Below: Mia Chaaya and Ellen Ebbs, College Co-Captains, addressing their last formal College Assembly this week - via Google Meet.
Below: Mia and Ellen addressing a very different College Assembly, for International Women's Day earlier this year in March
Friday 18, Saturday 19, Sunday 20 September: Boarders' IN Weekend.
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Wednesday 23 September: House Assembly Farewell
Friday 25 September: Day of Celebration for Year 12 2020
Friday 25 September: Last day of Term 3.
- Boarding House closes at 6.00pm.
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Tuesday 13 October: Classes resume for Term 4.
Monday 12 October: Boarders' return at 4.00pm.
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Dear Parents and Carers
Today at lunchtime the beautiful sounds created by voice and instrument filled the Caritas Christi courtyard. Despite the overcast skies, the gift of music lifted the spirits of all the students and staff who gathered to listen to Music students from the class of 2020. The Hall is full of the great Visual Arts, Design and Textile Major Projects that have been produced by our graduating class. The exhibition will be made available as a virtual tour for parents, while students will have the opportunity to visit and appreciate the diversity of talent on show. You will be sent a link to visit the exhibition and I encourage you to sit back comfortably, and get ready to be in awe of the talent and creativity you will see on your screen.
We saw the beginning of Valete this week with our Year 12 students addressing their last formal school assembly. Mia and Ellen have recorded a version of their speech that can be enjoyed by you all at home, and as usual their words were wise and considered. That same day we took the traditional whole and House group photos of our Year 12 students that become treasured momentos of their final year, and no doubt a source of delight and amusement at future school reunions. When they look back upon the day, I hope they look at themselves with kindness, gentleness and a sense of their own beauty and potential, that was so obvious as the photos were being taken.
Next week we will farewell the students from their House Groups and Friday will be our day of celebration with the Year 12 class. Next term, post their HSC exams, we will host a mega-picnic, so their Tutor Groups can celebrate with them and Valete will then conclude with a formal Graduation Dinner on 19 November. By then, their examinations will be over and hopefully we are further out of our COVID restrictions.
This week there have been many moments of remembering the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics. It has been great to be able to remember Sydney as the bustling, hospitable, vibrant city it earnt a world-wide reputation for being in 2000. It is still a beautiful place to live and we enjoy so many benefits of being a harbour city. One of those is our balmy but variable climate, which has made the uniform a topic of hot conversation (forgive the pun!). Next week is forecast to be warm (mid to high 20's) and therefore, for the last week of term, students can decide to wear their full summer or full winter uniforms. This is not an invitation to wear the sports uniform or a hybrid of all three! With the summer uniform, please ask the students to complete an "over-head stretch in front of a mirror" to help determine if the length is appropriate.
I am very much looking forward to a week of celebration with our graduands. Please continue to hold them in prayer as they make this big transition beyond secondary school. They still have many weeks of independent preparation until their HSC examinations commence,but for now, they have the peace of mind of knowing all their 13 years of school-based assessments are complete!
Stay safe and well,
Yours sincerely
I have found myself listening to a few virtual choirs over this past week. It started purposefully as I was seeking models of possibilities to support the Year 12 students’ preparations for their Farewell Assembly next week. One link took me to another and another - and I found myself stumble upon and captivated by a Russian boys’ choir that would become my tranquility at the end of these busy days. It was the complementarity of their voices that was so striking - a perfect reminder that the sum of us is greater than our individual parts. And so it is for our Year 12 cohort - the Class of 2020 - who next week step into their last days of school with the love and support of peers, families and teachers. A choir resonates far more than any soloist performance. It is in the exchange of singing together that smiles are borne, mutual passion and admiration inspiring each singer to give of one’s best to add to the melody of voices.
