Bulletin

(also included in 'Sports Stars' in Sport Report)..

Wednesday 11 November:  HSC written examinations conclude.

View the HSC Written Exam Timetable HERE

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 Wednesday 11 November:   Remembrance Day

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Wednesday 11 - Friday 13 November:  Year 7 Camp - The Tops.

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Monday 16 November:  7.00pm - Parent Information Session with Mr Paul Dillon via webinar.

(also see in Mrs Fry's article "Principal's Message") - REGISTER HERE

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Wednesday 18 - Friday 20 November:  Year 8 Camp - Tallong.

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Thursday 19 November:   6.30pm - Class of 2020 Graduation Dinner and Formal - Doltone House.

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Dear Parents and Carers

The weather has sent us some confusing signals this week with a return to quite wintry conditions.  I am certainly hoping that the best of autumn returns next week as our Year 7 students set off on their outdoor-education experience.  After a year of so many cancelled events, this camp deserves to be held and enjoyed in optimal conditions. 

We are similarly hoping that the weather is kind to us on Remembrance Day as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2.  To commemorate this special anniversary, we will unveil and bless a memorial to ex-students and College families who have defended the freedoms of Australia.  With our proximity to the naval base, there has always been closeness to the comings and goings of military personnel during times of international conflict.  At these times of great angst, the consolation of the great Christian symbol of hope - the Crosses standing on our Victoria Street buildings - would have been among the last sightings for our troops as their ships left the naval base.  It is one of these crosses that has been reimagined into the memorial.  We acknowledge the generosity of Stone Masons and Artists (the company completing the restoration of the Mary Aikenhead building) for helping us create this enduring memorial.

An event that is not dependent on the weather but is one that I believe will be of great interest, is a parent information session webinar with Mr Paul Dillon, that we have been able to schedule for Monday 16 November at 7.00pm.  Whenever and wherever Paul speaks, parents and students deeply appreciate the currency of this knowledge, his insights into young people and his very engaging manner.  He has closely observed the impact of the pandemic on the drug and alcohol habits of young Australians and will share this with us in an online seminar.  I hope you can find the time to invest an hour of your time before the long summer holidays, during which Paul anticipates a return to large scale 'gatherings' of young Australians.  Among his concerns is that many of these will be outdoor gatherings, but in high risk settings such as parks and beaches.  Please register HERE and login details will be advised on the day.

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal 

Monday 9 November - 6.30pm-7.30pm

To register your attendance please click HERE .  Zoom Details will be sent on the morning of the event.

With thanks to the P&F Association, Lisa Maltman ('The Sleep Connection') will be presenting a webinar for parents on the importance of good sleep habits.  Lisa is passionate about healthy sleep and concerned about the fact that over 30% of primary school children and 70% of teenagers are sleep deprived.  This is having significant consequences on many areas of their lives such as:

• Learning and memory - sleep helps concentration and motivation along with consolidation and strengthening of new information and memories.
• Emotional and mental health - studies show children and teenagers who are sleep deprived are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, negative body image and low self-esteem.
• Behaviour and decision making - sleep deprivation affects decision making capacity, has a negative effect on relationships and increases risk of accidents.
• Body systems - sleep deprivation affects children’s physical growth, brain development, immune system and plays a key role in weight gain.

Lisa trained as registered nurse and has spent much of her career in medical sales, corporate and sleep health.  She is the mother of two daughters of primary and secondary school age.

Jane Palin
Community and Alumnae Relations Manager

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

Madeleine Buckley (Year 8) - Grandfather.

May he rest in peace.

I continue sharing with you the dimensions of social and emotional learning to consider how you may be able to model and stimulate opportunity for such learning with your adolescents at home.

SOCIAL AWARENESS

Social awareness is the ability to understand the perspectives of and empathise with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures and contexts. It is evident when we:

-        Take others’ perspectives

-        Recognise strengths in others

-        Demonstrate empathy and compassion

-        Show concern for the feelings of others

-        Identify diverse social norms including unjust ones

-        Understand and express gratitude

-        Recognise opportunities and demands

-        Understand the influences of organisations and contexts on behaviour.

