope you are coping well with the roller-coaster of emotions generated by the constantly changing circumstances we are living through in Greater Sydney.  Perhaps you are enjoying the diversional therapy of watching the Olympics?  A wise colleague at a meeting I was at this week made an interesting comparison between the preparation of our Olympians and our students (particularly our HSC students).  The athletes’ journey to Tokyo was delayed for a year, their preparation time and conditions under which they could compete kept changing and yet, to be at peak performance each had to retain their physical and mental focus.  The fact that so many people are working so hard to make it even possible for the Olympics to take place, makes the performances in the pool, on the track, the rowing course, all the more memorable.  I sense many of our HSC students are facing some of the same challenges.  They have come so far on their educational journey that started so long ago in Kindy.  They have studied hard, the finishing line is in sight, but they are facing some unexpected changes.  NESA and the College are giving great consideration to how to make sure the journey finishes well, the well-deserved accolades are received and the satisfaction of competing and giving your best is experienced.  Our HSC students and their teachers are, to their credit, staying focused and motivated.  We have announced this week an online Term 3 Assessment model for our HSC students and I thank them for embracing this change.  They will receive their timetable and assessment notifications on Monday.  This means that there will be no mandatory return to F2F teaching for our College community (including Year 12) until at least 30 August.  Access to specialist facilities for HSC students may be possible but subject to Public Health advice in the week of 23 to 30 August.  Protecting the health of our students and staff remains our highest priority.

I acknowledge that Foxford learning is a very different mode and it requires a very different collaboration between home and school, and teacher and student.  We will make some refinements to our delivery and most importantly how we might reduce dependence on the screen.  There is a different level of tiredness created by screen time and both students and teachers need some respite.  The following days of the week have been identified in the next four weeks for that purpose:

Tuesday 3 August            Google Classroom activities

Monday 9 August            This is a Professional Learning Day for staff and Rest Day for students

Wednesday 18 August     Google Classroom activities

Thursday 26 August         Google Classroom activities

You will receive notifications from Heads of House, Mrs Brooks and Mrs Mano about any other changes to our delivery of academic or pastoral care.

This was the weekend that many of our College Mothers were heading up to Orange to enjoy a wonderful weekend of fine food and hospitality.  I wanted to acknowledge Mrs Rebecca Roach for her very hard work in putting forward this initiative.  Alas, we now will have to wait until next year.  I hope your daughter(s) might take the opportunity this weekend to create a replacement program of fine dining and pampering for you at home!

Blessings of health and peace to you,

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal 

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

Ellie (Year 9) and Olivia (Year 7) Byrnes - Grandmother.

May she rest in peace.

My day has been spent in conversation - of the best kind - parent and teacher in support of the growing thinking, attitudes and values of your daughters, our students.  Learning is a science.  There are multiple variables that mean that no two learners are exactly alike.  Our desire to learn to know the learner and support conditions and practices that enhance her growth, is our role as educators - both teacher and parent.  Our students are no passive experiment though; each adolescent mind with her unique strengths and passions, immersed in the dynamic world in which young people seek to shape their identity and perspectives, offers us much wonder and awe as we witness this pathway of learning and developing character.  Our parent-teacher conversations are particular as we delve into each student’s personal achievements and strategies for improving.  But best of all, we are not just talking about minds - we are talking about someone’s child - your child, for whom you have much love and encouragement.  In what has been a challenging week, I can’t tell you how uplifting it has been these past two Fridays to engage in such conversations of belief and hope.  I say thank you to the parents of my Year 7 English class, but I know I echo the appreciation of all our teachers to you our parents and carers, for partnering with us in supportive relationships that aim to challenge and nurture our dynamic learning community.  And to my colleagues - an enormous thank you for the commitment you give to each individual learner entrusted to your care.  Many teachers had two - three classes for whom they conducted these conversations.  I imagine they will have a very quiet weekend.  As for the students in Years 7-9, I hope the opportunity for dialogue and reflection has stimulated agency and action towards continued learning success.  And as we complete the Year 10 Subject Selection conversations, I hope these young women have discovered their passions and capacity to steer the direction of their learning journey, energised by the new doors they are opening as they ready themselves for the senior years of schooling.

