Bulletin

REMINDERS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

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 Friday 08 November - 6.00pm-8.30pm:  Year 11 Social Event at the College 

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Saturday 09 November:

11:00am:  Class of 1994 - 25 year reunion 
3:00pm:  Class of 2009 - 10 year reunion.

Advancement Office  palinj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au 

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 HSC Examinations last day - Monday 11 November.

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Monday 11 November:  Remembrance Day - Liturgy at 11.00am

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Thursday 14 November:  7.00pm-10.30pm - Year 10 Social - Hotel Inter-Continental Double Bay.

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Tuesday 19 November:   6.30pm - P&F Meeting - Bethania

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Thursday 21 November:  Year 7 Vaccinations

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UNIFORM SHOP

Orders Online  

Monday  8.00am-2.00pm  /  Wednesday 12.00pm-5.00pm  /  Friday 8.00am-2.00pm           

Phone:  02 9161 7979  Email:  SVC@noone.com.au  

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Dear Parents and Carers

It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to take some extended leave and know that the College was in the very capable care of Mrs Brooks.  This gave me the freedom to immerse myself completely in the biblical lands of Israel and Jordan.  To walk in the desert sands, to sail on the Sea of Galilee, to pray and reflect in the places from the Old and New Testaments that had been firmly entrenched in my imagination since childhood.  I am glad to have a good imagination because when you visit these holy sites, it takes some disciplined imagination to see through the last 2,000 years of development.  Even if I could not quite 'see' I could 'feel' the presence of holiness in these places where Jesus was born, ministered and died.  It was an extraordinary experience using all my senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste to fully enjoy these biblical, historical, geographical, political, cultural and culinary delights of Israel and Jordan.  (photo above: Jerusalem)

On my return to the College I have been amazed by how much has happened.  Three weeks doesn't seem like a long time, but at this busy time of the year a great deal of learning, assessment, co-curricular and social activity happens for students; for staff, their attention to planning for a purposeful use of these last weeks of term, marking and report preparation, and for our leadership team, timetabling, budgets, staffing and class composition.  It has been great to now be back in the loop on all these issues.

On my first weekend back I thoroughly enjoyed attending our Dance Concert and being in awe of the creativity and flexibility of our dancers.  My congratulations to each of them, from our beginners through to our most accomplished dancers.  A special note of appreciation to Ms Alana Santi, Ms May Mangano, Ms Belinda Peoples, Ms Catherine Johnson and the many staff who assisted during the day and evening.

Over that weekend we also welcomed back many ex-students for their Reunion and Memorial Mass.  It is always a pleasure to share conversations with our most senior ex-students, and on Sunday one such very engaging conversation was had with a lady who started here in 1935.  So much of her world had changed and she was so happy to be back in a familiar place where she could still feel the Vinnies' spirit!

It's good to be back, and I look forward to sharing with you all the major events of the busy weeks left of this term.

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

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

 Charli Dwyer (Year 9) Grandmother.

Year 10 Learning Immersion

We have reached the conclusion Assessment Activities week and look forward with eager anticipation to the Year 10 Learning Immersion which commences from Monday 11 November and concludes on the last official day of classes, Wednesday 4 December.

As the Assessment Activity Week draws to a conclusion, students during their immersion will receive detailed feedback on their assessments and reflection opportunities to consolidate their Year 10 curriculum, as the immersion does not interrupt the usual Year 10 subjects timetable. Our Year 10 students are fast approaching their transition to Stage 6 and the commencement of their HSC patterns of study.  As such, we have made the very considered decision to move with the changing landscape of senior school curriculum that the recent Interim Curriculum Review appropriately entitled ‘Nurturing Wonder and Igniting Passion’ highlighted, to ensure that all of our students graduate with ‘the skills and attributes that will prepare them for lifelong learning’.  * Thus, as a College, our commitment is to ensure that mandatory NSW curriculum and our SVC pedagogy underpin our College academic goals and nurture the tenacity and courage that encapsulates our Vinnies' spirit.

