Newsletter 13.24 - Friday 16 August 2024

Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members,

Our College community had the privilege of hearing the outstanding speeches delivered by our nine potential College leaders at this week’s Assembly. Each student spoke with passion, conviction, and a genuine desire to serve our College. Their willingness to step forward, share their vision, and lead by example is truly commendable. The week prior, these students were among 18 Year 11 students who participated in a Leadership Day, where they delved into the responsibilities of leadership and demonstrated a strong readiness to make a positive impact on our community. As we know, leadership isn’t about the badge you wear or the title you hold—it’s about the choices you make and the actions you take. Our College continues to attract exceptional candidates who promote student voice, lead by example, and contribute to the positive learning culture at St. Mary’s.

A common definition of leadership is "Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal." However, this definition overlooks a crucial element—morality. Leadership itself is morally neutral; it can be used for good or ill. Unfortunately, we don’t have to look far around the world to see examples of leaders guiding people toward destructive ends.

At our Catholic school, we are called to a higher standard—ethical leadership, which is grounded in the teachings and actions of Jesus. True leadership goes beyond merely achieving goals; it’s about pursuing them with integrity, compassion, and a deep responsibility to others, with special care for the marginalised. As our school motto reminds us, it’s about being ready to serve.

It’s also vital that each of us understands our personal values. Our values shape our emotions, guide our actions, and influence our behavior. They are formed by our culture, our experiences, and they evolve as we grow. I encouraged our potential leaders, and community to reflect on the moments when they felt happiest, most excited, or proudest as these feelings are deeply connected to their own personal values. Knowing your values helps you make decisions and serves as your moral compass.

At St. Mary’s, we uphold values such as service, community, compassion, respect, learning, faith, growth, and hope. When our personal values align with these shared values, we all thrive and experience a profound sense of belonging.

Parent and Carer Engagement Evening

A reminder that next Tuesday 20 August we will be hosting a Parent Forum commencing at 5.45pm with tea/coffee and concluding at 7.00pm. The event will be held in the College Cafe and all parents and carers are warmly welcome. To maximise parent/carer engagement and offer this to some who cannot make the event in person we will again trial a hybrid model where we will have a mix of those who are present in person and some who will access this evening online. A link will be sent to the community on the day of the event via Compass so you will have access to the evening. The purpose of these evenings is to offer a forum where parents may learn about what is happening at St Mary's. Members of the College Senior Leadership Team will be present to give parents an update. The educative item that will be presented at this forum is ‘Student Wellbeing at St Mary’s” and will be facilitated by Mr Benjamin Frize (Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Engagement).

This evening is an alternative model to a Parents and Friends Association, which some may be more familiar with. The aim of the forum is to maximise parent/carer engagement with the College. There is no requirement to be on a sub-committee and our two parent representatives, Michelle Burns and Tonee Summerville, support the forum and are a communicative body between the College and the parents. Parent forums will be held once per term from 5.45pm - 7.00pm.

Kind Regards,

Brett Donohoe - Principal

Invitation - Year 12 Mass and Awards

Key Dates

Two Weeks at a glance - Weeks 5 and 6

Parent Forum Term 3 - Reminder

Please join us for our Term 3 Parent Forum on Tuesday 28 August, in the Cafe. The meeting will commence at 6.00pm, with tea and coffee available from 5.45pm

Your presence and input are invaluable to us, which is why we're offering both in-person and online attendance options. If you're unable to join us physically, you can still participate by accessing the meeting via the link that will be posted to you in Compass on the day of the meeting.

Please see agenda below:

Ministry

Feast of Mary MacKillop: A Celebration of Service and Faith

Last week, we celebrated the Feast of Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint, and a remarkable figure in our nation's history. Alongside Julian Tenison Woods, she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph, dedicating her life to serving the poor, the dispossessed, and the marginalised.

As part of our celebrations, our Year 7 students collaborated with St Paul’s in a special production depicting the life of Mary MacKillop. This shared experience allowed us to reflect on the incredible legacy of both Mary and Julian—two individuals who were driven, compassionate, and unwavering in their commitment to living out the Gospel message. Christ was the centre of their lives, and they expressed this through their faith, love, and charity.

