Other
Parent Access to the College
To ensure the health and safety of all members of the community we have made some temporary changes to procedures. Parent access to the College should be limited and for only those occasions that are absolutely essential.
If you do need to access the College please be mindful of observing the social distancing protocols that remain in place for adults and the following key points:
- All visitors to the College need to use Gate 1 (Administration building/student office) entrance only.
- Parents bringing items that have been left at home e.g. laptop, sports uniform etc. – please leave items in the box provided at the Reception Entry and notify the Receptionist. Parents are asked to write their child’s name clearly on the article so that their daughter can collect it.(pen and sticky labels provided)
- If you need to collect your daughter earlier in the day - could you please phone ahead so we can have your daughter ready to meet you at the front of the school.(supervised until you arrive)
David Woolnough
College Administration Coordinator
Editorial
1942 - Family life in the living room (London)
The world is constantly changing. Here are St Mary’s, we can definitely say our little world is changing too. This is a very interesting time in which to live. We are sure that 2020 is not the ideal year we all had planned. However, this makes it all the more memorable for students and teachers here at the College.
“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” This quote by Joshua J Marine perfectly summarises the struggles we are all going through. It is a challenge to all community members, health workers, scientists, political leaders, everyone. In the Good Samaritan spirit of our school, we wish peace upon the families who have suffered or lost loved ones and pray they are receiving the support they need. Overcoming the challenges is hard but our world has grown in so many ways due to this pandemic. We have been re-trained to wash our hands thoroughly by singing Happy Birthday and learnt to sanitise the workspace. The community has become more mindful about spreading germs which will hopefully resonate with everyone in the years to come and prevent other illnesses.
This isn’t the first time that the world has had to isolate. During World War II there were air raids, separation from loved ones and food rationing which put the population under great stress. There were even curfews restricting outside activities. However, there wasn’t the technology we have today. As we move through this period of isolation, it is important to reminisce on past struggles endured by Australia and the world and the fact that those times did pass.
Ian Carter has written about ‘Six Lockdown Pastimes from the Second World War”. The article opens with the question, “How did people cope and occupy their time indoors, or when confined in shelters?” The attached photo from 1942 captured the Chillingworth family in their London home gathered in front of the living room fire place. It shows Dad catching up with the latest news, Mum stitching some tights while the children relax quietly entertaining themselves in very non-technological ways. Music, parlour games and knitting were among the few other activities for families. There was no Netflix, no TikTok, no Instagram nor Snapchat.Just the joy of spending quality time with family and the space to communicate.
In 2020, families are rediscovering the joy of communication and sharing these simple family activities. But social media has allowed far-flung relatives and friends to join in with online card games, trivia quizzes, virtual birthday cakes and craft sessions. These connections are important and mean so much to your family and friends.
Girls are starting to come back to school and are able to greet one another in person, which provides us will somewhat a sense of normality again. We hope that everyone comes back to school as happy as possible! As we said at the beginning, the world is constantly changing and this pandemic is providing us with some great challenges. Nevertheless, our College flourishes with patience, endurance and knowledge and this will, hopefully, resonate with everyone once life slowly returned to normal.
Madison Mackay and Taylor Mackay, Year 12
Reflection
When This is Over by Laura Kelly Fanucci
When this is over,
may we never again take for granted
a handshake with a stranger
conversations with neighbours
a crowded theatre
Friday night out
the taste of Communion
a routine checkup
the school rush each morning
coffee with a friend
the stadium roaring
each deep breath
a boring Tuesday
life itself.
When this ends,
may we find that we have become
more like the people we wanted to be,
we were called to be,
we hoped to be.
And may we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst.
Monica Kusters
Liturgy Captain
Hayes House Report
Hayes House has had an eventful yet enjoyable year so far, although not quite the way we or anyone had anticipated for it to be, ending up in isolation. Hayes House began the year with a killer start, smashing it out at the swimming carnival, with the house taking out 3rd place, and our girls as always trying their hardest, and supporting one another.
Continuing on throughout the term, the Year 7 Welcome BBQ was a great evening full of fun and excitement, with the Year 7 proving they had strong house spirit and a passion for encouraging one another, not to mention winning both the dodgeball and volleyball competitions. They chanted their little hearts out, showing the other houses what Hayes was all about and making me so proud, assuring me that they would fit right in to our Hayes family.
In Term 1, Hayes held their annual Lenten Activity ‘Pizza for Poverty’ in which we raised just under $400 for Project Compassion. It s a massive achievement and I thank all the lovely Hayes girls for their support with this activity!