Year 12 are more than the sum of their individual selves. As a collective they have inspired and supported, they have known each other and laughed and cried together. Their community is also more than themselves. Their younger peers, teachers and families have travelled alongside them. Whilst we look to celebrate their gifts and contributions to community, I anticipate that it will be a week to express gratitude to those many people who have accompanied them along their school journey. The extra mile that teachers have taken in this pandemic year cannot go unnoticed and I express my appreciation for all they have given this year group to keep them buoyant - in an agile uncertain environment, the commitment and innovation of teachers ensured that HSC learning was prioritised so that students and families could feel confident to give of and attain their best efforts. I wish to acknowledge the genuine care of each teacher and their resilience in a year that could have overwhelmed. I commend the work of the Pastoral Team, including our counsellor, Ms Sophia De Prendegast, for responding with such professionalism in supporting our students. The world was thrown a curve-ball of worry and uncertainty this year, it put strain on relationships and finances, it took away some freedoms and highlighted our vulnerabilities. And it asked us to find stoicism, to reshape our perspective and appreciate our blessings.
That global pandemic has turned up each day in the life of this community; we have witnessed and responded to much vulnerability and fragility. Much is unknown but deeply felt. What I know is the enormous response of love and companionship given by students, teachers and families. At the end of the day it is all about relationship and giving the best of who we are in the capacity we are able. It is being in good relationship that we look to celebrate and appreciate this coming week. Year 12 have given us so much and received plenty. They are to be applauded for their positivity, inspiration and resilience. They have also been blessed by the generosity, care and commitment of their community. Together their lived experience has indeed been more than the sum of their individual gifts but it in the sharing of these gifts as community. This next week will be one of rich emotion and thanksgiving. I hope that families have a way to ritualise this significant rite of passage as the school uniform is set aside for the last time. We look forward to celebrating your daughter with you in both academic gown and heels at our formal graduation celebration in November. (Now that the larger venue is secured, please look out for communication to follow next week regarding table bookings).
As we approach the final week of HSC learning on campus for the Class of 2020, I am filled with disbelief as well as pride. Disbelief in how quickly the months have transpired in a year unlike any other for our graduating class. Pride in the witnessing of our HSC students’ commitment to the final stages of thirteen years of learning. What has been particularly joyful to witness this week, is the Year 12 cohort empower each other through the sharing of their collective wisdom. Having been inspired by the legacy of the Class of 2019, the students have organised before-school revision seminars, designed to collaborate and share the insights and wisdom gathered from achieving ‘top band’ teacher feedback. This has led to students passing on tips and advice to their peers who are keen to gain the insights on how to acquire those all-important ‘one or two more marks.’ These seminars will continue next week until Thursday 24 September, and I congratulate Mia Chaaya and all of the Year 12 students who have led these valuable peer to peer learning forums.
In May, Mrs Fry communicated NESA’s decision to push the HSC exams back a week and ‘give back’ five extra teaching days to be included in the 2020 HSC year. These extra five days have given our HSC girls the reassurance they needed that there was indeed adequate time to thoroughly finish their courses and have time for revision post-Trials and pre-HSC. With 50% of total marks still to be obtained from the HSC examinations, each student has the capacity, skills and knowledge now to dig deep and demonstrate to the NESA HSC examiners her ability to apply her learning succinctly, cohesively and with clarity on the ‘big days’ from 20 October to 11 November. To assist their examination readiness, the College has organised an Optional HSC Seminar Schedule commencing Tuesday 13 October through to Friday 16 October. These seminars have been designed with an ‘exam-attack’ focus so that students hear from their teachers, our HSC experts, the do’s and don’ts to inspire their best possible HSC performance in each examination. I do encourage your daughters to attend online, these wonderful consolidating opportunities for learning. To maximise our ability to ensure the cohort remain COVID-safe until the examinations commence, we have made the decision to hold these seminars as Google Meets via Google Classrooms, to enable students to join in to each seminar relevant to their individual pattern of study, from the comfort of their own homes. This ‘Foxford’ agility will maximise the students’ ability to control their own revision schedules in the last pre-HSC days, whilst partaking in these very worthwhile seminars.
It appears that NESA this year may have been ‘borrowing’ our Ignatian pedagogical approach, as they have been quite proactive throughout the pandemic in addressing the academic care of the whole person. They have some useful resources on their website that are designed to support students both through an academic as well as a wellbeing lens. I know that the students have been finding the HSC Hub site and Edrolo particularly useful. NESA have included some other resources to support staying healthy in the lead up to the HSC and I include the link here to the ‘Stay Healthy’ website.