The Eucharist played a pivotal role in the lives of Julian and Mary, serving as a profound encounter with the love of God, the fellowship of others, and the motivation to follow God's call. Like Mary, the mother of Jesus—our College’s namesake and patron—they responded to the call of service with a resounding "YES."

On days like these, we are reminded to reflect on our own calling: to be people who wear the robe of Christ’s love and are always ready to serve.

Celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, celebrated on August 15th, has its origins in Jerusalem before the end of the fourth century. For early Christians, Mary, the loving and courageous Jewish mother of Jesus, held a special place in their hearts. They prayed with her, and together, they received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The feast originally known as “The Passing of the Mother of God” commemorated her death.

This feast day held particular significance for Father Julian Tenison Woods. It was his favorite Marian Feast, and he instilled this devotion in Mary MacKillop. Remarkably, Mary MacKillop was professed on this feast day in 1867, marking a deep connection to the celebration.

During the 19th century in Australia, there was a renewal of devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Mary was seen as the sorrowing mother of a suffering Jesus. In a letter to her own mother, Mary MacKillop wrote, “Unite all your sorrows to [Mary’s] and through her to the desires of the Sacred Heart of her Son.”

Mary MacKillop’s writings reveal her deep yearning to develop a loving relationship with Mary, the Mother of God. She once shared with Father Julian Tenison Woods, “I feel myself so cold and listless beside those who really love her [Mary the Mother of God], and it humbles more than anything else to see how easily slight disappointments or annoyances move me to grief – whilst the thought of her sorrows, or the injury done by me to her love, takes so little effect on me.”

A few weeks later, she wrote, “I know she [Mary the Mother of God] loves us all far more than we deserve, but I really am sure that I do not strive to become more practical in my devotion to so tender and compassionate a Mother.”

Mary MacKillop adopted the Rosary as one of her favorite prayers, making it a cherished practice among the Sisters. In later years, she reflected on her devotion, addressing Mary, the Mother of God, saying, “Ah, my Mother, think of the day when I knelt but a child to ask you to be my Mother, and I remember your gentle whisper when you said that you marked me as your child since my birth.” The source of this statement remains unknown, but its sentiment resonates deeply.

As we celebrate Father Julian’s favorite feast, let us do so with faith, love, and hope, remembering the profound impact that devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, had on both him and Mary MacKillop.

DeAnna Addicoat - Ministry Coordinator

Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

A busy term is underway, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the teaching and support staff who have been consistently committed to ensuring that activities such as our HSC Trial operations, HSC Major Works and multiple events have been steady and successful. I particularly wish to commend those HSC students who have recently submitted their Major Works in areas such as Textiles, Industrial Technology, Design & Technology, Society & Culture and the upcoming Visual Arts Bodies of Work. We celebrate your commitment and determination and we acknowledge your teachers who have supported you on the way. Congratulations to all!

Year 12 HSC Preparation

Year 12 students will receive Trial Examination results in the coming two weeks.  While some students will experience success and reward for hard work and preparation, there are others who will have mixed feelings about their results. The challenge for ALL students, regardless of marks, is to learn from the feedback provided by teachers. These examination results are an opportunity for students to learn where their areas of strength and challenge are. Questions such as “What next?” and “Where to from here?” show a mindset that is open to growth and learning. The time, effort and attention put into the feedback by teachers will enable students to address areas for development – collaborating with teachers, working TOGETHER towards growth and improvement in these final weeks. I encourage all Year 12 students to take advantage of these last few weeks with their teachers to review, respond and learn from the final assessments completed. I also share the following resource for student use in HSC preparation:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc/student-guide

In closing, I commend our Year 12 students for their excellent conduct during the exam period, and for their manners and respect of all supervisors. A steady, calm approach to the HSC exams, such as we have seen these past two weeks, will ensure smooth running of the external HSC exams here at the College. In Week 10 students will have a chance to meet with Mrs Jennifer Smith, our Presiding Officer, who will have oversight of the HSC Examination Operations.

