Issue 34 - 13 November 2020

Remembrance Day Memorial - 11 November 2020

Remembrance Day

Reminders

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

- REGISTER HERE by 9.00am Monday 16 November.

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16-24 November: Year 12/2021 Assessment Activities Weeks

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

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Thursday 19 November: Year 10 Empowerment Day.

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Thursday 19 November: 6.00pm - Class of 2020 Formal Graduation and Dinner
- Doltone House, Jones Bay, Pyrmont.

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27-29 November: Boarders' IN Weekend.

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From the Principal, Mrs Anne Fry

Dear Parents and Carers

This week we reached the milestone of successfully completing the HSC examinations without any disruption caused by COVID-19. On Wednesday afternoon, I think the staff were as elated as the sixteen Drama students who had just finished their last exam. Congratulations to the class of 2020 for "staying the race" and an enormous thank you to Ms Julia Ferguson (Presiding Officer) and her team of supervisors, Mrs Jasmin Mano, Mr Bob Anderson, Mr Joseph Hekeik, the Diverse Learning Team and everyone else who prepared and supported our HSC candidates.

On Wednesday 11 November, our students led a wonderful Remembrance Day commemoration on the Garcia Lawn. The ceremony was live-streamed to those who were in classrooms and included the usual rituals, as well as the blessing and unveiling of a memorial to ex-students of the College and family members who have served the country. A very powerful address was made by Commander Mal Wise, who is a proud and devoted father to Ella Wise, in Year 10. You can enjoy his address at this link, and there are some beautiful photos on the College Instagram and Facebook pages. Thank you to Mrs Jo Kenderes, Sr Anne Taylor who blessed our memorial and Ms Gemma Thompson (current staff member and Ex-student Union member) who unveiled the memorial.

Our Year 7 students arrived home this afternoon from camp looking exhausted but with some extraordinary tales of what they had experienced and achieved. I am so glad that this cohort did manage to get the opportunity to go on camp this year. They will have learnt valuable skills that the camp and retreat programs in Years 8-12 will continue to extend. Welcome home also to Mrs Brooks, Ms De Prendegast, Mr Bielinko, Mr Herbst, Ms Rizk, Ms Melman, Mrs Cartmer, Ms Coates and Ms Jacobs, who accompanied the students. I think a good sleep-in is what they all might need! We wish our Year 8 students well as they prepare for their camp next week.

Our new Year 12 class have their first assessment activities next week and we wish them every success as they take this first important step of their HSC.

Enjoy the weekend and the beautiful autumn weather. The heat is back on Monday with a vengeance, so please remind your daughter that her HAT is designed for her head, and not designed to live in a bag or locker!

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

In Sympathy

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

Dorothy Yates (Year 8) - Grandfather.

Ava Beggs (Year 11/Year 12 2021) - Grandmother.

May they rest in peace.

From the Director of Teaching and Learning

Thirteen years of education are officially done and dusted with pens down on Wednesday for the Class of 2020. The last day of their HSC examinations saw Design and Technology first, followed by Drama concluding at 4.00pm. We are extraordinarily proud of our HSC cohort’s determination and academic stamina that in any given year is a prerequisite for success. In this unprecedented HSC year, this positive mindset that the class adopted to push through the unusual circumstances of their final examinations, is testament to their journey at SVC. They truly epitomise what it means to be ‘courageous women of action’ and when they formally graduate next Thursday, every one of our girls should be proud of what they have achieved and who they have become. Buoyed with the Vinnies spirit that I hope travels with them in their lifelong journey, they will be known henceforth in history annals as an extraordinarily brave and resilient class. I concur with the Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell, when she said the Class of 2020 had demonstrated extraordinary resilience this year. “This has been a year like no other, and I am sure teachers and families will join with me as we congratulate all HSC students for the way they handled themselves during a challenging time. Our Year 12 students have demonstrated resilience and persistence, both throughout the year and during the exam period - and their schools have gone above and beyond to help them succeed”. NESA had mandated that schools prepare COVID-safe exam day protocols and contingency measures. I would like to acknowledge my colleague Ms Katie Thomas, Director of Studies, Ascham School, who so kindly partnered with me to ensure that if the unforeseeable happened and we had a COVID-19 positive case, we would be each other’s alternate venue. I thank God that we did not have to execute this plan. I also thank Mr Bob Anderson and Mr Joseph Hekeik for assisting in marshalling our Year 12 HSC students through the COVID ‘assessment clinic’ each day and to Ms Julia Ferguson, our HSC Presiding Officer and her team of exceptionally diligent supervisors, for their calm and measured administration of each day’s examinations. HSC Marking is well and truly underway and students will receive their HSC results on 18 December from 6.00am. ATARS from 9.00am. We wish them every blessing for success. As the Class of 2020 hands the baton of learning over to the Class of 2021, we keep this cohort in our thoughts and prayers too, as they embark on their HSC journey with their first Assessment Activities Week already underway.