I turn my attention to our senior students - Years 11 and 12.  These young women are our A team - in learning and leading the community.  They have turned up for training for the entire season, pushed themselves to ensure they are fit for the game, flung themselves confidently onto the field and now find themselves having to patiently wait whilst the umpire appears to be in great deliberation with the goal umpire.  They recognise they must play by the rules and wait for that whistle to blow, but they are ignited by a burning desire to get on with the game.  The good news is they are in their second or third quarter, with points already on the board.  Whatever decisions are called by the umpires, their training has prepared them well - they have the skill and support of teammates and coaches to negotiate their next moves and land that ball through the goal posts.  I do not intend to pass myself off as an AFL expert, but I do like the analogy of the team and the longevity of the game.  Today, 30 July, is the International Day of Friendship, declared by the United Nations to foster friendships and bridge the gap between race, religion and other determinants keeping people from enjoying friendship with each other https://www.un.org/en/observances/friendship-day.  The day aims to promote unity within diversity.  True qualities of friendship require deliberate intentions to enhance the lives of others recognising the need for inclusion of all diverse people within our shared humanity.  Our senior students have grown because they have shared challenges that have required them to question and decide, to accept and learn and to be strengthened by the bonds of trust they have discovered by being there for each other.  Let’s remain confident that their spirit of friendship expressed as human solidarity will continue to rally their team to look out for and care for each other, respecting the differing strengths and vulnerabilities of each other, knowing that the successful completion of the game is dependent upon the old-fashioned qualities of teamwork, mateship and hard work.  Our students are definitely in the game and continue to inspire their coaches and fans with their determination and good cheer.

And to you as parents and carers - how do you support your adolescence in times of uncertainty and strain?  You are both coach and cheer squad.  Give permission for them to articulate how they feel - just listen so they know you hear.  But also reflect back your faith in their capacity to keep on keeping on. They have faced challenges before - and they will do it again.  Catholic Schools NSW is supporting an initiative by HeadSpace which provides parents/carers with helpful information during this period of increasing lockdowns and disruptions to daily life.  The sessions are titled 'Supporting young people impacted by COVID-19', and provide information and strategies to proactively support their young people during these uncertain times.  The following sessions are available via Zoom:

• 11 August, 2021, 6:30pm-7:45pm, South Eastern Sydney
  South East Sydney parent and carer webinar supporting young people
• 19 August, 2021, 6:30pm-7:45pm, Randwick
  Randwick Covid-19 Parent and Carer Webinar: Supporting young people

A reminder from last week - we have had a positive response to our parent education workshop on respectful relationship and consent education this coming Tuesday 3 August 7.00pm, presented by Catherine Manning, CEO and Program Director of SEED Workshops (Self Esteem Education and Development), who delivers programs Australia-wide.  Catherine has appeared on numerous media programs (The Project, ABC News Breakfast, Sunrise, A Current Affair, Today Tonight and ABC Radio National) discussing the sexualisation of children, respectful relationships and pornography.  I have heard Catherine speak and recommend her highly; she draws upon research and experience as a parent herself.  It is not too late for parents and carers wishing to sign up - details are included in this Bulletin (in 'Reminders') and also HERE.

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

Tomorrow is the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola.  Ignatius is our hero of Spirituality.  He was the first to provide for the people of his time a way of praying that gave dignity to the interior life of the individual. His way was to reflect and notice that God is indeed present at every moment of our existence; we just need to attend to that presence.  It is natural then to become more aware of God’s presence with us and in us, and in that constant awareness respond in loving action, growing in compassion, developing competence in using the gifts we are given, and proceeding in a genuine relationship with God. His Ignatian spirituality still works, because human beings do not change in essentials. We can still follow Ignatius’ advice.  That’s got to make us better people.  It allows us to be aware of the times we are selfish, or dismissive of others, or times when we do not use our gifts appropriately.  Reflection brings awareness which issues in change. 