A weekend gives opportunity to watch a film together (or a US Presidential election) and discuss the various perspectives and the contexts beneath them. According to neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, “Although many of us think of ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically we are feeling creatures that think.”  Indeed, learning is a deeply emotional process and calls on areas of the brain that intertwine cognition and emotions.  If adolescents are to make sense of their world, they are going to need to develop empathy for the perspectives of others and learn to respond in ways that create opportunities for growth through advocacy balanced by compassion and gratitude.  Talk to your child about your workplace - the verbal and physical cues, what you strive for in a good meeting, the etiquettes or challenges of Zoom.  I include a couple of resources to consider:

Brene Brown on Empathy

Improving Social Awareness

Where do we see our students engaging in building connections and broadening their social awareness here at school?  Our Year 11 students have embraced the responsibility of being our most senior year, engaging in conversations with Year 10s offering advice within their Tutor relationships of care to help prepare them to step up into the senior years of learning.  With the satisfaction of Assessment activities completed today, Year 10 are being provided opportunity to discern their readiness for life as a senior student and maturing young adult.  Over the next couple of weeks, they will participate in the Teen Youth Mental Health First Aid Course, whilst some students are also collaborating on the preparation of a day of immersing the cohort in an experience to identify the attributes needed for cohesion and support as courageous young women with compassion.  Year 9 are preparing to welcome our newest students on Year 6 Orientation Day in a couple of weeks as they become their Big Sisters.

Years 8 and 7 are anticipating the excitement of camp and making new connections to extend relationships and take on challenges with support of peers. I myself look forward to spending this time with Year 7 at Camp - an opportunity to experience life alongside the students and listen to their voice. 

May I please remind parents and carers of Years 7 and 8 of the importance of not allowing your daughter to bring extra food/ lollies to Camp.  This is to ensure the safety of other students with allergies as well as our adherence to hygienic practices of not sharing food as a Covid-safe practice.

A separate letter has been sent to parents and carers of Year 10 outlining the Teen MHFA course which will commence next Tuesday - one session per week for three weeks.  As a College community we see the enormous power adolescents have to be people of influence for each other.  We see this a crucial investment in our young people, not only as they enter into their senior years of balancing study with relationships and healthy lifestyle, but skills for life as they become young adults in their world.  The course is aimed at developing the skills adolescents need to recognise and help withmental health problems and crises in their friends, and to get the help of an adult quickly.

I have not forgotten the milestone of Year 12, the Class of 2020.  Whilst I will not be on campus on Wednesday for the last day of HSC examinations, I have witnessed many ‘last exams’ over these past few days.  The smile of relief is small by comparison to the grin of accomplishment I see in the students - they are rightly proud in knowing they have run their race and given their best to the end.  It is now time to celebrate who they are and all they have shared as they ready for the next chapters to open.  I look forward to sharing this joy with our Graduating families on Thursday 19 November; please be punctual with your arrival as we will commence our formalities of graduation and prize-giving at 6.00pm.

I end by encouraging you to connect into Monday evening’s webinar with Lisa Maltman - Sleep for better health, resilience and performance.  We regard this as essential parent education from what our lived experience is with students.  Sleep is not only crucial to wellbeing but to learning.  The misbelief that one can get-by with reduced sleep must be challenged - certainly for our own optimal functioning as adults, but critically for the developing brain of adolescents.  Students themselves respond incredibly well to the scientific facts presented in the student workshops we have enjoyed over the years, learning about the cycles of sleep to detox the brain and enjoy sufficient REM sleep to stimulate creativity and convert short-term memory to long-term retention.  And yet many admit to lack of self-regulation to turn off from technology and homework to do what they know is good for them.  As Judith Locke encouraged, let’s give ourselves the permission to parent, equipped with the knowledge of the impact sleep truly has on our adolescents.  I look forward to meeting with you online 6.30pm this coming Monday - details in this Bulletin.