Scientia cum Religione.

Yesterday NESA informed schools that they had moved from the ‘Review’ stage to the ‘Reform’ stage with regards to the NSW Curriculum Reform. NESA will continue to work closely with stakeholders as the new curriculum is developed. A roundtable is being established with members and representatives from principal associations, the Professional Teachers’ Council and unions. It will give stakeholders an opportunity for regular updates on reform work and opportunities to give feedback. The NSW Curriculum Reform Steering Committee consists of representatives of the three sectors, and the chairs of the Curriculum and Assessment committees. The Steering committee provides advice and guidance on reform implementation. NESA’s workstreams dedicated to increasing the amount of teacher time spent on the core task of imparting skills and knowledge are well underway. Working groups have been established for both project streams and have endorsed their respective proposed approaches. Broader stakeholder engagement will start shortly. As a College we will continue to prepare to embrace these welcomed reforms and we will keep you abreast of the changes to your daughter's curriculum effective 2024. Indeed, exciting times ahead as the state collaborates to honour the type of curriculum that is befitting 21st Century enquiring minds.

As we reach the pointier end of the final academic term of the year, I ask that you continue to partner with us in ensuring that your daughter keeps the focus to remain vigilant with her homework and study. Much learning is underway, assessment is being completed and indeed, we are learning every lesson every day right up to and including the last day of lessons: Tuesday, 3 December. A good night’s sleep is essential to assist cognition and as we have been endeavouring to practice all year as a College community, inspired by our neuroscientific learnings from Professor Mark Williams, sleep hygiene is key to better health and fully-functioning minds are essential to adolescent growth and development. Perhaps William Shakespeare himself was cognisant of the power of sleep when he wrote the classic lines of the Hamlet soliloquy: ‘To sleep perchance to dream’. As Mark Williams taught us this year, ‘when you dream you are activating the memory centres of the brain’.

Let’s all enjoy the nurturing effects of good sleep this weekend.

Mrs Jasmin Mano
Director of Teaching and Learning

From the Director of Faith and Mission

Our news bulletins and popular media are in the throws of celebrating NAIDOC week. Usually NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance committee) is in June. This year, the official NAIDOC celebrations were postponed in hope that a later date would allow group gatherings in otherwise closed communities. More time would afford planning around alternate events. Here at Vinnies, we went ahead with our NAIDOC celebrations in June. Our film night, “In My Blood it Runs” was the highlight, and Director Maya Newell was looking forward to coming to the College to talk to us about how she made the film and what drew her to this most moving and thought provoking story of a boy from Alice Springs and Borroloola.

The film raised lots of questions about how we learn and how we teach, the importance of relationship in the classroom and understanding the stories of others. We know that good relationship is the key to learning. It takes time and effort and deep listening on both sides. When we get that relationship right, it’s amazing for everyone.

