Newsletter 3 2012 - 9 March
very much about Zonta, it is a worldwide organisation of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women through service and advocacy. Each club contributes to the service projects and advocacy initiatives by which they advance the status of women and girls everywhere.
Dear parents, I hope that you are surviving the rain in what has been a very wet summer. The enormous amount of rain that has fallen has been greeted with both welcome and dread. Our farmers in many areas are enjoying the rain and it holds the possibility of bumper harvests. However, for others, the rain that has fallen has meant devastation as their homes are flooded and they are cut off from work, school and basic services. In a country such as Australia where water is precious, one can’t help but be grateful for life-giving rain. It would be nice if we could delay our next instalment for a little while. As a college community I would ask that we keep in our prayers people suffering hardship or loss as the result of floods at this very difficult time. Thursday 8 March was International Women’s Day and the theme of the day is Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures. This year the focus is on economic empowerment by recognising that increasing women’s access to quality education, meaningful employment, land and other resources contributes positively to gender inclusion, sustainable development and prosperity. International Women’s Day 2012 is about celebrating the vital role women play in enhancing economic prosperity in their families, communities and countries, while recognising that significant barriers to achieving women’s economic security and equality continue to exist. As parents of girls we each have a responsibility to provide our daughters with opportunities to connect and to pursue inspiring futures. St Mary’s College has an active and vibrant Zonta Club and for those who don’t know
St Mary’s is a regular participant in various Zonta activites including the recent Zonta lunch to celebrate International Women’s Day. At this lunch the Wollongong Zonta Club presented a number of prestigious awards recognising the contribution of women in business and young girls who strive to support women through their various activities and charitable works.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 13 Mar P&F meeting 7pm in PLC 15 Mar School Cert Awards assembly 12pm 21 Mar Café Mediterranée 7pm SGN 23 Mar Cross Country: Year 7 and competitors 9am 28 Mar Year 12 parent/teacher interviews 3.45pm-7pm For student enquiries and notifications, please ring Student Office on 4226 3969
I am delighted to announce that Mrs Liz Davis, a well-respected teacher at the college, was a runner up in the Business and Professional Woman of the Year Award, receiving a highly commended award in this category. We were also thrilled to have two of our students, Brigitte Bradley and Rosie Gardiner, nominated for awards at this lunch. Brigitte was a runner up in her section, receiving a highly commended award. We congratulate these outstanding women for their hard work, dedication and passion in trying to make a difference for women in the world. As you are aware, the Year 7 Welcome BBQ was scheduled for this Sunday, 11 March. Due to the amount of rain that has fallen and the unpredictable weather patterns we are experiencing, the BBQ has been postponed until early in Term 2. I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause families. I pray that you and your families have a peace filled and relaxing weekend. Yours sincerely, Frank Pitt, Principal
Mr Pitt, Nicole Martin, Brigitte Bradley, Rosie Gardiner and Mrs Davis at Zonta CAFÉ MEDITERRANÉE We warmly invite all parents to a soirée of music and entertainment, good coffee and wonderful performances being held in the SGN hall on Wednesday 21 March at 7pm. Come along, have a coffee and be entertained by our talented Language students who will perform in French and Italian for you. All welcome. Please RSVP names and numbers to Patricia.Turek@stmarys.nsw.edu.au by 14 March.
