Bulletin

 Please see the SRC article with links for this great initiative in this week's issue, as well as Mrs Fry's article for her comments.

Monday 22 November to Friday 03 December:  HSC examinations continue (last exam at SVC is on Thursday 02 December).

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Tuesday 30 November:  Foundation Day of the Sisters of Charity - 1815.

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Tuesday 07 December:  Last day of Term 4 classes.  Students dismissed at midday.

Wednesday 08 December:  Boarding House closes 9.00am.

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Thursday 27 January:  First day of classes Term 1/2022.

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Please see the Uniform Shop flyer in this issue with summer holiday trading dates/times.

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Dear Parents and Carers

The Government announced yesterday that they will no longer be relying on school closures as part of their management of Covid.  The new protocol will be that a positive student will be required to be home and in isolation, but close contacts will now be required to undergo a Covid test but are able to return to school when they receive a negative result.  The important detail in this plan is that close contact students or staff members will have to complete a 7 day screening for Covid through use of Rapid Antigen Tests.  At this stage, the advice has not been received as to who is responsible for supplying the 'RAT' (unfortunate abbreviation!).  It will be fantastic to go into our new year without the fear that the College might need to go into a period of closure for deep cleaning.  This new protocol comes into effect next Monday.  I advised earlier in the week we do have students who were identified as close contacts but all have returned negative tests.  I am grateful for the responsible and open communication from all the families involved.

I have this week been meeting with Subject Departments to review the year.  It has been a source of great pride to see samples of student work and teachers pedagogy.  The creativity and goodwill of all involved was outstanding, and we look forward to showcasing the highlights of the year to you in a video package that will include the Year Level Prize Giving on 7 December.  On 6 and 7 December, we will conclude this eventful year with an Advent Mass on the 6th and Prize Day on Tuesday 7th.  We are also praying for fine weather as both will be staged in the Caritas Christi Courtyard.  We are asking for students and their families to make a special effort with their uniform for the last week.  This is important in retaining a sense of purposeful activity right up to the last day on 7 December, and particularly so on Friday next week when our new students will join us for their orientation.

While I am a great supporter of our second-hand uniform and textbook sale, please ensure your daughter has all her books and uniforms until the last day.  This good cause should not be an excuse for being out of uniform or not able to participate in her learning.

Stay dry this weekend as the rain continues to fall.

Yours sincerely

Anne Fry
Principal

Mrs Anne Fry
Principal

Thursday saw the first of a very significant last as some of our HSC candidates walked away from their last examination paper.  Over the next week we will witness more and more students breathe their sigh of satisfaction as they are able to unwind knowing the hard work has been done.  We have said it often, but this cohort of students have demonstrated such tenacity and patience, rallying to keep focussed and positive - and those of us who have the privilege of knowing them well believe that such strengths of character will take them far in their future pursuits.  I think it is important they know the Higher School Certificate journey will not be their hardest life challenge, it will not be their single most defining life moment, nor will it be the only time they need to show grit and work hard for success.  But the learning along the way has shown them they have it within them to succeed in what they commit to.  I hope that each graduating student will be rewarded with a personal satisfaction that informs her of her capability and that the accomplishments spurs her on to seek new adventures and challenges in learning.  We look forward to celebrating with these remarkable young women and parents and carers at the Graduation Dinner on Thursday 3 February.  I thank the Class of 2021 students, and parents and carers for your very good attention to the purchasing of tickets and table arrangements.  If you have any final queries, please ensure you contact Ms Michelle Smith smithml@stvincents.nsw.edu.au this coming week as we finalise details with the venue.

This week letters were sent to parents and carers of the Class of 2022 and the Class of 2023 regarding the Year 12 Formal and Year 11 Social events respectively.  We have engaged in much negotiation with our venues, who have been very accommodating to support us in enabling our students to enjoy an event to kick-start their 2022 Year of Hope as our senior students after having these events cancelled over the past two years.  We hope the dates early in the year enable some wise post-Christmas sale shopping and, more importantly, an opportunity to commence the year with anticipation and cohesion as a year group.  It is important that tickets are purchased promptly, as we do not wish to be in a position of contacting students during the Christmas holiday period given our need to be confirming details with the venues prior to the start of the school term.

