Bulletin

Greetings Students, ands Parents/Carers of Year 7

Dear Parents and Carers

Today should have been the last day of attendance for our Graduating Class of 2021.  Over the weekend and early next week we should have been celebrating with them at the Boarders’ Farewell, Graduation Mass, Prize Giving and Graduation Dinner and finally, their Formal.  All of these events have now been postponed and probably these celebrations will be deferred until February 2022.  These postponements have put our Graduating Class under extraordinary duress but it is to their great credit they have shown such remarkable good grace and courage throughout the Level 4 restrictions.  The College community will proceed with informal farewells and House farewells on Wednesday and Thursday.  These online occasions will help express our deep appreciation to our Year 12 students for their modelling of Generosity of Spirit from the outset of their HSC year in October 2020.  Despite the many disruptions and modifications of College life in 2020 and 2021, they have shown creativity, spirit and commitment.  They selected and have supported a wonderful Student Leadership team of :

Co-Captains                                   Lily Deerfield and Holly Beamond

Charism Captain                            Lucia Holt

Social Justice Captain                  Charlotte Patchett

Boarding Co-Captains                  Grace Kelly and Clare Lienesch

SRC Co-Captains                           Zoe Fitzgerald and Ella Emery

Arts Captain                                   Billie Monjo

Sports & Health Captain               Lani Bresnahan

Communications & PR Captain     Matilda Emery

Aikenhead House Captain           Amelia McPherson

Cahill House Captain                    Claudia Bodycomb

Cater House Captain                     Eliza Bodkin

De Lacy House Captain                 Dendy Hardaker

O’Brien House Captain                 Charli Harris

Williams House Captain               Allanah Joukhadar

I would like to thank each of these wonderful young leaders for the great service they have given to the College.

I ask you now to keep each of our HSC candidates in your prayers as they have to maintain their focus and positive mind set right through to 3 December, which is now the date of the last exam.  Psychologically it will be tough to maintain focus, especially if the “privileges of double vaccinations” start to kick in as soon as 18 October.

This week we have seen some wonderful examples of project based learning from our Years 7-10 students.  The photos and videos sent in have shown great evidence of families joining in and creating something for either family or College archives.  2021 will not be easily forgotten!  I would like to thank everyone for their willingness to support this “Vinnies Makes History” initiative.  The publication, exhibition and preserving of these works will take place next term when the students return.  Next week we will return to Google Meet lessons Monday to Thursday.  Friday will be a screen reduced day and of course, it will also be the last day of Term 3.

The 20th anniversary of 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks will occur tomorrow.  May this be an opportunity for us all to pray for peace and justice.

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal 

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

Mia Richter-Weinstein (Year 11) - Grandfather.

Taniyah Laurie-Kemp (Year 7) - Grandmother.

May they rest in peace.

I have been impressed and intrigued to listen to my Year 7 English students this week telling me of their ‘Vinnies Makes History’ projects.  The choices made are broad ranging - a prayer book, favourite recipes, music playlist and sculpture to express the feelings in lockdown, an illustrated 5 km walk diary to capture the memory of the week, a comparison of Covid 2021 with the pneumonic influenza of 1919, a time capsule, family tree and a children’s story book.  Each of these explorations move beyond the event of Covid happening, but express how these young people have responded to the world around them.  The opportunity for inquiry, the space to ask questions and investigate, to find time to go down the rabbit hole and create where one’s interest and passion is drawn is a hoped-for outcome of this week.

The theme of 2021 NSW History Week has been ‘From the ground up’ recognising the work and relationships of ordinary people to achieve outcomes that benefit the wider community.  It asks the question:  “What kind of histories do we most need in our world today to heal the past and usher in fresh hope and possibility for the future?” (History Council NSW).  I often wonder what histories my students will create.  But I don’t need to actually wait for the future, it is observing the learning and growing of our SVC students in the present that I feel confident that theirs will be histories shaped by curiosity for goodness.  This week has seen our SVC students thinking and interpreting with the creativity and the emotional intelligence needed to offer great healing in our world.  I hope your daughters have shared a little of what she has investigated and created this week, and in some small way it has impacted on you and your family.  We look forward to students sharing the outcomes of their history making.

