Bulletin

Below:  Charlotte Patchett (Year 12/2021) showing assembly this week 'Vinnie', our WWF sponsored Koala.

16, 17, 18 October:  Boarders' IN Weekend. 

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Tuesday 20 October:  HSC Written Examinations Commence  (until Wednesday 11 November). 

View the HSC Written Exam Timetable HERE

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Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Term 4, the final term of this most memorable year.  I am hopeful that this term will be a healthy and uninterrupted term.  I hold this aspiration for all our students and staff, but particularly for our HSC class who commence their exams on Tuesday 20 October.  The exams run through to 11 November, and during that time there will be ways we can all support our candidates.  Most importantly will be our doubling down in our attentiveness to COVID symptoms and staying home and getting tested at the first and mildest symptoms.  We do have contingency plans in place if in the unlikely circumstance we have to close our exam centre or the entire school during this period.  I am exceptionally grateful for the hard work of all who have been involved in the planning and for the co-operation of local schools.  Each school in NSW has been asked to enter into arrangements with a 'twin' or cluster of nearby schools to manage the need to relocate exams.  While the planning looks excellent, please join me in praying we never get the plan out of the folder!  Students will also be asked to be aware of room changes, out of bounds areas and the need to be as quiet as possible while in the vicinity of the exams.  Using our great Christian tradition of prayer, I encourage you to remember each of our HSC students as they strive to do their very best in the exams.

On Wednesday the new student leadership teams were introduced to the College, presented with badges and affirmed for their generosity of spirit in taking on the responsibilities of office.  As I presented each badge by the new (and still awkward) symbolic gesture of congratulations - the elbow bump - I was delighted by the capacity and diversity of our new teams.  Our Co-Captains of the College, Charism and Social Justice Captains, impressed me greatly with their opening presentations and the great initiatives they are planning to implement.  This Sunday our Year 12 leaders will spend a day of Leadership Formation with Mrs Brooks and Mrs Kenderes.

As recently as yesterday, we checked with Sydney Town Hall about their capacity to host our 2020 Speech Night.  Unfortunately, they are still saying that we will be limited to 260 in the stalls and 80 in the balconies.  This has caused me to cancel our booking.  There will still be a recognition of the hard work and endeavour shown through this year but it will most likely be a live-streamed or virtual experience.  The date of 30 November is still confirmed but the format is still under consideration.  On a brighter note, I have written to Years 7 and 8 parents today to say that we will proceed with camp experiences.  

As we are currently finalising the timetable classes, staffing and budget for 2021, it is imperative we get accurate numbers.  A term's fees in-lieu of notice will be charged for families who provide withdrawal notice after Monday 19 October.  We understand that there is plenty of financial uncertainty around, but please be in conversation with us.  We can only help, if we know. 

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal 

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

Olivia Williams (Year 8) - beloved Grandmother. 

Ricci Long (Year 12/2020) – beloved Grandfather. 

Last term many of you were able to join Dr Judith Locke’s parent education webinar focussing on developing your teen’s confidence, resilience and self-regulation in schooling.  Judith shared many pearls of wisdom and strategies that I hope we have had opportunity to implement.  A reminder that Judith places many resources readily accessible on her Confident and Capable or Bonsai Child Facebook page.  In addition, her new book The Bonsai Childhas been released as an e-book or print copy - I will certainly be adding this to our professional reading for staff.

Monday’s Professional Learning Day provided opportunity for staff to start the term well by caring for their own wellness.  Staff opted for a Wellbeing Experience - ranging from running to meditating to laughter, followed by a Sleep for Better Health, Resilience and Performance workshop facilitated by Lisa Maltman (Sleep Connection) who has previously conducted workshops for students.  It was a timely reminder that our capacity to care for others and perform optimally at work is dependent upon first caring for ourselves.  The focus of the remainder of the day was depthing our knowledge and practice of Cura Personalis, care for the whole person, as we explored the integration of wellbeing for being well and learning well.

I share with you below the five elements of the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework (2018) and the CASEL Framework (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning 2017) upon which our whole-school structures for supporting relationships, pastoral programming and teaching and learning strategies are based. They are useful visuals that capture the integration of pastoral and academic care domains, relationships and actions within a school context, typifying the concept of ‘Cura Personalis’.

CASEL defines social and emotional learning (SEL) as “the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions” https://casel.org/overview-sel/ .  Implicit structures and processes that support safe and inclusive learning environments and supportive relationships in partnerships with families and invite student voice and agency to own and contribute to their learning community need also be complimented by the explicit teaching of social and emotional competencies.