The Class of 2022 have also finalising their Year 12 2022 jersey order with sizes.  All students in the cohort have ordered a jersey which will be itemised and billed to your Term 1 2022 fees.  An email confirming this order has been sent to parents and carers today.

We have also sent communication to our families whose daughters are joining us in 2022 regarding next Friday’s Orientation Day for both our Year 7 cohort and students joining in Years 8-11.  It is exciting to see the breadth of our incoming community members, stretching across Sydney and beyond to many rural regions of NSW.  Whilst we had a very successful virtual orientation for Year 6 students back in October, we are appreciative of the opportunities to meet new faces larger than a small frame on laptop screens.  So many families arrive to us with a story or a connection to those who are here already.  It is the experiences you value and share that attracts others to the Vinnies community.  If you do have an opportunity to connect with our new families - either this year or as we commence 2022 - I thank you for your role in welcoming. 

Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

It has been an exercise in organised chaos around my office this week.  We had a great group of Year 9's front up at lunchtime to put wet packs together for Matt Talbot.  They sat on the floor amid the boxes, worked out their plan of attack and produced 100 wet packs in record time.  I managed to get another 100 little bottles of hand sanitiser this morning, AND got it for half price.  I couldn’t believe it.  Go us!  The lady at the checkout asked what I was doing with them all - perhaps I looked questionable at 7.00am - and when I told her that they were for our girls at St Vincent’s to provide wet packs for homeless men in our area, she stopped scanning, looked at me and then said, “Thank you”.  I didn’t expect it.  It was difficult to know what to say in reply.

If you would like to contribute please click on the link - WET PACKS .  A $10 ticket will provide enough items for two wet packs.  That means that two men will have the items they need to get clean, feel comfortable and regain some personal dignity.  

Thanks so very much to those families who have been able to buy a ticket or two.  I get a notification on my phone every time someone buys a ticket, and it helps keep me focussed on what’s important.  What a delightful blip.  Sorry, I didn’t get a photo of the action.

The anticipation is building.  Next week Advent will be upon us.  Our Year 7's will be providing us with a focus each morning in Student Services by creating a LIVE NATIVITY SCENE.  We have a manger, we have straw, we have the expected players - Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, wise people, a star and the threat of a donkey.  There is also a suggestion that a couple of chooks and a sheepdog may make an appearance.  Costumes are organised and parts have been rehearsed.  Some scripture will be read and some carols will be sung by our talented singers.  Maeve Collis and Lucy-Rose Doyle will be singing to us on Monday.  They will be fabulous.  Mrs Fry’s Tutor Group is providing the ‘tableau’ action - which I recognise is a contradiction in terms.  It will be somewhere between brilliant and a hoot.  Either way it will be wonderful.

I misled you last week - as we were forced to cancel our Friday Afternoon Big Movie.  Our girls are just too busy with assessments.  We will try again this afternoon and see how we go.  They are all very keen, but are making good choices around their priorities and looking after their learning.  It’s a good sign.

All the hampers are nearly in.  The St Vincent de Paul Hampers are looking really great and the tote bags filled with goodies for Family Spirit - and causing havoc in our Head of House offices.  We will get them moved early next week.  If students are still to bring in items, it’s not too late but it soon will be. 

We’ve been praying every day for our HSC students.  I thought you might like to see today’s prayer.

More next week.

Jesus is coming!

Mrs Jo Kenderes
Director of Faith and Mission

For summer, the LRC is offering a reading initiative for Year 7 students and their parents/carers.

To sign up, please go via the link HERE .

Mrs Jody McDonnell
Head of Library and e-Learning

ATAR Release, Preferences and Offers

On Wednesday 1 December 2021 at 6.00pm, the UAC team will host a webinar to discuss how to manage course preferences to maximise every student's chances of an offer once they've received their ATAR.  Other topics discussed include an explanation of the offer rounds and how to defer your offer.  Use the link here to register.