I am also looking forward to this last week of Term 3 to enjoy the beginnings of the lasts with Year 12 - together we will make a history steeped in affection and admiration.  It is this privilege of good relationship enjoyed by so many that we are able to look confidently in shaping what Term 4 will be as they consolidate their HSC learning, graduate and celebrate with peers, families and school community.  In all my years in schools, I truly believe theirs is a history that will long be held in our hearts.  For all of Years 7-12 and staff, Week 10 offers us the warmth of Tutor, House and class relationships as we wrap up a term like no other but will always look on with pride in the history we shaped together, in our homes, with our families by our sides. 

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

Thank you to those families who have sent in cards with “Get better soon, thinking of you, sending you our prayers and love” messages for the children in the Westmead children’s Covid-19 ward.  We have a nice collection, but would like some more.  Students and families are invited to write a card or two over the weekend, pop them in the post to Mrs Dianne Forster C/- St Vincent’s College, Locked Bag 2700, Potts Point NSW 1335, and our Di will send them off to the correct person at the hospital.

With some great suggestions from a group of parents, we are putting together a plan to acquire some ‘paint by numbers’ art activities for the children in the ward.  More on that plan next week.   

Last Friday at 4.00pm our movie buffs got online to experience the mind-bending super-reality that is Edward Scissorhands.  Our conversation was extraordinary.  We just couldn’t stop talking about it.  We decided that the design of the film takes us beyond the real, to a comic-book, story board world.  The pastel colours make us uneasy, the constant focus on the external trappings of beauty and success are obvious and tiresome.  And then Tim Burton, the director, does an extraordinary thing; he makes us realise that Edward the incomplete human, the one who is so dangerously different, is perhaps the most complete, the most human, because he is the most capable of love without limit.  He has not been taught it and has never experienced it; he just does it.  His love is considered.  He knows what the consequences will be for himself and for others.  He gives without expecting anything in return.  Is he a messiah figure?  I hope not.  Our group was torn as to whether anyone was ‘saved’ by Edward.  Was anyone changed because of him?  Yes, certainly.  But was anyone saved in that total way that we tend to imagine when considering a messiah?  No.  In the end, loving action is questioned and abandoned because it’s all just too hard.  As you can imagine, the conversation went into the evening.  There was so much to argue about.  The girls loved it.  We all cried.

This afternoon we will watch a classic Australian film that focusses on family, relationships, sacrifice, love, duty, abandonment, forgiveness, grief and the expectations that parents and children have of each other.  Colin Friels is amazing, Judy Davis is mesmerising and Claudia Karvan makes me catch my breath and hold it until the end of each scene.  It’s Director Gillian Armstrong at her best in High Tide.  The scenery makes me cold.  It’s beautiful.  I don’t know what the girls will make of it but I can’t wait to hear them.

Years 10, 11 and 12 are invited to join the Friday Afternoon Movie Classroom and join the Google Meet at 4.00pm.  Parents and siblings are welcome to join too.  Click on the link HERE for all the info.

Last week I suggested consideration of Atonement theory.  That’s the idea that Jesus’ suffering and death was necessary for God to love us.  It’s the idea that God required a blood sacrifice in order to forgive humanity their great sin.  It’s an odd idea. It grew out of the Jewish context of sacrifice.  Jesus himself performed or was part of the tradition of blood offerings to God in the Temple.  It’s in the Gospels.  Since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in the year 70AD, blood sacrifice has not been part of Jewish practice. 

The great story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection was remembered and told, initially by a small group of Jews who were converted to this new way of living and loving, and then more largely by Gentiles.  Both groups needed to make sense of the story.  And they needed to make sense of it in their own terms.  St Paul writes about Jesus from a Jewish perspective, where sacrifice, blood, atonement is a sensible part of an experience with God.  The Gospel writers do the same.  They are all Jewish.  But then the story gets shared with the Gentiles who don’t have the same understanding of the Jewish way.  Their way of telling stories is very different.  So, the God that Jesus teaches, prays to, loves and walks with becomes separated from the Jewish idea and it all gets confusing.  Can a God who is love, who is in love with all of creation, from the beginning, who breathes life and meaning into the universe, really desire his own son to suffer and die as a ‘ransom’?  It is an image of a parent that doesn’t make sense to us. 

Let’s try this image instead.