Finally, what a treat it was to witness the HSC Music Class perform a repertoire of their HSC pieces on the Caritas Christi courtyard at lunchtime. The level of skill and passion for their musical endeavours, be that their voice or their instruments, was profound. To witness these students enjoying their own musical talents with such pure joy, was truly inspiring for all of our younger students and teachers who gathered to watch them. I wish the Class of 2020 every blessing for their HSC preparations and a wonderful last week of Year 12.
The HSC Languages Orals for our students at St Vincent's end on Saturday 19 September for our French Extension class. We wish Lily Carpenter and Gisele Weishan all the best as they complete their exam tomorrow. Lily and Gisele have been committed Language students throughout their high school years, and we congratulate them both on their commitment and dedication to Language learning as a HSC subject.
Bonne Chance!
Entries are due to your English teacher by the end of the term, ie next Friday 25 September. You still have time to work on and submit your masterpiece!
On Monday 14 September, Rachel Givney, ex-student and author of Jane in Love, very generously shared her time and knowledge with Mrs Ginzburg’s Avid Readers’ Book Club and with Year 11 English Advanced, who have just finished a study of Pride and Prejudice and Bride and Prejudice. Jane in Love is the story of how Jane Austen travels to the present day. She must decide between her love of her career and her love of love. What will she do? Which will she choose? What are the sacrifices in choosing one over the other?
We are very grateful to Rachel for being so supportive of our young readers and writers. She entered into our discussion of character in Book Club. With Year 11 Advanced she showed us an example of a script and explored the difference between a script and a novel - it's all in the dialogue and action. Austen’s focus on dialogue and action, and not description, makes her very easy to work with on film.
Rachel left us with the very pertinent advice: Don’t get it right; get it written. This can apply to all creative pursuits, but also to every piece of homework and every assessment activity.
Here are a few comments from Year 7 students:
Alexandra Haddock: Speaking to Rachel Givney, author of Jane in Love, was an extremely good experience. As a group, we asked her many questions; where she had drawn inspiration from, how she had structured the novel and how she came to write the novel. I was very grateful for the chance to meet with Rachel Givney and loved every moment of our meeting.
Lily See: I think talking with Rachel Givney was a great experience. It taught me more about Austen's novels and more about becoming a writer too.
Lily O’Loghlin: Meeting Rachel Givney was a very fun and inspiring experience and I loved hearing her insight on Jane Austen and novel-writing.
Leila Spies: I really appreciated the opportunity of talking to Rachel. I loved the fact that she was an ex-Vinnies' student and that she went on to do something great!
Congratulations to Bibi O’Loghlin and Gisele Weishan who have completed their Major Works for English Extension 2. Bibi has completed a satirical poetic drama script which dismantles the distinctions between high and low art to provide a humorous piece of social commentary about the machinations of the theatre world. Gisele has written a hybrid magical realist short story which appropriates the Eurydice myth, and offers a feminist critique of reader response theory. Both pieces are original, provocative and reflective in the way that they challenge assumptions about the way we interpret and consume literature.
Teaching English Extension 2 is a great privilege. Sure I am biased in thinking it is the best HSC course on offer; it encompasses everything that deep learning should be about - passion, imagination, creativity, critical thinking, research, reflection, risk-taking, collaboration and importantly - failure. It is such a rewarding experience to have the opportunity to work closely with students who are willing to do all these things in order to craft a polished piece that they are truly invested in. Both Bibi and Gisele have been exemplary role models in the way they have embraced the spirit of this course. It is no doubt difficult to maintain the same level of motivation when working on a single project for a significant period of time. However, Bibi and Gisele tirelessly drafted, drafted and drafted, edited, edited and edited. Sometimes it was hard for me to keep up with them!
Thank you Bibi and Gisele for allowing me to be part of your Extension 2 journey. I have learnt so much from both of you. May you continue to make your literary mark on the world in years to come!
Bibi and Gisele’s Major Works will be on display in the Library.
From Bibi O’Loughlin: The first thing that comes to mind when I reflect on English Extension 2 is that it is a very strange course - the best type of strange imaginable.
