Issue 22 - 09 August 2019


REMINDERS

REMINDERS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

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Monday 12 August - Monday 19 August - HSC Trial examinations continue

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Monday 12 August - 5:00pm - Years 10 and 11 Soiree in the MCR

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Wednesday 14 August - 7:30pm-9:00pm: SVC Ex-Students Union Meeting at Waverley Library

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Thursday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption Mass - 7:45am in the College Chapel 

All parents/carers welcome.

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Friday 16 August - Year 7/2021 Try High School Day

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Monday 19 August - 5:00pm-7:00pm - Year 9 Soiree - in the MCR Hall

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SVC UNIFORM SHOP  

Orders Now Online  

Monday  8.00am-2.00pm  /  Wednesday 12.00pm-5.00pm  /  Friday 8.00am-2.00pm           

Phone:  02 9161 7979  Email:  SVC@noone.com.au  

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Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers

This week we are giving national attention to homelessness, with the theme "Housing Ends Homelessness".  Such a simple sounding solution for such a complex problem!  Last Saturday evening, "The Fathering Project" hosted a sleep-out in the Mark 2.22 Atrium to learn a little more about the issues that create homelessness and to then experience a little of the discomfort that people who are homeless feel every night.  While "enjoyable" is not quite the right word to describe the event, I do believe the Fathers and Daughters were glad they put themselves into that experience, and all agreed that next year they would come back!  A big thank you to Mrs Jane Palin (Advancement team), Ms Rachel McLean (Guest Speaker) and Mr Robert Weaver (Sound and Audio), Mr Nav Singh, Mr Mal Wise, Mr Alan Weinstein, Mr Don Little and Mr Peter Carr for making this all possible.  "The Fathering Project" is a great initiative of West Australian, Professor Bruce Robinson.  As a surgeon, he had often heard the lament of men as they faced serious health challenges that they wished they had spent more time with their children.  If you are a new parent to the College, I encourage you to visit their website and register for their free resources and weekly tip on how to spend more time with your children.

Father's Day is very special and approaching fast on the College calendar are two very popular events:

Father's Day Liturgy:  30 August at 8.00am.

Father-Daughter Dinner:  Friday 30 August 6.30pm at Nick's Bar and Grill, King Street Wharf - Please book HERE

Fathers and special male role models are very important in the lives of young women.  I was, on the night of the sleep-out, very moved by the choice of the movie, Bend It Like Beckham.  The theme of fathering is very strong in the movie, and if like me you have forgotten this movie, it is well worth another look as you prepare to celebrate or acknowledge the presence or absence of your father.

Parents are warmly welcome to attend Mass for the Feast of the Assumption in the College Chapel on Thursday 15 August, 8.00am.  This is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics and a great opportunity for us all to pray for the Sisters of Charity who celebrate their patronal feast.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

Lost Lunch Boxes

On my "long" walk home yesterday evening, I collected an amazing array of drink bottles and lunch boxes forlornly left on tables in the College grounds.  Please, if you recognise one from the photo or are missing your lunch box/drink bottle, please come and collect.  They are all washed and eager to be reunited with their hungry or thirsty owners.

Mrs Fry

 

In Sympathy

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

The family of two ex-students, Phoebe Haylen (class of 2015) and Dominica Haylen (class of 2013), have asked if the College community could please say a prayer for the sudden loss of their Grandmother. 


From the Director of Faith and Mission

Winter Appeal

This week we launched our annual Winter Appeal.  Each winter, Year 9 has the responsibility of raising awareness, organising and facilitating the SVC Vinnies Winter Appeal.  The Winter Appeal will run in Tutor until the end of Week 6 this term.  Students will work with their Tutor teacher to find two days each week to share stories of the work of Vinnies and then animate the reasons why the Year 9 cohort has selected a particular aspect of Vinnies work to support.  This year, the students have chosen to work with:

  • Vinnies at St Canice’s who are in desperate need of feminine hygiene products
  • Vincentian House who are looking for educational activities and games for children 
  • Matt Talbot who run out of socks and jocks every winter
  • Local Vinnies stores who are asking for warm blankets and bed socks for those who are struggling to pay their electricity bills and 
  • Sydney Vinnies Van Services who need toiletries for those who are sleeping rough.

There are some great learning opportunities for the Year 9 cohort as they undertake this experience.  This morning, the students worked with Ms Clancy to finalise how to manage the Winter Appeal by learning about SMART goals and collaborations skills as they negotiated in House groups their Action plans for the next three weeks.  In addition to the planning and communication skills that will be required throughout the Appeal, Year 9 are also going to learn how to reflect on their leadership and management in their next Assessment Activity for Religious Studies.  This exciting cross-curricular experience we hope will lay the foundations for future learning at the College as students integrate the Religious Studies curriculum (in this instance, the Beatitudes), Catholic Social Teachings and 21st Century Thinking Skills.  I look forward to sharing with you the learnings that Year 9 make throughout this time and thank in advance the work of the Religious Studies and Tutor teachers who will be supporting the students throughout this project.