Although being put into self-isolation, our purple, passionate and powerful house hasn't stopped spreading house spirit, with many entries in to the newly found competitions held within the College and of course our very own ‘Nailed It’ Easter Competition. The girls were challenged to replicate either an Easter cake/cupcake or a bunny craft piece and I can honestly say I was blown away by all of your creations. These made me even more proud of you all! Special mention to Malak in Year 7 who has participated in many of the challenges and competitions.
In all, our Hayes family is stronger than ever. I’m so proud of each and every one of you and can’t thank you enough for your hard work, support, encouragement of one another and your strong house spirit! It has been lovely finally getting to catch up with you this past fortnight, but I can’t wait for us ALL to return to school together next week. I missed seeing all your beautiful faces every day! #HayesForDays
Gibbons House Report
Returning from the Term 1 holidays and isolation, Gibbons House members were excited to see their friends face-to-face instead of online. We are all trying to adjust back to a full six period school day after getting used to those amazing half-days.
Term 1 was packed with fun, with the swimming carnival, Lenten Activities and Year 7 Activity Day. The Gibbons Lenten Activity was ‘Cold Rock for Compassion’, selling out almost instantly! The cold weather didn’t deter anyone from a delicious cup of cold ice-cream.
We are all aware isolation was packed with activities. Gibbons participated with the Bin Iso Outing, PLC Reading Competition and many more. I spoke with some Year 12 Gibbons students and they recalled what they did to fill in time and de-stress:
Kasey Mahar - “During isolation, I went on many night walks around Wollongong and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. I also kept in contact with friends through fun group calls. It was a challenging time having such a big change of routine but I enjoyed the down time and appreciate my friends and family even more!”
Vivian Hoang - “During the holidays I spent way too much time on TikTok and baked apple pies for my family.”
Tahnee Chandler - “My isolation consisted of catching up on schoolwork and working at Woolworths which at times was very stressful. I found it easy to de-stress by walking my dog at sunset, listening to music and Face Timing my friends from home.”
In conclusion, with Netflix and TikTok, walking the dog and finding interesting new hobbies, Gibbons found many interesting ways to make self-isolation more enjoyable.
It has been amazing to see all the Gibbons girls filling the halls again! I missed all of you so much. :-)
Aimee Potter
Gibbons House Captain
Sportswoman of the Week
Selene Chadrawy, Year 11
Selene Chadrawy is a talented and confident athlete. She has natural abilities and skills in leadership, generously mentoring others as team captain or teammate. Her enthusiasm means she not only excel herself but ensures that others around her have the same opportunities. Therefore, she is this week's Sportswoman.
Selene has been involved in countless school sporting teams showcasing the well-rounded and diverse athlete she is. These include touch, OzTag, League Tag, netball, AFL, athletics and basketball. Within these respective teams and individual sports, Selene has won numerous medals at Diocesan, CCC and All Schools levels. This is a testiment to her hard work and dedication to any sport she competes in.
In the wider community, Selene is a valued leader and member of her local netball club and was a chosen athlete in the Illawarra Academy of Sports 2019 U/17 netball team. In 2019 Selene gained selection in the U/17 NSW netball team. She competed in the Nationals at Brisbane later that year. For a 15-year-old girl or anyone for that matter, this is a highlight and an outstanding achievement. After four months of arduous training and warm-up matches, Selene and her team finished the preliminary National rounds on top of the table, with six wins and one loss. After a grand final clash with South Australia, where Selene's team had an impressive fight, they just missed out on gold, claiming the Nationals silver medal. Selene was further rewarded for her impressive performances on the National stage by being named in the National Pathway Squad. This selection meant Selene was invited to attend a National Squad Camp at the Centre of Excellence in Canberra in June 2019.
This year has seen more success for Selene with her selection in the Inaugural South Coast Blaze Teams. South Coast Blaze plays in the Netball NSW Premier League competition at Netball Central in Sydney on Wednesday nights. Overall, Selene is a diverse and selfless leader and team player, who excels in everything she puts her mind and heart to. We cannot wait to see her list of achievements grow in the field of netball and watch our Star'continue her journey into the future.
Please see the downloads for a Q & A session with Selene.
Sian and Chloe Bourke, Year 12
Sports Captains
Virtual Career Information
COVID-19 has brought a lot of change to how information is distributed to our students. Set out below are some opportunities for parents and students to attend virtual careers expos, information evenings and career smart sessions online.