That Jesus lived to show us how to love - completely, unconditionally, beyond the limitations and demands of race, creed, gender and social position.  Jesus heals those who deserve it and those who perhaps do not.  He tells the most disturbing story of the master who pays all the workers the same, whether they have worked all day or are late-comers.  His way is to love wastefully, not fairly.  But the society, the mob, those in power, those who wanted to maintain the status quo of judgment and violence, got rid of him.  So, Jesus stretches out his arms on the cross, not in sacrifice to a violent God, but in an embrace of the whole world that says, “Here I am.  I have loved you with an everlasting love.  And I will love you to the end, no matter what you do.  I forgive you, for you don’t understand what you are doing.”

Jesus responds to violence, fear, degradation, hatred and rejection with healing, forgiveness, dignity, love and acceptance.  He does it all his life, and he does it to the end. 

That’s what saves us.  Love.  Jesus showing us how to love, unconditionally, is a chance at life, at saving, and being saved.  Jesus shows us how to serve, forgive, heal, accept and raise to dignity, those who are pushed so low by the judgment and rejection of others that they wallow in the dirt.  Jesus gets into the dirt with them.  Love will save us because love brings life.  Violence, rejection, fear, degradation, revenge, and hatred bring death and destruction.  We know it.  We’ve seen it.  Jesus is raised to life because love… is.  And that great love will not abandon us.  Our Salvation is in the hands of a God who pays all the workers the same amount no matter how much work they’ve done.  Our Salvation is in the hands of a God who is into forgiveness that is 77 times 7 times, without limit. 

That’s how Jesus saves.  Jesus does not ‘suffer and die’ in place of me.  He lives not to make God’s love possible but to make God’s love visible.

Phew.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

Virtual Incursion - Author Presentation

by Ava McDonnell-Zammit

On Thursday, Year 7 and our English teachers had the pleasure of having an incursion with guest speaker, Ms Kate Constable.  Kate Constable is the author of the novel, Crow Country, which we have been studying over the past terms, so it was really exciting to hear her ideas on the creative writing process.

Some of the things Ms Constable said were especially helpful to Year 7 as she gave us multiple ways to plan and formulate our plot, story, setting and characters in our upcoming stories.  This helps us with our writing as she included multiple different strategies, such as starting with a cracking plot and letting everything grow out of that or creating a character and having the plot and setting develop from the character, providing a wide variety of options. Another piece of advice that Kate Constable gifted us with, was ensuring you have a very interesting character that readers can relate to as that engages the readers more and attracts them to the novel.

I’m quite thankful to Ms Constable for sharing her thoughts as these ideas will help all of us throughout our writing journeys.  I personally really enjoyed learning about how different themes were expressed in Crow Country and hearing Ms Constable explain how some novels need to have a clear theme from the start, whereas other novels don’t have an extremely evident theme, which showed that she also understood the importance of many of the themes featured in Crow Country.

I’m really glad that we got such an amazing opportunity to hear about Kate Constable's experience writing novels from Kate Constable herself.

Competition deadlines 17 September 2021

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In the Extension 2 English course, SVC students have engaged in extensive investigation of a subject of their own choosing resulting in their 'Major Work' -  an extended composition that demonstrates their mastery of the composition process and their chosen form and idea. 

Each Major Work communicates a conceptually profound, insightful or thought-provoking idea with a clear sense of purpose appropriate to their chosen form and style.  Over the course of Year 12 these SVC students have skillfully manipulated and controlled specific language features and conventions of their chosen forms to create a broad range of engaging and original compositions.  Following are pieces from two Extension 2 students.  Enjoy!

Mr Anthony George
English Teacher

By Riki Wells

Blurb:  'The Innocent One' is a revisionist Western screenplay following Finnegan Flannery, a young bushranger who has a tumultuous relationship with his family. A reinterpretation of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel.  'The Innocent One' implicates audiences in a morally ambiguous 'meat pie western', challenging the classic ideals of western films, the good guy and the bad guy, with undertones of family and the values of 1890s Australian society. 

Read an except of Riki's work HERE .

My Extension 2 Journey:  Extension 2 English was never something I considered doing in younger years, I think solely due to the fact I didn’t know it existed.  It came onto my radar sometime in Year 10, when I was selecting my subjects for Year 11.  Although, even at that time I didn’t really picture myself being an Extension 2 student, I liked that the option was open.  Ultimately, I gave in to the allure of being an Extension 2 English student and began the course in Year 12. 