* Extract from the NSW Curriculum Review Interim Report, Executive Summary.
‘The long-term vision is for a future school curriculum that supports teachers to nurture wonder, ignite passion and provide every young person with knowledge, skills and attributes that will help prepare them for a lifetime of learning, meaningful adult employment and effective future citizenship’.

It's the application (transformation) of knowledge and skills that will be the most apparent learning attributes necessary to navigate a successful HSC experience.  The 2019 Year 10 Learning Immersion allows teachers an opportunity to engage with students to complete Stage 5 Scope and Sequences yet find meaningful and authentic ways to embed Stage 6 learning capabilities into Year 10 curriculum.  These are as follows:

Finally, as part of our commitment to student voice and student agency in learning, the Student Learning Reflection model will be an integral part of the learning immersion. Students will set their personal goals for the immersion per capability.  Students set one goal per immersion learning capability:  Literacy (English/HSIE/RS); Problem Solving/Critical Thinking (Maths/Science); Creativity and Innovation; Body/Mind/Life and Study Organisation (Academic Buoyancy). At the conclusion of the immersion, students will evaluate and reflect on the learning gained through this immersion designed to ready students for Stage 6. We are anticipating a highly stimulating and enjoyable learning immersion for our Year 10 students in a fitting way to conclude our year of Respectful learning.

Year 9 Assessment Activities Week

With our final assessment week commencing on Monday for our Year 9 students, we wish them well and we know that they are ready to demonstrate in these forthcoming assessment opportunities, what they know as learners, as part of their ongoing participation in the teaching and learning cycle. Learning continues next week for Year 9 in the sections of the timetable that indicate ‘normal classes’ so students should be ready and equipped to participate fully in learning at these times. 

Years 7 and 8 Learning and Assessment

Students in our Stage 4 classes are engaged in learning with their formal assessment activities nearing completion, but with the engagement in curriculum completion for this stage still paramount as teachers prepare the students for the rigour of the late Stage 4/Early Stage 5 learning continuum. 

HSC Students - Class of 2019

Our HSC students officially conclude their examinations on Monday 11 November - Remembrance Day - and it is fitting on this reverent occasion that I too acknowledge the respectful and quietly tenacious attitude these students have adopted to their exams.  They will be remembered by me with fondness as a Year group and I very much look forward to celebrating each student's unique achievements of their thirteen years of formal education. 

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

Catholic Social Teaching

One of the Contemporary Indicators for Mary Aikenhead Ministries is the Preferential Option for the Poor.  This is how the concept is introduced in the document that animate our charism and explains why we do what we do at a Mary Aikenhead College:

When Mary Aikenhead founded the Sisters of Charity in 1815 she included a fourth vow - that of service of the poor.  This vow, which was to distinguish her Sisters and their work in the world, also provides a distinctive focus for a Mary Aikenhead Ministries’ College.  Understanding that the love of Christ impels us to be of service to the poor through recognising and responding to the human vulnerability of all whom we meet is at the core of our work in education. 

Today our Colleges understand this imperative as a call to awareness of, and a practical and active responsiveness to, the vulnerability in all of humanity and the world.  It places us in relationship with those who lack, or are barred from access to what is fundamental to the development of full human potential and the recognition of individual dignity.  In honouring service of the disadvantaged, our Colleges seek at all times to exercise a preferential option for the poor; we walk with and befriend those who find themselves denied and vulnerable, offering practical and tangible relief and support.

This indicator invites community members to consider how we can apply the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity as expressed in Catholic Social Teaching (CST).  Recently, the concepts and constructs of CST were unpacked by members of the Religious Studies Faculty with Dr Sandie Cronish, as part of a morning Professional Development session.  Simultaneously, whilst students were gathered in Year Assemblies, members of the Social Justice Advisory Council were presenting to Year 8 and 9 cohorts a modified version of a presentation they had prepared for Year 7 as part of that cohort’s Environmental Action Experience.  Each presentation linked the learning in the classroom to the learning that is happening in Cura Personalis and that which could happen through membership and engagement of the social justice experiences of the College. 