Virtual Careers Expos
Educational institutions will be participating in the following virtual careers expos in lieu of the traditional careers markets that have been cancelled as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Staff from Universities, RTO’s and employers will be available to talk to students through the platforms hosted by these events. These are a great way to explore and speak to many institutions and employers in one place.
Event | Dates | URL |
HSC and Beyond Virtual Expo | 27 – 31 May | https://inspired.edu.au/hscbeyond/ |
HSC and Beyond Virtual Expo | 24 – 28 June | https://inspired.edu.au/hscbeyond/ |
UOW Information Evening
For: Students and Parents/Carers
When: Tuesday, 16 June - 6pm
Where: Online
At UOW we know that choosing where to study can be a difficult decision and that has been made harder in 2020 with the impacts of COVID-19, so we have moved our Information Evening to this webinar to help.
Our Information Evening will give students in Year 12 (and their parents) an insight into the degrees we offer and the unique student life and opportunities available at UOW. Our knowledgeable staff and team of current UOW students will be on hand to discuss the following topics and answer any questions you have.
- Important dates and key things to remember
- Your ATAR and selection rank (and what it means)
- UOW Early Admission
- UOW scholarships
- UOW accommodation
- Your options if you don't get the ATAR you need
- Student life at UOW
UOW will be offering a Bachelor of Sport in 2021. Click on the following link for information about the degree: watch it here
Careers101: Get Career Smart with UOW
The first of these sessions ran last week and was a huge success. Careers Advisers and students valued the information shared during the webinar and the access to UOW careers resources. We will be running this session again in Week 6.
When: Wednesday, 3 June
Time: 4.00- 5.00pm via Zoom
Following the session, all attendees are sent the link and access code for the UOW Discovery Tool, plus a range of resources to assist their exploration of potential careers and study pathways. You can watch the recording of the first session here.
Our Year 12 students have been researching courses and careers in the Senior Study Area in preparation for post school destinations.
Mrs Pauline Judd
Post School Advisor
Birthday Celebrations for...
Remote Music Lessons
Students have managed to keep developing their practical skills whilst working remotely. In this class we had guitar, piano, flute and digital guitar all playing Spring.
Thank you to all the friends and relatives who allowed students to play their instruments and thank you to all the girls who demonstrated ingenuity when finding digital instruments to play.
Mrs Donna Kenshole
Music Teacher
Year 7 Poems
Year 7 have been studying Poetry in English. A poem by Amina Nemir follows.
As I stand by the window sill,
I think about what was,
The life we were in seemed no more.
What seemed so fast is now so
slow,
Hugs and kisses we seem to blow.
Spending more time with my family,
Has gone to show,
That love and communication is now my main flow.
Please see the downloads for more Poems by our talented Year 7 students.
Recipe of the Week Challenge!
We have all been there. It is 3 pm, and the thought hits you - I’M SO HUNGRY!
Well, look no further for a quick, easy and tasty recipe. This week’s delicious recipe is for Honey Bread. This simple recipe is perfect to make on the weekend or after school. With just a hint of honey, it's sure to become a favourite!
We hope you have a week as sweet as this treat!
Ingredients:
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups warmed milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/8 cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees.
- Dissolve one packet of yeast into a bowl of the warmed milk. Add the honey, melted butter, and salt. Mix to combine.
- Add 3 cups of flour and mix with your hands until a soft dough forms. Use additional flour for dusting.
- Place the dough onto a floured surface and begin kneading for about 10 minutes.
- When you are done kneading, place the dough into a greased bowl and cover it. Place the bowl in a warm place so it can rise and double. This will take about an hour.
- Punch down the dough and place it into a greased loaf pan. Cover and place in a warm place for another 30 minutes until it rises and doubles.
- Bake for 30 - 35 minutes at 190 degrees. You may need to cover the top with foil if it gets too brown. Remove from the pan and allow to cool.
- Enjoy!
Darcy Cullen, Year 12
Stewardship Captain
Follow us on Insta!
This Week's Challenge - Find a Word
This week's challenge is created by Ella Dickson and Tenaya Hegarty from Year 12.
How long will it take you?
Find the Game in the download section.
Moments of Joy.....
MS Teams updated to have nine students visible on the screen at one time.
The Brady Bunch…
Science Teacher
The Buzzword of the week is - Friends!
At St Mary's, our students find ‘Moments of Joy’ everyday by spending time with their friends. Whether it be in class, at recess or lunch, even in the corridor. It’s safe to say that our girls love spreading joy, laughter and lots of loud noise and chatter!