The majority of HSC courses set the agenda for what you will learn. Sure, you’re encouraged to contribute your ideas to items on this agenda, but ultimately, a syllabus is a syllabus and must be followed. When I began Extension 2 I realised that in this course I could set this agenda myself. Ms Playoust, our incredible Extension 2 teacher, gave me a piece of advice early in the course that is the most critical guidance I would pass on to an Extension 2 student - write about what you can’t stop thinking about, what keeps you up at night. Initially this terrified me. What if the concepts that fascinated me were interesting only to me? Or what if I lacked the ability to express them in my Major Work?
In hindsight, I know that at that point in the process I undoubtedly lacked that ability. I initially held myself to an impossible standard, telling myself that if I was going to take the course I must write perfectly or else I wasn’t worthy of being an Extension 2 student. The first drafts of my Major Work indicate very clearly that I was far from perfect. In Extension 2 you are still a learner. The difference is you get to decide what you want to learn. For me, it was how to write a script and how to explore my specific concept within that format. Extension 2, at least in my experience, is not an opportunity for perfect writers to create perfect works but for flawed writers to become less flawed writers.
Extension 2 forms an unusual relationship between the student and their Major Work. My relationship even to my completed Major Work is fraught. I have been at varying times passionately in love with it and full of vehement hatred for it. I have felt entirely confident in my ability as a writer one day and completely lost faith in it the next. Like with any project worked on for an extended period of time, I lost passion for it regularly. I dreaded working on it. But paradoxically, the next day I would find myself unable to resist writing it. The joy of setting your own agenda for a course is that you will always be lured back to it.
Extension 2 is strange and often at times challenging, which is why my classmate Gisele and I were so fortunate to be taught by the unwaveringly supportive Ms Playoust. Ms Playoust gave us the greatest gift I believe a writer can receive - enthusiasm for your work when you yourself can’t muster it. Without that enthusiasm I likely would have been overcome by self-doubt early on in the process. Ms Jarman should also be credited with providing Gisele and I with constant support and feedback throughout the course. It was with their support that we were able to complete our Major Works. I am thrilled to have completed Extension 2, not mainly because of the end product but because the challenges it involved made me a better writer. It is an experience I would highly recommend.
From Gisele Weishan: I had decided I wanted to study the English Extension 2 course even before it was an option for me to undertake. The anticipation and my excitement building throughout Year 11. At the time, I just imagined myself spending the year writing creative stories as I so loved to do. Though it was often said to me, the English Extension 2 course was indeed not what I expected. For one, it was a much more exhausting process than I had initially imagined in such reveries of what it would be like. It demanded more critical engagement with academic articles than I had ever been exposed to, unleashing the JSTOR floodgates upon me full force. It sometimes stretched my mental capacities to the brink of what felt like near intellectual insanity. These to name a few.
Throughout my facing the realities of this course, there were times when I doubted my abilities to successfully surpass the challenges of this course. But whilst the course and my Major Work itself were not what I expected they would be, they surpassed such limited expectations I had initially held and ultimately made the successes I achieved all the more rewarding. English Extension 2 engaged me in such unique learning experiences, placing me as the master of my own learning experience whilst being greatly aided by incredible teachers making it a truly extraordinary course to study in Year 12.
Reflecting back on when I sat in that first class, I can clearly see how much I have grown not only as an English student and writer but also as an individual seeking to be critically minded in the society in which we live. I would definitely recommend that those seeking to undertake the English Extension 2 journey with an open mind and sturdy readiness to face the hard but enjoyable tasks ahead should jump in. And to those who do, I wish you the best of luck in creating something that will surely be amazing!