Thank you in advance for the support you and your family will provide to the Year 9 students as we all support the Vinnies Winter Appeal for 2019.

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

 

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St Vincent’s Day Donations - Lou’s Place

Lou’s Place is a women’s refuge that is situated in the heart of Potts Point.  Their services run during the day where they offer warmth, comfort and support to women and children who cope with the brutal issues of homelessness, domestic violence, mental health and addiction.  At Lou’s Place women can rest, eat, shower and enjoy the company of other women who go through similar situations.  Their services are spectacular and offer a tremendous amount of safety and security which includes crisis intervention, ongoing case management, referrals and legal advice in order to help these women feel safe and relaxed. 

On Tuesday, Tahlia McCormack (Year 10 Boarder and O’Brien House student), Ms McLean and I, took the generous contributions from St Vincent’s Day to the team at Lou’s Place.  The types of donations that the refuge is in dire need of are feminine hygiene products, shower products and small pieces of clothing to keep the women warm, especially during winter.  Students were asked to consider how we select giving these types of donations.  Essentially, we give in a way that honours the dignity of the person.  Our choice in what we give is a way of honouring and boosting the dignity that has been lost.  To this end, we were really grateful for the choice of high-end feminine hygiene products instead of the cheaper options.  This conversation was affirmed as we made our way up the stairs to Lou’s Place and two clients who were on their way out of the refuge stopped us to grab a packet of Libra pads they saw balancing on the top of our donation pile.  This demonstrates how in need these women really are. 

Gabrielle Wilson
Year 11 Boarder and member of O’Brien House   

 

     

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Ignatian Resources to Nourish your Soul - Week 2

Pray-as-you-go

I discovered this app when I was living in London and yearning for a connection; life was fast and people were busy.  This app (which I first used via the weblink - https://pray-as-you-go.org/) was a God-send (literally!).  One of the readings of the day is unpacked with some gentle music and questions for reflection.  Sometimes some imaginative contemplation is provided, other times it is information about the saint or feast day.  Download the app or visit online and enjoy the feeling of your soul slowing down and your outlook looking up!

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

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Catalyst for Renewal

 

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Student Alliance Networking Group

On Tuesday 6 August, ten students of Year 10 and Ms Jarman had the opportunity to attend a Student Alliance Networking Group meeting at Brigidine College, St Ives.  The girls had previously been allocated into groups with other students from around Sydney to collaborate together to discuss trying to make a change about different issues surrounding women in our society. 

The girls also listened to a guest speaker, Julia Sawer, from Blair’s Wish.  The girls felt very inspired by the change she has made over the years to many families in her local area and NSW.   Ms Sawer, an ex-student of Brigidine St Ives, is mother to Blair, her ten year old son, who was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.  Through Blair’s Wish, she has made a positive impact not only on Blair’s life but upon the lives of other children living with similar high-care needs.  Blair’s Wish hires out specialist medical equipment such as wheelchairs, beach wheelchairs and change tables to families free of charge. 

The girls then separated into their groups to organise a presentation to pitch their ideas about issues such as toxic masculinity, women in business and ending violence and harassment against women.  So far, the girls have been making friends with other girls from other schools and have been working hard to create a product that will make a positive impact on the thinking of society.  

The girls are extremely honoured to have had this opportunity and highly recommend this programme to next year’s Year 10. 

Eliza Smith, Jemima Hutchinson, Holly Barling, Lucia Porteous, Ellie Singleton, Kate McKenzie, Amelie Miller, Amelia Ryder, Phoebe McEgan, Jemima McPherson.

Student Representative Council News

CONGRATULATIONSto:

·        Made Kennedy

·        Jaz Walker 

Who both have been elected as the representatives of Year 7.  They will attend weekly meetings and put forward the views of their peers; working towards promoting “student voice” at the College.

Ms Jenny McCarthy
SRC Supervisor

Report from Q and A (Television Show) Live Audience - 5 August

The night started at 8:30pm when the Year 9 Philosophy class, the Ethics and Philosophy club and other interested students met outside ABC Studios to attend filming and live streaming of a television show, Q & A.  The show involves audience participation as they must ask questions which directs the topic of the panel.

