Bulletin

Please see Mrs Brooks' Deputy Principal's article and Mrs People's co-curricular article in this issue.

Wednesday 12 October to Friday 04 November:   HSC Examinations 2022.

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Monday 24 October:  Year 10 Assessment Block begins.

Monday 31 October:  Year 9 Assessment Block begins.

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Monday 07 November:  Drama Night in the College Hall - 6.00pm-8.00pm - free event - all welcome!

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Saturday 12 November:  5.00pm - Dance Concert - The Seymour Centre 
          (Tickets available from Wed 26 October 7.00am - flyer is in Performing Arts article in this issue).

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22-26 November:  College Production "Matilda" - College Hall (Tickets on sale from Fri 28 October 4.00pm). 
          (See the flyer with dates/times in Performing Arts article in this issue).

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Monday 28 November:  College Speech Night - at Sydney Town Hall - 6:00pm.

This is one of the College’s major highlights of the year and is a compulsory event for all students in Years 7 to 11.

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Dear Parents and Carers

This week has had a more regular rhythm to it.  Our HSC students come and go calmly and triumphantly all at once as they go about the business of applying the fruit of their hard work.  All around them Years 7-11 students and teachers scurry from class to class, immersing themselves in the consolidation of learning that Term 4 affords.  Our Years 10 and 9 students are upskilling in how to approach a week-long assessment block (Weeks 3 and 4 respectively) - know that there is learning in this process in itself.  As adolescent learners mature through Stage 5 they develop self-awareness and experiment with strategies that allow revision and application of learning.  Encourage your daughters to talk out loud with you about how they approach their preparation so they may recognise what methods activate understanding and deepen their thinking rather than simply passing time thinking they are ‘studying’.  Know that this too is a focus for our teachers as we make learning explicit for our students.  The goal is incremental growth towards mastery - we hope for each student to give of her best and experience accomplishment in her learning.

St Vincent’s College staff are an incredible class of learners too.  We are enjoying applying the Visible Wellbeing practices into a classroom teaching and learning practice.  Our staffroom is quite abuzz with storytelling about our experiences of the practices we are trying out and the feedback we receive or observe in students.  There is a real lift when such professional learning is shared.  On Tuesday afternoon we held our own Teach Meet as each Faculty showcased a focus of inquiry to enhance teaching and learning practice throughout 2022.  It was energising to engage in professional collaboration and enjoy learning from and with each other.

Last week I shared the privilege of being part of a professional networking group of Deputies - ESSLY (Eastern Suburbs School Leaders for Youth) whose focus is to partner with parents and carers in education and support in your role parenting adolescents.  We held our second #AfterTheBell event with a focus on Adolescent Mental Health.  Our roles position us with great privilege and insight into the lives of teenagers and with our own professional experience and access to and collaboration with many health professionals, we have strategies that support parents in how to support their children.  We very much position wellbeing upon a continuum and so much of our encouragement for parents is finding ways to lean into the strengths of teenagers, developing self-awareness and resilience that often emerges in challenge.  Knowing the science of sleep to appeal to your adolescent’s ambition for effective functioning and success is a far more likely strategy for getting them off technology at night.  Modelling examples and language of how we ourselves cope with stress so that we open the dialogue for our children to also share when life presents with difficulty.  Proactively asking for a ‘show and tell’ of the latest apps so that you can ‘keep up’ and then exploring the hypotheticals of how they can be used well or misused to enhance your teenager’s digital wellbeing is a great safe-guarding strategy that also flags your interest in their lives rather than approaching from a position of worry.  I was so heartened to see a good representation of our Vinnies parents at this function in what was a busy week after the wonderful opportunity we had to have Professor Lea Waters with us on Monday.  I include a piece of feedback from one of our parents to which I respond with my own thanks to all of you as parents for your investment in educating with us.  We look forward to many more opportunities to come, including another ESSLY event in April 2023.

• Congratulations on your very insightful contribution to the presentation last night.  The 'After the Bell’ presentation provided a fantastic mix of research, life experiences and strategies and resources to help parents of modern-day teenagers.
  
  Earlier this week, I also had the opportunity to attend Monday night's presentation by Professor Lea Waters and I am delighted to know that wellbeing has and will continue to be a key component of planning at St Vincent’s.  This focus on the development of the whole child was part of my decision to send my daughter to St Vincent’s.  It was also of great interest to me professionally that the statistical data presented by Professor Lea confirmed the academic benefits of a visible wellbeing program.
  
  Thank you for the wonderful opportunities that you have provided for the girls and their families. 
  (Year 9 parent)

Our Performing Arts world is definitely back in full flight this year.  On Tuesday night I very much enjoyed the performances of our co-curricular students in our College Hall.  I truly enjoy this night.  For some students it was their first performance on stage - some have been learning for years, some for weeks. In the context of Covid disrupting the world of performance, the courage and practice it takes to be on stage and perform with instrument or voice - music or drama - was impressive.  I take the opportunity to acknowledge our talented peripatetic tutors who have taught these students throughout the year.  It was great to showcase students of all ages growing in confidence and ability.  Then on Wednesday I accompanied our Year 7 Theatresports to Heat 1 of their competition against many other Sydney schools.  It is quite unbelievable to see students from so many schools being able to think spontaneously - (literally given five seconds of planning) - and imaginatively to perform in front of an audience.  It was a night of much laughter and intelligence.  I know these students will be on stage for many years to come.

Best wishes to our group of students competing in the Alliance of Girls’ Schools’ Festival of Speech at Pymble Ladies College tonight and tomorrow, and thank the many staff who have coached and supported them.  We look forward to hearing about their achievements next week.

I take the opportunity to thank Mrs Cherie Tucker who finishes her time with us today.  Mrs Tucker has been a member of our College Advancement Team in the role of Marketing and Communications Manager for four years.  She has worked with our P&F particularly this year with the wonderful return of the Spring Fair.  Mrs Tucker looks forward to the opportunity to branch into a team of Community Relations at St Joseph’s College and we wish her all the best.

I hope the weekend brings you each what you hope for, or a pleasant surprise if you have not had time to hope.  

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

Please see below a webinar opportunity to assist your understanding of vaping and how to navigate the education and support of your children with evidence informed by Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA)

Paul Dillon is well known to us and will again facilitate our Student Education workshops for Years 10, 11, 12 in February 2023. 

 

This event will be live-streamed but, for those unable to attend live, a recording of the event will also be made available for a period following the event's conclusion.

To register for the event please go to the following link HERE : 

"Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" - Mary Anne Radmacher

Author and artist Mary Anne Radmacher focuses on creativity and wellbeing particularly in the online era and this quote summarises her views on resilience aptly.  Resilience in learning often takes genuine personal courage to not only express your ideas for scrutiny but also to continue to get back up when the solution is not immediately apparent.  This is the experience at the bottom of the Learning Pit and whilst it requires fortitude and determination, it is where the lasting and authentic learning gains are made.

As the Class of 2022 continue their HSC exams, they show resilience both individually and collectively.  I have been struck by their care and practical support for each other before exams and when they emerge - regardless of whether the experience has had unexpected challenges or the anticipated ones. This extends to students studying in the library between exams who share notes, tips and quotes out of an abundance of care for a fellow member of their cohort.  This is a hallmark of the St Vincent's modus operandi which extends to many facets of College life.

In the upcoming week I will spend time with the Class of 2023 who are now two weeks into their own HSC journey, to look in detail about how the HSC process works and the basis for a successful year.  This includes elements of study techniques and organisation, as well as the mechanical processes of assessment, moderation and scaling - topics covered at last week’s HSC Parent Information session.  I continue to emphasise the mantra of ‘Plan, Prepare and Perform’ to assist in reinforcing the mindset that assessments in whatever form are actually the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge. If work based on careful planning and guided by teachers and syllabus documents is pursued with rigour, then this will be recognised and the effort and work rewarded.

Next week Year 10 will commence their Assessment Block, followed by Year 9 the week after.  With the long absence from such Assessment Blocks due to the pandemic, this will be a new experience and hopefully a valuable learning one for these students.  Apart from the obvious and immediate outcomes of assessments at school, they inherently deliver more important and lifelong learning.  The principle that rigour and resilience are rewarded and always better options in the long run than taking the easy short-term option.

Elizabeth Edwards showed great courage in her battles with hardship and lived her life displaying a positive outlook to those around her with grace and poise.  She advocated for health care in her country that would provide access to the most vulnerable whilst battling her own significant health issues. When life was difficult her attitude was always to try a different tack to keep going but never give up.

‘She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails’.  - Elizabeth Edwards 

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning and Education Administration

We’ve had a lovely week on planet Faith and Mission with wins all over the place.  Our Environment Group meeting was buzzing last week when we learned from our new Environment Group guru, Ms Lynne Hamilton, that we can recycle pens and other plastic stationery items.  Who knew?  And look what the Design and Technology Department has given us… a receptacle for our pens!  Custom made and laser cut - it looks so professional.  Marnie Kenderes did the design and it will be ready to go to work on Monday.  Here she is showing off the laser cut sign at the Vinnies@SVC meeting yesterday.  We were pretty impressed.  So, from Monday, send in your pens, textas, highlighters and correction tape containers that have ceased to be useful, and your daughter can toss them into the see-through receptacle at Student Services.  We will save the planet one texta at a time.

Speaking of Vinnies@SVC, we had a very well attended meeting yesterday under the new leadership of Lucy Brader, our Vinnies@SVC Advocate.  The ideas were flowing!  We had our first event today - a joint venture with Performing Arts - with “Popcorn and Pop” in the Atrium.  It went off without a hitch.  We sold out of popcorn in the first 20 minutes and our musicians were delightful.   Thanks to Tess McGrath, our Performing Arts Captain, for pulling it together and to our performers, Aylyza Damian, Emily Emmett and Hannah Singh.  Gosh those girls are talented.  We had a gentle crowd enjoying the music and nibbling their popcorn.  We will definitely do it again.  I think having opportunities to enjoy music made by our own students is vital.  In years to come, when Aylyza Damian in on the Hottest 100, we can all say we heard her first at Vinnies ‘Popcorn and Pop’.  Perhaps we can make a festival out of it.

Many thanks to those kind families who are supporting our Sandwich Project by funding a filling.  To be honest, we are a bit desperate for funds there.  I need $125 each fortnight to make the 150 sandwiches.  If you can see your way clear to send me a Woolworths voucher it would be a big help.  Just email it to kenderesj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au.  I promise I will put it to good use.

Thanks to those Years 10 and 12 students who have signed up for Matt Talbot.  Actually, Year 10 have been extremely impressive in volunteering for things lately.  Go you, Year 10!  There’s still some space on the Cupcakes for Canice’s roster.  We were a bit down on cupcakes today - although the quality was excellent, as usual. 

Christmas Hampers are on the way.  How can that be?  I’m still recovering from Easter.  Year 8 are looking after the project and it will be fantastic again this year.  They have been doing lots of awareness raising and marketing.  They know there’s no point giving someone a hand out if you don’t understand why it’s necessary.  Next week I’ll share some links with you to the videos Year 8 have made, to help us all understand how the hampers help people and something about why so many people are in need.  They are really good.

That’s enough from me for today.  There are good things happening.  It’s so energising to be part of it.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission  

The joy of everything that makes this such a special place was felt in abundance when staff and students welcomed our newest members for Orientation Day last week.  Students of Year 7 2023 (and the graduating class of 2028!) experienced a day of learning and exploration into all things ‘high school’.

A very special part of the day was organised by Year 9 who will become their ‘Big Sister’s’ next year.  The energy and spirit that was shared is a sign of the wonderful times and future memories to be made.  We thank the Year 9 students as well as staff for the excitement they generated and the real-life example of what it is to be an inclusive community.

Mrs Sheenagh Doran
Dean of Early Secondary

Over the past few weeks, Year 8 have been working in small groups to create a marketing and information campaign about the College's Christmas Appeal for AfterCare.  Utilising knowledge from their 'Alive in Christ' and 'Striving for Goodness' units, students came up with a campaign that included a short video, infographic and advertisement/poster.  

Each of these tools will be disseminated to Tutor groups and used in a variety of ways around the College to promote, encourage and inform students about foster care, our Christmas appeal, as well as the Aftercare organisation.  Officially due on Monday (by 8.40am), here is a small snapshot of what has been created.  Enjoy! 

Ms Tina De Souza
Head of Department Religious Studies

UNSW

Girls in Engineering Club

The UNSW Girls in Engineering Club is a fun, inspiring community for high school girls interested in a career in engineering.  The club provides opportunities to explore the diverse fields of engineering where attendees can connect and share ideas with fellow high school girls.  You’ll hear from inspiring role models such as UNSW Engineering students and female engineers who are already making their mark on the world.  By joining the club you will receive:

.  Exclusive invitations to Girls in Engineering Club events​.
.  Monthly inspiration delivered to your email, featuring profiles of female engineers, study tips and more!​
.  Opportunities to be mentored by female engineering students. ​
.  Access to a closed Facebook community to connect with like-minded girls​.
.  Regular workshops and challenges.  For more information use the link found here .

TAFE NSW

2023 Degrees Guide

TAFE NSW offers a range of degrees that are taught by industry professionals in state-of-the-art facilities.  Download the 2023 Degrees Guide to learn more here

Sydney Quantum Academy

Applications open soon for SQA’s Computing Summer Camp.  Scholarships are available for this one-week virtual summer camp on 16-20 January 2023. Learn about quantum physics and explore quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement, and how to code quantum gates and circuits - the building blocks of quantum algorithms.  For more information go here.

The Hotel School

Information Evening

The Hotel School invites interested students to their City campus at 60 Phillip Street, Sydney, to explore how they can start a career within the hospitality, hotel and tourism industry.  The event will be held on Tuesday 8 November, 5:30pm-7:00pm, at The Hotel School Sydney campus.  RSVP’s are essential using the link found here

Ethos College

Ethos College is a recruiting company that works with student athletes looking for sport scholarships to compete at university level in the US, Canada or the UK.  Ethos assists students in a wide range of sports, from those student-athletes that compete locally for school or club, but also higher-level athletes.  If you’d like to find out more you should register to attend an information webinar on Thursday 27 October at 7.00pm.  Registrations are essential using the link found here.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.  Anyone who registers will get access to the On-Demand link as well, so if they can't make the time of the event, they will still be able to review post discussion.

Inspired Ed

Inspired Ed is offering free seminars at UTS and Macquarie University in November this year for both students and parents in Year 10 and Year 11.  The seminars will be delivered by qualified counsellors and senior HSC markers to address the following topics:

.  How to manage stress during assessment and exam blocks
.  Secrets to HSC success - Tips from the marking centre
.  What you need to know about the ATAR
.  English tips and tricks
.  Strategies for parents:  Communication and emotional support.

The dates and times are:

-  Macquarie University:  Sunday 6 November (9:30am-12:15pm).
-  UTS:  Sunday 13 November (9:30am-12:15pm).

Spaces are strictly limited so registrations are essential by using the link found here.

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

As the Head of Performing Arts and a Drama teacher there are days when I find myself saying and doing things I never knew I would, and require me to jump in and learn new skills.  For example, “pass the moustache and the spirit gum” and driving a truck on Friday to pick up sets for the upcoming College Production of Matilda.  On Tuesday night at the co-curricular Performing Arts night, I witnessed young performers singing, playing instruments and acting with great skill and bravery, many were “jumping in” bravely for the very first time on stage live. Congratulations to every single student and their peripatetic tutors, ensemble tutors and teachers for all their hard work teaching students and supporting these students to so bravely and skillfully perform for a live audience.

There are so many opportunities for the community to come and support and witness students returning bravely and courageously to the stage live. For many students they will not have performed live for 2 years and these events are filled with excitement and anticipation. I invite all members of the community to come and help support these students as they express and share their growing skills and talents with us.

UPCOMING PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS

Monday 7 November is Drama Night in the College Hall.

Saturday 12 November is the Annual Dance Concertat The Seymour Centre AND,

Tuesday 22 November the College Production - Matilda opens in the College Hall!

Ms Catherine Johnson
Head of Performing Arts

On Tuesday evening our Music and Drama students entertained their families, friends and staff at the Co-Curricular Performance Night.  With the help of their Tutors, students prepared pieces including piano, flute and drum solos, drama monologues and duologues and various styles of vocal arrangements. For many students this was their first time on stage and it was great to see them overcome their nerves and perform so beautifully for our audience.  It was lovely to see the choir open the show with two new pieces and for our Junior and Senior Theatresports teams to bravely improvise several games with the themes chosen by the audience.

A huge thank you to our Tutors for teaching and supporting our students and for accompanying the girls during their performances.

On Wednesday night Camilla Orman, Stella Herbert, Stella Hunyor and Amelia Smith, represented the College at the Junior Theatresports competition held at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield.  It was a great experience for the girls to get to participate in a workshop in the afternoon and then compete against other schools in this competition in the evening.  Thank you to Mrs Brooks and our Theatresports tutor, Georgia, for supporting our team at this event. 
(Photo below of the team is Photo of the Week on the front of this issue).

Mrs Belinda Peoples
Co-Curricular Performing Arts 

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

Head of Volleyball and Touch:  Ms Elyse Harmanis - 0434 610 870
elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au 
Head of Water Polo:  Mr Mark Bradley - 0412 979 599
Head of Tennis:  Ms Tonya Hetreles - 0411 984 352.

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

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

IGSA Spawtz:  https://igsasport.spawtz.com/  

TERM 4 SPORT

The Inter-House Swimming Carnival at Drummoyne Pool will be on Thursday 1 December.  To prepare for this, swimming training has now commenced Monday mornings 7.15am-8.15am and Wednesday afternoons 3.15pm-4.15pm, in the College pool.  All are welcome to attend.