What the English Department have been reading/listening to/viewing:
| Ms Jarman | Hamlet by Maggie O’Farrell | This is a fascinating story of the love between two quirky people: William Shakespeare and the otherworldly Anne Hathaway. It also provides a fascinating reading of Hamlet - a song of grief for Will’s son, Hamnet. |
| Ms Jarman | The Assistant - film maker / director Kitty Green | This is a gripping film for the #MeToo era. A wonderfully subtle scene between the complaint and the masterfully manipulative HR Mr Fix-it. |
| Ms Jarman | Jane in Love by Rachel Givney | Ever wondered why it is that Jane Austen can write about love so knowingly? Well, here is the answer. This novel imagines Jane Austen travelling through time, to fall in love with a modern-day-Bath-dwelling history and English teacher. Will she stay or go? For all Persuasion fans. |
| Ms Jarman | White Tears, Brown Skin by Ruby Hamad | A challenging read about the privileges enjoyed by white women and the impact of that power on the lives of brown women. When white women claim victimisation at the hands of women of colour, what are the consequences? |
| Ms Jarman | American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins | A pacey read about the treacherous journey that South Americans make to Estados Unidos. Why do they? How do they? What is the journey like for women? Children? A painful insight into the plight of refugees and migrants. |
| Mrs Mano | The Zanzibar Wife by Deborah Rodriguez | A compelling read. It’s a complex story of clashing cultures and conflicting beliefs, of secrets and revelations, of mystery and magic. What else could you ask for? |
| Ms Marshall | The Overstory by Richard Powers | A novel about trees that is quite incredible. The plot explores how seven different characters' lives are connected by trees. You’ll never look at trees in the same way again. |
| Ms Playoust with her daughters | Film - Queen of Katwe directed by Mira Nair | Based on a true story and directed by one of my favourite Indian female directors (she directed Monsoon Wedding), this is a captivating biopic depicting the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, who learns to play chess and becomes the National Female Champion. Heartbreaking in parts, inspiring in others - a great film to start discussion with the whole family. Top that off with strong messages about empathy, humility, integrity, perseverance and teamwork and the ending will have you in tears (of joy!). |
In the Year 11 PDHPE course, we were given the opportunity to study the option Fitness Choices. In our lessons we investigated what exercise means to different people and the factors that can influence exercise choices. To supplement the content, we participated in a variety of different group and individual activities such as pilates, circuit training and even a Jiu-Jitsu lesson! The current circumstances of COVID-19 did not stop the Year 11’s from participating in the fun and hard activities planned!
The pilates class took place over two lessons, meeting with an instructor, Saba Rasool, on a Zoom call. It was in these two lessons where we were able to stretch and work muscles that some of us had never used before, and I can tell you that we were sore the next day! We were also able to experience a new and different form of pilates known as barre pilates. Assisted by a chair, the art of ballet and pilates were combined - challenging and conditioning our bodies. Later on one of our very own Sport teachers, Ms Jacobs, who is a qualified personal trainer, worked us hard with her intense cardio-circuit workout. In this workout, we worked our core, legs and cardio-respiratory fitness through fun (but always challenging!) activities like boxing and skipping. To conclude the unit, one of our peers, Abby Delucyk, shared her expertise in the art of Jiu-Jitsu. She taught us specific techniques and movements that can be used as self-defence, as well as informing us about the cultural aspect that founded the art; for example, the greeting at the beginning and end of the session.
Through participating in these activities whilst simultaneously studying the unit, Fitness Choices, it became apparent that every individual has a different meaning and perspective of what exercise is, and the large range of external factors that can influence this perspective. The practical application was a critical aspect of this unit, allowing us as students to take our knowledge from the screen and apply it to scenarios that are relevant to our everyday lives.
Ella Emery, Year 11 PDHPE Student
The theme of NSW History Week 2020 was History: What is it good for? At St Vincent’s College last week, it was made very clear that history is good for so many things. History helps us develop a better understanding of the world and helps us understand ourselves. It relays the story of how your country, city or community came to be everything that it is today. History tells you where your ancestors came from and tells you who they were. History is more than just the living record of nations, leaders and wars. It’s also the story of us. It’s loaded with tales of how someone stood up for what they believed in or died for love or worked hard to make their dreams come true.
History Week was celebrated in many ways during Week 8. The library ran some virtual reality games that saw students travel back in time to past civilisations. Ancient China, the Middle Ages, the Mayan and Inca civilisations, and the ancient Egyptian pyramids came alive through this wonderful technology.
