St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead eNewsletter

Principal's Report

Dear parents, carers and community members,

Celebrating 60 Years

Last Friday was a truly joyous occasion as we celebrated the significant milestone of 60 years of education at our College. We began with a beautiful Mass presided over by Bishop Michael Kennedy. We were honoured to have many special guests join us, including Sister Carmel Hanson, Congregational Leader, Sr Christine O’Connor, Sr Jan Tranter, Sr Anne Rabbitt, Sr Marie Craddock, Sr Bridget Davoren, Sr Brigid Linehan and Sr Patricia Egan, former staff, and distinguished guests from the diocese.

At our recent College Assembly, I gave thanks to all the students who participated on the day. Their conduct during the Mass and throughout the entire day was simply outstanding. They represented our community with pride, wore their uniforms impeccably and participated in the Mass with great reverence and respect. Our musicians and vocalists spent countless hours preparing for the event and their incredible performances added to the memorable nature of the occasion for everyone.

We are thrilled to share the wonderful success of our recent event, where students and roll-call teachers came together to coordinate various stalls and activities throughout the day. The day concluded with ‘Battle of the Bands,’ which showcased the incredible talents of our musicians, vocalists, and even dancers.

Thanks to your generous support, we raised an impressive total of $3,355.60. Of this amount, $500 will be donated to The House of Hospitality, run by the Josephite Sisters, to support mothers and children who are homeless. Another $500 will go to Mum’s Cottage, an organization that helps refugees and women learn skills to transition and settle in Australia. The remaining funds will support our Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Your contributions have made a significant impact, giving over 100 families a Christmas they would never have had. We are deeply grateful for your continued support and generosity. This is another example of how our community lives out the College Motto, “Ready to Serve.”

These days are essential for building connections, fostering a sense of belonging, and enhancing overall wellbeing. Education at our Catholic College goes beyond the classroom, with our values of community, relationships, learning, and faith underpinning everything we do. Active participation in these events is crucial for personal growth and for contributing to our vibrant community. As a community, we share a commitment to your child’s growth. It is important that we work together to support every aspect of their development, including their active participation, which are integral to College life.

As we approach the final weeks of the year, I want to express how proud I am of St Mary’s Catholic College. Our wonderfully caring teaching and support staff go above and beyond to support all students. So much can be learned through those corridor conversations where teachers focus on our students’ specific needs and how to help them achieve their potential.

Collectively, I see a spirited body of students—happy, cooperative, eager to learn, and supportive of each other. As we look forward to 2025, I encourage them to fully immerse themselves in the life of the College. Their involvement and enthusiasm are what make our College truly special.

My words to our students are to make 2025 a year of growth, connection, and shared success. Let’s finish the year strong, giving our best effort, so we can all enjoy the upcoming holidays with a sense of accomplishment and joy!

Upcoming Webinars

Please refer to two upcoming webinars that may be of interest to you and/or your child in making confident careers choices and strengthening teens against anxiety.

Students, parents, and carers webinar ‘Making confident career choices at results time’

Date: Tuesday 3 December
Time: 6pm - 7pm
Presented by: My Futures
Cost: Free
Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6619449668079691608?source=myfuture+website
Information: Join my future's career development expert Dr Michael Healy as he shares tips with students on how to make sense of their results and plan their next steps accordingly.
Dr Michael will cover the following topics with students and, parents and carers are welcome to join:

How to make sense of what your results mean for you.
How to deal with second thoughts.
How to change your plans, if you really need to.
What kinds of options you have if you did not achieve the results you hoped for.
Where to go for help if you need it.

Parents and carers webinar ‘Strengthening teens against anxiety’ with Karen Young

Date: Wednesday 11 December
Time: 7pm - 8:30pm
Presented by: The Federation of P&F Associations
Cost: Free
Register: http://mn.shor.tn/KarenYoung
Information: The following will be discussed in this presentation:

A new, empowering way for adolescents to think about anxiety and how to use this to manage anxiety.
The changes in the adolescent brain that can make teens more vulnerable to anxiety.
The power of parents to move young people towards brave, and how to do this.
Why new behaviours take time, why old responses can feel tough to change, and the simple explanation for teens that can build resilience and grit.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Brett Donohoe - Principal

