Higher Things

There are times when it is clear that St Mary’s girls are becoming more independent young adults and it’s a little nostalgic to see everyone growing up. Year 12 girls are sitting the HSC until 6 November - so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers through this stressful time. For our Year 10 girls, the new senior uniform is a reminder of the new chapter in their education. Moreover, the new Term has given an opportunity for the incoming Year 12 girls to step up into leadership roles. These new beginnings remind the community of the exciting things ahead. Let’s make Term 4 a great end to 2020. We’ve got this!

Layla Tarhan and Alana Todorovski (Social Justice), Chi Nguyen and Tess Ryan (SRC)

Our new Leaders for 2021 are not the only ones making their way into the new Term. We have recently introduced the Sullivan Cup, which will be won weekly by any Tutor Group as they go head-to-head in various games and activities driven by Year 9 Leader, Annelise Semaan. So far, our House has taken part in a ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ battle, followed by ‘Heads or Tails’, ‘Guess the Song’ and for this week, our Sully’s will be taking part in a ‘Guess the Movie by the Emoji’ challenge!

As we begin Term 4, I am very proud of all our hard work which is already paying off with success in the House Debates and second place in last Term’s Cross Country/Fun Run. Go team! In particular, congratulations to Loagan Garratt and Kacey Kouzan for their efforts.

We are beyond excited to see what is in store for Sullivan House in the future and hope to continue crushing goals and redeem our spot at the top of House leaderboard.

By Dominique Musumeci
Sullivan House Captain 2021

At the end of Term 3 we farewelled our Hayes Year 12 girls including our 2020 House Captain Ella Dickson. Ella did an amazing job right up until her very last day and I feel privileged to take over the reins for Hayes House as their Captain. We said our goodbyes on their last day with the annual signing of graduation bears and the presentation of Hayes Spirit Awards. Hayes wishes them all the best during their HSC exams, and we hope to see them at the Graduation where we can help them celebrate the end of a chapter.

We also share the news of our new Year 9 House Leader, Helena Hailos-Lewis. Helena has already stepped into this role very smoothly and is an amazing sidekick! Helena came first in the 14 years Cross Country/Fun Run and Hayes also had a second-place winner Charliee Corrie in the 15 years. (left - Charliee, right - Helena) Hayes did so well placing 2nd Overall! Tracking well in the overall points for the year.

Hayes looks forward to celebrating the end of one crazy and unpredictable year, with end of year celebrations and of course, bringing back our Christmas Door Decoration competition to keep spirits high. We hope to perform at House Carols and redeem ourselves after having to miss out on House Choirs this year. That’s all from Hayes, I look forward to updating you again soon.

Jemma Turner
Hayes House Captain 2021

Well may they say: “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (q.v. for further referencing). Monday, 2 November at 5pm is the big day, with the finals nine days later. Ten days that will shake the world! Student coaches, Samara Poidevin and Charlotte Kelly are keeping a cool head and assistants including Bia Caires Forlano are channeling good vibes and competition pointers.

Stay tuned!

Mr Stephen Goldrick
Drama Club

During the function, contestants were required to present a short speech about their community service involvement, aspirations, the challenges facing women and possible solutions. As well as their understanding of the Zonta organisation. Both Eve and Veronica spoke convincingly and confidently.

Eve was declared the co-winner with a student from Smith’s Hill High School. We congratulate Eve on her success and a clear demonstration of her commitment to empowering women and advancing their status in the community. Although many of our girls have entered this competition previously, it has been sometime since we have experienced this favourable outcome.

The event was further enriched by the special guest speaker at the event, the Hon. Sharon Bird, MP who expressed similar sentiments to the girls and drew on her vast experience to illustrate situations faced by women.

It was a proud occasion to accompany such fine representatives of the College and our community congratulates both girls.

Mrs Liz Davis
College Archivist

Year 10

15 Years: 1st - Imogen Thompson (Bashir), 2nd - Cleo Fien (Lyons)

16 Years: 1st - Sarah Locke (Bashir), 2nd - Paris Bamford (Bashir) and Loagan Garratt (Sullivan)

Thank you to the girls who participated, earning House Points for their respective Houses.

After adding the points, the winning Houses were:

1st  Bashir

2nd  Sullivan and Hayes

3rd  Lyons

Sienna Timev
Sports Administration Assistant

Last week saw the successful launch with 94% of the students participating. Students are now invited to ‘check their pulse’ on a weekly basis enabling the College to provide necessary support and allow students to monitor their own wellbeing as well. As results are gathered, I hope to regularly share these with the community and consider ways we can use the data. I encourage you to speak to your daughter about her experience with Pulse. Additionally, there are FAQ’s in the downloads.

Our second initiative has been the launch of the Student Wellbeing Hub. This dedicated student Google Site links students with a wide range of wellbeing and mental health resources. Like the Parent Wellbeing Hub launched last Term. The Student Hub provides an avenue for students to seek relevant and research based information about a range of topics. Areas covered include: Wellbeing, Mental Health, Relationships, Study Skills, Tackling Year 12, Gratitude, Podcasts and Socials.

Emma Magill
Assistant Principal - Dean of Pastoral Care

Student Wellbeing Hub

As a young person supporting a friend is one of your greatest gifts you give. There are many times our friends turn to a trusted person when they are going through a rough time. The hub has a series of resources to help you help your friends. These include:

Helping a friend through a tough time

When your friend is in crisis

My Friend Struggles with Mental Health

Emma Magill
Assistant Principal - Dean of Pastoral Care

“The truth is everyone is flawed. That’s the nature of human beings. But our mistakes alone shouldn’t define us. We should be judged by the totality of our work and life. Many problems don’t have answers and a good decision today may not look as good ten or twenty years later through the lens of new conditions. We all want a storyline which tends to cast people as saints or sinners. And there is no juicier political story than the saint who gets unmasked as a sinner. A two-dimensional cartoon is easier to digest than a fully formed person”. p.46

I was especially struck by the opening sentences. Increasingly in our world today, there is a disturbing zealousness to apportion blame elsewhere when things go wrong, to litigate, to deflect fault, to take the “high moral ground”. Simply, to not allow people to be human, to be imperfect, to make mistakes. Perhaps, as a society who sit in judgement of fellow humans, we are often too quick to judge, too ready to apply standards of moral and ethical behavior to others that we may be reluctant to apply to ourselves. The words in John’s Gospel resonate loudly; when the Pharisees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, brought a woman charged with adultery before him. And Jesus response: “he that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her”. The response of the Pharisees was to turn and walk away.

The imagery is powerful and the message of forgiveness, of being non-judgmental, of recognising the frailty of the human condition is life giving.

Term 4 at the College is especially busy and with only eight weeks within which to attend to the many important things to round out 2020. Most immediately, our thoughts and prayers are with our Year 12 girls and their families as they navigate their way through the Higher School Certificate examinations. It is a demanding and draining period in the life of most families and we hope that the exam period progresses without incident and undue stress.

Although in many ways a wonderful time of year with warmer weather and the imminent approach of Christmas, the demands and busyness of this time of year can equally exact as a toll. As much as it is a time of reflection and giving, we should also apportion in equal measure patience and tolerance of each other. In that way, we might be better placed to enjoy the beauty of the season.

Best wishes

Mr Tony Fitzgerald
Principal