YEAR 11 Examination Block commences 9^th September 2024 Week 8 Term 3

I take this opportunity to remind Year 11 students that it is important to plan for the coming exam weeks, commencing Week 8 Term 3 9th September. Reading exam timetables carefully, asking questions of teachers and planning study time across these weeks will allow students to prepare confidently. Time management and planning for study means taking an honest and realistic look at how time is spent both at school and at home. I encourage students to talk to their teachers and to seek assistance if required during this exam period. A study space is provided for our students during the scheduled exams. All students need to sign in at the Administration building if staying on campus and will have supervised study provided in the Café during the two exam weeks. A copy of the examination will be distributed shortly to students. A reminder that After-School Study is offered three days per week – see below for details.

After Hours Study – Term 3 2024

Thanks to the generosity of teachers, we are recommencing an After Hours Study Program for our Year 11 & 12 students. Sessions will be held each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday commencing at 3.15pm and finishing at 4.45pm. Sessions will be held in the College Café.

The program will commence from Week 3 of Term 3. Students can collect a 2024 User Agreement form from Student Services or see link below. We encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity and will be monitoring support for the program with a view to extending into Term 4 if students see value in the program. With only five weeks until Preliminary Course Examinations, Year 11 students are encouraged to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Cathy O'Gorman - Assistant Principal, Learning and Teaching

Year 11 - Student Leaders Day

Last Tuesday, Mr Beckett and I had the immense privilege of hosting 18 students from Year 11 who have put themselves forward to be Student Leaders in 2025, at Belmont Swansea SLSC, at Blacksmiths Beach. 

The day commenced with a prayer and acknowledgement of country on Blacksmiths Beach. Making themselves aware of the sand under their feet, students reflected on their surroundings, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as leaders. It was clear that students had come in the right mindset. Armed with an array of delectable treats for a shared morning tea, students shared leadership metaphors and visions for 2025.

The day's agenda included presentations about effective leadership, short clips and activities, facilitated by Mr Beckett, Mrs Addicoat, Mr Donohoe, Mr Frize, and me. One of the highlights of the day was a scavenger hunt arranged by Mr Beckett, which saw students spread out and engage in discussions with members of the public as well as their own family members, asking them about their own preferences for leadership and examples in their lives. 

Mr Beckett and I were very impressed with the willingness of students to put themselves forward for leadership, and the vulnerability and authenticity with which they engaged in discussion on the training day. Leadership is not easy, the training day did not sugarcoat it, and these students have already shown that they are committed to stepping up. We are very grateful for their dedication to the College and to each other. 

David Luschwitz - Stage Coordinator

Leader of Wellbeing Year 8

Year 8  Involvement in Programs to support their Wellbeing

Brave Program

A small group of students have been involved in the Brave Program with our College Psychologists.

The BRAVE program teaches cognitive behavioural strategies to manage anxiety and worry, teenagers experience through 10 sessions. Each session builds on information and strategies learnt in the previous session, and aims to help young people manage anxiety. It helps them to identify, understand, and change their worried thoughts and behaviour patterns, so they can improve the way they feel.

Top Blokes

15 Boys have been involved in the Top Blokes Foundation program which takes place every Thursday afternoon in Term 3. This program aims to  develop leadership skills over 10 weeks. Outside presenters are guiding the boys through a series of sessions focussing on Teamwork, healthy relationships, anger management, peer pressure, masculinities, online behaviours, alcohol and drugs, mental health awareness. This program will hopefully develop the boys confidence, resilience and meet their potential.

Love Bites

All Year 8  were supported by College Psychologists and teachers and led through the Love Bites program in Week 2. The Love Bites program has been built on a robust evidence base with all aspects driven by research about what young people need to understand , and the skills they require to build relationships free from disrespect, abuse and violence. The students focussed on their lives by drawing and annotating their Tree of Life as well as focussing on healthy relationships and respect, consent and boundaries, bullying behaviour and being safe bystanders. They also  analysed strategies to keep themselves safe online.