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal, Pastoral Care

November is our month of remembering.  We remember those we love who have died, believing their love and spirit continues on in the fullness of God’s eternal embrace.  I’m mindful of family and friends whose anniversaries occur in November.  It’s a natural part of prayer and contemplation.  Some of that remembering is still raw even though time has passed.  St Paul would tell us that’s the thing about love:  it does not come to an end.

Next Wednesday we will hold our Remembrance Day Ceremony.  At 11.00am and the 11th day of the 11th month we will stop to remember those who have served in conflicts all over the world.  The new memorial near Garcia Lawn has been created using salvaged sandstone from the Aikenhead building as part of our restoration project.  We will have a Dedication of our new memorial to ex-students and their family members who courageously served in the defence of the freedoms afforded to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Our St Vincent’s College community are invited to be part of our ceremony by offering the name of a family member who has served in war.  We will place the name on the Honor Roll for our Remembrance Day Ceremony, and a student will place a poppy next to the name.

If you would like to offer details of a family member who served, please fill in the Google Form by clicking HERE .

Our students are particularly mindful of the importance of mental health issues for our returned service men and women.  To that end they will offer a lapel poppy to students for a gold coin donation.  Funds will be directed toward mental health support services.  Some wounds can’t be seen.

Our Catalyst of the Week is a local hero.  I remember what our waterways looked and smelled like a few years ago when sculling on Lane Cove River and Hen and Chicken Bay.  I’m very grateful that cleaning up our nation is a community activity and priority for so many. 

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

REMINDER:

It is that time again when we need to organise transport.  Please let your daughter know if she requires transport home or for her return to Boarding in January - we started collecting all transport information from last Monday. 

Boarders’ Travel Day is Friday 04 December and the return in 2021 is Australia Day, 26 January.

Thank you.

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

and Ms Linda McCabe / Boarding Co-Ordinator

Bond University

Medical Program Information Session Webinar

On 23 November 2020 from 5:00pm-6:00pm, Bond University will host a webinar for students and parents.

The Bond University Medical Program offers their graduates the opportunity to become practitioners, thinkers and leaders well equipped to deliver evidence-based, patient-centred health care that meets the needs of a diverse community.  Students and their parents are invited to join Bond University’s Dean of Medicine who will provide an overview of the Medical Program at Bond University via a webinar.  Registrations are essential here.

Australian University Ratings and Rankings 2020/2021

The link provided here shows a series of ratings and insights across a range of indicators.  On the premise that no institution is superb at everything, these rankings are high-level indicators and should be used to gain comparative insights into the varying strengths and characteristics of each institution.

US and UK Application Advice 

Virtual Information Sessions are available for parents and students.  Topics include:  Applying to US and UK universities, Applying as an Athlete to a US College and Applying in the Arts (Drama, Music, Art).  Please contact Deb Wheeler to set up a time for a Zoom Meeting at  deb@uscollegeconnect.com

AIE Open Day 

Game Development, 3D Animation and Visual Effects

Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, 3D animation and visual effects at the AIE Open Day on Saturday 21 November 2020.  AIE will be running this event on campus and online.  AIE campus in Sydney will be open for you to check out the facilities, meet course teachers and see student work.  For more information go here

SAE Virtual Information Night

On 10 December at 6.00pm-8.00pm, students interested in studying Creative Media (Animation, Audio, Creative Industries, Design, Film or Games or Web and Mobile) can join the SAE Virtual Information Night online to find out more from SAE’s industry-experienced lecturers.  Participants will take a behind the scenes tour, check out course presentations, view student work and ask any questions they have about studying at SAE.  Register here 

Ms Helen Marshall
Career Adviser

 2021 School Travel Applications are Now Open

Student OPAL Card Information from Transport NSW

From January onwards, there will be a number of School Opal cards expiring as the physical card has reached its lifespan.

These are cards for students who will be in Years 8 to 12 in 2021 - and only those Opal cards which have not been replaced in the last five years.