The diverse panelists were Jason Falinski, Katy Gallagher, Zali Steggall, Adam Creighton and Cassandra Goldie.  The audience asked many interesting questions with some highlights being Centrelink, Robo-debt, Newstart and nuclear energy.  One of the nine Philosophy students, Halle McGree, had the opportunity to ask a question:

“A recent survey showed that one in eight men believe they could win a point off Serena Williams in a tennis match.  Do you believe the results would be different if the subject was a top male tennis player and do you think this shows sexism is still prevalent in sport?”

The panelists offered insightful answers to all questions (although some seemed to talk around topics) and even the audience chimed in sometimes to add really interesting layers to the topic.  All of us came away from the night having learned a lot and thoroughly enjoying it.  Thank you to Mrs Ginzburg and Mrs Mano for organising and supervising us on the evening.

Please view a link here at the 58 minute point of recording to see Halle.

Year 9 Philosophy students, Halle McGree and Ella Wise.

Ms Donna Ginzburg
Gifted and Talented Coordinator


Careers News

Career In Focus:  Landscape Architect

Landscape architects find creative ways to build on, into and around land to better preserve, display, and borrow from it.  This is a fun job for someone who is creative and enthusiastic about nature.  Landscape architects plan and design land areas for projects such as open space networks, parks, schools, institutions, roads, external areas for all building types, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial and residential sites.  You usually need a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture to work as a landscape architect.  In some States, training may also be available through VET (Vocational Education and Training).

Beyond School Study Guide

The new Beyond School Study Guide is designed to help senior students navigate their way into higher education.  It provides information on:  Higher education pathways; higher education fees and government loans and student support services. 

Western Sydney University

REGISTER NOW

WSU’s Open Day is on Sunday 18 August.  Register here now and take advantage of the day planner tool where you can build your personal itinerary for the day with course-related presentations, interactive experiences and one-on-one advice.  For more information or if you'd like help registering, call 1300 897 669 or email: study@westernsydney.edu.au.

PwC’s Higher Apprenticeship Program

Traditionally there has only been one route to a career in professional services.  University.  Degree.  Career.  But the world of business is changing.  There are now opportunities for students to join a major company such as PwC straight out of high school.  As an apprentice, students get to learn on-the-job, developing broad skills in business and technology in a hands-on environment, and receive the study support required to earn a professional qualification in Information Technology (IT), at the same time.  Find out more about the various programs at PwC’s Higher Apprenticeship Program 

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser


NEW Enrolment Application Process

Dear Parents and Carers

I am pleased to announce that the College is currently in the final stages of testing our new online enrolment management system.  All enrolment applications for 2022 and beyond will be moved to this new system over the coming months.

If you have already lodged a paper-based application, you will hear from us later this term regarding the transition process.  All applications will be managed online via the College website.

We thank you for your understanding and patience while we manage those families affected through this change process.

If you have any specific questions regarding this transition phase, please email community@stvincents.nsw.edu.au for prompt support.

Mr David Osborne
Director of Advancement

A Reminder from the College Canteen - Topping up funds on your student card

A reminder from the canteen:   

Please remember to top up funds onto your Student Card ONE HOUR before purchasing from the canteen, as it takes this amount of time for the money to be processed onto the card.

Thank you.

Selina Richardson  | Site Manager

Catering Industries Pty Ltd | St Vincent’s College
Phone: 1300 364 092 | Main Phone: 9361 2420

Dennis@cateringindustries.com.au  |  www.cateringindustries.com.au

 

 

BOOKS WANTED for the Spring Fair - please read the article for further details

Books in great condition wanted for the Spring Fair

Give your bookshelves a spring clean and box up your unwanted books for us to sell at the Spring Fair this year.

We are looking for all types of great fiction and non-fiction, including crime, autobiography, teen and children’s books, 'chick lit', teen, children’s, coffee table and art books. 

(Please...No magazines, no recipe books, no textbooks, no DVDs, no CD's).

Details of where to drop them off will be given closer to the date.

All enquiries to: Tessa Morris tessannemorris@hotmail.com or 0416 755 037.

SPRING FAIR - SUNDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2019

Books in great condition wanted for the Spring Fair

Give your bookshelves a spring clean and box up your unwanted books for us to sell at the Spring Fair this year.

We are looking for all types of great fiction and non-fiction, including crime, autobiography, teen and children’s books, 'chick lit', teen, children’s, coffee table and art books. 

(Please...No magazines, no recipe books, no textbooks, no DVDs, no CD's).

Details of where to drop them off will be given closer to the date.

All enquiries to: Tessa Morris tessannemorris@hotmail.com or 0416 755 037.

 

For information on all things Spring Fair, please contact Katherine Aitken (P&F President) on 0400 583 677 or email kgray_kudoss@hotmail.com.