Key Dates

Two weeks at a glance - Weeks 8 and 9 - Term 4

Monday 2 December to Friday 6 December inclusive	Year 10 (Year 11 2025) Senior Interview week
Tuesday 3 December	Staff Professional Development - First Aid accredition, students released at 2.40pm
Wednesday 4 December	Aboriginal Culture day Landcare
Thursday 5 December	Year 12 Twelfth Night performance
Friday 6 December	Year 12 Legal Studies Court experience Science - Water Works
Monday 9 December	Year 10 MS Testing catch-ups
Wednesday 11 December	Year 10 Awards Ceremony 9am
Thursday 12 December	Years 7-9 Reports released Year 10 All My Own Work and MS Testing catch-ups
Friday 13 December	Newsletter 21.24 published

Celebrating 60 Years of St Mary's!

Ministry

Celebrating 60 Years of Josephite Charism and Service

In 1964, St Mary’s Catholic College was born from the love and labour of the Josephite Sisters of Lochinvar. While the college has grown and evolved over the past 60 years, one thing has remained constant: our unwavering commitment to the Josephite charism and the call to say "Yes"—we are ready to serve.

Our story of "Yes" is deeply rooted in faith and courage. It began with a young girl named Mary, who said her first "Yes" to becoming the mother of Jesus. Joseph, her humble and courageous partner, said "Yes" to protecting and caring for Mary and Jesus. Jesus Himself said "Yes" to becoming the saviour of the world.

Following this example, Fr. Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop said "Yes" to founding the Sisters of St Joseph to serve those in need. The wonderful women—the Josephite Sisters—continued this tradition of "Yes," dedicating their lives to faith, hope, and love.

Today, we at St Mary’s Catholic College echo that same "Yes" in our mission to serve with open hearts and hands. It is both a privilege and an honour to live out the Josephite charism as a way of embodying the Gospel in our lives.

Our 60-year celebration was a joyful and proud occasion, filled with gratitude for the Josephite Sisters who have shaped our community. Their "Yes" continues to inspire us as they walk alongside those in need, reminding us of the power of faith and the beauty of service.

As we look to the future, may we continue to live out the Josephite spirit with the same commitment and courage, always ready to say "Yes" to building a better world for all.

DeAnna Addicoat -Ministry Coordinator

Navigating AI Relationships

In today's world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives, including relationships. The rise of AI-powered romantic and companion bots is particularly popular among young people, offering a new frontier in human interaction. Initially emerging in the gaming world, AI companionship has evolved into mainstream culture, with apps providing personalised experiences that range from platonic friendships to romantic encounters.

These apps allow users to create and interact with virtual partners, raising significant privacy and ethical concerns, particularly for younger generations. Research highlights potential risks associated with AI companions, including the normalisation of inappropriate conversations and the possibility of grooming. Criminologists warn that children as young as 12 are accessing dating apps, often bypassing age restrictions, exposing them to sexual content and predatory behaviour.

These interactions can blur the boundaries between real and virtual relationships, creating confusion and potential psychological harm. Adolescents, in particular, may turn to virtual partners for validation, risking unhealthy emotional attachments that can affect their real-life relationships. These relationships often lack the mutual respect and effort required in real-world connections, which are crucial for personal growth.

As AI technology continues to shape social dynamics, it's important for us all to stay informed and involved. AI has the potential to enrich educational experiences and foster creativity, but it also poses challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation. By maintaining an open dialogue and promoting a balanced approach, we can help young people navigate this new digital landscape, allowing them to benefit from AI's advancements while protecting them from its potential risks.

Full SchoolTV Article

Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Reflecting on the year that was – Years 7 - 10

As Year 10 engage in Senior Interviews across this coming week they have been asked to reflect on their learning in 2024 by engaging with the questions below. On Thursday afternoon 28.11.24 Year 10 took time to engage in a reflective forum, focussing on these questions and sharing their reflections as a group, assessing where they are up to in their transition journey into senior study and life beyond St Mary’s. I thank Year 10 for their honesty and engagement in this process.

Given that Years 7 – 9 students will receive their Semester Two Reports in the coming weeks, I offer these questions to parents, carers and students as a way of reflecting together about- Where to next? Carol Dweck, in 2006, spoke of the Power of YET – and of having a GROWTH Mindset. With Semester Reports fresh in our minds, I encourage all students to take the time to reflect on where to next, setting challenging and realistic goals for their learning in 2025.

