NEW LIFE
AUTUMN 2014
MATER MARIA CATHOLIC COLLEGE
WALK IN NEW LIFE
A BIANNUAL MAGAZINE FOR PAST STUDENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE 5 FOREST ROAD WARRIEWOOD NSW 2102 AUSTRALIA TELEPHONE 02 9997 7044 FACSIMILE 02 9997 6042 WEBSITE www.matermaria.nsw.edu.au
Sister Pauline Coll sgs with students at the College in 2011
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS LIST Among the 683 Australians recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours list is Good Samaritan Sister, Pauline Coll, of Brisbane. Sister Pauline was the last Good Samaritan Sister to serve at the College and left at the end of 1991. in many ways supported me during those seven years of struggle, joy, pain, success and failure.”
Sister Pauline was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the Catholic Church in Australia, and as an advocate for the protection of women and children, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Pauline said she was “amazed” and “shocked” to receive a letter late last year from the Governor-General’s office informing her she’d been nominated for the award. “When I read it more carefully, I realised that I would have to decide whether to accept the honour or decline. When I read the citation, I realised that it was mostly for my work in helping to found ACRATH [Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans]. So this decided [it for] me,” she told. “If I accepted, then it would once again, at the highest level, bring attention to the work of attempting to eliminate trafficking in humans – and the work of so many women religious in those early years.”
From 2004 until early 2011, Pauline was a driving force behind the establishment of the national organisation, Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH), of which she was a founding member and the inaugural chair. Pauline believes collaboration with a range of organisations and individuals was fundamental to ACRATH’s foundation and its ongoing development. “It’s collaboration that gets you somewhere… that gets the momentum going,” she said. “I had a dream that such an organisation with such collaborative underpinning was needed so that those of us who helped establish it could then walk away when it was time and know that it wouldn’t ‘fall over’, [that it would] continue in all sorts of new and creative ways.”
Pauline said the honour, although in her name, includes all those who worked with her, “especially those who from the early days did the hard yards and struggled” with her. “It also includes all those including the Sisters of the Good Samaritan - who
Endorsed by Catholic Religious Australia, the peak body for more than 180 religious orders in Australia, ACRATH actively campaigns against human trafficking on a number of fronts: raising awareness, sharing information and building networks nationally and
globally; facilitating action to combat and prevent human rights violations related to human trafficking; providing educative resources about human trafficking; and offering direct services such as counselling, rehabilitation and reintegration programs for people who have been trafficked. These days Pauline lives at the BallyCara Village of Friends in Scarborough where she continues “to be a Good Samaritan woman in any way that might offer itself” to her. “Although I suppose I am ‘retired’, as Good Sams there are always opportunities that arise to live out of the Parable [of the Good Samaritan], whether it be as the one in the ditch, the ones who walk by, the donkey, the inn-keeper, part of the crowd looking on, or the one who does something about what is being presented,” she explained. “As I grow older I want to do the inner and spiritual work that I need to do in these later years - to become a more compassionate and contemplative woman.” This article was first published in The Good Oil, the e-magazine of the Good Samaritan Sisters www.goodsams.org.au
NEW LIFE
Mr Marc Reicher with the 2014 College Captains, Sophie Welch and Thomas Adema
WELCOME Welcome to the Autumn 2014 edition of New Life. I am delighted to welcome you to this new academic year and the Year of the College value of Spirituality which will be the focus for the student community of Mater Maria. It is my pleasure to announce that Mrs Brenda Timp has joined the College in the role of Assistant Principal in 2014. Mrs Timp joins us from St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga and I am very much looking forward to working with her over these coming years and know that she will bring an abundance of commitment and skill to this role. We are delighted by the success of the Class of 2013 who completed the Higher School Certificate last November. Twelve students achieved an ATAR of
over 90 with Matilda Dwyer being awarded Dux of the College for 2013. Julian Lau was named the recipient of the Mater Maria Catholic College Mission Award. Students achieved 72 distinguished achievers’ places for marks of 90 or above, fifth and ninth in the State in Business Services and eighth in the State in Information Technology. On behalf of the College, I extend to the Class of 2013 every best wish and success for the future and welcome them to the mailing list of New Life with this edition. I invite each past student and friend of Mater Maria to continue to stay connected to your College community and hope you may be able to join us for any of the events detailed in this publication. I am regularly reminded that our Mater graduates not only do well, they do good, making an impact in the
world in ways that matter. Please remember to keep us informed of your story and be assured that you are always welcome at Mater Maria Catholic College. With best wishes,
Marc Reicher Principal
INTRODUCING OUR NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL We are delighted to welcome Mrs Brenda Timp to the College in the role of Assistant Principal. She comes to us from St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga where she was Director of Learning for the past three years. Mrs Timp has had a long period of leadership in pastoral care, teaching and learning and holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. She has been a member of the CEC Board for the draft Australian English Curriculum and a CEC representative on the NSW Board of Studies Curriculum Committee for English K-10.