 I was very pleased with student attendance and participation over the two days. My greatest thanks goes to our College Psychologists who took themselves away from their primary role of meeting with students individually to support College staff in this very important educative process.

Attendance Matters

Yes, it does for so many reasons. Please remember to explain your child’s absence using the compass App. In Stage 4 we are building on the foundations established in Primary school. We are preparing our students for Stage 5 learning and eventually Stage 6. Not attending means your child is missing out on important educative lessons as well as the opportunity to develop their social skills and respectful relationships.

Maryanne Murray - Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement Year 8

Leader of Wellbeing Year 9

A polite reminder for parents and carers to provide consent online (COMPASS) for the Stage 4 (Years 7 & 8) and Stage 5 (Years9 & 10) Positive Relationships Incursions.

Stage 4 Incursion Date: Tuesday August 27th

Stage 5 Incursion Date: Wednesday August 28th

Consent is due by August 23^rd and it is  a Compulsory School Day. No Payment required. Paper copies for consent can be collected from Student Services. 

More details are on Compass. 

Many thanks!

Ruth McCrae - Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement Year 9

English

The English team is busy as ever, as we plough headfirst into Term 3 and continue our implementation of the inspiring new English Syllabus across all stages.

But what else have we been up to…

Sydney-based, Mashed Theatre Company visited St Mary’s last term and performed their production of Macbeth: Undone, which told the story of ‘The Scottish Play’ (The Tragedy of Macbeth) from the unique perspective of Lady Macbeth, weaving objective narration and dramatic reenactment with the visceral potency of subjective memory.

The performance was succinct – 50 minutes in total, and the audience response was, predictably, varied, given the contentious nature of Shakespearean plays. However, all students agreed that the sword fights were enjoyable to watch!

The incorporation of a complete Shakespearean study in Stage 5 is just one element of the new English Syllabus, which has been rolled out across NSW this year. The English Faculty has been working very hard to produce and resource engaging programs across Stages 4 and 5. These programs target deep learning through the fundamental skills required to be critical thinkers, capable writers, inferential readers, and conceptually literate individuals. Students are writing lots, reading lots, and thinking lots! Another component of the new Syllabus is the study of language, “down to the very word,” so your daughter or son may come home talking about subordinating clauses or coordinating conjunctions (fingers crossed!).

Language is power, and our aim is to empower students through the study of rich literature that “broadens their knowledge of universal experiences and society beyond their immediate experience.” *

*NESA, The English Curriculum, Meaningful Text Selections, 2023.

Low-Stakes Writing

All students across all stages regularly partake in what we like to call, ‘low stakes writing.’ This generally occurs at the beginning of an English lesson using a prompt or stimulus, and students are encouraged to simply write an imaginative vignette (not a plot-driven narrative) where they play, and experiment with, descriptive and sensory language. It is ‘low stakes’ because we do not expect perfection… our goal is simply for students to enjoy the opportunity to craft words - within a ten-minute timeframe - without the pressure and expectation that often accompanies writing.

Students are often very keen to share their compositions. Please enjoy a small selection of the work from 7T, the students of which recently responded to the glorious image below in their regular low stakes writing.  

You’ll appreciate the quality of this highly visceral and visual language – and this is only a ten-minute snapshot! Regular writing in response to unfamiliar stimuli is an excellent way to acclimatise students to thinking spontaneously and imaginatively – two things they must ultimately do in English examinations (not to mention it’s just fun to play with words!).

Finally, the English faculty would like to congratulate all Year 12 students, who have just completed their Trial HSC exams. The end is in sight!

Stay tuned for the upcoming Year 9 writing competition, which will be launched next week!

Here’s to a wonderful Term 3 : )

The English Faculty.

National Science Week

National Science Week: A Celebration of "Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability"

This week, our school was abuzz with excitement as we celebrated National Science Week, exploring the theme "Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability." Each day brought a new activity, engaging students in the wonders of science and the importance of environmental conservation.