Something no one ever tells you about Extension 2 is that suddenly you just want to read everything, at least that was the case for me.  The creative process necessitated consistent influence and I found I just wanted to keep ingesting lots and lots of content.  This extended beyond novels, as I was writing a screenplay, so I spent a lot of time watching and reading about western films.

I think the great thing about Extension 2 English, is that it permitted me to really dive deep into something that interested me, which helped me to also learn more about myself; it has definitely boosted my confidence, knowing I set out to complete a mammoth task and actually did it!!! 

I applaud my Extension 2 class, we have done so well!  There’s no shame in recognising your own achievements, and what we’ve done is a huge achievement! 

By Tameka McGlashan

View an except of Tameka's work HERE .

Studying in the USA

Education USA

Holiday Information Workshops

Education USA is probably the best, most reliable place to get information about studying in the USA.

Ivy League

Information session from Brown University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University:  Saturday 18 September at 10:00am. For more Information and registration details go here.

General Information Session

In this session EducationUSA will provide an overview of the process for applying to US universities.  Relevant for all students.  Wednesday 22 September at 1:00pm.  For more information and registration details gohere.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Pathway

In this session student athletes will learn how they can get the best of both worlds via the NJCAA Pathway.  The session is scheduled for Tuesday 28 September at 10:00am.  For more information and registration details go here.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Pathway

In this session students will learn directly from a NAIA representative about the many different college sport options.  This session is for student athletes.  It will be held on Wednesday 29 September at 10:00am.  For more information and registration details go here.

Open Days

Campion College

Campion College is hosting a Virtual Open Day from 10.00am-5.00pm on Tuesday 28 September.  Anyone interested in History, Literature, Philosophy, Theology, Classical Languages or is curious about Bachelor or Diploma studies in the Liberal Arts, should try to attend.  For more information go here

The Hotel School, Australia

The Hotel School, Australia is currently running a Virtual Open Day for a month.  Please register your interest here to explore The Hotel School degrees in Business, Hotel Management and Tourism.  For more information contact Anne McCrory by email at:  anne.mccrory@scu.edu.au or visit this website: hotelschool.scu.edu.au.

Course Information

University of Tasmania

Paramedicine and Nursing Webinars

Students and parents keen to learn more about what it’s like to study Paramedicine & Accelerated Nursing  at UTAS’s Sydney campus, based in Rozelle, should register their interest via the highlighted links.

Bedford College

Bedford offers Early Childhood, Community Services and Business courses.  Face to face as well as flexible online study options are available.  Get qualified after the HSC.  ATARS are not required to enrol at Bedford College.  Download Bedford's course guide 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

What a great final week Australia had at the Paralympics. It was great to have something so inspiring on the television to keep us all motivated to exercise during lockdown.  

Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, all Term 3 Sport has been cancelled or postponed.  Please be aware that fees paid for Term 3 Sport will be credited to your account.  There is no need to directly contact Mrs Pauline Martin.  

There are some great home training sessions on the College website for those girls who are missing their Saturday Sport, and lots of good Tutor Challenges being organised by Ms Jacobs.

TERM 1 (2022) SPORT REGISTRATIONS

We are now preparing for Term 1/2022 Sport.  The Term 1 Sport Registrations have been extended until Friday 17 September.  Please go to the Registration section on the front of the Sport page on the College website.  The sports offered for Terms 1/2022 are:  EASTS Touch, IGSA Water Polo, IGSA Tennis, Santa Sabina Volleyball.  Please make sure you would be available and committed to all training sessions and Saturday matches before enrolling.  The registrations will close at 3.00pm on Friday 17 September.  

Vinnies Premmie Babies Challenge

The next Sport incentive you can get involved in is the 2021 "Premmie Marathon Challenge".  We would like to enter a school team in the virtual marathon (either 42km or 100km), which is running in November.  You don't have to run the distance - if you prefer, you can walk, swim or cycle!  And you can also choose if you do it all in one hit or split the distance over a few shorter efforts within a week or even in multiple efforts over the month.