UAC webinar: ATAR Release, Preferences and Offers

On 10 December 2021 at 6.00pm, UAC are hosting a webinar for all things ATAR release, preferences and offers.  Topics discussed include:

– how to access your ATAR

– how to read your ATAR Advice Notice

– what to do once you receive your ATAR

– how to manage your preferences to maximise chances of an offer

– offer rounds and dates

– deferring and taking a gap year.

And UAC will give answers to the most commonly asked questions.  Please register your interest here

A Message from UAC for Parents of Year 12 Students:  Next Steps for University Offers

Congratulations on supporting your Year 12 student through a challenging final year of school!  While they're focusing on their exams, stay in the loop on application deadlines and offer rounds with this guide to what's coming up over the next few weeks.  Use the link here

Additional SRS offers

Institutions have the option to make further unconditional offers in November Round 2, December Round 1 and January Round 1.  If any Year 12 forgot to include one of their preferred SRS courses in their application or put their course preferences in the wrong order, they will have another chance to get an early offer.  Please be sure to manage your preferences carefully.

University of Melbourne

Experience Melbourne Online

Interested students are invited to Experience Melbourne Online - a series of live sessions where you can find out about the transition to university and what to expect from the Melbourne experience.  A complete schedule of available sessions is included on UoM’s change of preference website please use the link provided.

Macquarie University 

Space Travels MQ - Cosmic Nurseries and Graveyards

On Friday 3 December from 8.30pm-10.00pm, the Macquarie University Astronomical Observatory is back with Episode 4 of Space Travels, with Prof Orsola De Marco and Gabriella Quattropani.  Join as participants wander through the stellar birthplaces and graveyards exploring the life and death of stars. Registrations are essential here

University of Sydney

ARTiculate Talk Series

The ARTiculate Talk Series is an opportunity to gain insights into arts and social sciences topics beyond the classroom.  Engage with the top minds from the University of Sydney.  Their ARTiculate virtual talk series aims to support high school students to enrich their understanding in subjects related to arts, humanities and social sciences.  The series explores key ideas in the disciplines and provides insights into the selected topics.

Designed and delivered by academics, each talk complements the knowledge students gain in the classroom, while providing a unique opportunity to engage with academics from the University of Sydney.  To attend these virtual series, a supervising adult must be present throughout the duration of the workshop.  Sign up for our high school mailing list to stay up to date with USYD’s high school programs.  For more information on the ARTiculate Talk Series go here.  Topics will be announced in early 2022.

HSC preparation (Years 10-12):  Summer Study Days

The next round of HSC preparation activities will be held at USYD in January 2022.  There are over sixty HSC preparation courses led by a team of experienced educators, who will keep participants focused.  Each intensive HSC holiday course will consolidate your school studies; give you additional subject-matter knowledge and aim to improve your exam technique.  Please use the link here to register and find out more about the Summer Study Days program.

ANU Canberra

How Gravity Rules the World

On 27 November 2021 commencing at 2.00pm, ANU is hosting a webinar that explores how gravity rules the world.  Gravity is a fundamental force that keeps the universe glued together.  At the same time, gravity is strong enough to prevent a person from floating off into space from Earth and weak enough that a young star can defeat gravity by picking up an apple from the ground.  The webinar will be delivered by Dr Ryan Ridden Harper who will explore the extreme large-scale universe by observing the sun to see how massive objects like the sun and black holes bend and warp space with a fabric spacetime table, that Dr Ridden Harper will construct with you.  Registrations are essential using the link found here

Is AI Good for the Planet?