The Australian Curriculum identifies the need to explicitly teach personal and social capabilities - ‘students with well-developed social and emotional skills find it easier to manage themselves, relate to others, develop resilience and a sense of self-worth, resolve conflict, engage in teamwork and feel positive about themselves and the world around them.  The development of personal and social capability is a foundation for learning and for citizenship’.

CASEL identifies five areas of social and emotional learning:

 - Self-management:  Managing emotions and behaviours to achieve goals.
 - Self-awareness:  Recognising emotions and values as well as strengths and challenges.

 - Responsible decision-making:  Making ethical, constructive choices about personal  and social behaviour.

 - Relationships skills:  Forming positive relationships, working in teams and dealing effectively with conflict.

 - Social awareness:  Showing understanding and empathy for others.

Over the next few weeks, I will provide you with a resource so that you may too focus on one of these areas to consider how the teaching and learning of such competencies may be developed or nurtured in your homes.  This week I refer to the Greater Good In Action (Greater Good Science Centre, Berkley University of California) with tools to manage emotions - letting go of action, gaining perspective resolving conflict.  I hope it may be of interest - https://ggia.berkeley.edu/#filters=compassion,empathy,resilience_to_stress

Monday evening saw us on screen once more with our newest HSC recruits and parents and carers - the Class of 2021.  It was a reminder of the important relationship we share as we partner in the education and support of your daughters, whilst also equipping them with the responsibilities and capabilities to shape their growth and learning.  Our prayers and belief remain with the Class of 2021 as they ready themselves for Tuesday’s start to the HSC examinations.

I commend with appreciation the students who have taken up their appointments as the 2020-2021 Student Leadership Team, whose names appear in this Bulletin.  This Leadership Team will engage in a Retreat experience this Sunday as they shape their vision to collaborate with and work for their community. We commit our trust and support to their endeavours. 

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal, Pastoral Care

Our Ignatian Pedagogical paradigm which informs our Learning Framework, calls all in our learning community to be informed and transformed through experience in order to reflect and take wise action.  Reflective learning is a priority for the College as we know that through effective reflection, good decisions about learning can be made.  In this final term of the academic year, we aspire to continue striving for our College Goal of fostering a culture that enables all in the community to exercise their responsibility to engage in relationships and actions that allow deep and sustained learning every lesson, every day.

This week my office door opened and shut in a constant flux at recess and lunch times.  It resembled a comical farce from which the likes of the great satirical cartoonist, Michael Lunig, would have created a humorous sketch.  Far from comical though, was the witness of young women taking responsibility for their own learning by engaging with me in conversations which will discern their HSC pathway and tertiary pursuits.  I commend the Year 11 (HSC) students on the spirit in which they approached these conversations with me and I feel privileged that the advice they sought will be well-executed.  I remind all of our parents and carers of the Class of 2021, that you are not alone navigating the HSC year with your daughter.  You are surrounded by a tower of support and expertise in the teams of colleagues I work closely with; your daughter’s teachers, the Cor Team, the Heads of Department, Ms Helen Marshall, our Careers Adviser, Ms Alanna Rose, our Head of Learning Support, and the entire Diverse Learning team.  I know that the students of this class are going to shine as they have already risen to the challenge of giving of their best and optimising their learning in the first week of their HSC studies.  Well done to these young women - and tonight, a little bit of Netflix and a lie on the couch may well be the order of the evening.  

I know that this term for all of our Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) and Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) learners will be busy preparing for their forthcoming final assessments and for our Year 7 students after a fun Languages Day, will be this weekend finalising decisions about their language choices for 2021.  Thus, for all in our learning community we will be called into the Ignatian cycle of experience, reflection and action this term to optimise our learning every lesson, every day so that we reach the finish line with self-satisfaction and pride of self that can only come with giving of your best.  I can’t think of a more rewarding way to commence the Christmas break than doing so whilst enjoying the joyful experience of the Christmas season, quietly reflective in the knowledge we have given of our best.  

The Class of 2020 will commence their final HSC examinations on Tuesday, 20 October and we wish them clarity of mind, and positivity in their spirit.  We look forward to sharing the successes of this extraordinarily brave and resilient class’ academic results later in December. 

Scientia cum Religione 

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

Our Charism Captain and Social Justice Captain have hit the ground running.  Their goals this term and into next year are closely aligned.  They want to make love visible and practical.  They want to offer opportunities and provide examples of other very human humans who have shown us that it is indeed possible. 

We have begun our term with every information screen in the College sporting information for our Catalyst of the Week.  Now, the temptation to give a chemical definition is almost overwhelming and our Science Department were quite excited by the notion, but Lucia Holt stood her ground and pronounced that the Catalyst of the Week would be a person who has been an agent of change in our world; someone who has lived and shown us the way to make the world a better place through love, justice, and peace.  Gill Hicks, Australian peace advocate and campaigner to protect against extremism, is our first catalyst. 