The week kicked off with a bang on Monday, when Mrs. Lund and Dr. Adam wowed students with their spectacular Science Show. The highlight? An explosive "elephant's toothpaste" experiment that shot up to the roof in Room 201! Students were also mesmerized by the sight of explosive bubbles, leaving everyone in awe of the power of chemical reactions.

Tuesday was all about brainpower as students and staff competed in a thrilling trivia challenge. From biology to physics, no scientific topic was off-limits. A big congratulations to this week's winners, the "Loose Gooses" from Year 10, who showed off their impressive knowledge and took home the top prize!

By midweek, enthusiasm was at an all-time high with Wednesday's immersive Minecraft activity. Students explored various biomes in a game developed by Taronga Zoo, designed to spark interest in unique animals and environmental conservation. The experience allowed students to dive into the world of species survival, learning about the delicate balance of ecosystems and the importance of protecting our planet's biodiversity.

The week culminated on Thursday with a special guest appearance by the legendary Dr. Karl. Dr Karl is the author of 47 books (and counting) and star of Triple J's longest-running segment, Science Hour, Dr Karl is a lifetime student with degrees in physics and mathematics, biomedical engineering and medicine and surgery. His insights  in the zoom conference, left students inspired, and eager to continue their scientific journey.

We'd like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students who participated in this week's activities. Your curiosity and enthusiasm were truly the heart of our celebrations. A special thank you also goes out to our dedicated Science Staff, whose teamwork and passion made this week such a success.

Sporting Achievements

Congratulations Stevie!

Year 11 student, Stevie Botham, has had significant sporting success in recent months. Selected in the Northern NSW Country Rugby League team, she competed in a two day competition at Wyong in Term 2. At this competition, she was awarded Players' Player and selected in the NSWCCC 18 years Rugby League Team. This lead to Stevie representing our college (as part of the NSWCCC squad) at the National Championships in Coffs Harbour in July where she played all 4 games and scored 3 tries. It's also worth noting that Stevie is now currently with the Newcastle Knights U/18 Academy. Further to these remarkable achievements, Stevie has also been selected in the NSWCCC Touch Football team to compete at Coffs Harbour in September. Well done, Stevie, and we wish you every success in the future!

Congratulations James!

Congratulations extend to James Hughes for his selection in the U18 Great Britain Exiles oztag team who recently competed at the Australian Invitational Oztag Challenge in Coffs Harbour.

James’ team played seven games during the tournament, eventually qualifying for the Quarter Finals and finishing 6^th overall.

Opposition played included Australia, Cook Islands, Indigenous Australia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Niue and Samoa Australia.

Congratulations Reuben!

The College received wonderful news about last year's Year 12 student Reuben Hatcher. Reuben's mum, Mrs Sandra Hatcher, writes....

Reuben recently went to USA in search of basketball opportunities and during this trip he was offered a basketball scholarship with Central Community College in Nebraska.

 This is a 2 year commitment to study and play basketball in America and he is super excited.

 He is leaving on Wednesday  the 14^th August and I wanted you to know, because St Marys helped him to achieve his goals.

U16 Boys Rugby League

Last week, the Under 16 Boys Rugby League team competed in the Hunter Premiership at Windale.

After being drawn in a tough pool and playing the majority of the competition with no substitutes, the team showed great determination and teamwork.

Unfortunately, the team were unable to progress to the next stage, finishing the day with two hard fought losses against Toronto High and Warners Bay High.

All players were exceptional ambassadors for our College and are to be congratulated for their efforts as they played with great commitment and sportsmanship.

With a little more practice and fine tuning, the boys will now begin preparation for their next tournament.

St Mary's Girls Soccer

A huge congratulations to the St Mary's Girls Soccer Team for an outstanding performance in Round 1 of the Col Whitney Cup yesterday. The girls played brilliantly as a team and showed incredible sportsmanship, securing two fantastic wins: 6-0 against Toronto and 3-0 against Morisset. Well done, team!

Uniform Shop

P&F Association - Events

Please find below information for a webinar "High School Cool" being held on Wednesday 2 August and and "Biohacking learning" - a parent session, being held at St Mary's on Monday 2 September.