It's for the charity Running for Premature Babies which was founded by local mother Sophie Smith, who was Australian of the Year in 2019.  All donations will help improve the chance of survival of premature babies by providing special equipment to hospitals.  Everyone who raises or donates $50 will receive a finisher's medal and anyone who raises or donates $200 will receive a free running singlet and hat.  So please contact Ms Jacobs if you would like to join the Vinnies team. 

SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK 

The Sports Department is also profiling any students who has learnt a new skill or sport during lockdown.  This will be featured in the College Bulletin's Sports Star section each week.  So please email Ms Jacobs if this could be you.  Some girls have taken up running, who have never run before, or have started an online pilates or yoga class.  Maybe you've had some one-on-one coaching sessions in a specific sport or skill such as surfing, karate or tennis? Whatever the case may be, we would love to know how you have kept fit during lockdown and may have a great idea for others to try.

New Sports Star of the Week for Week 1 is:  India Gale in Year 10

India has learnt how to do a PLANK correctly during lockdown and is working towards holding one for three minutes! She and a friend decided they wanted to get a stronger core and decided to work on this during lockdown. They have slowly increased their time holding the plank starting at 30 seconds. She believes that this program is possible for anyone and would highly recommend we all give it a go if you would like to strengthen your core muscles.

Planks build strength and stability in every inch of your core by targeting not only the rectus abdominis (six-pack ab muscles) but also the internal and external obliques, transverse abdominis, and the erector spinae muscles. In essence,  the plank can give you a flatter tummy. Incorporating planks into your exercise routine will help you build more than just rock-solid abs. The plank is not just an ab exercise, it’s a full-body exercise. The Plank also tones your shoulders, back and your legs. With stronger muscles, your other exercise routines and sports will develop as well. A strong core will improve your running, yoga, surfing, netball, touch, swimming, the list is endless. How long can you hold a PLANK for?  

See India’s story below:

I am in Year 10 and I have been very bored as everyone else during the lockdown. To make the most of this lockdown I decided to develop the skill of doing the plank for a long time or just try to beat my record of a minute long. Last Friday I called a couple of my friends on facetime and we challenged each other by starting at 30 seconds then going up to 45 seconds, then a minute. On Monday I then did a minute and 10 seconds. Overall I beat my record and got up to a minute and 30 seconds. I am striving to do the plank for three minutes which I am currently working on. This plank challenge has definitely strengthened my core. Highly recommend challenging yourself whether it's planking or even a dance workout everyone should at least push themselves to the best they can be!  India Gale - Year 10

Learn How to Plank for Beginners

​​Alignment is key. Use a mirror or a piece of furniture as you get started to avoid accidental pressure on your joints. If you choose to use a piece of furniture, do the following steps at an incline to engage your abs. You may also do plank on the floor or a mat.

●     Place your hands directly under your shoulders. Spread your fingers wide.

●     Press through your shoulders and dome your upper back to protect your shoulder sockets and strengthen your chest muscles (pectoralis major/minor).

●     Micro-bend your elbows to shield your joints against unnecessary pressure.

●     Lengthen your spine behind you and lift your knees off the floor (you can leave your knees down).

●     Parallel your legs to the ceiling and engage your thighs.

●     Tuck your hip bones forward toward your belly button to increase your abdominal and glute engagement.

●     Stack your heels over the ball-mounts of your feet to avoid strain on your toe joints.

●     Gaze down to lengthen your neck and to keep your spine aligned.

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

We understand that COVID-19 and lockdowns have impacted many businesses and livelihoods across our community.  Now more than ever, it is important to rally behind and support the businesses owned by members of the College’s families and alumnae.

We encourage all members of our St Vincent's community to support these businesses by heading to our business directory on our website   www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/our-community/business-directory/

The Directory is made available as a service to the College community and publication in the Directory is not to be interpreted as an endorsement of any business by the College.

Ms Renee Payne
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager

The College has teamed up with the National Fathering Project and the P&F Association to relaunch our Fathering Project.  The Fathering Project in schools is about supporting fathers and staff to build our community of positively engaged families - for the benefit of the kids. 

St Vincent's College would like to invite all fathers and significant father figures to be a part of the Fathering Project.  For further information or to register your interest, go to our website www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/fathering-project/

Happy Father's Day!

Ms Renee Payne
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager