Bulletin

• Wednesday 12 October to Friday 04 November:   HSC Examinations 2022.
• Monday 31 October - Thursday 3 November:  Year 10 Assessment Block.
• Monday 31 October:  Year 9 Assessment Block begins.
• Monday 07 November:  Drama Night in the College Hall - 6.00pm-8.00pm - free event - all welcome!
• Saturday 12 November:  5.00pm - Dance Concert - The Seymour Centre. Buy Tickets
• 22-26 November:  College Production "Matilda" - College Hall. Buy Tickets
• 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.

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Our staff were delighted to see our Staffroom decorated with balloons and a very big pot plant today with well wishes from our students in recognition of World Teachers Day with a note of thanks and the message “because you help us grow”.  Teaching is an enormously fulfilling career. I have the great joy in collaborating with our staff to identify the strengths and needs of our students to make their learning relevant, meaningful and full of possibility. I see the commitment of all who work in schools, and I hear the care for students within their conversations. It takes a special person to make a career of growing the minds of adolescents, all of whom require varying soils, degrees of light and particular watering and all of whom grow into quite a multitude of various plants. But it is a privilege and one that breathes life into our work and hope as we get to witness these young minds co-creating their world with their God-given gifts and a willingness to work towards the best version of themselves. 

Some HSC students’ smiles have been growing wider as they are now commencing to tick off their last exams. Some finished yesterday with Studies of Religion and more today with the Biology paper. How fortunate are they to enter into a weekend of lounging in sunshine. There remains one week of HSC examinations, with the last papers being Food Technology and Design and Technology next Friday. The Class of 2022 have paced themselves well and run a terrific race, and now relishing the joy of crossing that finish line. 

I also commend Year 10 for their sense of achievement this week. They have entered into their Assessment Block with calm and a desire to do well. Many students commented at lunch that, though fatigued by the end of the week, they have enjoyed the opportunity to develop their ability for revision and preparation and are now aware they can develop their capacity for focus in a concentrated block of time. It is important students see that the cycle of learning continues with feedback, reflection, and review for consolidation. These necessary weeks are critical to ready Year 10 for their transition to Stage 6 learning. Year 9 will enter into this experience next week and are well advised that this is an opportunity to show what they know in order to grow. Year 8 and 7, though not as a week of assessments, are also revising well to demonstrate their achievement in learning. In fact, a group of Year 7 students quizzed me on the three different types of rocks prior to their Science test, and though I had no success, when provided the answers my long-ago memory found those words were in fact familiar. We are never too old to be reminded of what we know.  

Our co-curricular life is in full swing this term. I commend the students, and their teachers who coached them, who represented St Vincent’s College at the IGSA Festival Speech last weekend, showcasing their talents in Public Speaking and Poetry Readings as well as teams who engaged in critical thinking to propose positions on Religious and Ethical Questions and Current Affairs and Debating. We are looking forward to the upcoming Drama and Dance Nights (7 and 12 November respectively) followed by the College Production of Matilda. I encourage you to get your tickets early as after our years of not being able to perform, there is a healthy appetite to enjoy our performers once more. One Year 9-10 Dance Ensemble gave us a taste of their superb choreography and zest for their craft at this week’s Assembly in the Caritas Christi courtyard. 

We look forward to welcoming Mrs Fry home on Monday, having had the opportunity to reconnect with family in her beloved New Zealand. No doubt we will now fill our calendar with exciting events as we look to celebrate the achievements of the 2022 Year of 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 : 

  ”Start by doing what’s necessary;

then do what’s possible;

and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” 

- Francis of Assisi

With three weeks of the HSC exams now completed, and the final week to come, I continue to be impressed with the way in which the Class of 2022 have met this challenge individually and as a collective. It is evident that they feel prepared for the exams and have a strong sense of connection as a year group, allowing those who need some time on their own to have it, supporting each other when needed and sharing collective wisdom and resources as appropriate. There has been an air of calm and purposefulness as they enter the exam rooms and in general feel that they have been as well prepared as they could have been when reflecting after the exam. HSC results are released to students and the College early on the morning of Thursday 15 December with ATARS released to students later that same morning. 

As the Class of 2022 complete their exams, the Class of 2023 have begun their HSC year, with similar purpose and a strong sense of their Year group also. I spent time with them this week unpacking the HSC process and looking at useful ways to prepare for Assessments, plan study and organise their time efficiently. A key element of the credentialing of the HSC is the difference between the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). These two elements are the most talked about and media focussed components and it is important to clarify their role and what they are.

The Higher School Certificate is a credential that lists each course a student studies and a result for both their College-based assessments and their external examination administered by NESA. Every student in the state sits the same external exam in a course at the same time providing an accurate measure of achievement in a course’s content, skills and knowledge. Some courses combine a submitted major work as appropriate into this HSC exam mark. This external exam mark is combined with the student’s College-based assessment mark, so they contribute equal amounts to an overall HSC mark. HSC marks are also allocated a band:

• Band 6 represents a HSC Mark of 90-100

• Band 5 represents a HSC Mark of 80-89

• Band 4 represents a HSC Mark of 70-79

• Band 3 represents a HSC Mark of 60-69

• Band 2 represents a HSC Mark of 50-59

• Band 1 represents a HSC Mark of 0-49

In contrast the ATAR is a rank of a student's best ten units of study, including their English course compared to everyone else in the state. The ATAR is calculated and issued by the University Admissions Centre based on HSC information supplied by NESA. An ATAR’s sole purpose is to provide a mechanism for universities to align students with courses they offer. Every university sets their own cut-off ATAR scores for each course they offer. Many universities have early entry schemes and use other mechanisms, such as interviews and portfolios of achievements, in conjunction with the university offers of places that occur after the HSC  results and ATARs are released. The College Careers Adviser, Ms Helen Marshall, has extensive expertise and experience in the process of university application and placement, and any student or parent who requires further information is encouraged to reach out to Ms Marshall for assistance.

Of course, a St Vincent's College education is broader than just academics and includes the rich experiences that develop the whole person during their learning journey from Year 7 to Year 12.  The media often pigeonhole education in December as distilled down into marks on a certificate and compare schools on this basis. This is a narrow view of what schools achieve and the comprehensive education students receive. Our class of 2022 has shown that in abundance throughout their HSC exams, focussed on their studies and performing their best whilst maintaining their strong connection and care for each other.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” 

- John F Kennedy

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of Teaching and Learning and Education Administration

We have lit the Paschal Candle in the Chapel every day while our Year 12s have sat their exams. And every day we prayed a prayer focussing on each subject being examined.  I haven’t been sharing them with you.  I’m regretting that now, but I’m pretty sure they’ve been on the Instagram page.  Thanks for praying for our girls.  Yesterday’s exam was Studies of Religion.  My class was very happy with the paper - phew. It was solid with no weird questions.  My girls said they felt well prepared and confident - and so they should because they are fabulous.  I share with you the prayer for Studies of Religion and the one for today - Biology.

We had a cupcake explosion this morning.  The very clever Heads of House decided to have a bake off.  There’s nothing like a bit of competition to get a Vinnies' girl going.  It took me so long to unpack all the cupcakes up at St Canice’s, I thought I was going to get a parking ticket. By the way, St Canice’s are on the search for a Parish Secretary.  I imagine it would be a wonderful place to work; 20 hours a week or so.  Do call the parish if you know of anyone who might be interested.  Imagine being surrounded by all that goodness every day. 

Our Stationery Recycling has hit a bit of a snag but the people in D&T and STEM are helping us out with the assembly of our recycling box. Hopefully we will be ready to go next week.  But wait, there’s more.  Did you know there’s a program of recycling make-up and beauty product packaging?  Our girls are onto it and are planning to launch the program here ASAP.  Now obviously St Vincent's girls don’t need beauty products, but I’m told this program will be popular.  The Boarding House rep on the environment committee has asked for a special recycling bin just for the Boarders.  I don’t know what to say there.  Go for it!

We had a fabulous environment committee meeting yesterday, ably led by our new advocate, Astrid Salama-Groser.  She was on fire!  The classroom was full of people attending the meeting and we have compiled a huge list of ideas and plans to take Vinnies to the next level of awareness and responsibility for the planet.  Look out, Greenpeace, we are coming.

Speaking of all things environmental, we are having our inaugural eco-immersion dinner and debrief this evening in the Atrium.  The girls will give presentations on the Daintree, Mossman Gorge, Indigenous partnerships, swimming in the crater, getting up close and personal with crocodiles and Herberton Historic Village.  We are all very excited about the evening.  Our hosts from the Sisters of Mercy in Cairns will be joining us online. They are really special people.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  

A HUGE thank you to those wonderful families who have emailed me Woolies vouchers for the Sandwich Project.  I have enough funds to cover the next two Night Patrol visits.  Our Year 10's have made over 100 snack packs for the homeless and they are in my office, ready to go.  They should be congratulated.  I can’t get to the cupboards, but they will be gone by Week 5, and I won’t be jumping over them anymore.  The snack packs really make a difference to people.  It means one meal is covered when needed and the popper juice gives a little bit of joy.  Kat Cobden, Lucy Nelson and Scarlett Moir from Year 11 looked after the Kiosk at Matt Talbot on Wednesday with Ms Jane Ashcroft.  Kat said it was fantastic.  I’m very proud of them. They put together 50 wetpacks after school as well.  We ran out of tissues, but I’m waiting until I can get some on special, then we can finish off the wetpacks and deliver them.  The incentive to finish is stacked up in my office as well (Sometimes I feel like I’m on the set of “Hoarders”).

More next week.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission  

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. Here are a few more of the videos that were produced by our students.       Link 1.       Link 2.      Link 3

Ms Tina De Souza
Head of Department Religious Studies

University of Sydney

Pathways to Studying Law - 16 November

Hear from a panel of current USYD students who have joined the law community at Sydney through alternate pathways, transferring or studying graduate entry law. To register your interest go here

Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering - 23 November

Join USYD by webinar to learn about their Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering degree. Learn what Biomedical Engineering is and what the USYD program offers its studentsTo register your interest use the link found here.

Life in the field: Agriculture, food and animal biosciences - 30th November

Join this session and learn about what the sector is about, what an average day of work might be like for an agriculture or food scientist, environmental consultant, conservation, or natural resource management professional, and how you can pursue studies towards working in the sector yourself. To register your interest go here

UNSW

Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders Program

The Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL) Program considers both academic and elite extra-curricular achievements and recognises these by awarding adjustment factors. Through the EAPL Program eligible students may receive  up to five adjustment factor points towards their UNSW admission for excellence in sport, academic, leadership, and/or music at an elite level. Activities must have been undertaken in Years 11 and/or 12. EAPL applications close on or around 30 November, most academic years. For more information use the link found here.

UNSW Portfolio Entry

UNSW, wants to reward passion, creativity and potential to succeed. That's why they offer UNSW Portfolio Entry, which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their passion and talent, alongside their  ATAR. It’s an easy, online process that closes on or around 12 December each year. A UNSW Portfolio Entry submission needs to be completed in addition to a student’s UAC application. For more detailed information use the link found here.

Bond University

Medical Program Information Session - 16th November

The Bond University Medical Program offers students opportunities to bring to life their ambitions to become practitioners well-equipped to deliver evidence-based, patient-centred health care that meets the needs of a diverse community. The Dean of Medicine at Bond will provide an overview of the Medical Program at Bond University via a webinar. Registrations for this webinar using the link found here.

Pathways to Psychology - 17 November 

Bond University offers an accelerated psychology program that means students can get a headstart on their path to becoming a registered psychologist. For more information register for the Bond webinar here.

TOCAL College

Full Time Agricultural Courses

TOCAL courses are renowned Australia-wide for providing students with practical training, development of industry-relevant skills and experience in general agriculture, beef cattle, dairying, rural business management, sheep production, cropping and conservation and land management. For more information on TOCAL courses go here.

BASAIR 

Pilot Career Seminar - 14 November

Learn about a career as a Commercial Pilot by registering your interest to attend an information webinar here.

Academy of Film, Theatre and Television ( AFTT)

Open Day - 12 November

Find out more about a career in Filmmaking, Acting and Stage Management at AFTT’s open day. For more information about this event go here

Sydney Design School

Info Session - 9 November 

Sydney Design School is hosting an Info Session on Wednesday 9 November  at 6pm. Find out more about their accredited interior design qualifications delivered on campus and online. Join them at Sydney Design School 2/40 Oxley St, St Leonards, Sydney 2065. Register to attend here

HSC KICKSTART SEMINARS 

A series of free seminars, designed specifically for students and parents in Year 10 & 11 are being run at Macquarie University (6th) and UTS (13th) in November this year. Presented by highly qualified HSC teachers, topics include: Secrets to HSC success, how to manage anxiety & achieving your best in HSC English. Register using the link found here.

Helen Marshall

Careers Adviser

A huge reminder 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 two 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. Please see some photos of students during their costume fittings for the College Production, Matilda, at lunchtimes this week!

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 BUY TICKETS AND,

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

Please purchase your tickets for Annual Dance Concert and Matilda on the links provided, and Drama night there is no need to book but please come and support our young but accomplished actors.