Impacted students and/or their parent/carer will be contacted directly by Transport for NSW via email or post.  They will be asked to confirm their details online in order for a new School Opal Card to be sent to the correct postal address in time for the new school year.

If contacted by Transport for NSW, details should be submitted onlineby 01 December 2020 at the latest.  Affected students who do not confirm their details in time will have a new School Opal card posted to the address they currently have on file.

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

ESTA TOUCH

With the touch season well and truly in action, SVC is on fire with all teams having played some amazing games.  Great efforts have been shown in the first few weeks from SVC 1 and SVC 5 as they have a very hard, competitive competition ahead and they are showing great signs for the rest of the season. Well done girls!

Unfortunately, due to the wet weather last weekend games were called off, but as always the Vinnies spirit is high with students ready more than ever to compete this weekend.  Please remember to arrive 20 minutes prior to your game, keep up the good work with uniform and attendance and good luck to all teams for this weekend.

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Touch Coach

SANTA SABINA VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL 

All teams have been having fun at Santa Sabina on Saturday mornings and giving it their best on the court.  All players are trying hard at training and their skills are really starting to improve.  It is exciting news that Santa have organized a competition for next term, so most players will now be able to play two terms of volleyball.

Ms Elyse Harmanis
Head Basketball and Volleyball Coach

Below:  Volleyball action

IGSSA WATERPOLO

SVC water polo had another fantastic weekend of success and sportsmanship.  The senior firsts in particular, dug deep on Saturday and competed in a hard fight against Meriden, scoring in the last 20 seconds to win!  The junior firsts have also been training hard and playing some great water polo in the highest division.  Another shout out to our Year 7 team who have been improving every week, especially SVC 6 who had a big win against Ascham on the weekend.

A reminder - we are very fortunate to have an extra swimming/water polo fitness session on Wednesday mornings with Craig Miller - and those who have been attending have really started to feel fitter during their games.  All players are welcome and it starts at 7.15am to 8.15am. 

Please make sure that everyone is on time for their training sessions and games, particularly if they are in the morning.

Ms Hayley Boatswain
Head Water polo Coach

Below:  Craig Miller 

Below:  Water polo junior firsts 

ASCHAM FRIDAY FUTSAL

We finally had full attendance at training this week and it really does make a difference to the team spirit and quality of training.  Hopefully, the girls will be able to transfer this good training into their matches on Friday afternoon.  Keep up the great work girls!

Mr Hugo Forlico
Head Soccer Coach

SWIMMING TRAINING AND SVC SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The Inter-House Swimming Carnival is quickly approaching and will be held again at Drummoyne Pool on Wednesday 2 December, from 9.30am-2.30pm.  This Carnival is to help us pick the College team for the 2021 IGSSA Swimming Carnival being in March next year.  There is swimming training on Wednesday mornings 7.15am to 8.30am.  All water polo players are encouraged to go to this swimming session to improve their swimming fitness.

At next week's House meetings, we would like swimmers who want to swim at the carnival to enter their events:  
.  Those girls who would like to compete in the serious Championship races at the carnival, are to nominate their events on the Google form in their age group for next year.  The Google form will be on their House Classroom until 20 November for anymore nominations.  The 200 IM, 100m freestyle and 50m for freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly are the events we run for Age Champion. 
.  If you would like to have a swim in the non-competitive events, please nominate for the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke or 50m breaststroke in the separate non-timed races.

This Inter-House Carnival acts as a selection for the 2021 IGSSA Carnival swim squad and therefore you must swim in the age group you turn next year.
(ie no 12 years).

above:  2020 Swimming Age Champions with Ms Jacobs (left) and Mrs Fry

FITNESS TRAINING

Fitness with Tash is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3.15pm until 4.30pm and everyone is invited to join in.  All fitness levels are catered for and the venue will vary from week to week.  All participants are to get changed and meet outside the change rooms at 3.15pm on Mondays and/or Wednesdays. Please email Ms Jacobs If you are keen to sign up.  This is for all students wanting to get ready for cross country next year or to just improve their fitness in general.