As our seniors in Year 12 have now returned to full time, the SSA has been full of busy students who are glad to be back with their friends for their last few months at College. During lockdown we were able to stay in contact with our friends via social media, but it was not the same as being back at school with them face-to-face. It has been great to see the life pouring back into school as more and more junior students are returning.
Check out some photos of our Year 12 girls and their friends in the SSA and some juniors sitting outside together! Stay happy and take care of your friends!
Have a lovely week girls!
Tani Phillips
Year 12 Cultural Captain
From the Dean of Pastoral Care
Thanks to the generous support of the P&F, psychologist Dr Justin Coulson held two successful webinars for parents and carers addressing the challenges of parenting in a pandemic. If you were unable to join the live event, you are encouraged to view the webinars on the links on the SEQTA Engage landing page.Also worth a view is Dr Coulson’s webinar The Secret to Calm Kids and a Happy Home.
The Secret to Calm Kids and a Happy Home FREE WEBINAR with DR JUSTIN COULSON Monday, 1 June 2020 7pm AEST https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/freebies/secret/
Reminder on Uniform - With the return to full time College-based teaching, it is important to ensure the girls are presenting themselves appropriately, including hair neatly styled off the face, no make-up and jewellery in accordance with the uniform policy. When in winter uniform, blazers are to be worn to and from the College. Year 12 students are reminded that their jerseys are for Fridays only and it must be worn with a shirt underneath.
The 2021 Student leadership selection process has begun. It is an exciting time for Year 11 and an important period of leadership as we move to a ‘new normal’. In my discussions with Leadership candidates, we have reflected on the benefits of their MYP education. In particular the development of Personal Learning Profiles has helped our girls identify their strengths as they pursue leadership roles.
Miss Emma Magill
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
As I sit at my desk to write this piece, I cannot tell you how delightful it is to hear the sounds of school once again, our school, buzzing outside my office. The conversations of the girls in their respective friendship groups, the music signaling a change of period, staff buzzing around in the course of their work.The things that we have always taken for granted but which have been absent for too long.
Whilst there has been many graces during this period of remote learning, ultimately, I am sure that most girls, perhaps you as parents and certainly our teachers have come to the conclusion that ‘school’ happens best at school! And while it may be that the buildings, facilities and resources enhance the learning experience, the reason that school happens best at school is because of the relationships that underpin, sustain and enrich the daily task of learning. It seems to me that all of us have come to a whole new level of appreciation about the importance of relationship and community in the journey of teaching and learning. I think that all of us have been reminded that so much of the energy and inspiration that we rely on to be our best and to achieve our best comes from the richness of the relationships that permeate our College community.
As I reflect on these past months, I am reminded again about the importance of living in the moment, of taking each day as it comes and of being grateful for the graces and the challenges that present in each of those days. In the busyness of life, we are inevitably drawn in to thinking ahead, planning, setting goals and pursuing those goals in a way that often distracts us from the present. There is nothing especially wrong with all of that as long as it does not distract us from the beauty and the graces of the day that we are experiencing. I recently came across the following reflection that I thought was worthy of sharing with you:
Don’t treat your life as a race to be won. Don’t focus on getting to the top of the heap, because every peak you reach will yield a clearer view of the next summit, already occupied by another competitor in the game of life.Run every race as if it’s your last, but decide first why you’re running. Instead of competing against me or anyone else, why not contribute your energies to making us better people, through your coaching, love, inspiring example, or noble mission? Instead of trying to win the race, why not make it your mission to contribute to the race, the human race – by making your corner of the world more just, more loving, and more happy.
Chris Lowney, Make Today Matter
As we look forward to welcoming all girls back to the College on Monday, I want to thank you once again for all that you have done to support your daughter through this challenging time and especially for your understanding and support of decisions that we have made at the College. Further, I want to assure you that we will not become complacent about the road ahead; about our need to continue to provide a safe environment for your daughter, to support her as best we can, and to be alert to external influences that impact on the girls and their schooling. I also take this opportunity to remind you of the ongoing invitation to communicate with me at any time if there is anything at all that I can do to help support your family in the days ahead.
Finally, I wish to thank the staff of the College, teachers as well as support and operational staff, who have, to a person, been incredibly understanding and accommodating and always prioritising decisions that were in the best interests of the girls.
I hope that I may have the opportunity to meet more of you in the days ahead.
Mr Tony Fitzgerald
Principal
SMC Noticeboard
All Years will return to College for face to face lessons from Monday, 25 May.
Monday 8 June- Queen's Birthday Public Holiday
To review and update your daughter’s details including important medical data please visit https://tass.stmarys.nsw.edu.au/parentlounge/login.cfm