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Brenda and her husband have two adult children and belong to Holy Name Parish in Wahroonga. Brenda promotes high standards for quality learning which promotes healthy relationships and spiritual growth. Her vision as a passionate educator is centred on each student achieving their best and her collaborative and supportive manner with the students, parents and staff will benefit Mater Maria for years to come. We are delighted that she has joined our community in this important leadership role.
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HSC RESULTS Congratulations to our Class of Year 12, 2013 which achieved 72 distinguished achievers’ places for marks of 90 and above in the following courses - Ancient History, Business Services, Chemistry, Design and Technology, Drama, English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Industrial Technology, Information Technology, Mathematics (General), Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Modern History, Music 1, Music 2, Music Extension, Physics, Studies of Religion 1, Studies of Religion 2, Textiles and Design and Visual Arts. 76 per cent of two unit results were placed in the top three performance bands. 61 per cent of results in the same courses were either Band 5 or Band 6. Our HSC students achieved 262 Band 5 results and 229 Band 4 results. We are delighted to announce that Adriana Mastroianni and Nicola Hughes achieved fifth and ninth in the State in Business Services and Julian Lau achieved eighth in the State in Information Technology. Twelve students achieved an ATAR over 90 with Matilda Dwyer, Madeleine Norris, Rachel Hammond, Maximilian Shanahan, Daniel Walsh, Jake Williams, Curtis Smyth, Erin McGee and Anna Barkle achieving our highest ATARs. Congratulations are extended to Jordan Brown and William Evers whose Industrial Technology major projects were selected for display at InTECH; to Alissa Clinen whose Textiles and Design major project was selected for display at TexStyle; to Elana Dawson whose Design and Technology major project was selected for display at DesignTECH; to Rachael Hasler whose major performance for Drama was nominated for OnStage; to Travers Keirle whose major performance for Music 2 was nominated for Encore and to Julian Lau and Madeleine Norris whose Industrial Technology major projects were nominated for display at InTECH. Julian Lau was the recipient of the 2013 College Mission Award for embracing the opportunities encompassed in the Mission Statement of the College. Students of Year 12, 2013 have actively contributed to all areas of College and community life. They have exercised outstanding service through social justice campaigns, were publicly recognised in the Arts, were elite athletes, have actively mentored and guided our younger students and have displayed excellence and service in leadership of our student body. They are young people of hope who have all, individually, achieved success in the 2013 HSC.
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NEW LIFE
SPIRITUALITY ARE WE NEIGHBOUR TO GOD? In 2014, each member of the Mater Maria community has been invited to be neighbour to the College value of Spirituality. At the Opening Year Mass, Principal, Mr Marc Reicher offered the following words to the congregation of students, parents and staff inviting everyone to ask Christ to be their companion throughout the year ahead. Welcome students, staff and especially our guests to this our College Opening Year Mass for 2014. Today you received a gift from the College, your spirituality badge to remind you that in 2014 we will be focusing on the College value of Spirituality. Spirituality is a mindful awareness of the reality that God is with us in all that we do. It is an open conversation with God across every minute, every hour and every day of our lives. Spirituality is often described as a journey. We are all travelling a spiritual journey that will lead us closer to Jesus with whom we are travelling this life with. The issue about the journey is not where we are in our travels, but whether or not we are actually travelling at all - are we moving closer to God? One spiritual writer describes the way to God as a journey from selfishness to selflessness. The struggle to make God, not ourselves, the point of reference in our lives is the very nature of our spiritual journey. This call for selflessness has been modelled to us by Jesus and his teachings. Jesus has shared with us a checklist of how to take this selfless journey in the Beatitudes which will be a major focus for our community in 2014. We are often not aware that our encounter with God is primarily in the ordinary events of everyday life. These events may seem to be insignificant compared to more formal religious experiences, however, we need to remember that the importance for our spiritual journey is not only determined by what is done, but by the love with which it is done. Little things done with great love easily surpass great things done with less love. When we display humility and love for each other, we are being selfless. Life is filled with the presence of God. In 2014, let us not waste a single moment; let our love for Jesus transform each moment and enrich not only ourselves, but all those who share those moments with us.