Our Catalyst of the Week is Rodney Mason, the grandfather of two students from St Vincent’s. Rodney is an elder of deep regard, a man of extraordinary knowledge and wisdom. His work and his legacy are what NAIDOC is all about. His opinion is sought by land and environment bodies, government, and the Rural Fire Service, in processes of cold burn, bush regeneration and hazard reduction. He brings a fusion of knowledge thousands of years in the getting, with modern scientific practices. He’s a great Catalyst of the Week, and he is a treasured part of our community.

Next week is Lasagna Week. It will be a BIG Wednesday of lasagna with deliveries in small take-away containers coming to Reception. We are expecting enough lasagna to cover our three dates: 19 November, 17 December and 14 January. We will freeze the lasagna intended for December and January and I will deliver it on the right day.

Our St Canice’s Cooking Project roster is pretty full, although 14 January needs some more volunteers. If you would like to help out, click on this LINK to sign up for 14 January, and bring in the lasagna next Wednesday morning for freezing.

Our Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday was extraordinarily beautiful and moving. Ms Lynne Hamilton and Ms Maria Geracitano’s History classes led us in prayer and reflection. They told us something of the story of St Vincent’s at war and we remembered the names of local service men and women, as well as the men and women who are known to our families. A presentation from Commodore Malcolm Wise explained the nuances of service and sacrifice. His daughter Ella, Year 10, introduced her Dad with such pride and love. How blessed we are in our community.

Watch his presentation here. It is well worth the click.

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

Boarder Lines

So far, being Boarding Co-Captain has given us both a great opportunity to expand our connections and relationships with each other and every Boarder, as well as with staff in the Boarding House. With both of us beginning Boarding in Year 7, we have experienced the ups and downs of every year and are excited to support and guide the younger Boarders through 2021. As well as this, we are keen to work with our Year group and the rest of the leadership team in the day school to create a stronger connection and unity between the Day and Boarding aspects of life at Vinnies. We have had the opportunity to collaborate with our BRC representatives, and start to contribute to the Boarding House and their needs and wants. Our BRC reps have been coming together each fortnight to contribute ideas and also for activities for our Boarders to do on weekends that are run by some of the BRC reps. The BRC will be an integral part of the transition of new Boarders, and the celebration of significant Boarding events such as National Boarding Week in May, and bringing to light any events occurring in home communities which we are hoping to share with our College community. We have Orientation coming up in a fortnight’s time, which is very exciting. We have many Boarders coming to join us for their ‘Boarding experience night’, where we hope to give them a good insight into life as a Boarder and help them feel more ready to begin Boarding in January next year. As Boarding Co-Captains, we can’t wait for the year ahead in the Boarding House.

Grace Kelly and Clare Lienesch
Boarding Co-Captains

Activities this week for our junior Boarders' have consisted of swimming, walking, painting, dancing and creating bracelets. It’s been very enjoyable! On Thursday night, Ebony (Year 7) and Dakota (Year 10) led our dot painting activity to celebrate NAIDOC Week. These are now proudly displayed in front of the Boarding office for all to admire and enjoy. Next week's activities will be more academic based with our study support staff leading sessions on literacy, numeracy and study skills. We hope that this will prepare the Boarders for the years beyond.

With the final HSC exams this week, we said farewell to our last Year 12 Boarder, Jemma Hatton, who has been very patient waiting for her Drama exam with a gap of eight days between her final two exams! We wish all of them the best for their future endeavours, and I look forward to celebrating with the St Vincent’s College Boarders at their graduation.

Yours in Boarding

Ms Maryanne O'Donoghue
Director of Boarding

Year 7 Camp - Some Photos Just In!

Year 7 Camp

Below: Morning Games

Below: Movie Night!

The Peer Support Program

During 2020, 36 Year 10 students had the privilege of working with the Year 7 girls of their House during CP lessons under the College’s Peer Support program. Over eight sessions spread across Terms 2 and 3, the Year 10 'big sisters' led their junior counterparts through activities and discussions to build resilience and navigate the new challenges that high school may bring. Session themes included relationships, skills and strategies and wellbeing. Usually we would finish the session early and have open discussions, where the Year 7 girls could raise any recent issues they were having and the Year 10's did our best in giving advice in response.