St Ignatius was known to have cared for the victims of plague in Manresa.  He would have known a good deal about the challenges of caring for people in a pandemic, but had no concept of PPE or social distancing, or forms of contagion.  He offered practical love, and found God in every challenge and in every joy.

We had three Immersions planned for next holidays:  two to Lake Mungo and one eco-Immersion to Cairns.  With the current lockdown and the direction things appear to be moving, we have decided to cancel our Immersions.  We have some very disappointed students and very sad teachers.  But, we are only limited by our imaginations and we will put together a series of experiences that are aimed at involving students in some of the learning that would have been possible on country or in the rainforest.  It won’t be the same, but it will be positive.  We will of course offer those experiences to the students who applied for the Immersions, but will also open it more generally to those who did not.  I am aware that there may have been many circumstances which prohibited students from applying, but these may not be relevant in terms of this new offering, and more students will be very welcome.

A reminder of the Caritas Christi competition, “Caritas Closet Cleanout”.  Students are invited to put together a sustainable outfit, pop it on, take a photo, outline the ethical and sustainable factors of it, and email it to me or Ella Wise. 

kenderesj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

wisee0122@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

We will have a prize for the most ethical and stylish/fabulous outfit.  We have a few, very lovely outfits already submitted.  It is quite inspiring.  I encourage students to get into the wardrobe, put together an ensemble and get in the picture.   

Here’s a picture of our plants from St Vincent’s Day as they continue to thrive in this gorgeous sunshine.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

From Linda McCabe

I thought these could be a great addition for Naidoc week.  These boomerangs were made by Roger Holten, Jasmin Holten-Woods' grandfather.  Jasmin was a Boarder at St Vincent’s College from Year 7 and she completed her HSC in 2017.  I am sure some of our current senior Boarders' would remember Jasmin.  She was very creative and artistic as well. 

Roger Holten made these Boomerangs for me and I will treasure them.  As you can see, two are traditional boomerangs and the other two are Rugby Union:  1 - The Wallabies and 1 - the Springboks (I wonder why)!  They were hand-designed on 26 January 2016 by Roger Holten, a “Dunghutti” man.

Boarding is very much a community and we are all honoured to be a part of it.  Linda’s treasure of these boomerangs is one of many ways that Boarders express their appreciation for the Boarding coordinators, who are there for them during many ups and downs in their life.  Being online is so hard for a Boarder because it is so quiet.  We are all so used to constantly being surrounded by many many many people all day every day.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but when it’s not there we do miss it.  Each week the Boarders have been having Google Meets on a Wednesday night, just catching up and saying hi to each other; it feels just like a dinner chat with the banter and gossip.  Here is a photo of one of our meetings where we introduced our dogs to each other.  Some dogs weren’t so attentive, but it was amusing!

We will continue to have these weekly meetings because I know that we all miss seeing everyone’s faces.

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

Oratory Competition 2021 Finalists - Updated   

Well done to the following finalists and winners who competed in the second round:  

Year 7 - Polly Pulsford (Winner), Imogen Caldwell-Eyles, Tessa Lewis, Siena Flick, Satine Gallardo-Walker

Year 8 - Lulu Oaten (Winner), Madeleine McCullum, Amy Hetherington, Sage Croft, Molly Griffin 

Year 9 - Ruby Siemsen (Winner), Amelia Towner, Cate McGregor, Iyla Maguire, Amelia Haynes 

Year 10 - Lucy Fraser (Winner), Zoe McGuinness, Zoe O’Sullivan, Sorcha Hughes, Amelia Papworth 

Year 11 - Georgia Gallagher (Winner), Imogen Gill, Maeve Collis, Samantha Jeffs, Elyssa Chaaya 

Year 12 - Holly Hudson Barton (Winner), Emerald Clements-Lee, Jorja Duffy, Milana Peter, Gigi Gregg.  