On 30 November 2021 at 6.00pm, ANU ‘s Science Department will host a webinar to discuss AI’s potential impact.  We often think of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a thing of the immediate future.  We are reassured it will be a better life.  From smart devices to home voice assistants, image recognition and translation, AI is offered as the solution to the greatest challenges of this age.  In her new book Is AI Good for the Planet? (Polity, 2021) Benedetta Brevini asks attendees to think about AI in a different and more material way than most of us have in the past.  Registrations for the webinar are essential here

National Institute of Education

UCAT:  Medicine and Dentistry Webinar

Students considering a career in Medicine or Dentistry, and especially those who already know that they will be sitting the UCAT or attending Med School interviews in the near future, may like to attend the following free webinar on 29 November.  Registrations are essential here.  This forum is an excellent opportunity for students and parents to find out about the UCAT, Interviews, Pathways into Medicine and have all their questions answered by experienced teachers.  The webinar covers the following topics:

What is UCAT? UCAT scores?  UCAT Sub-tests? Years 10, 11 and 12 - things to consider now.  The Undergraduate Selection Criteria; Application process into universities for medicine and dentistry.

When and who can sit the UCAT; GAMSAT; Can you prepare for the UCAT?

Undergraduate interview process; Med School Applications.

Gap Year:  Alternative degrees and career choices plus a Q & A session.

Other useful links for students interested in medicine and dentistry are:

Complete UCAT Courses - various levels of preparation and options available to meet individual student needs.

UCAT Preparation Workshop - 5 sections of the UCAT covered + full mock exam under timed conditions + introduction to medical interviews.

UCAT Training Digital Platform - UCAT Kaplan Platform - Affordable and superior to any other training available worldwide.

UCAT Textbooks - recommended list of textbooks to support your UCAT and Interview preparation.

Medical Interviews Workshop - lift your performance above the competition, validating your sincerity and burning positive lasting impressions into the minds of the selection panel

National Art School (NAS)

Summer School 2022

From 17 to 21 January 2022, NAS is hosting a two week summer school program.  For more information on the program breakdown, cost, who is eligible to apply - use the link here. 

Ms Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

Ethics Olympiad 2021

Last Friday, we took part in the Ethics Olympiad competition.  There were five of us in the Year 8 team and we all had a lot of fun competing. It involved discussing interesting situations and cases from an ethical point of view.  We all loved taking part in the discussions, especially hearing new perspectives from the students of other schools.  We ended up getting an honourable mention and were very pleased with how much we learned.
Lily O'Loghlin, Year 8 

The Ethics Olympiad was an exciting experience that we are very grateful to be a part of.  We worked as a team to cohesively structure our answers to develop the best solution.  From this, we all learned many new things and are very happy with our achievements and we are looking forward to continuing to develop our skills next year.  Not placing leaves us with room for improvement and encourages us to do better in the coming years.  We were very pleased to get an honourable mention.
Taylor Hyde, Year 7

Ms Donna Ginzburg
Gifted and Talented Co-Ordinator

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

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

TERM 1 SPORT 2022

Final trials are being held over the next week for our Term 1 teams.  These trials are compulsory for all girls who signed up for Term 4/1 Sport.  We have been picking the teams in Weeks 8 and 9, so please make sure you are there next week, especially if you missed last week.  If it is raining, training is still on in the gym.

Please see Ms Jacobs, Mr Bradley or Mr Broadhurst at the times listed below:

Touch Training/Trials will be held on the courts in the afternoons:

Year 7:  Mondays 3.15pm-4.15pm.

Year 8:  Tuesdays 3.15pm-4.15pm.

Year 9 and Year 10:  Wednesdays 3.15pm-4.15pm.

Year 11:  Thursdays 3.15pm-4.15pm.

Water polo Training/Trials will be in the College pool in the mornings:

Year 7:  Fridays 7.20am-8.20am

Year 8:  Thursdays 7.20am-8.20am

Year 9:  Mondays 7.20am-8.20am

Year 10:  Tuesdays 7.20am-8.20am

Year 11:  Wednesdays 7.20am-8.20am.

Volleyball Training/Trials will be held on one court, each Year Group in the mornings:

Year 7 and 8:  Tuesdays 7.20am-8.20am

Years 9, 10 and 11 (Rotating one on Fitness):  Thursdays 7.20am-8.20am.

