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The Butterfly Foundation - Body Confident Children and Teens
The College is committed to helping all our students achieve a positive and healthy outlook on life. One of the best ways to do this is to listen to experts who deal every day with young people and who have put a significant amount of time and research into how to help young people view themselves in a positive and realistic manner.
During Horizontal Pastoral Care on Wednesday, 18 June our Year 10 students, will experience Mitch Doyle from the Butterfly Foundation present an interactive presentation that is highly valuable in helping our students shape how they think about themselves in a challenging world.
To compliment this Presentation, parents of Year 10 together with parents from all year groups are invited to a Parent Information Evening on Thursday, 20 June - details are within the flyer in the downloads section.
SMC VET Students at VIVID School
On Tuesday, 28 May, our Year 11 VET Entertainment students went behind the scenes as part of a new education program at Vivid Sydney. They were among 1,000
High School students from across NSW learning from the artistic talent behind Sydneyâs iconic light festival. Discussions led by Vivid Light Walk curator
Lucy Keeler focused on how students could access careers in light and technology sculpture, projection art and the importance of collaboration in art
and industry.
Following these sessions, we shared a meal together and embarked on a walking tour of the Vivid Lights at Darling Harbour and through the Botanic Gardens. It was a cold, windy and wonderful evening!
Rule Britannia! Music students sing along at "Last Night at the Proms"
As part of our 2019 Performance Program, 47 students travelled to Sydney to experience “The Last Night At The Proms”.
“Last Night At The Proms” is the annual St Mary's College favourite where you can belt out ‘Rule, Britannia’, stomp your feet, wave your flag and join in the merriment celebrating the finest in British classical and popular music. Mr Guy Noble - conductor, singer and all-round funny guy led the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and special guests - us!, in a concert celebrating British music. Our girls sang along with gusto and as an added bonus, witnessed the city of Sydney all lit up as part of the Vivid Festival.
Special thanks to the music staff who joyfully accompanied the girls for this wonderful evening.
PLC 2019 READING CHALLENGE
The PLC 2019 Reading Challenge begins soon!
There will be details in SEQTA in Week 8 on how to register and participate
Personal Project News
The Personal Project is the culminating event of the MYP and our Year 10 students have been working on their Project since Term 4 last year.
Students will be showcasing their Project at the Personal Project Exhibition on Wednesday, June 26. Parents of Year 10 students have received an invitation
to the Exhibition and we would love to see students and parents from any year as we celebrate the achievements of our Year 10 students.
Students are encouraged to check their SEQTA Projects class for Exhibition details or to drop into to the PLC to see me if they have any questions.
Please RSVP if you are attending the Exhibition by phoning the College on 4228 6011 or email maree.mccarthy@stmarys.nsw.edu.au
From the Principal
Dear Parents
Last Sunday was the Feast of Pentecost which is celebrated fifty days after Easter Sunday. In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is often seen as the birthday of the Church. The Pentecost events are described in the Acts of the Apostles and speak of a miraculous event with what seemed like a powerful wind entering the room where the Apostles were gathered with tongues of fire appearing above their heads. Wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and so the belief is that the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles giving them courage to spread the message of Jesus Christ. It is believed that having been filled with the Spirit, the Apostles went forward and established the Christian Church, thus the analogy with the birthday of the Church.
When thinking about our modern-day Church one would be forgiven for having problems reconciling our history with our present circumstances. What is seen as God’s intervention can too easily be explained away with scepticism and the assumption that we are retelling a myth. Yet, despite our history and our present realities, the Church survives and in many areas it thrives. You see, the Pentecost events were not about constructing grand buildings for worship or creating an institution. They were about God intervening to bring hope and life to a world that was experiencing repression and injustice. In many ways we are facing similar issues in the world today.
Our Church has a long and proud tradition of doing good in the world and this is often overlooked when reflecting on our recent history. Yet the work that has been done in the areas of education, health care, welfare and human rights is amazing and continues, despite our faults and failings. The Church continues to stand up for the poor and the marginalised, it is doing the hard work in areas of social welfare where governments and other agencies don’t. The Church established at Pentecost continues quietly and patiently to ‘walk the talk’ of the Gospel and inspire us, if we are open to the Spirit. We often hear that God’s ways are not our ways and sometimes we need to be patient, listen and reflect on who we are called to be.