Love of God · Love of Learning · Hospitality · Stewardship · Peace
P&F REMINDER The next meeting of the St Mary’s P&F will be held on 13 March commencing at 7pm in the PLC. At this meeting we will be discussing a number of issues of interest to all parents. I warmly invite you to join us for this meeting to learn a little more about how the college operates. Frank Pitt
JOIN OUR FENCING TEAM St Mary’s College is investigating the introduction of fencing into the college. Fencing is a great sport: it physically encourages strength, stamina and proper posture, while the mind works on strategy and tactics. It can be competed both individually and as a team. Fencing also teaches and encourages proper sportsmanship. The UNSW Fencing Club will introduce fencing to Wollongong in 2012 and St Mary’s College has been asked if they would like to participate. We are asking for expressions of interest from the girls and a meeting will be held for interested participants in the coming weeks. If there is sufficient interest we will commence after-school fencing classes at the college. Please email your expression of interest to stmarys@stmarys.nsw.edu.au. Frank Pitt RAIN DID NOT DAMPEN OUR CAMP SPIRIT…. PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE The introduction of the SMS reply service has been successful and we continue to encourage parents to notify and explain absences promptly. However, punctuality continues to be an issue and this needs to be addressed with parental support. Late arrivals mean that our students miss critical pastoral care time within the Tutor Group setting, along with messages and getting organised for the day in an appropriate manner. Some students are also missing significant lesson time due to ongoing lateness, arriving after 9am. Please be aware that the changes to attendance legislation require explanations for these partial absences. In an effort to support parents, the SMS system will soon be extended to late arrivals, in an effort to track and monitor this more effectively. Further information will be provided in the coming weeks. Emma Magill, Dean of Pastoral Care
On Wednesday morning, our excited and eager Year 7 students arrived at school very early, ready to challenge themselves at Wombaroo on the Southern Highlands. Unfortunately, our camp was postponed - but this did not dampen the girls’ spirit. We stayed at school and participated in a variety of group activities, such as “Why we rock?”, Super Mario Kart (with balloons) and egg drops. The girls learnt about their camp groups and really came together. We look forward to getting to know our groups more as we look forward to “Take Two” of the Year 7 camp which will be held on 17 to 19 October in Term 4. Veneeta Sheahan, Year 7 Coordinator WOMEN IN CAREERS AND LANGUAGE EXPO On Thursday 3 May, the college will run an expo for our Year 10, 11 and 12 students to introduce the girls to various careers and their different pathways, and to inform them of the importance to their career of having a second language. The expo will offer students an opportunity to speak to people in diverse careers.
PANCAKE TUESDAY $195 was handed over by staff and students marking the last day before Lent. Thanks to all for their contribution towards Project Compassion. Keep it up!
I invite parents to attend as a guest to speak to individual students about your career path. (There is no public speaking required and you don’t have to have a second language.) If you are interested in participating or would like to find out more information please contact Pauline Judd, Post School Advisor, on 4228 6011 or via e-mail to pauline.judd@stmarys.nsw.edu.au. Our pancake chefs YEAR 9 CAMP: Just a reminder to all Year 9 parents that the camp permission note needs to be returned by 19 March. Any enquiries, please call Mr Woolnough or Ms Magill.
CARITAS JUST LEADERSHIP DAY In the African country of Zimbabwe, the population once was 15 million. Since 2000, 3 million have left their country. Of the now 12 million, 5 million are children… 3 million of which are orphans. Not to mention 56.1% are living below less than $1 a day. There is an HIV/AIDS epidemic, and out of the 100,000 affected, 1500 died from typhoid in December 2011.
YEAR 12 AT THEIR RETREAT
On 24 February, members of our Caritas Club attended a Just-Leadership Day on behalf of Caritas Australia. We listened to an international guest speaker, Brother Blazio, who revealed horrific facts to us about the conditions in Zimbabwe, but also offered truly inspiring stories of the works of Caritas Australia which helps children receive an education, teaches families skills, administers medication and provides love and compassion. Throughout the day we interacted with student leaders from other schools, brainstorming ideas for fundraising and for raising awareness for this very worthy cause. We shared ideas and goals which will be carried out at our college during Project Compassion. Girls, I hope this encourages you to think twice before buying treats at the canteen, instead giving that money to Project Compassion. All donations would be extremely appreciated. “If we want peace, work for Justice” Gabrielle Bow, Vice-President Caritas
Caritas members with Brother Blazio SISTER SCHOOL LINKS UP AND RUNNING After much hard work from Mr David Malins and various emails “flying” backwards and forwards across the oceans, our sister school links with two colleges in Indonesia have been established. The first school is a junior school (Years7-9) SMPN 2 Temanggung, located on the foot of Mount Sindoro and Sumbing at the centre of Central Java. The other school is a senior school (Years 10-12) on the eastern side of Bali - SMA Negeri 1 Bangli. Both schools are extremely excited at the prospect of exchanging work, debating and competing with our college via the internet. The links to the schools are available via the college Moodle network. Jodi Harris
LEARNING AT ST MARY’S Students in Years 9 and 10 have received their Assessment Manuals. I encourage families to read through the procedures at the front of the manual. Assessment grids are also included for each subject. Year 7 and 8 students will be receiving information relating to assessment procedures early next week. Students in Years 11 and 12 have a number of assessment tasks that they will need to prepare for over the coming weeks. I encourage all students to revise regularly and to seek assistance from their teacher.