The Year 9 cohort reflected on the great success of the Winter Appeal which culminated in their Religious Studies Assessment Activity, which was an analysis of the Beatitudes and a reflection on how they were beatitude people through their leadership of the Winter Appeal.  In this reflection, it was exciting to see Year 9 students respond to the invitation to be people of action at both a local and international level.  

The Year 7 cohort has spent the last three Cura Personalis lessons learning about the environment, Catholic Social Teachings, UN Sustainable Development goals, SMART goals and the 21st Century Thinking Skills that they would need if they wished to lead an Environmental Action Experience through Tutor, House or College.  Of particular delight is the way Year 7 have responded to this invitation through House Assemblies (see the reflection on the National Recycling Week below). 

Finally, Year 8 has spent a Year Assembly and the last three Cura Personalis lessons exploring concepts of social justice and the work of family spirit in preparation for our annual Christmas Appeal.  Over the next couple of weeks, we will share the work Year 8 are leading in Tutor Group to inform and invite their peers to engage in this Christmas Appeal.  I thank in advance Ms Natalie Fletcher, Mrs Di Williams and Ms May Mangano, who are leading this appeal and supporting the students in their annual social justice engagement.

Find more information for Catholic Social teachings at https://www.caritas.org.au/learn/cst

National Recycling Week

Next week is National Recycling Week, and there are many initiatives taking place this term that promote recycling and reusing items rather than single use products and fast fashion.  Year 7 students have been exploring ways to make a positive impact in our world in CP - some Houses would have heard their presentations yesterday about what they hope to achieve this year and next.  One innovative suggestion was that students TAKE HOME their reusable water bottles and lunch boxes rather than leaving them in the playground!

On 21 November, the SRC will be holding their annual Second-Hand Stall.  If students wish to sell items (uniform, text books etc) be sure to register here

Finally, FESTIVAL OF FASHION is on 22 November at lunch time.  The Festival of Fashion is all about supporting and nourishing 'SLOW FASHION'.  This type of fashion can be from a thrift shop, from a friend, from a sustainable store or is ethically made (think of all the great outfits Ms Kennedy puts together through her work at Wayside Chapel!).  We want you to help us break the cycle of FAST Fashion - by getting SLOW at St Vincent’s by doing three things:

1. DONATE - Donations of good quality clothing are required:  Go through your own, your Mum's, sisters, aunts wardrobes and bring in items that they no longer wear.  All donations are to be left at Student Services where the Festival of Fashion team will then curate the donations into a fashion show!
2. Students are invited to sign up to be a MODEL (information in student Admin notices and emails).  Students will then need to come to Ms Kennedy and the Slow Fashion team in A2.28 during Week 6 to be allocated their outfit.  It is a great way to:  Learn about slow fashion; have fun with your friends; meet like-minded people and earn House points.
3. WEAR SLOW FASHION (ie NOT school uniform) on 22 November…students are invited to let the Social Justice Advisory team know how they got their slow fashion bycompleting this form.  Examples of the most creative and sustainable slow fashion will be awarded House points (see details in the link).

We look forward to seeing how we can make a difference to our environment at SVC!

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

Michael Westbury, father of Lucy (Year 11) and Aly (Year 10), is seeking our support.  He volunteers at the St Bakhita Centre, the Sudanese-Australian Catholic community at Homebush, teaching computer skills, typing, reading and writing to the Sudanese community.

"Unfortunately, a few of our laptops are on their last legs and we are in desperate need of a few ‘new’ ones, ie second-hand but in good working order.  If you are upgrading over the holidays or have an iPad or laptop that is sitting in a drawer or on a desk at home, please drop it to the College before the end of Term 4 (attention to me via Ms Rachel McLean), and we will get the donation to St Bakhita Centre".