TILDESLEY TENNIS

The Tildesley tennis squad has started training for next year.  We wish our talented tennis athletes well in their mission to defend the ‘Most Improved School’ trophy at the tournament next year! 

Training will be held on the College courts on Monday mornings 7.15am until 8.30am and Thursdays from 3.15pm until 4.30pm.  All girls who are interested in training are welcome to train with this squad until the final team is selected next term.

Ms Therese Taylor
Head Tennis Coach

TERM 1 2021 SPORTS TRIALS

Sport Registrations have now closed for next term and trials for UNSW Water Polo, ESTA Touch, IGSSA Tennis and Santa Sabina Volleyball will be on the following dates in Week 7.

WATER POLO TRIALS - College Pool

Juniors (current Years 7 and 8):  Friday 27 November 3.15pm-4.30pm.

Seniors (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Thursday 26 November 3.15pm-4.30pm.         

PLEASE BRING, SWIMMERS, GOGGLES and CAP FOR TRIALS.

TOUCH - Rushcutters Park

Seniors (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Tuesday 24 November 3.15pm-4.45pm.

Juniors (current Years 7 and 8):  Wednesday 25 November 3.15pm-4.45pm.   

PLEASE WEAR TOUCH SINGLET IF YOU HAVE ONE OR PE UNIFORM.

TENNIS - College Courts

Juniors (current Years 7 and 8):  Friday 27 November 3.15pm-4.30pm.

Seniors (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Thursday 26 November 3.15pm-4.30pm.

PLEASE BRING YOUR PE UNIFORM AND RACQUET.  

VOLLEYBALL - College Courts

Juniors (current Years 7 and 8):  Friday 27 November 3.15pm-4.30pm.

Seniors (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Friday 27 November 7.15am-8.30am.

PLEASE WEAR YOUR PE UNIFORM.  

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND YOUR PARTICULAR TRIAL YOU MUST EMAIL THE SPORT STAFF OTHERWISE YOU WILL NOT BE PLACED IN A TEAM.

SPORTS STARS OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to Marla Falvey, Year 9, who gave AFL a go for the first time this year.  She played with Maroubra Saints and despite it being her first season and missing two games due to quarantine, she was awarded runner up Best and Fairest in the Sydney competition, as voted by the umpires.  Quite something and very exciting for her club.  Well done, Marla!

Congratulations to our Year 7 PE classes who have all been rehearsing extremely hard the past few weeks for their Dance assessments.  They all performed their Bush Dances this week with great skill and enthusiasm.  7R in particular, are to be congratulated for their excellent costumes that many made at home.  All the older students enjoyed reminiscing about this fun PE assessment!

above:  Wonderland Sports Stars   

(see Nemo Sports Stars at the top of this issue in Photo 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

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

 View this week's CANTEEN SPECIALS - 09-13 November  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. 

Dear Parents and Carers

Well here we are Term 4 and what a year it has been!  I have no doubt every family in the College community has had many ups and downs this year - I know I certainly have.  I am, however, grateful for a few things.  The slightly slower pace of life and some invaluable extra time with my kids have been the bonuses of 2020.  It has been wonderful to see how the St Vincent’s spirit has still managed to shine through with the staff working harder than ever to bring the girls together regardless of what COVID threw at us. 

A huge congratulations to the Class of 2020 who have almost completed their HSC in a very tough year. 

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to run any major events this year.  Most notably our much loved Spring Fair.  The challenge now - let’s make the 2021 fair bigger and better than ever! 

Our final P&F meeting for the year will once again be via Zoom on Tuesday, 10 November at 6.00pm.  We invite you to register to attend via this LINK .  The Zoom login details will be sent on Tuesday morning.

We are still looking for a Treasurer to take over the reins for next year, so if you think that sounds like you please get in touch.  Similarly, if you have any questions, suggestions or topics you would like covered at the meeting please let me know.  You can contact me via email kgray_kudoss@hotmail.comor by phone 0400 583 677.

I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Katherine Aitken
P&F Association President