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AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH FESTIVAL MELBOURNE It was a massive celebration of faith for Australian youth from the twenty eight Catholic dioceses of Australia who met in Melbourne on Thursday December 5 for the inaugural three day Australian Catholic Youth Festival. The Festival was hosted by the Archdiocese of Melbourne and was a powerful celebration of Catholic community and an opportunity for young people to take their faith and share it with one another.
ENROL NOW!
Over 180 young people from the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay took part in this special pilgrimage. The event featured lively plenary sessions, worship and workshops run by a variety of high-profile Catholics from Australia and abroad. This included Bishop Eugene Hurley, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Sr Hilda Scott OSB, Fr Rob Galea, and Steve Angrisano, a major Catholic musician from America who has a passion for youth and mission. The closing plenary session was a vigil which included a commissioning of the many pilgrims to return to their communities filled with the Holy Spirit. Our weary Mater Maria pilgrims arrived back in Sydney with fire in their hearts, full of hope for the future and companionship with the thousands of young Catholics who attended the festival.
At Mater Maria, the Catholic tradition in which our students are educated provides them with gifts that enable them to make contributions to others in unique ways. Our co-educational community is focused on learning, collaboration and rich and positive relationships. We invite your child to embrace this spirit of freshness, innovation, community and wonder. Please contact our Enrolment Registrar on 02 9997 7044 or email deborah.fitzgerald@dbb.catholic.edu.au Enrolment Applications for Year 7, 2016 close on April 2, 2014 at 4.00pm. Enrolment Applications for Year 7, 2015 have closed - waiting list applications only. AUTUMN 2014 NEW LIFE 05
NEW LIFE WALK IN NEW LIFE
STUDENT LEADERSHIP It is our great pleasure to introduce the College Prefects of 2014. Each of our College Prefects is responsible for a specific ministry in which they can share their gifts and talents, contribute to the College in a significant way and make a difference. These students are support by a teacher or group of teachers. We profile each of the ministries below:
representative functions in the wider community. It is our focus to continue the traditions of this College and contribute to the nurturing environment and opportunities which are provided. Sophie Welch and Thomas Adema College Captains
COLLEGE CAPTAINS Along with the College Vice Captains and College Prefects we are in the process of implementing weekly tutorial sessions to help younger students at the College in their English and Maths homework. These sessions will be led by Year 11 and Year 12 students and our hope is the program will continue into the future. Like all the College Prefects, the College Captain role undertakes a number of
VICE-CAPTAINS It is our pleasure to have accepted the position of College Vice Captains for 2014. Our main goal is to continue a sustainable and close bond between each year group and the College community as a whole. In our role we chair the Student Representative Council and hope to achieve positive results for the student body. Throughout this year we hope to serve the College community to the best of
our ability by enhancing College spirit. Polly Beeny and Bailey Dwyer College Vice Captains COLLEGE PREFECTS - COMMUNITY As the College Prefects - Community we aim to enrich College life by bringing the community closer. Through further involvement in College events such as Open Day and working together on a range of new projects we aim to create a better learning environment for all students. We are also representatives on the College eSmart committee which aims to reduce bullying behaviour through a cyber-safe and wellbeing framework. Our goal is to follow the motto of the program ‘smart, safe and responsible’ regarding the use of information and communication technologies. Estelle Fleming and Lana Hennes College Prefects - Community COLLEGE PREFECTS - HOUSE House is an important aspect of our College’s life and helps promote participation, enthusiasm and spirit. In the role of College Prefects - House we will help encourage the College values through our commitment towards the Inter-House network at Mater. Some of the ideas we have for 2014 are to inspire the students to get involved with the College carnivals and lunchtime fundraisers. We hope to do
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this by introducing a structured house cheer and a continuous point system throughout the year. We look forward to supporting the College values and leading house spirit.
themselves to the College through their creativity in music, drama and visual arts. We are pleased to be representing the College in this ministry and hope to serve the College with success and dignity.