To learn more or support the work of the Centre, please visit their website:  https://www.stbakhitacentre.com/

Thank you and kind regards

Michael Westbury

Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission

Location:  Mary Immaculate Church, 45A Victoria Street, Waverley, 

20 November at 7:30pm-8:30pm 

18 December at 7:30pm-8:30pm. 

Taizé Prayer Nights are held on the third Wednesday of every month.  The services use sung repetitive chants often in an environment of peace, and traditionally have included praying around a prayer focus with many candles.  One of the most important aspects of the prayer is silent prayer.  They invite you to come along on Wednesday 17 July at 7.30pm for an hour of Taizé prayer in their church.  You are assured that this time of reflection will nurture and strengthen your prayer life and relationship with God.

Thanks for supporting the community.

Rachel McLean
Director Faith and Mission

The boarders are very grateful to our study support staff who work with them throughout the week.  We have teachers and ex-boarders who help out with a range of academic pursuits - whether it be homework, planning for study, how to write an essay or how to set up a solution.  A shout out to Ms Butter, Ms Ashcroft, Mr Latham, Mr Schroeder and Ms McLean for their time and energy, particularly to Year 11 study.  Each night during study we allocate study grades for effort, consistency and maintaining concentration during the time.  The most consistent of each Year group is:

Year 7 – Clare Canham

Year 8 – Rosie Secombe and Amelia Vaughan

Year 9 – Mia Timbs

Year 10 – Monique McCormack

Year 11 – Lauren Miller

Year 12 – Melissa Yeung

Those of us here in Sydney were so happy to hear of rain in most areas of NSW!  Prayers to the rain gods for more.

The junior common room has had a bit of a cheery makeover - new couches, cushions etc.  Have a look (below)!

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

Writing Competition Winners

Congratulations to all those students who entered the prose and poetry writing competitions, organised by Ms Thomas.  The standard was very high and students expressed a number of thought-provoking ideas about the stimulus, ‘... and now we have come full circle’.  Whilst many students were inspired by their English studies, writing in styles or on topics covered in class, many entries also branched out to consider the world around us, drawing upon students’ wide reading, knowledge and experiences of people, events and cultures.  An environmental theme was most pronounced across the entries. 

Congratulations to the following students: 

The Christopher Brennan Award for Poetry Winners

Junior poetry:  Freya McGrath, Year 8 - A Deja Vu.

Senior poetry:  Ellie Singleton, Year 10 - Of Birth, and Death, and Living.

The SVC Writing Competition Winners 

Junior writing:  Lucy Fraser, Year 8 - Greed. 

Senior writing:  Holly Hudson Barton, Year 10 - Paris, 1945. 

Ms Monica Jarman
Head of English Department

On Tuesday 23 October, the Student Alliance Networking Group (SANG) students travelled to Abbotsleigh School to present the projects that they have been working on all year.  Students worked in cross-school groups to present pitches for awareness-raising campaigns.  The Student Alliance Networking Group provided us with an opportunity to get to know passionate, interesting girls from a number of schools across Sydney, with the common goal of working towards a more equitable future for girls and women. 

The Year 10 students who attended this final meeting were:  Holly Barling, Holly Hudson Barton, Jemima Hutchinson, Jemima MacPherson, Amelie Miller, Amelia Ryder, Lucia Porteus and Ellie Singleton. 

Ellie Singleton presented at entitled Educating Young Men and Boys, with a focus on education about harassment and its effects. This included real, personal stories collected from students and friends about harassment.  Our pitch was a lesson in pastoral care about the effects of harassment including real-life stories from girls of the same age.  Then, a questionnaire would be handed out to these male students to take home so they could interview the women in their lives so that the issue becomes more real, relevant and close to home.

Jemima MacPherson presented a pitch aimed at raising awareness of violence and harassment towards women and young girls. 