Lucia is also leading the charge in learning about Ignatius - the founder of our spirituality.  We are learning more about Ignatius’ life and his way of proceeding each time we pray.  This is a great initiative which will help us make links between how we pray, what we pray and who we are becoming.

Our social justice initiatives have begun with a bang under the enthusiastic care of Charlotte Patchet.  Her list of ideas and desires to change with world are shared by a group of vastly intelligent and motivated Year 12 peers who met today to share ideas and dreams of how to make change tangible, sustainable and pragmatic.  They have begun:  The St Canice’s Cooking project has been launched.  We are providing approximately 100 meals every four weeks to guests in need.  Lasagne is the name of the game - and the roster is filling fast.  It’s a great opportunity for family bonding over the bechamel sauce.

If you would like to know more or sign the family up to a bake off, please click on the link HERE .

The social justice and charism teams will be a force to be reckoned with.  

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

We are very grateful that all Boarders have arrived back safely to school and those who spent many, many, many hours on a bus or train were very happy to get to Victoria Street on Monday night.  Greeting the buses is such a delight.  It is always a pleasure to see the Boarders return for a term, but the hop off the bus with a ‘Hi Miss’ is especially lovely to hear.  During COVID parents are not allowed on site as yet, but this has encouraged the Boarders to not pack everything because they have to carry it all on their own to their rooms.  It’s been an interesting experiment!  Everyone is exhausted on the first night back, but there is always noise and laughter and catch ups until all beds are made and lights are out.

Some of the Year 12 Boarders have returned in preparation for their upcoming HSC exams.  Thank you to Prue and Millie Gordon (both ex-Boarders) who are helping out during the day to supervise and assist them with their study.  I am always in awe of the support given to current Boarders by their alumni who have been through their position, and are best to understand how to give great advice on how to get through the day or how best to vent or what to do about a situation.  On that note, we welcome Ms Grace Hayes who will be working with Years 7, 8 and 9 this term.  Grace brings enthusiasm, vibrancy and laughter. Our younger Boarders are enjoying having her around.

With the change of guidelines after 12 November, we are excited to be able to still have our Orientation for new Boarders for 2021.  Further information will be provided at a later date, but it is good that we are able to host this important experience for anyone considering Boarding.

This weekend is our first 'In Weekend' hosted by our new leadership team - fingers crossed the weather provides a nice backdrop to the great organising.

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

Year 11 Design and Technology Project Work

11 Design and Technology have been investigating innovative methods of manufacturing furniture throughout the year; specifically looking at how unconventional materials, such as concrete, could be used for functional and aesthetic qualities.  Students responded to a design brief relating to current industrial design trends, to design and manufacture a side table design involving concrete and timber.  The class enjoyed their experience of working with industrial materials and techniques.  Work photographed is by Tess Webster, Taylor Foltman and Jorja Duffy.

Mrs Kaliopi Aldridge
Visual Arts and Design Teacher

At the end of Term 3 we received the great news that some of our Year 12 Dance students were awarded a NESA nomination for their Practical Dance Works.  Throughout the school holiday break we gained more information about the amazing achievements of this Year group.  Congratulations to the class of 2020, who have now officially broken the St Vincent’s College record for the most nominations in a Year group.  I would also like to acknowledge the achievement of Niamh O’Sullivan who received nominations for all three of her practical works.  In any 'normal year' this would be extremely difficult to obtain - and she has done so in a year that posed many challenges.  We wish Niamh O’Sullivan, Mia Cameron, Isabella Ciappara and Eloise Collins all the very best as they progress to the next round in the Callback process. 

Students and Dance Works Callback Nominations - 2020 HSC Dance

Student Name          Category

Niamh O'Sullivan       Core Composition; Core Performance; Major Study Performance

Mia Cameron             Core Composition; Major Study Performance

Isabella Ciappara      Major Study Performance

Eloise Collins             Core Composition

Ms Alana Santi
Dance Teacher

 2021 School Travel Applications are Now Open

Term 4 2020 Sport 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
Basketball; Volleyball; Touch:  Ms Elyse Harmanis:  0434 610 870   
Futsal:  Mr Hugo Forlico:  0411 615 031
Tennis:  Ms Therese Taylor:  0408 711 881.      

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

For all draw and venue information please visit this website.

TERM 4 Sport and Swimming Training

Due to Covid-19 restrictions we will still be having no spectators at most sport venues this term.  The exception to this rule is Frensham, who are allowing a small number of spectators per game.  We hope that these restrictions will be lifted for the finals at the end of the term.

We won’t be having our usual morning squad swimming until Term 1 2021, but we are having one morning a week of water polo/swimming fitness run by Craig Miller for any girls wishing to do an extra session. This will be on Wednesday mornings from 7.15am-8.15am.  All are welcome.  