Stay tuned for details about the final round of the competition in Term 3. 

Ms Josie Runes
Assistant Head of Department English 

‌Students in English class 7G were preparing for their assessment activity:  Analysing their novel "Crow Country".  Now we are moving onto the Anime genre, which the students are very excited about. 

Competition deadlines have been extended to 17 September 2021

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Universities Admissions Centre

UTS Sydney

UTS Early Entry Program

This is a very exciting new scheme open to all local and onshore international Year 12 students.  The UTS Early Entry program recognises the Year 11 academic achievements of school students and allows them to secure a place at UTS before the final Year 12 exams.  Applications open for the current Year 12 cohort on 10 August via a direct application to UTS.  For more information on how to apply for Early Entry at UTS use the link here

UAC Digital - Let's Chat

Let’s Chat webinars are for everyone and provide the most up to date advice on a broad range of tertiary related topics.  To check Let’s Chat webinar program and to register your interest, go here

University Open Days

In 2021, University Open Days will be held online.  Open Days provide all students, not just Year 12, with an opportunity to get a’ feel’ for a university, check out the facilities on offer and ask questions of academics and current students.  Many Open Days are held in August - use the link HERE to attend this year’s OPEN DAYS.

TAFE

TAFE is an excellent pathway for students to consider post HSC.  Use the link HERE to find out more about TAFE degrees and diplomas.

Teach NSW

Scholarship Opportunity

Each year the NSW Department of Education offers a range of scholarship programs to support future teachers.  Applications for the 2021 scholarship programs are now open.  Scholarships offer a range of benefits and incentives, including financial support whilst studying and a permanent teaching position in a NSW public school on successful completion of studies.  There are a number of programs open to future teachers, including:

●      teach.Rural Scholarship;

●      Teacher Education Scholarship;

●      Teacher Education Scholarship - Aboriginal

Study in the USA

Crimson Education specialise in assisting students who are planning on studying overseas in the USA or UK after the HSC.  The following webinars scheduled for August should provide useful and interesting information for students who would like to study overseas.

How I Got into the Ivy League

Wednesday 4 August 7:30pm.  An In-Conversation with Kim Scott and her daughter Claudia, who is in her final year at Princeton.  Find out how Claudia went from sitting the HSC to studying in the Ivy League.

US Application Workshop with Former Stanford Admissions Officer

Saturday 7 August 10:00am.  Gain critical insights into the US university admissions process from former Stanford Admissions Officer, Martin Walsh. Find out what it takes to get into a top US university and what makes for an effective personal statement

How to Crush the US University Entrance Exams:  SAT and ACT

Thursday 12 August 5:30pm.  Join this webinar to find out about the SAT and ACT and learn how you can set yourself up for US university admissions success.

Academy of Interactive Entertainment ( AIE)

If any student is interested in a career in Games and Film, they should try to attend AIE’s Open Day and Online Campus Day - 15 and 21 August.  Attendees will learn about AIE’s courses in 3D Art, Animation, Programming, Game Design and Virtual Production.  Entry requirements and career pathways will be explained.  To register your interest go here

SAE Creative Media Institute

SAE is hosting a VIRTUAL OPEN DAY which will be an interactive experience delivered online on Sunday 8 August from 4.00pm-6.00pm.  Attendees will be able to attend course presentations, see student work displays, take tours of the equipment and facilities and access internships and admissions information.  For more information and to register, go here 

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Sport Staff Contacts for Term 3 2021:

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

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

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

TERM 3 SPORT

Unfortunately, due to the Covid restrictions all Term 3 Sport has now been cancelled or postponed.  The IGSA Saturday competition has been cancelled whilst the IGSA Inter-School Athletics Carnival meet is hopefully just being postponed until Term 4.  There are some great home training sessions on the College website for those girls who are missing their Saturday Sport, and lots of good ideas in the article below on health.