I personally loved working with the younger girls and found the Peer Support program to be an especially important avenue of connection in this year of separation. The program’s schedule was shifted and changed as the year progressed and school moved online, with one Peer Support session running surprisingly smoothly over Google Meet. Talking with the younger girls was refreshing and eye-opening, bringing up so many fun and happy memories of our own first days as Vinnies girls.

All of the Year 10 girls are grateful for the maturity and persistence that Year 7 displayed in these fortnightly meetings, and I would highly recommend the program to any prospective Year 9's considering taking it on. There were many laughs and smiles and I want to thank Ms Brown as the organiser of this wonderful program.

Ella Humphreys
Year 10 - Cahill House

Career News

Western Sydney University

Campus tours are being offered for prospective students and their families to see what life at Western is really like. Tour lecture theatres, teaching spaces, campus libraries, and see where students gain practical experience. Registrations are essential here.

Macleay College

Advertising and Digital Media Information Session at 1.00pm on Wednesday 18 November 2020. Join Macleay College’s Head of Advertising and Media, Glen Fraser, to learn how Macleay prepares students for tomorrow's careers in Advertising, Digital Media, UX Design and Social Media Marketing through personalised learning, connections to industry, hands-on skills and real-world content. Students, if they have a study in Period 5, and parents are also welcome. Register here

SAE

VIRTUAL INFO NIGHT - 6:00pm-8:00pm on 10 December 2020. If any student is considering studying Creative Media (Animation, Audio, Creative Industries, Design, Film or Games, or Web and Mobile) they may like to join SAE online at their Virtual Info Night and hear from industry-experienced lecturers. Parents are also most welcome to attend. Register here if interested.

Jschool Journalism College

Summer Holiday Courses

An online 'micro' journalism course is offered to senior secondary students over summer by Jschool Journalism College. With two entry dates (7 December and 11 January) the 5-week course gives a taste of journalism with valuable feedback on writing from professional journalists. For further information go here or email info@jschool.com.au

Ms Helen Marshall
Career Adviser

Theatresports Update - First in Heat - Third Overall!!

Friday of Week 4 saw the second Zoom round of the annual Improvisation Australia Junior Theatresports competition, in which Polly Grindrod (Year 8), Ruby Waterlow-Heuston (Year 8), Emily Emmett (Year 7) and Sadie Adair (Year 7) competed. This fabulous team of four came first in their heat and placed third overall - a wonderful achievement!

These competitions involve several schools across the State, with each stage of the competition consisting of four sub-rounds; these being one minute, two minute and three minute games, followed by a round of open scenes for the highest scoring competitors. We are very fortunate to have the annual competitions continue online this year, with the PLC All Girls Shield occurring late last term.

Theatresports is a wonderful form of co-curricular at the College, with Junior Theatresports operating on Wednesday lunchtimes for Years 7 and 8 and Senior Theatresports on a Tuesday lunchtime for Year 9 and above. All of us ‘Theatresportos’ highly recommend Theatresports as a way of building confidence, improvisation skills and relationships with your peers. If you want to come along - bring your lunch and a smile - no past experience required, and (as the saying goes)... 'break a leg'!

By Ella Humphries
Performing Arts Student Leader, Year 10

REMINDER: SCHOOL TRAVEL APPLICATIONS FOR 2021 - Transport NSW

2021 School Travel Applications are Now Open

Expiring School OPAL Cards which have not been replaced within the last five years

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.

Sport and Health Report

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 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

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

UNIFORM SHOP - School Holidays Trading Days - Dec 2020/Jan 2021

CANTEEN - Next Week's Canteen Specials

View next week's CANTEEN SPECIALS - 16-20 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.