Next Thursday, 15 March, as part of the full school assembly, the excellent achievement of the Year 10 cohort of 2011 in their School Certificate results will be acknowledged. Students who received a Band 6 result will be presented with a certificate. Parents of these students are welcome to attend. Please contact the college on 4228 6011 by Tuesday 13 March to indicate if you are able to attend so that seating can be arranged. Gerry Sozio, Dean of Studies
SWIMMING CARNIVAL Our swimming carnival was held in perfect weather at the University Aquatic Centre. Attendance and competition was strong, as was the House spirit and cheering from the stands. Student enthusiasm was commendable. A list of girls to attend the Diocesan swimming carnival has been posted on the Sports notice board and permission notes must be returned as soon as possible please. Congratulations to our age champions: A GE CHAMPION 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
RUNNER UP
Courtney Temple Charlotte Stojanovic Shannon Jenkins Kelsey Hughes Kira Steward Tasmin McFadden Niamh Bourke Maddison Southam Courtney McGregor Madeline Martinoski Brooke Marcinkowski Grace Waring Maddison Reid Dominique Tobin
Record breakers Maddy Martinoski: Int 100m Breaststroke 1:21.15. Kirra Steward: 14yrs 50m Freestyle 30.01; Jnr 100m Backstroke 1:18.92; Jnr 200 IM 2:39.31. Courtney McGreggor: 16yrs 50m Butterfly 31.38. Kelsey Hughes: 13yrs 100m Freestyle 1:08.33. House Championship went to Loretto 599; Carmel 431; Lourdes 366 and Fatima 325. Thank you to all staff and parents who helped make this a very enjoyable day. Good luck to our swimmers competing at the Diocesan Carnival. Waterpolo anyone? A new competition is starting at Wollongong Uni Aquatic Centre on Wednesday 14 March. Anyone interested in playing can collect a registration form from me, or contact samm@uow.edu.au or ring 4221 4853. Touch trials will begin next week. Girls wishing to trial must listen to the bulletin to note training days and times. Players should wear their PE uniform. Distance swimmers: If you would like to nominate to swim distance events at the CCC or NSW All Schools Swimming events, please see me to collect a nomination form. This will include the following: 200m and 400m Freestyle; 200m Breaststroke, Backstroke and Butterfly; 400m IM; 800m Freestyle; 1500m Freestyle.
Belinda Sparks, Sport Coordinator
NSW SCHOOL-BASED VACCINATION PROGRAM Each year NSW Health offers the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council for adolescents as part of the school-based vaccination program. In 2012 the following vaccines will be offered: • Hepatitis B vaccine for all Year 7 students who did not receive three doses of hepatitis B vaccine when they were a baby. • Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine for all Year 7 students who have not previously received varicella vaccine or had chickenpox disease. • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be offered to Year 7 girls only as a threedose course over a six-month period. • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Whooping Cough) vaccine will be offered to all Year 7 and Year 10 students. Information kits have been sent home to parents/guardians. To consent to the vaccination, parents/guardians are advised to read all the information provided, complete the consent form and return it to the college. Please ensure that your child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic. Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by writing to the school Principal. The procedure for withdrawal of consent is available on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation. To improve vaccination completion, students will be offered any missed doses throughout the year. Please note that for HPV vaccine only, parents/guardians must record their Medicare Number (all 10 digits and the 11th number beside the child’s name) on the consent form, as this is required to record the student’s information on the National HPV Vaccination Register and link to the National or State Cervical Screening Program. The vaccinations will be given on the following dates: 13 March, 22 May and 23 October. Please refer to the information letter for more details. A record of vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at the clinic. Parents/guardians should ensure that this record is kept for future reference and should not assume that their child has been vaccinated if they do not receive this record of vaccination.
16 Harbour Street Wollongong - Locked Bag 42 Wollongong NSW 2500 Phone (02) 4228 6011 Fax (02) 4229 8555 www.stmarys.nsw.edu.au