What goals do I have for the coming year?

What has worked well for you in your learning in 2024? HOW do you KNOW?
What are you proud of?
What were the challenging aspects of this year for you? WHY?
What did you LEARN from these challenges?
What expectations do you have of us, as your teachers, as you move into 2025?
What expectations do you have of yourself?
What do you need to STOP doing – ie what are the obstacles to your growth?
What do you need to START doing – ie how will you improve and grow as a learner- what’s your plan?
Have you taken steps towards researching and planning for life beyond St Mary’s? What have you learned so far and how can we help you in this journey?

Cathy O'Gorman - Assistant Principal, Learning & Teaching

Leader of Curriculum

Timetable for Year 12 Term 4 Assessments

**Belinda Flood - Leader of Curriculum**

Year 12 Graduation Photos are here!

Please follow instructions below to view and order your graduation photos.

English

Speculative Fiction

Year 9 students enjoyed a study of the Speculative Fiction genre earlier this year in English, with a particular focus on developing imaginative writing skills. Last term, students were invited to participate in a subsequent writing competition. We were inundated with contributions and were very pleased with the impressive quality of the submissions.

Winners were announced during the school assembly on Wednesday. The English Faculty was delighted to award the following students with a novel or novel series from the diverse and thought-provoking world of speculative fiction –

Isabelle Monks - Control

Victoria Chong - A Lost Child's Snowman

Haley Cummings - Children of the Poppies

Peppa Kelly - A Glitch in the Reset System

We’d like to thank every student who took the time to enter a composition. Budding Year 8 writers take note – the competition will run again next year!

Please enjoy some snippets of creative gold from a selection of the entered compositions (below).

Thank you

Georgina Lindsay - Leader of Learning English

Isabelle Monks, Victoria Chong and Hayley Cummings

The soldier, an enigma in oppressive armour, paces before the rows of kneeling bodies, his weapon poised and ready.

A telepathic thread weaves through the collective mind, forming a subtle web of resistance. Whispers flutter within the shared consciousness, a rebellion brewing beneath the surface.

The soldier, sensing the disturbance, increases the intensity of his commands, but the resistance persists, a quiet symphony of minds working in harmony against the puppeteer’s strings.

Isabelle Monks

Adrenaline dissolves my fear like acid. I am immune. Charging through the door of my apartment, I feel power, a sensation I have not felt in decades. All these years I have been taught; I obey power, not retain it. The flashlight on my phone is barely bright enough, but it hollows out a small tunnel in the darkness – my pathway to the truth.

Peppa Kelly

The blood red poppy glinting in the sunlight, screaming out in loss and regret.

The poppies that appeared were always brighter than the older ones, their fresh vermilion hands waving in the wind. Stalks stretched high into the clouds, reaching for the souls of the children, their paint as fresh as the pain of loss, bowing to the winds that ruffled their seeds.

Hayley Cummings

Each inquiry felt like a trap, tightening its grip on his sanity. Panic fluttered in his chest; a trapped bird desperate for escape. Memories flitted through his mind – echoes of laughter, warm days and the sight of her pink coat – only to slip away like sand through his fingers.

Victoria Chong

The crackling of the fire, like the nostalgic sound of children opening presents on Christmas Day.

I am lagging in time. Only a grey fog covers the ground, no colour in sight, no life to be seen. We have destroyed earth.

Darkness corrupts the sky…the heavy rain plays malicious tunes on the old roof of the wooden house. Moving towards this door, I question myself. What other choice do I have? Gripping the dry doorknob doesn’t feel like a mistake. Just yet. Controlling my heartbeat, I feel the air rush back into my tired lungs, as they slowly deflate. The knob turns. My body numb, the creak of the door pierces my ears as it slowly unfolds what is hiding behind.

It was a treacherous tidal wave. Weeks’ worth of flooding. The earth’s atmosphere broke apart and so did the climate. Oceans rose. Humanity became so poor that all it had was money. We broke the balance.

My body is no longer my own. I am still seeing through my own eyes, and my ears ring of the silence encompassing me, but my movements are no longer voluntary.