We are busily preparing for the Personal Projects Exhibition to be held on Wednesday, 26 June. The Personal Project is the culmination of the MYP and our Year 10 students have been working with staff mentors on their projects since Term 4, 2018. There are some spectacular projects that will be on display and we invite each of you to come along and be amazed by the intellect and creativity of our Year 10 girls. The exhibition opens at 6pm and supper and refreshments will be served throughout the evening. I look forward to catching up with you if you are able to join us on Wednesday 26.
Over the last few weeks our senior students have been working through a process to elect our student leaders for 2020. This had been an excellent process and we as a staff have been greatly impressed by the quality of candidates who have been nominated for the various positions on the leadership team. I congratulate all of the girls who have put themselves forward for consideration and I am sure wise decisions will be made.
I hope you and your family are able to enjoy a peace filled and relaxing weekend.
Acrobatics Success
We a delighted to announce that Jessica Adams from Year 11 has been selected to represent NSW at the 2019 Australian National Acrobatic Championships to be held in Melbourne from 31 May to 4 June. Jessica's trio is hoping to qualify for selection to the National Squad.
In the photo, Jessica is on the right side of the base performing the splits. A few years ago, Jessica attended the World Championships as the smallest in her trio, performing on top of the balance.
Jessica has worked tirelessly on building her strength to adjust to her new position and has trained very hard in the lead up to the Nationals - 23 hours per week, in addition to staying up to date with her Year 11 study commitments.
We wish Jessica all the very best in Melbourne.
2019 Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to our Age Champions and Runner's up:
12 Years: Brielle Masters, R/u Keira Rejske
13 Years: Caitlin Jones, R/u Andie Guido
14 Years: Gabrielle Eaton, R/u Lily Riolo
15 Years: Paris Bamford, R/u Claudia Decker
16 Years: Emer Spiers, R/u Sophie Rodwell
17 Years: Janna Hadaya, R/u Hannah Crinnion
18 Years: Emily Steward, R/u Charlotte Bridger
The following records were broken:
Andie Guido, Foley -13 Years 1500m 5:25.33
Emer Spiers, Kelly - 16 Years Long Jump 4.64m
Claudia Decker, UB - 15 Years Shot 8.74m
Amy McHugh, Foley - 17+ Javelin 24.69m
Caitlin Jones, Kelly - 13 Years 100m 12.9s
Elena Delaveris, UB - 17+ 100m 12.62s
Elena Delaveris, UB - 17+ 200m 26.03s
Brielle Masters, Lyons - 12 Years Discus 26.79m
Genevieve Bosker, UB - 14 Years High jump 1.6m
Hannah Crinnion, Kelly - 17+ 400m 59.68s
Annalise Chadrawy, Lyons - 17+ Discus 28.37m
Annalise Chadrawy, Lyons - 17+ Shot 11.35m
Selene Chadrawy, Lyons - 16 Years Shot 10.92
Poppi-Rose Cunningham-Roach, Bashir - 16 Years Discus 23.15m
Girls who finished in 1st place in field events or the first three places in the 100m or the first two places in the 200m will represent the College
at the Wollongong Diocesan Athletics Carnival to be held at Campbelltown on Friday, 16 August.
Good luck at the next level girls!
âThe Birthing Kit Assembly Day
The Birthing Kit Assembly Day was held at St Mary's College on Saturday, May 18.
The Z Club and the Zonta Club of Wollongong organised the event where 1,200 basic Birthing Kits were assembled and boxed. These kits are sent to expectant mothers in developing countries to ensure a clean, safe birthing environment.
A special thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time for this wonderful cause.
âAFL News
Congratulations to Claudia Decker from Year 9 on her selection in the NSW All Schools Under 16 AFLteam! Claudia is our first student to gain selection in this team. Claudia performed exceptionally well in the tri-series played between CCC, CIS and NSW CHS.
Well done Claudia! We wish you all the best at the Nationals.