IGSA Tennis

If you cannot make any of your training sessions or games please give coach Tonya as much notice as possible so we can try and organise a fill-in player if needed.  All players are expected to be at their venue in full College Sport uniform a good 30 minutes before start time for a warm-up and to sign on.  The selected team captain is responsible for taking the balls each week and collecting them at the end of the game.  Please also make sure you check the score at the end of the match and that the score card is correct and signed by the captain.

All results and fixture details can be checked on the IGSA Spawtz website https://igsasport.spawtz.com/  and any discrepancies should be reported to Tonya or Ms Jacobs in the Sports office.  As it is a shorter term, there are no finals and it will be a ‘first past the post’ competition - so all games are very important.  Please also check the IGSA website for any wet weather cancellations before leaving home.

Tennis Training

SVC 1 - Thursday mornings
SVC 2 - Wednesday afternoons
SVC 3 - Thursday mornings
SVC 4 - Wednesday afternoons
SVC 5 - Friday mornings

Tildesley Team Training:  Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings.

Anyone interested is invited to come along - we started this week.  Final team selections will be held at the start of Term 1, 2023.

Ms Tonya Herteles
Head Tennis Coach

tonyahetreles910@outlook.com  Mobile: 0411 984 352

below:   Tennis Juniors

IGSA WATER POLO

Please make every effort to attend your scheduled training session.  If for any reason you cannot attend training, please make sure you inform your coach and myself.  Finally, remember to regularly check your emails for any changes to your training and/or game times.  Please do not be late for the warm-up on Saturdays, allow for Sydney traffic and parking time.  Full College Sport uniform must be worn over your swimmers.  Please note that water polo is not usually cancelled unless playing at an outdoor venue and there is lightning.

Please be mindful that some schools are still not letting spectators into closed spaces and that you may need to view from outside the pool area.  This is definitely the case at Ascham and MLC Burwood pools.  Some public venues also require an entrance fee for spectators and players.

Water Polo Training

SVC 1 - Tuesday Mornings
SVC 2 - Tuesday Afternoons
SVC 3 - Wednesday Mornings
SVC 4 - Friday Mornings
SVC 5 - Thursday Mornings
SVC 6 - Friday mornings

Mr Mark Bradley
Head Water Polo Coach

bradleym@svincents.nsw.edu.au  Mobile:  0412 979 599

below:  All smiles water polo at Danebank

EASTS TOUCH and SANTA SABINA VOLLEYBALL

All players are reminded to check their emails and the College website for their team’s training times and draw. 

Senior teams are on Monday afternoons
Junior teams are on Wednesday afternoons
Year 7 teams are on Thursday afternoons

All games are being played at their Strathfield campus.  Please make sure you check your emails regularly and also the College website which has the draw and other important information on it.  If the games are cancelled due to wet weather, Elyse will email all players.

Volleyball Training

Senior teams are Tuesday mornings.
Junior teams are Tuesday afternoons.

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Touch and Volleyball Coach

elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au  Mobile:  0434 610 870

below:  Year 7 Touch

SWIMMING FITNESS TRAINING

To prepare for the Swimming Carnival at the end of the term and to improve your swimming for water polo or general fitness - swimming training has started again - Monday mornings from 7.15am-8.15am and Wednesday afternoons 3.15pm-4.15pm, in the College pool.  All are welcome to attend.

SPORT STARS OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to Siara McCreery, Year 7, who represented the College at the NSW All Schools Athletics Carnival during the holidays.  She won her heat for the 400m and placed sixth in the final in a time of 62.65 seconds, and also ran well in the 200m (27.35s) but unfortunately missed out qualifying for the final.

Please keep the Sport staff informed of any good sporting results outside of the College.  Information and photos can be emailed to   jacobsj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au . 

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

TERM 4 Student Card Information  

Please Note:   Students MUST bring their Student Card with them when purchasing from the canteen.  NO CARD/NO PURCHASE. 

• You need to refill money onto your card AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE you intend to use the card (as it takes one hour to generate funds onto the card).
• ONLINE ORDERING is also available.
• GLUTEN FREE products are available - only when purchased through online ordering. 

TO ORDER A NEW STUDENT ID CARD please click the link HERE .  Please note that students MUST use their College login to sign into the form.

View CANTEEN MENU SPECIALS for Week 24-28 October:    HERE

The P&F is very excited to announce that in 2023 they are hosting the College's inaugural Art Exhibition.  For more information on how you can be involved in the Art Exhibition, please contact Holly Davies on 0438 149 764.

Ms Holly Davies
Chair of the Art Exhibition Committee