Ms Catherine Johnson
Head of Performing Arts

Dance Concert Poster

On Thursday the students of De Lacy and Cater battled it out in the first ever inter-House baking competition. With amazing entries from both Houses, Mr Samyia and Mr Latham were particularly challenged to choose a winner from the exceptional creativity and delicious treats on display. In the end it came down to creativity for the win and Tess Edwards in Tutor 24 (Cater) was victorious.

Congratulations to all the entrants: Harper Kroon (17), Elsa Dayman (18), Bella Munter (19), Isabella Hunter (20), Satine Gallardo Walker (21), Judith Walsh (22), Thea Sweet (23), Florence Gordon (25), Louisa Mitchell (28), Charlotte Buckley (30) and Sarah Fitzgerald (31). Due to the generous nature of our students, St Canice's were the recipients of 96 cupcakes on Friday morning.

Ms Edelle McCrudden
Head of Cater House

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

We have been very lucky with the weather so far and I really do hope it continues.  Occasionally the fields have been closed but we have been able to train at school.  All students are reminded that training is compulsory, even during exam time as it is a great stress reliever.

The highlight of the Term for most of us will be the return of the Interhouse Swimming Carnival at Drummoyne Pool on Thursday December 1. To prepare for this Swimming Training is on Monday mornings 7.15am - 8.15am  and Wednesday afternoons 3.15pm - 4.15pm  in the College pool and all are welcome to attend. Although we need more numbers on Mondays for this to continue!

IGSA Tennis

All 5 Tennis teams have had a good start to the IGSA Competition this term. These matches are  played at venues all across Sydney from 7.30am until 12pm. Our home venue is at the College and our new coach Matija will be the Convenor so if there are any problems, please see him. 

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 short Term, there are no Finals and it is 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.

Good luck to all players this weekend!

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 starting in Week 2. Final team selections will be held at the start of Term 1 2023.

Ms Tonya Herteles
Head Tennis Coach   tonyahetreles910@outlook.com Mobile: 0411 984352

IGSA WATERPOLO

Congratulations to all six water polo teams who have some difficult games to start the season. You have played with true Vinnies' spirit and fought hard, so well done.  

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. If you are sick but at school, you must still attend your session to watch and be part of the team.  

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 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.

All the best for this weekend - Go Vinnies!

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

EASTS TOUCH and SANTA SABINA VOLLEYBALL

All 18 teams have had a great start to the season with a few teams being undefeated so far.  

All players are reminded to check their emails and the College website for their teams training times and draw as these have been up for a week now and quite a few players  still weren’t at training this week, which was disappointing for the coaches and for the rest of the team. If it is raining, training is still on at school and is compulsory.

Can I please also remind all players about their behaviour on and off the field. St Vincent’s College pride themselves on exemplary behaviour and this includes commuting to and from training.  Your behaviour whilst walking down to training and also on transport home from training is always being judged by the public, so please be mindful and respectful to all others around you.

Touch Training 

Senior Teams are on Monday afternoons

Junior Teams are on Wednesday afternoons 

Year 7 Teams are on Thursday afternoons

All six volleyball teams have had a good start to the season.  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. 

Good luck to all teams for this Saturday! 

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

SWIMMING FITNESS TRAINING

To prepare for the Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 1 December and to improve your swimming for water polo or general fitness - swimming training is on Monday mornings from 7.15am - 8.15am  and Wednesday afternoons 3.15pm - 4.15pm in the College pool and all are welcome to attend. We need more numbers on Monday mornings or we might just go with the one session this term. 

SPORTS STARS OF THE WEEK

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 Grace Madden in Year 7, who was captain of the winning U13 Swans Academy AFL team who defeated GWS in Albury during the holidays.

Congratulations to - Ruby Street (Year 8), Isabella Lyons (Year 7) and Stella Herbert (Year 7).  Their  Lilli Pilli soccer team won the grand final against Manly in the Champions of Champions competition played at Valentine Stadium last weekend.  Their team were minor premiers in the Sutherland Shire Football Association competition, and this is the first time C of C has been open to 13 girls, making them the inaugural winners! Well done girls! 

Willow will be competing in a National Cheerleading Competition on the Gold Coast from 23-28 November.  Willow has never taken part in a competition of this size and calibre,with teams from America and New Zealand joining the thousands of Australian Cheerleaders and dancers. Good luck Willow!

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 4, 31 October - 4 November:    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