Tennis/Tildesley Training will be held on one court, each Year Group in the mornings:

Year 7 and 8:   Mondays 7.20am-8.20am 

Year 9 and 10:  Wednesdays 7.20am-8.20am

Year 10 and 11:  Fridays 7.20am-8.20am.

If you cannot make your session for any reason you must email Ms Jacobs.

INTER-HOUSE SWIMMING CARNIVAL AND IGSA SWIMMING TEAM

Unfortunately, the Inter-House Swimming Carnival had to be cancelled this term due to Covid restrictions.  So we will be conducting Inter-House swimming Championship races to decide the Age Champions and to help pick the IGSA team for next term.  These will be held as part of the Inter-House Sport afternoons to be held in Week 9.  Swimmers will need to bring their PE gear as well, to then join in with the other Inter-House activities once we are done in the pool.

All students who would like to participate in swimming races need to bring their swimming gear next week.  These trials will be held in Periods 5/6 next week on the set day for your Year group.  Please register on the form in the House Google Classroom by Monday 29 November.

Year 8 - Monday 29 November

Year 7 - Tuesday 30 November

Year 9 - Wednesday 01 December

Year 10 - Thursday 02 December

Year 11 - Friday 03 December - at lunchtime.

TILDESLEY TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2022

If you would like to trial for the SVC team to compete at this prestigious tournament, please make sure you at your training session each week.  We will be running trials at the start of next term, but all players must be training and playing this term to prepare.

VINNIES PREMMIE BABIES CHALLENGE

Congratulations to all of our athletes who have nearly completed the marathon this month for ‘Premmie Babies’.  We have raised a fantastic $3,561 so far, and there are still a few days to go if you would like to sponsor one of our athletes.  A special congratulations to Lexie Tait in Year 10, who has raised $1,045 for her marathon effort!  Emilia Reed in Year 8, is our second highest with Gemma Vinciguerra in Year 9, a close third.

SPORTS STARS OF THE WEEK 

Congratulations to Alexandra Tait, in Year 10.  She completed the Bate Bay Gold (NSW equivalent to the Coolangatta Gold) last weekend.  This is a gruelling 19km swim, board, ski and run.  It took Lexi nearly 2.5 hours and she finished third in her age group.  Well done, Lexi! 

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

The much-anticipated annual SRC Second-Hand Stall is now up and running online!  The second-hand stall is a fantastic opportunity for students to sell and purchase second-hand textbooks and uniforms at a reduced price.  The sustainable nature of the stall supports our community’s aim of increasing environmental consciousness and provides a great chance to reduce, reuse and recycle (see our flyer on the front of this week's issue).

For students who are looking to buy items, there are many, many available!  Uniforms can be purchased here and the textbook marketplace can be found here.  Make sure to check your 2022 booklist here before purchasing. 

For students looking to sell items - open the document in this folder for the Year Group to whom you wish to sell.  If you wish to sell uniforms, open the uniform-specific document.  Fill in the required details and wait for a buyer to contact you privately via the supplied email address. 

Email gallg0222@stvincents.nsw.edu.au or doyll0122@stvincents.nsw.edu.au with any questions or issues.

Georgia Gallagher and Lucy-Rose Doyle
SRC Co-Captains

Parenting, alcohol, parties and sleepovers in Year 9:  Why this year group can be so challenging and the importance of putting things into place now.

Thursday 20 January 2022 - 7.00pm-8.30pm (AEDT)
 
If you're a parent of a child about to begin Year 9, it's important to prepare yourself for issues around sleepovers, parties and gatherings.  Putting things into place now can prevent potential problems in the year (and years) ahead.
 
This presentation will focus on the positive influence that parents can have on their child’s drinking behaviour, even during adolescence, as well as the barriers that they may face during this time.  Peer influence is a significant issue at this time and it is important for parents to have clear rules and boundaries in the area of sleepovers, parties, gatherings and alcohol.
 
This presentation will also examine the latest data on Australian teen drinking behaviour and the growing evidence on the risks associated with this practice.
 
For further details and registration please go the following link:   Parent Webinar