Holly Hudson Barton was involved in a project aimed at preventing violence against women.  The key idea in this project was the education of students in the types of treatment and interactions that lead people to enact violence against women.  The program would then encourage students to consider and discuss the actions and interactions that foster good relationships and discourage violence against women in the future. 

Year 9 students are encouraged to think about joining this wonderful programme in 2020. 

Ms Monica Jarman
Head of English

This Saturday a number of St Vincent’s students competed in the Festival of Speech;  A competition amongst independent girls’ schools to celebrate the power of the spoken word.  The Festival took place at Meriden and we were well represented by some talented students in a range of categories:

I would like to offer a HUGE congratulations to Bibi O’Loghlin, Millicent Welling and Elizabeth Howells, who came second in Religious and Ethical Questions. This is an incredibly challenging section that involves teamwork, research and critical engagement with complex ideas.  The St Vincent’s team focused on Chinese surveillance and the way this is shaping government rule.  The girls’ success came down to their capacity to thoughtfully consider the nuances and implications of their topic and develop original responses to the questions posed on the day. 

All Vinnies’ girls presented with confidence and grace in the face of formidable opponents.  The College was certainly well represented and all participants should be proud of their efforts in preparing and competing at the Festival.  Well done all!

Ms Siobhan Devaney
English Teacher / Debating and Public Speaking Co-Ordinator

Interview Training for Medical School Entry and Discount - Med Entry Workshops

Med Entry Workshops will be held at: 
UTS on 6-7 January and 18-19 January. 
Macquarie University: 23-24 January.
UTS: 7-8 March.

MedEntry is a government-accredited Registered Training Organisation run by doctors and academics with 20 years experience in preparing students for aptitude tests such as UCAT and Interviews.  For more information go here 

STEM at University of Sydney

STEM courses open up a world of opportunity.  As new fields of STEM employment continue to emerge, it’s important for today’s graduates to be agile and able to adapt their skills to this fast-changing global economy.  The range of STEM careers is broad and diverse, from biomedical engineering and software development to psychology and accounting.  USydney’s graduates are leading varied and fulfilling careers - they taught Australia’s first astronaut, an Antarctic explorer, a chief scientist and a Nobel laureate.  To find out more use this link

STEM Girls @ Sydney

On 20-21 January 2020 female students entering Year 11 in 2020 are invited to attend a holiday workshop.  Places are limited.  Applications are open now -apply here before Thursday 14 November 2019.

The two-day workshop on the USyd campus is for students who want to explore the disciplines and careers available in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and how they can apply these skills in everyday life.  Students will participate in hands-on activities and hear from a panel of women who are pursuing careers across different STEM industries.  You will also visit the research facilities of ANSTO and Google’s office as part of the program. The program is free for its participants. 

Women in Engineering at the University of Sydney

For more information about opportunities for potential engineering students use this link

NIDA Young Actors Studio - 15 to 18 years Auditions

Develop your vocal, physical and imaginative dexterity as you explore and apply NIDA acting techniques.  Collaborate with other young artists in an ensemble to develop skills for stage and screen.  Work with the support and direction from core tutors and gain inspiration from industry professionals.

Entry to the Young Actors Studio is by audition only.  Detailed audition information will be sent via downloadable link within two working days of enrolment. Audition dates in Sydney are:

Sunday 15 December 2019 10.00am.
Sunday 19 January 2020 10.00am OR 2.00pm.  For more information go here 

Beyond School Study Guide 

The Department of Education and Training (DET) has produced the Beyond School Study Guide. The Guide is a digital resource for Years 10-12 students, providing information about Australian Government assistance so they are able to make informed choices about their future studies.  To access the Guide go here

5 facts that will surprise you about the future of work

An era of change in the workforce is well and truly upon us.  The arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution means that the careers we once worked towards, or are working towards, are undergoing rapid change.  But don’t panic just yet.  Despite the influx of intelligent tech, The Definitive Guide to Future-Proofing Your Career, developed byOpen Universities Australia (OUA) has revealed that robots are not going to take over completely.  However, it is a time to empower ourselves with the facts.  Click here to find out more.