Year 7 built some Viking boats and a longhouse which were displayed in the library. They also created multimedia presentations about a famous Viking which showcased some incredible ICT and research skills. Some of these will be shown at the College Assembly this week. Ms Geracitano’s Year 10 Elective History class performed role plays for the College community during our History dress up day. These told the tale of Alexander the Great and his campaigns in Egypt, Persia and India.
below: Year 7's Viking boats and longhouse were displayed in the library
Year 9 History presented some role plays that saw civil rights activists in both the US and Australia during the 1950's and 60's engage in conversations about their achievements and challenges faced trying to improve the lives of others. It was wonderful to watch Year 9 try to see events through the perspectives of others and appreciate the importance of rights and freedoms.
The Year 12 Ancient History class dressed up as historical figures from the Augustan Age and some staff members joined in the fun in costumes and character. With 2020 being such a year of unprecedented events, Year 11 Modern History thought it a perfect opportunity to create a time capsule. What would students of 2040 find interesting from today? What would pique their curiosity? The students decided on toilet paper, hand sanitiser and a mask - with explanations of course! They also included a daily newspaper and a whiteboard marker, predicting that white boards would no longer be used in the classrooms of the future. Some coins were also included in the belief that just like the one and two cent pieces, they too would become obsolete. There were some predictions written by the girls and a letter to the class of 2040 telling them what they had learnt this year, and hoping that they too believed that History is good for so many things.
Below: HISTORY WEEK images
Above: Mrs Fry and Mr Latham in character for History Week
Below: Year 11 Modern History created a time capsule for the students of 2040
Renewable Energy
UNSW will be hosting four online sessions (21, 22, 23 September) for students interested in renewable energy. Renewables is a career where you can make a positive impact on the world and UNSW is a world leader in this industry. Did you know that 75% of the world’s solar panels use technology developed at UNSW Australia? There will be 76,000 new jobs in renewables by 2030. Do you want an exciting, in-demand career that is good for the planet? To learn more, students can register using the eventbrite link here
Year 12 Meetings
In recognition that this has been a turbulent year for Year 12 students, with limited opportunity to interact one-on-one with prospective universities, Bridgette Martin from the University of Sydney's Student Outreach Department, wanted to make herself available to students for 20-minute consultations (via Zoom video chat). This chat will provide students with the opportunity to discuss University of Sydney courses, scholarships and admission pathways and ask any extra questions they may have.
Over the next few weeks students can check available appointment times and book in with Bridgette Martin via Calendly using the link here. Once your appointment has been confirmed you will receive a follow up email with a link to join the Zoom meeting.
ACU University Experience Day
Tailored to study areas of interest, University Experience Day will give participants an insight into campus life as a university student. Register here to attend either the Sydney or Canberra University Experience days.
University Film and Television Awards
BUFTA is the premier film competition for high school students around Australia. BUFTA gives Year 11 and Year 12 students the chance to win a full scholarship to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at Bond University. Learn more here
This year St Vincent’s College had wonderful success in the Tournament of Minds Annual Challenge. We are delighted to report being silver medallists in the competition.
Congratulations to all of the Year 7 and Year 8 participants including Alexandra Haddock, Lily O’Loghlin, Christina Dudding, Charlotte Ballinger, Lily Rowbotham, Ella Stearn, Alannah Trim, Madeline McCullum, Maggie Eisenhauer, Eliza Doyle, Natasha See, Grace McDonough, Polly Sewell, Indie Whitford, Stella Devery, Clara Kelleher and Ellie Byrnes.
Some comments from the students:
Tournament of Minds was a wonderful experience, and the video that my team and I produced was something that we are all very proud of. Our overall theme was STEM, but we also incorporated a lot of Social Sciences related themes and some of the Arts and Language Literature. We faced a number of challenges, but we persevered as a team and had a lot of fun doing it. Tournament of Minds was the perfect opportunity to enrich and challenge our minds. Alexandra Haddock, Year 7
Tournament of Minds 2020 was a fun, challenging and interesting experience. We started out with some crazy ideas such as a mad historian travelling through a supermassive wormhole, an alternate planet Earth and a creature called a Snagon, and we managed to incorporate all of these into our final product! Out of the four themes: STEM, the Arts, Language/Literature and Social Sciences, we chose Social Sciences, only to find out that as we had originally said it would be STEM - we had to stick to that. Luckily, our video involves a lot of space exploration, so we were able to keep it the same even though the theme was not what we thought it had to be. We also had the chance to meet a lot of new people and we all had a lot of fun. Overall, Tournament of Minds was a wonderful experience which I thoroughly enjoyed. Lily O’Loghlin, Year 7
This year the Tournaments of Minds competition was a very different experience from last year! The challenge was more open and we had so much fun doing it. For our team the challenge was mainly focused on language literature and our solution fitted perfectly into this category. We faced many challenges like brainstorming over Google Meet and having limited meetings when the school shut down. However, due to our team’s great collaboration, creativity and flexibility we were able to overcome these obstacles to solve the challenge, and we made a great film out of them. As a whole, we worked really hard and each and every one of us played a major role in completing this year’s ToM's challenge. It was a really fun experience and we all learnt a lot. Massive thanks to Ms Ginzburg for organising meetings, motivating us and helping us through all the challenges that we faced.