TERM 1 2021 SPORT REGISTRATIONS

Registrations have now opened online on the College website for ESTA touch, UNSW water polo and IGSSA tennis.  All students wishing to play sport in Term 1 2021 are to register by Friday 30 October 3.00pm. 

Note:  Please check all of your other commitments before you register and commit to a team, as refunds are not possible once teams have been selected.  

IGSSA Water Polo

We have six teams entered in the Term 4 IGSSA competition.  This will be an East/South/Central regional competition and won’t affect our draws too much.  It will just mean that we won’t have to travel to the Northern Suburbs and there won’t be as many grades, so it might be a slightly harder competition this year. 

Unfortunately, no spectators are allowed at any games this term.  The exception to this rule is Frensham, who are allowing minimal spectators who will scan in and social distance.  We have three games at Frensham this weekend, so please try to carpool where possible to keep our numbers of spectators down.  Hopefully, this rule may be relaxed for the finals. 

All teams and training times have been placed on the College website and Craig Miller has offered to run an extra swimming/water polo fitness session on Wednesday mornings, 7.15am-8.15am, and all players are welcome. 

Ms Hayley Boatswain
Head Water Polo Coach

below:  Senior Firsts

Ascham Friday Night Futsal

We have one junior and one senior futsal team entered in the Friday night competition this term.  Both teams will train together on Wednesday mornings 7.15am-8.15am.  Team lists are on the College website.  Please arrive at Ascham 20 minutes before your start time for warm up.  Unfortunately, no spectators are allowed at any games this term.  Hopefully, this rule may be relaxed for the finals.

We are still looking for a few more junior and senior futsal players.  Please contact Ms Jacobs as soon as possible if you are interested in playing.

Mr Hugo Forlico
Head Soccer Coach

Santa Sabina Volleyball and Basketball   

We have two basketball and six volleyball teams entered in the Santa Sabina competition this term.  Team lists and training times are on the College website.  Please arrive at Santa Sabina courts 20 minutes before your start time for warm up.  Unfortunately, no spectators are allowed at any games this term.  Hopefully, this rule may be relaxed for the finals.

Any questions please contact head coach, Elyse Harmanis:  elyse.harmanis@gmail.com .

ESTA Touch

We have 16 teams entered in the Easts competition, and it has been difficult to select these teams without trials.  The draft teams and training times have been listed on the College website, but these may change a little after the first week of training sessions and games. 

Please arrive at the field 20 minutes before your start time for warm up.  Meeting points are below (click on the highlights):

• If you are playing at Reservoir fields, please meet at the Bondi Junction end of the fields in the corner.  Next to Ascham.
• If you are playing at Queens Park, please meet your coach at the exercise equipment on the Queens Park Road side of the fields.

Unfortunately, no spectators are allowed at any games this term.  Hopefully, this rule may be relaxed for the finals.  Please contact our head coach, Ms Elyse Harmanis, if you have any questions. 

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Baskball, Volleyball and Touch Coach - elyse.harmanis@gmail.com

Tildesley Tennis

We are still looking for more tennis players to train for the prestigious Tildesley Tennis Tournament to be played in Term 1 2021.  All players from Years 7 to 12 are welcome to come to training on Monday mornings 7.30am-8.30am and Wednesday afternoons 3.15pm-4.30pm, this term.  Any questions please contact head coach, Therese Taylor therese.jones.taylor@gmail.com

Ms Therese Taylor
Head Tennis Coach

Fitness Training

Fitness training will continue on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, 3.15pm-4.30pm, if we get enough participants.  Please email Ms Jacobs if you would like to join in either one or both of these days.  This will commence on Monday 19 October with Tash.  All levels of fitness will be catered for.

below:  New SVC shorts - Lani Bresnahan (left) incoming Sport and Health Captain (see below in Sports Star)

Sports Stars of the Week 

Congratulations to Lani Bresnahan, on being selected as the 2021 Sport and Health Captain.  Lani is a member of the Senior Firsts’ touch team and she also does cross country and athletics.  If you have any problems or good ideas and you can’t find Ms Jacobs, please see Lani. 

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

View this week's CANTEEN SPECIALS - 19-23 October HERE

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CANTEEN REMINDER:   NO CARD - NO FOOD.  

• Students are also reminded that you need to refill money onto your card at least 1 (one) hour BEFORE using it - as it takes that long to generate onto the card.

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

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

http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/keeping-children-educated-and-entertained-during-covid-19-crisis-its-easy-as-abc/

Mindspot

https://mindspot.org.au/assets/pdf/10_Tips_for_Coping_with_Infectious_Diseases.pdf

Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

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.