50 of the Best Workplaces for 2019

Great Place to Work Australia is a global research and consulting firm focusing on employee engagement, organisational alignment and the effect it can have on high-performance workplace cultures.  Each year they release a much-anticipated publication, 50 Best Places to Work 2019.  The report is based on research conducted by surveys and evaluation of a company’s policies and procedures.  Click here to find out more.

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

SPORT STAFF CONTACTS FOR TERM 4 2019

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

Ms Therese Taylor:     0408 711 881 - Head of Tennis
Ms Elyse Harmanis:    0434 610 870 - Head of Touch
Ms Jasmine Shires:    0466 672 383 - Head of Water Polo.
Ms Molly Macqueen:   0448 882 121 - Head of Basketball and Volleyball
Mr Hugo Forlico:        0411 615 031 -  Head of Futsal.

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

Swimming Training and SVC Swimming Carnival

The Inter-House Swimming Carnival is quickly approaching and will be held again at Drummoyne Pool on Monday 2 December, from 9.30am-2.30pm.  In preparation for this event, we have swimming squad sessions at school on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 7.00am-8.00am, run by Jesse from www.bondiswimcoach.com.au .  Please go on to his website to enrol directly with him.  All levels are catered for and you can do as many days as you like.  All water polo players are encouraged to go to at least one of these sessions per week to improve their swimming fitness.

At next weeks House meetings we will be asking the swimmers who want to compete in the serious Championship Races at the carnival to nominate their events on the Google form in their age group for next year.  This form will be on their House Classroom until 15 November for anymore nominations.  The 200 IM (individual medley), 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, are the events we run.  This inter-House Carnival acts as a selection for the 2020 IGSSA Carnival swim squad, and therefore you must swim in the age group you turn next year (so, no 12 years).

Fitness Training

Fitness with Tash has started on Mondays from 3.15pm-4.15pm, 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.  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 Mondays and Thursdays from 3.15pm-4.15pm as well as Monday mornings 7.15am-8.30am for tennis fitness.  All girls who trialed last term are invited to train in this squad until the final team is selected next term.

Ms Therese Taylor
Head Tennis Coach 

TERM 1 2020 SPORT REGISTRATIONS

Sport Registrations have now closed for next term and trials for UNSW Water Polo, ESTA Touch and IGSSA Tennis will be on the following dates in Weeks 5 and 6.

WATER POLO TRIALS - College Pool

Juniors  (current Years 7, 8):  Friday 15 November - 3.15pm-4.30pm.

Seniors  (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Friday 22 November - 3.15pm-4.30pm.      

.  PLEASE BRING GOGGLES AND CAP FOR TRIALS.

TOUCH - Rushcutters Park

Seniors  (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Tuesday 19 November - 3.15pm-4.45pm.

Juniors  (current Year 7, 8):  Wednesday 20 November - 3.15pm-4.45pm.                

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

TENNIS - College Courts

Juniors  (current Years 7, 8):  Friday 15 November - 7.00am-8.30am.

Seniors  (current Years 9, 10, 11):  Friday 15 November - 7.00am-8.30am.

.  PLEASE BRING YOUR PE UNIFORM AND RACQUET.   

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

SPORT STARS OF THE WEEK

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

Congratulations toJanda Collins-Widders and Zoe Fitzgerald, Year 10, who represented Northern Nations Football Club in the National Indigenous Football Championships in Nowra, 31 October to 2 November.  The team played a total of seven games over two days to make it into the semi-finals.  They played a tough game against the Newcastle All Stars, however, they were defeated - but not in spirit.  Congratulations ladies for a such a great effort!