Maggie Eisenhauer, Year 8
Participating in Tournament Of Minds was a lot of fun and we were able to take a unique and different approach because of the different format of the challenge this year. Our team worked together to create a video that we all felt connected to and could all have fun with. Our overall theme was language and literature, and through different techniques we created a video about the journey to find happiness and peace in your life. It was lots of fun and I would love to do it again. Eliza Doyle, Year 8
Tournament of Minds was more than incredible. It allowed us to create something creative and new. Working in the team was fun, hilarious and definitely interesting at times, and, although we had to shorten our entry for this year, we were allowed to be more creative with what we did. I think the whole team enjoyed it. Special thanks to Ms Ginzburg for organizing and guiding us through it! Christina Dudding, Year 7
Term 4 Sports Staff Contacts:
Co-ordinator of Sport: Ms Jacinta Jacobs: 0418 416 663 / jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au
Water polo: Ms Hayley Boatswain 0404 267 554
Touch/Volleyball/Basketball: Ms Elyse Harmanis: 0434 610 870
Futsal: Mr Hugo Forlico: 0411 615 031.
Website details: www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport
Congratulations to all 22 netball teams who have been displaying wonderful Vinnies spirit as they play each other in the adjusted draw. This weekend we will have our fun play offs so don’t forget to bring your smiles!
Thank you to all parents who have been following the Covid-19 rules and have been dropping their daughters off and picking them up at Tempe. The courts and car park will be very busy again in the final two weeks with St George netball also using the courts, so please allow enough time for any traffic delays so players can have at least 15 minutes warm up prior to games.
Note: Please understand that in their competition St George netball is allowed one parent to spectate, however, IGSSA have a strict NO SPECTATOR RULE and we must abide by this.
www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport/netball
Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Netball Coach - elyse.harmanis@gmail.com
below: SVC 21 Netball
below: Junior Netball at Tempe
All teams are to be congratulated on their wonderful team spirit. All three teams have been training well and improving each week, despite the game scores in some cases. It is great to see the younger girls playing more confidently and the more experienced players helping them. We will have our fun play-offs this Saturday, Vinnies against Vinnies!
Ms Laura Wiggins
Head Hockey Coach
below: SVC 2 Hockey
Congratulations to all six of our soccer teams, who ended the season with great matches last weekend! The Junior Firsts’ finished on top of the ladder so, congratulations SVC 4!
* We are still looking for a few more junior and senior futsal players for next term. Please contact Ms Jacobs as soon as possible if you are interested in playing.
Mr Hugo Forlico
Head Soccer Coach
below: Junior Firsts
below: Firsts last game
Congratulations to our junior team who have had a fantastic season with only one loss against Ascham last Saturday! All players have trained hard and improved greatly throughout the season, thanks to Coach Phil!
* We are still looking for a few more junior and senior basketball players for next term. Please contact Ms Jacobs as soon as possible if you are interested.
Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Basketball Coach - elyse.harmanis@gmail.com
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no trials will be conducted for Term 4 Sports, except for Year 7 touch which were held this week. We will also not be starting swimming training until Term 1, 2021. We are hoping to have one morning a week of water polo/swimming fitness run by Craig Miller for any girls wishing to do an extra session. We will announce which morning this will be the first week back next term.