Clare Costanzo and Andrew Davies College Prefects - House
Zachary Blomfield and Kieran Edgeworth College Prefects - Performing Arts
COLLEGE PREFECTS - LITURGY The ministry of Liturgy at Mater Maria is an integral part of the spiritual fabric of the College. People in this role are expected to further the cause of Christ in the lives of the student body and in the actions of the Mater community. As the 2014 College Prefects Liturgy, we plan to contribute to Mater’s spiritual life by increasing the involvement of the student body in masses and youth ministry activities by making them more accessible to students. It is our hope that these actions will result in an increase in the practical and emotional benefits that stem from a firm connection to Christ. Ingrid Baader-Irwin and Alexander Norris College Prefects - Liturgy COLLEGE PREFECTS - PERFORMING ARTS We are privileged with the honour of representing the College as the College Prefects - Performing Arts for 2014. Our main goal during our time remaining is to further enable students to expand and express
COLLEGE PREFECTS - SOCIAL JUSTICE What is social justice? Social justice is about the equality and fairness between human beings, and as the College Prefects - Social Justice we hope to successfully raise awareness about many of the issues that impact our community and society. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions feel free to approach us at any time, we are open to advice and can’t wait to integrate more social justice awareness and events into College life. Sophia Berry and Daniel Geister College Prefects - Social Justice
events, and strive to encourage avid participation from all students at our carnivals. Jasmine Bathie and Harrison Scott College Prefects - Sport COLLEGE PREFECTS - STEWARDSHIP A focus on the environment was established this year by Mr Lawler, Rachel Renouf, Katrina Millner and as the College Prefects - Stewardship along with numerous supporters it is our endeavour to establish this ministry. The ministry aspires to establish an environmental committee accessible to all students. Our aim is to establish a recycling program throughout the College and to create awareness of the importance of our role as a College to protect our environment. Natasha Odendaal and Troy Poulter College Prefects - Stewardship
COLLEGE PREFECTS - SPORT As the College Prefects - Sport, we feel privileged and honoured for this opportunity. Throughout our time at the College we have both been active participants in the number of sporting opportunities the College has had to offer, ranging from Broken Bay Representative events to the European Sporting Tour. Over the coming year our goals are to improve our image and participation at Inter-School sporting
MATER MARIA IS BECOMING eSmart Mater Maria Catholic College is pleased to announce that the College is on its way to becoming an eSmart school! The College has completed the Planning Phase in this journey. So what does this mean? ESmart is an initiative of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and has been developed with the input of many cybersafety and education experts including the National Centre Against Bullying. It provides a framework to guide and support schools to implement relevant cybersafety policies, practices and curriculum and equip school communities, particularly young people, to be safe and responsible when using computers and mobile phones.
An eSmart school is a school where the smart, safe and responsible use of information and communications technology is a cultural norm. Students, teachers and the wider community are equipped to embrace the best these technologies can offer, while being savvy about the pitfalls. Mater Maria is now in the Implementation Phase and consequently it is a time of introducing and developing some of the ideas that have been flagged in the past twelve months. For example, the College is registered to participate in the National Day Against Bullying and Violence on March 21, 2014. This is the third year of supporting this event and a College assembly will be held in the Marana Complex. During this assembly our eSmart initiative
to report bullying or incidents online will be launched. Our Mater Maria community can only benefit from such practices that strengthen right relationships and the dignity of each person and we look forward to implementing other plans and procedures in the near future.
NEW LIFE
AUTUMN 2014
MATER MARIA CATHOLIC COLLEGE
WALK IN NEW LIFE
YOUTH OFF THE STREETS SLEEP OUT In November members of the Class of 2014 braved the wildlife and wet weather to display their strong sense of social justice in a sleepout in the Murphy Undercroft. Over fifty students took part in this student led initiative to support Fr Chris Reily’s Youth off the Streets. Since opening in 1991, Youth Off The Streets has grown from a single food van delivering meals to young homeless people on the streets of Kings Cross to a major youth specific agency offering a full continuum of care through delivery of a wide range of services. Mater Maria students successfully raised $1,500.00 which we hope will provide hot meals, accommodation or other everyday necessities to young people living on the streets.
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