Ms Jacinta Jacobs
Co-ordinator of Sport

From St Canice's Kitchen

Started last weekend 2-3 November:  The week before Christmas we distribute Christmas hampers to our kitchen guests.  These hampers are put together from very generous donations from individuals, businesses, schools and community groups within the local area.  This year we will run a food drive, asking mainly for special treats that our guests may not normally be able to afford, which quite often are not included in Christmas donations.  So starting from last weekend, we will be appealing for items specific to each week.  The weekly outline is as follows:

Week 1:  (03 November) - Chocolates - either small box, block chocolate eg Cadbury Dairy Milk etc.

Week 2:  (10 November) - Bags of lollies.

Week 3:  (17 November) - Chips/Popcorn/Doritos etc - smaller size (to fit into hamper bags).

Week 4:  (24 November) - Cans soft drink/single serve juice.

Week 5:  (01 December) - Single serving size Christmas puddings.

Thank you as always for your generosity.  Our kitchen guests really appreciate the gift of community spirit that we provide throughout the year and at Christmas.

St Canice's Kitchen Team

(Our Book Reviewer - Ms Suzanne O'Connor, is volunteering with the Loreto Sisters in Timor Leste) 

FRANKLY IN LOVE By David Yoon 

If the author’s last name seems familiar, it is because he is married to another Young Adult author, Nicola Yoon, who has written a number of interesting books including Everything, Everything, which is in the College library.  However, this is HIS debut novel, which has been greeted with much acclaim.  The book contains many autobiographical elements.  For example, Yoon’s parents had migrated from South Korea to America and ran a convenience shop in a challenging inner city location.  Their lives were focussed on their small business and their American-born son, David.  They laid down two unbreakable rules:  Study hard all the time AND never go out with any girl except a Korean.  I wonder what David Yoon’s parents thought when he introduced them to his finance:  She was bi-racial, having one Korean parent and the other was Jamaican.

The novel begins with the narrator, Frank, explaining his nickname, Frankly, based on the fact that his second name is Li.  He enjoys the pun, even though he is a little tired of the nickname.  In many ways, Frank follows the expected behaviour of an obedient Korean child.  He does indeed study hard not only in his final year of high school, but always and is aiming for a prestigious university as his next step.  He has not yet had much time for a social life because of his studying and also because most of his friends are equally driven to succeed.  However, Frank’s best friend is African American and he is ashamed of his parents’ racism when he introduces them to Q.  Fortunately, Q is incredibly intelligent and incredibly vague, so he does not seem to notice their embarrassing statements that suggest he is a “good” African American, unlike most other African Americans.  More importantly, Frank is deeply attracted to a classmate who is blond and blue-eyed.  One of his other friends, Joy, is Korean, but has a secret relationship with an African American.  Frank devises a plan where it will seem that he and Joy are romantically involved and they will appear to go out together, but they then actually meet their “true” loves.  It all becomes too hard and Frank behaves like a complete cad, opting for a more parent-pleasing decision and a broken-hearted ex-girlfriend.  However, even this act of emotional cowardice produces further tension when the cracks inside the Korean community are revealed.  Towards the end, the book shifts its focus from racism and irony to the death of Frank’s father.  Frank realises his dismissal of his parents as robotic and inadequate people has been superficial and unfair.  Once again, he treats his current girlfriend rather badly but, in other ways, he begins to develop adult understandings and perceptions.

Research shows that this book has already gone into film development.  I will be interested to learn how the character of Frank is treated.  Jane Austen said that she wrote the next novel after Pride and Prejudice with the purpose of creating a main character that nobody liked.  The result was Emma, who is indeed deeply annoying in the opening section of the book.  I think this book took on perhaps a few too many issues but I did enjoy Frank, even when I wanted to slap his calves for being self-centred.

By Ms Suzanne O'Connor

A Reminder from the Canteen for Students:   

• Please make sure that you top up funds onto your Student Card ONE HOUR before trying to purchase  (as it takes this amount of time for the money to be processed onto the card). 

ALSO...

• Students MUST bring their card with them to purchase at the canteen.  The canteen can no longer allow you to manually punch in your code as this holds up the line too much.

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