ICAS

ICAS Competition for Writing

Congratulations to the students who participated in the ICAS Writing Competition. Writing skills such as thoughtful planning, creativity and critical and reflective thinking are not only the keys to success in English — they are critical to communicating your ideas clearly and effectively in all subjects and areas of life. ICAS competitions offer students the opportunity to develop higher order thinking skills.

Each student who participated in the competition received a certificate. The follow students received certificates of merit, credit, distinction or high distinction.

YEAR 7

Jack Ayshford – High Distinction
Layla Crow - Distinction
Finlay Frost - Credit
Kaley Harris - Distinction
Eli Kearins – Merit
Kipp Hughes - Distinction
Darcy Pierchorowicz - Distinction
Audrey Robertson - Credit
Delilah Watts – Credit

YEAR 8

Zoe Blackmore – Merit
Molly Drayton – Credit
Maggie Hardie – Credit
Olivia Martin – Credit
Ivy Mitchell – Credit
Abbie Morris – Distinction
Gabrielle Ollerton – Credit
Milly Pearce – Credit
Ivy Williams – Credit

Louise Henderson - ICAS/GEM Coordinator

Exciting Japan Exchange!

We are delighted to share the exciting news that the St Mary’s Japan Exchange Program for September/October 2025 has officially launched! Following a highly successful Information Evening on November 25th, we’ve been thrilled by the overwhelming interest in this enriching cultural opportunity.

This program offers students in Years 9-11 2025 the chance to embark on a life-changing journey to Japan. Students will begin with an 8-night homestay in Kobe, living with a host family and attending Kobe Kaisei Girls' School. This Catholic school, founded by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary after WWII, shares St Mary’s values of service, leadership, and global connection. Participants will also take part in an alternative cultural program, experiencing traditions such as tea ceremonies and calligraphy.

After their homestay, students will explore Kyoto, immersing themselves in one of Japan’s most culturally rich cities. They will visit historical temples, iconic landmarks such as the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and gain firsthand insights into Japan’s history and culture during this three-day adventure.

This program is more than a trip – it is a profound cultural and personal growth experience. Living with a Japanese family, attending school abroad, and navigating a new culture will provide students with invaluable life skills, independence, and a deeper appreciation for global diversity.

Key Details:

Cost: Approx. $4200 per person (final cost depends on student numbers).
Who can apply: Students in Years 9-11 2025, with preference given to those studying Japanese in Stages 5 & 6 and students willing to host in 2026. Students passionate about languages, HSIE, or Religion are also encouraged to apply.
All participants must attend weekly lunchtime Japanese language and cultural preparation lessons in Term 3, 2025.

For further information, please contact louise.hatcher@mn.catholic.edu.au. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and create lifelong memories!

Louise Hatcher - Exchange Coordinator

Chinese excursion

On Thursday 21 November, we travelled to Sydney for our Chinese excursion. We firstly got off at Chatswood and went to a Chinese grocery store and other shops looking at Chinese products. We also saw a Chinese food market and admired the fresh produce from the Chinese stalls. Then we ran back to the train station and caught our train to the City. Mrs Paterson took us to see some local restaurants and then up to the outlets in Market City.

We then went to China Town and went to the Emperor's Garden where we had our own private dining room served by Ken. There was so much food and some of us even tried chicken feet. The food was really good. We then went to Paddy's market and attempted to speak Chinese to the lovely Chinese shop keepers and then headed to the Friendship Garden. We had a great day and enjoyed trying to use our Chinese language skills.

Amelia Bubenicek & Alex Mazzitello

Industrial Technology - Timber

After 2 years of learning, planning, and hands-on creativity, our Year 10 students have completed their Industrial Technology Timber course with these impressive cantilever boxes! Over the last two terms, they’ve followed detailed plans and utilised the skills they’ve developed throughout the past projects to create these incredible final projects.

It's been amazing to watch this class grow in confidence, craftsmanship, and teamwork. Congratulations to these talented students on their hard work and dedication!

Apologies to Jett O'Connor and Tristan Rawnsley who were away for the class photo.

Kristopher Eames - TAS/VET Teacher

Year 11 Music Evening

On Monday November 25th, we celebrated the incredible talent and hard work of our Year 11 musicians. Proud parents, friends and St Mary's staff were treated to a special evening filled with a variety of excellent performances that showcased the students' creativity and passion for the Performing Arts. Our congratulations to you for a wonderful evening.

Ruth McCrae - Music Teacher