We have selected all other sports teams from last year’s teams and from their playing history. In most cases there have only been two teams in each sport age grouping. These teams may be altered slightly once we have the first training session back next term. Please speak to Ms Jacobs if you have any questions or concerns in regard to this.
We will be holding the tennis trials next week on the College courts. All girls interested in training for this tournament which will held in March next year, are invited to come to trials on Monday 21 and Wednesday 23 September from 3.15pm to 4.30pm. All Year groups are welcome as we choose a squad of 20-30 players.
Fitness training is still continuing on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3.15pm-4.30pm, until Wednesday 23 September, and will continue next term as well if we have enough girls who are interested. All girls are to be ready and meet outside the change rooms at 3.15pm. This is a great way to get fitter for your sport or just if you love running and want to improve your general fitness.
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
Congratulations to Netball SVC 1 team who have been so dedicated to their season and carried on regardless of all the disruptions. This week I received this lovely report from their coach, Jenny Muldoon, so I thought I’d share it here as they have been wonderful role models for all other teams:
"As we approach our final game of netball this Saturday, I just wanted to say what a privilege and honor it has been to coach this lovely group of talented netballers. Rarely as a coach have I seen the dedication, camaraderie, acceptance and inclusiveness amongst a group of young women. They showed up through exams, Trials and the stressors of 2020. Every week I had all ten girls at training at 7.30am and ten girls at the game, week after week. The year groups did not matter, they were a team, the College's top team, and they all took pride in that. Covid-19 took away our comp, but it did not take away their spirit and sportsmanship as we all continued to enjoy the season. I have no doubt if I had more time to lead these girls they would have been a superpower! We will never know what could have been, but what I do know is that they are credit to St Vincent's and their families".
Well done girls!
SVC 1 Netball Team Names and Year:
Jessame Stepto 12
Charlotte Patchett 12
Gemma Fitzgerald 12
Georgia Jones 11
Eliza Smith 11
Olivia Sertori 11
Constance King 10
Tameka McGlashan 11
Chloe Korbel 10
Jaya Morrison 10.
I would also like to thank Elyse Harmanis our Head Netball Coach. In a short time she has built a culture of competitiveness, fun and acceptance. It showed in all the teams as they adjusted so well to the modified draw and Covid rules. She should be commended for running such an enjoyable season through the toughest of years.
Below: AHIGS COVID-19 Protocols for IGSSA NSW Sport - Update from 20 August 2020.
ALL STUDENTS NEED TO BRING THEIR STUDENT CARD TO THE CANTEEN TO PURCHASE ANY FOOD/DRINK.
A Reminder About Online Ordering: Online ordering is now available for students to choose and order before 8.30am that day.
View the four week rotating specials here HERE
Catering Industries Pty Ltd | St Vincent’s College
Phone: 1300 364 092 | Main Phone: 9361 2420
Dennis@cateringindustries.com.au | www.cateringindustries.com.au
AISNSW (Association of Independent Schools) Resource
https://www.aisnsw.edu.au/learning-from-home/wellbeing#parents.
Greater Good Science Centre: COVID-19 parent wellbeing resources and activities
The Office of eSafety: COVID-19: an online safety kit for parents and carers
Keeping children educated and entertained during COVID-19 crisis…It’s easy as ABC
Mindspot
https://mindspot.org.au/assets/pdf/10_Tips_for_Coping_with_Infectious_Diseases.pdf
Beyond Blue
Headspace
https://headspace.org.au/young-people/how-to-cope-with-stress-related-to-covid-19/
ReachOut Parent discussion forum
https://forums.parents.au.reachout.com/
ReachOut Youth discussion forums
https://forums.au.reachout.com/
ReachOut.com One-on-One Support
The Brave Program
https://www.brave-online.com/beating-stress-and-worries-about-coronavirus-covid-19/
FACE COVID ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
If you or anyone you know needs help:
● Lifeline on 13 11 14
● beyondblue on 1300 224 636
● MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
● Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
● Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
● Headspace on 1800 650 890
● QLife on 1800 184 527.
Government Agencies:
NSW Department of Health
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus-faqs.aspx
NSW Department of Education
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety/novel-coronavirus.html
National Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800 020 080 - operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