TERM 3 HEALTH

There is no doubt that the past year and half has been difficult for most people - physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially.  Rates of suicide, mental health issues and physical health issues have soared.  I have always advocated that the best form of health care is self-care.  To make the best of a lockdown sh#tshow we can take the opportunity to really ‘clean up our backyard’ - by that I mean to really laser focus on our health and wellbeing, and do all of the things that we’ve been meaning to do for our and our family’s health….but keep putting off.  Now is the time!

IT IS THE BEST TIME TO START A MOVEMENT REGIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Thank goodness we can still exercise to our heart's content and can still do so with another person.  Get yourself into a little routine.  Movement is essential for emotional and physical health and is a great way to diffuse pent up/stored energy and frustration.  I really notice the difference in my kids when they have and haven’t been exercising.  We have been encouraging this a lot in our PDHPE lessons, so make sure you ask the kids what they have been doing and maybe you can join in on some of their PE challenges as well. 

Some of my favourites are:

• Walking in nature - the park, beach or bush
• Walking (or running) uphill or up stairs (resistance provides more bang for your buck)
• Foam rolling (similar to self massage to iron out knots/tight spots)
• Yoga and stretching
• Body-weight circuit in the garage, lounge room or backyard
• Dancing

The above are all free and easy to do - we just have to make the time.  We all have more free time at the moment, so don't put it to waste.  Enjoy this extra time with the family and get out in the sunshine to get your daily dose of Vitamin D, which is so important for our immune systems during this pandemic.

'Vinnies Olympics' Challenge

In keeping with our Olympics theme and to try and keep everyone fit and healthy during lockdown, we are going to be running a Mystery Stepper Competition each week for the next four weeks.  You can compete for one or all weeks - it's up to you.  So get your family and get out into the sunshine -  and start walking!  

Mystery Stepper Competition Rules:   

Each week staff and students are to keep a record of their steps from Saturday to Thursday and upload their number onto the Google form on the Thursday night.  It’s not about how many steps you do, it’s about how close your steps are to the mystery stepper's steps.  Please keep proof of your steps by taking a photo of the screen and save it on your phone as you may be called upon to show this proof at any time. 

Each week the mystery stepper will be an active Vinnies' 'old girl' who will give a few hints as to her identity.  Extra prizes will be awarded if you can guess who the mystery stepper is.  Who will be the best detective?  These guesses can be put on the St Vincent's College Instagram page.  It’s that simple!  But you have to be in it to win it!  Great prizes from Running Bare, Olivia Jean Bags, The Storeroom Vintage Shop and Let’s Go Surfing, will be awarded weekly for the next four weeks. 

The Google form was emailed out to all students on Friday morning and a copy is on the student wellbeing page and House classrooms.  Any questions please email Ms Jacobs.  Go Vinnies Steppers! 

SPORTS STARS OF THE WEEK 

Congratulations to all those Tutor Groups who contributed to the 'Vinnies Olympics' Challenge last week.  We had some fantastic entries and the competition was very tight!

The winners were:

Gold:  Tutor 29 led by Ms Fletcher

Silver:  Tutor 11 led by Ms De Souza

Bronze:  Tutor 13 led by Ms Ginzburg

Below:  Gold to Tutor 29

Below:  Silver to Tutor 11

Below:  Bronze to Tutor 13

Congratulations to Ali Green, in Year 7, who has recently been selected in the NSW Para Swim Squad after her excellent performances at the NSW All Schools Swimming competition.

This section is to make the College community aware of some of the exceptional athletes we have in the College.  If your daughter has represented her state or country recently in her chosen Sport, please send us any results, photos or blurbs on her performance to jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au 

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport